"You and Gorr head to Indigel and inform Kara and the others. I'm going after the Celestials."
Robert's voice echoed in Knull's mind. "And don't get any funny ideas. Clark's power isn't much weaker than mine. If you end up dead, don't say I didn't warn you."
"What?! But I want to hunt down the Celestials too!" Knull protested instinctively.
Yet, when he extended his senses, he found nothing—Robert and the Celestial had already vanished.
Knull stood dumbfounded in the void, staring at the empty expanse. He wasn't sure whether to feel frustrated or impressed.
"I left my home to destroy the Celestials. Even if I can't fight them directly, at least let me tag along to cheer from the sidelines!" he muttered, exasperated.
Now alone, he sighed and mulled over Robert's parting words.
"So, that Kryptonian friend of his… strong enough to be a threat to me? Hmm… and there's a Celestial on Earth? Maybe I'll take a trip there after all."
His frustration subsided as he considered this new opportunity. "Maybe I can't fight all the Celestials, but I can at least take out one or two. Yeah, that's not a bad deal."
Reassured, Knull decided to play it safe for now. He had spent eons hiding from the Celestials—he wasn't about to provoke a new cosmic threat in Robert.
Even when wielding the Black Death Sword at full strength, Knull knew he wasn't Clark's equal. If he underestimated the Kryptonian, he might find himself killed before Robert even returned.
—
A shadowy portal opened as Knull reappeared in space near Gorr.
"Huh? Where's the Saiyan? Where's the Celestial?" Gorr asked, puzzled by Knull's return alone.
"Lost them," Knull muttered. "What do you think happened? You think I killed them both?"
"…"
"We're heading to Indigel."
Gorr hesitated. "Why Indigel?"
His past actions weighed on him. Before discovering the true cause of his planet's destruction, Gorr had been relentless in slaughtering gods. But now…
He wasn't so sure.
Still, Knull wasn't asking. He was telling.
With a flick of his hand, a dark portal tore open before them.
—
Indigel
The divine city had begun recovering. The remaining gods worked to rebuild their grand palace, the scars of battle still evident.
Despite their earlier cowardice, they now cooperated as if nothing had happened. Their previous conflicts over fleeing were conveniently forgotten.
After all, what was a little betrayal among immortals?
Then the portal opened.
Every god stiffened, their faces turning pale.
Had they not just survived one catastrophe?
Some began edging toward escape routes, just in case. If another disaster was coming, they weren't sticking around.
Among them, Kara narrowed her eyes.
"…Gorr is back? But where's Robert?"
She immediately sensed something was wrong.
Knull's energy was unlike anything she had encountered before. His presence exuded an unsettling aura—one that made even the battle-hardened Diana wary.
"You must be the Saiyan's friends," Knull said casually. "He went off to hunt Celestials. Told me to pass the message along."
Kara's brows furrowed. "Hunt the Celestials? Where is he now?"
Knull smirked. "Not in this universe anymore."
Everyone went silent.
Kara's fists clenched. "You're saying… he left the universe?!"
Even the Avengers, hardened warriors themselves, looked shaken.
Robert had traveled between dimensions before. That was nothing new. But leaving the universe itself?
Nobody knew what lay beyond. If Robert couldn't find his way back…
Knull shrugged. "Yup. If he was just in a pocket dimension or some cosmic void, I could've followed. But whatever happened, I lost track of him completely. Before he vanished, he just told me to let you all know."
Kara felt a sinking weight in her chest. "We have to tell the others."
Diana placed a hand on her shoulder. "We should return to Earth first."
Kara turned to Thor. "We'll need the Bifrost."
—
Knull's ears perked up.
"You're heading to Earth?"
Everyone turned to him.
"I'm coming with you," he said, grinning.
Kara's stance became defensive. "Why?"
Knull chuckled. "Relax. I just want to check something out. Apparently, there's a Celestial hiding on Earth."
Diana's eyes narrowed. "And why would you care?"
"You think I'm lying?" Knull spread his arms. "Look, if I wanted to attack Earth, I wouldn't need you to take me there. I'd just find it myself. But I don't want a fight. Unlike some people, I'm not looking to get on Robert's bad side."
He smirked. "I just want to kill Celestials."
Thor stepped forward. "Who are you? Why do you hate the Celestials so much?"
Knull's grin widened. "You can call me Knull, God of the Symbiotes."
The name sent a ripple of recognition through the group.
"The Symbiotes?!" Kara's eyes widened. "Like… Venom?"
Knull's smirk didn't waver. "Ah, so Earth does have one of my creations. I thought I recognized the scent of my work on you all."
"Venom's one of us," Kara stated firmly.
"Interesting," Knull mused. "I made them to be bloodthirsty warriors, not… whatever your little pet has become."
Diana cut him off. "If you're coming, the Black Death Sword stays behind."
Knull's eyebrow rose. "Oh? Planning to weaken me?" He chuckled. "Maybe Robert did exaggerate your strength."
Even so, he didn't argue. With an exaggerated shrug, he turned to Gorr.
"Well, Gorr, looks like you're on your own now. Go do whatever you want. Keep killing gods, go meditate, I don't care."
The mere mention of Gorr continuing his god-slaying spree sent a ripple of panic through the remaining deities. Many had already begun fleeing.
Knull scoffed. "Heh. 'Gods'? You lot don't deserve the title."
Returning his attention to the group, he grinned. "So… when do we leave for Earth? I'm dying to see if this Celestial is one of my old 'friends' or some freshly hatched upstart."
______
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