Amidst the fearful gazes of the gods of Indigel, Thor retrieved his Eternal Spear and activated the Bifrost, departing from Indigel in a flash of rainbow light.
However, Thor had no intention of returning to Asgard. Instead, he chose to head directly to Earth.
To Thor, Knull was an extremely dangerous being. Even setting Knull aside, Gorr, wielding the Black Death Sword, was also a serious threat to Asgard.
Thor still vividly remembered how a Skyfather-level god had fallen to Gorr's blade. That moment made it clear—even he wasn't confident he could withstand the Black Death Sword's power.
But Earth was a different matter. Not only was it Knull's intended destination, but Earth's defenders also far surpassed Asgard's strength.
Even with Robert now beyond the universe, Earth still had Clark.
Knull had dismissed Robert's claims about Clark's strength, believing them exaggerated. But Thor knew the truth.
The arrival of Galactus on Earth had caused such a commotion that even Asgard took notice. Thor had witnessed the entire battle, including Clark's awakening and his later clash with extradimensional threats.
From what Thor had seen, Clark's power was nothing to underestimate. If Knull harbored any ill intent, Clark's presence alone would keep the situation under control.
The Bifrost wasn't as fast as teleportation or spatial rifts, but Knull didn't seem in any hurry. Instead, he observed the Bifrost's swirling energies with great interest, as if he had discovered something intriguing.
Thor felt a chill down his spine. More than once, he caught Knull eyeing the Eternal Spear in his hand, which made him uneasy. Was Knull planning to attack him and steal the weapon?
It didn't make sense. The Black Death Sword was far superior to the Eternal Spear—why would Knull covet a lesser weapon?
Whatever his reasons, Knull ultimately made no hostile move, and the group arrived safely on Earth.
—
With a burst of energy, the Bifrost deposited them onto an empty patch of land. The impact left a charred marking on the ground, but with so many abandoned areas on Earth, it hardly mattered.
Yet Knull seemed particularly fascinated by the burn mark, crouching down to study it closely.
Then—
A whoosh of wind, and a figure appeared before them.
Clark.
He had seen the Bifrost's light from a distance and arrived instantly.
"You're back?" Clark's gaze swept across the group. "Where's Robert? And… who are they?"
Kara sighed. "Robert chased a Celestial beyond our universe. I don't know the details."
She then gestured toward Knull and Gorr. "As for them… they started out as our enemies. But now, I'm not so sure."
Knull, still examining the ground, suddenly snapped his head up at the mention of Robert. His eyes locked onto Clark.
"So you're the Clark he spoke of?" Knull scrutinized him. "Your power is decent, but it doesn't seem anywhere near Robert's level."
Clark ignored the remark. "You were the last person to see Robert. Tell me exactly what happened."
Knull grinned. "You want to know? Easy—just show me your strength."
A flicker of annoyance crossed Clark's face. "That's all it takes?"
"If your power satisfies me," Knull said, eyes gleaming, "I'll tell you everything, even if you don't measure up to Robert's boasts."
"Fine."
In an instant, Clark transformed.
A golden radiance erupted from his body. He no longer simply stood there—he shone, like a living star. The heat was not oppressive, but the sheer intensity of his presence was overwhelming.
This was the result of his long slumber—his evolution.
This was Super Kryptonian Mode.
Knull blinked. "Wait… you transform too?"
He had barely finished speaking—
BANG!
Clark vanished.
Knull had no time to react before he was sent hurtling through the sky like a shooting star. He smashed through the atmosphere, soaring helplessly into space.
Silence.
The assembled heroes exchanged looks. Thor exhaled in relief—at least Clark could handle Knull. Earth and Asgard wouldn't be in danger.
But Gorr was stunned.
He had never expected Knull—the God of Symbiotes, the creator of the Black Death Sword—to be defeated so quickly.
Then—
A sharp buzz from the Black Death Sword.
The blade trembled violently in Gorr's grip before yanking itself free, shooting into the sky as if seeking its master.
"Stop it!" Kara reacted first.
Among them, she was the least affected by the sword's corrupting influence. She fired a blast of heat vision at it.
But—
The sword barely acknowledged her attack, ignoring the searing beams as it continued its ascent.
Before it could escape—
A golden streak blurred across the sky.
A hand reached out and caught the sword mid-air.
A deep hum resonated as the Black Death Sword struggled, vibrating fiercely in an attempt to break free.
But it failed.
Because the one holding it… was The Sentry.
While Knull was stronger, The Sentry was more than capable of restraining a sword.
Gorr's eyes widened.
"Another powerhouse?!" he whispered, overwhelmed by the sheer strength of Earth's defenders.
The Sentry descended, landing effortlessly. He held up the Black Death Sword and turned to the group.
"What is this thing?"
He glanced at Thor and Gorr. "And who are they?"
Kara quickly explained. "Thor, God of Thunder. That's Gorr—he wielded this sword. But the true owner is Knull, the guy Clark just punched into space."
The Sentry raised an eyebrow. "So someone can actually fight Clark?"
Before Kara could respond—
A shimmering light, and a group of armored figures stepped out of a pocket dimension.
Iron Man.
Doctor Strange.
And the rest of the Avengers.
Tony's visor lifted as he surveyed the group.
"Okay, I know I just saw someone get obliterated. What's going on?"
"…Let me explain," Gorr said hesitantly, stepping forward.
He recounted everything—Robert taking him from Indigel, their discoveries about the Celestials, and Robert's final pursuit beyond the universe.
He could only describe up to the point where Robert vanished—everything afterward was beyond his knowledge.
"That's all I know," Gorr finished. "After that, Knull just heard Robert's voice in his head before he disappeared."
Then—
A sonic boom.
Clark reappeared, descending from the sky.
Trailing behind him was Knull—bruised, battered, and thoroughly humbled.
Tony folded his arms. "So let me get this straight… Robert just left the universe? Without backup? Without knowing if he can even come back?"
A beat of silence.
Then—
"Yeah," Tony muttered. "That sounds like him."
Nobody was overly worried about Robert's safety. They knew his power was unparalleled.
But what if he couldn't return?
What if he was trapped?
What if there were forces beyond the universe stronger than him?
Knull, nursing his bruises, finally spoke.
"Robert's powerful," he admitted. "But he's not invincible."
Tony's gaze sharpened. "You mean… there's something out there that could beat him?"
Knull smirked.
"Oh, definitely."
Kara stiffened. "Explain."
Knull leaned back. "You ever heard of the Five Creation Gods?"
Silence.
Knull grinned wider.
"You guys think Robert's top of the food chain?" He chuckled.
"Beyond this universe? There are beings who make even him look small."
______
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