"Oh, what's your name then?"
Axel asked the question casually while scratching the Panther Goddess behind the ears.
The divine black cat stared at him as if he had just said the most ridiculous thing in the world.
"Axel!"
Her voice carried pure disbelief.
"I am speaking to you about the end of the world, and you are asking for my name?"
"Yeah. Problem with that?"
Axel tilted his head and chuckled. His hand casually tapped her rear.
The Panther Goddess froze for a second.
"Owooo?!"
She quickly jumped away and began pacing nervously in a figure eight across the grass while Axel spoke as if nothing strange had happened.
"Compared to the end of the world, I would rather know your name. You should feel honored. Or do cats not understand romance?"
The Panther Goddess blinked.
"Ah… this…"
She opened her mouth, stunned by the ridiculousness of his logic. It took her a long moment before she finally managed to answer.
"Axel, sweet talk might fool naive young girls, but it does not impress beings who have existed since ancient times."
Axel grinned.
"Oh? So you are teaching me how to flirt with you now?"
"Ah… this???"
The Panther Goddess stopped walking.
Her eyes dropped to the grass swaying in the wind. After a brief silence, she muttered quietly.
"…Bastet."
"What?"
She lifted her head with visible irritation.
"I said my name is Bastet. Nice to meet you, Axel."
Axel's teasing expression did not change, which made Bastet flick her tail in frustration.
"You must take this seriously," she said firmly. "My companions and I have seen fragments of the future. Those fragments reveal many things, even the origin and conclusion of the apocalypse."
She paused, her tone growing heavy.
"If our interpretation is correct, the giant that will emerge from the Earth in the prophecy is…"
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
Axel waved his hand lazily and cut her off.
"A Celestial. The one inside Earth is called Tiamut."
Before Bastet could react, Axel scooped her up into his arms.
He immediately began rubbing behind her ears again.
Bastet tried to resist for a moment, but the comfortable scratching forced a low purring sound from her throat.
Axel continued talking as if discussing the weather.
"Let me guess the rest. When the Celestials created planets capable of sustaining life, they also planted new Celestials inside them. As intelligent life grows, the Celestial grows with it."
He scratched along Bastet's back, making her tail twitch.
"When the population reaches a certain threshold, the Celestial awakens. The process destroys the planet and the newborn Celestial enters the universe."
He shrugged.
"Cosmic reproduction. Brutal but efficient."
Bastet stared at him with wide eyes.
"That event is called the Emergence," Axel continued. "Which means Earth is basically an egg waiting to hatch."
"And Tiamut is the chick inside."
Bastet remained stunned.
Axel scratched her chin.
"Originally Earth was close to the population needed for the Emergence. Then Thanos snapped his fingers and wiped out half the universe."
He laughed quietly.
"Funny thing is, that idiot accidentally saved Earth."
Bastet blinked.
"By reducing the number of intelligent beings, he delayed the birth of many Celestials across the universe. Earth included."
Axel shrugged.
"But humans are stubborn as hell."
"Five years later they brought everyone back with another snap. Population restored, Celestial timer restarted."
Bastet slowly nodded. That part matched the visions she and the other gods had seen.
Axel kept going.
"The Eternals on Earth eventually realized what would happen. Some of them refused to let the planet die. They fought each other and managed to stop Tiamut from emerging."
Bastet's ears twitched.
"You know about the Eternals as well?"
Axel smirked.
"Of course I do."
He stretched lazily.
"But here is the problem. If Thanos never snaps his fingers, then the delay never happens."
He glanced at the night sky.
"That means the Emergence will arrive on schedule."
Bastet finally understood.
"So that is why we saw new prophecies…"
"Exactly."
Axel shrugged.
"No snap, no delay, no miracle second chance. Which means the big marble statue inside the ocean will eventually try to crawl out again."
Bastet stared at him with confusion and curiosity.
"You know far more than any human should."
She leaned forward and sniffed him carefully.
"You smell human… but you feel different."
Her golden eyes narrowed.
"Compared to humans, you resemble beings that exist eternally."
Axel snorted.
"You mean the Eternals?"
He lightly smacked her rear again.
"Please. Those idiots are glorified robots."
He grinned.
"I am a mind eater, little cat."
Then he stood up and stretched.
"Anyway, I already understand your warning. The apocalypse still has years before it shows up. Seven, maybe eight."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Plenty of time for chaos."
Axel started walking away through the forest.
"Right now it is almost evening, and I want to go home and sleep."
He glanced back at her.
"Coming with me? I have a woman at home who loves cats. You two would probably get along."
Bastet reacted like she had just been offered a one way trip into a cage.
"No no no no no!"
She retreated several steps immediately.
When she felt a safe distance between them, the Panther Goddess lowered her head respectfully.
"Axel, you already understand the truth behind the prophecy. My duty is finished."
Her voice softened.
"If the future collapses, then that is our fate. If the future survives, we will owe you gratitude."
She smiled faintly.
"Immortals do not fear death. We simply hate leaving behind the pleasures of life."
Her tail flicked once.
"Also… thank you for today. I have not relaxed like this in a long time."
She chuckled softly.
"Your cat petting skills are exceptional, friend."
Then Bastet stepped backward.
Her form dissolved into shadows and vanished into the night forest.
Axel watched the empty trees for a moment before laughing.
"Damn it."
"I came here to mess around and somehow ended up with a cosmic responsibility."
He shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Good thing the apocalypse does not have a deadline."
Moments later he walked out of the forest and entered Wakanda.
Torches burned across the open field. Thousands of Wakandans surrounded enormous bonfires, dancing and chanting in celebration.
Axel froze.
Then he rushed toward the center where King T'Chaka was dancing with the warriors.
Axel copied the rhythm while shouting over the drums.
"The hell is this?!"
"You told me Wakanda does not do the whole dancing funeral thing!"
"Why are you people partying the moment I leave?"
T'Chaka looked both confused and amused at Axel's strange dance moves.
"The situation changed," the king explained while spinning with the rhythm.
"Before the Black Panther appeared, our people were grieving. We lost many warriors today."
He gestured toward the sky.
"But the appearance of the Black Panther changed everything."
Axel blinked.
"Explain."
T'Chaka smiled proudly.
"Our warriors died in battle before a god. That means their spirits will walk directly into the ancestral world."
His voice grew louder with pride.
"That is the greatest honor a Wakandan can receive."
He leaned closer.
"And the Black Panther stood beside you."
"That means you are either a champion of the gods or an emissary of some greater power."
T'Chaka laughed.
"Any warrior would feel honored to die in battle against someone like you."
Right after saying that, the king bent backward and flipped into a ridiculous spinning jump.
Axel stared with wide eyes.
"Holy shit."
"Do Wakandans compete for the throne through dance battles?"
"You are way too good at this!"
He gave T'Chaka a thumbs up.
Meanwhile several Wakandan elders approached Axel carrying ceremonial wreaths normally reserved for kings and gods.
They placed them over his shoulders respectfully.
Axel scratched his head awkwardly.
"I killed a bunch of your people and you are giving me flowers."
"That is weird as hell."
He sighed.
"If I knew you people were this fun, I would have killed fewer of you."
He rubbed his forehead.
"Now I feel guilty."
"Maybe for half an hour."
T'Chaka rolled his eyes.
"Actually, the vibranium and the technology you requested are already prepared."
He coughed politely.
"So if you wish to depart…"
Axel smirked.
"Trying to get rid of me?"
"Of course not."
"Heh."
Axel stretched lazily.
"Relax. I was leaving anyway. Wakanda does not even have Brazilian girls."
He followed the elders toward the storage area.
Moments later they reached a massive block of raw vibranium.
Without any effort, Axel lifted the three ton metal chunk with one hand.
The Wakandan elders stared in stunned silence.
The massive metal block was as large as a five story building, but vibranium was far lighter than iron, making it possible for Axel to carry it like luggage.
Axel grinned.
"Well then."
"Looks like my shopping trip to Wakanda paid off."
===
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