The Time Stone was responsible for returning to the past.
The Reality Stone shaped scenes and gave them real form.
Soon, before everyone, a scene appeared from just before Ajak's death, revived in the form of a real projection.
Everyone moved around, observing the events etched into the river of time.
The first scene was in front of the wooden house, just moments before Ajak died.
"Ikaris!"
"You were there!?"
Sersi stared at the display, watching as two Infinity Stones opened and revealed the truth. Aron's instinct had been completely correct.
The last person Ajak saw before she died was none other than Ikaris. The two of them sat on the bench in front of the house, talking like old acquaintances.
---
"Ikaris, I need your support." Ajak was seated on the bench, turned toward him, speaking in a serious tone.
"You know yourself, the Celestials intend to destroy this planet."
"I have followed Arishem for millions of years and never once doubted him. But this time…"
Her gaze softened as she continued: "I have spent thousands of years among humans. I have seen them fight, cheat, and kill. But I have also watched them laugh, love, and fulfill dreams."
"This planet must not be destroyed. That is both my conclusion and Tiamut's."
Aron observed the projection, while Ikaris's face slowly changed.
"You want to stop the Celestials?"
"Stop Tiamut's birth?"
Ikaris did not believe Ajak's words; the point was that he didn't believe it had been Tiamut's decision.
Because preventing birth, for Tiamut, was the same as self-destruction.
As an unborn god.
Tiamut would forever slumber deep within Earth's core.
What difference was there between this and suicide?
Killing a Celestial just to save a group of worthless, weak humans?
Ikaris could not comprehend Ajak's choice.
Yet, he did not immediately dismiss what he heard.
"I believe you, Ajak, and as always, I will follow your decisions."
"Thank you, Ikaris." On Ajak's face a trace of relief could be seen.
She knew that stopping the birth of a Celestial being was something nearly impossible. It would surely incite Arishem's wrath, their leader. But despite that, she was ready to seek help from all sides, including human heroes.
"I have already contacted some members of the Avengers," she continued. "Next, I am going to Kamar-Taj. I will seek the help of the human sorcerers."
As she spoke, Ikaris's face darkened.
"Ajak, I support your words," he said after a moment of silence. "But…"
"First I must show you something."
…
"Where did they go?"
Seeing that the image temporarily vanished, Sersi asked anxiously. She desperately wanted to know the truth about Ajak's death.
"Don't worry, now they're going to Alaska. I'll skip the travel scene."
Aron controlled the Eye of Agamotto.
Looking back, he couldn't resist poking at the gloomy Ikaris:
"Little Superman, you don't mind if I edit this a little, do you?"
"…"
Ikaris's face remained dark as his fists clenched the air. He could never have imagined that such an artifact existed on Earth. The very thought that what he had done would soon be revealed before everyone made him nervous.
He tried to hide his agitation, but among the Eternals, who had lived and fought together for thousands of years, there was no place for hiding.
"Ikaris, you…!" Sersi felt disbelief.
But Aron didn't care. He had already adjusted the rest of the scene and released it through the Reality Stone.
…
Alaska.
Ajak and Ikaris arrived at a snow-covered mountain. On the edge of a cliff, beneath them stretched a vast frozen lake. On its surface moved dozens of monstrous figures.
"Mutants!?"
"How can there be so many?" Ajak's eyes widened.
"They were trapped in the ice at the bottom of the lake. We ignored this area. But as the Celestial drew closer and the Earth's core heated up, they awakened. These you see now are just the beginning. In the tunnels beneath the lake, their numbers grow day by day."
Ikaris spoke of the mutants, but his gaze remained fixed on Ajak.
"Ikaris! We must inform the others immediately!"
"I knew the mutants would appear, but I didn't expect it to be so soon… and in such numbers…" Ajak looked worriedly down the cliff.
And just then—
Ikaris's eyes glowed and released two powerful golden beams.
"You…" Ajak began to turn, but the beams had already struck her in the back and hurled her straight into the frozen lake.
Boom!
The water splashed. The moment she fell in, Ajak broke free from the impact and tried to fly. But dozens of mutants had already surrounded her.
They attacked. With teeth, claws, fury. The ice cracked, and from the depths of the dark lake more mutants emerged, drawn by blood and battle.
"Ikaris!" Ajak fought desperately, but her power was healing, not combat. Surrounded, she quickly began to weaken.
In the end, exhausted, she fell onto the ice.
"Rik——!"
A massive mutant stepped forward. Tentacles sprouted from his back and pierced into Ajak's body, sucking energy from her.
Her healing powers began transferring to him.
And not only to him.
His tentacles connected with the other mutants. Golden energy spread like flame through the horde, and the mutants began to change. Their wounds vanished, their strength increased.
Now they all possessed Ajak's power of regeneration.
"Rik——!" "Rik——!"
They roared as one, piercing the sky. The mutants celebrated their evolution.
But then, as they rampaged, a figure tore through them. A flash gleamed, and someone seized Ajak's lifeless body.
It was Ikaris.
Aron made sure the projection displayed that very moment. In slow motion, clear, everyone could see Ikaris's face, without a trace of sorrow. Only a dark expression, even a twisted smile of satisfaction.
…
Silence fell as the scene ended.
Everyone stared at Ikaris.
"…"
Ikaris knew. His betrayal was laid bare. His face hardened, and his gaze filled with murderous intent as it swept across his comrades.
There was no turning back. If he wanted to survive, he would have to kill them all.
But then his eyes fell on Aron.
In an instant, all rage and resolve vanished.
It was over.
He understood, before this man he didn't stand a chance.
–––
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