"When Earth was not yet Earth, when it was still Midgard—it belonged to the parallel universe of Yggdrasil, the World Tree. That was the same universe where Thor came from."
"Later, Earth fell from the branches of the World Tree. From that moment on, Earth became simply... Earth."
"But when it fell, a seed fell with it—and took root."
"Then Yahweh arrived, bringing with him his Heaven Dimension."
"He came with a mission."
"Just as Mephisto is the Lord of Death under Death herself, Yahweh too was created by someone."
"Humanity—'the little black ones,' as they were called—were raised like livestock. Their purpose was to nourish that buried seed with life energy."
"When the life on Earth reached a certain critical point, the seed would sprout and burst forth from the ground."
"That's why humanity's evolution doesn't align with science."
"They are foolish, fragile, and weak-minded."
"Because they were never meant to be anything but livestock."
"And then…"
"Mephisto defeated Yahweh and his Heaven Dimension, claiming Earth as his own."
"But now, Yahweh and Heaven have returned."
"That red apple is the proof."
"It was left behind intentionally when Yahweh retreated—waiting for this very day."
"Merrick claimed he received divine revelation from God. Using the red apple, he cloned endlessly—recycling the formatted souls inside it, purifying them like laundering money. Then, after killing those clones, he sent the souls into Hell."
"They were trying to create a Death Angel—something capable of defeating Mephisto, seizing Hell, and reclaiming Earth so that the seed could finally grow."
"That…"
"That is the truth behind this dimensional war."
Sitting again on the steps of the deck, Hawk told Sharon everything, keeping his promise not to hide a single detail.
As he spoke, Sharon's expression shifted exactly as he expected—shock, disbelief, and confusion chasing each other across her face like a storm of emotions.
Her faith trembled. Her heart quaked.
She tried to steady herself—to keep her belief intact.
But it was no use.
Faith collapses like a mountain once it begins to fall.
When Hawk's words ended, Sharon's faith shattered completely.
After a long silence, she finally looked up at him, her voice dry and cracking. "So… God came back this time to destroy us?"
Hawk nodded. "Yes."
"I…" Sharon swallowed hard. "I need a moment—to process that."
"I understand."
"Thank you."
Her faith in ruins, Sharon forced a brittle smile. "So what does S.H.I.E.L.D. need to do?"
Hawk rose, glancing down at her with a faint smile. "Nothing. This war has nothing to do with ordinary humans."
This was a war between dimensions—Heaven and Hell. Humanity had no place in it.
Sharon stood up as well.
"But you said if God wins, He'll destroy the Earth."
"Uh…" Hawk blinked at her tense expression. "So you don't want God to win?"
Sharon shook her head. "I want world peace."
If she had to choose between faith and peace—she'd choose peace.
Her faith in God came from her mother's words when she was a child.
But her belief in peace came from herself.
That was why she joined S.H.I.E.L.D. in the first place.
So once again—between God and peace—she chose peace.
"That's why…" Sharon exhaled deeply, sweeping away the shattered remains of her faith and focusing her eyes on Hawk. "What can S.H.I.E.L.D. do to stop this?"
Hawk raised a brow, surprised by the new steadiness in her voice.
But—
"You really don't need to do anything."
"But—"
"Don't forget," Hawk said with a grin, "God dragged me into this."
She blinked, then realization struck.
Right.
Merrick's clones—all of them—were clones of Hawk.
Of course.
Caught the wrong man to mess with.
The image flashed through her mind: the ruins of Molokai Island, filled with twisted, half-decayed Hawks scattered across the crater. She looked again at the real one standing before her, smiling faintly—
And she could suddenly imagine him destroying Heaven itself, just as he had destroyed Wakanda.
Moments later, Hawk finished his story, rose from the deck, and soared into the sky, vanishing toward New York.
On the speedboat, Sharon watched him disappear into the clouds. After a long breath, she lifted her satellite phone and contacted S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
High above the clouds—
Hawk flew steadily toward New York, suppressing his presence with the Reality Stone while his mind drifted into his inner cosmos.
Whoosh—
In the Underworld, within the Frozen Hell of the Eight Infernal Prisons—
On an endless plain of eternal frost, the once-lonely Alexander Pierce was no longer alone.
Merrick stood beside him.
Pierce trudged forward blankly through the blizzard, ignoring Merrick's confused shouting.
Then—
Hawk appeared before them in an instant.
Merrick froze, then burst out angrily, "Samael! You really are a fallen angel! God gave you another chance, and yet you betray—"
"Boom!"
Hawk narrowed his eyes and sent Merrick flying tens of thousands of miles away with a single punch. He didn't even want to talk to that idiot—doing so might lower his own IQ.
Pierce, expressionless, raised his head just long enough to glance at Hawk before continuing forward like an automaton.
Hawk smiled faintly, turning toward him.
Frozen solid, huh?
With a thought, he froze the entire prison in time.
"Pierce!"
"…."
The old man's steps halted. Feeling the sudden stillness of the air—the stopped blizzard and frozen snow—he turned slowly, meeting Hawk's eyes.
"Mr. Phoenix."
"Still calling me mister?"
Hawk's tone was calm. "How many times have you died?"
Pierce's expression didn't change. "I lost count after thirteen thousand five hundred."
"That many?"
Hawk arched a brow, then smiled faintly. "Do you regret it? If you do, I can let you go."
A flicker of light stirred in Pierce's dull eyes.
No one who hadn't experienced the Frozen Hell could comprehend its despair—an endless wasteland of snow, eternal blizzards, no escape, no rest.
He had even tried to kill himself to escape—only to realize it was impossible.
Not without Hawk's permission.
Now…
Pierce hesitated, then asked quietly, "You'd really let me out?"
"You've been in here long enough," Hawk said evenly. "And you should already understand why I locked you here."
Pierce was silent for a long time before nodding. "Anna."
"Yes."
Hawk nodded. "Tell me where you hid Anna, and I'll pardon you. You can leave the Frozen Hell. Maybe not reach the Pure Lands—but at least live freely in the Underworld."
Pierce's lips twitched slightly before he turned away.
"This place… is fine."
"Hah!"
Hawk laughed softly. "You didn't see Merrick, did you?"
"I saw him."
"I already know you and Merrick tried to clone me. And since he's here, you know that plan failed."
"So…"
"What's the point in resisting anymore? I told you before—I don't give second chances."
"But I'll give you one more."
"Anna."
"Where is she? Tell me, and you're free."
"I never give anyone two chances—but you, Pierce… I'll give you one final chance. Don't disappoint me."
Hawk didn't have many friends—countable on one hand.
Actually, less than that.
Whoever's number was saved in his phone—that was all the friends he had.
And one of those numbers… had never connected again.
Yes.
He missed Anna. Not for love or obligation—just friendship.
Because as he'd always said—he didn't care about sides or factions.
If he called you a friend, that was enough.
Anna was his friend.
And Alexander Pierce—the man before him—was the only one who knew where she was.
So for Anna's sake, Hawk was willing to give him one last chance.
The final chance.
…
(End of Chapter)
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