"Enough, I'm heading back. Don't say anything unnecessary!" Constantine grumbled as he opened a fiery portal and left, leaving the bewildered Darkwolf behind.
"Was that a hint for me to drop his name?" Darkwolf muttered, staring at the fading portal. "If so, why not just say it outright? He's making this way harder than it needs to be. If it weren't for that dark creature he promised me, I wouldn't bother helping."
Darkwolf's realization was spot on. Constantine, true to his scheming nature, had left the task of subtly informing Robert to Darkwolf. All of this was a part of Constantine's plan to indirectly involve Robert in the situation with Doom, while ensuring he could claim innocence.
As Constantine returned to Kamar-Taj, he was immediately greeted by Kaecilius's sharp gaze. Neither of them spoke, but their exchanged looks conveyed volumes.
"How did it go?" Kaecilius's expression was calm, though his tone carried an edge of concern.
"Didn't meet him. Left a trail, though. If Robert goes back to the Avengers compound, he might come investigate," Constantine replied.
"Will that work?"
"Not sure."
"Should we just contact him directly?"
"With Doom being so... erratic, bringing Robert here uninvited might agitate him further."
"True. That would be... problematic."
Though they had different approaches, Constantine and Kaecilius were aligned on one thing: ensuring Doom's risky venture didn't spiral into disaster. Both men headed to the underground arcane chamber within Kamar-Taj, where Doom's captured dimensional lords were being held.
Doom had managed to subdue five powerful dimensional lords after relentless battles. But keeping them imprisoned was no small feat. Dragging them into further conflicts would have been catastrophic, as adversaries could potentially release the captives to turn the tide against Doom.
Reluctantly, Doom left the captives at Kamar-Taj, entrusting the sorcerers to maintain their confinement.
In the arcane chamber, Kamar-Taj's apprentices were abuzz with debate.
"Should we... leave some safeguards on these dimensional lords? You know, just in case."
Constantine's arrival coincided with the discussion. "Brilliant idea!" he exclaimed, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Why should Mephisto always get the upper hand? This is a golden opportunity to turn the tables!"
The apprentices exchanged glances, hesitant but intrigued. "What do you suggest?"
"Traps, curses, you name it. But our expertise alone isn't enough. We need someone who truly knows how to scheme."
The apprentices collectively groaned. They knew exactly whom Constantine was referring to.
"Whack!"
Constantine yelped as a sharp crack landed on the back of his head. He spun around, clutching his head, only to see the Ancient One standing behind him with an amused expression.
"Talking about me behind my back, are we?" she asked, her voice light but her eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Of course not!" Constantine quickly denied, though his sheepish grin betrayed him.
The Ancient One waved her hand dismissively. "No matter. I've got a few ideas myself. Let's prepare something... educational for Mephisto, shall we?"
"Yes, Master!" the apprentices replied in unison, eager to see what the legendary sorcerer had in store.
Meanwhile, on New Earth, Robert appeared with Carol at the Kent family farm.
"Carol?!" Kara looked up from her sunbathing spot, her eyes lighting up as she recognized her sister-in-law.
The commotion brought the Kent and Danvers families outside. As soon as Mrs. Danvers saw Carol, she burst into tears of joy and rushed to embrace her. Carol, overwhelmed, hugged her mother tightly, tears welling in her eyes.
This reunion was unlike any other. For the first time, Carol wasn't the invincible heroine; she was just a daughter coming home.
While the Kent and Danvers families basked in their long-awaited reunion, Clark found himself restless. He couldn't stay cooped up on New Earth for long. Despite Earth's complicated social dynamics, he felt compelled to return and discreetly help wherever he could.
Carol, on the other hand, was grounded by her loss of powers. Though Reed Richards had agreed to investigate potential methods for restoring her abilities, there were no guarantees. Without the energy of the Space Stone, her powers remained dormant, and using the stone again posed significant risks.
Back at the Avengers compound, Robert returned to find Darkwolf waiting for him.
"Constantine came by? And he didn't explain himself?" Robert asked, puzzled.
Darkwolf shrugged. "Pretty much. He was cryptic as usual, muttering something about Kamar-Taj having new discoveries."
"Kamar-Taj, huh?" Robert's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Could it be something related to the dimensions? Maybe they found a new dimensional lord..."
Before Darkwolf could respond, Robert vanished in a blur.
Moments later, Robert appeared at Kamar-Taj, startling several apprentices.
"What's with all these dimensional creatures? They look... formidable. Since when does Kamar-Taj imprison beings like these?"
His gaze swept over the captives.
"Wait a second," Robert said, turning to Constantine. "Don't tell me you brought your old bad habits here. Are you planning to sacrifice these beings to pay off some debt?"
"What?! No!" Constantine shot back indignantly. "I've turned over a new leaf, thank you very much!"
Robert chuckled at Constantine's outburst, but his attention quickly returned to the dimensional lords. Their presence hinted at something big—possibly another chance to test his limits.
For now, Robert's curiosity was piqued, and he was ready to dive headfirst into the mysteries that awaited.
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