If Robert truly possessed power on this level, then Knull felt that perhaps his earlier behavior had been... less than respectful. Hopefully, not too disrespectful, right?
However, Robert wasn't paying Knull any attention. The latter's strength had failed to impress him. Robert couldn't understand where Knull got the illusion that he could kill Celestials with a single strike, but with his current level of power, Knull was clearly no match for the entirety of the Celestials.
Now that he had learned from Gorr that his homeworld might harbor a newly born Celestial, Robert was determined to investigate. After all, Earth's Dimensional Consciousness—likely a mutated Celestial—refused to show itself, making it difficult for Robert to use it to track other Celestials.
But a freshly born Celestial would be different. Such a being would inevitably seek contact with its kin. Even if it couldn't travel between universes, it might still reach out through other means. This could provide Robert the opportunity he had been searching for: a lead on the Celestials' current whereabouts.
"Tell me, where exactly is your homeworld?" Robert asked Gorr. Instantly teleporting there without a precise location was impossible, but he didn't need to rely solely on sensing energy. The star charts on Oa could serve as an excellent waypoint.
"My home is located in the xx sector, on the planet xx," Gorr answered promptly. He seemed almost eager.
If it was true that the Celestials were responsible for his planet's downfall, then his daughter's death couldn't be entirely blamed on Lap God. Instead, the true culprit would be the Celestial whose emergence had ravaged his world.
The thought consumed him. Gorr clenched his fists. He knew he was powerless against such a being, even with the Necrosword. But Robert's power—and his apparent enmity toward the Celestials—offered the perfect opportunity for vengeance.
"Alright then, let's go," Robert said with a nod. He didn't know the precise location offhand, but once they reached Oa, he'd be able to triangulate it easily.
"Wait!"
Knull's voice echoed from afar. He glared at Robert and declared, "I'm coming with you. I still don't believe the Celestials have found a way to reproduce. I need to see it with my own eyes!"
"And why exactly should I care about what you believe?" Robert retorted, his tone dismissive. To him, Knull wasn't particularly important. Despite sharing a hatred for the Celestials, Knull was simply too outdated—stuck in the past, unaware of recent developments.
Knull had been hiding for ages, relying on old grudges to fuel his plans. Even if he could barely touch upon the threshold of a universe-creating entity, Robert doubted he could take on the entire Celestial race. Their vast arsenal of abilities, not to mention strategies to counter divine weapons like the Necrosword, made that unlikely.
"You—!"
Knull was momentarily stunned by the response, his pride bruised. Rage simmered within him, but the memory of Robert's earlier display of power kept him in check. In the end, he could only watch helplessly as Robert and Gorr vanished into thin air.
"Damn it!" Knull muttered bitterly once they were gone. "You think I can't go on my own? We'll see about that!"
With a swipe of his Necrosword, Knull tore open a pitch-black rift in space and stepped through it.
Moments later, Knull emerged on Gorr's desolate homeworld.
"Hmm? No sign of them yet?" Knull mumbled as he surveyed the barren landscape. The planet was in ruins, devoid of any life. He frowned in confusion.
But before he could ponder further, Robert and Gorr suddenly appeared beside him, startling him. Robert had used Knull's energy signature as a beacon to teleport directly to the planet.
"Huh?!" Knull's eyes widened. He hadn't sensed any spatial fluctuations. How was Robert able to appear without warning like that? Still, he quickly masked his surprise with mockery.
"Finally show up, huh? What took you so long? Looks like your abilities aren't all that great after all," Knull sneered.
"And yet you've found nothing in your 'head start,'" Robert replied, his tone indifferent.
"Because there's nothing to find! I know the Celestials better than anyone. There's no sign of life here. Besides, beings of their size can't just vanish without a trace!" Knull scoffed. He had already scoured the area and found no evidence of a Celestial.
He began to doubt Robert's claims. The very idea that the Celestials had developed a way to reproduce seemed absurd to him.
Robert, however, shook his head. "Just because you can't detect it doesn't mean it's not here. Your knowledge is woefully outdated."
He turned his gaze to the planet's core. Deep beneath the surface, Robert sensed a faint but unmistakable energy signature. It wasn't exactly familiar, but it bore the distinct qualities of the Celestial race—a resonance Robert had learned to recognize through many encounters.
"There's something down there," Robert murmured.
"Really?! Where is it?" Knull demanded, his interest piqued.
"If it's truly a Celestial, then my world was destroyed because of it..." Gorr muttered bitterly. "In that case, I don't care if the planet itself is destroyed. There's nothing left for me here but memories of loss."
Robert nodded approvingly. "Good. That simplifies things." He turned to Gorr. "However, it's best if you don't stay here during the confrontation. You can't survive in space without some form of protection."
"See? You do need me!" Knull cut in triumphantly. With a wave of his Necrosword, he summoned it to Gorr's side. "The sword will let him survive out here just fine."
Gorr hesitated, glancing at Robert for approval.
"Go ahead," Robert said with a nod. With the sword, Gorr would at least have the means to protect himself from the battle's aftermath.
"Hummmm!"
With Gorr now airborne, Robert turned his attention back to the planet's core. He extended his hand and fired a precise energy blast straight into the ground.
"Whoosh!"
The beam bored deep into the earth, leaving no collateral damage. In seconds, it struck the buried target.
"Hmm?" Knull sensed it immediately—a powerful, all-too-familiar presence stirring deep below. His face darkened.
"Rumble..."
The ground trembled violently. Cracks spidered across the surface as mountains rose from the seas. It was as if the planet itself were hatching like an egg, something colossal awakening within.
"It's really happening... A Celestial is being born!" Knull whispered, his voice a mixture of awe and fury.
"How many other worlds have they destroyed for this?" Gorr growled, his hatred reigniting. "They're responsible for countless lives lost… they deserve nothing but death!"
Robert narrowed his eyes as the celestial force grew stronger beneath them. This was the moment he had been waiting for.
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