"Chthon, one person cannot balance the Multiverse."
Eternity's voice rang out, interrupting Chthon and Lifebringer's farce, and pointed out Chthon's most fatal flaw in wanting to replace the cosmic law.
"The Living Tribunal has three faces, representing equality, necessity, and vengeance respectively.
"Logos also has three faces, representing order, chaos, and opposing coexistence respectively."
"And you, Chthon? Balance exists between all things, where is your balance?"
Chthon only wanted to occupy the position of a certain abstract entity first. As for the responsibilities of that position, they were not within his scope of consideration.
For a moment, he was at a loss for how to answer.
Seeing this, Lucas suggested, "The God of Black Magic, the God of White Magic, and the Sorcerer, this is also a form of balance."
"I propose that the God of Black Magic, Chthon, the God of White magic, the Vishanti, and a highly respected Sorcerer Supreme jointly govern the new cosmic law."
Eternity refused, "That's inappropriate. Magic originated in the Fifth Cosmos, and now it is the Eighth Cosmos."
Lucas shook his head.
Too small, the scope was too small.
"Magic originated in the Fifth Cosmos, but it is not limited to the Fifth Cosmos. All things in the world are in dynamic development, and magic, as a methodology for understanding the Multiverse, is no exception."
"Currently, magic is not just magic, it is also science. It exists in every corner of everything."
Lucas looked directly at Eternity, their gazes clashing without either giving way.
A soundless stillness began to spread.
As Lucas and Eternity confronted each other, Lifebringer, Chthon, and 1610 Mister Fantastic couldn't help but hold their breath.
For Lucas, Logos was his spoils of war. Asking him to give it up for free was impossible.
He needed to fulfill his promise to Chthon and take the opportunity to promote his own people. As for whether it was suitable, that wasn't important.
So what was Logos to Eternity?
Important, but not that important.
After a long stare-down with Lucas, Eternity said, "Sorcerer Lucas, you are powerful, and as the Sorcerer Supreme, you are also close with the God of Black Magic, Chthon. I wonder if you would be willing to become one of the new law's trinity."
Lucas slowly shook his head, his tone somewhat softened. "Though I am powerful, my seniority is insufficient, and I cannot be considered highly respected, so I cannot undertake such a heavy responsibility."
Eternity paused slightly, then asked, "Then what about the former Sorcerer Supreme of Earth-616, Sorcerer Lucas? Do you think he can be considered highly respected?"
Lucas feigned contemplation for a moment, then nodded and said, "Ancient One has guarded Earth-616 for thousands of years, repelling countless covetous Dimensional Lords externally and nurturing many excellent sorcerers internally. Naturally, he can be considered highly respected."
Choosing the male Ancient One to be one of the balanced trinity of the new cosmic law was acceptable to both Lucas and Eternity.
On some level, the male Ancient One was not only an intermediary between Chthon and the Vishanti, but also between Lucas and Eternity.
"Good, then I will trouble Sorcerer Lucas to inform Oshtur, Hoggoth, Agamotto, and the Ancient One to cooperate with Chthon in nurturing the new cosmic law of 'Balance' to restore equilibrium to the Multiverse."
Leaving this behind, Eternity transformed into starlight and gradually faded away, the shackles on his hands, feet, and neck also disappearing with him, returning to his previous lifelike yet lifeless idol state.
With Eternity gone, Chthon let out a long breath, the strained expression on his face instantly transforming into a myriad of shifting emotions, appearing unpredictable.
But overall, joy predominated.
He succeeded!
Ever since he accidentally discovered Eternity was imprisoned and the Multiverse's hierarchical order entered an unprecedented state of chaos, he had been seeking possibilities for further advancement.
His original goal was merely cosmic entities like Eternity's children. He never expected to accidentally gain a part of the Living Tribunal's law—though only a portion.
Excited by the thought, Chthon couldn't help but throw a punch, accidentally (on purpose) sending 1610 Mister Fantastic, who seemed to be spacing out beside him, flying with a thud.
"I'm very sorry, Richards. I was just too happy and didn't notice you standing there."
Damn bastard! How dare he mock me just now?
1610 Mister Fantastic feigned an exaggerated laugh and said, "It's nothing, Lord Chthon. I'm happy for you too. I believe that under your maintenance, the Multiverse will definitely maintain a balanced and stable development."
"Hmph!" Lifebringer snorted coldly and left without a word.
He believed that Chthon was different from him. He had truly changed completely in his soul, evolving into the Lifebringer. Chthon, however, only wanted to seize the cosmic law for power, and in essence, he was still the uninhibited God of Darkness.
"Let's go, Chthon, we should go see the Vishanti and the Ancient One."
Lucas gave 1610 Mister Fantastic a meaningful look, then asked Chthon to leave.
1610 Mister Fantastic's flattery just now carried a hint of sarcasm and resentment, which the overly excited Chthon didn't catch, but Lucas did.
Lucas had a vague premonition that 1610 Mister Fantastic would definitely cause trouble, which would be fitting for his identity.
With a thought, Lucas's mental power extended, wanting to capture the electromagnetic wave signals emanating from 1610 Mister Fantastic, thereby reading his thoughts.
However...
It was blocked.
1610 Mister Fantastic's thoughts were blocked by the strange helmet he was wearing.
Lucas chuckled lightly, not forcefully breaking through the strange helmet's obstruction. He already knew what 1610 Mister Fantastic wanted to do, so there was no need for extra effort.
On the way there, the four traveled together leisurely in a spaceship.
On the way back, however, they each had their own destinations and varying speeds.
By the time 1610 Mister Fantastic walked out of the Altar of Eternity, Lucas, Chthon, and Lifebringer were long gone.
Boarding his spaceship and activating the detection device, 1610 Mister Fantastic let out a strange laugh, full of sarcasm.
"What cosmic being, what Multiverse avatar, nothing more than that. No different from those scheming merchants and politicians among humans."
"No, the safety of the Multiverse cannot be entrusted to them, they are too weak. What a pity, I didn't get Logos."
1610 Mister Fantastic mumbled as he walked towards a huge instrument inside the spaceship.
Although he failed to obtain Logos from Lucas, with the fragments of information extracted from the Dark Celestials about another unified Universe, the First Firmament, 1610 Mister Fantastic was confident in evolving the Multiverse into a single Universe.
...
"Queen of Nevers!"
"Queen of Nevers!"
After 1610 Mister Fantastic also left the Shadow Dimension, a mysterious call echoed within the Altar of Eternity, piercing through reality and illusion.
"Eternity, what do you need me for?"
On a plane outside of time and space, the embodiment of all possibilities in the world, the Queen of Nevers, embodiment of the Fourth Cosmos, responded to Eternity's call.
"The situation has changed. Contact the past Multiverse avatars on the other shore for me."
Frowning slightly, the Queen of Nevers looked down at her palm, where countless changing images appeared. These were all possible futures.
After observing for a moment, her brow furrowed even deeper.
She stretched out her other hand, and countless images reappeared on it. These were the possibilities she had observed in the past, futures that existed in the past.
At this moment, these past futures no longer matched the present.
Some possibilities she thought would happen had collapsed, while some impossible events had occurred.
After a long ponder, the Queen of Nevers uttered one word, "Okay."
On a plane outside of time and space, the past Multiverse avatars met again as projections.
After stating the current situation, Eternity asked, "The First Firmament can escape to the far shore again at any moment. What should we do?"
The Sixth Cosmos said, "That depends on whether the World Tree has accumulated enough energy. If there's enough energy to sustain our fight, then transforming into a single Universe to lure the First Firmament into action is also a viable plan."
Besides the Queen of Nevers, the Second Cosmos, the Third Cosmos, the Fifth Cosmos, and the Seventh Cosmos, Infinity, Eternity's sister, all agreed.
"Are you confident?" Eternity asked worriedly.
Infinity explained, "The other shore is not the end, it is where everything begins."