This situation revealed the complexity of human nature. Even the students of Kamar-Taj, many of whom had dedicated their lives to protecting Earth, were tempted by the Reality Stone. These weren't bad people—they were, in fact, unsung heroes—but the power of the Reality Stone could stir even the best of them. If they hadn't already known about its immense power, one might suspect the stone had the ability to corrupt hearts as well.
"I should be the one to do this. The Reality Stone was inside me before, and my powers were enhanced by it. If you tell me how to use it, I might be able to control it better," Lorna finally spoke up, unable to remain silent any longer.
The situation on Earth was dire, and Robert's battle with Malekith wasn't something that could be resolved quickly. If Robert could have easily defeated Malekith, he wouldn't have sent Lorna and Baron Mordo to Kamar-Taj to find a way to break this stalemate. Even if Malekith were defeated, Earth would still be shrouded in darkness—the source of the darkness wasn't tied solely to him. The planet wouldn't return to normal just because Malekith and the dark elves were eliminated.
What none of them knew was that the wish Kors made using the Reality Stone wasn't just to return the universe to a dark era. The darkness on Earth was fertile, capable of nurturing a new generation of dark elves if given enough time.
Regardless of whether Robert and the others knew about this hidden power, they had to remove the darkness quickly. So Lorna decisively spoke up.
Hearing her words, the students of Kamar-Taj fell silent, especially Doom and those who had been eager to use the Reality Stone for themselves.
"I think it's a good idea."
"I agree."
"The stone does seem to be more compatible with her, so she's likely to do a better job."
At this point, Wong, Kaecilius, and Baron Mordo all voiced their support for Lorna. The other students, even if they wanted to argue, couldn't bring themselves to speak up, as their personal ambitions would be too obvious.
In the end, no one opposed Lorna, and under the magical guidance of Kamar-Taj's forces, the Reality Stone returned to her hands. However, this time, it didn't merge into her body.
Suddenly, a terrifying power descended upon Kamar-Taj and Earth itself. But it wasn't from Lorna or the Reality Stone—it was an overwhelming force of darkness pressing down on the entire Earth dimension.
"Success! The plan worked!" General Kabo's voice rang out near Robert's battlefield, filled with glee and unrestrained relief.
"It's not a total success, but it's close," T'ara responded, her voice calm but tinged with satisfaction. "For now, Earth is shrouded in absolute darkness. Even if the Dark Dimension were to strike, they could only swallow Earth, not the entire universe."
"Haha, you're too modest, boss. Earth is coveted by almost every dimension, but none have succeeded. Now that you're about to hand it to the Dark Dimension, the Lord will surely reward you!" General Manny chimed in, eager to flatter.
Though it seemed that the Shadow Legion's leaders were of similar rank, in reality, T'ara's power far exceeded theirs. And after bringing Earth to the brink of being consumed by the Dark Dimension, her position would only rise further, perhaps to one just below their ruler.
"Someone else is here?" Robert frowned as he sensed the presence of T'ara and her group. They had revealed themselves, perhaps in their arrogance, as they believed the time had come to claim victory.
"The dark aura... Who are these people?" Malekith, more attuned to the surrounding darkness, also sensed T'ara's presence, his mind filling with unease. Though he had no means of defeating Robert quickly, the appearance of new, powerful figures whose dark energy rivaled his own made him wary.
These people weren't related to the dark elves, but their motives were unclear. This uncertainty made Malekith cautious, as he didn't want to end up serving someone else's ambitions.
"Is this another incursion from the Dark Dimension?" Back at Kamar-Taj, the students were the first to feel the pressure from this powerful dimension. They exchanged confused and anxious looks.
"No, though it's also dark in nature, this dimension is much stronger than the Dark Dimension," Doom said, gazing at the sky with a grave expression.
Doom hadn't expected to encounter such powerful entities in the supernatural world so soon. Normally, even a transcendent being might go their entire life without encountering dimensions of this magnitude. Even the Ancient One, after all her years, had rarely faced such an event, much less two dimension incursions back-to-back.
"What about Superman? What about the Saiyan? Why haven't they acted yet?" Doom asked urgently, turning toward Lorna.
"The Saiyan is fighting a powerful enemy. As for Superman, he's busy saving people across the planet," Lorna replied, her brow furrowed.
"It's too late for that! If this dimension fully descends, it will be more terrifying than any enemy. No one on Earth will survive. We need to deal with the Dark Dimension first!" Doom insisted. He opened a portal using his magic, the sparks of the gateway flickering as he called out a warning.
"Another Dark Dimension is descending! You need to find Superman, quickly! This one is even stronger than the last!" Doom shouted before closing the portal again, not daring to leave it open, knowing the dark elves were still lurking nearby, eager for the Reality Stone.
"Dark Dimension?!" Robert and Malekith exclaimed simultaneously. Both turned to where T'ara and her group were hiding, immediately locking onto them as the likely source of the disturbance.
"Yes, we are from the Dark Dimension," T'ara said calmly as she and her followers stepped out of the shadows. "We've already arrived, and our power is pressing down on Earth. Soon, the Dark Dimension will consume this planet."
As T'ara spoke, the Earth dimension instinctively resisted. Earth's consciousness, which had gained strength from the previous encounter with the Dark Dimension, pushed back with all its might, refusing to let the Dark Dimension break through. It had grown stronger from its earlier clash and would not allow another incursion.
Unbeknownst to T'ara and her allies, Earth's resistance was thanks to the Dark Dimension's earlier defeat, which had unwittingly strengthened the planet's defenses. Now, with both forces at an impasse, T'ara and her group believed their victory was inevitable.
"Dark Dimension? Who are you people?!" Malekith's eyes widened in shock as he observed T'ara and her followers. Though the darkness surrounding them had been created by the dark elves through the Reality Stone, T'ara's resonance with the darkness far surpassed his own.
"I've told you—we are from the Dark Dimension. While you dark elves were born of the universe's darkness, we are the manifestation of the strongest dark power across dimensions. No dimension can compare to the Dark Dimension in terms of pure darkness!" T'ara spoke proudly.
"That said, your dark elves are quite capable. If you wish, I can guide you into the Dark Dimension. After all, a single universe is too small for your ambitions. Our goal lies in higher dimensions."
"The Dark Dimension…" Malekith's expression flickered. For a race that thrived on darkness, the Dark Dimension was indeed an enticing option. But quickly, he composed himself. As the leader of the dark elves, Malekith knew he had to consider the future of his people, and he couldn't simply throw in his lot with the Dark Dimension. He needed to ensure the dark elves retained their value.
Malekith fell silent, deciding to watch and see how the battle between the Dark Dimension and Earth's defenders unfolded before making any decisions.
"The Shadow Legion, huh? We've met before," Robert said, recognizing the aura of T'ara's group. He was familiar with their energy, having encountered them during previous clashes with the Shadow Legion.
And now, with the Dark Dimension looming just outside the Earth dimension, Robert had sensed this energy many times before when trying to kill the Shadow Legion generals.
"You know us?" T'ara frowned, her suspicions deepening as she looked at Robert.
"Yeah, I've killed plenty of your people. Each time, some dimensional force tried to save them. Too bad it didn't work," Robert said with a smile. "I guess that makes me your Legion's nemesis, right?"
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