Chapter 138: The Mysterious Smile
With all preparations complete, the Elders of the Universe, Ragna, and their allies exchanged knowing glances. No words were needed.
Ragna, wielding the Sun Scepter, led the charge alongside the most powerful enforcer among the Cosmic Elders, both targeting the two tallest Celestials. The remaining Celestials, along with Thanos, were left to the combined might of the rest of the Cosmic Elders, the Angelic Kings of the Sacred Heavenly Palace, and Hela.
In terms of numbers, their side held a clear advantage—thirteen Elders of the Universe, seven warriors from the Sacred Heavenly Palace, and Hela, totaling twenty combatants, all possessing at least high-tier fourth-order power. Their opponents consisted of eleven Celestials and Thanos, each nearing or at the fourth-order peak.
However, raw numbers did not dictate the outcome of battle. The Celestials towered over them, their immense size granting not only near-impenetrable defenses but also vast reserves of cosmic energy. Any single Celestial's energy reserves far surpassed those of an individual Elder of the Universe, making prolonged battles a losing game.
But the Elders of the Universe were no ordinary opponents. They had survived for eons, their combat skills honed through countless battles, each carrying hidden cards developed over millennia. Though their raw power might not match that of the Celestials, their experience allowed them to hold their own—at least for a time.
Holy Kaisha and Liang Bing worked together, using the power of the Space Stone and the Mind Stone in an attempt to isolate and overwhelm Thanos, prying the Soul Stone from his grip. Meanwhile, Hexi, Yan, Qiangwei, Hela, and Adam Warlock engaged separate Celestials, each facing the unfathomable might of a cosmic god.
The remaining Celestials were divided strategically. Ragna and the Magistrate engaged the strongest two directly, while the three Angelic Kings and Hela, alongside Adam Warlock, held off five Celestials who were just shy of the fourth-order peak. The last three Celestials faced an overwhelming assault from twelve Elders of the Universe.
Today, they sought to do the impossible.
Today, they aimed to kill a god.
Celestials were not easy to destroy. Their resurrection process, though not entirely impossible, was exceedingly difficult—if one could even survive long enough to see the results. The skull of a dead Celestial had once become Knowhere, a testament to their mortality. That fact alone fueled the resolve of the Cosmic Elders and their allies.
Collector cackled as his latest creation, a serum derived from the cerebrospinal fluid of a Celestial, took effect. Though the name he had given it was ridiculous, it worked. One Celestial, surrounded and outnumbered, was already showing signs of vulnerability.
"Hahahaha! So, even gods bleed!" Collector roared in triumph, driving his weapon deeper into the wound of the injured Celestial.
The Grandmaster and other Elders grinned, their attacks growing fiercer.
The sight of Celestial blood ignited a long-dormant hope within them. The vengeance they had sought for so long now seemed within reach.
Yet Ragna remained somber.
The Celestials' vast size meant their wounds, however numerous, were akin to mere insect bites. Painful, yes. Bleeding, certainly. But lethal? Not yet.
With the Sun Scepter in hand, Ragna deftly dodged the crushing blow of a Celestial and countered with a precise strike to the god's head, leaving behind a deep but ultimately insignificant wound. The battlefield was chaotic, Celestial attacks devastating the landscape, mountains crumbling and skies shattering with each movement. Meanwhile, Ragna and his allies weaved through the destruction, landing what blows they could.
Despite their numerical advantage, true damage against these ancient cosmic entities remained elusive. Worse still, each attack from a Celestial that connected inflicted catastrophic injuries.
The battle remained locked in a precarious stalemate.
Hexi, wielder of the Reality Stone, was slowly being overpowered by her opponent, proving that even infinite energy had limits when faced with such overwhelming might.
Thanos, for his part, remained a monolithic force. His Titan physiology allowed him to endure attacks that would have felled lesser beings. Though he was already grievously wounded from his clash with Ragna, his indomitable will kept him standing, facing both Holy Kaisha and Liang Bing simultaneously.
And at the center of it all—the Soul Stone radiated an eerie, golden glow in his grip.
The battle reached a fever pitch. Vormir itself, unable to withstand the forces being unleashed, was torn asunder. A Celestial's devastating strike cleaved the planet in two, triggering an explosion that sent debris scattering across the void.
Now, the battle waged in the endless expanse of space.
Yet even here, nothing slowed. The shattered remains of Vormir became makeshift battlegrounds, forming dazzling star-rings that framed the escalating war. Energy clashes lit up the darkness in brilliant, multicolored bursts, creating an eerie juxtaposition of beauty and destruction.
The Elders of the Universe pressed forward. Seven of them had encircled a single Celestial, their combined might amplified by Collector's serum. Even a being as mighty as a Celestial showed signs of faltering.
The besieged Celestial, its movements growing sluggish, lashed out desperately. It managed to repel one Elder, but in doing so, left itself open to further attacks. The effects of the serum were undeniable—it was working.
The Celestial's steps became unsteady.
Its movements slowed.
A Celestial brain—so rarely compromised—was now showing signs of failure.
The Elders of the Universe, sensing victory, roared in exhilaration.
Ragna, however, remained still, observing.
From the beginning, he had suggested they prioritize taking the Soul Stone from Thanos first, understanding that the Celestials were merely tools of a greater cosmic order. But the Elders had refused. Their grudge was against the Celestials, and they had no interest in aiding Ragna beyond their shared enemy.
They understood what Ragna sought.
The complete collection of the six Infinity Stones.
They could not stop him outright—but neither would they directly assist him.
They were not friends. They were merely allies of convenience.
Just as the Elders prepared for a final strike against the wounded Celestial, a massive, looming presence emerged from the void.
Another Celestial.
More reinforcements.
The Elders hesitated. The momentum shifted.
Yet, in that instant, Hexi's voice came through Ragna's communicator, delivering unexpected news.
Ragna, despite the dire situation, suddenly smiled.
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