Marvel With Zanpakutou

The greatest despair in this world... is seeing the first light of hope, yet never being able to reach it.

Ikaris was fast.

He swore he was already giving everything he had, even at any cost, squeezing out every last drop of potential left within him, just to escape that demon.

But unfortunately...

He was not Makkari, and did not have the speed of light. No matter how fast he flew, he could never outpace the death god’s soul-reaping scythe.

A brilliant azure arrow of light split the heavens and, without the slightest error, struck its target.

Boom!

Ikaris sensed something strange behind him, but before he could react, he saw an arrow of light streak past his eyes and pierce straight through Ajak’s armor.

That armor was a gift from the Celestials.

As the supreme leader of the Eternals, bearing an important mission, she alone could communicate with the Celestial Arishem. To better carry out her task, the Celestial once bestowed upon her two divine artifacts.

The first was the golden scepter, whose ability was to form a protective shield around her body, capable of blocking the vast majority of fatal attacks.

The second was the battle suit Ajak wore now. The other Eternals’ armor was modeled after hers, but their defensive performance was worlds apart.

So the question was,

Just how strong was this battle suit’s defense?

A thousand years ago, the leader of the Deviants, with all his strength, could not shake it in the slightest.

Even when Odin hurled Gungnir, the Spear of Eternity that never missed, it only managed to leave a dent upon striking this armor.

And yet, no matter what,

Ikaris could never have imagined that this divine armor bestowed by the supreme Celestial could be torn apart so brutally on a backward, primitive life-bearing planet at the edge of the universe.

Crack

That gorgeous golden armor shattered piece by piece like an avalanche, the sound ringing like metal in mourning. On Ajak’s face remained a trace of shock, as a bright, blinding red blossomed upon her chest.

Boom

The immense kinetic force carried by the azure arrow of light not only pierced the divine armor, but dragged Ajak’s body along with it.

The supreme of the Eternals was struck down from the sky by that blow and nailed heavily into the ground.

The sturdy armor split apart inch by inch, no trace of golden radiance flowing anymore, clearly, it had given its all to shield its master from that unstoppable strike.

The divine battle suit had become nothing but scrap metal.

Pinned to the ground, Ajak’s wide eyes were full of disbelief. Even now, she seemed unable to comprehend what had just happened,

The armor given to her by Arishem had actually been shattered!

"Uwaah..."

Pain came faster than shock. Ajak’s body convulsed uncontrollably, blood spilling from her mouth along with fragments of her organs.

Her strength was being peeled away bit by bit from within. The surrounding noise seemed to grow farther and farther away. She tried to keep her eyes open, but an overwhelming drowsiness weighed her down.

"No!!!"

Ikaris’ eyes almost tore apart, and he whipped around to fly toward Ajak, his crimson pupils brimming with deep regret.

"No... you can’t die, Ajak!" Ikaris’ face was streaked with bloody tears, his hair disheveled like a madman, howling in desperation.

"Go... Ikaris..."

Ajak knew her death was inevitable. She forced out a strained smile with all the strength she had left, "You are no match for him... leave here quickly... I... will hold him off for you..."

Even with the Eternals’ mighty physique, they still had vital points just like humans.

When that azure arrow of light struck her, the power contained within destroyed all her organs instantly. The only reason she was still alive now... was thanks to that battle suit.

If not for the armor’s protection, being struck by that arrow would have meant the most straightforward outcome for Ajak, returning to the dust between heaven and earth.

To put it crudely, she would have been reduced to a pile of minced flesh.

"Ah ah ah..."

Ikaris pounded the ground in agony, the hatred in his eyes so dense it was almost tangible, even bordering on madness. "I’m not leaving! I’m going to kill him! I must kill him!"

"No... Ikaris..."

"You must go... You can’t stay here... Don’t forget... our mission..."

Ajak, trembling, slowly raised her hand. A bloodstained finger pressed against Ikaris’s chest, and golden energy surged into him.

"What is this?"

The surge of golden energy instantly cleared Ikaris’s mind. The madness in his eyes faded, replaced by shock and confusion.

Forcing a smile, Ajak spoke with great difficulty, "From now on... you are the Prime... You must survive... lead them... back... home!"

Ikaris opened his mouth as if to say something, but Ajak raised her hand to stop him, "Don’t forget... Sersi and Thena, Kingo and Sprite, and Druig, they are all waiting for you. This is the Prime’s duty. Now, it is your duty."

Perhaps it was a final flare of strength before death, but though she was already at death’s door, Ajak suddenly stood up from the ground, as if her injuries had vanished. If not for the dense aura of death clinging to her, one might truly believe she had been revived.

"I can feel it, he’s about to arrive." Ajak cast her gaze into the distance, then turned back to look at the still-hesitant Ikaris with eyes full of resolve.

"I will use the last of my life to hold off that man. Now, please shoulder your responsibility, the new Prime of the Eternals... Ikaris."

"I... understand..."

Ikaris lowered his head, his clenched fists slowly loosening. A wave of weakness swept over him, and at last, the burning rage and hatred in his chest became nothing more than a bitter nod. "I will bear the Prime’s duty, fulfill the Celestials’ mission, and lead everyone... home."

"Go."

Ajak’s expression was calm, with no trace of fear toward death. "I leave them... in your hands, Ikaris."

Ikaris flew toward the sky.

He did not look back, he did not dare to.

He feared that if he did, he would never be able to leave.

Not out of fear... but out of guilt.

Watching Ikaris vanish into the distance, Ajak seemed to finally lay down a great burden. She exhaled softly, the last trace of hesitation in her eyes replaced by unwavering determination.

"I won’t let you harm him!"

Ajak fixed her gaze on the man above, who was lowering his eyes to look down at her.

"You?"

The man’s voice was soft, almost like a whisper, yet it drowned out the howling wind and snow.

"That’s right!"

Ajak took a deep breath, her face showing the resolve of one ready to die. With a mocking smile, she said, "You are indeed strong, and none of us are your match. But your greatest mistake... was not killing me the instant we met!"

"Oh? And?"

The man looked at her calmly, at an Eternal Prime who had gone mad.

"And that means... you’re the one who’s going to lose!"

Ajak grinned wide, the grayness in her eyes deepening. Her body began to crack apart inch by inch, blood spraying out and splattering onto the surrounding snow.

In an instant,

An immense terror descended.

Some force stirred between heaven and earth, radiating an unimaginably dreadful aura.