Judgment of the Endless (MarvelxDC)

Chapter 100: 98: A request



Darius materialized within the Tribunal's domain, a place neither within nor outside existence.

The space was abstract yet tangible—a mess of shifting stars, cascading galaxies, and formless energy that pulsated with life and law.

At the center of it all stood the Living Tribunal, its towering tri-faced form dimmed, humbled by the radiance of its creator.

The moment Darius appeared, the entire realm quivered. It wasn't fear or defiance that caused the trembling but the raw presence of authority, the undeniable truth of Judgment standing before its most devout creation.

The Tribunal's three faces—Equity, Necessity, and Vengeance—swiveled in perfect synchronization, locking their collective gaze on Darius.

"My Lord Judgment…" the Tribunal's voice reverberated like a thousand thunderclaps, though it carried no defiance.

There was only reverence and a trace of unease.

"You honor me with your presence."

Darius' eyes, glowing like twin celestial bodies, fixed on the Tribunal, and he spoke in a voice that was both gentle and commanding.

"Tribunal," Darius began, his tone calm yet weighted, "do you know why I'm here?"

The Tribunal hesitated, its form shifting subtly as if shrinking beneath Darius' gaze. "I... cannot presume to know your intentions, my Lord."

Darius nodded, his expression unreadable. "Then I'll make it clear. I've been observing this conjoined universe for some time now—its chaos, its imbalances, its spiraling descent into destruction. A realm you were tasked to oversee."

The words struck like a hammer, and for the first time in its eternal existence, the Tribunal faltered.

It sank to one knee, the stars in its domain dimming as if ashamed of its failure.

"My Lord," the Tribunal's voice was quieter now, almost pleading, "I have done all that I could within the limits of my power. This universe—this fusion of two great multiverses—is unlike anything I have ever encountered. The forces within it are unprecedented in their complexity and contradiction. I... I may have miscalculated."

Darius' expression softened slightly as he observed the Tribunal's bowed form. He stepped closer, his aura illuminating the Tribunal's fractured confidence.

"Miscalculated?" he echoed, his tone neither mocking nor forgiving. "Or have you diverged from your purpose?"

The Tribunal flinched, the accusation cutting deeper than any blow. "I swear to you, my Lord, I have never wavered in my duty. Every decision I made was to preserve the balance, even as this universe defied all precedent.

But… I have failed to contain the chaos."

Darius studied the Tribunal in silence for a moment that stretched into eternity.

Then, unexpectedly, he chuckled—a soft, resonant sound that carried no malice.

"You've misunderstood me," Darius said, his tone lighter. "I'm not here to punish you. If I thought you had truly forsaken your purpose, you wouldn't be standing before me."

The Tribunal raised its head cautiously, its tri-faced visage radiating relief. "Then… why have you come, my Lord?"

Darius smiled, a faint, enigmatic curve of his lips. "Because I've taken a fancy to this universe. Its chaos intrigues me, its struggles amuse me, and its potential inspires me. I've decided to intervene—not to replace you, but to assist you. I'll handle the chaos. You focus on what you do best: balance."

The Tribunal's form glowed brighter, as if renewed by Darius' words. "You honor me, my Lord. To have your guidance once more... it is a gift beyond measure."

Darius extended a hand, resting it lightly on the Tribunal's immense shoulder. The gesture, simple yet profound, carried with it the weight of forgiveness and reassurance.

"You've done well, Tribunal, considering the mess you inherited," Darius said. "This universe is a challenge even for me, but it's also a canvas. Together, we'll ensure its survival—not through destruction, but through growth."

The Tribunal's three faces nodded in unison, its voice steadier now. "I will follow your lead, my Lord. Your wisdom is unparalleled."

Darius stepped back, his golden aura dimming slightly as he prepared to leave. "Good. Then trust that I'll handle what's to come.

And don't let this weigh on you anymore. I created you to enforce balance, not to carry the weight of guilt."

As Darius turned to depart, the Tribunal hesitated. For a being that rarely faltered, the pause was significant.

"My Lord," the Tribunal said, its voice almost tentative, "before you leave, I must ask... something of you."

Darius stopped, turning his radiant gaze back to the Tribunal. "Speak."

The Tribunal's form shimmered, its expression unreadable as its three faces exchanged a brief, silent understanding. "It is... a matter of great importance, one I cannot resolve alone. Will you... consider my request?"

Darius' expression remained neutral, though there was a flicker of curiosity in his glowing eyes. "We'll see."

And with that, Darius vanished, leaving the Tribunal alone in its domain, its request hanging in the silence like a question yet unanswered.

-

-

Darius stood alone on a shimmering precipice of thought, pondering the Tribunal's unexpected request. The words had been vague, yet the weight of their meaning was anything but.

The Tribunal, a cosmic arbiter forged to uphold balance, had sired a child—a child born not of calculated purpose but of an unintended union with Infinity, the enigmatic embodiment of boundlessness.

Darius let out a sigh, the vastness of his realm rippling with his thoughts. Infinity and the Tribunal? The notion was almost amusing. The concept of boundaries and limitlessness entwining was irony incarnate.

But the amusement faded quickly.

A child of such origins was no small matter. The potential within them was unimaginable—both a gift and a danger.

"Always cleaning up everyone else's mess," Darius muttered to himself, shaking his head with a faint smile. He cast his gaze upward, beyond the layers of reality itself.

"Well, Infinity... let's see what you've gotten yourself into this time."

In an instant, Darius stepped into the boundless realm of Eternity, a space of infinite complexity and beauty.

Galaxies swirled like fireflies in an eternal dance, their light casting a kaleidoscope of colors across an endless expanse.

Stars were born and extinguished in moments, time and space themselves bending to the will of the entity that ruled this domain.

At the center of it all stood Eternity, its form both singular and infinite. It was a silhouette of the cosmos, an ever-shifting tapestry of existence itself.

Darius approached, his golden aura glowing like a beacon amidst the cosmic brilliance.

"Eternity," Darius greeted, his voice calm yet commanding. "Where is Infinity?"

Eternity did not answer in words. It never spoke, for its language was existence itself. Instead, a series of images and sensations filled the space around Darius—snapshots of Infinity's presence flickering across the fabric of reality.

Yet each image dissolved into uncertainty,

A trail leading nowhere.

Darius raised an eyebrow, folding his arms. "So you don't know either. That's unlike you. Your sister's been hiding, hasn't she?"

Eternity's form shifted slightly, an acknowledgment without explanation.

"Well, that makes this more interesting," Darius said, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "But you know I don't need your help to find her."

Activating his omniscience was as natural to Darius as breathing. The barriers of time, space, and dimension were mere illusions to him, and he wove through them effortlessly, searching for Infinity.

His vision stretched across the multiverse, past the vibrant chaos of countless realities, and into the darker, quieter corners where even light feared to tread.

Finally, he found her.

At the very boundary of existence, where the threads of reality began to fray and unravel, Infinity sat. The space around her was eerily still, a stark contrast to her vibrant essence.

Her form was a shimmering silhouette, constantly shifting and expanding, embodying the concept of limitlessness itself.

Yet there was something uncharacteristically subdued about her, a weariness that clung to her like a shadow.

Darius didn't hesitate. With a single step, he crossed the threshold of reality and appeared before her.

"Infinity," Darius said, his voice cutting through the stillness like a blade.

Infinity turned slowly, her form coalescing into a more defined figure—a luminous woman with eyes that mirrored the endless void.

Despite her radiant beauty, there was a flicker of apprehension in her gaze as she recognized her brother.

"Darius," she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of countless universes. "It's been... a long time."

He offered her a faint smile, though his golden eyes were sharp with purpose. "It has. And here I thought you'd be mingling with your usual crowd, stirring up chaos. But instead, I find you hiding at the edge of everything. Care to explain?"

Infinity's form rippled slightly, betraying her unease. "I needed time to... reflect."

Darius arched an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Reflect? You? Infinity, you've been the embodiment of spontaneity and expansion since the beginning. Reflection isn't exactly your style."

Her gaze dropped, her luminous form dimming slightly. "I... made a mistake."

Darius crossed his arms, his expression softening slightly. "So I've heard. The Tribunal told me about the child."

Infinity flinched, her form wavering like a candle in the wind. "I never meant for it to happen," she admitted. "We crossed paths in a moment of... vulnerability. I didn't think it would result in—"

"A cosmic anomaly?" Darius finished for her, his tone half-teasing, half-serious. "Well, it did. And now that child exists, whether you planned it or not."

Infinity sighed, her form stabilizing as she met Darius' gaze. "What do you intend to do?"

Darius' expression grew serious. "The Tribunal asked me to take care of the child. I'm here to understand what we're dealing with and ensure they don't become a danger to themselves or anyone else."

Infinity hesitated, her form shimmering with uncertainty. "She's... powerful, Darius. More powerful than even I anticipated. I tried to keep her hidden, to protect her, but I fear I may have only made things worse."

Darius stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You've done what you could, Infinity. But this isn't something you can handle alone. Let me take it from here."

She nodded reluctantly, her form glowing faintly in gratitude. "Thank you, Darius. Truly."

He gave her a small smile. "Don't thank me yet. I still need to meet this child of yours. Now, where is she?"

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A/N: I'm getting bored of writing in this grandeur and overly descriptive style but the situations dictate the way I write..

Things will go back to being comedic again soon


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