Judgment of the Endless (MarvelxDC)

Eternus.....He was a being beyond mortal understanding—an ancient, primordial force who had seen the rise and fall of countless universes.

Yet, for all his power and wisdom, he now found himself in a position he had rarely experienced: helplessness.

Eternus watched as his son, Darius, was consumed by the agonizing process of having the Laws that had governed him for so long rewritten.

The echoes of Darius' screams reverberated through the cosmos, a sound that cut through the heart of his father.

Though Eternus had always maintained a demeanor of stoic authority, this moment stripped away the ancient veneer, revealing the depths of his paternal love and concern.

He had warned Darius. The Laws that bound him and his siblings were not merely shackles—they were safeguards, carefully crafted to protect not just the mortal realms, but the Endless themselves.

To lift those Laws, to allow Darius to walk in his true form, was to invite a level of power and change that could unravel the very fabric of reality.

Yet, Darius had insisted, his vessel no longer capable of containing the vastness of his being without crumbling under the strain.

Eternus' thoughts were clouded with the memories of his children—of Darius, the mischievous yet kind-hearted son who had always sought to explore, to understand, to live among the mortals.

Eternus knew the allure of the mortal realm, its fleeting beauty, its potential for growth and change.

But he also knew the dangers, the pain that came with being so close to something so fragile.

Now, as he watched his son writhe in torment, Eternus' heart ached with a depth of sorrow that only a parent could know. He wanted nothing more than to reach out, to ease Darius' suffering, to take back the decision that had led them to this point.

But even he, the eternal being who governed all that was, could not interfere. The process had begun, and it had to run its course.

Interference now could cause irreparable damage, not just to Darius, but to all of existence.

In the boundless void of his realm, Eternus clenched his hands into fists, his normally serene expression twisted with grief.

The cosmos itself seemed to dim, the stars fading as if in mourning for the pain of one of its creators.

For the first time in countless eons, Eternus felt powerless—a sensation that gnawed at his very core.

He remembered the moments of joy, the times when Darius had looked up to him, eyes full of wonder and admiration.

The memories of his children, laughing, playing, growing into their roles as the Endless, filled his mind.

But now, those memories were tinged with a deep sadness, as he could do nothing but stand by and watch as his son endured the unbearable.

Eternus' voice, though rarely heard by any other than his children, was soft as he whispered into the void, "I'm sorry, my son. I wish I could take this burden from you… but this path was chosen, and it must be walked."

His words were carried by the cosmic winds, a silent prayer that Darius would find the strength to endure.

He knew that this was a trial Darius had to face alone, a consequence of his own decision. But knowing did nothing to ease the pain of watching his child suffer.

The weight of it pressed down on Eternus, a heaviness that even he, with all his might, could not lift.

As the moments stretched into what felt like an eternity, Eternus closed his eyes, sending out a pulse of his own energy—not to interfere, but as a gesture of solidarity, of love.

It was all he could do. A reminder to his son that he was not truly alone, even in his darkest hour.

The universe, vast and uncaring to most, felt small and fragile in this moment. Eternus, the being who had overseen its creation, could only hope that Darius would survive this ordeal—stronger, whole, and still the son he loved beyond measure.

And so, the Father of All waited, his heart heavy with the sorrow of a parent who could do nothing but watch as his child walked through the fire, praying that the flames would not consume him entirely.

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[Harmony POV]

I ran faster than I ever have before, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. My brother's cries echo through the halls, piercing through my very soul. I have to get to him. I have to help him.

The energy pouring out from the training room is overwhelming, shaking the entire mountain and making it feel as though the world itself is trembling.

The walls around me crack and groan under the pressure, but I don't care. Nothing matters except reaching Darius.*

I burst into the training room, the heavy doors slamming against the walls with a force that sends dust and debris flying. The sight before me nearly takes my breath away.

The vast expanse of the training room, usually so serene and controlled, is now a storm of chaotic energy.

The ground beneath me is splintered and torn, cracks spreading out like veins across the floor. In the center of it all, my brother is thrashing, his body contorted in pain as his power spirals out of control.

His hair, usually so calm and graceful, is now a wild, glowing mane, floating around him like a halo of pure energy.

The air is thick with the pressure of his agony, so intense that it's hard to breathe.

Around Darius, his archers stand tall, their faces etched with grim determination. Their bows are drawn, but instead of aiming at a target, they are pointed towards Darius, the arrows glowing with a light that fights to contain the power bursting from him.

I can see the strain on their faces, even these beings of immense power are struggling to keep my brother's energy from consuming everything around him.

"Darius!" I scream, but my voice is lost in the maelstrom. I force myself forward, pushing against the wall of power that tries to keep me away.

Every step feels like wading through a storm, the pressure nearly unbearable, but I won't stop. I can't.

As I finally reach him, a wave of energy slams into me, nearly knocking me off my feet. I barely manage to stay upright, my heart aching as I see the pain etched on Darius' face.

My brother, who has always been so strong, so unshakable, is now brought to his knees by his own power.

"Darius, please, hold on!" I plead, even though I know he might not hear me. I reach out, but the energy crackles against my skin, pushing me back. I can't get close enough to touch him.

Just as despair starts to creep in, the room darkens slightly, and I know I'm not alone.

Dream, Life, and Death materialize beside me, their faces serious as they take in the scene.

The weight of their presence brings a strange calm to the chaotic storm, but the tension in the air remains thick.

"What happened?" Dream asks, his voice steady but laced with concern. His usual detachment is gone, replaced by the urgency of the moment.

Before I can answer, one of the archers, their voice as deep and ancient as the mountains themselves, speaks up.

"He has requested the Laws be lifted. The process is... agonizing." The archer's words are simple, but the weight of them hits us all like a hammer.

"He asked for this?" Life murmurs, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear. "He's trying to break free of the constraints placed on him... but it's too much."

Death, her expression unreadable, steps forward. "We have to help him. If he loses control completely, the consequences will be catastrophic—not just for him, but for everything."

Without another word, we move as one, each of us focusing our energies on Darius. Life steps forward first, her hands glowing with a gentle, soothing light.

She reaches out, her power wrapping around Darius like a comforting embrace, trying to ease his pain and restore some semblance of balance.

I follow her lead, summoning my own energy, the power of harmony and balance, and I let it flow into him. I can feel his mind, his soul, his body screaming out in pain, but I won't let him face this alone.

I reach deep within myself, drawing on every ounce of strength I have to calm the storm raging inside him.

Death stands on the other side of Darius, her hand placed gently on his shoulder.

Her power flows into him, not to take him, but to strengthen his soul, to fortify it against the immense strain it's under.

Even in his agony, I can feel Darius' soul responding to her touch, gaining a flicker of strength.

Finally, Dream steps forward, his presence bringing a cool, calming influence to the chaos.

He closes his eyes, and I can feel him reaching into Darius' mind, reinforcing it, giving him the strength to endure the unimaginable pain he's facing.

The storm inside him lessens slightly, the power within him becoming more focused, more controlled.

But despite our efforts, the relief we bring is only slight. The agony is still there, and the power continues to surge and spiral out of control.

My heart aches as I realize just how much pain my brother is in, and how little we can do to help.

"Please, Darius," I whisper, tears streaming down my face as I fight to hold him together.

"Please, just hold on a little longer. We're here. We won't let you go through this alone."

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