Judgment of the Endless (MarvelxDC)

As the dust settled from Arathion's victory, the air grew heavy once more, but this time, with a presence so vast and overwhelming that all sound seemed to fade into silence.

A low hum filled the atmosphere, and a golden light shimmered above the battlefield. Then, with a single step, Darius appeared, his flowing white robes glowing faintly under the moonlight, the golden accents on his attire catching every glimmer of light as if the stars themselves bowed to him.

The remaining X-Men, battered and bruised, froze in place. Even Logan, who rarely felt fear, stood still, his instincts warning him of the presence before him. The Earth knew him; the universe knew him. Darius needed no introduction. His very arrival spoke volumes.

He surveyed the scene, his piercing gaze falling on Gallowglass, who lay broken but defiant. The Mad Titan's son was barely conscious, his unstable molecules flickering and sputtering as they failed to maintain cohesion.

Darius tilted his head slightly, an expression of mild amusement crossing his face.

"You've made quite the mess," he said, his voice calm but carrying a weight that pressed down on everyone present. He raised a single hand and gestured dismissively toward Gallowglass. "Begone."

With that single word, Gallowglass disintegrated into nothingness, his unstable molecules unraveling and scattering into the void.

No explosion. No resistance. Just silence.

Darius dusted his hands off as if wiping away a minor inconvenience, then turned his gaze to Ororo, who lay unconscious among the debris.

His expression softened instantly, and he walked toward her, kneeling beside her.

Gently, he lifted her into his arms, brushing a stray strand of her white hair from her face. "Oh, my storm," he whispered, his voice a tender contrast to the overwhelming power he had just displayed.

He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, and with a snap of his fingers, the golden energy that radiated from him spread outward in a wave.

The devastation caused by the battle rewound itself as if the events had never occurred.

The mansion's walls rebuilt, the scorched earth regrew its grass, and the wounds on every mutant present healed in an instant. Ororo's damaged face was restored to its flawless beauty, her breathing steady and calm.

Even the shattered confidence of the residents seemed to mend as the world around them was made whole again.

Logan approached cautiously, his usual gruff demeanour replaced with something almost reverent. "Darius," he said, his tone low, "what do we do now? These guys keep comin', and they're tougher each time."

Darius, still cradling Ororo, looked at him with a faint smirk. "You do nothing, Logan. This is beyond you. Beyond all of you." He gestured toward the others, his gaze sweeping over Xavier, Tony, Peter, and the remaining X-Men.

"Prepare, yes. Train, yes. But leave the big players to me. This isn't a fight you can win, and I won't let my loved ones pay the price for someone else's war."

Xavier, his mind racing with questions, wheeled closer. "Darius, you know more than any of us. What are we truly facing here? Who is behind this?"

Darius chuckled softly. "You already know his name, Charles. Thanos. A tyrant with delusions of grandeur." His tone darkened for a moment. "But he will learn, as all do, that there are forces he cannot conquer."

Tony, still holding his damaged helmet under one arm, stepped forward. "So you're just gonna take the Time Stone and vanish? What if we need it?"

Darius gave him a knowing look, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "You won't. Not yet. This isn't a piece on your board, Stark; it's a part of a much bigger game." He held out his hand, and the Eye of Agamotto floated from Peter's grasp to his own. "Besides, it's safer with me than anywhere else."

Ororo stirred in his arms, her eyes fluttering open. "Darius?" she murmured, her voice weak but steady. "What... happened?"

"You're safe now, my storm," he said softly, brushing his fingers along her cheek. "Rest."

She relaxed against him, her trust in him absolute. Darius rose effortlessly, still holding her, and turned back to the group.

"This isn't goodbye, my friends. Just a temporary farewell." His gaze lingered on Xavier, a silent promise passing between them.

And then, with a soft glow, Darius, Ororo, and the Time Stone vanished, leaving behind a healed mansion and a group of warriors.

=

=

[New York]

In the blink of an eye, Darius materialised in the middle of the New York Sanctum, Ororo still resting peacefully in his arms. A faint golden glow trailed after him, dissipating like smoke.

Alongside him was Peter Parker, clinging awkwardly to his mask and still catching his breath after being *dragged* through Darius' teleportation.

"Could've warned me before doing the whole *zap-us-through-space* thing," Peter muttered, adjusting his suit. "I think I left my stomach back at the mansion."

Darius smirked but didn't reply, his focus on the battered Sanctum around him. Its grand interior was in disarray: shattered relics, scorched walls, and Strange, leaning heavily against the banister of the staircase, visibly exhausted.

Wong sat nearby, patching a deep gash on his arm.

Strange straightened when he saw Darius. "Darius," he said, his voice wary but grateful. "Did you come to finish the job or—?"

"Relax, Doctor," Darius interrupted, his tone calm but commanding. "If I wanted to 'finish the job,' you wouldn't have had time to ask that question."

Peter winced. "Ouch. He's got a point, though."

Ignoring the quip, Darius gently laid Ororo on a nearby couch. With a wave of his hand, golden light spread through the room, weaving over shattered wood and cracked stone, restoring the Sanctum to its former glory.

Even Wong's wounds sealed shut, leaving him staring at his arm in disbelief.

Strange exhaled, some tension leaving his shoulders. "I'll admit, you're good at cleaning up messes. But I assume you're here for more than a repair job."

Darius straightened, the glow fading from his hands. "I've come to tell you that I have the Time Stone. It's safer with me than here. No offence, Strange, but your defences clearly aren't enough for what's coming."

"Yeah, I mean, two creepy aliens nearly flattened the city trying to get it," Peter added. "Not great odds."

Strange's jaw tightened. "And what gives you the authority to take it? The Sorcerer Supreme is tasked with—"

Darius raised a hand, silencing him. "Spare me the lecture, Doctor. I don't answer to your titles or traditions. I'm giving you an out here. Keep the Sanctum. Protect Earth. But the stone is mine for now."

Strange's gaze darted to Peter, who gave him an awkward thumbs-up. "He's got a solid track record for the whole 'saving-our-butts' thing," Peter said. "Maybe we let him handle this one."

With a sigh, Strange nodded, relenting to his authority.

"Good choice," Darius said, turning to face Strange again. "But this isn't just a stone hunt. There's a bigger war coming. I want you at my Agency in a few hours. We need to talk strategy."

Peter perked up. "Ooh, strategy meetings? Are snacks provided? I missed lunch, and—"

Darius raised an eyebrow at him, silencing the chatter. Peter mumbled, "Right. Not the time."

Strange frowned. "What kind of war are we talking about?"

"The kind that ends planets," Darius said simply. "You'll get the full picture at the meeting. Bring whoever you trust."

He turned to Peter, a rare softness in his tone. "You did well, kid. But next time, stay out of fights like these unless you've got backup. You're not ready for what's coming."

Peter opened his mouth to argue but stopped when he saw the look on Darius' face. Instead, he nodded. "Got it."

Darius glanced at Ororo, who was beginning to stir. "I'll leave you to get ready, Strange. Don't be late." With that, he lifted Ororo into his arms again, gave Peter a small nod, and vanished, leaving Strange and Wong standing amidst the now-pristine Sanctum.

Wong looked at Strange, eyebrows raised. "So... snacks for the meeting?"

Strange groaned, rubbing his temples. "Not now, Wong."

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