"Gods… It's been a long time since I've seen one alive," the Collector, Taneleer Tivan, said with an exaggerated smile, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Yet, behind his expression, there seemed to be unshed tears.
Among the Elders of the Universe, some remained expressionless, others smiled mockingly, and a few were filled with deep-seated resentment. But one thing was certain—every single one of them radiated power as they stood united against the Celestials.
These beings, known as Celestials, were the architects of cosmic balance, but also the most oppressive force in the universe.
They imposed limits on civilizations, preventing them from uncovering the deepest truths of existence. And when a civilization grew too powerful or threatened their laws, the Celestials erased them from history, leaving nothing but dust and echoes.
The Elders of the Universe were the remnants of such civilizations, survivors of once-mighty empires brought to ruin by the cold judgment of the Celestials.
The red, glowing orbs that served as the Celestials' eyes fixed upon Ragna , the Elders, and their allies. Sixteen burning lights, like miniature stars, scrutinized them without emotion, their will as impenetrable as the abyss of space.
Then, Arishem the Judge, one of the oldest and most powerful Celestials, spoke in a voice that rumbled through the very fabric of reality:
"Survivors…?"
"Do you weary of eternity?"
"Do you understand the consequences of your defiance?"
The words reverberated across Vormir, shaking the ruins beneath them.
Yet, rather than cower, the Elders of the Universe erupted into laughter.
"You believe we crave eternity?" The Grandmaster, En Dwi Gast, smirked, tilting his head. "Oh, how little you understand us!"
"Ah, immortality, how wonderful!" The Collector sneered. "We've had it for so long that it has lost all meaning. Some of us have already thrown it away, and the rest of us? We cling to whatever madness keeps us entertained."
There was no shortage of Elders who had lost their way—some had chosen to self-destruct, while others had become obsessed with trivial pursuits, driving themselves into madness. The Doctor, once a brilliant cosmic scientist, had dissected himself in a quest to understand the universe.
Even those who appeared sane were, in truth, barely clinging to reason.
The Collector's smile vanished, his voice turning cold.
"We know exactly what we're doing."
"The Ancient One came to us once," he continued, "warning of the universe's annihilation. But tell me, do you think we care?"
He spread his arms wide. "We are the last remnants of civilizations you wiped out! We are the Elders of the Universe—not relics, not fools, and certainly not your playthings!"
For a fleeting moment, true anger replaced their usual theatrics. But then, just as quickly, the Collector and the Grandmaster exchanged glances and burst into exaggerated laughter once more.
"Still," the Collector mused, "if things go south, we can always run. You Celestials wouldn't waste effort hunting down a few strays, would you?"
He shot a meaningful glance at Ragna , as if to remind him that their commitment was conditional at best.
Frostfire, standing at Ragna 's side, took a step forward, as if to object. But Ragna merely raised a hand, stopping him.
"They're right," Ragna said calmly. "If things go bad, we retreat. The Celestials won't chase us—not for now. After all, they are nothing but tools."
Then, he turned toward Arishem, his gaze sharp.
"I finally understand why Odin called you pathetic."
The Celestials did not react, but their crimson eyes seemed to darken.
Ragna continued, his voice filled with disdain. "The very power that created you also enslaved you. Do you even have a will of your own?"
Thanos, standing bloodied and beaten beneath the towering Celestials, tightened his grip on the Soul Gem. His body was battered, but his spirit remained unbroken.
"No matter what happens," Thanos muttered, "the universe must not be undone."
He lifted his head, his remaining eye gleaming with defiance. Blood streamed down his face, yet his conviction never wavered.
Ragna ignored him, instead turning to the Elders.
"Are there only eight Celestials here?"
The Collector scoffed. "You think these are all of them? The Celestials are an entire race, Ragna . Hundreds, maybe more, scattered across the cosmos. And trust me, I've seen some faces missing."
Ragna 's eyes narrowed. He barely had time to process the words before two more Celestials emerged from the void, their colossal forms stepping onto Vormir.
He exhaled slowly. "Do we stand a chance?"
The Collector shrugged. "Not much of one. But Celestials can die… and they're not easy to resurrect."
He reached into his coat and pulled out a collection of small vials filled with a viscous, dark-green liquid.
"This," he said dramatically, "is my very own 'Brain Drain Elixir.' It slows down their cognitive functions. Smear it on your weapons or, if you're feeling bold, get it into their systems."
Ragna stared at the vial for a moment before sighing.
"That name… are you serious?"
But he took the potion anyway.
The Collector had spent centuries experimenting on Celestial remains, dissecting their cerebrospinal fluid in search of weaknesses. If he claimed this would work, there was a chance it would.
The Elders and Ragna 's forces began preparing. Some coated their weapons in the strange potion, while others quietly stored it away.
Yet the Celestials did nothing.
They simply stood there. Watching.
Not stopping Ragna . Not taking Thanos away.
"I think we might not even need the Brain Drain Elixir," Ragna muttered. "They might already be brain-dead."
Bound by the rules of the universe, they could not strike preemptively. Until Ragna or the Elders crossed an invisible threshold, the Celestials would remain passive, their fate tied to the cosmic laws that governed them.
"How pitiful," Ragna whispered.
Angel Qiangwei, holding the Time Gem, shook her head before nodding hesitantly.
Though the Time Gem granted a glimpse into infinite possibilities, it could not see beyond the Celestials. They were beyond time itself, their existence woven directly into the foundation of reality.
But while the Celestials remained a mystery, Thanos did not.
Ragna understood the path forward.
There was only one way to win this battle.
No matter the cost—he had to take the Soul Gem from Thanos.
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