2024 - Emergence Point

As Makkari hones in on the Emergence point—an ominous volcano rumbling in the depths of the Indian Ocean—Ayaz stands with Sersi and Druig, the air thick with tension. The jagged cliffs loom like silent sentinels around them, their faces illuminated by the fiery glow of the volcano. Thena, Phastos, and Makkari remain aboard the Domo, prepared to distract Ikaris while the rest of them confront the impending doom.

“If this is what the end of the world looks like, at least we have front-row seats,” Sersi remarks, her gaze fixed on the angry volcano, thick plumes of smoke rising like harbingers of chaos. The atmosphere crackles with an unsettling energy, yet amidst the danger, Druig and Ayaz find a moment of solace. They lean in, lips almost brushing, hearts racing, savoring the thrill of the moment, even if it is laced with peril.

But Sersi’s words linger, cutting through the tension. Ayaz pulls away from Druig with a teasing smirk just as their lips nearly connect. “Guess the kiss can wait.”

“That's not fair!” Druig protests, his eyes narrowing in mock indignation.

“Nothing is fair in life, pretty boy.” Ayaz gently pats Druig’s cheek, a playful glint in his golden eyes. He turns away, only to catch the adorable pout forming on Druig’s lips. When did he become such a needy baby?

Ayaz sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose as if to relieve the mounting pressure. “Just put the bloody Celestial to sleep. We can do more than kiss once we get home.”

“It’s time to put a god to sleep,” Sersi announces, and at that moment, the bracelets designed by Phastos to facilitate the Uni-Mind click into place on their wrists. The golden lines and geometric patterns flicker to life, outlining their bodies as they begin to float, a manifestation of their collective strength. The air hums with power, electric and vibrant, connecting them all in a luminous web of energy.

The Uni-Mind surges through Druig, amplifying his cosmic abilities, and for a brief moment, everything feels aligned. But just as Druig focuses his energy to lull Tiamut back into slumber, disaster strikes. Ikaris swoops in, a shadow of fury, and slams into Druig from behind, throwing him off balance.

“I should’ve done this five centuries ago,” Ikaris snarls, his grip like iron as he seizes Druig by the throat. He lifts him effortlessly into the air, before hurling him down towards the volcano’s molten maw. Ayaz’s heart drops, helplessness crashing over him like a tidal wave.

“No!” he wails, the sound raw and choked with desperation. Numbness sweeps through him, but as tears start to leak from his eyes, a searing anger ignites within him. He envisions the myriad ways he wants to unleash his fury on Ikaris, to beat him until he cannot rise again. The pressure builds within him, each heartbeat an echo of the rage he struggles to contain. His face hardens, veins throbbing in his neck, fists clenched at his sides.

Ikaris, with a cold smirk, launches himself around the Domo, firing his laser beams at the ship. The hull crumbles under the onslaught, causing the Domo to shatter and crash violently onto the beach. Makkari barely manages to speed the Eternals to safety before the vessel’s demise.

As Ikaris lands with a thud, he casts a contemptuous gaze at the remaining Eternals. “Druig’s gone. It’s over.”

“You should know by now that I’m not someone to get pissed!” Ayaz grits through clenched teeth, his voice a low growl. Dark emotions swirl within him as his eyes deepen to a molten gold, shimmering with power. The tension radiates from him, a force of nature barely contained. “And now I’m furious!”

“Ayaz, play nice. You’ve never had to fight me,” Ikaris taunts, his tone laced with arrogance.

“But I’ve always wanted to,” Ayaz fires back, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside him. “I was envious of Ajak’s decision to make you second in command.”

“Must be heartbreaking,” Ikaris sneers, his confidence unshaken.

“It was,” Ayaz admits, the vulnerability cutting through the bravado.

“I’m still stronger than you, Ayaz,” Ikaris boasts, a self-satisfied smirk tugging at his lips.

Ayaz exhales sharply, a bitter laugh escaping him. “Shall we find out?”