Chapter 29: Saving Agent Romanov part 1

Not even half an hour later after leaving the MCU, Tonja, Ethen, and Carol arrive in the formerly Knull controlled universe. All three have their armors activated and Carol feels a bit smug, comparing her own slim armor with the bulk of Ethen and Tonjas, not knowing that their armors are many times more durable and advanced than hers.

Being used to advanced technology, Carol doesn't even bat an eye when learning some things about the temple and its ability to connect different timelines and universes with each other. Now floating above a gigantic planet, in this infant universe, all three of them are shocked to realize the size of the planet.

Looking around, Ethen asks Tonja. ''Tonja can you scan the planet for Romanov?''

Before Tonja can answer him, Ethen is already hit by something fast. As Ethen is kicked away, Hunter flyes in his place between Tonja and Carol.

Smirking, Hunter nods at them saying. ''Ladies...''

Before Hunter can say anything further, he is kicked away by Ethen, who is retaliating.

''You to go and search for Romanov...'' Tells Ethen them, as he appears in between the two women. ''... I will take it from here.''

Stating that he turns into a streak of light following closely behind Hunter, who is about to crash into the planet below.

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While the three of them are splitting up, a fat yellow mouse, dressed in a red and black suit and two dwarfs are sitting in front of the still open Multiverse Gate, munching popcorn and drinking beer.

''Now what did I tell?...'' Asks Pikapool triumphantly to the two dwarfs. ''... Isn't this so much better than staring at two naked bodies in tanks?''

Filling his mouth with a handful of popcorn, Brokk states. ''I would say it is about even.''

''I still prefer watching my beautiful 21!'' Comments Sindri, letting a certain Pool lose all respect for his fellow men.

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Fighting gravitation and the power of Ethens kick, Hunter is just barely able to prevent himself from crashing into the planet below. Hovering approximately 300m above ground, he draws his sword and wipes away some blood from the corners of his mouth.

Having 'God Slayer' out, he spots a speck of light closing in on him. Getting ready to strike his enemy down in one strike, Hunter braces himself. Seeing Ethen fly towards his at one moment, Hunter is already graded and catapulted into the outer orbit with an uppercut. Stunned and paralyzed by his opponent's strength and speed, he is unable to put up any resistance.

Seeing his enemy fly into space, Ethen follows Hunter into space and hammers him with an ax-handle punch, before sending him crashing back down to earth. Halfway through the planet, Ethen tastes a metallic flavor in his mouth. Looking down to his chest, he finds his body and armor penetrated by Hunters 'God Slayer'.

Smirking, Hunter bleeding profusely asks. ''Not as invulnerable as you thought?''

Letting go of Hunter, Ethen takes a deep breath, before flying out if the hole he had created by punishing his opponent repeatedly. Needing a moment to get his conscious cleared, Hunter speeds out of the hole, having it collapse behind him.

''Why are you hunting me?...'' Asks Ethen Hunter, while retrieving the Odinsword from his storage. ''... I mean you have a reason, don't you?''

''Stopping you people that have gone rampant is the onus of every hero...'' States Hunter, grinning. ''... Take this universe as an example. Before you it was alive... most likely not perfect, but better than it is now... detached from any multiverse... For that alone, you people have to be stopped!''

That said, Hunter shoots forward wanting to step Ethen a second time. Parrying the attack, while pushing it away from his body, Ethen dives under the opponents 360 degrees swings, sliding the Odinsword along Hunter's calves.

Losing the ability of flight, Hunter instantly falls back onto the planet's surface. Seeing that happen, Ethen places his sword back into his storage, while using his freeze breath to paralyze Hunter for a time. As Hunter plummets to the ground, Ethen additionally shoots several heat vision, burning right through Hunter, creating several gaping, fist-sized holes.

Slamming into the ground, the ice surrounding Hunter shatters. Just before another salve of heat vision shots hit him, the Amazonian Warrior uses his father's cape as a shield. To Ethens surprise, the cape partly reflects his attacks, temporarily blinding him.

Seeing the heat vision attacks suddenly stopped, Hunter is happy to note that most of his wounds are already healing up nicely...

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''That's what I call a fight!...'' Shouts Pikapool, while closing the Multiverse Gate and reopening it the next second to give himself and his dwarven friends a better view. ''... What are the current odds?''

''3 to 1 for Ethen and 1 to 5 for this Hunter guy...'' Tells him Sindri, consulting his ledger. ''... Also, I think we have to talk about your unpaid bets mouse...''

Reminded of his still unpaid debts, Pikapool asks. ''Didn't I already provided you with the design of your dream woman?''

''Yes, you did and I make the twins as a repayment...'' States Brokk before saying. ''... Look out! I think they might crush that planet next!''

Smirking Sindri comments. ''Planet destruction 10 to 1. Any bets gentlemen?''

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While Pikapool and the dwarfs are eating popcorn, drink beer and gamble, Tonja and Carol finally find an imprisoned but otherwise fine Natasha Romanov.

''Found her let's hope we can reach her in time...'' States Tonja to Carol as she is accelerating her descent down to the planet's surface. Seeing Ethen punch Hunter into the planet, she adds. ''... Holy shit! If these two become even more reckless while fighting I fear we will only get a smashed corpse!''

Landing side by side at the entrance to an underground tunnel network, Carol asks Tonja. ''Any Idea? I could blast us away in with a photon blast.''

''We better don't do that...'' Carol is told by Tonja, while the woman fled into the underground maze. ''... Thanks to the two idiots the hole network is already close to total collapse.''

Smirking Carol tells Tonja. ''Then we better be fast!''

Blasting forward Carol just narrowly avoids getting crushed by the ceiling, as the two woman race down the best path available to them. As the two get deeper and deeper into the maze, the less dangerous it gets for them, as the stone forming the maze seems different, less stone-like and more living.

With every meter gone deeper, Tonja gets a familiar feeling, as 'Little Black' suddenly starts talking to her.

(Little Black) ''Big Sis! BIG SIS this place feels familiar!''

Mentally Tonja tells him. -I know, I feel the same way what is this place?-

''I know this place...'' States Carol interrupting Little Blacks and Tonjas conversation. ''... I think this is Knowhere!''

''What a witty name for a place!...'' Comments Tonja, before commenting. ''... I would vote for 'Somewhere'!''

''At the beginning of the universe, the dark god Knull created a symbiotic sword and used it to decapitate a Celestial...'' Starts Carol receding the Knull codex she had to learn in the past. ''... As the head eroded and decayed over the millennia, a city was built inside and it became known as Knowhere; serving as a scientific station for various races seeking to study events at the edge of the universe. Served by a council made up of representatives of each race the station faced numerous alien invasions... I guess this is what remains of it...''

Flying deeper, Tonja and Carol finally reach the deepest part of Knowhere where they find an unconscious Natasha Romanow lying on top of a huge anvil.