Chapter 51: Harsh Truth

[Warning: Reader discreation advised, the following chapter gets pretty dark. However it is key to his gradually changing nature, repressed memories are a bitch. You have been warned. Enjoy]

As the energy of Order coursed thru Adam's veins, something happened that shocked both Odin and Ancient One.

The Infinity Gems began to pulse in unison, even the Time Stone began to pulse within the Eye of Agamotto, matching the tempo as the Power, Space, Mind and Reality gems within the chestplate of Adam's armor.

The medallion actually began to rust and deteriate at an unbelievable speed. This should have been impossible since the medallion was designed to withstand the power of time.

Ancient One tried to control the Eye of Agamotto, attempting to stop the power from going out of control. She began to cast spell after spell after seeing that the stone didn't respond to her commands as it used to.

Odin shook his head, "This shouldn't be happening. You may as well give up, the stone has chosen a new owner."

"That's impossible, unless.." Ancient Ones eyes widened in shock and fear.

"Unless the stones are not what they once were. There is more to this man than I had thought. He knows laws, superficial knowledge but even that shouldn't be possible, unless the universe he came from is on a higher level than our own. Even the Book of Vishanti only gives knowledge of light spells, although light magic is part of Order, it is just one part. This is why all the spells within the book are defensive. This Adam however, somehow knows about something that very few in this universe know." Odin explained, as he studied Adam's body which was hovering in place as he was in some form of stasis.

"This can't be good, that means Nemesis is now in this universe." Ancient One let out a sigh, this was what she had feared most of all.

"Yes, but not necessarily bad. As you have probably detected, you know who will now be unable to prune this universe as he is attempting to do. This is actually what is protecting our universe." Odin said as he watched with curiosity.

Odin was one of the wisest beings in the universe, rightly so since he had did whatever it took to gain that knowledge. Not only did he sacrifice his eye to gain permission to drink from Mimir's Well, which was called the Well of Urd.

The well was located among the roots of Yggdrasil, the world-tree, after drinking from the enchanted waters he gained the wisdom contained within it.

Then he proceeded to hang himself from the branches of the world-tree, sacrificing himself to himself. Stabbing himself with a spear and hanging for nine days and nights, no food or water entered his mouth the whole time.

After this he was granted knowledge of ancient runes, which held the secrets of existance itself.

The Time stone floated towards Adam, pulsing and changing as it got closer. Its color began to shift from green to orange as its outer shell crumbled.

Ancient One could do nothing but watch in both fear and awe at what was happening before her.

Both Odin and her were completely taken by surprise when Adam had used Order magic, only those who were good could weild its magic. This is why Chthon can only use the power of Chaos, even though Chaos and Order were the same, he was aligned with Evil.

As soon as the Time Gem entered Adam's suit and took its place in the open slot, leaving only the center slot open left, a powerful shockwave pulsed, freezing time within the universe entirely.

Adam opened his eyes and looked around, he saw a beautiful night sky filled with innumerable stars, the ground was flat and covered with some kind of liquid substance that reflected the night sky.

As he walked forward, the liquid rippled outwards, disturbing the pristine reflection of the stars.

"Eve, where are we?" Adam asked but received no response.

"Well that's just great, although this place looks similar to where the soul stone is, it's not exactly right."

As Adam looked around this unknown world, he couldn't get this feeling out of his head that he knew this place, but from where he just couldn't place.

Then a golden glow appeared in the shape of a T with a little o on top, Adam recognized that symbol right way, the Egyptian Ankh. A middle aged man wearing ancient Egyptian royal garments stepped out of the Ankh.

"Greetings Adam."

Adam looked at the man with excitement, although it wasn't who he thought it would be, it just made who he was seeing even more surprising.

"Nabu!" Adam exclaimed, he had no fear of this cosmic entity, he was a force for good after all.

"I take it you were expecting Fate rather than myself." Nabu said with a smile.

"Kinda, but definitely not dissappointed. So where are we?" Adam asked as he looked around.

"This is the world between, it bridges and connects one universe to another. I hade brought you here to perhaps make you into the Doctor Fate of the universe you reside in. However I was unaware you have already been claimed by another."

"Eh? What are you talking about? Claimed? The hell?" Adam was stunned as he tried to think back on what he could be talking about but was drawing a blank.

"So you haven't made yourself known to him yet? Old friend?" Nabu didn't answer Adam but still spoke while looking at him.

"I'm confus.." Adam started to say until a chilling voice, seeming to come from Adam, causing a cold shiver to run down Adams spine.

"Not yet. But was going too soon. He has proven himself worthy, his character is strong, same with his sense of justice. I had to make sure before I bonded to him completely."

A ghostly figure appeared in front of Adam, it wore a hooded cloak that covered half of its face, only the mouth and chin could be seen.

Adam stepped back unconsciously, every muscle tensed as he recognized the being in front of him.

"This isn't possible. You should be in Johnny Blaze." Adam said shakily, this was definitely a being that he stood no chance against, and he knew it.

"That is where you are wrong, I have always been here. You are the one who doesn't belong here, but here you are. I have watched you since you awoke, hiding within you, you are my new host. Why else to you think that you are able to control those gems you are after? Even with the improvements to your body you could only handle three stones, or rather gems now, I have just been observing you, gauging your nature since you aren't my typical host."

"That doesn't make since. I know Johnny Blaze has the Spirit of Vengeance, I've made sure to check..."

"Incorrect." The ghost said cutting Adam off, "He is A Spirit of Vengeance, not THE Spirit of Vengeance."

"No fucking way! Spectre!" Aiden exclaimed, now he really knew he stood no chance. He had mistaken Spectre for Ghost Rider, the

Spectre and Ghost Rider were extremely similar, except that Spectre was a much higher existance.

"It seems you have been testing him. I take it you plan to use him for the upcoming battle." Nabu inquired.

"Yes. Jim Corrigan has been requesting to finally rest, he wished to rejoin his fiancée in the afterlife. When this one died, he died with Vengeance in his heart which called to me. His vengeance was a beacon, but due to circumstances I had to seal his memories of his death, had I not done that we would've corrupted each other." Spectre explained to Nabu.

Nabu closed his eyes for a moment and then replied, "Yes, that was a good choice, and now that he has used Order magic you planned on using the residual energy to stabilize his mind when you release the memory."

"You two both do realize I am standing right here. And what the hell are you talking about? I remember how I died. I am pretty sure I was struck by lightning... Right?" Adam said a little hesitantly since all he remebered really was a flash of white, and there was a storm.

"I am sorry to tell you this but no, that was a few days before your actual death. I am truly sorry Adam." Nabu reponded with a sincere tone, then turning to Spectre he continued, "I will also help keep him stable so that the transition can go smoothly."

Seeing Spectre nod Adam had a really bad feeling.

'How bad could a death be that would require such precautions.' Adam thought as he wasn't liking where this was going.

Although he definitely wouldn't mind being a host to Spectre, he was basically Ghost Rider all juiced up on every steroid you can think of, but it sounded like there was something even they thought was bad enough to block it from him.

"Hold true to yourself Adam, don't let the Vengeance in your heart consume you. There will be no turning back, if you allow it to consume you, that universe you are in will suffer greatly, as will you since it would probably call down The One Above All to take care of you. He would be the only one powerful enough to stop Spectre." Nabu said as a golden Ankh appeared from his brow and shot into Adam's brow, a golden beam linked the two's minds.

Adam instantly felt calmer, more relaxed than he was previously.

"Thank you old friend, that was my biggest worry, but now I can relax knowing the chances of us going out of control are greatly reduced. It was why I was waiting for the right moment." Spectre gave a nod to Nabu, then turned to Adam and continued, "Just remember, you WILL have your vengeance. I will help you return to your original world. It will be tough, but not impossible. You will need to first help with saving my universe, but in doing so you will be able to retrieve a Motherbox, that is what you will need to return to your original universe."

Spectre began to fade from view leaving Adam alone with Nabu, suddenly Adam's mind flooded with a set a memories, flashes of events of what had happened played out in his mind as if he was reliving his last few days.

What he saw play out was not what he wanted to see, it almost broke him, which in a way it already did. It explained his increasing proclivity to violence.

His anger boiled, has he watched what had happened to not just himself, but to his family. Tears of blood streamed down his face as his memories flooded in.

He and his family were on a trip, a family reunion in another country. He felt happy seeing his parents and siblings, his fiancée who was pregnant. They were eating dinner in a bungalow on the beach.

He then noticed everyone beginning to fall asleep, himself included. Then robed figures came from the wooded area further inland.

They had satanic runes and symbols embroidered on their robes, Adam began to shake in anger as he watched his family being carried off, himself included.

They were all taken to a place with ritualistic symbols written all around, one by one they they were strapped to alters.

"No. Stop! This can't be. I...I don't want to see anymore!" Adam shouted but it continued anyway.

What happened next to his fiancée and unborn child, as well as himself and his family, they were used as a ritual sacrifice to some cult who was trying to start Armageddon.

When he watched how his unborn child was cut from his mother, her screams as well as his own drowned out the chanting the numerous cult members were singing.

He had to watch as the cut out each heart, hearing the plea's of his family as one by one their hearts were cut from their chest. The sound of their rib bones being broken echoed with each crack, the tears that fell as the light left their eyes. He was the unlucky one to be last.

Anger, pure unadulterated rage was all he felt. He wanted revenge, he wanted to kill every person there, even as they appoached him with a ceremonial dagger, the hate and defiance he showed, even as his heart was removed he didn't let out a scream in pain, no he was remembering the symbol of the six pointed star with a goats head in the middle. Three sixes were on its forehead, even as his vision faded to black the last to fade was that image.

Adam felt rage, unbridled rage filled every inch of his mind as he rushed forward to kill everything in sight, but no matter what he did he passed right thru them.

"I WILL KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU! I WILL BRING ARMAGEDDON!" Adam shouted as the world began to tremble.

He didn't even realize that when he shouted this, even his corpse had came back alive just to shout the same words, shocking the cult members in attendance.

A golden hue enveloped Adam's body as he screamed in rage, then Spectre's voice resounded in his mind.

"We are Vengeance. Vengeance will be ours, woe to those who envoke our anger. We bring Justice. Vengeance is justice. Vengeance without justice is merely revenge."

As Adams sealed memories flooded into his mind, his real body released another pulse which unfroze time. The moon he was on began to shake violently as large fissures began to open.

It was as if the moon itself was going to shatter. Adam let out a cry full of anger, sadness and hate. But mixed into all those emotions was also a strong sense of determination.

He agreed, he would take Spectre's offer, he was going to return to his universe and bring true justice. He would bring vengeance down on those that took everything from him.

His body began to glow a golden color as the Ankh began to show on the forehead of his helmet, seeing this Odin and Ancient One, who were now unfrozen in time, lept off the moon in shock.

The power emitting from Adam was unlike before. Odin's brow furrowed as he sensed the entity that was now showing itself. It was Ancient One who realized first just who the enity was.

She has had dealing with Nabu before, Kamar-Taj, specifically Agamotto, has been taught light magic by Nabu and is even mentioned in the Book of Vishanti.

The air crackled all around Adam even as his scream died down. It was as if to tell this universe and even his own that vengeance was coming. He was going to return home, and woe to those that would stand in his way. Vengeance has come knocking.