A serious man about 6'0 stepped out of the extremely dark shadows of the Brazilian night. His skin was a light caramel color and he was of slender build. Probably about 135 lbs. You might almost mistake him for a teenager except when you saw his eyes. They didn't have the wonder about the world in them most teenagers' eyes seemed to have. Though his entirely black eyes spoke of great power. A power this man wielded with deadly force and great willpower. He wore a suit of armor to fit his frame and black skulls adorned the shining armor. The armor was just as much a part of him as his eyes or his skin. It seemed to blend with his flesh almost as if the armor was eternally glued to his tiny body. In his right hand he held a large gray sword that emitted an eerily silver glow. That glow had been the last sight for many a people across many a world. His sword was symbol of all his conquest and all the majesty of his evil. On the hilt of the sword were tiny pieces of flesh from all his enemies that were disgustingly patched together. A sick sight for most, but for this man it was a glory to behold. Reminiscing on triumphs past was a great deal easier with his sword. The sword's name was Deathscourne and he was the Death Knight.

"Come to me my fellow Children of the Dark," Death Knight commanded with a tone that could shake many men to their cores, but not for his fellow warriors. Though none of them were even half as ferocious as him they were nonetheless vessels of great and incredible power. Seven figures stepped out coolly and were behind him. They were a threat that wasn't suppose to be released, but now they were on Earth and in search of the keys that would free their master from his imprisonment. And just how terrible could the master of these dark beings be? None should have to find out, but if the Children of the Dark are not stopped witnessing their master will unfortunately be a fate to befall many. There had to be someone out there capable of halting the march of the Children of the Dark. Who could it be though? These warriors had crushed entire armies single-handedly.

"So who is our target?" Demon Hunter asked. He was 5'8, had deep blue skin, prickly black hair, a muscular frame, and a wide orange blindfold wrapped around where his eyes use to be. Black bandages were wrapped around his hands and on his back was a massive bow. The bow had been carved from the bones of ancient animals and was believed to be blessed with the ability to magnify its user skill tenfold. Probably why out of his career the Demon Hunter has only missed two shots and both times was because the Death Knight had deflected his arrows. Obviously the Demon Hunter held no grudge with Death Knight over it. To anger the Death Knight was incur a wrath greater than that of a hundred armies. Demon Hunter remembered when a king once stabbed Death Knight in the leg with a poisoned blade. Demon Hunter still remembered the screams of that king as Death Knight stripped his flesh off…slowly.

"The Inhuman, Crystal. You should remember these things," Far Seer replied snappily. The Far Seer was quick to become agitated and he was the only member of the Children of the Dark that could catch an attitude with Death Knight. Probably because he was Death Knight's best friend and counsel since the two had been little children. Far Seer still had to put Death Knight in place at times though the last time he did it was about 10,000 years ago. The Children of the Dark had been locked away and only were recently released due to the destruction of their galaxy by the Destroyer.

The Far Seer was about 5'7, had an oval shaped head, black hair that barely protruded off his head, blood red eyes, and dark green skin. A brown cloak covered his body and he had a long, twisted wooden staff as his weapon of choice. Many underestimated that weapon before and they all ended up dead or in large amounts of pain. The weapon had been passed down in his family for generations and many had died by its hands. Far Seer took great pride in his weapon and treated it almost as if it were a child. Death Knight scolded him many a time for his affection for the wooden staff.

"I see that thousands of years of imprisonment haven't changed your attitude," Dreadlord mused in his demonic voice. Dreadlord had always been critical of Far Seer. He always felt that he was far too arrogant and irritable for his own good. Of course he only let it be known through sarcastic comments. To let it be known out in the open would result in a beating from Death Knight. Something that wouldn't be at all pretty. Dreadlord preferred to see others be on the receiving end of Deathscroune.

Dreadlord had a strange look about him. He had the head of a very large black ram with golden horns. His body was that of a very large man and his legs were that of a lion's. His wings spanned over a great distance and were covered with razor sharp spikes.

"You honestly thought Far Seer would ever change?" Mountain King laughed. The old, robust man with his white beard was a lot stranger than he looked. One time on a faraway world he had held at bay ten warriors eight times his size. All of the Children of the Dark marveled at the feat. Death Knight even told Mountain King that he was impressed and to impress Death Knight was an extremely hard thing to do. His blue eyes gave off a strength his diminutive size couldn't. That's one of the main reasons the master of the Children of the Dark chose Mountain King to be one of his soldiers in the first place. He wore armor very similar to Death Knight's except his was laced in gold and his weapon was an ax.

"The day Far Seer changes is the day I lay down my blades," Blademaster laughed. Two swords about ten feet in length were crisscrossed across his back. On his baggy baby blue pants were dozens of knives attached. The rest of Blademaster was exposed except for the two leather straps that crisscrossed across his tan chest. His slender, but chiseled body was able to hold all the weight of his swords with ease. 16 years of age and 135 pounds of muscle made for quite the effective warrior.

"You might as well lay down those blades young one. They'll be quite ineffective against the Avengers," Lich King mocked in his voice that sounded like a person eternally frozen. The creature had a skull for a head that gave off a dazzling blue light. A black cloak was wrapped around the Lich King and it floated above the air like he was a ghost. Around his neck wan amulet with two intertwined dragons on it. It glistened constantly. Lich King only picked with Blademaster because he felt the boy needed to be taught humility. He was constantly boasting of his skill and might in the battlefield. Though he was a great warrior he still had much to learn. He was far from being a Death Knight though you would be hard pressed to convince him of that.

"Must you always tease him? Try and be nice Lich," Archmage said with a smile. Out of all her comrades she was the one who continued to smile. The darkness that surrounded all the other Children of the Dark had not yet found its way around her. A hooded purple cloak concealed her beautifully curved body. Her brown eyes spoke of beauty and her silver staff spoke of the great magical abilities within her. Then suddenly a strong wind blew throwing back her cloak and showing her black jumpsuit adorned with pictures of battling warriors. Death Knight had personally created her cloak and jumpsuit. He endowed it with special power and she went form being a lowly mage to an extremely powerful Archmage. Her name became a feared one. So much so she became simply referred to as Archmage. The Children of the Dark was the most feared and dangerous force in their galaxy. That was until Archmage's father, Elfangor Proudstone, locked them away in a magical chamber. The fact that her father betrayed her still stung deep in Archmage's heart, but she could understand why he did what he did. The Children of the Dark threatened the sanctity of his Order of Truth. They had been locked away over 10,000 years ago though for the Children of the Dark it had only seemed like yesterday that they were locked away. Archmage couldn't help but to wonder how her father had finally met his ultimate end? Did he die as a warrior or all alone in a tiny room in some remote part of the galaxy? Had he gotten married again and had some more children? In truth she knew none of this really mattered since her galaxy was gone, but she still couldn't help but to wonder.

The destruction of their galaxy by the being known as the Destroyer had set them free upon the universe once more. Now they would free their master and make their names known once more across the cosmos. And this time none would be able to stand in their way. Not even the heroes of Earth! That's all that had to matter to Archmage now. That's all she needed to worthy about now and always. Once her master was free he would solve all their problems and he would make their names feared across the cosmos once more.

"Enough chatter! Far Seer find Crystal!" Death Knight commanded anger beginning to rise within him. How would they ever free their master if they were too busy being involved in childish argument? They had to remained focused at all times because that was the only way they were going to defeat the plethora of super beings this planet had to offer. Death Knight smiled to himself on the inside though. This planet would be a beautiful challenge for him. He was prepared for this and honestly he had wanted a test like this since his inception.

Far Seer bowed slightly to Death Knight and began to change slightly under is breath. His body began to emit a yellow aura and as the chant ended it slowly dissipated away. Every time Far Seer used his powers it reminded Blademaster of his father of long ago. He knew personal feelings should never be involved in a true warrior's heart, but he couldn't help it. Blademaster hated to say it, but he missed his family.

"She is in the country of Thailand on a charity mission with the Eternal, Sersi. The Inhuman should be easy prey," Far Seer reported. Death Knight nodded his head. The time was approaching faster than ever now. With the Inhuman, Crystal, they would be able to find the Mooncrystals necessary to free their master from his imprisonment. And once that happened a new age would begin. An age where the Children of the Dark are supreme and none stand to oppose them.

"Time to begin. We will beleaguer the Avengers in every sense of the word. None shall withstand the power of the Children of the Dark," Lich King exclaimed as he began to envelop his allies in a mist of snow. The snow began to glow a right blue and all of them vanished as if they were never there.

All the while someone watched the arrival of The Children of the Dark from a very far place in a whole other time. His name was Krugarr and he was the Sorcerer Supreme of an alternate 31st century. He knew the release of such a terrible force upon the universe had to be halted even if it wasn't going to directly affect his timeline. Besides he knew the Sorcerer Supreme of that time was busy with his own affairs. He would help the Avengers.

Space

Numinus is the guiding spirit of the universe. Some might say she pokes her nose where it doesn't belong. Others might say she is probably one of the kinder abstracts. Right now she doesn't care what anyone thinks because a threat thought to be long dismissed has awaken from their slumber. So now she was going to get whatever help she could find to stop the Children of the Dark because it would take a group prepared for them to do any true harm to them. She would have assembled the Power Pack, the only team she's ever encountered face to face, to aid her, but they seem to have disbanded long ago. Also it seems they haven't been trying to hone their powers any and the only worth of any real worth now was Franklin Richards. Besides gathering a team to her aid might be counterproductive because they would already have their own routines and what not so they would be wary to listen to anything she would have to say. So she would have to assemble her own team and train them from scratch. She would need the right mix of power and skill to defeat the Children of the Dark. These beings were hardly pushovers and anyone who believed so would quickly fall before them. They fed on arrogance and weakness. It was almost like a drug to the Children of the Dark.

The Avengers don't know the Children of the Dark are coming and neither does she have time to prepare them. She simply must assemble whomever she can because if she didn't no one else would and if the Children of the Dark were allowed to run rampant then none would be able to stop them. The Children of the Dark would plunder entire planets before any would begin to take notice. Numinus refused to let that happen. Earth deserved a fighting chance against the Children of the Dark and she was going to give it to them.

Her first knight is a creation of the lowly scientist Arnim Zola who now was trapped in the service of the dark telepath, Shadow King. He is a rejected lover and an artificial man who literally change his shape into anything he can imagine. The artificial being's name is Primus and Numinus has chosen him because his versatility and sheer potential will be a great asset against the power of the Children of the Dark. Numinus hopes to use him to bewilder Death Knight. Though for all his potential he is without discipline and that's something the guiding spirit of the universe would have to work on. With her cosmic power she snatched Primus from a secret prison where he was being held. America had a tendency to have many of those hidden across the country and little scattered islands.

Numinus's second knight was the villain known as Nitro. He had been the original Captain Mar-vell's greatest foe and his powers would be a great asset in the battle against the Children of the Dark. Numinus hoped to use him to keep the magic of the Archmage at bay or at least take the Lich King out of the battle. The guiding spirit's third knight was Stellaris whose occupation was to hunt Celestials. She was a woman of great power and as such she was going to be needed in the battle to come. Stellaris could provide her with the brute strength to tackle two of the Children of the Dark, Demon Hunter and Blademaster.

Numinus's next four knights were the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse that came from the Axi-Tun Empire. They had been banished from returning to the Earth, but she would easily wipe away that curse. The last of Numinus's knights would have to be freed from another dimension. He was a super solider from the future and within him was an army of powers. His name was Fusion. He was her greatest hope in the battle against the Children of the Dark. He could potentially be the factor that gave her forces this battle and save the cosmos from years of misery by the hands of the Children of the Dark.

Numinus snatched up all these super powered beings within a second. They found themselves in what looked like an ancient Roman gladiator arena. There were thousands of seats around the makeshift coliseum. All of the villains and heroes alike were confused and bewildered as to where they were at and how they got there. The guiding spirit would explain to them soon enough how they came to be here in this seemingly archaic place. She would make them understand the weight of the situation they were faced with. These men and women were the fate of the universe.

"What the?!"

"How the heck…?"

"This cannot be!"

The guiding spirit of the universe listened to these reactions and let a smile spread across her dark pink face. It would probably be one of the few times she would smile during this whole ordeal. The Children of the Dark usually didn't bring about smiles and happy celebrations. Throwing back her black hair Numinus teleported down to where the nine waited for someone to explain what was going on to them. And give them an explanation she would. So as to garner their attention sufficiently Numinus reappeared in a blaze of burning light. All eyes fell upon her in an instant.

"Welcome my children. You all have important work to do and we must hurry for if the Children of the Dark are to be stopped we must," Numinus explained knowing she wasn't going to get the most positive response. Look at whom she assembled for crying out loud. These weren't exactly the nicest people in the universe, but they offered the best chance to defeat the Children of the Dark. Perhaps not the best chance, but Numinus made due with what she could.

Death of the Four Horsemen stepped forward and he pointed his sword directly at Numinus's head as he said, "I don't know whom you are woman, but I suggest you return me and mine's back to where we came from. Or I'll send your head rolling! Your choice to make."

"I am the guiding spirit of the universe fool! You have been chosen for a mission of the utmost importance. I will have no more back talk," Numinus yelled as she rendered all eight super beings immobile. She took some minor pleasure in the look on Death's armored face as he realized he had been rendered entirely immobile.

"So to begin your training all of you except for the Horsemen will be fighting one another. It will allow me the chance to gauge your power and to see where you might have need of improvement. First off Primus and Nitro will fight one another," Numinus said as she made everyone else in the arena disappear except for Primus and Nitro. The guiding spirit knew that she had to at least make the match-ups fair and the only reasonable person for Fusion to fight was Stellaris. Otherwise the fights would be extremely lopsided. Then it would be impossible for Numinus to accurately gauge the power and skill level of her warriors.

"Why don't you just give up Primus and spare yourself from too much harm?" Nitro mocked. He really didn't understand entirely why he was here, but if he could get a decent fight out of this mess he was all game.

"Give up to you. Come on. I'd have a harder time fighting Toad," Primus shot back. Fighting was really the last thing he felt like doing at the moment, but this guiding spirit of the universe was obviously serious about him fighting so he would do it. She possessed a great deal more power than him so he knew receiving a dose of her wrath wouldn't be the best decision to make.

"Low shot. I'll remember that when I deliver the knockout punch that ends this fight."

"You gotta land a punch first ass!" Primus said really beginning to get pissed off at Nitro. The guy just blew himself up for crying out loud and he swore that he was the best thing to hit since peanut butter. He would have to teach this guy a lesson and in doing so maybe he would validate that pathetic scrap of nothing Arnim Zola.

"Trust me kiddo. Punches are my specialty. I'll leave you so hurt you'll felt like dynamite blew up in your face!"

"Bad joke Nitro. You'll probably won't remember how bad it was after I beat the hell out of you!" Primus said as he changed into a rhino and charged at Nitro.

"Finally. I grew tired of their talking. Now we get to see some action!" Stellaris exclaimed from above the fight in the seats of the coliseum. Stellaris hunted one of the most powerful species in the galaxy. She was far from being a pacifist. You couldn't be in her profession because Celestials were not a species known for their mercy. She knew this first hand since the brutes had destroyed her world when they "judged" it. Their justice could freeze worlds. Some considered her cruel, among them being the god Thor, but none of them had seen the destruction that the Celestials had wreaked on her world. None of those hypocrites saw the devastation and the last desperate cries of a dying people. She had and the Celestials would pay even if it took her a thousand years to kill them all.

"A lofty goal to have Stellaris. Though your persistence, spunk and even bravery is why I chose you to help me in this endeavor we are about to undertake. It takes a brave person to even face a Celestial let alone hunt them. You will be quite the warrior if only you could move past your grief," Numinus said having listened to Stellaris's thoughts. She already knew that the Celestial hunter wasn't going to respond to her snooping around in her mind kindly, but Numinus need to get some things out in the open.

"You and everyone else expect me to get over the deaths of millions upon millions of people. Few can understand the pain I feel now and the pain I will always feel. Everyone I ever loved, everyone I ever hated, everyone I glanced with my eyes, and everyone I heard only tales about was vanquished. A culture and a people were destroyed. All that remains of them is within me and for that reason some things have been lost forever. Everything I never saw is now gone! Everything I never read about can never be told again! Do you understand this? Do you?" Stellaris prodded. She didn't even mention the fact that Numinus had been reading her mind. Talking about her old world made her edgy and easy to have outbursts.

"Even so Stellaris you're tale isn't all you make it out to be is it? The armor you possess is more related to the Celestials than you care to let people know isn't it? Why is that part of your tale always left out?" Numinus prodded just as equally. Stellaris looked as if she was about to reply, but simply turned back to watch the fight.

"What of you armored one? Who are you?" Stellaris asked Fusion who were seated two seats down from her.

"The name's Fusion. Not to be rude, but can you hold off on formalities, but watching this fight is like history for me," Fusion said as he stared intently at the battling Nitro and Primus.

"Must be an Earther," Stellaris mumbled to herself as she leaned back in her seat to enjoy the fight. Though she didn't quite get his history remark.

"Come on Nitro! Is this all you got?" Primus asked as he threw a golden fist at a dodging Nitro. The creation of Arnim Zola wanted to make this fight real quick, but he knew Nitro wasn't going to allow him to do that. Which was really pissing him off. He was already upset at the fact he was just snatched up from the planet and made to fight like some animal.

"I've got more than you can handle little boy," Nitro exclaimed as he thrust his hands and set off an explosion, his trademark, in them. The blast was enough to knock Primus across the rocky floor. He wasn't unconscious though. Zola's creation was more potent than that which was surprising considering how unsuccessful some of Zola's endeavors could be. Yellow gas was where Nitro's hands use to be at, but that gas quickly contracted and turned into his hands once more. In that Nitro saw a potential weakness, but he would have to test some other things out first.

"Big deal. You blow up good," Primus insulted as his hands turned into axes. He began to take off in a run at Nitro and as he did so wheels rose out from under his feet. Nitro wasn't expecting this so he only managed to dodge one of Primus's axes. The other cut off one of Nitro's arms. That wasn't exactly what the effect Primus was hoping for, but his opponent missing a limb could end this fight pretty quick. Unless of course Nitro could grow limbs too. That was more Wolverine's department though.

Nitro yelled out in utterly excruciating pain as his limb hit the ground with a thud. The villain could see his limb lying on the ground like a bloody piece of meat. The sight of it sickened him. He leaned over to the side and threw up. With a pained smile Nitro looked up at Primus and said, "Watch this you damn bastard!"

The villain's severed arm blew up and the yellow gas flew back to Nitro and condensed into an arm. Primus was so shocked that it gave Nitro the opportunity to throw a punch that sent Primus back into the floor again. Nitro's mind was full of joy and anger all at once. He was pissed that his arm got cut off in the first place, but was pretty happy at the fact he able to get it back again. Nitro wanted to make that Primus shrimp pay dearly. Maybe he could blow off the bastard's head. The Numinus woman probably wouldn't allow that though, but then why did she let Primus cut off his arm? She said she needed them to fight The Children of the Dark and Nitro figured she wanted them to fight these guys whole. Could Numinus have known that he would be able to get his arm back?

"That was a gamble punk and you're lucky it worked. Otherwise they would be scraping you off this coliseum floor. Speaking of the floor you really must like staying down there," Nitro teased. He wanted to make Primus sloppy by getting him angry. He couldn't afford to have any more limbs being cut off. Sure he could reassemble himself like a toy, but the pain was still there nonetheless.

"Please. You just blow up real good," Primus laughed. Nitro's powers were getting real old real fast. Though that didn't mean he would underestimate this walking piece of dynamite. If he could reattach limbs then there was no telling how many other things the guy could possibly do.

"You keep saying the same thing over and over again. It's pretty obvious my powers kick butt. So just lie down and beg for mercy already," Nitro taunted. He was laying it on thick now because he really wasn't getting any response out of Primus that made him believe he was upsetting the guy. Maybe Zola just made it so that he never got pissed. That probably wasn't the case since Zola was French and everyone knew they were eternally pissed.

"Alright that's it! You're going down," Primus exclaimed as he began to launch off hundreds of golden tentacles at Nitro. Each of the tentacles smacked, hit, and wrapped around Nitro's body. The Captain Mar-vell foe tried his best to bat off the tentacles, but to no avail.

"This game ends now!" Nitro yelled as he exploded his whole body. The blast threw Primus across the coliseum and he hit the wall with such force that he broke through the stone. Primus was out cold.

"Just a chump," Nitro grinned as he dusted his hands together. He had done it! Primus was laid out defeated in front of him. Honestly though was there ever doubt about who would come out on top in this battle?

"Excellent battle Nitro. You proved to be the more powerful of the two. I congratulate you deeply," Numinus bowed to Nitro.

"Well, he did give me a workout. Though ultimately he wasn't powerful enough to defeat me," Nitro gloated.

Stellaris laughed at Nitro's haughtiness as she proclaimed, "I doubt you'll ever be able to defeat me you wimp. You sit here and boast of your power when in the grand scale of things you are nothing!"

"He is worth something Stellaris. He'll help in the defeat of the Children of the Dark. That is purpose enough," Numinus scolded Stellaris.

"Please woman. I don't even know why you bow before him. To show respect to insects only results in you being crushed along with them," Stellaris said.

"I'll take you on any day of the week," Nitro said getting in Stellaris's face. Numinus separated the two of them.

"Stop this worthless bickering. We must focus on training! We must unite as one," Numinus pleaded.

"Enough with your whining woman! Let's get to the fight between me and Fusion," Stellaris exclaimed. She hunted Celestials so she held herself far superior to any of Numinus's other chosen warriors. Something about this Fusion though interested her a great deal.

"As I have said your haughtiness is just as much needed as your powers themselves, but you will watch what you say around me. Though nonetheless your request is reasonable. Let the fight begin!" Numinus exclaimed as Nitro, Primus, and herself disappeared in a blaze of yellow light.

"Perhaps you might wish to surrender now to save yourself from too much embarrassment," Stellaris offered. She wanted to test the bravery of this Fusion and she also wanted to see if he had a temper. The Celestial Hunter already knew Nitro possessed one from his fight with the shape-shifter Primus, but this Fusion was still an enigma to her. Power and personality wise.

Fusion simply grinned at Stellaris's taunt and motioned his fingers telling her to bring it on. The woman laughed inside at this human's boldness and charged at him. She kicked him hard in the abdomen, but it was almost as if he let her do it. Before she could even react his fist was in her face. The blow was so powerful it knocked her straight through the coliseum wall and into the stands. "The combined power of Hulk, Thing, Craze, and Omega Red can do that to you. Give up yet?"

The Celestial hunter slowly worked her way out of the debris that surrounded her and stood up to fight once more. She pulled out a baton from her side and extended it into a red staff. The armor that surrounded her entire body began to transform and grow until she looked like a mini Celestial being. In an almost hypnotic voice Stellaris laughed, "You are more powerful than expected, but you still won't win!"

Stellaris charged at Fusion and launched a blast of blazing red energy from her staff, but the Earther was gone in a puff of sulfur smelling smoke. She quickly turned around to find Fusion right there battering her with super strong fists moving at 100 mph speeds. Knowing she had to come up with some kind of defense Stellaris created an energy field around her body, which not only protected her from Fusion's blows, but also knocked him far away from her. "I've a few tricks of my own as well Fusion. As said you shall not win this battle."

"Just a setback Stellaris. It does not mean failure. Besides while you've got cheap tricks I've got sweet moves!"

Suddenly Fusion's body split into four copies. Then one of the Fusions raced towards Stellaris at speeds approaching twice that of sounds. He hit her head on, but she didn't even budge. The other three Fusions began to circle around Stellaris creating a tornado that would hopefully drain her of the vital air she needed to breathe.

"Fool! This armor allows me to survive in a vacuum! I hunt down Celestials. Remember?" Stellaris scolded as she blasted away the three Fusions surrounding her. Though when she turned around she found that the Fusion that had hit her head on was now four. "Coming out of the woodwork now. Well, bring on a hundred of you. I still shall win."

"Keeping telling yourself that," all four Fusions said in unison as Stellaris was suddenly lifted off the ground. She could feel her armor beginning to be tugged at by some tremendous force. It was barely holding itself together. What could be causing this? What was Fusion doing?

"For all your power lady your armor is still metal though quite the sophisticated variety. Four magnetic powered guys should be more than enough to handle you though."

Realizing defeat Stellaris cried out, "Do not destroy my armor! It is precious to me! I give up!"

She was suddenly dropped to the ground and all the Fusions were now only one. He came up to her and smiled. "I was never going to destroy your armor. I just figured threatening it might make you think twice about giving up. I see it worked."

"What are you? How do you possess so much power?" Stellaris asked bewildered at how quickly she was defeated by this human.

"I come from very far in the future. Past the 50th century without a doubt. I was a project meant to be the killer of another program called Gaunt. He possessed the powers of every mutant in existence up till that point and I possess the abilities to every super powered being up till that point. Though I can only conjure up four heroes at a time while Gaunt could use any multitude of abilities he wanted. His powers had less of an effect against me than they did against others. I was meant to handle him if he ever got out of hand," Fusion explained.

"Then how did you end up in this time?"

Fusion looked blank for a moment said, "Gaunt escaped into this time. He sought out great power. For a time he was inactive being held by the Chinese government. Once the Fa Clinic incident happened and Collective Man died there was suddenly a need for a new Chinese super warrior. So Gaunt was unleashed and he escaped out into the world. I failed in stopping him. He kidnapped three mutants and nearly killed quite a few others."

"Where is he now?" Stellaris asked curiously.

"I honestly don't know for sure. He could be just biding his time until he feels it's the right moment to strike out at me. I'm just not sure to tell you the truth."

Before the two could talk any further there was a bright pink light and out of it came a clapping Numinus. "A brilliant battle. So much raw energy and emotion. You two were splendid. Warriors to the core to be sure, but remember Fusion that your thoughts should not dwell on Gaunt. The true enemy at this point and time is The Children of the Dark."

"Yes of course."

Numinus sighed and began to talk just a little more urgently, "Come! We have much training to do. Things are already beginning to be set in motion. Our time is growing less and less to prepare."

Thailand

"Helping these people feels good," Crystal said as she handed another box of food to the humanitarian workers who were feeding the multitudes of hungry people. The two were here on the most part for a good will mission, but they also heard rumors that Mieko Ko was starting to try and make a move in Thailand. It was only a rumor though and it had to be confirmed.

"Doing good feels good," Sersi said as she gave a box of bottled water to an emaciated man and his family of four. His little girl smiled at the Eternal and Sersi couldn't help, but to feel an overwhelming feeling of mixed sadness and joy. She wanted so bad to make this little girl's day brighter just a little bit. Slowly she rose up from her chair.

She began to yell out to the crowd, "I have a gift for all of you!" Reaching out her hands the torn and ragged of the clothes of the masses became tuxedos and wonderful dresses. Everyone had a pair of comfortable shoes on their feet. And for the ones were grossly thin Sersi used her molecular control to put some meat on their bones so to speak. After Sersi's gift to all the people was given a loud cheer came up from all of them. Some of these children out in the crowd had never worn a pair of shoes in their life and now they had some of the best money could buy.

"What a lovely deed!" came a voice from behind the two women. Looking swiftly behind them the two women saw eight beings each of them looking distinctly different. Crystal and Sersi felt a wave of apprehension sweep over them. They were staring into the face of dangerous evil.

"Come with us and their will be no trouble," Death Knight warned as he stepped forward with his sword, Deathscourne, pointed at Crystal and Sersi. His black eyes showed just how serious he was. In a way it frightened Crystal. It frightened her terribly.

Sersi laughed in a false show of confidence, "Come and get us if you all dare." Death Knight smiled at the woman. That ominous smile chilled Sersi even more than his bottomless black eyes.

The leader of the Children of the Dark turned his head to the thing that had a glowing skull for a head and pointed at the two women. "This will be child's play," the creature said in a voice that sounded like it had been frozen for millennia.

"Trust me when I tell you these children play rough!" Crystal exclaimed as she crystallized the air around all of the Children of the Dark. Once they were surrounded the Inhuman woman turned the crystal into hundreds of microscopic shards that would tear into the flesh of her attackers. It was brutal, but she just had this feeling being brutal was the only way to survive these guys.

Before even one shard could touch any of the Children of the Dark they were turned into puffs of yellow smoke. A guffaw came from the woman known as Archmage, "Was that suppose to harm us? If that was the best you have then we are truly done here. Come now and spare yourself anymore embarrassment."

After Archmage was done talking her clothes began to wrap themselves around her like it was liquid covering all corners of its container. She could feel her cloak melting into every part of her body and reaching into her pores. She would end this now. And she would end it quickly. If only she could reach her silver staff which she had dropped. The same thing was happening to all her fellow Children of the Dark. They were trapped and immobile, but how?

"Call me weak now huh? Just try to get your way out of this one!" Sersi said as looked at Crystal and pointed up at the sky with a finger. The Inhuman knew exactly what she meant and nodded in acknowledgement.

Lighting arced down from the sky hitting each one of the Children of the Dark creating a bunch of violent booms. When the dust had settled all the Children of the Dark were sprawled across the charred ground. Smoke was billowing off their bodies.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Sersi said giving Crystal a high five.

"Thought we were about to be in quite the fix there for a second. Do you know who these guys are?" Crystal asked.

"We are the Children of the Dark woman. You will do well to remember that name," Death Knight exclaimed as he rose up from the ground and unsheathed his sword, Deathscourne. Lich King, Archmage, and Far Seer were right behind him.

A flabbergasted Crystal murmured, "What the hell are we up against here?"

"One of the most powerful forces to have ever existed in the galaxy," Demon Hunter laughed getting up from the blast Crystal had delivered unto him.

Sersi whispered just low enough so Crystal could hear, "I think it's time we try and get the hell out of here."

"Really that wouldn't be your best option," Death Knight said as he flung his sword at Sersi stabbing her in the thigh. Black energy coursed through the Eternal's body once Deathscourne pierced her. She fell to the floor unconscious. Crystal was now alone against all of the Children of the Dark. They all had managed to recover from Crystal's lighting blast.

Crystal created a powerful gale wind force that lifted the Children of the Dark off the ground and crashing into one another in mid-air. As long as she could keep them off their game maybe she would get some help eventually. Though that was a huge maybe.

Demon Hunter even in the gale wind managed to pull out his bow and shoot off an arrow hitting Crystal straight in the shoulder. The Inhuman yelled out in pain and her concentration was broken. As the Children of the Dark fell through the air to the ground their fall was broken by the magic of Archmage who floated them to the ground like feathers in a gentle breeze.

"Trying to fight will only get you pain," Death Knight said coldly as he outstretched his hand and his sword ripped itself out of Sersi's thigh and came back into his hands. Much in the way Mjolnir comes back to Thor.

Mountain King moved out in front of Death Knight and came face to face with a trembling Crystal. The small man pulled at his white beard and shook his head; "Everyone always has to make things difficult." And with that he punched the Inhuman woman square in the face. She was out cold and though most wouldn't think he could be capable of doing it he hefted the woman on his shoulders.

"Time to go now I suppose. They did put up a little bit of a fight. Though maybe I'll actually get in some action when we take on the Avengers," Blademaster huffed in a tone that hinted a little of disappointment and a little of complaint.

"You'll have your chance to fight. Don't worry about that Blademaster," Dreadlord said trying to console the disappointed warrior. Honestly he felt the same way. He wanted combat. Being locked away for 10,000 years had made them all antsy for battle. They didn't care from where.

Avengers Mansion

Krugarr, Sorcerer Supreme of the 31st Century, floated along the ground towards the door of the fabled Avengers Mansion. Krugarr preferred not to slither along the ground since he only had a worm-like appendage instead of humanoid legs. So he just floated his body off the ground with his Cloak of Levitation. The air of this time was much cleaner than the 31st century's air. He didn't smell nearly half the chemicals, but the noise pollution here was awful. His red bat-like ears picked up on blaring noises left and right. It was almost enough to make him take away his own hearing with a spell.

Deciding to approach the Avengers the 21st century way Krugarr gripped the doorknob of the Mansion with one of his red three-fingered hands and knocked. In almost a few seconds an old human was at the door. He didn't seem the least surprised by the appearance of Krugarr, but more with his Amulet and Eye of Agamotto and his Cloak of Levitation. What an idiot? He had forgotten that this man was probably used to the Sorcerer Supreme of his own time.

"Hello sir? May I do something for you?" Jarvis asked politely as possible considering the fact he was staring at an alien from an alternate 31st century.

Remembering his purpose Krugarr said urgently, "I must speak to the Avengers! Two of their own are in grave danger and the entire world may be soon enough."

Jarvis nodded and directed the Sorcerer Supreme in, "I'll get Master Thor directly."

Krugarr floated into Avengers Mansion carefully. This place was living history to him. Its hallowed halls were forever imprinted in the pages of Earth's history. This time was the age of heroes and this place was the nexus of the greatest of them.

"Ho comrade! Why dost thou hath need of the Avengers?" Thor asked mightily as he came down the stairs with Jarvis behind him. The Asgardian was taken aback at how similar his visitor's garments were to that of Dr. Strange. Perhaps this one was Dr. Strange transformed by dark magic.

The Sorcerer Supreme took a deep breath and spoke, "I'm Krugarr and I'm the Sorcerer Supreme of the 31st century. I've come to you Thor with a great warning of peril. The Children of the Dark have arrived and I believe they may already have two of your teammates."

"You speakst of Sersi and fair Crystal? Who are these Children of the Dark?" Thor asked curiously.

"They come from the galaxy that was crushed by the being known as the Destroyer. They were being held prisoner in that galaxy and when the Destroyer did what he did he freed them. Now they're here on Earth trying to find some way to free their creator and master," Krugarr explained with a great deal of waving hand motions.

"And what does freeing their master have to do with Crystal and Sersi?" Scarlet Witch asked as she came out of the kitchen with a cup of black coffee in her hands. She was a wearing a light blue blouse and very tight black pants that accented her curves wonderfully. She took a seat down on the couch behind Thor and sipped on her coffee. Wanda hated to seem so calm in all of this, but getting frantic wasn't what was needed. They needed to stay calm and together. Crossing her legs Wanda prepared herself to listen to Krugarr's continuing tale.

The Sorcerer Supreme stuck out his hand and three large purple crystals appeared floating over his hands. The three crystals illuminated a dazzling light. Krugarr said, "These are what the Children of the Dark want Sersi and Crystal for. These are the Moon Crystals. The Moon Crystals were used to sap away the power of the Children of the Dark's master and so he could be locked away. It takes a great deal of elemental power to unlock the crystals and the Inhuman woman can provide that elemental power. The only problem is that using that much elemental power can exhaust someone very quickly and kill them. So who better to use than one who can never die? I believe that the Children of the Dark will transfer Crystal's power into Sersi and then have Sersi unlock the Moon Crystals."

"Then thee option is nay there! Our duty is to Crystal and Sersi. Wanda let the cry ring out to all. Avengers Assemble!!" Thor commanded with a voice that sounded like a lighting clap.

Nepal

"You know I ain't been with a woman in ages," Blademaster said as he licked his lips lustfully at the chained up Crystal and Sersi.

Far Seer put his staff to the back of Blademaster's neck, "Don't even let the thought cross your mind. We must first use them for what has to be done. Then if Death Knight is kind he'll let you have your way with them."

"It's always about what Death Knight wants," Blademaster huffed as he fell back into his stool and let his gaze drift away from the Inhuman and Eternal. The two were both beautiful women and he was one sexually deprived man. If kept staring at them for too long he'd break Far Seer's staff in two just to get to them.

"That would be because he is in charge young one. You would do well to remember it," Far Seer reminded threateningly as he moved past Blademaster towards Sersi. He stuck his staff under the Avenger's chin forcefully and looked into her eyes deeply.

"You have lived long. Your eyes look far too tired and filled with far too much regret for someone of the age, which you appear to be. Are your people long-lived like you?" Far Seer asked curiously.

"Yes they all are and when they see I've disappeared they'll come after me. There's one called Ikaris and he will rip you all limb by limb," Sersi boasted hoping to at least see some fear or hesitation in the eyes of these warriors. They didn't even flinch.

Far Seer smiled viciously, "If boasting makes you feel more at ease with your present situation then by all means go for it. Though it would be wise not to lead yourself into delusions of freedom."

Out of the blue the astral image of Archmage appeared in the middle of the dank and dark cell. She looked over to Far Seer, "We have a problem. A group of super powers are attacking us. We'll need your help to fend them off."

"So the Avengers show up early. They're better than I thought," Blademaster smiled eager for the challenge.

Archmage shook her head, "It's not the Avengers. It's someone else. They're being lead by Numinus."

Far Seer's jaw dropped slightly, "The guiding spirit of the universe leads them. Interesting, but why would she involve herself in our matters?"

The question had been to no one in particular so no one answered it. Archmage simply ordered them to be on the battlefield and she was gone. Crystal and Sersi had heard the entire exchange and they both suddenly had a glimmer of hope. Whoever was out there fighting the Children of the Dark they were stalling until the Avengers showed. Of course both knew that probably wasn't why the assailants were attacking, but that was one of the results.

"Looks like the guys might have a chance to rescue us after all," Crystal said as she tugged at her chains.

"Tell me about it. Let's just hope they get off their asses and find us," Sersi replied impatiently.

Stellaris punched Demon Hunter in the jaw and sent him flying into the ground with a hard thud. He hadn't been knocked out by the woman's blow though. He simply rose up from the ground and rubbed his chin, "I haven't been hit like that in a while woman. I commend you."

Demon Hunter reared back his bow and launched off two arrows. They both hit Stellaris square in her chest, but luckily she managed to put on her armor before Demon Hunter's arrows had the chance to hit her. She laughed at the look on Demon Hunter's face, "I hunt Celestials alien. Do you honestly think a few arrows can cause me harm!"

Stellaris lifted up her energy staff and fired off a large red blast at Demon Hunter. He dodged it, but it went square into the back of Lick King. The yell of the creature sounded like an avalanche given a voice. He was the first of the Children of the Dark to fall in this battle.

Primus sighed with relief at the defeat of the Lich King. He was sure that he was going to lose to the icy wizard. But now he was going to have to face Dreadlord. The powerful beast looked like he'd be indomitable. Primus used his shape-shifting powers to pump up his amber body muscle wise. He then threw the hardest punch he could muster at Dreadlord. The punch barely budged the beast with the head of a ram and the legs of a lion.

"Little man you and your companions fight a battle you cannot win!" Dreadlord exclaimed as he flared his wings inward and cut Primus many times with the razor sharp spikes that adorned his wings. The cuts did no harm to Primus since he was so malleable.

"You have to hit me a little harder than that," Primus smiled, but that smile soon faded as the large fist of Dreadlord punched the creation of Zola straight in the face. Flying into the air Primus skidded across the ground leaving him unconscious.

Dreadlord cracked his knuckles and flew off into the air to intercept these flying horsemen in the distance who were giving Archmage and Far Seer some trouble. Archmage and Far Seer were fighting off the horsemen as best as they could. "About time you showed up," Archmage said.

"I had to handle a minor problem," Dreadlord growled as he punched the Horsemen of Death. His fist clanged with the gray metal of Death's armor. The horseman was thrown off his steed and hit the ground hard. Before Dreadlord even had another chance to charge at the Horseman of Death he was facing himself except with an entirely blank face.

"Prepare to face your own death," Death smiled as he concocted the deaths of Archmage and Far Seer.

"Must you always take away the chance for battle away from us," War complained.

"Really Death you could let us have some fun," Pestilence said in agreement with War.

"Help my death copies win and stop your whining," Death ordered harshly.

"Don't even think about!" Archmage and Far Seer yelled simultaneously as their eyes both began to glow a bright orange. They grabbed each other's hands and lifted their weapons into the air. The earth began to quake as all the death copies were evaporated.

"This was hardly how things were suppose to go," Famine muttered as his body suddenly began to shiver and shake wildly. The other Horsemen soon followed.

Archmage and Far Seer spoke as one, "You Horsemen cannot be allowed to continue on in this fight. You're far too powerful. Enjoy your trip to Pluto."

As the bodies of the former servants of the Axi-Tun Empire began to shake more they disappeared in a flash of yellow light.

Stellaris, Nitro, and Fusion were on another part of the battlefield fighting against the remaining Children of the Dark. Stellaris was locked in combat with Demon Hunter and Mountain King. Neither one of their weapons was piercing her armor, but Mountain King's ax was creating dents. She would have to make him pay. Nitro was busy keeping back Blademaster and Fusion was facing off against Death Knight.

"Come on you miscreants! Give me more fight than that!" Stellaris yelled as she slammed her metal staff into Demon Hunter's stomach and swung it back around to hit Mountain King in the face. The two Children of the Dark went sprawling across the ground, but neither of them was out of the battle.

"Your armor gives you strength woman, but soon you shall fall!" Mountain King bellowed as he got up off his feet and jumped on Stellaris's shoulders.

Nitro meanwhile kept blowing up and reassembling his hands to keep the many fast flying blades of the Blademaster at bay. Nitro kept it going for as long as he could, but soon the barrage of metal knives became too much. The first thing he got was a knick on his shoulder and then on his leg. Soon his body began to go numb and fell out unable to feel any part of his body.

"Those were special tipped blades Nitro. Just figured I'd give you the heads up," Blademaster said as he bent over and kissed Nitro on the cheek tauntingly.

The bare-chested Blademaster turned around to see that Demon Hunter and Mountain King were having difficulty with the Stellaris woman. The one who had claimed she hunted Celestials. Blademaster didn't believe that for one second, but he had quite the surprise for her. He reached down and pulled out of his belt a glowing pink knife. Aiming carefully he threw it at Stellaris's head. The knife penetrated the armor like it was butter. Pink energy flowed freely over Stellaris's body. She let out a harsh cry and fell to the ground unconscious.

"Too bad she didn't kill you losers," Blademaster snickered.

"You only took her down because we were distracting her whelp!" Mountain King exclaimed insulted at Blademaster's rudeness of tone.

"Aww shut up you old coot!" Blademaster said.

"You think we should help Death Knight?" Demon Hunter asked looking at the battle taking place between his leader and Fusion.

"No. Death Knight can handle his own," Far Seer said from afar with Dreadlord over him and Archmage behind him.

Fusion meanwhile with the hearing of Kaine was thankful for the decision on the part of the other Children of the Dark to not interfere. Otherwise he would have been in for some trouble. Death Knight was dodging every blow he threw at him. The only way Fusion could avoid Death Knight's attacks was by using the speed of Quicksilver. Even when Fusion had gone on the offensive and started hitting Death Knight with hundreds of blows at a time it was ineffective.

"Your power is strong, but it doesn't matter. I will not be defeated," Death Knight said as if he was speaking fact.

"Just a little confident there aren't we?" Fusion mocked as he switched to the powers of Cyclops, Human Torch, Iceman, and Colossus. Fusion turned his body into metal and unleashed optic blasts, flames, and ice on Death Knight. The leader of the Children of the Dark simply threw up his sword and all the energy deflected away from him.

"Care to try anything new," Death Knight ridiculed.

While Death Knight continued to block the energy of Fusion a flying hammer of came towards his head. Death Knight ducked quickly and rolled out of the way of Fusion's attack. The hammer had come from the leader of the Avengers, Thor. The cavalry had just arrived.

The Children of the Dark saw this from afar and ran off into battle. Before they even reached the battle Far Seer and Archmage were lifted off the ground and flung into the air, spinning violently. They came to an abrupt stop in mid-air and in front of them was a Lem from the 31st century. His name was Krugarr and he was the Sorcerer Supreme of his time.

"You two aren't going anywhere," Krugarr smiled as he three-fingered red hands began to emanate a blue light. Far Seer and Archmage began to shrink and turned into wooden toys. Krugarr carefully set them on the ground. He found the two to be abominable, but he wasn't going to kill them.

Meanwhile Thor battled against Death Knight. The Thunder God sent down hundreds of lighting bolts all around the leader of the Children of the Dark. Looking down from the air Thor proclaimed, "Thou tis nothing dark one! Surrender and give us back fair Crystal and Sersi!"

Death Knight said coldly, "Come and get them little god."

Thor looked down at the Death Knight with anger and with all his might he flung Mjolnir at the man. As the legendary hammer cascaded through the air lightning followed closely behind it. As it came within mere inches of Death Knight he threw up Deathscourne and repelled the hammer. It went flying off in another direction and hit Blademaster in the back of the head while he battled against Quoi.

"Thanks Thor!" Quoi called out as he flew off to help Scarlet Witch in her battle against Demon Hunter. Wanda already two arrows in her leg. The Celestial Messiah definitely didn't want her to get angry enough to go berserk again like she did on the Exemplars.

Thor didn't even hear Quoi's proclamation of thanks. In fact he was still in shock over what Death Knight had just done. He had blocked Mjolnir like it was nothing at all. How could this mortal have done that? Could the Children of the Dark truly be this powerful? It didn't seem like it, but something was different about Death Knight. And from the way it appeared the Children of the Dark had already been in a fight before the Avengers had shown up. So it seemed they were fighting a tired group of warriors.

"Don't look so shocked Thor. You really couldn't have expected that shot to hit me did you?" Death Knight asked.

"No, but this one will!" Mantis yelled as she kicked Death Knight in the head. Death Knight fell to the side, but as he did so he flung out Deathscourne. The sword cut grazed Mantis's leg and stabbed Mountain King in one of his stubby legs.

Death Knight was the only one of the Children of the Dark left and he was without his weapon. Soon the Avengers and their sorcerer ally surrounded him. Slowly he said, "I stand defeated I suppose, but don't get too happy. I took down two of my own after all. You owe in some way for this victory."

Mantis stepped forward with Fusion beside her, "Perhaps so, but my mind tells me we owe more to this guy and his little group of friends for getting this win. They roughed you up pretty bad before we came along."

"Yes they did. I trained them well," Numinus said as she appeared behind Death Knight touching him on the forehead. He fell to the ground, down for the count. The guiding spirit of the universe had done her job. She had stopped the Children of the Dark from destroying the Earth.

"Why did you involve yourself in this?" Krugarr asked of Numinus.

"I guide the universe Sorcerer Supreme. So I only guided a few individuals to handle the Children of the Dark until the Avengers arrived. I see my plan worked," Numinus smiled.

Fusion outraged leaped forward and said, "You used us! I can't believe you!"

"Your destiny is greater than this one battle Fusion. Thor you must take him as part of your Avengers. His destiny lies with you," Numinus said as she disappeared in a flash of blue light. Thor nodded at Numinus's request after she was gone and looked down at Fusion with a smile.

"I sense where Crystal and Sersi are. Let's go and find them," Krugarr said as he enveloped all the Avengers including their newest member in a teleportation spell.

Three Days Later

"Are you sure you have to go Mantis? I mean you just got here," Sersi said as she gave the departing Mantis a hug.

"Yes, my time here was only meant to be finite. I only came in for a little bit to check in on my son. I had to make sure my boy was in good hands and now that I see he is I can leave happy. Doesn't mean I won't come back if you ever really need me," Mantis said as began to walk backwards towards the door.

"We won't hesitate to give you a call Mom. Promise," Quoi said as he placed his hand over his mouth and blew his Mom a loving kiss.

Mantis returned the favor and her last departing words were, "AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!"