Yes, unlike Frank and others whose powers originate from Greek or Norse mythology, Black Adam's powers come from the pantheon of Egyptian mythology, specifically the Six Gods. This was why Clark, even with his extensive knowledge, couldn't immediately identify the source of Black Adam's powers upon meeting him.
While Clark and Robert had previously visited the heavenly realm of Heliopolis, and the Avengers had a connection to the Egyptian Moon God Khonshu through Moon Knight, the Egyptian pantheon itself had long been in decline. By the time of Clark and Robert's visit, Heliopolis was nearly deserted, with only a handful of gods remaining—none of whom were the deities who had bestowed power upon Black Adam.
As such, it was unsurprising that Clark couldn't recognize the origin of Black Adam's powers.
Now, after witnessing the Avengers' overwhelming strength, Black Adam's interest in the gods of Heliopolis had been reignited. He began to wonder if reconnecting with these gods could lead to a further evolution of his powers.
In Black Adam's view, given the passage of thousands of years, it was impossible for such once-mighty deities to have remained stagnant. Surely, they must have grown stronger, especially after facing a cataclysmic threat like the Celestials.
If the gods had indeed grown more powerful, Black Adam hoped to leverage his connection to them for personal growth. After all, his powers were inherently tied to the gods, and he lacked any other means of significant self-improvement.
Unfortunately for Black Adam, he was overestimating the Egyptian pantheon. Unlike Khonshu, who had gained additional power by tapping into the Eternal Moon of the Dark Dimension, the rest of the pantheon had largely stagnated over the centuries.
This critical detail, however, wasn't documented in the Avengers' archives. The records simply noted the existence of Heliopolis and the key figures of its pantheon.
"Hey, you guys seem to have a connection with Heliopolis. Can you contact the gods there?" Black Adam asked casually, approaching Pietro.
"Heliopolis?" Pietro blinked in confusion. "What's that?"
Black Adam was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected the question to be turned back on him. "That's the heavenly realm of the Egyptian gods—my gods. Didn't I see it mentioned in the Avengers' records?"
"Oh, sure, it's in the records, but who has time to go through all that stuff?" Pietro replied with a shrug. "And anyway, it's not like Heliopolis is some major threat to Earth. Why should I care about it? If it ever becomes a problem, we'll deal with it then."
"Heliopolis? That's Egyptian mythology, right?" Frank, who happened to be passing by, chimed in. "Isn't Moon Knight tied to one of their gods—Khonshu, the Moon God?"
"Yeah, I think so," Pietro replied, though his tone was uncertain.
Moon Knight was technically a member of the Avengers, but much like Blade or Doctor Octopus, he rarely participated in group activities.
For instance, he hadn't joined the fight against the Doomsdays, as his strength simply wasn't up to the current era's standards.
Blade, by comparison, had at least earned the recognition of Kurth's Hammer, giving him strength roughly on par with a new Thor. Moon Knight, despite a modest power boost from Khonshu, remained at the level of a minor supernatural enforcer—roughly on par with a mid-tier Stark tech suit.
Moon Knight's personal pride also complicated matters. As the chosen champion of Khonshu, he didn't want to rely on technology to fight, even if doing so might have made him more effective. Instead, he spent his time trying to unlock more of Khonshu's power.
Unfortunately, Khonshu had been conspicuously absent for some time, leaving Moon Knight to fend for himself.
"Where is Moon Knight now? Didn't he come back for this fight?" Frank asked, scanning the room for their elusive ally.
"J.A.R.V.I.S.?" Pietro called out, seeking clarification.
"Moon Knight is currently in Egypt, at Khonshu's shrine," J.A.R.V.I.S. replied.
Frank and Pietro exchanged knowing glances. It made sense that Moon Knight would be there, given that it was the Earthly location where Khonshu's power was strongest.
Even under a full moon, Khonshu's influence wouldn't surpass what he could manifest at his own shrine. After all, Khonshu was only one of many lunar deities and had never claimed dominion over the entire moon.
Hearing this, Black Adam's interest was piqued. "So, there's someone here with a direct connection to Heliopolis? Could I arrange to visit the realm myself?"
"Visit Heliopolis? Why?" Pietro and Frank both looked at Black Adam with suspicion.
"I want to meet the gods who granted me my power," Black Adam replied earnestly. "Aren't you curious about the gods who empower you? Don't you wonder what they're like? Or how their power compares to what they've given you?"
Frank and Pietro paused. They had never seriously considered these questions before, but now that Black Adam mentioned it, the idea was undeniably intriguing.
After all, they had seen gods before—Thor, Odin, and even the Celestials—but these were not the beings who had imbued them with their powers. Meeting the deities who had directly shaped their fates would be an entirely different experience.
More importantly, Black Adam's words raised an unsettling question: if the gods could bestow such immense power upon mortals, how much stronger must they be themselves?
Realizing they were being influenced, Frank and Pietro quickly shook off their curiosity. Turning to glare at Black Adam, they made their displeasure clear.
"What's with that look?" Black Adam asked, feigning innocence.
"You're up to something," Pietro said sharply. "Let me remind you: you're still under observation. If you try anything, we won't hesitate to lock you down."
With that, Pietro grabbed Frank and led him away, unwilling to leave the younger hero alone with the manipulative Black Adam.
Watching them go, Black Adam sighed. He understood his current limitations all too well. While the Avengers were being surprisingly lenient, he couldn't afford to push his luck.
For now, he resolved to play along. After all, staying on their good side was the easiest way to gain the freedom and knowledge he desired.
Once out of earshot, Pietro turned to Frank.
"Be careful around him," he warned. "He's too clever for his own good. Even if his past checks out, his behavior makes it clear he's not a man who likes being controlled."
Frank nodded, acknowledging the wisdom in Pietro's words.
"As for those gods he mentioned, we don't need his help to find them. We can do that on our own."
Pietro smirked. "Exactly. Let's leave him out of this and go explore Heliopolis ourselves. It's not like we've got anything better to do while the others debate how to handle the human governments."
With the Avengers still deliberating over Martian Manhunter's proposal to telepathically control the remaining institutions, Pietro and Frank found themselves with time on their hands.
"What about Moon Knight? Should we contact him?" Frank suggested. "He'd be our best link to Heliopolis."
"Good idea," Pietro agreed. "If nothing else, it'll be interesting to see how Black Adam's gods compare to ours."
And so, with newfound purpose, Pietro and Frank set out to uncover the mysteries of Heliopolis—this time, on their own terms.
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