Egypt, the Great Pyramid of Khufu.
The merciless sun blazed down upon the golden sands, seeming to ignite each individual grain into tiny flames that shimmered across the vast desert. Heat rose in visible waves from the ancient landscape, distorting the horizon into a mirage of liquid gold.
High above, vultures traced lazy circles against the cloudless azure sky, their piercing cries echoing across the desolate expanse. The pyramid stood as a solitary sentinel amidst endless sand dunes that rippled like a golden ocean frozen in time. In the distance, a caravan of camels appeared as mere specks, slowly traversing the harsh terrain.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu—the largest pyramid in Egypt and the oldest surviving wonder of the ancient world—had withstood the passage of four millennia. Its immense size and architectural precision remained awe-inspiring even in the modern age, earning its place among the Seven Wonders of the World.
With such prestige, the pyramids typically swarmed with tourists from across the globe, millions visiting annually to marvel at humanity's ancient achievement. Today, however, despite the perfect weather, the area surrounding the colossal structure was eerily deserted.
Not entirely deserted, though. Several figures had appeared at the main entrance of the pyramid, but they were far from typical tourists. They wore neither the white robes nor turbans one might expect in this region. Instead, they were dressed in tailored suits, elaborate sorcerer robes, and even metal armor that gleamed blindingly in the sunlight. The desert heat seemed to affect them not at all.
They were an unlikely alliance—fallen sorcerers, cosmic entities of terrible power, and the ageless guardians known as the Eternals.
Strange stood before the Great Pyramid, craning his neck to take in its full magnitude. The massive limestone blocks, once smooth and white, had been polished to a warm yellow hue by centuries of wind and sand, exuding an atmosphere of ancient wisdom and endurance.
"Thena," Strange said with a hint of complaint in his voice, "I never would have guessed the signal transmitter was built in Egypt." He adjusted his cloak, which billowed slightly despite the absence of wind. The journey from London had been taxing, even with his magical abilities to ease the transition between such dramatically different environments.
"Egypt was a paradise when we arrived," Circe, one of the Eternals, remarked with unmistakable nostalgia. Her voice carried the weight of millennia. "Despite the heat, water was plentiful. Green grass carpeted the land, and trees heavy with fruit stood everywhere. It truly was Eden on Earth."
Her gaze swept across the barren landscape. "Time spares nothing. What was once paradise is now an endless sea of sand."
Thena's revelations about their true nature had transformed the demeanor of all the Eternals, Circe included. Where once there had been unwavering purpose, now there was only the bitter awareness of their manipulation.
"We never actually planned to build a signal transmitter here," Thena continued, her white hair gleaming in the sunlight. "Phastos was merely alleviating his boredom. The Egyptians interpreted his creation as divine, and built the pyramids to honor what they did not understand."
She shook her head slightly. "If we didn't need a way off Earth, it would be simpler to return to our ship and request extraction directly."
Mephisto, standing to the side with shadows dancing unnaturally around his immaculate shoes despite the harsh sunlight, smiled thinly at this exchange. "Fascinating as this history lesson is," he said, his voice smooth as silk yet carrying an undercurrent of impatience, "we've reached our destination. It's time to contact the Celestials." His crimson eyes gleamed. "You can reminisce about ancient Egypt to your heart's content afterward."
Following this pointed reminder, the conversation ceased. Thena took the lead, walking directly into the dark entrance of Khufu's Pyramid.
Thanks to their advance preparations—magical barriers keeping tourists and authorities away—the ancient mechanisms within the pyramid continued to function. Torches burned steadily along the walls, illuminating the otherwise pitch-black interior with flickering amber light.
The interior of the pyramid revealed itself as a complex network of passages—a labyrinth designed to confuse tomb raiders and protect the pharaoh's final resting place. Some corridors were lit by ancient torches, others by modern electric fixtures designed to resemble their primitive counterparts. The cool air inside provided welcome relief from the desert heat.
Phastos, his dark skin reflecting the torchlight, led the group with confident steps through the maze-like structure. His memory of the construction remained perfect after thousands of years.
After navigating a series of increasingly narrow passages, they reached a concealed door that Phastos activated with a touch. The hidden entrance swung open silently, revealing the heart of the pyramid: the Pharaoh's burial chamber.
Boom!
The marble-like door opened slowly, revealing an ornate sarcophagus at the center of the chamber. The surrounding walls bore intricate hieroglyphics and vivid paintings depicting the pharaoh's legendary exploits and journey to the afterlife—artistic masterpieces that had survived the ravages of time.
None of the visitors spared these treasures more than a passing glance. Their purpose lay deeper still.
Phastos approached the side of the sarcophagus, crouching down to place his palm against the stone floor. His eyes closed in concentration.
"The pharaohs never understood what I had built," he explained, his fingers tracing patterns invisible to the others. "They interpreted the signal transmitter as divine intervention, a manifestation of their gods' power. The ruler at that time constructed this enormous pyramid around my creation, making it the centerpiece of his tomb."
As he spoke, Phastos seemed to locate what he sought. He raised his palm upward in a swift motion, and the stone slabs beneath them began to rise, floating in midair under the control of his immense mental powers.
Within moments, a hidden tunnel appeared before them, descending into darkness beneath the burial chamber.
"This is the signal transmitter I built millennia ago," Phastos said, his voice tinged with complicated emotions. "It was created as a diversion from boredom. I never imagined it would serve a genuine purpose."
Without hesitation, he strode into the tunnel. The Eternals followed closely, with Strange, Dormammu, and Mephisto close behind.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Their footsteps echoed heavily on the ancient stairs as they descended deeper beneath the pyramid. Strange raised his hand with an elegant gesture, conjuring several softly glowing orbs of light that drifted around the group, illuminating their path.
The stairway opened into a vast chamber dominated by a massive altar. At its center stood an enormous machine—clearly not of ancient Egyptian design, but something far more advanced, its technology beyond even modern human capability. The device had succumbed to time, covered in a thick layer of dark yellow rust, yet its alien nature remained unmistakable.
No one seemed concerned by its deteriorated state. Circe stepped forward confidently, her slender fingers reaching out to touch the corroded surface of the machine.
The moment of contact triggered a remarkable transformation—like drops of ink dispersing in clear water, the rust began to disappear at a visible rate. The corrosion receded from where her fingers touched, spreading outward in concentric circles until, within minutes, the signal amplifier gleamed as if newly forged. No one would have guessed it had lain dormant for thousands of years.
Circe possessed the power to transmute matter—sand into water, stone into gold. With sufficient energy and concentration, she could transform virtually anything. Removing rust from ancient metal was trivial compared to her true capabilities.
Thena now moved forward, pausing to glance significantly at Strange, Mephisto, and Dormammu before speaking.
"I need to verify something first," she said, her voice echoing in the chamber. "I'm about to signal the Celestials. If all goes according to plan, they'll grant me access to the space containing the Celestial embryo." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "However, it's highly probable they're monitoring Earth. This will alert them to your presence and intentions."
Her gaze hardened. "No one will escape their scrutiny. You've assured me you can shield yourselves from the Celestials' sight?"
"Don't concern yourself with that," Mephisto replied without hesitation, his confident smile revealing teeth too sharp to be human. "Focus on your task, and leave the rest to us."
What did it matter if the Celestials discovered them? If they couldn't be captured, the knowledge would be meaningless. Besides, the Supreme Sorcerer would draw their attention first—a convenient distraction.
Satisfied with this assurance, Thena positioned herself at the center of the machine without further delay. She closed her eyes and began the process of contacting the Celestials.
BOOM!
The ancient device activated with a thunderous sound that reverberated throughout the chamber. The pyramid itself seemed to tremble as the machine powered up, emitting a mysterious energy frequency that shot upward, through the pyramid's layers of stone, and deep into the cosmos.
The signal pulsed outward, calling across the vast gulfs of space to beings of unimaginable power and purpose.
What—or who—was it summoning?