Above the colossal head of the Celestial embryo, Thor summoned a maelstrom of thunder that expanded to cover the central region of the cosmic being's forehead. Dark blue lightning continually erupted from Mjölnir, creating an impenetrable barrier that surrounded the area between the eyebrows.
The God of Thunder had positioned his elemental shield strategically—not just as a weapon against the Celestial, but as a barricade to prevent others from approaching. His eyes remained fixed on Lockhart, who hovered at the opposite edge of the thunderous dome. Their standoff had reached a precarious equilibrium, neither willing to yield access to the vulnerable point they had both identified.
Unbeknownst to them, four figures observed this confrontation from a concealed vantage point near the Celestial's temple. Dr. Stephen Strange, David—a fallen sorcerer once allied with Kamar-Taj—and two beings of immense dark power: Mephisto and Dormammu. This unlikely alliance watched the stalemate with growing impatience.
"What now?" Strange asked, frustration evident in his voice. "Those two aren't fighting—they're just blocking our access. We can't reach the entry point."
David offered a reassuring smile. "Patience. They'll engage in battle sooner or later. When they do, we'll seize our opportunity to slip past them."
Mephisto and Dormammu remained silent, their ancient eyes calculating, though they clearly shared the sentiment. The tension between Lockhart and Thor couldn't hold indefinitely—eventually, it would break into open conflict.
Strange nodded reluctantly and returned his attention to the standoff above. The sea of thunder continued to blanket the Celestial's brow while Thor and Lockhart maintained their positions, each watching for the slightest indication of movement from the other.
After several more minutes of observation, Strange spoke again. "The Celestial's head is enormous. Perhaps we should attempt entry from another location?" He gestured toward the vast expanse of the cosmic being's face. "Those two have been at this impasse for quite some time. I suspect they've discovered something significant about that specific point. Otherwise, why would they contest it so fiercely?"
David contemplated this suggestion, a glimmer of interest crossing his features.
Before he could respond, Mephisto's contemptuous voice cut through their deliberation. "It's not that simple." The demon lord's crimson eyes narrowed. "Do you truly believe a Celestial—even an embryonic one—is merely decorative? Its automated defense mechanisms are far more sophisticated than you comprehend."
He gave a derisive laugh, pointed teeth gleaming. "Strange, have you forgotten? You attempted to remove a single hair from its leg, and your entire body was instantly teleported miles away."
Strange's expression darkened at the reminder of his earlier failure. "How will we know unless we try? I prefer action to sitting here all day waiting."
"Waiting, waiting, waiting," Strange continued, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Perhaps your plan is to exhaust us through inaction before making your move? How predictably cowardly of the so-called Lords of Darkness."
David couldn't suppress a flicker of satisfaction at seeing Mephisto's face contort with rage. He quickly intervened before the situation deteriorated further.
"Strange, please—civility," David urged, though his eyes betrayed his amusement. "Mephisto and Dormammu may prove crucial allies. We must work together."
He emphasized the final word meaningfully, reminding Strange of their precarious alliance. The former Sorcerer Supreme wasn't wrong—their demonic "allies" had repeatedly held back during previous encounters, allowing the human sorcerers to engage first and suffer casualties before committing themselves.
Mephisto chose not to respond to the provocation. Beside him, Dormammu—the dread lord of the Dark Dimension—broke his silence.
"The Celestial employs spatial distortions to protect its physical form," Dormammu explained, his voice resonating with otherworldly power. "Should we attempt to infiltrate through alternative pathways—ears, nasal cavities, or other orifices—we would likely encounter even greater resistance."
The flaming entity gestured toward the vast expanse of the Celestial's head. "Moreover, such routes would require traversing considerable distances to reach the seat of its consciousness, exposing us to countless defensive measures along the way."
His flame-like visage shifted slightly toward the ongoing standoff above. "And should Lockhart or Thor detect our approach from an unexpected direction, we would lose our primary advantage. The center of the brow represents the most direct path to the Celestial's nascent mind—hence their fixation upon it."
Though Dormammu's explanation was thorough, his tone remained detached and cold. Both he and Mephisto had suffered significantly in their previous confrontation with Earth's defenders. Dormammu's prime form had been weakened, leaving this manifestation diminished in power. Mephisto had fared no better, with one of his soul fragments consumed by Lockhart's magic.
Their current alliance with these fallen sorcerers was not born of choice but necessity—a humbling position for entities accustomed to commanding armies of dark disciples.
"So according to your assessment," Strange replied, "if Lockhart and Thor maintain their standoff indefinitely, we simply wait here uselessly?"
Both he and David turned expectantly toward the demonic lords.
After a moment of contemplative silence, Mephisto stated simply: "We wait."
His patience was legendary among the infernal realms. One day or three—it made little difference to an immortal being. The forces of Kamar-Taj and Asgard couldn't maintain their presence indefinitely. Mortals, even exceptional ones, had limitations.
Strange closed his eyes in resignation, settling in for extended inactivity.
Time passed in tense silence.
Suddenly, Strange's eyes snapped open. David and the others perked up immediately, sensing a shift in the dynamic above them.
The stalemate had broken. Thor and Lockhart had engaged in open combat.
BOOM!
"Avada Kedavra!" Lockhart's voice rang out as he unleashed the Killing Curse.
CRACKLE!
"For Asgard!" Thor roared, directing weapons formed of pure lightning toward his opponent.
"Nightmare Realm!" Lockhart countered, summoning eldritch energies that warped the space between them.
The two powerful beings moved with incredible speed, their battle illuminating the cosmic landscape with flashes of green death magic and blue-white thunder. Lockhart's wand traced complex patterns in the air as he alternated between offensive spells and defensive wards. Thor's hammer spun in his hand, gathering and directing electrical energies with devastating precision.
The catalyst for their sudden conflict became immediately apparent.
ROAR!
"HULK SMASH!"
The familiar bellow drew all eyes to a new battlefield that had formed below. The Hulk had arrived at the Celestial's head, and the Masters of Kamar-Taj had wasted no time in attacking him.
Vera Rosier, still consumed by grief and rage over Ian Blackwood's death, had rallied the sorcerers the moment she spotted the green behemoth. Now the air around the Hulk filled with a storm of magical attacks—fireballs trailing crimson streaks, blades of arcane energy slicing through space, conjured stone golems grappling with his limbs, and whirlwinds that attempted to lift him from his feet.
The combined assault was impressive, but ultimately insufficient.
Pain and anger only fed the Hulk's strength. "HULK! HULK!" he roared as magic seared his skin and magical bindings attempted to restrain his massive limbs.
With a final bellow of rage, the Hulk flexed his entire body, shattering the magical restraints that encircled his arms and legs. He burst free from the center of the magical onslaught and charged directly toward Vera, who he had identified as the leader.
Vera's expression remained cold and calculating as she ascended higher into the air, beyond the Hulk's reach. She gestured sharply to her fellow sorcerers, directing them to intensify their attacks from multiple angles.
Above this chaotic scene, Thor and Lockhart's battle had escalated dramatically. The deaths of Tony Stark and Ian Blackwood had severed any restraint either might have shown previously. This was no longer a contest—it was a fight to the death.
"Now's our chance," David whispered urgently to Strange. "We need to move quickly."
Strange nodded in agreement, his Cloak of Levitation already shifting in anticipation.
Mephisto and Dormammu exchanged a subtle glance and inclined their heads in silent accord. The opportunity they had awaited had finally presented itself.
As the battle raged across both fronts—Lockhart versus Thor in the sky, and the Hulk against Kamar-Taj's forces below—no one noticed a faint gray shadow that drifted silently toward the center of the Celestial's brow. Like a leaf carried on an autumn breeze, it settled gently onto the cosmic skin.
Without hesitation, the mysterious presence slipped beneath the surface, penetrating the Celestial's outer defenses while the guardians of both sides were thoroughly distracted.
The true infiltration had begun.