Destiny Unbound [Marvel X DCU]

Authors Note-

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A few days later, Ivan received a message from Star-Lord that he had obtained the Cosmic Orb but was being hunted. Thanos and Darkseid had already discovered the situation.

Ivan immediately mobilized the Shadow Mercenary Group to rush to Star-Lord's aid. They had to secure the Cosmic Orb at all costs.

Simultaneously, Thanos and Darkseid increased their efforts, ordering their forces to speed up and mobilizing more subordinates to capture Star-Lord. They even issued mercenary missions, offering 100 million Credits to anyone who could retrieve the Cosmic Orb.

This offer created a frenzy among mercenaries and interstellar hunters, making Star-Lord's situation dire. He was constantly pursued and barely escaped death multiple times. Eventually, he fled to Xandar, hiding near a garbage station to avoid his pursuers.

Ivan couldn't help but wonder if this was the work of fate. Despite his intervention, the Power Stone still ended up on Xandar, possibly leading Star-Lord to meet Rocket, Gamora, Groot, and Drax, thus forming the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Though unexpected, Ivan quickly dispatched the Shadow Mercenary Group to Xandar to meet Star-Lord.

Upon learning this, Thanos and Darkseid, also sent their troops to Xandar, though they couldn't muster large forces in such a short time.

All three parties converged on Xandar simultaneously. Just as Ivan was about to reach the planet, he received a message from Thanos and Darkseid—a set of interstellar coordinates inviting him for a discussion.

Ivan understood their intent: to hold him back while their subordinates fought for the Power Stone. Ivan accepted this and instructed his father, Apocalypse, Borgin, and Stakar to continue toward Xandar while he headed to the coordinates.

Upon reaching the destination, Ivan saw a 100-meter-long spaceship waiting. He landed on the deck and, sensing potential danger, changed his clothes into battle armor made from the wreckage of the Destroyer.

"Lord Ivan, you are finally here. Lord Thanos and Lord Darkseid have been waiting for you. Please follow me," said a red-skinned alien woman who came to greet him.

"Lead the way," Ivan replied curtly.

The woman bowed respectfully and led Ivan to a spacious hall. On two massive thrones, one purple and one black sat Thanos and Darkseid.

Ivan noticed differences from their last meeting. Darkseid wore new armor with a dark luster and scarlet lines that emanated a strong power of Omega. This new armor allowed him to use the power of the Omega field more effectively in both offense and defense.

Thanos, meanwhile, wore the same golden armor but now had a pair of gauntlets radiating destructive power. Though not as strong as the Infinity Gauntlet, these gauntlets enhanced his strength significantly.

The confrontation was set. With the stakes high and the Power Stone at risk, the coming battle would test the resolve and strength of Ivan and his adversaries.

Ivan's heart sank. He initially thought that with his new armor, he could decisively defeat Thanos and Darkseid. However, seeing their upgraded equipment, he realized he had underestimated his enemies. Fortunately, Ivan had confidence in his armor, made from the wreckage of the Destroyer, and was ready for any potential battle.

Thanos and Darkseid, too, were taken aback by Ivan's armor. It exuded a strong visual impact with its menacing design—shoulders, knees, and arms adorned with jagged, machete-like spikes and sharp edges along the back, clearly built for combat.

There was a seat in the hall for Ivan, who sat down without hesitation.

Thanos stared at Ivan briefly before speaking, "We both enhanced our weapons, thinking we had an advantage. But it seems you also anticipated this. Your armor is unusual, with a power operation reminiscent of the Celestial race. Care to explain?"

Ivan shook his head, feigning ignorance. "It's simple. This armor is made from the wreckage of the Asgardian Destroyer. Perhaps the Destroyer has some connection to the Celestials."

Thanos nodded in understanding. "That makes sense. Odin created the Destroyer to combat the Celestials, borrowing their. No wonder it feels familiar."

Darkseid interjected, "I've heard of the Celestials, but they vanished long ago. Why?"

Thanos snorted. "The Celestials claimed to be the universe's managers, judging and destroying planets arbitrarily. This angered the universe's powerhouses, who united against them. Despite their strength, the Celestials were outnumbered and eventually forced into hiding. 

"The head in Knowhere belonged to a Celestial killed in battle. The last recorded Celestial was Ego, who was also severely injured during those times."

"Ego!" Ivan thought, recognizing Star-Lord's father from the second Guardians of the Galaxy movie. Ego's poor performance could indeed be due to his injuries.

Darkseid looked thoughtful. "This explains a lot. My Apocalypse database only briefly mentioned the Celestials without providing specific details."

As they discussed, the stakes of the impending conflict became apparent. Each side had prepared extensively, knowing the outcome would hinge on strength, strategy, and resilience.

"It's normal for you not to know. You represent the new gods, and your emergence was relatively recent. By then, the Celestials had already hidden themselves, and their existence was deliberately downplayed."

Ivan was pleased with the new information about the Celestials from Thanos, but he decided it was time to move on to more pressing matters. "Alright, enough idle chatter. Let's get down to business. We all have the same goal: the Power Stone. Given the current situation, if we engage in a full-scale war, the outcome is uncertain, and none of us want to take that risk. So, let's agree that we won't fight each other directly. Instead, we'll let our subordinates handle it. Whoever's side prevails will get the Power Stone."

Thanos and Darkseid exchanged glances, their eyes communicating silently. Finally, they both nodded in agreement.

Thanos and Darkseid initially intended to test their new weapons by confronting Ivan directly, hoping to eliminate him if possible. However, seeing Ivan's formidable new armor, they realized the battle was too uncertain. Avoiding direct conflict and relying on their subordinates' abilities to secure the Power Stone was better.

Ivan was pleased with this outcome. He had prepared extensively in advance, mobilizing the entire Shadow Mercenary Group. In contrast, Thanos and Darkseid had mobilized their forces hastily, needing more preparation.

The three of them sat in silence, waiting and watching. An hour later, the Cosmic Walker, Thanos's, and Darkseid fleets arrived at Xandar simultaneously. As if on cue, they began firing at each other upon entering Xandar's atmosphere. The Shadow Mercenary Group clashed with Thanos' and Darkseid's fleets, and the battle scenes were transmitted back to Ivan and the others.

Thanos' forces consisted mainly of Chitauri soldiers, with airships and occasional armored dragons attacking the Cosmic Walker. On the other hand, Darkseid's forces included an overwhelming number of winged Parademons, flying swiftly and releasing energy attacks.

The Shadow Mercenary Group did not hold back. Mutants in combat suits flew out to retaliate, each displaying unique abilities: some released flames, others fired radium beams from their eyes or controlled electrical currents. They also wielded powerful railguns. Each mutant was accompanied by ten Sentinel droids, designed to protect and support them, sacrificing themselves if necessary to ensure the mutants' survival.

These Sentinel robots were created using materials Ivan had acquired from across the universe. They were inexpensive to produce, so they could be easily replaced even if destroyed.

As the battle intensified, the outcome hung in the balance. The skies above Xandar were filled with the sounds of energy blasts, the roar of engines, and the cries of combatants. Ivan, Thanos, and Darkseid watched intently, knowing that the fate of the Power Stone—and possibly much more—depended on the battle unfolding before them.