Amid illusory spatial ripples, Leon appeared inside the Earth's core.
Molten matter at extreme temperatures surged everywhere.
The iron and nickel from Earth's early formation had melted and flowed here, forming the core.
And the enormous Celestial infant, Tiamut, was immersed within that molten matter.
He lay curled up asleep in the lava, his body covered by a sturdy, airtight suit of armor.
Nothing on Earth could harm him.
All Tiamut needed to do was wait for the day he burst into existence.
"This guy is really sleeping soundly."
Leon swam through the core toward Tiamut. Temperatures of over ten thousand degrees were just right for him.
Once he drew close, he pressed his palm against Tiamut's armor.
The Blacklight Clone, which had long since become a battle suit, flowed down Leon's arm and covered Tiamut's surface.
Like liquid soaking into soil, it slowly seeped into Tiamut's body.
Before deciding whether to devour Tiamut completely or help him be born early,
Leon felt it was necessary to collect the Celestials' genes in advance.
The Blacklight Clone quickly latched onto Tiamut's body beneath his armor.
Its devouring ability was unleashed at full power, every viral particle eroding the sleeping Celestial.
Even though he was still unborn,
Tiamut's body was as solid as a stubborn rock.
The Blacklight Clone infected, assimilated, devoured, and absorbed, expending considerable effort before finally biting off a piece of flesh.
In truth, the Celestials could not be considered purely biological beings.
Everything about them was related to cosmic energy.
To a certain extent, they were also cosmic entities, representing the operating mechanisms of certain aspects of the universe.
The moment the Blacklight Clone "swallowed" Tiamut's flesh, it felt as though it would burst from overeating.
After returning to Marvel from the DC Universe,
the Blacklight Clone had