Uatu Appears Again

Lilandra's surprised expression lasted for about two seconds.

In those two seconds, her golden eyes swept back and forth across Russell's face, as if trying to determine whether what he said was true.

Her expression then shifted from shock to confusion, curiosity, and a hint of uncertain unease.

"What did you say?"

"Your God." Russell said casually, hands in his pockets, as if he were just chatting about the nice weather.

"Kythri and Sharra, they're from Earth."

Lilandra looked at him.

You're joking.

Do I look like I'm joking?

Lilandra was silent for a moment, carefully looking at Russell's perpetually confident face.

Although she hadn't known the other person for long, she already knew enough about one thing.

You'd better not take this man's words seriously.

"They..." she chose her words carefully, "They are the guardians of the Shi'ar Empire, and have protected the Shi'ar Empire for countless eras."

Their Temple are scattered throughout every Galaxy of the empire, and the miracles created by their gods are written into every textbook. How could they possibly come from Earth, which is not even a Type I civilization?

"They are indeed from Earth," Russell finished speaking for the two guardian deities.

"Actually, they are Elder Gods, belonging to the first life forms on Earth. They later left Earth, wandered the universe, and eventually remained in your Galaxy."

His gaze fell upon the Empress of the Shi'ar Empire.

"They didn't tell you anything?"

Lilandra's lips tightened slightly.

"They never mentioned it," she said, her voice filled with confusion.

"The Guardians never said where they came from; they simply appeared when the Shi'ar Empire needed them most, and they guided us when the Shi'ar Empire was just beginning its journey into interstellar space."

She looked at Russell.

"You say they are Elder Gods, what are Elder Gods? Ancient Gods?"

Russell shrugged.

"This is a long story, but to put it simply, not long after the birth of the Earth, the Creator, the embodiment of the Earth's consciousness, sowed the essence of his life on the Earth, giving birth to the first generation of life."

These are the Elder Gods; Kythri and Sharra were two of them. They later left Earth, wandered the universe, and then stayed here, becoming the guardian deities of the Shi'ar Empire.

Lilandra's eyes widened slightly.

"Therefore, it can be understood that the guardian deity of the Shi'ar Empire is an immigrant from Earth."

"Right."

Lilandra lowered her head, as if digesting the information she had received from Russell.

"That sounds absurd."

"I know," Russell nodded, "But it's true."

Lilandra looked up.

What else did they say?

Russell looked at her.

"They say Earth is in trouble; those corrupted Elder Gods who were banished, and others who have been waiting for countless eons in extra Dimension, may return."

After the Ancient One dies, the gods of Earth will descend from Dimension to Earth. These fallen Elder Gods, who have been eyeing this opportunity, will not let it slip by.

Lilandra frowned. As the Empress of the Shi'ar Empire, she knew that Gods were particularly difficult to deal with.

Since Earth is facing a crisis, and their guardian deities also come from Earth, they probably won't be able to escape it either.

What are you planning to do?

"I'll go back and check first. Things will always be resolved eventually."

He turned around, facing the depths of the corridor.

Your Majesty.

"Um?"

"May I borrow your stargate? I still prefer the feeling of riding in a starship."

Lilandra looked at him and nodded.

"Now?"

"Yes." Russell gazed into the distance. "The gods of Earth have returned; I can't keep them waiting any longer."

Lilandra paused for a moment, then turned to face the other end of the corridor and informed her subordinates.

"Commander Korath."

Soon, Korath emerged from around the corner of the corridor and knelt on one knee.

"His Majesty."

"Prepare the stargate and starship," Lilandra said, "To connect to Earth."

Korath looked up.

"Your Majesty, the coordinates of Earth's stargate."

"Use my privileges." Lilandra knew what Korath meant. "This is the highest priority."

Korath's lips moved, but no sound came out.

"Yes." He stood up and strode quickly into the depths of the corridor.

Lilandra turned back and looked at Russell.

"Mr. Russell, the Shi'ar Empire will stand with Earth. No matter when those fallen Elder Gods return, the Shi'ar Empire will stand with Earth."

Russell nodded slightly.

He turned around and strode into the depths of the corridor.

Deep in the corridor, Russell walked to the stargate that Korath had prepared.

Korath stood beside the stargate.

"Mr. Russell, the stargate has been calibrated to Earth coordinates; you are ready to depart at any time."

Russell nodded slightly.

Thanks.

He strode towards the star gate.

"Mr. Russell," Korath called out to him.

Russell stopped in his tracks.

"What you just said to Her Majesty the Queen," Korath asked, voicing his doubts, "About our guardian deities... they really did come from Earth."

He paused for a moment.

Is that true?

Russell looked at him.

"Real."

Korath remained silent for a moment.

"I don't know what to say. We always thought they were the oldest beings in the universe, but it turns out our guardians are immigrants from Earth."

"Perhaps we've been wrong about what we've always thought about Earth."

Russell remained noncommittal.

"The Earth is more interesting than you think."

"Please tell my companions that I'm leaving now."

Then he stepped into the stargate.

A flash of white light appeared.

Korath stood in the empty corridor, looking at the closed stargate.

"Sometimes you have to go and see the Earth for yourself."

Russell had barely stepped out of the stargate, and before his feet had even settled on the streets of New York, the scene before him suddenly changed.

The street vanished before my eyes, replaced by a pure void, devoid of any sense of up, down, left, or right.

This void is very similar to the Spatial Cage he created, but compared to the Spatial Cage, the anchor points supporting the space are extremely unstable.

Russell stood with his hands in his pockets, his expression unchanged; he knew who was behind it all.

"Uatu, what do you want from me?"

A gigantic, bald man appeared in the void, wearing a robe that looked like it had been borrowed from some ancient civilization.

It is precisely the image of the Watchers Uatu.

"Russell," Uatu spoke, "You've finally decided to go back to Earth. I've been waiting for you for quite a while."

"I'm back, but you brought me here for more than just to complain about me being late."

Uatu slightly turned his enormous head.

"There's a universe on the verge of chaos; you, as a Quantum Watchers, should go and document it."

"Quantum Watchers," he repeated.

"Yes." Uatu nodded.

"Now that you're Quantum Watchers, even if you don't work as diligently as I did before, you still need to keep a record of the major events within your jurisdiction."