"The sacrificial ritual is taking longer than I originally knew it would."
In the underground worm-tunnel network of Limbo, Su Ming said this to Carol while something was happening somewhere beyond everyone's sight.
In the darkness, all they could hear was Baldr's strange laughter and Magik's bizarre incantations that no one could understand.
They were syllables no human organ could possibly produce. It sounded more like teeth scraping against bone plates, or someone biting their own tongue.
Carol looked as though her entire worldview had been shattered. She did not even know what to say. Rubbing her fingers together, she lowered her head as if there were some inconspicuous stain there that needed cleaning, then quietly asked:
"Are you sure gouging out that person's eyes was necessary?"
Su Ming nodded. He smiled at Hela and gestured for her to wait, then hooked an arm around Carol's and led her aside.
"I brought you here to explain the whole story to you, including the grudge between The Serpent and Asgard. Letting you see this is meant to make you understand the cruelty of this war. When I leave Earth for Asgard, you may be the only one left who can protect humanity."
"The Avengers too." Captain Marvel wanted to say more, but swallowed the words. Her throat bobbed, and goosebumps rose on her skin. "They have to deal with the Skrulls and Hydra within S.H.I.E.L.D. They don't have time."
She had never been stupid, merely a little reckless. When it came to strategy, she usually understood as soon as someone pointed it out.
Deathstroke took two bottles of soda from his waist pouch, handed one to her, and nodded.
"That's right. The Serpent's plan is like an egg, or a cabbage, or an onion?"
At that, he smiled, recalling the joke