AN: Story's Shadow and I are back once again. We hope you all enjoy.
-Imperious's Throne Room-
Stalker opened the doors to the throne room of his master. His eyes shifted to a hologram of a figure he knew (despite being them shrouded in a cloak) at the base of the steps to the throne. The samurai walked to the base of the throne and bowed.
"Your Majesty."
The hologram followed suit.
Imperious looked down at his servants, sitting stiff.
"Rise."
Both followed his command.
Stalker crossed his arms behind his back.
"Your Highness, the battles on this universe's Earth has been slowed with the introduction of the Continuum and the universe's Asgardians. We do still hold Manhattan, but-"
"-but they'll move to take it back."
The hologram figure turned to Stalker."
"It's taking time for them to mobilize though, the soldiers are entrenched in the borough."
Stalker shook his head.
"If this was just the universe's forces that would be more comforting news, against the Continuum things will won't be as secure."
Imperious nodded.
"The Continuum caught us by surprise."
A clawed hand gripped one of the arms of his throne slightly.
"They are one step ahead of us for the moment, but that advantage won't last long."
Stalker looked up at him.
"What is your plan, sire?"
"On this Earth, our soldiers will harass them once they're outside of their bases and camps. Slay their scouts and cut off any supply lines, only confront them head on with diversion forces or to cover retreats."
"A small strike force is headed to block off the camp's line of sight into the city."
"That may distract them for a time or keep them guessing where we'll strike, but it won't weaken them."
The hologram figure turned to his master.
"How do we weaken them?"
"The Continuum have sent some of this Earth's Secret Warriors into space to obtain the rest of the Infinity Stones in this universe. I have a plan in mind that I'm polishing off to rectify that."
Stalker and the figure nodded, the former spoke up.
"I offer myself to see the mission through."
"Your eagerness is appreciated, Stalker. For now, we must speak on the line of succession."
Stalker and the figure turned to one another, before returning their gazes back to Imperious. The samurai cleared his throat.
"Sire, I promise I won't let our enemies to-"
Imperious raised a hand, making the samurai go silent.
"We cannot let this possibility go unplanned for. There is always the chance of defeat, even for what we've constructed."
The hologram figured turned from Stalker to Imperious.
"Surely, sire, you don't believe you will-"
"My defeat has always been a possibility. When I battled Crusader and the Faunian Pantheon I knew victory wasn't certain, the former ended because we both knew continuing to battle would've led to mutual destruction and the latter was won because the gods were not as powerful as they once were and I had my magic and some of the Infinity Stones. We cannot think ourselves invincible when evidence shows that isn't true."
"...Of course, Your Majesty."
"Your confidence is appreciated, you simply just don't understand the true stakes and powers of this war. Though you will learn, I know. But back to the matter at hand, the succession must be secure if defeat is inevitable."
Stalker nodded after a moment.
"We have been working to secure your legacy, my lord. My apprentice as you've said has much to learn and shows his loyalty to your vision."
The hologram nodded.
"And I'm still in the process of readying my apprentice, sire. It will just take some time."
"Be prepared to hasten the process if things change."
"Yes, my lord."
-NYC, Just Outside Of The S.H.I.E.L.D. Camp-
Of the few dozen soldiers of Imperious that moved to create a blockade to the camp, about a third remained.
One of the Continuum soldiers slid around the blast from one of the invader's weapon, quickly jumping onto their feet and slashing a golden energy dagger into their flank before pressing their own blaster against the helmet of their foe. The resulting blast turned the soldier to dust, the helmet had been sent flying before it also disintegrated.
Captain America was nearby, throwing his shield which struck the chest-plate of one of the invaders before it bounced towards another striking their helmet. The first soldier hissed as Patriot's spear stabbed into their flank below the arm before they turned to ash and the second was struck by a crossbow bolt. Ghost Spider was leaning against the wall of the closest building, taking aim with both hands.
"We still got a few more left, guys!"
Vixen snarled as she slashed with the blade, the edge cutting through a couple of soldiers and decapitating both of them instantly before they turned to ash.
"Not so many now!"
Captain America nodded at this, rolling out of the way of the blasts of a few more of the soldiers. This allowed an opening for some of the Continuum soldiers to fire at them, the energy burning through the invaders' armor and shields. The nearby Continuum locked in close combat lunged forward to finish them off, a golden energy saber cutting them down.
Vixen snarled, teeth bared and ears flicking.
"How many more?!"
They all turned to see an invader swiping their sword at Squirrel Girl, but the Secret Warrior jumped away onto a car. Before anyone could rush to aid her, Squirrel Girl lunged forward.
She let out a furious scream as she tackled the last soldier, one hand gripping an arrow. The Secret Warrior stabbed the arrow into the soldier's helmet multiple times, screaming in fury. Eventually there was nothing left to stab but ash, the arrow faded while Squirrel Girl panted and eyes wide with rage.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the looks of her friends and allies. She panted heavily, body heaving.
"W-What?"
Ghost Spider jumped over to stand beside here.
"Just, whoa, girl."
Squirrel Girl gasped, breathing heavily.
"We're at war...besides, these jerks have too many people to not fuel a fire in me. We have to take these guys out."
The others gathered to join her. Captain America looked at her, a short nod marking his response.
"Just be careful, we have to stay focused."
Squirrel Girl nodded in return.
"Right. I just hope our friends are doing well out there."
-Space, In The Golden Griffin-
The group looked through the front of the ship, their eyes on a planet smaller than Earth and with a deep brown color. Quake fixed her gear in place.
"So that's where the first stone is?"
"Indeed, Ms. Johnson. The Soul Stone, perhaps the most powerful of the stones, resides on this planet."
A.E.G.I.S. was quick in her response, making Ms. Marvel gasp at the identity of the stone.
"This stone alone could turn the tide."
"Perhaps, the power within the Soul Stone is beyond most beings' understanding."
Ms. Marvel nodded despite knowing A.E.G.I.S. didn't have a physical form to nod to. Chavez stood with her arms crossed.
"What did Crusader cook up to contain these things?"
Next to her on the control panel of the ship, something was being formed by golden light. Once it fully materialized, it sat in front of the group. The size of a small tub of ice cream, it was shaped with what was in the visage of a stone held in the clutches of a reptilian beast's paws with the claws latched on the rock. Like the Golden Griffin it was also fixed with golden and white colors.
"This is the Dragon's Trove, it will contain the power of the stones. The dragon's claws are detachable and are used to grip the stones to for a temporary time hold the power of these objects without destroying the one holding it."
Some of the group gasped at this, Ms. Marvel gulped a little at hearing this.
"No sweat, just grab the stone and get out."
"I will lower you to where the stone is. Be warned, the ship's sensors are picking up a strong energy presence near the stone."
Inferno sighed.
"...great..."
-The Planet's Surface-
The Golden Griffin lowered onto the planet and from its flank the door open. The Secret Warriors walked down the steps and up to a stone altar and surrounding structures reminded the group of Stonehenge. As they walked up to the altar they could see a strong yet calm deep orange light glowing.
As they walked towards its, Quake noticed the stones that laid in the ground around the perimeter of the structures. Though they soon focused on the object on the altar, it was a small stone of a deep orange color that shined. Ms. Marvel's eyes widened at it.
"The Soul Stone, can you guys feel this...this-"
She didn't need to explain further, the stone gave off a warmth that reminded the group of the sun itself though it wasn't overbearing. What power this object contained hummed gently, almost as if singing a soft song. Chavez moved to take one of the Dragon's Claws.
"Ok, let's get this done before one of that jerk's minions shows up."
As she reached for the object, the ground beneath and around them rumbled and shook. The group gasped, drawing their weapons, their eyes wide though focused. They looked around, trying to see where the tremor was centered at. Quake looked around.
"I don't like this guys."
Chavez scoffed.
"Ya think?! What's going on?!"
Ms. Marvel and Inferno moved side by side, weapons ready. The former bit her lip while Inferno stood with reserved power as fire started to form in his hands.
The group then watched as the stones surrounding the altar and immediate structures rose from the ground. Their eyes widened as they saw the stones shifted and fixed against one another. Within moments in formed a 15 foot tall humanoid form, its stone outwardly took a deep, rough gray color with black markings they didn't recognize. It appeared to them the entity was in the form of a knight's armor, the helmet in the form of a wolf's head and in its hands was a longsword with the blade pointed to the ground and held the hilt in both stony hands with the tips pointed like a beast's claws.
There was no form within the armor, only the armor itself.
Ms. Marvel looked at it, eyes wide. She gave a nervous smile, waving.
"H-Hi?"
From the armor emerged a deep, calm, powerful voice that sounded as ancient as the universe itself.
"I am the Guardian Sentinel Knight of the Soul Stone."
Ms. Marvel's eyes widened even further at hearing the Sentinel Knight. She whispered to the group.
"Kinda sounds like a much older Metatron."
The entity didn't respond, only waited.
Quake looked to the others, all of them nodded with some having more reserved looks than the others. She let out an uneasy breath then stepped forward.
"We're here for the Soul Stone, we need it to prevent a madman from taking over our home and more of the multiverse."
"The stone can only be given to those who earn its power."
Chavez raised an eyebrow at this.
"How?"
"Prove yourselves worthy in combat against its guardian."
Ms. Marvel's eyes widened at this.
"Give us just a sec, please."
The entity nodded before Kamala elongated her arms, pulling the group together into a huddle.
"So guys, how are we going to do this? This guy's huge, he's has to be source of the energy A.E.G.I.S. told us about."
Quake nodded.
"Right, but we've gotta get the stone before Stalker or someone worse comes to get it."
"How do we beat this guy then?"
Chavez raised her daggers up.
"With these."
Quake's eyes narrowed a little.
"Something tells me it's not going to be that simple."
Inferno sighed.
"We have to try. For everyone."
Quake sighed and nodded.
They turned back to the Sentinel Knight.
"We accept."
"Very well, who shall face this Trial by Combat?"
"Wait, is it just one of us against you or can we all fight you?"
The entity picked the sword's tip off the ground and held the blade upright.
"You must discover the true path for yourselves. Let the trial begin."
AN: We hope you all enjoy, please let us know what you think will happen next.