As one of the most powerful Eternals, Ikaris hadn't needed to intervene in earthly affairs in a long time. While this planet certainly harbored many formidable individuals, he rarely considered them to be true threats. This unshakeable confidence had been built over millennia of fighting on Earth and was reinforced by his efforts with other Eternals to hunt down mutants.
"Yes, they look a little strange, but they must be mutants," Ikaris mused. Having received the alert from his beloved Sersi, he flew here at top speed and now scrutinized the aliens with his superhuman vision. A flicker of hesitation crossed his face, but he quickly dismissed it, these were likely just new mutant variants. After all, mutants possess powerful mutant genes and can evolve in size and strength by absorbing the energy of other potent creatures.
However, the mutants before him, save for the one feasting inside the building, seemed pitifully weak. He peered into the structure again, his gaze settling on the Abomination, which was now a grotesque pile of minced flesh. He couldn't tell how the Abomination had died from this horrifying sight, but it didn't matter.
"This mutant race has completed its evolution by consuming the life energy of that ugly creature. But what's with this terrible way of eating?" Ikaris's face was grim. While becoming stronger by absorbing other creatures' energy was an innate mutant ability, such absorption was typically achieved by piercing the target's body with energy siphons, not through raw consumption. What kind of twisted abilities had these particular mutants evolved? Why had they degenerated into such crude methods?
Even stranger, the other known mutants were supposed to be frozen in an icy lake in Alaska. How had a few of them suddenly appeared here, so brazenly?
"Why are you consorting with these mutants? Do you not realize how dangerous they are?" Ikaris crossed his arms.His voice was cold as he looked down at Enzer.
"Mutants? You've got the wrong person," Enzer replied. He knew exactly why this Eternal had come. Like the other Eternals, Ikaris harbored ulterior motives. He had deceived his ten brethren by not revealing the last remaining mutants hidden in Alaska. These eleven Eternals were distinctly different from Thanos's ancestors, the Eternals who migrated from Earth to Titan to reproduce. They were professional enforcers created directly by the Cosmic Celestials, and their memories were repeatedly purged. After completing a mission, protecting the growth of a life group and accelerating the birth of a young Celestial within a planet's core, the Celestials would wipe their memories, and they would be dispatched to another world, perpetuating the cycle.
But there were exceptions. Occasionally, some Eternals experienced strange, fragmented thoughts, remnants of memories that hadn't been fully erased. Ikaris vaguely sensed something was amiss with his memory but was shrewd enough not to reveal it.
"The Earth's ecological environment cannot produce creatures of this appearance. They are not native to this planet," Ikaris stated coldly. "You don't even know what mutants are, yet you show a profound lack of respect for me, your protector and that of your ancestors." "What an utter load of crap," Enzer retorted gently. He knew that Ikaris was both powerful and dogmatic. Since he showed up, he wouldn't leave until he achieved his objective. Enzer pressed, "You keep talking about mutants. Are you more concerned with protecting ordinary humans or covering up the news?"
Ikaris's face shifted subtly, not only because of Enzer's insult but also because this human seemed to be aware of the Eternals and mutants. He also knew that Ikaris had concealed information related to the mutants. Was this an accident or a deliberate test? Ikaris's eyes instantly blazed with golden light, and a beam of heat vision shot forth. This attack could effortlessly incinerate an ordinary human.
At that moment, however, the Abomination alien finished its meal. Its body had expanded significantly in a very short time. With a mouthful of gleaming fangs, it easily burst through the wall and rushed out. In a flash, it seized Ikaris, spun him around, and slammed him into the ground.
Boom!
The force of the impact created a deep crater in the concrete.
"Is this your way of protecting humans? You're completely reckless! In your zeal to kill so-called mutants, you'd kill unidentified humans too?" Enzer's entire body was firmly shielded by the alien Abomination behind him as he slowly spoke.
"You're not completely ignorant. You know that we protect humans and exterminate mutants. Who are you? How do you know these things?!" Ikaris flew up, unharmed but surprised by the alien's power. Through this brief exchange, however, he'd assessed the alien's strength and found it to be considerably weaker than his own. It could be killed; it would just take time. More concerning to Ikaris was Enzer's composure and complete lack of surprise. It was as if Enzer clearly understood Ikaris's methods and had prepared for them. This human has serious problems, yet he's receiving protection from "mutants." This completely upended Ikaris's understanding. Mutants are a species that specializes in devouring humans.
But no matter the problem, it was nothing in the face of absolute strength. Ikaris simply wanted to kill Enzer and the "mutants" as quickly as possible and contain the news.
Boom!
Ikaris shot forward like a cannonball and struck the Abomination alien's chest. Enzer shifted sideways just in time, and Ikaris crashed through several buildings. Countless vibrations echoed through the air. His move clearly caused more damage than the Abomination's fight against the Hulk. While the other Eternals took care to protect the innocent, he couldn't care less. Throughout their millennia of fighting, they had clashed with mutants more than once in cities, in front of ordinary people. Ikaris especially felt that he had made immense contributions to humanity by protecting the normal reproduction of countless humans. What was wrong with a fight involving some collateral damage? Was there any problem with that?
Ikaris clenched his fists and flexed his powerful chest muscles as he coldly stared at the sudden, raging fire that erupted from the high-rise building he'd just punched a massive hole through. He didn't know whose gas tank had exploded. But it didn't matter.
The Abomination alien didn't care either. It walked out unharmed and without a sound, swinging its long, sharp, flexible tail. Its legs coiled with terrifying power and its muscles bulged instantly as it unleashed a monstrous burst of force. The Abomination charged back in almost the same manner, knocking Ikaris away with a headbutt and creating endless rubble and screams.
"Why did another monster appear?! Didn't we just defeat it on Broadway?!
"No, this can't be happening. What on earth is going on today? Two more crazy, powerful guys!"
At first, some citizens assumed that Ikaris was a superhero and that the Abomination, whose physique was somewhat similar to those of the Abomination and the Hulk, was a villain. But after a few seconds, they realized that both of these beings were dangerous and didn't care about their lives. The only difference was that Ikaris, the human-like figure, showed no regard for ordinary people during his attacks. He always aimed for vital points, seemingly wishing to kill his enemy with a single punch. As for the creature resembling an Abomination alien, though equally grotesque and ferocious, with exaggerated muscles and bizarre bone spurs, it seemed intent on moving the fight elsewhere. It constantly grabbed Ikaris with its huge hands and smashed him toward a farther, more remote area, even if it meant occasionally crushing unlucky citizens when Ikaris repelled it the next second.