The trio of Perpetua's sons and Adam were on the brink of being overwhelmed by a swarm of Apex Predators surrounding them.
The combined strength of the four might stand a chance against the horde, but the real foe was still Perpetua, who stood in the distance surrounded by her predator army.
Just as Adam thought their fate was sealed, he and the sons of Perpetua heard a trill—like a bearded warble—emerging from the cosmos.
Materializing above the sky was a bird of magnificent proportions, its body composed of otherworldly energies, its shape resembling a falcon. Hovering above their heads was the cosmic raptor.
Everyone held their breath, anticipating the actions of this new arrival—everyone except Perpetua, who wore a look of scorn as she muttered, "The Instrument."
"Perpetua, you violated your role, twisted creation for your selfish gain, and set this multiverse on a path of certain doom," spoke the cosmic raptor.
"Now the Hands—the Judges of the Source—pass judgment, and I am here to enforce it."
"You will be imprisoned within your creation as you watch it grow without your guidance," the cosmic raptor decreed.
"The Hands think they can imprison me? Tell them... tell your masters that when I break free of these shackles, I will venture to the edges of the Omniverse and serve them the most gruesome death they can imagine!" screamed Perpetua, as an unknown force dragged her away.
The cosmic raptor turned to the sons of Perpetua. "This multiverse will be reset without Perpetua's influence. But for breaking the natural order, it must face judgment. When the time comes, this multiverse will be weighed on the Scale of Judgment. Its fate is uncertain."
Apex—i.e., Adam—looked up toward the cosmic raptor. "Then what is my fate? I fought against her to pass the news of her transgressions," asked Adam.
The cosmic raptor studied Apex, who stood apart from the other Apex Predators near the sons of Perpetua. It scrutinized him and noticed an abundance of creation energy within his form—an observation that brought an unsavory shift.
"Your existence desecrates the natural order. You are an abomination born of Perpetua's creation. You too must face judgment alongside her," the cosmic raptor declared, dragging Adam away with an unseen force.
The cosmic raptor, Perpetua, and her armies of Apex Predators vanished into thin air.
"It vanished," said Alpheus, the World Forger.
"Yes, but not completely. It may still linger to ensure Mother doesn't escape," replied Mar Novu.
"It's a shame that the Apex was also imprisoned with her. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have escaped her pursuit all these years," said Alpheus.
"We can't defy the cosmic raptor—it alone was capable of imprisoning Mother. Let's hope that, when judgment arrives, this multiverse can survive," said Mar Novu.
"Creation will be born anew along with us. Brother, I must return to the Forge. I have to forge anew for the nascent reborn creation," said the World Forger.
Mobius the Anti-Monitor and Mar Novu the Monitor were left alone as they watched the Source Wall encase the multiverse, imprisoning their mother and her armies.
"Brother, were you aware this would happen? That my realm of anti-matter—which should have acted as a shield between the Overvoid and our multiverse—would turn to waste?" asked the Anti-Monitor.
"It had to be done, brother. Otherwise, we would all be doomed to face judgment alongside Mother for her mistakes," replied Mar Novu.
"You turned my realm into a wasteland while you rule over boundless worlds of creation. Now, I promise—even if it takes countless years—I will lay waste to your realm just as you did to mine," vowed the Anti-Monitor, and departed.
Mar Novu remained standing near the cosmic tuning fork that had summoned the Judges. He looked toward the Source, recalling the words of the cosmic raptor.
"It's not the worst fate, brother, to rule over a wasteland. A worse fate would be to have no realm at all," whispered Mar Novu to the air.
Adam—Apex—felt as though he were imprisoned in an unbreakable structure. He couldn't even open his eyes. Only after an unknown length of time did he begin to perceive his surroundings with his mind, taking in what he was seeing.
All around him were Apex Predators, frozen solid in what appeared to be crystalline structures. He tried to escape, but to no avail. All his efforts were in vain.
Time passed. Years turned to centuries and centuries to millennia. The multiverse thrived with abundant life. Adam entered the Chamber a couple of times but was never able to meet other versions of himself. He exited, knowing all too well that time doesn't pass while inside. Remaining there would serve no purpose unless he was in immediate danger. It was best to stay outside.
As years passed, his senses dulled. Seeing no change in his situation, he allowed himself to sleep—his consciousness entered slumber.
**Unknown Time Later**
The slumbering consciousness of Adam stirred, awakened by a disturbance. The eons of sleep made it difficult for him to fully awaken. After some effort, he became alert and probed his surroundings with his mind. The outside was still unchanged.
Not finding anything substantial, Adam was about to return to sleep when something at the edge of his senses caught his attention.
Unlike before, there was a crack in the Source Wall that imprisoned him—a crack so small it would have been unnoticeable unless one were specifically looking for it.
Adam tried to penetrate his vision through the crack, but something blocked his effort. Still, he did not stop exploring, though all attempts were futile.
One day, as usual, Adam was probing into the crack when he suddenly heard a voice: "Crisis."
The word stilled his mental vision. He tried to recall the person the voice belonged to. After tumbling through his memories, he remembered. The visage of the speaker appeared in his mind.
"Perpetua. She's able to probe into the crack—not surprising. If anyone could, it would be her."
He pondered. "What should I do? Wait, hoping I'll someday break free with the help of the Chamber? Wait for a miracle?" It took him a while, but finally he made a decision.
Though risky, he knew that waiting gave him a chance at freedom. Despite the uncertainty, he would do the only thing he could to change his fate.
He extended his mind toward the center of the Source Wall—toward Perpetua.
As his telepathic connection neared her, he heard a voice in his head.
"Defier, you still dare appear before me?" asked Perpetua.
"Creator, what is there to fear now? You are imprisoned, and I didn't fear you even when you were free," said Adam as the image of Perpetua appeared in his mind.
Adam expected some reaction, but received only indifference. Not wasting time, he asked, "Creator, is it possible to escape through the newly formed crack in the Source Wall?"
"Ha... haha... In my eons of existence, I've heard many preposterous things—escaping the Source Wall is one of them. It is impossible," said Perpetua. "But… there is a way."
Adam was first disappointed by her dismissal, but that last sentence ignited hope. He asked excitedly, "How? How can one escape the Source Wall?"
"Through the crack, I was able to whisper into the multiverse and create crisis. Anything minute in existence could possibly pass through the crack," Perpetua explained.
"Is it possible for my soul to pass through the crack?" asked Adam.
"Being my creation, basked in my power, you can never pass through it. But... there is a way your soul might swim to the other side of the Source Wall. But what would that serve me?" she asked.
"Creator, if you grant me freedom, I will fight all of existence to break you free from this prison," said Adam with fervor.
"No. You cannot break me free," said Perpetua.
Adam felt disappointed. But before he could say more—
"I will send you outside the Source Wall—if you promise one thing. Build an army that can withstand my might. If you promise me that, I will grant you freedom," said Perpetua with a mysterious smile.
"I promise," said Adam—no, the Apex Predator—without hesitation.
"Let's commence," said Perpetua. "The Source Wall only permits something minute—so small it's almost unnoticeable. Using my power, I will separate the core of your existence that makes up your Apex Predator form."
As she spoke, Adam's soul—composed of his human shard and martial soul—began to fission. A new human soul and martial soul appeared. His body also began to fission, but was blocked by the Source Wall.
The martial soul remained within the Apex Predator's body. The human soul slowly moved toward the crack.
Adam heard Perpetua's voice once more. "Remember: forge an army capable of withstanding the might of the Judges of the Source. Until then, your other half will remain my prisoner. Fail to keep your promise, and you may never be whole again," she said with a menacing laugh.
As Adam's soul passed through, cracks appeared on his astral body. They threatened to break him completely—but were repaired in a blink. This happened several times before he finally slipped through the Source Wall and sank into the unknown.
In the stillness of the Source Wall, Perpetua's eyes gleamed with brilliance. She reveled in the success of her plan.
"Oh, Defier—you, the instrument of my imprisonment—will be the fulcrum that sets me free. You who died on the first day of my captivity still breathe, defying odds. The day I earn my freedom, I will uncover the source of your immortal soul," mused Perpetua, waiting patiently for the day of her release.
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