The Avengers (Marvel;Re)/Issue 3 (Captain America)

This is the third issue of Captain America's Avengers comic book series, part of the Marvel;Re initiative and the story arc, The Madness Beneath. The story is preceded by The Avengers (Captain America) #2 and succeeded by The Avengers (Captain America) #4

Synopsis
The Avengers have expanded. Through the Avengers Wave protocol, Earth's mightiest heroes have expanded their ranks, inducting many other superhumans to aid them in fending off the growing threat of the universe. As the leader of the Avengers, Captain America is privileged to lead his own team of Avengers. Many were unable to fathom the Super-Soldier's choices, but the Star-Spangled Avenger knows best that nothing is impossible and his team could be an example to the world of superheroes. Together, they stand against the worst reality and unreality can throw at them as the Avengers. Captain America and his Avengers were tasked to apprehend a rogue Kree Pursuer and her oceanic compatriots. Needless to say, their mission was a disastrous failure and now, the Avengers lie beaten and captured under the sea, chained within the presence of a man who claims himself to be the All-Father...

Previously in Avengers...

 * A distress call from Namor and a tip from Ronan the Accuser led the Avengers to battle against the latter's niece, who was apparently possessed by a spiritual entity who came to Earth seeking the Serpent Crown.
 * Unfortunately, "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" failed after realizing they were fighting against something well beyond their capabilities.
 * Preliminary reports stated that Tanalth the Pursuer sought to summon Set, the Elder God of Evil, using the Serpent Crown's power. They were wrong. The Pursuer has succeeded in summoning another ancient deity with the Serpent Crown, but not Set himself... but a forgotten Asgardian terror from the unknown.

Sestanivor, the Blue Embassy
Chained and defeated, the Sentinel of Liberty's Avengers are trapped deep beneath a prison-fortress holding a prisoner of the most damned kind. A forgotten god from the past, claiming himself to be the 'All-Father', unquestionably of the Asgardian kind, stands in front of the captured heroes alongside his two maidens of destruction, Skirn, the Breaker of Men and Nerkkod, the Breaker of Oceans, respectively formerly known as Tanalth the Pursuer and Namora, cousin of Namor, the Avenging Son. A dark day, indeed, for this is supposed to be the Avengers' first mission, yet it has turned out to be their first failure... and the world shall pay a heavy price for this.

After revealing his identity, the 'All-Father' personally examines the Avengers, relishing in the fears that flare within their souls. Though they are among the bravest of their worlds, it's not that easy to muster your courage in the presence of a god of fear. Ultimus, Balder, and Hiroim stare at Ghost Rider blankly right into her empty eye sockets. Cul takes a moment to process his sentences before letting him go. Utilizing telekinesis, Skirn / Tanalth picks up the still-intact Serpent Crown, which pulses with energy. She grabs it and hands it over to her father for examination. Cul solemnly nods several times. It may not be like it, but this is an expression of disappointment: something that Tanalth and Nerkkod quickly take notice of. Cul slowly approaches his daughter, and for the first time, the Avengers actually see her afraid. Skirn recoils when he walks towards her but is frozen in place by none other than the Serpent himself. Nerkkod cannot do anything but stand still as she knows what's coming. At least, she's able to give her a telepathic encouragement, known to both the Serpent and Skirn herself, but ignored by the former.
 * Captain America: "So you're the Serpent 'Tanalth' was rambling about."
 * Cul Borson / The Serpent: "I am Cul Borson, firstborn of Bor Burison and Bestla, rightful King of Asgard, the God of Fear, the Serpent of Terror. And you are?"
 * Steve Rogers / Captain America: "(Grits his teeth) I am Steven Rogers, Captain America."
 * Cul Borson: "You're a human? (Turns to Skirn and Nerkkod) How is this possible?"
 * Warlock: "Uh, why is Subject: Cul Borson confused at the fact that Captain America is human?"
 * Alejandra Jones / Ghost Rider: "Honestly, if it wasn't for your weird-ass skin tones and sentences, I wouldn't be able to tell which one of you are humans or not. No offense."
 * Balder: "I thought your kind can identify the souls of individuals, so you can tell which race they belong to?"
 * Ultimus: "Conveniently, you humans and Asgardians look pretty much the same!"
 * Hiroim: "Look who's talking, Kree."
 * Ghost Rider: "Hey, just saying! Even this old güey doesn't know how the f**k humans are supposed to look like!"
 * Victorious: "Um, didn't humans look different way back before we are... here?"
 * Warlock: "Self-friend Victorious is correct! But, considering Asgardians like Subject: Cul Borson and self-friend Balder themselves look like humans, self is still confused how this old timer over here cannot tell which one of us is human."
 * Cul Borson: "(Sharply turns and rushes at the speed of light at Warlock, grabbing his neck) Are you human?"
 * Captain America: "NO! Leave him alone, Cul!"
 * Warlock: "Self is a Technarch. Self is neither a human nor a native of Earth."
 * Cul Borson: "(Slight laugh) Oh, has Aesheim always been the center of the universe?"
 * Skirn, Breaker of Men / Tanalth: "It seems so, Father Cul. My host's memories tell me that Aesheim has been visited and invaded multiple times by her own race and many others."
 * Nerkkod, Breaker of Oceans / Namora: "It has also become home to many other dark things since your imprisonment, Great Serpent."
 * Cul Borson: "Is that so?"
 * Skirn, Breaker of Men / Tanalth: "Do you remember the rumors of another serpent god dwelling within the bowels of Aesheim long ago, father?"
 * Cul Borson: "This is his crown of power, yes?"
 * Skirn, Breaker of Men / Tanalth: "Indeed, father. With its power, we managed to break through the enchantments that sealed your prison."
 * Skirn, Breaker of Men / Tanalth: "Father... did I do any wrong?"

Upon reaching her, the Asgardian God of Fear softly touches her face before smiling at her. The Serpent looks down for a moment before staring up to her once again, proceeding to deliver a grim line. Skirn and Nerkkod look at each other, surprised, while the Avengers are looking on with utter confusion as the three converse with their own dead language that none of the Avengers can register with their mind. Cul rubs his beard in contemplation when Nerkkod assists her sibling up. This show of abuse instills rage and disturbance within the Avengers, despite how both Skirn and the Serpent are their enemies. Balder spits at his uncle's face in defiance, the Serpent smirking in response to such an act. Cul shuts down his nephew by uppercutting him so hard he's released from his powerful restraints. Balder is nearly killed by this act, but the moment he's freed from the chains, his powers return to him, including his invulnerability. The Avengers look on in concern as the Serpent walks right past them to confront Balder himself, already in a battle-ready stance with his sword summoned in a flash of light into his hands. Cul's statement confuses the Avengers as he also sounds confused after hearing what Balder has stated. Their confusion turns to worries when Cul smirks again and rubs his beard before delivering another line that unveils his true nature. Balder pauses for a moment as he thinks over what Cul has said, his mouth exhausted of words and confusion wreaked upon his brain. While so, Cul takes a moment to sit down on a nearby stone, looking at the Avengers.
 * Victorious: "Jó Isten, kapitány, this is disturbing."
 * Captain America: "If this is what I think it is, then you may close your eyes, Vic."
 * Warlock: "Uh, why is his fingers on her mouth?"
 * Balder: "By Odin, no..."
 * Hiroim: "This cannot be!"
 * Ghost Rider: "You have no idea how many indecent thoughts I'm picking up right now. Even from you, Warlock."
 * Warlock: "Hey, self is curious!"
 * Ultimus: "Your curiosity is misplaced, Technarch!"
 * Ghost Rider: "Your curiosity is also 'misplaced', you enfermo!"
 * Captain America: "All of you, cut it!"
 * Cul Borson: "(Tranquil rage) Do you have any idea what threat you have brought upon us?"
 * Skirn, Breaker of Men / Tanalth: "Father, Set couldn't possibly a threat to us! He is unable to breach the dimensional barrier imprisoning him from Aesheim!"
 * Nerkkod, Breaker of Oceans / Namora: "I do not mean to offend, father, but I agree! My host remembers well that he cannot enter this universe willingly!"
 * Cul Borson: "Does your host know how possible it is for him to possess a weak-willed being and manipulate his way to regain his power? Or better yet, does she know that utilizing the powers of another god for whatever purposes there are without permission will incur the wrath of said deity?"
 * Nerkkod, Breaker of Oceans / Namora: "I don't understand! I can see from my host's memories of this being called 'Doctor Strange' invoking the name of gods of both light and dark without being suffering the consequences! Hoggoth, Oshtur, Cyttorak, Chthon!"
 * Cul Borson: "Then he is a dead man, indeed! Now, we have another elder thing coming for us and I do not have the power to fend him off (powerfully throws Skirn away to a wall)... yet."
 * Balder Odinson: "Is that how you express fear, 'All-Father'? By venting your frustration upon your children?!"
 * Cul Borson: "What care do you have, oaf? I sense a fear within you unlike anything I've ever known. You fear death... but you love her, too."
 * Balder Odinson: "I don't know what you speak of, wretch!"
 * Cul Borson: "I am the God of Fear, meek one. Your worries are as visible to me as the sun is to every one of us."
 * Cul Borson: "You are bold. I appreciate that. I assume you are a blood of Odin?"
 * Balder Odinson: "I am! And I will be the death of you when..."
 * Balder Odinson: "(Wipes out the blood from his mouth) I thought you would've hit harder."
 * Cul Borson: "Let us see, o' nephew of mine, how mighty you truly are. (Extends his arms) Strike me down, now."
 * Warlock: "Self-friend: Balder, don't do it! Don't let him goad you into combat! Subject: Cul Borson is more powerful than any of us! There's no telling if Subject: Cul Borson can kill you!"
 * Balder Odinson: "I will not die until Ragnarok comes to pass, Technarch! You will do well to remember that?"
 * Cul Borson: "(Retracts his arms) 'Ragnarok'? Ragnarok?"
 * Balder Odinson: "What are you smiling about?!"
 * Cul Borson: "Oh, on the contrary, I pity you for still being bound to such a covetous cycle of death and rebirth. Even after years, my brother—your father—has yet to succeed in escaping the hands of the shadows. How miserable. Knowing this makes me so... sorrowful I could just kill you to save you from further torment."
 * Balder Odinson: "You are not bound by Ragnarok?! How is this possible?!
 * Cul Borson: "Freeing my kin of the chains of Ragnarok has always been my goal, and that includes you and your so-called 'All-Father'."
 * Ultimus: "Really? I was getting the impression that you were some sort of ancient evil who wishes to dominate the universe. Not that I know if Ragnarok is a good thing or not."
 * Cul Borson: "Perhaps the word you are looking for is that I am not... (brief silence) benevolent."
 * Hiroim: "You are a god of fear. What manner of being that feeds upon the fear of others is 'benevolent'?"
 * Cul Borson: "O, I am not malevolent, greyskin. I take full responsibility over the pain and deaths that have been caused by my daughter, Skirn. I assure you, after I have finished my quest for power to save the Nine Realms, I will resurrect whoever has died by either the hands... or my children. Do not presume I am a petty murderer like that one-eyed cur you call 'All-Father', mortal."
 * Captain America: "You condone killing others to attain your goal!"
 * Cul Borson: "As if you are any different from me in that regard. You think I relish destroying the Tenth Realm and all who barred my way? You have no idea how many times my pleas fell on deaf ears. Conquest was the only option... and I see no difference in this time of age. Ragnarok is a curse that has remained on the Nine Realms for far too long... and I have no intention of letting it exist."
 * Balder:  "If you 'free' us from Ragnarok, our immortality shall cease to exist!"
 * Cul Borson: "We have ALWAYS been immortal, boy! Only gods may kill other gods, but every death we suffer is nothing more than a nuisance. We will always return, as the universe wills it. Ragnarok is nothing but a lie fabricated by the shadows to prey upon our endlessness; to restrain our freedom to do what is right upon the greater cosmos. You may be here, standing side-by-side by creatures unbound by Ragnarok, but whatever act you do, no matter how drastic or outrageous it is... will not free you from this torturous cycle of death and rebirth."
 * Balder: "You speak as if Ragnarok is a thing of evil, a-"
 * Cul Borson: "Because of Ragnarok, your father killed my brothers, Vili and Ve even before we erected our golden realm. Because of Ragnarok, the Nine Realms suffer death and destruction every cycle without reprieve. Because of Ragnarok, we have no true fate other than walking the same path over and over again. You think having your divinity doubted is something we, gods, are meant to accept?"
 * Cul Borson: "What about you... 'Avengers'? What have you to say?"

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Trivia
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