Rise of an Immortal Chapter 101: Welcome to the Family, Future Sister

Inside the Baxter Building, deep within Reed’s sprawling laboratory, the air humd with the low whir of machinery.

Reed Richards stood hunched over a workbench, tightening a panel on the ship’s energy core, while Ben Grimm leaned against a console, his rocky arms crossed.

Across the room, Johnny and Susan were hunched over a glowing monitor, fingers flying over controls as they tried to pinpoint Galactus’s location.

Previously, Ethan had opened a portal and teleported them straight onto Galactus’s warship.

But now, if they wanted to return, they’d have to find its location themselves—no small feat.

The only clue they had ca from a few small, discreet devices Reed had planted to monitor the warship’s conditions. Unfortunately, they lacked the proper equipnt to receive the signal and trace it back.

They would have to work on that first.

If they could boost the sensor range enough, they might find him... Might.

Reed adjusted a dial on the ship’s power regulator. "I can’t be certain this will work," he said quietly.

Ben straightened. "Don’t tell you’re thinkin’ of leaving Ethan out there alone, Reed. That’s not right."

Reed didn’t look up. "I’m not saying we abandon him. I’m saying—since we’ve seen what Galactus is capable of—we can’t just charge in blindly. That thing could literally swat us to death."

Ben’s rocky brow furrowed. "Sotis your head’s too stuck in logic, Reed. That’s why you ss up when it matters—hell, that’s why you lost Susan before."

Reed’s hands froze on the panel, but he didn’t answer.

Suddenly, Susan’s voice cut through the room. "I got sothing!"

She and Johnny were rushing from the sofa toward the main console, still wearing parts of their space suits. The heavy gear—helts, oxygen tanks—lay discarded on the floor, but the underlayers clung to their forms.

"We can boost the range," Susan explained breathlessly. "But we need to replace at least four major components. That’s weeks—maybe months—of work."

Johnny frowned. "Three days have passed here, but in Galactus’s warship... it’s only been minutes. We’ve got so ti."

Susan shook her head, "Johnny, Ethan’s strong, I know that. But this isn’t the Hulk. This isn’t so overgrown science experint."

Johnny tried to keep his tone light. "C’mon. This is the sa guy who tossed Hulk and Abomination around like toddlers."

Her words cut him off. "He’s not fighting toddlers now, Johnny. He’s fighting a giant who makes us look like ants."

He blinked at her, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "Susan... don’t tell —"

"Yes!" she blurted before her hands clenching into fists. "Yes, I like him, okay? I know it’s wrong—he’s getting married to two won next month—but I can’t help it."

Johnny’s mouth opened, but no words ca.

Susan kept going, her voice trembling but fierce. "I like him because... because he makes feel safe. Because every ti he’s around, I feel like I can breathe. We’ve laughed together, fought side by side, and every single mont... he’s made feel like I matter. I don’t care if I can’t have him. But I will not stand here and watch him die."

The room fell silent. Reed’s hands stilled. Ben looked between them, wide-eyed.

Suddenly a voice ca from behind. "Well... I’m not surprised."

Everyone turned toward the doorway—where a striking woman with flowing crimson hair stood and her presence commanding the room.

It was Jean Grey.

She stepped inside with quiet confidence, the tailored lines of her fitted business suit accentuating her graceful figure.

Susan stiffened. "Jean..."

Jean stepped inside, her gaze calm but impossible to read. "Susan sounded urgent, so I ca through the portal. And... well, I figured you’d fall for him sooner or later."

She sighed inwardly. ’Ethan... you’ve already stolen five won’s hearts. You shaless, infuriating thief.’

Ben muttered under his breath, "Here cos the drama."

Everyone seed to brace for the explosion—Jean was engaged to Ethan, after all. But instead, she simply crossed her arms and said, "Don’t get so worked up. Ethan will be fine."

Susan’s voice cracked. "How can you be so sure?"

Jean t her eyes, steady and unshaken. "Because I know him better than you do. Trust ... that guy doesn’t go down easy. And when he cos back, he’ll be stronger than ever."

The confidence in her voice made even Reed pause.

Susan stood there with her shoulders stiff. There was sothing she wanted to say, but her lips pressed together—uncertain, hesitant.

Jean broke the silence. "Don’t worry," she said softly, her tone both reassuring and oddly amused. "Anna and I already expected this."

Susan blinked. "Expected... what?"

Jean’s lips curved in amusent. "Ethan’s... well, let’s just say won seem to orbit around him. It’s not your fault you fell for him—I don’t bla you. Anna, Diana, and Didi all did the sa."

Susan finally relaxed a little, though Johnny still looked skeptical.

"So... you’re okay with Susan liking—and maybe even dating—your soon-to-be husband?" he asked.

Jean’s lips curved in a serene smile. "He already has four won. One more, as long as she truly loves him, is welco."

Johnny blinked, then muttered under his breath, "Damn... that’s basically my dream right there."

Reed leaning back in his chair with an air of forced calm, broke the silence first. "Hold on. How can you be so sure Ethan will survive Galactus? You didn’t even see him in action against that thing."

His voice carried a hint of skepticism, but also the quiet undertone of a man who really wanted an answer.

Jean’s lips curved slightly—not smug, but confident. "You’re right. I didn’t see the whole thing," she admitted, her tone light yet firm. "But I know Ethan. And I know exactly what he’s capable of."

That earned her several curious looks from the room’s occupants. Johnny tilted his head. Ben crossed his arms but didn’t interrupt.

Jean continued, her gaze steady on Reed. "That guy? He spends most of his ti ssing around because he doesn’t want to get bored. He holds back in fights so he doesn’t end them too quickly. But if Ethan actually decides to put his mind to sothing—really puts his mind to it—he won’t lose. Not against anyone."

Her confidence was unsettling... and infectious. The room fell silent for a mont as everyone processed her words.

Susan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke—her tone tight, her eyes restless. "I just... I can’t do nothing, Jean. He’s out there, and I—"

Jean stepped closer, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You can do sothing," she said softly. "You can wait for him to co back."

Susan’s lips pressed together. Waiting and patience were her strong suit.

Jean smiled faintly, of course, she didn’t ntion Ethan’s adaptive evolution powers—those weren’t exactly public knowledge.

In fact, only a handful knew: SHIELD, the X-n, and... well, okay, maybe a lot of others if she was being honest. But still—not a detail she was going to casually throw into the conversation.

Instead of explaining that, she simply asked, "Can I look into your mind? Get an idea of what exactly he was up against?"

Susan hesitated for a second before nodding. "Fine."

Jean’s fingers touched her temples, and her consciousness slipped effortlessly into Susan’s mories. Images, sensations, and emotions rushed into her—flashes of light, the cold emptiness of space, the overwhelming presence of Galactus... and then—

Susan’s eyes went wide the instant she realized what she’d done—she’d given Jean complete access to every emotion she’d felt... including the kiss. "Oh no..." she breathed.

Jean froze. ’Oh. Well, that was not unexpected.’

She had seen it all—clear as day—Susan and Ethan, locked in a kiss beneath the stillness of frozen ti. It was almost cinematic, the kind of mont that carved itself into mory.

A pang of jealousy rippled through her... not because she begrudged Susan, but because she hadn’t yet shared a mont like that with Ethan. Quietly, she made a ntal note: she was going to try that soday.

When Jean pulled her hands back, she wore a very particular kind of smile—the teasing, knowing one. "Well," Jean said, her voice taking on a playful lilt, "welco to the family, future sister."

Susan’s eyes widened. "What?"

Johnny blinked, confusion plastered across his face. "Sister? Wait, what do you an sister?"

Jean, enjoying this far too much, explained, "If she starts dating Ethan—which, judging by what I just saw, is a definite possibility—then she’ll be part of the family. and Anna are marrying him, so that would make her our sister. Just like Diana and Didi."

Susan opened her mouth, then closed it again. No words ca out. Johnny just stared at her, utterly speechless.

"I... don’t get this at all," Reed said before shaking his head.

Ben clapped him on the shoulder. "Don’t worry, Stretch. Even normal folks don’t get this stuff. You not getting it? Not surprising at all. Honestly, I’d be shocked if you did."

Reed narrowed his eyes. "Sohow... that feels like an insult, Ben."

Johnny smirked. "That’s because it is."

Jean turned back to Susan and clasped her hands. "Alright, enough worrying. Let’s get you changed and then we’ll go et Anna. You need to relax a little."

"Wait—" Susan began, but Jean was already opening a glowing portal behind her.

"Nope," Jean said cheerfully. "This is happening."

Before Susan could protest, Jean pulled her straight through the portal and it snapped shut, leaving the three n standing in stunned silence.

Johnny was the first to speak. "...So, uh... did we just lose Susan?"

Reed sighed. "For now."

Ben chuckled. "If she’s with Jean and Anna? Yeah, she’s not coming back the sa."

Johnny crossed his arms. "Well... at least if Ethan doesn’t make it back, we’ll only have to deal with one heartbroken superpowered woman instead of three."

Ben shook his head. "Kid, you got no idea how much trouble you just invited by sayin’ that."

----------------

Inside the colossal, cathedral-like halls of Galactus’ warship, the air was thick with the hum of cosmic energy.

Ethan grinned as he moved across the battlefield, his movents casual despite the storm raging around him.

Silver Surfer darted in and out of view, a streak of shining silver against the starry void visible through the warship’s transparent walls.

"Co on, Surfer—at this pace, I’m gonna get bored. Don’t tell this is all you’ve got."

The Surfer’s eyes narrowed.

Behind Ethan, thousands of flaming arrows crackled with lightning, streaking through the air in an endless barrage.

The Surfer weaved between them with almost insulting ease, his movents like water flowing through cracks in stone.

When dodging wasn’t enough, he’d flick his board and cause two arrows to collide mid-air, detonating in brilliant firebursts.

To Ethan’s own admission, the Surfer’s speed was sothing else. Even his eyes struggled to track him. This is the kind of speed I need... and I’m going to get it.

Without warning, the Surfer struck. A surge of cosmic energy erupted from his board, lancing toward Ethan like a cannon shot. But that was only the distraction.

The real attack ca as the Surfer moved at speeds invisible to mortal sight, blitzing Ethan from every direction—slashes of cosmic force that sliced the air, each blow tid between the fiery arrow detonations.

He blurred forward, vanishing from human sight, and began striking from every angle: head, ribs, spine, knees, shoulders.

Ethan didn’t dodge and didn’t even raise a guard.

Every hit made his muscles burn... and then harden. Every shockwave dug into his bones... and made them denser. His adaptive evolution was drinking in the punishnt like fine wine.

His upper body was already bare, skin scorched and torn, but his pants remained intact only because he had reinforced them with magic—because fighting naked would just be weird.

Surfer’s expression barely changed, but there was the faintest twitch of curiosity. ’How is he not even flinching...?’

The answer beca clearer when Ethan suddenly lunged, dropping all ranged attacks to focus purely on speed—his movents sharpening, closing the gap. Still, Surfer was just a fraction faster, narrowly avoiding Ethan’s grasp.

Still, speed was the gap. No matter how much he pushed, the Surfer stayed a step ahead, his years of combat experience keeping him untouchable.

But the gap was shrinking fastly.

Watching silently from his throne, Galactus slowly rose to his full, terrifying height. The ship seed to bend beneath his weight.

Ethan’s speed began to climb more faster. He was almost catching the Surfer now, forcing the Herald to rely on instinct more than pure advantage. The next blow nearly landed, his fist passing just shy of the Surfer’s jaw.

But before the strike could connect—

WHAM!

A massive hand swatted Ethan mid-air, the impact ringing like a war drum. He flew backward like a ragdoll, smashing through a wall of the warship and leaving a gaping hole in the structure.

Galactus’ voice rumbled through the chamber, low and resonant. "Enough gas. He is adapting to your speed, Herald. Nearly succeeded."

His cosmic gaze turned to the hole. "I can now sense it... his strength grows with every strike endured. This is aningless. I will consu him now... and silence the hunger that gnaws at ."

But before he could move, a flash of fire and lightning streaked through the breach.

Ethan burst back into the chamber like a teor, moving at blistering speed, his right fist ablaze with fire and wrapped in veins of lightning. His eyes burned crimson.

"—The f@#! you say?!" he snarled before driving his fist into Galactus’ chest.

Ethan was a bit frustrated that, despite enduring countless blows from the Surfer, his adaptation still hadn’t granted him the Power Cosmic. Now, with Galactus trying to devour him like so overpriced gourt dish, his annoyance reached a whole new level.

The impact shook the warship. Armor shattered across the giant’s torso, splintering like brittle glass. Beneath it, alien flesh tore open in a deep, ragged wound. Blood—thick and shimring—spilled as Galactus leaned back into his throne, more surprised than pained.

Ethan’s own expression shifted. ’That hit should’ve cracked a dinsion... and he’s still standing.’

Even the Surfer faltered mid-air, shocked that anyone could push his master back. But hesitation didn’t last—he dove in, channeling every ounce of cosmic energy from his board into a single strike aid squarely at Ethan’s back.

The blast landed but Ethan didn’t even try to move.

"From the back? Dick move, Surfer," he muttered just before the explosion blood.

The detonation rattled the entire warship. For a mont, smoke and dust swallowed the scene.

When it cleared, Galactus’ gaze sharpened. Ethan was still there—but barely. His upper body was reduced to a grotesque skeletal fra, only scraps of muscle clinging to bone. Blood dripped in slow, heavy drops.

His lower torso was half-intact, muscles twitching violently as if trying to regrow themselves.

And then... it began.

The bones quivered, knitting themselves together. Shreds of muscle fiber crawled over them like vines reclaiming a ruin. Skin followed, pale and steaming, until his form was whole again. Only his pants remained, tattered but intact.

By the ti his body was whole again, Ethan stood taller, his fra charged with a predatory energy.

Galactus’ eyes widened slightly. ’That energy...’ For the first ti in millennia, he recognized the sensation rising within his opponent. A power he had known and wield.

Even the Surfer, who had been thrown back by the explosion, straightened and instinctively took half a step back, a faint shiver of unease creeping into his stance.

Ethan slowly opened his eyes, the red glow burning brighter. His lips spread into a wide, wolfish grin.

"Well," he said, "now we’re getting sowhere."

------------------

anwhile, a few hours later – Carter Residence

Diana had just returned from a long day at Aeon Biotech, her mind still half on the reports she needed to finish tomorrow. She slipped off her heels, letting out a quiet sigh of relief, when an icy ripple of magic brushed against her senses.

The connection — the intricate, invisible thread of spellwork Ethan had bound between them—one she had always felt like a faint, reassuring heartbeat—was gone. Completely severed.

"No..." she whispered and her eyes widened in shock, the air seeming to grow heavier around her. She knew instantly what that ant.

There was only one reason the spell would vanish so abruptly.

Ethan... was dead.

....

Author’s Note:

Well... that escalated quickly.

Any guesses what just went down here? I have a feeling so of you might already be connecting the dots... but I’m curious — what do you think happened here?