Thanos' command was something Ebony Maw dared not defy. So, he immediately ceased the bombardment from the spaceship!
The rain of energy projectiles thinned instantly, and when the last one hit Li Yue's magic shield and vanished, the bombardment ended as well!
"The attack stopped? It seems Thanos finally decided to take matters into his own hands!"
Feeling the cessation of the attack, Li Yue quickly deduced that Thanos must be preparing to act personally.
"Well, that's perfect since I came here to face Thanos!"
Thanos' name struck fear across the universe, his act of wiping out half the population of each conquered planet, leaving a trail of terror. Yet, Li Yue didn't fear Thanos without the Gauntlet and Stones. He was eager to have a proper fight.
With that in mind, Li Yue dismissed the large magic shield above him. The thin blue shield disappeared like ice, and Thanos' ship, the Sanctuary II, reappeared in everyone's view. Li Yue wasn't worried about any underhanded tricks, knowing that Thanos valued his reputation too much for that.
...
A bright white beam descended from Sanctuary II, landing a few hundred meters before Li Yue. However, it caused no damage to the ground, as it was merely a transport beam from the spaceship.
A few seconds later, the light dissipated, revealing two figures on the ground. In the front was Thanos, clad in golden armour and wielding his massive double-edged sword. His Titan physique made him nearly three meters tall, creating an imposing presence.
The other figure, thin and almost skeletal, was his loyal lieutenant, Ebony Maw, capable of telekinetically manipulating objects at will, making him a formidable adversary and possibly the strongest sorcerer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He was a nemesis to Doctor Strange and other sorcerers because he required no incantations or gestures to cast spells.
In "Infinity War," Doctor Strange struggles to use his full power against Ebony Maw, who later meets an ignominious end due to a trick by Spider-Man and Tony Stark, getting sucked into space and frozen.
"Ebony Maw, do you see that small creature holding something? That must be the device they created to bring back their lost comrades. The Infinity Stones are embedded in it!"
"Make sure to seize it at the right moment! If we get our hands on the Infinity Stones, their efforts will be for nothing!"
Thanos instructed Ebony Maw, then began to walk towards Li Yue and the others.
...
"Mr. Li Yue, we're here to help you!"
As Li Yue landed on the ground, eyes fixed on the approaching Thanos, he heard Tony and the others calling from behind him.
"That's Thanos, the one responsible for wiping out half the life in our universe! Though our universe's Thanos was killed by Thor five years ago, this one must have come from a different timeline due to our time travel."
Tony and the others, standing beside Li Yue, looked gravely at Thanos, explaining to him.
"Hehe, I know all this. I came here precisely because of him!"
Li Yue replied calmly, his eyes never leaving Thanos, filled with a fighting spirit. Though not a war enthusiast, Li Yue felt compelled to intervene, especially to prevent Tony from sacrificing himself by snapping his fingers. Having been saddened by that scene in the movie, Li Yue was determined to change the outcome now that he had the power to do so. Besides, Thanos wasn't an unbeatable foe for him.
...
Thanos stopped a few dozen meters before Li Yue and the others, planting his double-edged sword into the ground as if wanting to talk first.
"Heh, it seems you can't accept failure, so you resort to these means to reverse everything!"
"Unfortunately, it won't matter. In the end, you still have to face me!"
Thanos' eyes scanned the group, lingering briefly on Li Yue before continuing.
"I once believed that after eliminating half of all life, the survivors would appreciate their continued existence. But you proved that impossible! If someone remembers the past, they cannot accept the future."
"Just like you, trying desperately to undo what's been done. It's laughable!"
Thanos spoke calmly, almost as if having a friendly discussion, but Tony responded with a relaxed demeanour, almost jokingly.
"Yes, we're that stubborn! As long as there's hope, we'll do anything to save our lost friends! You, however, are just a butcher who takes lives!"
Facing Thanos again, everyone felt the gravity of the situation, but Tony's lighthearted demeanour stood out.
"Oh? Is that how you see me? It seems you still don't understand my vision! But you don't need to anymore!"
"Because I will use the Stones you collected to reduce the entire universe to ashes and create a new one!"
"In that universe, everyone will only remember me as their creator! They will live happily, filled with gratitude for my gift!"
"And you won't witness that beautiful scene!"
"Because I am destiny! You are doomed to fail and won't survive to see that moment!"
Tired of talking, Thanos pulled his double-edged sword from the ground, pointing it at Li Yue and the others.
"So, will you come at me one by one or all together to die?"