Ivan was bewildered by the Red Queen's message. This was the moment he'd anticipated: the Avengers' start. Years of cosmic exploration he had prepared him for this. He couldn't let this opportunity slip away.
Ivan hurried out, intending to talk to his father and the others before returning to Earth. However, plans often change, and Shaw and the others find him first before he can seek them out.
Shaw, Apocalypse, Stakar, and Borjin approached him with anxious expressions. Shaw spoke up, "Ivan, we've got trouble."
"Trouble? What kind of trouble? With the strength of our mercenary group, few forces in the universe can threaten us. Are Thanos and Darkseid personally coming for us?"
Shaw's solemn nod shattered his bravado. "It is them. They're leading the charge. We've faced their subordinates, but this is different. Our strength and mobility have been our advantage, but with them united, we need you."
"A showdown? Do they think they can beat me? No, this is a ploy. They want to keep me occupied while they strike at Earth."
"Earth? Did something happen there?" Shaw, Apocalypse, Borjin, and Stakar looked puzzled.
The Red Queen's message had been sent directly to Ivan, so Shaw and the others were unaware of the events on Earth.
"Yes, Loki just snuck onto Earth and stole the Cosmic Cube. You know that the Cosmic Cube is an Infinity Gem, and its power can bypass the barriers the Supreme Mages placed on Earth, opening a space passage. Thanos and Darkseid want to keep me occupied here to prevent me from interfering with their plans on Earth," Ivan explained, scratching his head, unsure how to resolve the situation.
"Isn't Loki the second prince of Asgard? What's his connection to Thanos?" Shaw asked.
Ivan waved his hand, projecting an image of Loki holding a wand with a conspicuous gem, "This is the Mind Gem, which was in Thanos' possession. Thanos controls many of his subordinates with it. Thanos orchestrated this invasion. The Earth is my territory; they've come without respecting the rules. Although the universe has no formal regulations, strong individuals must show mutual respect. Thanos disregarding this could make other powerful beings hostile towards him. I need to demand an explanation from him."
Borjin thought momentarily and said, "Maybe you shouldn't confront Thanos directly but rather Asgard and Odin. Loki's invasion makes it appear that Thanos could claim the gem was stolen, absolving himself. Besides, you've been expelled from Earth. How can you demand an explanation?"
Ivan paused, then realized, "That makes sense. Loki opened the space door so Thanos and Darkseid could claim Loki invited them as allies. This becomes an issue between Earth and Asgard, with Loki taking the blame."
Understanding the situation, Ivan couldn't help but feel frustrated with Thanos and Darkseid. They were cunning, using deception to mask their true intentions. However, Ivan soon had further doubts.
"Even without me, Ancient One is still on Earth! Although Kama Taj is only responsible for defending the dark forces of outer dimensions that threaten the Earth, they will not stand by if the Earth is truly in danger. And there is also Odin; he will not ignore the invasion of Earth. How do Thanos and Darkseid plan to handle these two?"
"The only one who needs to be held back is the Ancient One. Odin's life is about to end, and he can't take action easily. However, Odin will hide this kind of thing. Thanos shouldn't know. Although Odin is old, he is still powerful; Thanos won't underestimate Odin. How can he be sure if he doesn't hold him back?"
The more he thinks about it, the more he thinks the Ancient One might be stuck in Dormammu's problem. With Thanos and Darkseid's abilities, contacting Dormammu in the dark dimension would be easy. As long as Dormammu acts to invade Earth, the Ancient One will be distracted and unable to intervene in other matters.
"Forget it," Ivan growled, a cold edge to his voice. "Thanos and Darkseid? I'll face them. Avoiding them would only fuel rumors of cowardice. Let's see what they've got. I'm ready, but don't blame me if I get ruthless."His last encounter with Thanos had been a calculated gamble that yielded the Cosmic Orb. This time, anger replaced his complacency. Ivan was not a man to endure losses or compromise his character.With a curt command, the Cosmic Walker ignited, hurtling through the cosmos. The confrontation was imminent, a clash of titanic forces. Tens of thousands of warships, a sprawling armada under Thanos and Darkseid's command loomed ahead. Ivan needed to assess their cosmic warrior strength. A full-scale assault could overwhelm his shadow mercenary group.Strategy, not bravado, would be his weapon. Although their numbers were overwhelming, his mercenaries were elite, agile, and deadly. Guerrilla tactics would be their salvation.Abandoning the Cosmic Walker's protection, Ivan stepped into the void. A lone figure against the cosmic backdrop, he defied the vacuum, propelling himself towards the enemy fleet.Two colossal figures emerged from the opposing force, converging on Ivan. Thanos and Darkseid, the titans of destruction.Ivan's gaze locked onto Thanos. "You overstepped, Thanos," he accused. "Sending someone to my territory without a heads-up? That's no way to treat a host. Where's the respect?"Thanos, impassive, countered, "Loki's Earth exploits are his own. He also stole my Mind Gem. Return it, or I'll take it back. It won't be pleasant.""Don't play dumb," Ivan retorted. "You're bluffing. But fine. Enough pretense. Could you tell me why my group is going? Leave, or face the consequences."Darkseid stepped forward, a menacing grin spreading across his face. "No hostility, Dr. Ivan. We desire a rematch. To see how you've grown. A friendly spar, nothing more.""Cut the crap," Ivan snarled. "Want a fight? I think we should do it. Bring it!"Before Thanos could react, Ivan launched a furious assault, his fist a blur of motion. The Titan was caught off guard, and his block was coming up too late. The impact sent him reeling.Ivan pressed the advantage, relentless in his attack. But two scarlet beams erupted from Darkseid, forcing Ivan to evade. The beams curved, seeking to encircle him. Ivan dodged and countered with lightning-fast reflexes, dispersing the energy with a burst of colorless force.Thanos recovered and joined the fray alongside Darkseid. Their combined aura was a tempest of cosmic power. Ivan responded, his body transforming into a suit of spiked armor, a feral predator ready to hunt.The stage was set. A titanic battle was about to unfold.