Chapter 153: The Showdown Between Death and Thunder
"Bang bang bang!"
Hela unleashed her signature flying swords.
After restoring her powers, her strength surged, and countless black flying swords filled the air, overwhelming the sky.
It was as though she had activated an unlimited firepower cheat. Even if the Ancient One were present, she would have a hard time contending with this.
After all, even with a shield, a mage is quite vulnerable to such relentless attacks.
The best way to handle this situation would be to also activate an invincibility cheat...
Thor stood motionless, his expression calm.
Hela stared in disbelief as her flying swords collided with Thor's body, making metallic clinks and falling to the ground in sparks.
The Man of Steel was truly formidable!
The soldiers and civilians of Asgard watching from the surrounding stands erupted in cheers.
Loki laughed and said, "Did you see that, Queen Mother? I told you it would be fine!"
He shouted to the audience, "Thor, take her down! How dare she make the great god of mischief kneel? What a disgrace! Finish this madwoman!"
Loki was animated and even seemed a bit unhinged. A few days ago, Hela had nearly frightened him out of his wits.
Loki, unlike Thor, had no blood relation to Hela and harbored no fondness for her. To him, Hela was merely an alien invader threatening their lives.
"Ahem..." Frigga cleared her throat, her gaze sharp as she looked at Loki.
Loki snapped back to reality, realizing his mistake. He slapped himself and forced a smile.
In the arena, Thor remained silent, gazing at Hela with an indifferent expression, silently questioning if that was all she had.
Hela's face darkened. She waved her hands, causing the ground to crack open as several enormous dark green spikes, each tens of meters long, floated beside her.
"Swipe... swipe... swipe..."
The spikes shot through the air, spanning hundreds of meters in an instant, targeting Thor.
This was a devastating attack, consolidating all of Hela's divine power. Even Thor would struggle to endure it without injury.
Thunder crackled around him, illuminating all of Asgard. Thor gathered his energy and struck the foremost spike with a powerful punch.
"Boom..."
A massive explosion reverberated through the sky, and smoke and dust billowed.
In the obscured visibility of the smoke, occasional flashes of lightning and repeated explosions occurred.
Only Hela, close enough to witness, could see that her attack had been completely neutralized.
As she prepared to react, a massive and terrifying bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking Hela with immense force.
In the realm of magic, Thor's Thunder Strike matched Hela's death powers.
Divine Thunder was potent magical force , representing wrath of gods , skyfather and ruler of heavens .m
Hela's defenses were overwhelmed, and the lightning broke through her shield instantly.
This was not the newly awakened thunder power, but an attack honed over more than 20 years to near perfection.
The shockwave hurled Hela through the air, sending her crashing into the arena's protective shield with a thunderous impact.
The transparent barrier flickered momentarily and was nearly shattered by the blow.
Thor had exerted significant effort with this full-force attack, and despite his formidable resilience, he was left panting heavily.
…
Outside the arena, Nebula murmured, "No wonder even my father would struggle..."
The sheer force of the lightning strike, combined with Thor's nearly impervious steel body, would indeed be a significant challenge for someone like Thanos!
Nebula's intuition was accurate. Thanos had initially gained the upper hand but failed to penetrate Thor's defenses with his planned fatal strike. The attack was deflected, and he had almost been defeated.
Now, with Stormbreaker, Thanos would likely be outmatched.
"Is it over?" Wanda asked quietly.
Her power was immense, and if she unleashed her full strength, few at the scene could stand against her.
Wanda was a unique case. Her relationship with Thor evolved rapidly, and love at first sight seemed almost instant...
However, she was still somewhat inexperienced in combat and found it challenging to interpret the battle.
Jane Foster, with her divine power, shook her head. "It's not that simple. While the opponent's defense might not match Thor's, her recovery abilities are clearly superior, and her vitality seems almost limitless."
"Then how can they determine a winner?" Wanda asked, her question hitting the core of the issue.
One side had limitless defense, the other limitless vitality—an impossible situation.
----
Chapter 154: The Happy Dance Troupe
Hela emerged from the ruins, her eyes filled with apprehension.
The recent attack, although she managed to withstand it with her unique divine power, had taken its toll. Even though it seemed like she had recovered, she knew that the lingering thunder within her body required forceful suppression by her death magic.
If she faced several more attacks of that magnitude, her body could be at risk of collapsing.
Fortunately, such an attack drained even Thor's energy significantly, making it impossible for him to sustain it indefinitely.
Thor looked at Hela and shouted, "Stop these tricks. If you want the throne, then prove your strength."
Hela responded coldly, "As you wish."
With a flick of her wrist, a slender black longsword appeared in her hand. This was no ordinary flying sword summoned by magic; it was Hela's exclusive weapon—the Night-sky Sword.
Hela was adept in nearly all Asgardian magic.
She was a character who relied primarily on her magical abilities.
She rarely engaged in melee combat.
In general, Hela was more of a magical character compared to Thor.
Her usual approach was to use her death magic to summon a pair of short swords filled with death power, leaving devastation in their wake, akin to a marvel version of Gilgamesh...
However, this did not mean her melee skills were lacking. She possessed formidable swordsmanship, which was even more effective when wielding a perfectly suited artifact like the Night-sky Sword.
Moreover, melee combat allowed her to fully utilize the artifact's power.
True Asgardian powerhouses are skilled in both magic and martial arts. Much like Thor, it doesn't matter whether they are engaged in battle or not.
It seems that a family resemblance is inevitable.
Many perceive Thor as a warrior, but he is actually a thunder mage or a melee mage.
Loki, often seen as a mage, also enjoys using small daggers—clearly an assassin with magical traits.
A sorceress like Frigga can subdue Malekith with her sword skills...
Not to mention Hela, who, in the original stories, used her magical flying swords to decimate the Valkyrie troops and then used straightforward melee combat to subdue Thor...
Seeing Hela prepare for a serious fight, Thor knew she was ready to go all out.
He wasted no time and immediately readied Stormbreaker.
To the spectators, the clash of swords and axes was a breathtaking sight.
Meanwhile, in a spaceship light-years away, a familiar rhythm played.
"Hey… Hey…"
In the spaceship's cockpit, Star-Lord was dancing...
"Damn it, Star-Lord, how long will it take us to reach Asgard if you keep dancing like this?"
Rocket kept his distance from Star-Lord, clearly avoiding being caught up in his antics.
"I should clarify, it's Quill, not Star-Lord!"
Star-Lord said with a mock-serious tone, then added with a grin, "Don't worry, I calculated the distance. We'll definitely catch Thor's coronation ceremony."
Gamora remained impassive. "How can you be sure? It's today. Look at the time—maybe the fight is almost over."
"That doesn't matter," Star-Lord replied casually. "When he becomes king, there will definitely be a grand celebration dinner, the kind that lasts all night! We just need to get there in time."
"Why celebrate?" Drax asked, confused. "His father just died a few days ago. Shouldn't this be a time of mourning instead?"
"Uh…" Star-Lord was at a loss for words...
Having been born on Earth, he wasn't well-versed in this culture, only recalling some courtly customs from his childhood. Did the new king have to mourn rather than celebrate upon ascending the throne? Was he expected to wait a few years before claiming the throne?
He changed the subject. "It's not always like this… Like me, I don't feel sad about my father's death..."
Drax: "..."
Gamora added, "I wouldn't be sad if my father died. Maybe I'd even dance happily."
Rocket and Groot: "…"
"Oh right, you both had tough lives too."
Gamora said sadly, "But you're better off than me. At least you had Yondu as a father figure. I can see he treated you like his own son."
"And I'd rather not have had that father!"
Gamora gritted her teeth.
She was adopted by Thanos. Although Thanos seemed to care for her, she would never forget that he was the one who had slaughtered her planet.
The spaceship fell silent, the only sound being the occasional "pop" of buttons being pressed.
Groot, now a teenager, was engrossed in a game.
---
Chapter 155: Promise Me, Kill Me!
"How far to Asgard?"
Star-Lord broke the silence.
Rocket Raccoon, who was piloting the spaceship alone, replied without looking back, "It's not far now; we probably have two more jumps to go. Sit tight—there's one more jump coming up!"
With a "whoosh," the spaceship entered the jump point and shook violently.
"Oh, damn raccoon, are you drunk or something?"
"No, Quill, it's your spaceship's clutch that's broken! I've told you it needs major repairs, and you keep procrastinating!"
"Je you you jeje you you D
"Boom—"
The violent shaking caused Groot to fumble. Seeing "Game Over" on the screen, he angrily threw the game console, which smashed against the windshield in front of the driver's seat.
"Dammit!" Star-Lord roared, rushing over and shouting, "How many times have I told you not to break things? If you break another one, no one will buy you a new one!"
"I'm Groot!"
"You should talk back!!!"
"Quill…" Rocket's voice broke through.
"Don't stop me! I'm teaching it a lesson today!"
"No, look at that..."
When Star-Lord looked up, his eyes widened in shock.
"What the hell is that!" Star-Lord's voice was filled with awe.
What they saw was a massive structure that nearly covered half of the starry sky.
Star-Lord struggled to determine that it was not a planet but a spaceship.
No, "star fortress" was more fitting!
Star-Lord had thought Thor's Millennium Falcon was extravagant, but compared to this colossal spaceship, it seemed insignificant!
"This is bad!"
Gamora exclaimed with disbelief and fear, "That's Sanctuary. 2! It's Thanos' ship! Almost all of Thanos' forces are aboard!"
"What??!!!"
Everyone was startled, and Rocket's ears and tail stood on end.
"Just our luck!"
Drax sneered, "Today, I will avenge my wife and daughter!"
"Drax, calm down!" Gamora pulled him back.
"Shut up, you idiot!"
Gamora snapped, "Sanctuary2's firepower can obliterate a planet. One round of artillery fire, and we're all dead!"
Star-Lord suddenly calmed down, saying, "Stay calm! Stay calm! Don't panic, everyone!"
He explained, "If they wanted to kill us, they'd have done it by now. They haven't fired yet, which means their goal isn't to kill us!"
Everyone looked at him with skepticism.
In the hands of Thanos, things usually didn't end well. It was either death or a fate worse than death...
Seeing their expressions, Star-Lord quickly added, "I mean, He must be trying to capture us alive for some reason. We could try to act like we're surrendering and then launch a surprise attack!"
"But what could their purpose be for capturing us?" Rocket asked.
Gamora's expression changed as she seemed to recall something and pulled Star-Lord aside.
"What's wrong?"
Gamora pointed to the next room.
Star-Lord understood and said, "Rocket, come up with a plan. I'll be right back!"
He followed Gamora to the adjacent room and closed the door.
"Is there something you want to tell me privately?" Star-Lord asked.
Gamora hesitated, then gritted her teeth and said, "Quill, promise me something!"
"What is it?"
"If—if your so-called plan fails, I need you to promise me you'll kill me immediately!"
"What? No way!" Star-Lord firmly refused.
"Promise me, Quill!"
Gamora stared intensely into Star-Lord's eyes and explained, "Because I know a secret he doesn't. If he finds out, it could threaten the entire universe!"
Star-Lord was taken aback, "What secret?"
Gamora shook her head, "If I tell you, you'll know too. Fewer people knowing means it's safer."
Star-Lord placed a hand on her shoulder, "If it's that crucial, shouldn't I know?"
"Unless you want to die!"
"Why does anyone have to die?"
Star-Lord was unconvinced.
"I beg you!" Gamora's eyes were filled with desperation, "Swear to me by your mother's name!"
Star-Lord locked eyes with her.
After a long pause, he whispered, "Alright."
Chapter 156: Surprise Change
In Asgard, the duel for royal power had been ongoing for an entire day. It had been more than half a day since the battle began that morning.
"Boom!"
With a fierce clash, the two combatants quickly separated.
Hela glared at Thor with a mix of respect and fear.
Thor's strength was overwhelming. Even though her Night Sky Sword struck him, it only left a minor scratch—barely a threat. Only a full-force attack could pose any danger to him.
Thor's Stormbreaker, however, was an exceptionally powerful artifact. In Thor's hands, it had increased his strength significantly. Hela dared not confront him directly, relying instead on the agility of her Night Sky Sword to battle him.
Despite her best efforts, Hela was seriously injured. The power of Stormbreaker was not only overwhelming but also its enchantment suppressed her recovery ability.
The once-feared goddess of death now found herself in a position where she feared direct confrontation—quite an ironic twist!
"No! I won't lose!"
Hela gritted her teeth, chanted an incantation, and the Night Sky Sword in her hand instantly extended to tens of meters long, slashing fiercely with deathly force.
"Boom—"
Seeing her full attack blocked by Thor's axe, Hela's eyes widened in shock.
"Are you still unwilling to give up?"
Thor looked at Hela and gently urged, "Our power should be used to conquer all, not wasted here."
Hela sought to subdue Thor, just as Thor wished to subdue Hela. If Hela could be brought to surrender, it would significantly enhance Asgard's combat capabilities.
Meanwhile, the Fenrir wolf lay on the ground, struggling to rise and roaring.
"Boom..." A barrage of raging flames descended from the sky, overwhelming the beast once again.
The black dragon proved to be too powerful for it.
Observing the dire situation of her old ally, Hela sighed deeply, "Tell them to stop."
She flicked her hand, sending a crystal flying.
Thor caught it and asked, "What's this?"
"It contains what you desire—Valkyrie's soul," Hela explained.
Thor examined the crystal and saw that it contained 28 souls, one of which was notably stronger.
Though currently weak, these souls would soon become an invincible army again.
Hela, with a pained expression, gritted her teeth and knelt, showing her submission.
The audience cheered.
This was expected. Even though Hela had been reaccepted, for most Asgardians, she was still seen as an outsider. Thor was the heir they recognized.
Thor commanded, "Lower the shield."
In the control room of the arena, the technician nodded and attempted to activate the mechanism but noticed no suspicious figures approaching.
"No, who are you? Ah—"
The protective shield began to lower, and Thor observed with growing concern.
Had Ragnarök been resolved?
Suddenly, the shield stopped lowering, then quickly rose and reactivated.
"What's going on?" Thor shouted, "Where is the person in charge?" An ominous feeling gripped him.
Soon, a report came in: "Your Highness, the arena management office was attacked by unknown assailants, and the control mechanism was destroyed!"
"What?" The assembly was shocked.
Today was a crucial day, with all Asgard's eyes focused on the events. At such a moment, an invasion by foreign enemies was alarming.
Could it be related to Thor and Hela?
"Boom…"
Thor struck the shield heavily with his axe, creating a crack that slowly began to heal.
Thor frowned.
The shield couldn't contain him for long, and the attackers wouldn't let this opportunity pass. So...
"Who dares to challenge Asgard?"
Next to him, Hela's expression was one of fury.
"I don't know," she said. "The attackers seem to be aiming to trap us temporarily as part of a larger scheme."
Thor pulled out the Sling Ring, intending to use a portal.
Golden magical energy flickered as he activated it.
The shield blocked space transmissions. In other words, Thor's current skills in this area were still insufficient.
Perhaps true space teleportation that bypasses Asgard's defenses could only be performed by the Ancient One himself or through the Tesseract...
Wait, the Tesseract?
Thor was suddenly covered in cold sweat and shouted, "Forget me, go and check the treasury!"
As the command was given, the situation began to unravel...
--
Chapter 157: Star-Lord's Plan
On Sanctuary II, all the Guardians of Galaxy were imprisoned together in a cell.
When the Kree soldiers entered, they only offered minimal resistance before being captured without a fight.
A group of common heroes, they were usually only capable of handling minor threats. Especially the second-generation god, who often had his wife rescuing him in battle...
Interestingly, despite being a second-generation god and having lost his father, Thor's fierce competition, his strength continued to soar. He even developed god-level skills and could enter "missing father mode."
But Star-Lord had a much tougher time. He became a mortal immediately after his death and performed poorly in two consecutive major movies with assembled heroes. The news was disheartening, and those who heard it were saddened, while those who saw it were moved to tears...
Asgardians are indeed a unique race, with their superpowers and offspring often excelling. For instance, Thor and Hela, children of Odin, are formidable characters. The only one who falls short among them is Loki, who is adopted.
Other races aren't so fortunate; the descendants of powerful beings often end up being second-rate...
Relative to that, Star-Lord is doing pretty well—at least his intelligence is average when he's not acting foolish. Hmm, that seems a bit odd...
As it stands now, Star-Lord is hatching a plan to take down Thanos on his own.
All the Guardians of Galaxy in the cell were restrained with special handcuffs, making escape nearly impossible under normal circumstances. Even Thor would struggle to break free.
But these were not normal circumstances—there's Groot involved!
"Hey, buddy, let's have a chat."
Star-Lord addressed the Kree soldiers guarding the door.
The Kree soldiers ignored him.
Who cares about this idiot?
But this was Star-Lord speaking!
"Oh boy! It's all going to pass!"
"Oh boy! Everything will be better!"
"Dance hard! One day, we'll figure out how to..."
Rocket Raccoon groaned: "Oh, what a shame! I really want to say I don't know this guy!"
Mantis murmured: "What on universe is he doing? Why does it look like he's courting an animal?"
Drax shook his head and said seriously: "No, little sister, you don't need to say such hints. I won't accept mating with you; you are too unattractive..."
Star-Lord once again let go of his dignity and drew the guards' attention.
What kind of nerves is this kid on?
No one noticed that a thin branch had quietly extended from the cell, reached the console, and discreetly pressed one of the buttons.
"Crack——"
The cell door opened instantly, and the electronic handcuffs fell to the ground.
The Kree soldier was startled and was about to sound the alarm when a hand touched his head.
"Go to sleep..."
With a "plop," he collapsed to the ground.
"It's done!" Star-Lord said triumphantly.
"Don't get too excited," Gamora cautioned. "It's just a soldier. We need to focus on how to deal with Thanos."
"I've had a plan for a long time, and we're about to execute it..."
In the command room, a burly figure was looking at a photo with a gentle expression. The photo clearly depicted Gamora as a child.
Thanos, the supervillain known for his countless atrocities, showed a rare moment of tenderness.
"Little one, you must still hate me, right? I've always known. After all, I slaughtered your planet, including your mother..."
Thanos gently stroked the photo, as if speaking to himself.
"But I don't regret it."
"Your original planet was on the brink of collapse. You had no food and no clothes. It was I who prevented the tragedy from occurring."
"Do you know what happened afterwards? You've probably never seen it. The children today are born without worries about food or clothing and grow up happily under clear skies. It's like heaven..."
"Salvation has always required a price. The universe is not infinite, nor are resources. If life is not restrained, existence will eventually cease."
"All of this needs to be corrected by someone, even if it means bearing the curse of the entire universe..."
"And I am the only one who understands this truth, at least I am the only one who acts on it."
Thanos spoke with a nostalgic look, then suddenly raised his head, his expression turning serious.
"Come out, I see you."
In the next moment, Star-Lord emerged from a corner.
"Hey—hey——"
The rhythm of the music started, and the king of dancing—Star-Lord—took the stage!
--
Chapter 158: It's a Pleasure to be Skinned
Thanos watched as Star-Lord danced and sang like a howling wolf, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
Is this the person who kidnapped my precious daughter?
At that moment, a sudden change occurred: a green figure materialized out of thin air and appeared before Thanos in an instant.
Secretly, Rocket scolded under his breath: "Damn it! Why doesn't anyone follow orders!"
Gamora leaped into the air and slashed at Thanos with her sword.
Thanos, being Thanos, quickly recovered from the attack. He grabbed the "dagger with one hand and twisted it with a "click."
Realizing the situation was worsening, Gamora took out the artifact dagger Thanos had given her and plunged it into Thanos' chest.
This dagger had a storied history; it was called the "God Slayer." In its planet .It could retract at will and was renowned for its ability to kill "Gods." Even against powerful foes, Gamora could use it to easily slit their throats.
In other words, it should be able to easily slit Thanos' throat as well.
However, the anticipated fatal blow didn't materialize. The dagger stopped just short of Thanos' heart as he firmly grasped her hand.
"My daughter, have you forgotten? I taught you all your skills. I can even predict the direction of every strike you make."
Thanos knew Gamora intended to kill him. By handing over the "God Slayer" dagger to her, he was absolutely certain of his advantage.
Across the universe, Talos surveyed the wreckage of a Kree fighter with a serious expression.
This was merely an ordinary fighter. Given the current air defenses of the Skrulls, destroying it wasn't a challenge.
The real question was why it ended up in this remote location. Was it intentional, or did it get lost? Did it send a message to the Supreme Intelligence before crashing?
An adjutant hesitated before speaking.
"Speak up."
The adjutant faltered, then said quietly: "My lord, with our current strength, if the Kree invade on a large scale, we risk extinction. Should we... inform Ms. Carol?"
Talos was silent for a moment before shaking his head: "The threat may not be directed at us. Stay alert."
The Skrulls harbored some pride. As a race that once competed with the Kree for dominance, it was disheartening to be reduced to this state. To ensure their survival, they had to accept Captain Marvel's protection.
But that didn't mean Talos was at ease. After all, they had received much help over the years.
"You already knew about our plan?"
Gamora asked coldly.
Thanos, smiling, appeared in a good mood: "I know you very well. If you didn't have other plans, it wouldn't be easy to capture you."
Thanos understood his minions' capabilities well. Except for the Black Order, the Chitauri were ineffective in group battles. Their only advantage was their numbers; the skill level of individual soldiers was quite poor.
As Gamora picked up her broken sword and prepared to strike, Thanos grabbed her hands and subdued her effortlessly.
"Thanos! Pay for the lives of my wife and children!"
Drax charged forward with fury, raising his two knives, ready to strike.
Thanos seized him by the neck and threw him aside.
Mantis descended from the sky, attempting to use her Hypnotic Ability, but as she landed, she found herself bound by an iron chain, unable to move.
Before Rocket and Groot could react, they followed the same fate.
"Thanos, let her go!"
Star-Lord rushed forward, aiming his gun at Thanos.
"You're Gamora's little boyfriend? Peter Quill?"
Thanos asked with interest.
"No! I'm the renowned Titan Killer! Let her go now, or I'll blow off your ugly face with one shot!"
"No, Peter." Gamora, tearful, said: "It's not him. You promised me, you promised me!"
Star-Lord was shocked and trembled as he lowered the gun, aiming it at Gamora.
"Daughter, you're too strong. He won't do it."
Star-Lord's trembling intensified. Gamora shook her head and whispered: "Shoot, Quill. I love you..."
Star-Lord murmured: "I love you too."
He closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and pulled the trigger.
"Bang—bang-bang—"
"???"
Three suction darts shot out of the gun. It was a toy gun...
---
Chapter 159: The Opening of Ragnarök
Thanos said casually, "Not bad! Boy, I appreciate you."
Star-Lord set down his gun and gritted his teeth. "Thanos, you will not succeed! Someone will definitely stop you!"
Thanos sneered. "If you're referring to that Asgardian, you might be disappointed. He's probably in danger by now."
A blue light circle appeared as the Tesseract activated, and Thor and Hela appeared outside the shield instantly. Despite this, Thor's expression remained grim.
The earth continued to quake, and there was no word from the soldiers sent to the treasury. They were likely already...
Thor picked up the Tesseract and prepared to head to the treasury himself.
"Boom..."
With a deafening crash, the Golden Hall that had stood for countless years suddenly collapsed. A giant engulfed in flames rose from the wreckage, rapidly expanding in size. "Tremble before me, Asgard, and be destroyed!"
Surtur, towering hundreds of meters high, swung his artifact—the Twilight Sword—and reduced countless buildings to ruins in an instant.
Fortunately, most Asgardians were near the arena at this time; otherwise, this blow would have resulted in countless casualties.
"Ragnarök? How is that possible?"
Thor murmured. Since arriving in this world, his familiarity with the plot had allowed him to control everything. Even the ultimate villain, Thanos, seemed like nothing more than a mere nuisance.
For the first time, things were beyond his control.
"Thor—"
A panicked figure rushed toward him.
Loki, the god of mischief known for his dramatic flair, was now in a state of panic. "The treasury has been attacked by Thanos' forces! They stole the Infinity Gauntlet..."
"No need to say more. I already know. We'll settle this account later. Right now, we need to deal with this monster."
Thor's face darkened. He realized he had been too complacent, relying too heavily on his knowledge of the plot.
For years, he had made preparations, and Thanos had also been preparing, enduring all this time for this moment.
Surtur continued his rampage, and Thanos' location was unknown. Thor was somewhat relieved he hadn't stored the Infinity Gems in the supposedly safest treasury like in the original storyline.
But he couldn't understand how Thanos had breached the defenses of the Golden Hall and the treasury to reach the deepest part. And according to Loki, it wasn't just Thanos but a whole army that had infiltrated.
Distractions were not an option now. Surtur, wielding the Eternal Flame, was a force nearly as formidable as Odin at his peak!
Thor decisively ordered, "Evacuate the city immediately! Hela, you hold him off with me, and the rest of you assist from the sidelines!"
He indicated stronger Avengers like Wanda, Jean Grey, and Jane Foster.
A battle of this magnitude was more perilous than fighting Thanos, and it was futile to intervene recklessly if one was not strong enough.
Everyone nodded, including Hela.
They understood that this was not the time for hesitation.
"Boom..."
Asgard wasn't really a planet; its size was relatively small compared to other planets in the Nine Realms.
However, Asgard's crust was the strongest and protected by various enchantments.
Now, Surtur could cause earthquakes with a single stomp and trigger volcanic eruptions with a wave of his hand.
Flames erupted, and the breath of destruction swept across the land.
"Whoosh whoosh..."
Hela's attachment to Asgard was as strong as anyone else's, and she could not endure it any longer. With a wave of her hand, massive dark green spikes flew towards Surtur.
"Roar…"
With a pained roar, a gigantic spike pierced Surtur's chest.
"Whizzing…"
A throne of infinite death rose from the ground. Hela stepped onto it and launched countless spikes with a sweep of her hands.
Thor knew that even if another opponent, like Thanos, would not dare resist Hela's attack.
Thor soared high into the sky. Suddenly, the sky and earth changed color as a brilliant lightning bolt struck his battle axe, illuminating everything.
Facing Surtur's head, Thor swung his axe...
"Aww..."
An earth-shattering scream rang out as the battle axe avoided the crown, cleaving through the tough head and carving a depth of nearly ten meters.
Had this been the previous Surtur, this blow would have been fatal.
But now, Surtur's head alone was tens of meters high. Thor's full-strength blow only managed to crack the skull.
Nevertheless, Thor's strike still provoked Surtur's fury.
Surtur reached out and grabbed Thor, hurling him forcefully to the ground.
A gentle force lifted Thor up; it was Wanda.
Jean Grey used her telekinesis to summon a water dragon from the lake, directing it toward Surtur's severed head.
---
Chapter 160: Variables, Mysterious Magician
It is common knowledge that water can extinguish fire.
But at Surtur's level, the laws of science do not apply. Even if he fell into the sea, the water would evaporate instantly due to his immense heat, rendering it ineffective.
Just like Thor's lightning, which no ordinary lightning rod could withstand...
However, things were different now.
As a being of the same caliber as Odin, Surtur was nearly invincible, with almost no vulnerabilities.
The issue, however, was that Thor had split open Surtur's head with his axe. No matter how extensive his defenses were, they could not shield the inside of his head!
Surtur emitted a sound like boiling water as he covered his head, letting out the most agonizing scream of his life.
It was akin to a pitiable monkey whose head was cracked open and filled with chili oil at a cruel feast.
"Great opportunity, attack now!"
In an instant, a barrage of attacks pelted Surtur's wound.
Countless flying swords descended from the sky, and deathly force pierced through the gap in Surtur's defenses...
Jean Grey used her telekinesis to control several water dragons, attempting to pour water into the wound.
Jane Foster flew around the edge of the Great Rift above Surtur's head, contemplating how to throw Mjölnir into it...
Wanda's red energy enveloped Surtur's head, trying to create an opening.
Thor was astonished by the ferocity of these women; they were truly formidable!
In the second sanctuary, Thanos sat quietly on his throne, in a good mood.
The Golden Hall of Asgard had its own protective shield, which was incredibly robust, and it was virtually impossible to breach under normal circumstances.
A place like the treasury, which stored the most crucial items, was fortified with numerous protective measures.
However, a very powerful magician had assisted him, opening a portal in this highly restricted area.
It was surprising that the usually underestimated magicians had proven so useful.
Thanos withdrew his thoughts and looked up at Gamora.
Gamora's face was filled with anger and hatred, while Thanos' expression was one of resignation.
"I hate this room, I hate this ship," Gamora gritted her teeth.
"I know. You've been saying that every day for twenty years..."
At this point, Thanos shifted the subject. "The reason you never returned is that you found the Soul Stone, right?"
Gamora was taken aback, looked up, shook her head, and said, "No, I'm disappointed. I didn't find it."
Thanos sighed. "I'm truly disappointed, but not because you didn't find it. It's because you found it and lied to me. Little one, I know you too well. I recognize every facial expression and movement when you lie."
"I taught you all your abilities. I also taught you kindness and generosity. But I didn't teach you to lie. You're terrible at it. Tell me, where is the Soul Stone?"
The lie was exposed, but Gamora was unperturbed. She had anticipated that she could not deceive Thanos.
She gritted her teeth and said, "Give it up. For you, it doesn't matter whether I know the location of the Soul Stone or not. I won't tell you. You should just give up."
"Oh?" Thanos displayed a grim smile. "You will tell me, and you will do so willingly!"
.....
"Damn it! You're trying to thwart the great prophecy! You've made a grave mistake!"
Even though his mind was clouded, Surtur was still imposing, as if driven by a mission. He finally swung his Twilight Sword and lifted it high.
In the next moment, all of Asgard heard his declaration: "I—am the end of Asgard!"
The massive Twilight Sword descended with unparalleled force.
This was a devastating blow fueled by the life force of a supervillain. If it pierced the core of Asgard, this paradise, envied by the entire universe, would collapse and become mere history.
Thor soared into the air, raising his battle axe to meet the attack head-on, striking upwards at the descending Twilight Sword.
"Boom..."
The sword blade clashed with the axe blade, creating a massive shockwave that sent countless people flying, including Wanda and Jean Grey.
With immense force, the Twilight Sword's offensive was momentarily pushed back, but it soon began to press down again.
In terms of strength, Thor was far inferior to Surtur.
Just as Hela was about to act, she suddenly noticed, "Is something approaching rapidly from outer space?"
A flash of light responded to her observation as Carol Danvers streaked through the sky like a shooting star, striking Surtur hard on the head and nearly toppling him.
However, at this point, Surtur seemed to have lost much of his reason and raised his giant sword to strike again, driven by some mission.
Seeing this, Carol couldn't help but curse, "Every time I come back, it's always some super boss? Are you kidding me?"
---
Chapter 161: Misfortune Diverted
"What are you so excited about?"
Thor muttered inwardly as he observed Surtur raising his Twilight Sword high.
"Don't let his sword touch the ground, or all of Asgard will be destroyed!"
He raised his battle axe and engaged the giant sword.
Carol followed closely behind, and the two of them struggled together against the immense force of the sword.
The powerful Twilight Sword momentarily paused, resulting in a stalemate between the two sides.
"Fools—"
Hela seized the moment to throw a massive spike, slashing across Surtur's flaming hand that held the Twilight Sword.
Surtur, engaged in a battle of strength, released his grip, giving Thor the chance to strike his head with an axe.
Despite this, the impact was insufficient to cause significant damage.
Carol unleashed a barrage of energy beams, hitting Surtur repeatedly. However, this only seemed to aggravate him further.
From the perspective of the Asgardians watching from the rear, Surtur appeared to be in a state of disarray, surrounded and assaulted by numerous attackers. Yet only those involved understood that this relentless assault was far from effective.
Among all the combatants, Thor's Stormbreaker was the only weapon capable of dealing real damage, though even it struggled to inflict fatal wounds.
Surtur, empowered by the Eternal Flame, boasted exceptional defense and stamina. However, Thor and his allies were exhausted from the intense battle.
"This isn't working. This guy is stronger than Thanos; he can't be killed at all! What are we supposed to do?"
Carol gasped, frustrated and out of breath. Despite her reckless nature, her attacks were proving ineffective.
After fighting for so long, she could only play a supporting role. Thor's damage output was the only real threat, but it wasn't enough to match Surtur's recovery rate.
She had just watched as Surtur's cracked head healed, realizing that such attacks were not even enough to make Thor cautious.
"Surtur, the legendary harbinger of Ragnarök, was defeated by my father eons ago and seized the Eternal Flame. We can't kill him, so our only option is to find a way to take the Eternal Flame and seal it!"
"So how did your father defeat him? He's constantly recovering."
"The Eternal Flame allows for infinite revival. Unless... our destruction rate exceeds his recovery ability."
Carol: "..."
Are you kidding me?
Thor stopped arguing and focused on finding a solution to the dire situation while grappling with Surtur.
Fortunately, despite Surtur's immense power, his lack of strategic intelligence meant he might be held off for a while longer.
Odin's last words echoed in his mind—Asgard was never just a place, but a people...
Was it really necessary to abandon Asgard and relocate the entire race to other planets, as depicted in the original timeline?
If so, they would need to buy time for Heimdall to evacuate the people using the Bifrost.
Wait, the Bifrost?
Thor suddenly had a bold idea.
He shouted, "Heimdall, can you use the Bifrost to teleport Surtur?"
Heimdall hesitated, then replied loudly, "It's futile. His power is too great. Unless there's no resistance, my strength is insufficient for the teleportation!"
"You're not alone; I'm here too!"
Thor grinned and declared, "Let's make the perpetrators experience the destruction of their homeland!"
"Carol, hold him. Jane, strike her with lightning! Maximum power!"
Carol rolled her eyes.
What does it mean to strike me with lightning? Although it sounds like this, can you phrase it better?
Jane Foster was confused. "Huh? What? But isn't she on our side?"
As Surtur swung his sword downward from the air, Carol struggled to hold the sword's edge, unable to prevent it from descending.
Jane, no longer hesitating, shouted with determination.
"Boom..."
A lightning bolt struck Carol.
In the next instant, Carol's entire body was enveloped in light, and she pushed back the Twilight Sword with renewed vigor, landing a powerful punch to Surtur's chin.
Surtur's colossal form crashed to the ground.
Jane Foster was left stunned—so I'm just a power source?
Thor quickly landed beside Heimdall and asked, "Do you know the coordinates of Titan?"
"Yes," Heimdall nodded.
"Perfect. Take me there, and we'll transport Surtur!"
"Is that possible?"
" the homeland of the villain!"
Thor smirked.
Thanos' resolve to pursue destruction stemmed from his desire to see Titan's ruin. Even though its natives were gone, the place held significant meaning for Thanos!
Ragnarök wasn't just Asgard's end—it was Titan's twilight!
---
Chapter 162: The Destruction of Titan
Titan, the former home of Thanos.
Like many other planets, Titan faced overpopulation and dwindling resources.
When the population reached a critical level, Thanos proposed a drastic solution: a massacre.
It was completely indiscriminate, driven by no personal emotion, and made no distinction between rich and poor.
The plan was ultimately rejected. In the end, during the scramble for resources, the inhabitants destroyed themselves.
Thanos was the sole survivor.
When Thor arrived on this land, he was met with a barren wasteland devoid of life.
In truth, after the fall of the Titans, the planet had been slowly recovering and had become habitable again.
The reason for the sparse population was likely Thanos' influence.
As a former homeland, even though the Titans were gone, it wouldn't allow other races to interfere.
But today, this former homeland would also be reduced to ashes!
Thor raised Stormbreaker.
After Thor left Asgard, the situation on the battlefield had become increasingly dire.
The true main combatants were Hela and Carol.
Hela excelled in attack, her black flying sword striking with the precision of a Gatling gun. Yondu's sentry arrows paled in comparison. She had destroyed everything in Asgard except Thor in original movie.
No exaggeration!
The issue was that Surtur, wielding the Eternal Flame, possessed an undead attribute. Unlike Hela, who depended on Asgard, Surtur was immune to her attacks due to his attributes!
With only one helmet remaining, he could be resurrected with full strength!
Unlimited defense and life meant that offensive heroes were severely limited. The superheroes present were mostly fragile magicians, including Wanda and Jean Grey, who had high attack but low defense.
The only one who could offer resistance was Carol, but only with the help of an infinite power source.
Despite Jane Foster's occasional thunderous attacks, Carol struggled to constrain Surtur's movements.
She was already barely managing.
The violent energy had engulfed the entire city in flames.
Outside the city, the soldiers and civilians of Asgard watched the near-total destruction with blank stares.
"Boom!"
A loud noise echoed as a statue collapsed, turning into ruins.
This was the statue of Borr, Odin's ancestor and Thor's grandfather.
In the past, Loki would have reveled in the destruction and then faced consequences.
But now, he was not in the mood.
Loki glanced at Frigga with a sorrowful expression and said softly, "The damage isn't as severe as it seems. As long as the foundations remain, the city's collapse doesn't matter. We will rebuild our home."
"One day, this place will once again become the envy of the entire universe!"
As if to affirm Loki's words, just as he finished speaking, a seven-colored rainbow spanned the sky, connecting Titan and Asgard, light-years apart.
The Bifrost's light enveloped Surtur, attempting to drag him away.
Despite his diminished sanity, Surtur struggled against the pull.
Seeing this, Heimdall immediately engaged the guardian sword mechanism, activating another Bifrost beam.
Two waves of Bifrost energy, one pushing and the other pulling, finally lifted the struggling Surtur. He transformed into a streak of light and ascended into the sky.
"Successful!"
The berserk energy of Titan swept across the planet.
Surtur, with his berekness, did not realize the change in location. All he knew was that the annoying enemies were gone, and only Thor floated high in the sky, seemingly unaffected.
He raised the Twilight Sword and let out his iconic roar: "I am the end of Asgard!"
With a crack, the Twilight Sword struck the ground, sending immense power through the earth's crust, reaching the core.
A muffled sound followed.
The next moment, overwhelming flames engulfed Titan, causing the earth to tremble and crack, with magma erupting.
The roaring flames instantly evaporated everything, revealing the shattered ground.
The massive Titan planet shook violently.
"Boom..."
Even Thor, who was light-years away, saw a brilliant light flash in the distance before everything went dark.
This was the final burst of light from a planet.
Titan, once renowned throughout the universe, exploded into countless fragments in a blinding flash, ceasing to exist!
Surtur, the architect of this destruction, floated aimlessly in the void, seemingly bereft of purpose...
---
Chapter 163: Changes
In Sanctuary II, Thanos, who had just returned from his journey, felt a nagging sense of something important missing.
He thought hard but couldn't pinpoint what it was.
Shaking his head, he dismissed the unsettling thought. There were more pressing matters at hand; he would deal with this issue once the balance of the universe was restored.
In truth, he had wanted to seize the opportunity to launch a major assault on Asgard and claim the three Infinity Stones on Thor's person.
But such a risk was considerable.
If the adversaries truly risked everything to fight for their lives, there was a high chance they could defeat him...
"Drip! Congratulations to the host for triggering Vision-related missions—the tragic end."
"Mission Description: As a superhero who met his demise twice in quick succession, Vision's fate is indeed tragic. Even more so because one of these deaths was caused by his beloved.
Now that Vision's emotional ties have been severed, it's time to experience his tragic end!"
"Mission Objective: To be killed by one's beloved."
"Mission Reward: The character's exclusive enhancement is triggered once."
Just as Thanos was contemplating this, he heard the mission prompt.
The system, which had been silent for a long time, was making its presence known again.
Thor chose not to consider the task reward for now, as his concerns were with the mission's content.
By the way, the system seems to have a problem with its emotional intelligence; a "tragic end"?
Vision's demise is considered a sacrifice for righteousness, not a mere tragic end.
Hmm, could the "tragic end" be referring to me?
Thor shuddered at the thought of the multitude of women around him.
The task seemed straightforward: be killed by one's beloved.
Thor's mind raced with numerous thoughts of failure.
"Everyone's dead, this is absurd!" Thor said, noticing Wanda nearby and calling out to her.
"Wanda."
"Hmm?"
"Try to kill me."
"I won't!" Wanda shot him a glare, assuming he was joking. "Even if I die, I won't hurt you!"
Wanda stormed off angrily, leaving Thor with his hands raised in frustration.
Natalia approached, puzzled.
"What's going on? Why are you making everyone angry?"
"It's nothing... I just asked her to see if she could kill me."
Natalia looked at Thor with a mixture of concern and pity, moving to a safe distance.
Poor thing, must have been dazed by Surtur!
Natalia's heart ached...
Well, it seemed unlikely that Thor would have a chance to get this enhancement.
First of all, Thor had no chance of dying.
No one knew how powerful the Man of Steel was.
Not only did he possess the strongest defense in the universe, but his recovery ability was also exceptional, far surpassing even Surtur's.
If not for his constraints, Thor alone could have fought Surtur indefinitely...
Thor speculated that there were few beings in the universe capable of killing him, even the deceased Odin couldn't manage it.
The only possible method would be to use the Infinity Stones.
While Stormbreaker could theoretically break through his defenses, it was enchanted to harm only its wielder and would not intentionally harm Thor.
That said, why was the Vision mission triggered suddenly? And why now?
Thor had interacted with Vision numerous times without triggering this mission. Moreover, he hadn't thought about Vision recently, so why had it activated now?
What was Vision up to?
A surge of alarm struck Thor.
He immediately checked his communicator and found hundreds of missed calls!
Steve, Stark, Hawkeye, Banner... Almost all the Avengers left on Earth had tried to reach him.
During the battle with Surtur, violent energy had enveloped Asgard, cutting off all communication signals!
Realizing something was amiss, Thor quickly tried to contact Vision.
"BB..."
No response.
Thor's expression grew more serious. He considered for a moment and then called Stark.
"Thor, you bastard!"
Stark's voice was energetic but tinged with fatigue.
"What's going on?" Thor asked, ignoring Stark's outburst.
"What the hell happened..."
Stark continued his tirade for a full minute before pausing.
He took a few deep breaths and said quietly, "Thanos is here..."
"Vision is dead. Thanos has taken the Mind Stone and the Time Stone from Doctor Strange..."
---
Chapter 164: The Death of Vision
An hour ago.
As Surtur raged across Asgard, his roar echoed through much of the galaxy, drawing the attention of Thanos, who kept a close watch on the realm.
With great effort, Thanos suppressed his urge to seize the opportunity.
Surtur's attacks were indiscriminate, targeting both friend and foe alike. Any intervention from Thanos might not yield the desired results.
Moreover, Thanos had more pressing matters to attend to.
Of Asgard's three Infinity Stones, only the Soul Stone was missing; the other two were on Earth.
Thor and the Avengers were occupied with Ragnarök, making Earth's defenses particularly vulnerable!
Vision, possessing the Mind Stone, was the first to be targeted.
As one of the strongest Avengers, Vision was only surpassed by Thor and Carol, who had not returned to Earth for some time. Few could match his strength.
His Vibranium body and ability to phase through matter made him difficult to harm, unlike many other heroes.
Thus, Vision usually worked alone.
On a street in London, Vision was attacked from behind by Corvus Glaive while on a mission.
"Ugh..."
Vision stared in disbelief at the spear protruding from his chest. He soon realized with despair that the weapon was suppressing his ability to use the Mind Stone's energy, including his crucial ability to fly.
Fortunately, as a Vibranium-based android, Vision was inherently strong.
He managed to send a distress signal to Stark before using all his strength to push Corvus Glaive away. The Mind Stone above his head emitted a powerful beam.
"Zzzzz...~~||."
Corvus Glaive's double-edged spear easily deflected the beam, indicating that they had been preparing for this confrontation.
It was possible that when Thanos sent Loki to invade Earth, he had tampered with the Mind Stone.
If it were just Corvus Glaive, Vision might have been able to hold out until reinforcements arrived.
However, Ebony Maw and Proxima Midnight were also present.
With the Black Order—excluding the deceased Supergiant and Black Dwarf—against him, Vision's chances were slim!
The beam from the Mind Stone did not last long, and the constant pain from the Stone made it increasingly difficult for him to maintain his defense.
"Boom...…"
Proxima Midnight launched another sneak attack, sending Vision flying.
The duo's coordinated attacks were relentless, with no respite for Vision.
Ebony Maw extended his hand, and vines emerged from the ground, binding Vision tightly and rendering him immobile.
"It's over!"
Corvus Glaive stepped forward, raising his spear to stab Vision in the forehead.
"ABES..."
Vision screamed in agony.
"What's happening?"
Corvus Glaive was puzzled as the Mind Stone remained firmly in place, despite their efforts to pry it out.
Compared to the original circumstances, Vision was both unfortunate and fortunate.
Unfortunate in that he lacked Wanda's support and the assistance of the exiled Captain America and others. Instead, he faced the additional threat of Ebony Maw.
Previously backstabbed once, he now faced three adversaries—what a predicament!
The only stroke of luck was that he had a piece of the toughest metal in the universe...
"Could it be the green metal?" Ebony Maw wondered aloud.
They had noticed earlier that Vision's skull was green, unlike the red color of his body.
This was an unnamed alloy from space, brought back by Carol, which proved far harder than Vibranium and was crucial at this moment.
The Black Order found themselves struggling.
Their initial plan was to surprise Vision, seize the Stone, and leave swiftly. Any delay could lead to complications.
Thanos arrived, surveying the scene with a grim expression. He approached Vision and seized him by the neck.
"Well..."
Vision was immobilized under Thanos' grip.
He had already deduced Thanos' identity and was filled with dread.
"It's futile to resist. I'll take the Mind Stone."
Thanos smirked, gripping the gem tightly and twisting it forcefully.
The Mind Stone did not budge.
In the distance, a streak of light approached.
Upon receiving the distress call, Stark rushed to the scene. Despite the impressive speed of his latest Iron Man armor, the journey from New York to London was lengthy, and the battle was nearly over by the time he arrived.
Thanos was irritated.
Glancing sideways, he sneered and said, "Do you think I can't handle you just because you can't retrieve the gem?"
He held Vision's skull and twisted it.
"Crack——"
Vision's neck snapped.
---
Chapter 165: Thanos Strikes
When Stark arrived, he was met with the sight of Vision's headless corpse. The once-vibrant hue of the Vibranium had turned black due to death.
While Thanos might have struggled with the green metal, he had no trouble removing the Vibranium head.
Stark, seething with anger, cursed loudly, "Bastard, who the hell did this!"
Vision, a creation of his own hands and integrated with J.A.R.V.I.S's consciousness, was like family to Stark.
A familiar voice came from behind. "It's Thanos."
Doctor Strange stepped out of a golden portal.
Stark spun around in shock. "Who? Thanos? Damn, he's here!"
The name had been on his mind since the battle in New York, and especially after learning more about Thanos from Thor, Stark had been extremely cautious.
His armor research had progressed rapidly over the years, with updates almost monthly. Many saw Stark as merely wealthy and extravagant, but he was dedicated to preparing himself to confront Thanos.
"Originally, I planned to find another gem, but I didn't expect you to deliver it yourself," Thanos's voice was cold and indifferent.
Stark was taken aback but resolved, "Hand over the gem if you want to live."
Thanos turned his gaze to Strange and spoke in a low tone, though flat, it carried a palpable weight of menace.
"Friday, call Thor."
Realizing he was not equipped to handle Thanos alone, Stark immediately tried to reach Thor, the strongest Avenger.
"Yes, sir."
"Beep...beep...Sorry, the user you called is not available at the moment. Please try again later."
"Shit!" Stark swore in frustration.
Thanos smirked, seemingly reading Stark's thoughts. "There's no need to call for help. Asgard is struggling to defend itself. After today, it's uncertain if Asgard will still exist."
Thor was engaged in battle with Surtur...
Stark clenched his teeth and activated the reactor on his chest.
"Then I'll handle it myself!"
With the reactor as the core, his red armor expanded outward, enveloping him completely.
Mark 50, the latest armor developed just last week, was the first fully operational nanotech suit. Thanks to nanotechnology, the armor represented a leap forward, with the ability to morph into various weapons and tools.
As Thanos threw a powerful punch, Stark crouched, raised his hands, and a shield materialized from thin air.
"Boom..."
The shield absorbed Thanos's blow. Jets activated around the shield, propelling Thanos upward with force.
Thanos stumbled from the unexpected impact.
Stark then directed four half-moon drones from behind him, which launched blue lasers in unison at Thanos.
"Boom..."
The lasers struck with force, sending Thanos reeling backward several meters.
Before Thanos could recover, Stark formed a triangular dagger from nanomaterials and charged toward Thanos's forehead.
A golden halo appeared before Stark's eyes. He stepped into it and instantly reappeared in the air behind Thanos, stabbing him hard on the back of the head.
Thanos retaliated, but Stark had already evaded through another portal, thanks to Doctor Strange's magic.
While Thanos focused on the attacking magician, Stark took the opportunity to strike Thanos's back repeatedly.
Yet, Thanos's superior speed and combat skills prevailed. He turned, grabbed Stark, and headbutted him.
"Boom—"
Stark was sent flying for hundreds of meters. Despite the armor's protection, he was disoriented. Before hitting the ground, he fired a missile in reflex.
"Heh, interesting!"
Thanos chuckled faintly, catching the missile and tossing it back.
Stark, just recovering, hurriedly moved aside.
"Boom—"
A nearby building exploded, collapsing onto Stark and burying him instantly.
---
Chapter 166: First Blood
"Okay, now it's just you."
Stark was trapped under the rubble, unable to free himself. Thanos turned his gaze toward Doctor Strange.
Strange shook his head. "I don't think so. This means you'll have to face the kamar taj head-on."
Thanos remained indifferent. "Hand over the stones. Their purpose is to help me complete my mission. Once I collect all six, half the life in the universe will vanish with a snap of my fingers, without a trace of emotion. This is my version of kindness."
"Completely random, regardless of race or status. I see it as compassion."
Strange slowly rose to his feet. "And then?"
"Then, it's a long-awaited rest. Amidst the gratitude and curses of the entire universe, I'll watch the sunrise. Only the most powerful will have the will to make such a difficult choice."
Strange sneered and began forming magical seals with his hands. "Thanos, speaking of such grand-scale genocide."
Thanos sighed. "I dont expect you to understand me."
Opposite him, Strange struck the ground with both hands, unleashing two powerful bolts of magical lightning towards Thanos, causing massive damage to the terrain.
Unfortunately, Thanos leaped into the air, evading the attack, and delivered a punch.
While Kamar-Taj's magic is formidable, there's a considerable gap between them and a true warrior like Thanos. After a few exchanges, Strange was forced to use a significant spell— The Images of Ikonn .
This spell, akin to duplication, creates multiple copies, each retaining a part of the original's abilities.
Numerous duplicates surrounded Thanos. Strange used a red belt of powerful magic to bind Thanos's hands. This magic restraint was incredibly strong, even Thanos found it challenging to break free.
"Ah..."
As the red belt tightened, the surrounding area was devastated with a loud crash.
Magicians like Strange, who master various forms of magic, find pure fighters like Thanos to be the most troublesome.
Even if the magic doesn't inflict harm, the continuous harassment and control make it highly uncomfortable.
In the original timeline, Thanos was defeated when Strange had the gems in hand, making it easier to deal with him.
Strange knew this outcome and now wanted to see how Thanos, without the gems, could overcome his trap.
Thanos, unfazed, continued to press on...
"Where is everyone? Come and help me!"
"Hoo hoo..."
A truck flew through the air, circling Thanos, causing Strange's duplicates to pop like balloons one by one.
Only the main body managed to create a shield in time to absorb the impact.
Strange was knocked to the ground and was about to counterattack when several vines erupted from the ground, binding him tightly and lifting him into the air.
Thanos seized Strange by the neck and taunted, "Your tricks have improved, magician! It's a pity you won't get to use your ultimate weapon."
Strange rolled his eyes—how shameless to engage in a two-on-one fight. Ebony Maw hiding and attacking quietly, pretending not to be involved? If you're so capable, why not face me alone?
Clearly, Thanos's thick skin matched the armor of Sanctuary II.
Strange managed to pull off the Eye of Agamotto, shaking the debris from his hand.
"Fake?" Thanos's face darkened, and he threw Strange to the ground. "You've angered me, juggler."
The vulnerable magician struggled. Strange was badly beaten, his back aching and unable to rise.
"Boom..."
From the nearby rubble, a red figure soared into the sky and landed in front of Strange to confront Thanos. "If you hit me with a building again, I might lose control!"
"Stark? I know you. You're the man cursed by knowledge," Thanos said flatly.
He was met with a barrage of missiles.
Amidst the smoke and debris, Stark's armor's legs merged, and he delivered a powerful kick to Thanos's head, sending him staggering.
Stark concentrated all his energy into his arm and delivered a hard punch to Thanos's face.
"Boom--"
Thanos wiped the blood from his face and sneered, "All this effort just for a drop of blood?"
This was the first time Stark had gained the upper hand in the entire battle.
And it would be the last.
Thanos retaliated, flipping Stark and beating him so severely that he was barely recognizable.
Though Thanos was thick-skinned, he was deeply embarrassed to be beaten so badly by what he considered a mere mortal.
Thor had fought harder in Nidavellir, but at least Thor was a god, wielding the mighty Gungnir.
Stark tried to fight back, but confronting a powerhouse like Thanos was a nearly impossible task. Even with his advanced armor, Stark was no match for Thanos's might.
--
Chapter 167: The Key Soul Gem
Thanos, relentless in his assault, lived up to his fearsome reputation. His steel armor was torn as easily as paper as he pulled Stark out with a single hand.
This scene signified the moment when mortal strength was finally overwhelmed by divine power.
Iron Man was gravely injured, his body battered with multiple broken bones, rendering him immobile.
Thanos lifted him up and whispered in his ear, "I admire you, Mr. Stark. Once my plan succeeds, half of humanity will survive. I hope they will remember you."
"You are a true fighter, and I will ensure you have a dignified death."
"Stop!"
Strange, who had been unconscious, awoke to the sound. He whispered, "Let him go. I will give you the Time Gem."
Thanos regarded him thoughtfully and nodded.
A gemstone glowing with green brilliance slowly floated into Thanos's hand.
"Why give it to him?"
As Thanos and the Black Order departed, Stark, too weak to stand, turned his head toward Strange and said through gritted teeth, "Do you know he will destroy 3.5 billion people!"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Stark."
Strange replied calmly, "He has already obtained the Mind Gem and can use it to control me to acquire the Time Gem."
"And he can only get three gems at most. Out of the six Infinite Gems, three are in Thor's possession, so he won't be able to get them."
"But Thanos just said that Asgard is also in trouble now."
Strange shook his head. "No, their troubles are likely over by now."
In the distance, a supersonic jet roared as it landed, and a robust figure jumped out.
"Oh! Mr. Stark, what happened? Why are you so badly hurt?"
T'Challa, the Black Panther who had reclaimed his throne, was the first to arrive, lifting Stark with concern.
"Your injuries are severe, and you might be paralyzed. Come back to Wakanda with me, and we will heal you."
He greeted Strange and helped Stark onto the plane.
Strange watched as the jet took off.
A golden circle of light appeared beside him. Wong emerged with a concerned expression and asked, "Why did you give away the Eye of Agamotto?"
"You deceived him. As the holder of the Time Gem, the Mind Gem cannot control it."
Strange remained silent for a moment before responding, "Because, in the ending we desire, Stark is an indispensable part."
Everything was settled when Thor addressed the threats of Surtur and contacted Stark.
Vision was dead, and Stark was gravely injured.
Furthermore, Thanos had acquired both gems!
All six stones hold equal status; none are superior to the others.
Logically, mastering the Power, Reality, and Soul Gems should be advantageous.
But Thor understood well that only the Power Gem was truly useful to him.
The Reality Gem is in its etheric state, which Asgard does not fully comprehend.
The Space Gem's teleportation abilities are beneficial to others, but with both the Sling Ring and Bifrost at his disposal, it is less useful...
Thanos, however, has an unparalleled understanding of the Infinite Gems and can manipulate each one with skill.
Thor pondered for a moment and made a call.
The phone line was busy.
He made several more attempts, but none connected. Thor's expression grew serious.
He needed to contact the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Thanos was already on the move. As the strongest among the gem bearers, the three stones in his possession would be the most challenging for him to acquire, so he would undoubtedly seek the remaining gems first...
No one knew better than Thor what it meant to lose contact with the Guardians at this critical moment.
"Crunch..."
In a room at Sanctuary II, a group of scientists operated cutting tools on a piece of green metal.
This was Vision's skull. The source of this strange alloy was unknown.
A voice interrupted, "Why did you let him go?"
Thanos did not turn around. "He gave me the gem."
"Don't forget your agreement with my master!"
"I promised to destroy Kamar-Taj, and I will do so as promised. Don't treat me like one of your masters who are unreliable." Thanos stopped his work, turned, and said sternly, "I make the final decisions here."
He felt a pang of disdain. If he made a promise, he would keep it, without exploiting loopholes.
--
Chapter 167: Changing Souls for Souls
Asgard. Thor contemplated for a long time before making his decision.
Even though Nebula was not in Thanos' possession this time, Thanos could still force Gamora to submit by torturing the Silver Guardians, especially Star-Lord.
Thor could not predict how long Gamora could delay Thanos, so he needed to regain the initiative.
He whispered, "Natalia, come with me."
"Where to?"
"Vormir."
Under the ruins of the Golden Hall, Hela retrieved the corpse of an Asgardian soldier.
With a wave of her hand, a dark green light enveloped the body. Green flames eerily burned in the soldier's eyes.
Both Frigga and the three Asgardian warriors behind her frowned. This act felt like desecrating the bodies of soldiers who had died heroically.
But they had no choice.
Jean Grey placed her hand on the soldier's head, attempting to probe his memories.
A few minutes later, she shook her head. "His memory is corrupted, with significant portions missing. Or perhaps, he didn't witness..."
Hela replied indifferently, "Then we must change it. The Asgardian palace treasury is impenetrable, even to me. If we don't uncover the truth, it's a ticking time bomb. Next time, we might not be so fortunate."
"Or perhaps we have a high-ranking traitor among us."
Several people glanced at Loki. To them, Loki seemed the most likely suspect due to his background and previous offenses...
Loki remained expressionless.
Frigga shook her head. "It won't be Loki. I trust him."
Hela continued, "Another possibility is that a powerful magician opened a portal. The Golden Hall has many restrictions, and few magicians here can use space magic."
"As far as I know, there is one on Earth."
Hela could never forget how the Sorcerer Supreme had bested her in seconds and could open portals even through Odin's seals.
"The Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj — the Ancient One. But she is dead."
Frigga still shook her head.
....
Vormir was a desolate planet.
Although it had some atmospheric conditions that could support life, and was generally hospitable, there was no sign of any living beings.
Oh, there should be something on top of the mountain, if it could be considered a living entity...
As soon as Natalia arrived, her expression changed.
She had seen this place before, in Wanda's disturbing vision.
"This place has a beautiful view. Don't you think? If it weren't for the current situation, it would be a great place for a vacation."
Thor, uncomfortable with the somber atmosphere, made a joke.
Normally, Natalia would have been infuriated by such comments—this was not a place for vacationing. Was he trying to insult her?
But now, she didn't react angrily; instead, she looked at Thor with a deep gaze.
"Well, you can do whatever you say."
Thor glanced at her, puzzled.
When had Black Widow become so gentle?
He couldn't help but touch her forehead...
Under normal circumstances, this would have been enough to drive her mad.
Yet Natalia merely smiled slightly, took Thor's hand, and covered her face with it.
Thor: "???"
Today was unusual.
A ghostly figure with a skeletal face floated into view.
"Welcome..."
"Thor Odinson, son of Odin..."
"Natalia Romanova, daughter of Ivan..."
"I am the guide to the Soul Gem."
Thor and Natalia seemed unfazed, as though they had anticipated this encounter.
Thor knew the plot, and Natalia had experienced it.
A raspy voice emanated from Red Skull: "What you seek is near, accompanied by your fear. The Soul Gem is revered among the Infinite Gems; it possesses its own wisdom. Anyone seeking the Soul Gem must make a sacrifice."
"Sacrifice what?" Natalia inquired.
"A soul. It must be the soul of someone you love most. To obtain the Soul Gem, you must lose your love. It is an eternal bargain. Only through such a sacrifice can the gem's true value be understood."
Natalia gazed at Thor with tenderness. "I've known this moment would come since you brought me here. I didn't expect to understand your heart at the last moment. It turns out that your true love is me. In that case, I have no regrets."
She then ran to the cliff and jumped.
Natalia thought it would be an honor to die as Thor's beloved, just like in her visions.
And she plunged into the golden portal.
---
Chapter 167: Routine
When Natalia awoke, she found herself lying in a lake, as if she were dreaming.
But the orange gemstone in her hand confirmed that this was no dream.
She thought she had forgotten how to cry, but holding the gemstone tightly, she could not hold back her tears and began to cry openly.
Suddenly, the Soul Gem trembled and struggled violently, as if it were trying to escape her grasp.
Startled, Natalia tightened her hold on the gem.
However, the gemstone's power was too great, and it eventually broke free from her hand and flew into the distance.
"Boom—"
The rapidly fleeing Soul Gem seemed to collide with an invisible barrier, abruptly stopping and vibrating intensely.
A familiar voice rang out, "Since you've come this far, you won't be going back."
Natalia's eyes widened. "Thor?"
A familiar figure materialized in front of her, holding the Soul Gem that had been trying to escape.
Natalia was momentarily stunned. Overcome with joy and surprise, she leaped up and embraced him.
Thor held Natalia with one arm and the Soul Gem with the other, speaking softly, "I understand you have your own desires.
Although I don't know the origins of your strange rules, we havve passed the test. Now, you will serve as my weapon.
I promise that within ten years, I will set you free.
"I know you enjoy consuming souls. I will offer you tens of millions of souls. You won't lose out on this deal."
"Otherwise, I can destroy you right now!"
He released Natalia and let the power of the gem flicker in his hand.
Though the method of offering rewards and threats was simple, it was effective.
An emotionless voice resonated in Thor's mind not a voice but a message"Why should I believe you?"
Thor hesitated for a moment and then declared, "Because— I am the strongest !"
The Soul Gem's vibrations gradually ceased.
Thor sensed a connection forming between himself and the gem—within ten years, the Soul Gem would be entirely under his control, even more reliable than other gems.
Natalia, coming back to her senses from the mix of sorrow and joy, asked in confusion, "Thor, what is happening?"
"I'll explain it to you."
A new figure emerged from the shadows—Loki, the god of mischief.
"My illusion technique is nearly indistinguishable from the original. In truth, it wasn't the real Thor who jumped down, but merely an illusion."
Loki's face displayed a smug grin. He reveled in tricking the famed Infinite Gems and basked in the radiance of his deceit.
Thor glanced at him, unimpressed by his arrogance.
Deceiving the Soul Gem with an illusion? It was merely a trick to fool someone like Natalia, who didn't fully understand the nature of the gem...
In reality, only the true Soul Gem could deceive itself.
The last of the three Infinite Gems tokens obtained 20 years ago, the Soul Gem—creates a soul identical to the target, generated at a specified time and place.
The duration was limited to one minute...
Loki's illusion created merely a shell; what actually deceived the Soul Gem was a soul that perfectly mimicked Thor.
For one minute, this soul was utterly real. No one in the universe could tell the difference except Thor.
The Soul Gem devoured the sacrificial soul and emerged satisfied. But once the minute passed, it realized it had been tricked, struggling to flee but was restrained by Thor.
Being deceived by a soul created through its own power, the Soul Gem effectively shot itself in the foot.
"So, what would you have done if you hadn't tricked the Soul Gem? Would you have sacrificed me or one of us?" Natalia asked.
Thor shook his head. "No. I'm not Thanos. Victory achieved through sacrifice is never truly victorious. I will not leave behind a lifetime of regrets. If I fail, I will destroy the entire Vormir, along with the gem."
He drew his battle axe. "My goal with the gems is to make Thanos lose one. That's all. This is what truly resolves the issue."
In the vast universe, Carol Danvers flew absently.
She was lost in thoughts of the past.
Facing a large-scale attack by the Kree, the Skrulls had finally reached their breaking point.
The Kree issued an ultimatum: the Skrulls must surrender unconditionally within one day or face complete annihilation.
Unable to endure any longer, Talos sent a distress signal to Carol.
---
Chapter 170: The Stealer Always Steals
Carol was troubled.
Although the crisis in the Kree Empire had been resolved, it was difficult for her to walk away at this critical moment when Thanos was poised to launch an all-out attack at any time.
Unexpectedly, it was Thor who persuaded her to go to the rescue.
"This is a conspiracy. Thanos and the Kree are definitely colluding. They're attacking now to keep you occupied. Ultimatum? It's not for the Skrulls to consider; it's for you to rush back from."
"Then you still want me to go?" Carol asked.
"Thanos' apparent strength is far inferior to ours, which is why he relies on various schemes. But against absolute strength, all conspiracies and tricks are useless. Don't worry. As long as I am still alive, Thanos will not win. I will make him and his entire force space debris."
"Go, and don't leave any regrets."
With his thoughts resolved, Carol looked ahead. An enormous spaceship came into view.
Sanctuary 2, Thanos' super-stronghold.
Carol managed a subtle smile and said to herself, "I won't let you have any regrets."
On a spaceship, Thanos had just departed with Gamora, heading for Vormir.
With Thanos possessing the Mind Gem, Gamora knew she couldn't hide it. For the safety of her companions, she had no choice but to agree to lead Thanos to the gem.
Her companions were left behind as hostages in Sanctuary .
"It's been a whole day since Gamora was taken by Thanos , and there's still no news. What could be happening?" Star-Lord asked worriedly.
He looked to his teammates, hoping for some comforting words.
However, Rocket Raccoon added a sharp comment: "It's hard to say. Even though he is Gamora's adoptive father, being a father doesn't necessarily make him reliable."
Drax added, "Thanos is a bloodthirsty executioner! He has no heart. Father-daughter? Look at how much Gamora despises him."
"Damn it!" Star-Lord exclaimed angrily. "We need to find a way to save Gamora!"
Rocket smirked and suggested, "Why don't you dance again, Quill, and Groot can reach out to open the door?"
Star-Lord replied, "Even if I, Quill, spend my whole life in this place, I will never use such a disgusting method again!"
Is it your face that loses its feeling, or are you already accustomed to watching me dance?
A few minutes later, the group quietly exited the cell.
It smelled so good!
"Quill, do you feel something is off?" Rocket touched Star-Lord's arm.
"No," Star-Lord grimaced.
Rocket Raccoon whispered, "You have to trust my sixth sense. After all, I'm a raccoon. Animals have an instinct to sense danger..."
The next moment, a piercing siren sounded.
"Dammit, you jinxed it!" Star-Lord nearly jumped.
I betrayed my integrity and escaped from prison in less than a minute, so don't let us get caught again!
Rocket pulled him back and said in a low voice, "This is an alarm for the entire spaceship..."
"We're doomed!"
The siren that echoed throughout Sanctury 2 was not for the minor mischief of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
In the control room, Ebony Maw watched as Captain Marvel charged towards them with a grim expression.
"Fire the naval guns. Make sure to shoot her down, and notify everyone to prepare for battle!"
An officer said dismissively, "My lord, what's the big deal? It's just one woman. A random group of people can handle it..."
"D..."
Before he could finish, he was slapped. "Idiot, this is the woman who killed Black Dwarf! If you want to kill me, I won't stop you."
The officer shrank back, realizing that recklessness doesn't equate to stupidity...
"Boom... Boom... Boom..."
A barrage of artillery fired at Carol.
Carol remained unfazed, not even considering ducking to avoid the fire, and charged straight ahead.
Countless shells hit Carol, filling the sky with flames.
Carol emerged from the sea of flames in an instant, the explosions merely serving as a backdrop.
Real heroes never look back at explosions, and that applied to her as well...
"It's impossible!" Ebony Maw shouted frantically.
"Boom!"
There was a deafening roar, and the entire Sanctuary .
Carol, enveloped in golden energy, pierced through Sanctuary No. 2. The energy surrounding her seemed to dim somewhat, but her speed did not decrease, and she vanished into the vast night sky in an instant.
The Skrulls were in a precarious situation, and there was no time to stay and fight the group. Besides, the current situation was enough to give Thanos a headache.
---
Chapter 171: The Killing Game
The spaceship was pierced through, with numerous control devices destroyed and the control system failing. The guns, still firing moments before, were now completely darkened.
Countless Chitauri soldiers were instantly sucked out of the spaceship, dying in the vacuum within seconds.
"No!!!"
Ebony Maw could only rage impotently. He couldn't imagine what Thanos would look like when he returned to find his stronghold in ruins.
While the Guardians of the Galaxy were tearing the place apart, Thanos was escorting Gamora up the mountain on Vormir.
The Red Skull floated slowly and said, "Welcome, Thanos, son of Alars. Gamora, daughter of Zehoberi."
Thanos twitched his lips, expecting the Red Skull to mention that Gamora was his daughter.
"Who are you? Do you know us?" Thanos asked in a deep voice.
"I, a cursed man, know everyone who comes here."
Thanos interrupted, "I'm here to find the Soul Gem."
"I know that everyone who comes here has this purpose. But you should be aware that obtaining the Soul Gem, the most mysterious of the Infinity Gems, requires a great price."
"I'm prepared," Thanos said fearlessly.
"Everyone who has come here believed they were prepared, but they were all wrong. In the end, none have ever succeeded in claiming it."
The Red Skull laughed ruefully and led them up to the high platform at the top of the cliff.
"The Soul Gem is the most unique of all the Infinity Gems because it contains unique wisdom."
"Tell me what it wants."
Thanos was growing impatient. He had little time to waste while this figure, neither fully human nor ghost, continued his monologue.
The Red Skull smiled and continued, "In order for anyone who uses the Soul Gem to appreciate its value, a sacrifice is required."
"Sacrifice what?"
"Life!"
The Red Skull said in an emotionless voice, "To obtain the Soul Gem, you must leap from this place and give up your life. Soul for soul—this is an eternal transaction."
Both Thanos and Gamora stared in shock.
Thanos asked skeptically, "Doesn't the gem lack an owner at the moment?"
He was beginning to understand why so many ambitious individuals sought the gem but ultimately failed.
The Red Skull chuckled, shaking his head. "No one has ever been able to claim the Soul Gem. None have been willing to pay the price."
Thanos frowned deeply. Was this an endless cycle? Obtain the gem and die? Was there still a purpose for the sacrifice?
"Hahahahaha..."
Laughter erupted, and Gamora taunted loudly, "Is this fate? Even if you find the gem, you still can't have it!"
Thanos's expression darkened, his face turning a mottled shade of purple.
"If someone willingly sacrifices themselves for the gem, can another person take the gem after the sacrifice?"
Thanos asked with a hint of hope, though he thought it was unlikely. After all, it seemed too easy.
If possible, he had many subordinates willing to sacrifice their lives for him.
As a villain, he also had followers who viewed death as a small price to pay. This was a form of charisma.
The Red Skull shook his head. "Once the approved owner of the Soul Gem dies, the gem will be hidden again, awaiting the next seeker."
The Red Skull murmured to himself, "Although you are unattractive, you are quite the opportunist..."
"Give up. This is divine will. You are doomed to fail in achieving your so-called ideals!"
It was the first time Gamora had seen Thanos's expression so conflicted, and she felt a thrill from head to toe.
After all, Thanos lacked the courage to sacrifice his life for righteousness—or perhaps he wasn't ready to die here and now.
After a long hesitation, he murmured, "We should leave. I cannot die until I fulfill my dream. The universe still needs me. Once I gather the other gems, I'll return to claim the Soul Gem."
He had already decided that after acquiring the other gems, he would come back to trade his life for the Soul Gem.
He trusted in his willpower enough to snap his fingers before his death.
As he turned to leave, Thanos suddenly felt a shiver.
This was an instinct honed through countless years of cosmic battles, making him highly sensitive to danger.
"Look out..."
With a shout, he swung his fist backward.
"Boom—"
Thanos's fist collided with the Red Skull's, producing a thunderous sound like the collision of planets.
---
Chapter 172: Heavy Injury
As soon as the Red Skull's fist collided with Thanos, it reverted to its original form.
Thanos saw Thor's most menacing expression again.
Drawing on his vast combat experience, Thanos concentrated all his strength into a swift punch and knocked Thor back with a single blow.
Thanos himself took a few steps back, nearly reaching the edge of the cliff. He staggered momentarily before stabilizing himself. Thor would not miss such an opportunity and quickly charged forward, attempting to push Thanos off the cliff.
The two rolled down the cliff.
Thanos reacted swiftly and struck Thor's chest with all his might.
Thor's formidable defenses made Thanos's arms go numb, but Thanos had a victorious grin on his face. The strike had propelled Thor down to the bottom of the cliff, and Thanos used the recoil to propel himself back up to the cliff's edge.
Thanos grinned grimly, feeling as though Thor had unwittingly aided him.
"Boom..."
A powerful thunderbolt descended from the sky, striking Thanos directly. Thanos, mid-air, had no chance to avoid it.
The rising momentum was halted by the thunder, and Thanos fell like a kite with a severed string. However, Thor, who should have been falling, was suspended in mid-air.
"Foolish? I can fly!"
Thanos thought bitterly, feeling a deep-seated hatred for the Asgardian Prince—no, the King of Asgard now.
Thanos deeply regretted not bringing the Overlord's Heavenly Blade; it could have served as a high-speed propeller to lift him back up.
"Boom."
After the thunderous impact, Thanos finally fell to the bottom of the cliff.
Upon landing, an orange light burst forth, and an extremely cold force began to invade Thanos's body.
The Soul Gem!
At the bottom of the cliff lay a mysterious black magic array. This magical circle was designed to unleash the full danger of the Soul Gem, capable of claiming anyone's soul.
Even Thor, with his unparalleled strength, would find it perilous to face the Soul Gem here.
Not to mention Thanos, who, despite his remarkable willpower, struggled to control the Soul Gem's power. In an instant, his soul began to detach from his body.
"Uh ah ah ah..."
Thanos roared in agony, clenching his fists as his soul was being consumed.
A brilliant green light suddenly erupted, momentarily overpowering the Soul Gem's orange glow.
Time seemed to freeze for Thanos, and his soul, which had been on the verge of departure, was instantly restored to his body.
"Boom..."
Without catching his breath, Thanos sprang into the air like a skyward monkey, landing back on the cliff and breathing heavily.
It was a terrifying experience! In that fleeting moment, he had felt the proximity of death. Everything happened so quickly that Thanos managed to leap back before Thor even reacted.
Neither Thor nor the Soul Gem had a chance to respond.
Gamora, who witnessed the entire event, had an indescribable expression on her face.
Thanos, still shaken, glanced at the faint orange light below, realizing that the Soul Gem was already in Thor's possession. He understood now that Thor had deliberately set him up.
As Thanos turned to speak, a glint of cold light flashed before his eyes.
Instinctively, he raised his right hand and deflected the attack.
"Boom."
"Crack..."
If Thanos had been wielding the authentic Infinity Gauntlet, made of the same material as Stormbreaker, it might have barely blocked the blow from the axe.
But since Thanos was using an imitation gauntlet, it shattered upon impact. He could not withstand the force of Stormbreaker. The axe, initially aimed at his neck, was deflected slightly and struck his shoulder instead.
The pain was excruciating, and Thanos's left arm was severed.
Thanos gritted his teeth, quickly raising his right hand to make a fist. He fired rays from the Time and Mind Gems simultaneously.
The gem rays were powerful, though not as strong as Thor's lightning, they were still formidable, comparable to Captain Marvel's energy blasts.
This long-range attack was highly practical for Thanos, who was currently at a disadvantage.
The rays hit Thor, knocking him back but causing no significant damage.
Seizing the opportunity, Thanos retrieved his severed arm and fled.
---