Titan.
As ancient stone tablets moved to assemble into a grand palace, the group followed the purple figure inside.
Along the way, torches on the palace's stone walls ignited, casting golden flames.
Charlie Parker couldn't help but marvel, "So this is the true sanctuary."
He then looked at the figure ahead—Thanos, or rather, the young Thanos.
At this time, Thanos still had a full head of thick black hair, though it was unclear when he started shaving it all off.
Sensing Charlie's gaze, Thanos paused his steps.
He looked down at his purple and gold armor, then turned to ask, "Is there something on me?"
"No."
Charlie shook his head, then said, "Maybe you can tell us some truths now."
"No problem."
Thanos raised his hand and snapped his fingers, which startled Infinity Tony and Old Steve.
"What are you doing?"
Infinity Tony's arm transformed, and an electromagnetic cannon appeared, ready for action.
Old Steve also raised his shield, staring warily at Thanos.
Thanos: "?????"
"I was just summoning some chairs for you. You're too tense." He pointed at the stone chairs slowly rising from the ground beneath them.
Infinity Tony looked down, feeling embarrassed, and quickly retracted his weapon.
Old Steve followed suit, blowing on his shield and wiping it with his sleeve, pretending nothing had happened.
"Stark, you're such a coward."
"Captain, don't think I didn't notice your legs shaking."
"They were not."
"They were."
Old Steve sat on the chair, straightened his back, and looked at Thanos.
"Next time, don't snap your fingers," he said seriously.
Thanos looked puzzled. "Why?"
"I'm afraid."
"Oh, that's an unusual fear."
Thanos chuckled. He sat down and was about to snap his fingers again to summon drinks but caught Infinity Tony's reproachful glare.
"Haha, sorry, it's a habit."
He tapped a device on his wrist, remotely ordering his subordinates to bring food and prepare to entertain his guests.
"Time is limited. If there's anything you want to know, ask me now."
"I'll go first."
Charlie spoke up, "I heard you were a traitor to Titan, but the situation now doesn't match what I was told."
Carter, standing beside him, frowned. "When did you hear that?" she asked quietly.
"Last time."
"Last time?"
"Which last time?"
"Just last time."
Carter was confused, and so were Lizard Parker and the others, who were all full of question marks.
Thanos, however, reined in his smile and explained, "The leader of Titan was never just one person but a group. I'm one of them.
Here, because we have strict limitations on our use of the network, many messages are only passed by word of mouth, and it's normal for the facts to get twisted over time."
"Did you kill many people?" Charlie continued to ask.
Thanos nodded. "Yes, three hundred villages, nine cities, countless lives."
"What?"
Looking at the Thanos before him, who bore a resemblance to the infamous Mad Titan, Infinity Tony couldn't help but grit his teeth.
"You really are a demon." His body trembled.
Thanos remained expressionless. "I killed Titans, not people from other planets."
"What's the difference?" Old Steve said coldly.
"The people I killed had Titan blood."
Hearing this, Charlie immediately thought of the grooves on the altar.
"You killed them to gain the power of the Titans?"
"Yes."
Thanos calmly looked at Lizard Parker and Charlie. "You both already tried it; the sanctuary's altar has the ability to absorb the same power."
"Why use such cruel methods?" Carter frowned.
"Because I'm out of time."
Thanos took a deep breath. "Titan is about to face the most terrifying disaster. I must obtain the purest Titan body and become the legendary Eternal Titan. Only then can I find a way to save Titan.
And saving Titan isn't just my responsibility. All Titans have a duty, so I always kill only half the population, randomly. This is the fairest I can be."
As he spoke, his fingers trembled slightly, revealing his inner turmoil.
As for Thanos, whose hands were stained with the blood of his own people, Charlie couldn't decide if he was a good person or a bad one.
"Tell us about the Exile Journey," he said.
Thanos nodded. "You've also heard about the Exile Journey. To outsiders, it's the greatest punishment for criminals.
But the truth is, the Exile Journey is indeed terrifying, yet it's the only way to save Titan."
"What kind of disaster will Titan face that makes you willing to slaughter so many people?" Lizard Parker asked.
Thanos calmly replied, "An unimaginable enemy, one that no one can defeat, is about to awaken from within the planet."
"Then all the more reason not to kill each other," Carter said.
Thanos laughed, a bitter smile.
"You have no idea what kind of opponent we're dealing with."
He looked at Charlie. "I know about your people; they did a lot of reckless things today. Their goal is to join the Exile Journey. I don't mind if they participate."
"So we can also join the Exile Journey?" Lizard Parker asked happily.
"Yes, but also no."
Thanos explained, "Before meeting you, I wasn't sure I could start the Exile Journey on my own, as I haven't become a true Eternal Titan yet.
But now, I am confident."
He looked at Charlie. "The fact that you triggered the sanctuary altar means you have similar divine power and can join me in starting the Exile Journey."
"Divine power?"
Charlie pondered, realizing he was referring to the power of the spider totem.
"But I don't know how to use divine power," he admitted honestly.
"That doesn't matter."
Thanos raised his hand, about to snap his fingers but paused, looking at Infinity Tony and the others instead.
"Starting the Exile Journey and participating in it are two different things. Your people don't have similar power, so no matter what they did, they have no right to join the Exile Journey.
But you..."
At this point, he smiled in satisfaction.
"Upon entering the sanctuary, I sensed through its reaction that all of you possess mysterious powers, qualifying you for this Exile Journey."
"Mysterious powers?"
The group was confused, but Charlie had an inkling of what he meant.
Infinity Tony might still have residual power from the Infinity Stones.
But Lizard Parker's fragmented totem had already disappeared.
Old Steve was just an ordinary super soldier.
And Carter's abilities were unknown.
What powers did they have within them?
He didn't know, nor did he need to.
"When do we start?" he asked.
"Tomorrow."
"Understood." Charlie nodded.
So far, he had only used one reset opportunity, and the start had gone smoothly.
Haha, I'm getting better at this.
At that moment, Carter suddenly stood up. "I need a weapon. Do you have any more of these shields?" She pointed at the shield in Old Steve's hand.
Thanos nodded. "Of course, we have plenty, all confiscated from those twins... no, triplets... wait, no, multiples."
Clearly, he had misunderstood something.
The next moment, he took a closer look at Old Steve.
"I notice you look a lot like them."
Old Steve kept a straight face. "I'm their father."
Thanos suddenly understood. "Your family genes are truly strong. Your wife must have had a tough time. Take good care of her."
Old Steve: "..."