The spaceship in front of Thor was a colossal monstrosity.
The Sanctuary II dwarfed even the grandest Asgardian ships. The Statesman, though massive by any standard, was insignificant before this star-dwarfing warship—a true behemoth in the void of space.
This was not just a ship; it was a weapon of war incarnate.
Suddenly, a shrill alarm blared throughout the Statesman:
"Warning! The spaceship has been locked by high-energy weapons. Immediate jump recommended!"
"Warning! Jump space is obstructed! Escape from the star field is impossible!"
"Warning! Position is locked. Escape pods are non-operational!"
The robotic voice repeated the dire warnings as panic rippled through the ship. Thor's expression grew darker with every passing second. He clenched his fists and muttered through gritted teeth:
"Thanos..."
Though he didn't know why Sanctuary II was targeting them, Thor knew one thing: Thanos was not here to offer aid.
"Loki, go organize the evacuation," Thor began, but his voice faltered.
His gaze locked onto Loki, who was ignoring him entirely. Instead, Loki stood by the porthole, one hand raised toward the massive enemy ship.
"Loki, what are you—"
Before Thor could finish, the starry expanse outside the window ignited in an intense burst of light.
Thor's pupils contracted as he witnessed a sight that defied belief:
A flaming sword, hundreds of meters long, appeared seemingly out of nowhere, descending like a meteor from the heavens. Its fiery edge crashed into Sanctuary II with apocalyptic force!
The impact was immense. Even through the porthole, the sheer energy of the collision made Thor's heart race.
A hexagonal shield flared to life around Sanctuary II, absorbing most of the sword's devastating power. Dazzling sparks erupted from the clash, and the enormous warship tilted slightly from the strike.
Then, a column of purple energy burst from Sanctuary II, colliding with the flaming sword. The fiery weapon exploded into fragments, scattering into the void.
Loki—or so Thor thought—lowered his hand, looked at it briefly, and vanished into thin air.
Thor stood frozen, disbelief etched into his face.
Such magic! Loki, are you truly the greatest sorcerer in the Nine Realms?
But his awe quickly turned to anger.
Loki had fled again.
Coward! Thor seethed. He always runs when the odds are against him!
Shaking off his frustration, Thor slammed a button on the control panel and shouted into the ship's communication system:
"Asgardians, prepare for battle!"
Minutes later, chaos reigned.
The Statesman was a burning wreck. Bloodied bodies littered the corridors, and fires raged unchecked. Thor, battered and bloodied, knelt amidst the carnage. Around him were the corpses of his people—his failure laid bare.
Ebony Maw strode forward, kneeling before a towering figure clad in golden armor.
"Master," Maw reported grimly, "the Space Stone is not here. The signal source has also vanished."
Thanos turned slowly, his eyes settling on Thor.
Without prompting, Ebony Maw used his telekinesis to force Thor onto his knees. Twisted metal wrapped around the god of thunder, restraining him.
"Where is the Space Stone?" Thanos demanded, Heimdall's golden sword poised ominously near Thor's chest.
Thor gritted his teeth. The truth hit him like a blow: Loki must have taken the Space Stone from the Asgardian vault.
But now, it was too late to change anything.
"You'll fail," Thor spat, glaring at the Mad Titan. "He's already gone. You'll never find him!"
"And we haven't lost yet!"
As if on cue, a roar echoed through the ruined ship.
The Hulk lunged into view, a green whirlwind of rage.
But hope quickly faded.
Hulk attacked.
Hulk defended.
Hulk was beaten.
The Mad Titan's calculated brutality left Hulk a crumpled, broken shadow of his former self.
Despair took root in Thor's heart as he watched his last hope crumble. Nearby, Heimdall prepared to use the Bifröst to save Hulk.
Thanos removed his helmet, tossing it aside as he surveyed the aftermath.
"The Space Stone isn't here," he mused, his voice calm and cold. "Kill them all."
Turning to Ebony Maw, he added, "Issue a bounty for Loki across the galaxy. He can't escape."
The order left no room for doubt. Loki's trickery was as predictable to Thanos as the sunrise.
But then, something unexpected happened.
A voice rang out from the shadows:
"Ah, so the time branch only triggers when we reach the death node. Interesting."
Thanos turned sharply toward the sound.
Even Ebony Maw, master of telekinesis, was caught off guard. His psychic senses detected nothing—just empty air.
A figure emerged from the shadows, clad in a green windbreaker.
"Loki?!"
Thor's initial relief turned to dread.
It's over. Loki can't possibly protect the Space Stone.
But Thanos frowned, his sharp gaze narrowing.
"Who are you?"
The figure smirked.
"You think you know Loki well, don't you? But this time, you've misjudged."
The man shook his head.
"I'm on a tight schedule, so let's skip the explanations."
The air shimmered green as his disguise dissipated. It wasn't Loki at all.
It was Russell.
He pointed a hand lazily at Ebony Maw.
"You're too ugly. Let's fix that first."
Ebony Maw sneered.
"Arrogant human! Master, allow me—"
Crack!
Before he could finish, his neck snapped violently. His lifeless body crumpled to the floor.
Thor's jaw dropped.
Ebony Maw's psychic powers were formidable, yet he had been dispatched in an instant.
Obsidian roared in fury, leaping toward Russell with his massive hammer raised high.
Thor winced. Even he couldn't withstand such a blow.
But Russell simply clenched his fist.
In an instant, the three-meter-tall warrior was crushed. His hammer folded into a perfect metal sphere, and blood splattered onto the deck.
Thor's scalp prickled.
This man—this thing—was no ordinary being.
Russell's voice broke the tense silence.
"Thanos," he said, his tone almost bored, "you've got 48 seconds left to struggle."
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Added 'All the Powers Russell has Till Ch 45' Auxiliary chapter do check it out.