In a narrow alleyway, the dim light of an old lamp hanging in the corner cast a faint glow on the peeling walls, crumbling concrete flaking off. All sorts of refuse lay scattered around: cardboard boxes, shards of glass, and unidentifiable piles of garbage, creating an atmosphere of utter chaos. Such dirty, neglected places often become havens for criminals and various shady individuals.
Clang!
The sound of a foot kicking a tin can broke the silence. A figure in a black cloak emerged from the shadows, casually tossing the can against a wall. Ordinary people usually avoided such places, both day and night. Only those with questionable business ventured into these areas.
"Hey, you!"
A voice called out from behind. Several figures with dirty dreadlocks, armed with knives, approached. Their faces were adorned with malicious grins, and their movements suggested they weren't new to this kind of activity. Surrounding the stranger, they blocked off all avenues of escape.
"Hey, buddy, wandered into our territory to discuss a deal?" the gang leader, twirling a knife in his hand, squinted as he approached the cloaked figure. He was used to his threats instilling fear in people and enjoyed the sight of his victims' terrified faces.
The person in the black cloak didn't raise their head and didn't react in any way, which only provoked the gangsters further. As they began to lose patience, the stranger finally moved. They slowly extended a hand and removed their hood.
"What the hell?!"
The gang leader recoiled, nearly falling, upon seeing the stranger's face. The other thugs were also startled and took a few steps back. The face of the person they had surrounded was covered in wrinkles and had a purplish hue—clearly not human, but alien.
It was Corvus, who, using the Space Stone, had teleported from the wilderness to a human settlement.
"What the... who the hell are you? Is this some kind of cosplay?!" One of the gangsters, collecting his thoughts, decided that he was dealing with a cosplayer, not a real alien. This only angered him further.
"Damn it, I'm gonna kill you!" he shouted, swinging his knife at Corvus.
The general calmly caught the attacker's hand and squeezed his wrist.
Crack!
"AAAAaaaaahhhh!!!"
The sound of a bone breaking echoed through the alley, and the knife clattered to the ground. The attacker screamed in pain—his wrist was crushed.
"Shut up," Corvus said with annoyance, irritated by the scream. He released the attacker's hand and grabbed him by the throat.
Crack!
Silence returned to the alley once more.
The remaining gangsters froze in terror, witnessing the brutal efficiency with which he dealt with their comrade. Fear gripped them, their legs turning to jelly, but adrenaline quickly took over, and they turned to flee. Corvus, watching them run, calmly took out the short scepter with the Mind Stone and aimed.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!
Three blue energy projectiles shot out from the scepter, striking the fleeing gangsters. Their bodies instantly disintegrated into blue dust, without even a scream.
"Don't kill me! Please!" the last surviving criminal shouted, but remembering the fate of his companions, he immediately fell silent and, dropping to his knees, began to beg for mercy. He didn't know that Corvus had left him alive intentionally—he needed someone to interrogate.
With a look of disdain, Corvus approached the cowering thug. He pressed the scepter with the Mind Stone against his forehead, and a powerful energy pulse penetrated the unfortunate man's brain. His body trembled, his eyes darkened, and fear gave way to utter tranquility.
The general removed the scepter and stepped back. The gangster slowly rose, his movements becoming calm and steady. He was no longer himself—his mind was now under the complete control of the Mind Stone.
"My slave, tell me, how can I quickly obtain all the information about this planet?" Corvus asked, looking into the emotionless face of his new servant. He needed to gather data to find the equipment necessary for opening the portal and summoning the Chitauri army.
"The fastest way is through the internet," the controlled criminal replied.
"Then give me a device to access your internet."
The thug took a phone out of his pocket, unlocked it, and handed it to the general. Corvus quickly examined the small device and pocketed it. He had what he needed. Now it was the Kree's turn.
Whoosh!
A flash of blue light, and the last of the gang shared the fate of his companions, disintegrating into glowing dust.
These pathetic humans weren't even worthy of being cannon fodder. Putting away the phone, Corvus pulled his hood back over his head and left the alley. He knew he couldn't fully control the Space Stone's power yet. Using it required channeling its energy through the Mind Stone, but the teleportation remained random—it couldn't be precise. Therefore, he decided to travel on foot, avoiding unnecessary attention, to return to his temporary base.
After some time, he reached his hideout, located in an abandoned subway station.
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