"I usually go through windows, but I've recently learned to use portals."
With that, Charlie stepped through first.
Buzz~
It felt like entering another dimension. A chilling air hit him, a stark contrast to the searing heat outside.
Before him stood a mottled altar, dozens of meters in diameter.
Black chains crisscrossed chaotically atop the altar.
As Charlie appeared, the chains swayed slightly, clinking crisply as they collided.
The next moment, the hellfire on the chains subsided, and they fell to the ground with a clatter. A towering purple figure slowly rose from a skull throne.
Scrape
A grating sound pierced the silent space as a double-bladed war knife sparked against the altar's stone slab. The imposing figure holding the blade emerged from the shadows.
"Earth's superhero, Spider-Man. I didn't expect you to be my opponent this time."
A hoarse voice spoke, and the faint blue glow in Charlie's eyes flickered.
"That's…"
The familiar bald head reflected purple in the dim light. Thanos, clad in battered armor, approached with his double-bladed knife, his scarred face striking, yet his gaze remained unwavering.
At the same time, the stone gate behind them slammed shut, and the surrounding void churned. Virtual projections of an audience appeared, filled with strange figures.
"Rip him apart!!"
On the spectator stands, a green-skinned Zehoberei projection screamed wildly.
A blue-skinned cyborg nearby scowled. "Gamora, keep it down."
Gamora shrugged. "It's not every day we get to see Thanos fight. I can't stay calm. I want to watch him get killed by his opponent."
Nebula sneered. "Thanos is invincible. You know that better than anyone."
"There's always an exception."
As Gamora spoke, a Skrull nearby looked shocked.
"This opponent's a bug."
"No, two bugs."
"I know them. They're Spider-Men."
One Skrull's face lit up. "That's Earth's fan-favorite hero. My idol!"
Hearing this, nearby Skrulls facepalmed.
"We infiltrate humans to replace them, not to fangirl over them."
"So what? Fangirling doesn't stop us from replacing them."
"I agree. To replace humans, we need to understand them. Fangirling helps."
"No, if we become like them, how can we replace them?"
The Skrulls argued endlessly, while nearby Kree spectators couldn't help but curse.
"Damn Skrulls, your barking's annoying us."
"Hmph, pathetic Kree. You looked pathetic fleeing Earth back then."
"Bastards, don't let us catch you outside, or you're dead."
"Screw you!"
Skrulls and Kree traded insults, locked in a verbal standoff.
In the Asgardian section, Asgardian soldiers coldly eyed these "strays," unfazed.
Among them, Loki, with his horned helmet, stared at the Spider-Man on the altar, standing excitedly.
"It's him! It's him!"
Loki took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"To enter Mephisto's Hell… could it be because of the Resurrection Match?"
His heart raced, confirming his past experiences weren't a dream.
Meanwhile, a commotion erupted at the other end of the stands. Savage Chitauri soldiers clashed verbally with haughty Sovereigns, limited to projections, unable to touch each other.
Unable to fight, the two races hurled insults in their respective languages.
The gold-painted Sovereign Queen, Ayesha, glanced calmly at the filthy Chitauri, then turned to the altar.
"Ayesha, as before, record the battle data. I want Adam to become the universe's mightiest god."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Ayesha activated her recording device.
Elsewhere, Star-Lord removed his helmet, dancing excitedly under everyone's gaze.
"Oh~ Yeah~ Woo-hoo!!"
A red figure with dual swords approached, holding an adorable baby, sidling up to Star-Lord.
"Hey, buddy, let a frontline hero like me take the stage. A third-rate hero like you isn't funny or strong enough to show off here."
Deadpool set baby Kingpin down and tapped his portable speaker.
"Baby bye-bye-bye~ Yeah~"
"Like this! Follow my lead!!"
Deadpool waved, and dozens of multiversal Deadpools behind him began a chaotic dance.
Charlie scanned the massive spectator stands, his gaze lingering on the Deadpools for half a second before he took a deep breath.
"What is this place?" he asked Thanos.
Thanos replied coldly, "Mephisto's Soul Arena, his amusement park. You're my thirteenth opponent."
"So you're content being a beast?"
"A beast?"
Thanos scoffed, removing his empty Infinity Gauntlet, revealing burns on his arm.
"I've already defeated the Avengers and fulfilled my dream.
Though Thor's axe was sharp and took my head, I have no regrets."
He glanced subtly at Gamora in the stands, quickly looking away.
"But coming here, I realized everything I did was meaningless.
To some, a universe's rise and fall is trivial. They can manipulate anyone at will.
Including me, the former cosmic overlord."
His smile was bitter. "I want to find my purpose. Even as a soul, I'll seek it."
Charlie's gaze sharpened. "Your purpose is to be a caged beast, fighting endlessly?"
"I don't think so. You stay here because the one you love is here."
Charlie glanced at Gamora. "For your so-called cosmic balance, you lost your daughter.
Here, you can see her, even if she hates you."
Thanos froze at those words.
"You… you're not the little bug I've met before."
"Of course. And you're not the Thanos I know."
Charlie raised his hand, the electric spider landing in his palm.
"Tell me, where's Tony's soul?"
"Iron Man, that guy?"
Thanos frowned, recalling.
The Earthling in armor on Titan's ruins.
To save him, Earth's Sorcerer Supreme willingly gave up the Time Tablet.
"He was brought here?" Thanos asked.
"Looks like you came here willingly."
Charlie's eyes narrowed. "That makes sense. Forcing you into Mephisto's Hell would be a disgrace to every Thanos across the multiverse."
"I don't understand you."
"That's not important. What matters is whether you know where Tony is."
"Sorry, I'm not interested in him."
"One last question: what's the benefit of defeating you?"
"Defeat me?"
Thanos snapped back, a sneer crossing his scarred face.
"The entire Avengers couldn't defeat me. You think you stand a chance?"
"Chances are what you make."
Their eyes locked, and in a flash, their fists collided with a thunderous boom!!
The shockwave rippled outward, cracking the altar into a web-like pattern, only for it to heal in hellfire.
In their brief clash, Thanos stood unmoved, while Charlie staggered back a few steps.
Thanos's strength was at least three hundred tons, Charlie estimated.
"What!!"
The crowd gasped as Spider-Man withstood Thanos's punch.
"That's Spider-Man's power?"
"How can a bug block Thanos's fist?"
"Why not?" Loki squinted. "I've heard even Captain Crank-Butt could."
"That was a fluke."
The stands erupted as Thanos swung his blade, and the red-and-blue figure dodged as an electric arc.
Zzt zzt~
The arc dispersed, and Charlie landed beside Takuya Yamashiro.
"Buddy, you—"
"I get it."
Takuya stepped back. "Don't worry, this is a duel between warriors. I won't disrupt your samurai spirit." His tone dripped with respect.
Charlie: "…"
"No, I'm saying help me take him down!"
"Nani?"
Takuya scratched his head. "Alright, my bad."
He waved his arms. "The man who risks his life for his friends, Spider—"
Boom!!
Before he finished, a purple fist slammed into him, embedding him in the stone wall, motionless.
Charlie: "…"
This guy's useless unless fighting giant monsters.
"Little bug, your friend's too weak."
Thanos spoke coldly, tossing his blade aside.
"Out of respect, I won't use weapons."
The stands booed, aimed at Charlie.
Charlie sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I know you're not trying to meme, but something feels off."
With that, electric arcs flared.
Zzt zzt~
Bang bang bang!!
In an instant, arcs circled Thanos, who calmly countered, locking onto the force within the arcs and catching Charlie's fists.
"Oh my gosh!"
"So fast!"
"Go, idol! I love you!!"
Deadpool screamed, and baby Kingpin waved tiny hands.
"Yah! Yah!!"
Boom!!
Thanos roared, smashing the ground. Shattered stones flew, striking the wall, dimming the arcs, replaced by vibrant red-and-blue magical energy.
Buzz~
Under glowing magical sigils, Charlie spread his arms, and spectral limbs bloomed behind him like a flower.
"It's the Sorcerer Supreme's clone magic!" Loki gasped.
Thanos's face grew serious.
He'd faced Strange's white magic and knew not to underestimate it.
But seeing only seven clones, he relaxed slightly.
"All flash, no substance. Come on!!"
Thanos clenched his fist, shattering the air. The clones leaped forward.
"Good Neighbor Flying Kick!"
"Good Neighbor Nuclear Blast Kick!"
"Good Neighbor Electric Dragon Drill…"
"My turn! Wolverine's Last Stand, Seven-Year Anniversary!"
"Oh no!!"
Deadpool covered his face. "As Wolvie's bestie, I can't handle this. So touching!!"
The Deadpools wept as dazzling magical streams crashed down.
Rumble!!!
Seven magical energies tore through the altar, one erupting with devastating force.
Slaughter Points 100, critical hit!!
Boom!!!
"No!"
At the explosion's core, Thanos roared, his armor shredded by magic, his exposed skin glowing purple.
Even his Titan body struggled against the terrifying magic.
Desperately, a battered Thanos rolled to grab his blade.
Boom
The double-bladed knife spun rapidly, stirring the air into a vortex that swept up the magical energy.
In an instant, the radiant magical fallout formed a tornado, scattering the clones.
Rumble
The tornado shattered the stone walls. Takuya, stuck in the wall, scurried to dodge, shocked by the purple giant's skill.
Soon, under the stunned gazes of the crowd, the tornado dissipated.
Thanos knelt, gasping heavily.
His purple skin bled, charred flesh falling, a pitiful sight.
In the stands, Gamora clenched her fists unconsciously.
Nebula sneered. "You're worried about him."
Gamora looked away, voice cold. "No way. I want him dead."
"He's already dead. Like us," Nebula mocked.
Even a cyborg had a soul—she found it ironic.
Looking at Gamora, Nebula felt a mix of envy and something else.
Gamora, sacrificed for the Soul Stone, was undoubtedly Thanos's favorite.
But it wasn't me.
Nebula's gaze dimmed.
To earn Thanos's trust, she betrayed her time-traveling self, stealing Infinity Stones.
She gave everything, but for what?
Future Gamora and past Nebula met in hell, as if it was all scripted.
Pointless.
Nebula no longer cared to be jealous.
But Thanos was different.
After ruling the cosmos, his fighting spirit reignited.
He hadn't been this thrilled in ages.
Neither Odin, whom he never fought, nor the roaring Hulk, nor Thor, with his endless potential but hammer obsession, could excite him.
Back then, he wasn't "pure."
Now, he'd let go of everything.
He lived for himself.
Even as a soul.
In this hell, his soul was his body, his proudest creation.
Under Charlie's wary gaze, Thanos rose, his torn purple skin healing rapidly, a dangerous aura stirring.
Charlie didn't waste words.
Crack crack~
Boom!!
His slim frame grew to match Thanos's size, exaggerated muscles glowing purple through his suit. The familiar aura shocked Thanos.
"This is… Titan power!"
Then, the nano-suit's web patterns turned blood-red, Hydra's power spreading. Blood-red tendrils extended, and crimson mist engulfed the altar.
The crowd gasped in shock.
But soon, Hydra's power faded.
Charlie spread his hands, teasing, "Out of respect, I won't use weapons."
Thanos: "…"