BOOM~~
As the energy storm surged, Doctor Doom and Charlie were hurled light-years away.
Yet, amidst the terrifying tidal wave of energy, one resolute figure stood firm.
"That guy…"
Staring at Thanos's towering silhouette, Doctor Doom was stunned.
"What's going on? How's a washed-up cosmic overlord holding on?" he said, incredulous.
Charlie dusted off his suit, his eyes glowing with golden totem power. Through the void, he saw faint purple light shimmering on Thanos's body.
"The Eternal Titan form?" His expression was unreadable.
"Titan form?"
Doctor Doom frowned. "A mere Titan, how could—"
Realizing something, his heart jolted.
"I get it."
He spoke quickly. "The Eternal Titans were created by the Celestials, and the Cosmic Cube must be tied to them. When he activated his Eternal Titan state, the Cube didn't fully reject him!"
Charlie mused, "The Cosmic Cube was made by the Celestials?"
"No way."
Doctor Doom was certain. "The Cube's power far exceeds the Celestials' capabilities, but it's definitely connected to them."
Charlie shrugged. "Your theory makes sense, but I need to check it out."
"You?" Doctor Doom's face was skeptical. "You?"
Charlie nodded. "Yeah, me."
Under Doom's shocked gaze, Charlie's body swelled, muscles bulging as faint purple light seeped through his suit.
Crack crack~
BOOM!!
Activating the long-ignored Eternal Titan form, Charlie found the Cosmic Cube's energy storm weakening.
No, not weakening—it was deliberately ignoring him.
Charlie grinned. "The musclebound hero makes his grand return!"
Doctor Doom: "..."
He'd forgotten Spider-Man had somehow gained Titan bloodline power early in his career.
This guy was cunning.
In Doom's envious glare, Charlie leaped, a golden streak shooting toward the Cosmic Cube.
Doctor Doom gritted his teeth.
He'd always dismissed Eternal Titan power, never bothering to collect it.
One misstep led to many.
Now he was at a disadvantage, regretting it deeply.
If Spider-Man gained the Cosmic Cube's power… Doom clutched his head, frantic.
Meanwhile, Charlie reached David's side, where Thanos, braving the intensifying storm, inched closer.
As Thanos reached for David's shoulder, Charlie shouted, "Careful!"
Too late—Thanos's hand touched David.
BOOM~~
Even though the Cosmic Cube had minimized its rejection, the energy still harmed Thanos.
This was its weakest output.
Crack crack~
Thanos's body trembled, fine cracks spreading across his skin.
He was breaking.
Yet he gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, roaring at David, "Remember what I said! Calm your heart, soothe the power within you!!"
Hearing Thanos's bellow, David struggled to open his eyes.
"Mr. Thanos… it hurts so much…"
David's face contorted, his brief clarity pulling a fragment of information from the Cube.
His pain deepened, tinged with sorrow and despair.
"Mr. Thanos… I…"
David forced a smile, but it was grim.
"My existence… might be doomed to tragedy."
Thanos frowned. "Don't talk nonsense. I'll teach you to be a true warrior.
Yes, a real, strong warrior, not some hero.
I know that's what you want most."
David clenched his teeth, pain twisting his face to the extreme.
He trembled, saying, "Sorry… I might… not make it."
Seeing Thanos's crumbling body, David seemed to decide.
"Mr. Thanos, the Molecule Men exist to destroy the multiverse. Even with the Cosmic Cube in me, I can't escape the final outcome."
He clenched his fists, his gaze resolute.
"And the Cosmic Cube was their creation. No matter what power I choose, I can't escape tragedy."
"What?"
Thanos was shocked. "The Cosmic Cube too…"
"Yes, Mr. Thanos, don't worry. The Cube has gained sentience—they can't control it anymore."
David's words eased Thanos and Charlie.
Then, with his last strength, David roared, "So, Mr. Thanos, take the Cosmic Cube from me!"
"No, impossible."
Thanos's body shook. "I believe you can do it. I taught you—you'll make it." He locked eyes with David, affirming.
David was touched, but time was running out.
"No, as long as I could become a Molecule Man, the Cosmic Cube will never accept me.
It's the key to defeating the Beyonders, but I'm their cage, trapping the Cube. My existence is a tragedy."
Bloodshot veins framed David's eyes, his face feral. "I've accepted this. I'm grateful another Thanos entered my life, letting me imagine a future.
So, Mr. Thanos, take it. Be the warrior, the hero, yourself!!!"
With David's heart-wrenching roar, his body exploded.
BOOM!!
A colorful mushroom cloud bloomed in the cosmos, forming David's smiling face.
Seeing it, Thanos knelt powerlessly.
He liked this young man, who mirrored another version of himself.
Their desired lives were always out of reach.
No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't attain it.
They despaired, struggled, yet held hope.
But the outcome never changed.
Until the end, they never forgot what they wanted.
David's cage shattered, freeing the Cosmic Cube.
And David.
Thanos's sorrow turned to resolve.
"Alright, David, I'll be… free!!"
Buzz!
Ignoring his breaking body, Thanos lunged at the blue cube.
His heart was calm.
He hadn't lied to David.
Only in calm could one find what they sought.
Like the Cosmic Cube before him!
In an instant, Charlie's vision lost Thanos, seeing only the trembling Cube.
"He's getting a new form?"
Charlie blinked, incredulous.
He'd always hoped for a Thanos surpassing the Infinity Gems, punching dimension demons, kicking the Five Gods.
The true cosmic overlord, invincible Eternal Titan.
Sadly, that Thanos never appeared.
But now, Charlie saw Thanos's rebirth.
When he emerged, he'd wield unimaginable power.
If Thanos had the Cosmic Cube, then a Heart of the Universe Thanos… Charlie envied his luck.
But Thanos's luck seemed to run dry.
BOOM!!
A thunderbolt tore the cosmic barrier, revealing a twisted figure in a deep white wormhole.
"This aura…"
Charlie frowned. He'd never sensed anything like it.
Could it be… In his grave gaze, the figure solidified into a towering presence.
The universe trembled, all rules dissolving.
All eyes could see only one being.
"Him"! His ivory weapon made Charlie think of one entity.
The Beyonders, the Ivory King! The elite warriors of the Beyonders, their strongest.
In the comics, Ivory Kings were the Beyonders' vanguard, clearing Marvel's gods.
One could solo a Celestial group, even defeat a Five Gods-tier powerhouse.
Three could take down the Living Tribunal, an omniversal entity! Realizing this, Charlie glanced at the spinning Cosmic Cube, understanding.
They wanted to stop Thanos from claiming its power.
Too bad—Charlie wouldn't allow it, nor would the "God" monitoring cosmic chaos.
Buzz~
Colorful wormholes opened, terrifying beings appearing in Charlie's sight.
The starry cosmos formed a colossal figure—Eternity, the embodiment of time! At the universe's other end, a radiant stellar form—Infinity, representing space! At the edge, endless antimatter shaped a towering figure—Oblivion, pure energy incarnate!
Three of the Five Gods appeared, but above them, light-years away, a dazzling gold illuminated the cosmos.
The gold was untouchable, unfathomable, its occupant unseen.
Its presence radiated absolute authority and power.
The Living Tribunal, the ultimate cosmic force, the only match for an Ivory King.
Charlie clutched his face, freaking out.
He wasn't ready!
This was an endgame lineup.
Well, Spider-Man's endgame, not necessarily Marvel's.
Because… "Judgment!!"
The Living Tribunal's voice boomed across the multiverse, annihilating the Ivory King's universe.
Including the invincible Spider-Man and a stunned Doctor Doom, wiped out by the indiscriminate judgment.
Before his consciousness faded, Charlie understood.
This was just the beginning! Alright, time for a long-overdue Resurrection Match—the invincible Spider-Man was back!! Meanwhile, inside the Cosmic Cube, Thanos was unaware of the outside chaos.
As he accepted its power, a graceful figure appeared nearby.
Her beauty stirred Thanos's heart, a first-time urge to approach a woman.
In all his years, he'd never felt this.
One glance, and Thanos fell in love, on a starless night.
One glance, and her name surfaced in his mind.
Death!
Her power and beauty surpassed any woman he'd seen.
Thanos's heart raced.
His first love.
Gazing at her, he was entranced.
Until… He saw the leash in Death's hand.
At its end, a man.
A man in red.
Spider-Man? Thanos's gaze sharpened. No man could approach his goddess.
Not even Spider-Man! But seeing the shameless man posing as a dog, he lost it.
"How could it be him?"
Thanos gritted his teeth. The despicable, ugly Deadpool by Death's side—impossible!! Unforgivable!! Stepping toward Death, the near-Cosmic Cube-powered Thanos moved.
He forgot David, who'd given him the Cube.
His eyes held only Death, no one else.
Death calmly watched Thanos approach.
Wade, leashed, barked "Woof" and sighed.
"Lady Death, when can I go? I've got important stuff to do."
Death glanced at Wade, her lips curling.
"Your beloved Spider-Man's dead. You've got nothing important now."
"What?"
Wade jumped, yanking off the leash, cursing Death.
"You vile, venomous woman! How could you not save Spidey? You knew he's my light!!"
Wade raised his hands, dramatically worshiping his idol.
Death rolled her eyes.
"Apologize before I lose interest," she said coldly.
Wade dropped to his knees, groveling. "Sorry, I was wrong, great and beautiful Lady Death. Forgive my rudeness. I'll lick your toes, slurp~ Woof woof~~"
Death was pleased with Wade's antics.
"Good. I like your third-rate tricks." She patted his head. "Good boy~"
Thanos, witnessing this, erupted in fury.
"Filthy Deadpool, get lost!"
He strode toward Wade, raising a hand with the Cosmic Cube's power, a radiant blast aimed at him.
"Crap, beautiful Lady Death, save me!!"
Wade, startled, dove behind Death.
With a glance, Death made Thanos willingly retract the Cube's power.
Wade whooped at the thrill.
"Lady Death, why are we here?" he asked from behind her.
Death smiled at Thanos, chuckling softly.
"I've got a shameless servant. Now I need a powerful one."
Deadpool clapped. "Yes, I'm too powerful to satisfy Lady Death alone. Thanos, the shameless servant, is perfect for her ranks."
Thanos: "..."