"So it seems you are my opponent."
Thanos rested the Tyrant's Blade on his shoulder, tilting his head slightly at the woman with long brown hair. There was no contempt in his gaze; on the battlefield, a threat was a threat, regardless of gender.
This alone told Thanos she was far from ordinary. Sensing the power within her, he realized that if he wasn't careful, he could actually lose to her.
"It appears so," Wanda said, calm on the surface, though her heart raced.
She could feel the suffocating aura emanating from Thanos-a life-form partially transcended beyond mortality, like her mentor. Such an opponent was unprecedented. Despite five years of training under Charles and occasional missions, facing a being like this still made her nervous.
Suppressing her fear, she forced her focus. A faint red glow appeared in her hands as Thanos readied himself. Battles raged elsewhere, making conflict here unavoidable.
Thanos knew how to handle a mage: never let them prepare. A fully prepared mage, even against a stronger warrior, could make the encounter deadly.
Instantly, Thanos struck. His speed peaked, moving like a ghost, lunging at Wanda. A single blow sent cracks spreading across the ground, collapsing the nearby terrain. Both Thanos and Wanda were forced into the earth by the sheer force.
But Thanos frowned. He had struck something-but not the woman herself. When the dust cleared, the red power remained firm, shielding Wanda.
"This energy?" he thought. "An Infinity Stone?"
Thanos sensed its uniqueness. Its intensity matched his own, yet the woman's personal power shouldn't reach this level. The conclusion came quickly: she wielded an Infinity Stone.
He studied her carefully. Underestimating a woman with an Infinity Stone would be fatal. She likely held one in his own universe as well.
Which stone? Thanos couldn't tell-she hadn't shown specific abilities. But there were five Power Stones left on Earth in this universe: the Space and Time Stones were held by the Black Dragon; the Power Stone with Thor; and the Mind and Reality Stones' locations were unknown.
By elimination, hers was likely the Mind Stone or the Reality Stone. Either way, Thanos resolved to seize it.
"A pity I don't have the other two stones; otherwise I could be sure," he thought. "Mind Stone means illusions-Reality Stone means extreme caution."
Thanos activated the Power Stone. His strength surged further.
Wanda's eyes widened. She raised her hands; the shattered rocks around them lifted, attacking Thanos, while the ground beneath him cracked.
Thanos barely stumbled, losing balance for a moment. This version of him couldn't fly, so he had to retreat briefly-a rare opportunity for Wanda. Her heart pounded. Even with flaws, this Tenth-tier being was terrifying.
Touching the Mind Stone embedded in her glove, Wanda conceived a plan. She knew Thanos might identify the stone, but its power was substantial. She was no mere wielder-she was a qualified mage, versed in Arcane arts.
Her eyes glowed blood-red. The sheer intensity made Thanos frown, though he didn't take it seriously. He only noted one curiosity: why hadn't she used spatial magic fully? Likely a limitation, he thought.
Thanos struck again. In a single motion, he reached Wanda, slashing her in half. Her crimson energy erupted like tentacles toward him. Lightning-fast, he cut through it repeatedly, leaving no chance to recover.
Every strike ensured Wanda couldn't heal freely. A mage opponent could not be allowed to recover easily.
As he pushed forward, Thanos noticed something: the woman seemed illusory. Yet tactile feedback and the eruption of power confirmed she was real.
Another strike cut her in two at the waist-but Thanos didn't pause. He had learned from history: the Sorcerer Supreme of his universe had defeated Dormammu with clever magic. He would not allow history to repeat itself.
"For my justice, you must die! But I will ensure half of Earth survives in any universe."
Without hesitation, Thanos swung again, fully killing her.
Lowering his head, he examined the corpse. He didn't desire to kill innocents, but justice demanded it.
Picking up the Infinity Stone embedded in her glove, Thanos sighed and departed.
"I wonder how the other battles are going," he mused. "A single girl caused me this much trouble. Truly incredible."
He leaped into the air, unaware that just after his departure, a pair of blood-red eyes appeared in the sky. The air thickened, and the world around grew even more hazy.