Across the void of space, death followed Thanos like a loyal shadow. Planets burned in his wake, their skies torn open by the black fires of his armadas. The Mad Titan moved with purpose, each step bringing him closer to his design the extinction of half the universe.
The first blow fell upon Xandar. The Nova Corps fought valiantly, their fleets lighting the sky in arcs of blue and gold, but it made no difference. The Power Stone, once entrusted to their vaults, was torn from its casing and mounted upon the Titan's gauntlet. The explosion of energy vaporized half the planet's defense grid in an instant. When the dust settled, Xandar was no more. Its cities were craters, its oceans turned to steam, and the Power Stone pulsed in Thanos's hand, its glow reflecting in his pitiless eyes.
He left nothing behind but silence.
Word spread fast across the stars. The Ravagers heard whispers, the Kree fell into panic, and even the Sovereign began evacuation protocols. But none could stop him. The Titan's purpose was clear, and all the universe trembled.
Among the few who dared stand in his path were the Guardians of the Galaxy. Their ship, the Benatar, intercepted a distress beacon from a decimated world. Rocket cursed under his breath as the debris field surrounded them. "This ain't right. Xandar's gone. The whole damn place gone."
Peter Quill's face darkened. "We need to find who did this."
They didn't have to look far.
Thanos's warship emerged from hyperspace like a black eclipse. The Guardians barely had time to react before the ship's cannons lit up, the shockwaves hurling their vessel aside. Gamora froze as she saw the silhouette on the command deck. Her voice trembled, low and fearful. "He's here."
The fight that followed was brutal and hopeless. Drax charged first, roaring vengeance, only to be caught mid-strike and thrown into a wall hard enough to shatter the metal. Quill fired, shouting, his blasters striking Thanos's armor and fading to nothing. Mantis tried to reach his mind but recoiled, screaming, as she touched the endless void of his will.
Thanos moved with calm inevitability. Every motion was deliberate, every strike final. He caught Gamora by the wrist, her dagger flashing toward his throat the same dagger he'd given her as a child. "You've grown strong," he said softly, his voice almost tender. "But not strong enough."
She spat at him, tears burning in her eyes. "I hate you."
"I know."
With a wave of his hand, the Space Stone tore open a shimmering vortex. The Guardians were hurled aside as the Titan and his prisoner vanished into blue fire.
The vortex reformed above a dying red world Vormir.
The air was cold and heavy, the ground littered with the remnants of forgotten civilizations. A lone figure awaited them atop a jagged spire, cloaked and hooded. His voice was distant, hollow, like the echo of a thousand regrets. "To obtain the Soul Stone, one must sacrifice what one loves."
Thanos's eyes flickered with something uncharacteristic pain. He turned to Gamora, and she saw it too late. "No," she whispered, stumbling back. "No, you can't "
Tears fell freely as he lifted her. For the first time in his endless crusade, Thanos wept. And then, without hesitation, he let her fall.
The scream echoed across the cliffs and died in silence. The Soul Stone rose from the abyss, burning orange, pulsing with the essence of sacrifice.
Thanos stood alone, gauntlet complete but for two stones more. His face was unreadable, carved from loss and purpose. When the light faded, the universe seemed to hold its breath.
On Earth, sensors screamed. Alex Price stood in the orbital command deck, his expression grim. The readings were unmistakable the same cosmic signature that had obliterated Xandar now rippled through space again. He knew what it meant.
Gear's voice came softly through the speakers, calm but edged with tension. "Dimensional displacement detected. Probability of target Thanos approaching Earth exceeds ninety-six percent."
Alex's eyes narrowed. "Then it begins."
He opened a transmission to Stark. "Prepare the defenses. Bring the Avengers. The Titan has taken the Power, Reality, and Soul Stones. He's coming for the rest."
Far below, in Wakanda, the sky shimmered with the hum of energy shields powering up. Across the solar system, Mechanicus orbital platforms aligned, their cannons charging. Mars colonies went dark, switching to defense mode.
And above it all, Alex Price stared into the void, the faint green light of the Time Stone glinting in his palm. He had seen many wars against men, against machines, against gods. But this was different.
This was the endgame.