Grandmaster stood alone in the dim light of his control chamber, the humiliation still burning beneath his skin. His hands trembled, first with shame, then with something far more dangerous.
A vicious glint flashed across his eyes. Slowly, he extended his hand.
An orange gleam shimmered into existence.
A gem… flawless, floated above his palm.
The very Soul Gem Soren had searched for and never found.
Grandmaster's lips curled. "So. You thought I was defenseless…"
He tightened his grip around the stone. "Connect me to Thanos. Sanctuary sector."
A pulse of light flickered. The air warped, forming a towering holographic projection.
And with it came the oppressive presence of the most feared being in the universe…
Thanos.
"Grandmaster," Thanos rumbled, eyes narrowing with mild surprise. "A dignified Elder reaching out to me? Unexpected."
His voice alone carried the weight of countless massacres. Even through a projection, the aura of slaughter clung to him like a second skin.
His gaze settled on the disheveled Grandmaster.
"Enough theatrics. I'm here to make a deal. I want you to kill someone." He no longer cared about pride.
Killing Soren through conventional means was impossible.
Even with the backing of the Cosmic Elders, the ancient beings of the universe… none could match Soren's monstrous power.
But there was one being who could try.
One monster who might rival another.
Thanos leaned forward slightly, intrigued. "A new champion appeared on Sakaar recently… someone from Earth. The one you want dead, is it him?"
Even hidden away in Sanctuary, Thanos's network reached everywhere. Nothing escaped his gaze, not even an Elder's affairs.
"You ask too many questions." Grandmaster scoffed.
He revealed the orange gem fully, setting it upon the table. Its light bathed the room in a haunting glow.
Thanos froze. "…The Soul Gem."
"So that's why it vanished from history," He murmured. "An Elder hid it."
"No wonder all my searches led to nothing."
Grandmaster folded his arms. "This is my offer. Kill Soren, the Earthling and the Soul Gem is yours."
Thanos had spent decades hunting the Infinity Stones. His obsession with them was legendary across galaxies.
And now one of the most elusive Stones was sitting before him.
Greed flared in his eyes like twin suns.
But then… it cooled.
Thanos straightened, regaining composure. A slow, thoughtful breath. "There will come a time when Soren and I clash."
"That battle is inevitable. So yes… I accept."
Just one word followed, heavy enough to shake the room.
"Good."
Grandmaster felt a surge of triumph, but it was premature.
"Don't waste time." He leaned in, voice cold.
"If you delay, I can always leak news of the Soul Gem. There are countless powerful beings who would happily hunt Soren for a Stone."
"You dare threaten me?" At once, Thanos's expression darkened.
The killing intent pouring from the Titan's projection pressed down like a mountain.
Even through a hologram, Grandmaster felt his knees weaken.
"You forget yourself," Thanos growled. "I have slaughtered worlds for less."
Grandmaster's throat worked.
"I~I'm only emphasizing the urgency," He stammered. "Do it quickly. I'll await your results."
He cut the connection before the Titan's fury could escalate.
The room fell silent again.
Grandmaster looked at the Soul Gem glimmering in his palm.
The Soul Gem pulsed faintly on the table, casting soft orange light across the Grandmaster's face. His expression twisted… greed, fear, hesitation all clashing beneath his skin.
As an Elder of the Universe, he understood the Gem's true power better than almost anyone alive.
With it, he could even contend with Soren. For a moment, the temptation pulled at him, whispering promises of vengeance.
He knew better.
The Cosmic Council had learned the hard way what happened when one of their kind wielded an Infinity Stone. The memory of that catastrophe was carved into their laws.
Using a Stone was forbidden. Absolutely.
If he disobeyed and the others found out, even an Elder would face consequences beyond imagination.
That was the only reason… the only reason… he had reluctantly offered up the Soul Gem as a bargaining chip.
"Soren… the Soul Gem… very well," Grandmaster murmured through clenched teeth.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
Far across the cosmos, deep within the Sanctuary, a single massive figure sat upon a throne sculpted of obsidian and ruin.
Thanos watched the projection fade, fingers drumming slowly on the armrest.
The corners of his mouth curled.
"Soul Gem," he whispered, eyes glinting with hunger.
"And the Earthling Soren…"
After a long silence, he rose.
"All units, prepare for mobilization." His command boomed like a god's decree.
"Rectify the army. We march for Earth."
Across Sanctuary, the order rippled outward.
Warships awoke and Generals and lieutenants snapped into motion.
The universe trembled… rumors spread like wildfire.
Thanos, the Mad Titan, had chosen a new target.
Soren, the newly risen Great Devil of Earth.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
Soren and his companions tore open the barrier of space, forcing a passage directly into the golden realm. But the Asgard that greeted them was no longer the shining kingdom they remembered.
It had fallen.
Under the dominion of the Goddess of Death, Asgard's spiritual pressure was suffocating…
Within her own realm, Hela's strength had surged to terrifying heights, nearly reaching EX-class.
Here, she was unstoppable.
After seizing the throne, she slaughtered all who defied her.
Thor's loyal war squad, the brave warriors who had fought at his side for centuries, lay among the dead. Entire units of soldiers were butchered for refusing to kneel.
And with Asgard's Eternal Flame now in her possession, Hela resurrected every corpse within the royal vaults.
Ancient warriors. Berserkers. Generals.
Her undead army marched in the thousands, an unstoppable tide of blades and shadows.
When fully restored, they would not stop at Asgard.
The Nine Realms and beyond would fall beneath her heel.
Yet despite her overwhelming momentum, one thing had enraged her more than all else…
The key to Bifrost was missing.
Heimdall's sacred sword, the weapon that commanded the cosmic bridge, had been stolen.
Whoever had dared to steal it… would learn the price of defying the Goddess of Death.