Chapter 447: Peter Critically Wounded
Peter's offensive was relentless, leaving Thanos no time to think. While Peter controlled his own arms, the spider-legs on his back were being operated by the AI, Gaia. Every time Thanos tried to clench his fist to tap into the Infinity Stones' power, Gaia predicted the move and used the sharp legs to strike at the Titan's left hand.
"ENOUGH!"
Thanos finally found an opening. He snatched one of the lancing spider-legs with the Gauntlet and snapped it off with a brutal twist. Peter's Spider-Sense flared like an explosion in his mind!
Sensing immediate danger, Peter tried to leap away, but Thanos activated the Space Stone, freezing him in place.
"You are impressive, insect. You are the first to make me bleed, Silas's brother, Peter Parker." Thanos finally had a moment to wipe the thin trail of blood from his cheek.
"You know me?!" Peter's eyes widened behind his mask. Why did Thanos know his name?
"Of course. I have been paying very close attention to your brother, Silas," Thanos said with a cold smile, gripping the severed spider-spear.
Puchi!
The five-foot-long spider-leg tore through Peter's body, bypassing the nano-armor's defenses and transfixing him through the abdomen.
"Argh—" Peter wanted to scream in agony, but the thought that he had grown up, that he was no longer a child, made him swallow the scream, forcing the pain back down his throat.
"What... what do you want with Silas?" Blood leaked from the corner of Peter's mouth. This was the most severe injury he had ever sustained.
"You know, he has been keeping a Stone very safe for me," Thanos told him.
"What stone?!" Peter struggled weakly, but he was powerless against the overwhelming might of the Power Stone.
Seeing Peter's critical condition, Gaia didn't dare use the remaining spider-legs, fearing that any further provocation would lead Thanos to kill Peter instantly.
"It doesn't matter now. I hope humanity remembers your sacrifice today. Rest easy; I will leave half of them alive."
Thanos was intrigued by the Parker brothers, but it was a shame they chose to stand in his way. He tightened his grip on the spear, preparing to drive it through Peter's heart. Gaia braced itself, ready to use every remaining resource to block the strike.
"Let him go, and I'll give you the Stone. Otherwise, I'll destroy it before you can take it," Strange said, sitting dejectedly on the ground.
Thanos paused. He looked at the Sorcerer Supreme with curiosity. Why was this wizard willing to trade the Stone for Peter's life?
"No tricks, wizard," Thanos warned. He spared a glance at the dying boy and tossed Peter aside like trash.
Thump!
Peter hit the ground. He desperately wanted to get up and stop the trade, but the searing pain in his gut anchored him to the dust. The spider-spear that had wounded him was crafted with Carbonadium—a material designed to suppress healing factors. Without immediate medical attention, Peter would bleed out.
Seeing Peter released, Strange exhaled a long, shaky breath. He extended his right hand, and a brilliant emerald gem materialized between his fingers. Sensing the ancient, primordial aura of the Stone, Thanos knew it was the real thing. He opened his palm, beckoning for it.
Strange glanced at the wounded Peter.
"Don't do it, Doctor..." Peter's eyes were bloodshot. He was pleading. What did his life matter? He was a superhero; he had prepared himself to die for the world.
Strange closed his eyes, then slowly opened them. He nudged the Time Stone forward, and it floated into Thanos's palm.
Thanos took the Stone, sparing one last look at Peter before slotting it into the Gauntlet.
Click!
BOOM!
A surge of energy washed over Thanos as he became further ascended. The Infinity Gauntlet was a burden few could bear; without his immense constitution and iron will, the power would have incinerated a normal being.
"DIE, THANOS!" Quill, finally recovered, drew his weapons and opened fire.
Thanos ignored the energy bolts peppering his armor. He made a fist, and a fractured wormhole opened behind him. He stepped back into the void and vanished from Titan.
"Did we... did we lose?" Quill retracted his mask, looking at the wounded team with guilt gnawing at his heart.
Peter's vision was growing hazy. He reached a hand toward the orange sky. "I think... I can see God."
"Don't be silly, Peter," Gaia said. The AI retracted the nano-armor from Peter's body to reveal the horrific wound. "Switching to Medical Mode."
In an instant, Gaia processed the sum total of Earth's top surgical knowledge.
Strange limped over and sat beside Peter, clutching his own chest. "I... I used to be a world-class surgeon, but..." He held out his hands, which were shaking uncontrollably.
"It's fine. Leave it to me," Gaia said. Using nano-technology, the suit began to seal the wound and replace the damaged organs that could no longer heal themselves.
Earth
After a moment of deliberation, Silas finally merged the Mind Stone with his own essence and returned to the battlefield. He and Wanda unleashed their respective magics, obliterating the remaining alien warships in the sky.
"Peter..." Silas was about to continue the attack when he felt a sudden, sharp pang in his heart. A message arrived from a Shadow Ninja.
Peter had been run through by a spider-spear. He was dying, and only Gaia's emergency measures were keeping him alive.
"Dammit!" Silas desperately wanted to go to Titan, but Shadow Portals didn't support interstellar travel. Only the combined strength of every sorcerer at Kamar-Taj could open a gate that far. The only silver lining was that communication was still possible.
"What's wrong, Silas?" Wanda asked, noticing him freeze.
"He's coming," Silas said, hardening his gaze.
"He?" Wanda frowned.
"Everyone! Thanos is coming! Assemble now!" Silas roared across the battlefield.
Every Avenger heard the call and converged on Silas's position.
"Thanos is coming?" Tony asked, hovering to Silas's left.
"Yes. They lost on Titan," Silas nodded.
"They?" Tony started to ask, then realized he meant Peter and Strange. Looking at Silas's dark expression, Tony could guess that the battle on Titan had been catastrophic.
"Don't worry. We have Hulk, and we have Thor. And of course, we have you," Tony said, patting Silas's shoulder.
Thor had just arrived from Nidavellir with his new weapon, Stormbreaker. He looked at the axe and then at the "fat man" who held a similar weapon. He wondered... could this be another secret sibling his father had never mentioned?
"Brother!" Loki arrived on the scene, embracing Thor.
"Haha! This time, it was my turn to trick you," Thor laughed, patting Loki's back.
"I wasn't worried about you at all," Loki said, pulling away with his usual pride.
"Loki, I think I know who that man is..." Thor began to share his theory about the "secret brother." Loki listened, his brow furrowed. The theory sounded ridiculous.
"HULK!" A soldier trying to sneak up on the brothers was snatched by Hulk and tossed away.
"Thanks, Hulk. And thanks for last time, too," Thor smiled.
"Hulk?" Hulk tilted his head, confused by what the "tiny god" was talking about.
At that moment, the air grew heavy.
"Is everyone here?"
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