The loud horn blew again.
The grand tournament officially began.
Down in the massive sand ring, the fights were incredible.
The magic, lasers, and raw power shook the entire desert.
Steve Rogers fought with everything he had. He was brave, but his opponent was just a little too strong. Steve lost his match.
Tony Stark stepped up next. He used his new Asgardian-metal armor and his clever mind to completely outsmart his enemy. Tony won.
Thor went into the ring laughing and swinging his hammer. But he got a little too arrogant, made a clumsy mistake, and lost.
Hela walked in next. The Goddess of Death didn't even break a sweat. She easily overpowered her opponent and won.
It all came down to the final match.
Two to two.
Natasha walked calmly into the center of the arena. She released the cold, sharp power of her silver Golden Core.
She moved like a beautiful, impossible ghost.
Her opponent couldn't even touch her.
With one fast, perfect strike, Natasha won the final fight.
Earth had won. Three matches to two.
The human side of the stadium exploded with happy tears and deafening cheers.
Up in the private box, Thanos did not look angry.
He didn't yell, and he didn't look disappointed.
In fact, he had barely watched the fights at all.
During the entire tournament, his mind was completely stuck on the words Sam had spoken.
*Expand the universe. Support life, do not erase it.*
Thanos looked at his heavy hands.
He had caused so much pain because he thought death was the only answer.
But now, his eyes were finally opened.
Thanos turned to look at Sam.
"Your champions are very strong,"
Thanos said quietly.
"You have won the tournament, Sam. I accept my defeat."
"Thank you, Thanos,"
Sam smiled, taking a sip of his tea.
Thanos leaned forward. He looked at Sam with a very serious, humble expression.
"Cultivator,"
Thanos rumbled softly.
"If I truly drop my old path... if I choose to create instead of destroy... would you be willing to lend me the Infinity Stones? Just for a short time. I want to use them to give the universe the resources it desperately needs."
Sam looked deep into the giant alien's eyes.
He saw no tricks and no lies.
Thanos's entire view of the universe had completely changed.
Sam nodded his head.
"Yes,"
Sam agreed warmly.
"I will let you borrow them. But you have to wait for me. I still need to go get the Soul Stone."
Thanos frowned slightly, a look of worry crossing his face.
"The Soul Stone is hidden on Vormir,"
Thanos warned him.
"It requires a terrible price. A soul for a soul. You must sacrifice someone you truly love to get it."
"Not me,"
Sam smiled confidently.
"I am a Cultivator. My power breaks the normal rules of heaven. I will get that stone, and I will do it without sacrificing anyone."
Thanos looked deeply impressed.
He reached into his golden belt, pulled out a small, sleek silver device, and handed it to Sam.
"This will contact my ship anywhere in the galaxy,"
Thanos said.
"Call me when you have all six stones."
Thanos stood up from his chair. He looked down at the crowd, and then out toward the green hills far beyond the desert.
"Before I send my army back to the stars,"
Thanos asked, his deep voice sounding almost shy.
"I would like to stay on Earth for a little while. I want to learn."
"Learn what?"
Sam asked.
"I want to see how your people grow things,"
Thanos answered honestly.
"I want to know how Earthlings take care of their farms. I want to learn how to plant seeds in the dirt."
Sam stood up and held out his hand.
He was basically the king and protector of Earth now, and he was happy to welcome a man who wanted to heal instead of hurt.
"You are more than welcome to stay, Thanos,"
Sam smiled, shaking the Mad Titan's massive hand.
The New Era had officially arrived.
With massive alien spaceships parked on Earth and giant warriors sharing candy in the stadium, the old fears of the world seemed completely silly.
Almost overnight, the bitter war between normal humans and mutants became a joke in history.
Aliens were real. The universe was massive.
Why should people on Earth hate their own kind?
Down in the city streets, the alien soldiers were actually completely confused by the old human hatred.
A tall alien soldier looked at a news broadcast about mutant powers and scratched his heavy head.
He looked down at a human police officer standing next to him.
"I do not understand,"
The alien said, looking genuinely confused.
"Why do your people fight these mutants?"
"Because they are different,"
The human officer tried to explain.
"They have powers. Their DNA is mutated."
The alien just laughed loudly.
"To us, you are all just Earthlings,"
The alien chuckled, shaking his head.
"You breathe the same air, you drink the same water, and you live on the same tiny blue rock. You are exactly the same race to us. Trying to kill each other over small differences is completely foolish."
The human officer listened to the alien's simple logic. He had no argument. The alien was absolutely right.
While the world was busy making peace and entering a brand new era, Sam and everyone finally went back home.
They walked through the front doors of his massive mansion.
Sam let out a long, happy breath.
The heavy matter of Thanos had ended beautifully.
There was no bloody war, no snapped fingers, and no endless tragedy.
Just peace.
Sam walked into the living room.
May, Ororo, Jean, and Anna were all waiting for them.
They welcomed them with open arms, warm smiles.
"You all did it,"
May smiled proudly.
"You all saved the entire universe without firing a single weapon."
"We did it,"
Sam corrected her gently, wrapping his arms around her.
"I couldn't have done it without my champions."
He spent the rest of the evening relaxing with his women.
They shared a wonderful dinner, laughed together, and enjoyed the perfect peace of their home.
But later that night, as they all sat together in the warm living room, Sam's face turned a little more serious.
"I love being here with all of you,"
Sam said softly, holding Anna's hand.
"But I have to go on a long journey very soon."
The room grew quiet. Jean looked at him, her eyes full of understanding.
"You are going to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage,"
Jean guessed correctly.
"Yes,"
Sam nodded.
"I have the stones, and my Qi is completely full. I have to travel to that new, heavy universe to take the lightning tribulation. But I am not just going there for myself."
Sam looked around the room at the beautiful, strong women he loved so much.
"You are all cultivating now,"
Sam explained, his voice full of deep promise.
"One day, you will all reach the edge of the mortal shell, just like me. Earth will not be able to handle your lightning tribulations either. I need to go to that new universe and prepare a safe place for all of us."
Natasha smirked, her eyes shining with pure excitement.
"You are building a home for us in another universe?"
She asked.
"I am building a sanctuary,"
Sam smiled back.
"A place where my family and my friends can safely become immortal. When I come back, I will bring you all to see it."
"We will be waiting right here,"
May said warmly, speaking for all of them.
"Just promise you will be careful."
"I promise,"
Sam said, pulling them close.
The universe was finally safe, and his family was happy.
Now, it was time for the Cultivator to break his mortal shell and become a true god.
A few peaceful months passed quickly.
Thanos and his massive alien army finally packed up their ships.
The Mad Titan kept his promise.
He took his fleet back into the deep stars, not to conquer or erase, but to find empty spaces and create new resources for the galaxy.
But not everyone left.
A few aliens decided they actually liked Earth.
They loved the food, the culture, and the strange, stubborn humans.
Gamora was one of them.
Her entire fate had changed.
Before Thanos left, he had looked at her and officially given her complete freedom.
She was no longer a weapon.
Gamora stood on the balcony of Sam's mansion, looking out at the bright city.
A tall, blue-skinned cyborg walked up quietly behind her. It was her sister, Nebula.
"The ships are gone,"
Nebula said, her robotic voice sounding a little bit lost.
"Are you really going to stay on this primitive dirt planet?"
Gamora turned around and gave her sister a soft, genuine smile.
"It is not dirt, Nebula,"
Gamora said gently.
"It is a home. I am free now. I can choose where I want to be. And I choose to be here."
Nebula crossed her metal arms and frowned.
"Then I am staying too,"
Nebula declared stubbornly.
"Someone has to keep an eye on you. You have gotten soft."
Gamora laughed softly. She knew Nebula was just making an excuse.
Her sister didn't know how to be alone, and she secretly wanted to stay close to her.
"I am very happy you are here, sister,"
Gamora said, reaching out to gently hold Nebula's metal hand.
Nebula looked away, pretending to be annoyed, but she didn't pull her hand back.
Inside the massive Stark battleship, Sam was preparing the final controls.
He had spent several wonderful months with his women.
His mind was rested, and his spirit was completely calm. He was absolutely ready.
Hela walked into the command room.
She wore her dark green armor, expecting to take the co-pilot seat just like last time.
But Sam turned around and gently shook his head.
"I am not taking you with me this time, Hela,"
Sam said softly.
Hela stopped walking. She narrowed her eyes.
"Why not?"
Hela asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"I have faced cosmic horrors and giant armies. I am not afraid of a little lightning."
Sam walked over and gently held her face in his hands.
"I know you are not afraid,"
Sam smiled, his voice full of deep love and absolute seriousness.
"But the Nine Heavenly Lightning Tribulation is very strict. It is a personal test from the universe. If anyone else is standing near me when the lightning strikes, the universe will think you are helping me. It will multiply the power of the lightning to strike you down too."
Hela let out a heavy sigh. She knew he was right. Cultivation laws were ancient and unbreakable.
"It is a solitary path,"
Sam whispered, kissing her forehead.
"I have to shatter my mortal shell completely alone. It is too dangerous for anyone else. But I will build a safe place for you once I am done."
Hela nodded slowly. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck for one last, deep hug.
"You better come back to me, my King,"
Hela whispered fiercely.
"I always do,"
Sam promised.
Hela stepped back, gave him a proud smile, and walked off the ship.
The heavy metal doors closed tightly.
Sam was left alone in the command room with only his two small wooden helpers.
"Are we ready, Little D? Little H?"
Sam asked, sitting in the captain's chair.
"D is ready, Master!"
Little D said cheerfully, her wooden fingers hovering over the glowing buttons.
"Hulk smash lightning!"
Little H cheered, punching his tiny wooden fists in the air.
"Let's hope we don't have to smash anything,"
Sam laughed softly.
He looked at the saved coordinates on the screen.
It was a universe with incredibly strong laws. The universe was filled with ancient gods and deep, profound energy.
"Take us there, Little D,"
Sam ordered calmly.
The battleship hummed with massive power.
The warp drive flashed with a blinding, bright light, and the ship tore a hole right through the fabric of reality.
Sam was finally on his way to become a true god.
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