Capítulo 45: 401-405
Knowing that their timeline held a one hundred percent chance of success, Mark had newfound confidence in the plan they were about to execute. However, before executing the well-thought-out plan, he needed to rally his now discouraged comrades.
"Everyone, there's no time left for us to wallow in despair. If we don't want Thanos's plan to succeed, our only choice is resistance. Pull yourselves together, give it your all, and strive to get closer to that one path of success. I believe that if we unite, this isn't entirely impossible.
Regardless of the sacrifices our resistance may bring, and no matter how slim our chances of success may seem, what's truly important right now isn't the 1 in 14,000,606 odds of success but a future where success and failure are equally balanced."
Mark may not have been emotionally intelligent or a master of speeches, but his words, backed by inner confidence and self-assuredness, resonated with every member of the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy. He managed to uplift their morale from its previously low state.
Even Drax began to pay close attention to Tony's instructions for the ambush task. The other members assumed their predetermined roles, preparing for Thanos's return.
Meanwhile, Mark, accompanied by Mantis, arrived at the place where Ebony Maw was held captive. Mark couldn't fully trust Ebony Maw, and to ensure he didn't reveal anything critical at this stage, Mark planned to equip him with a device to keep him in check.
For added security during the plan's execution, Mark not only intended to install a device to balance Ebony Maw's powers but also called on Mantis to sense his emotions. If Ebony Maw harbored any rebellious thoughts, Mantis would be able to detect them.
The reason they didn't involve Scarlet Witch in probing Ebony Maw's memories was that they had already attempted it when Ebony Maw was unconscious. Although his entire body's abilities were sealed by the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak, his powerful psychic abilities instinctively protected his mind from easy intrusion.
However, Mantis was different. Emotions were more outward and often had fewer protective measures. Ebony Maw himself probably never imagined he would experience such intense emotional fluctuations one day, so he hadn't set any defenses against it.
Following Mark's instructions, Mantis placed her hands on both sides of Ebony Maw's temples and began using her abilities to sense his emotions.
"He's very panicked and fearful. When he sees you, that fear intensifies significantly, accompanied by feelings of submission and reverence. But I haven't detected any thoughts of resistance or hatred."
After receiving confirmation from Mantis, Mark gained a new understanding of his created illusion magic, Tsukuyomi. He hadn't expected this magic to work so effectively on Ebony Maw. It made Ebony Maw so compliant that he didn't even dare to entertain thoughts of resistance. Even his fear of defying Thanos was suppressed by Ebony Maw's fear of the Tsukuyomi.
"Maybe I should try developing Kotoamatsukami as Illusion Magic as well in the future. That way, things would be much simpler. I could just directly modify Thanos's thoughts. I didn't realize the significant impact this type of mental magic would have when I first developed it. I had been focused on acquiring more powerful offensive abilities. Maybe I was heading in the wrong direction..."
Mark briefly fell into self-doubt, but thankfully, his strong will quickly snapped him out of it. There was no time for regret now. They had to utilize all the existing conditions and advantages to create the one path to success.
After installing a thought controller on Ebony Maw's neck, Mark released the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak restraints on him. The thought controller had the ability to sense emotional fluctuations in the target, similar to Mantis. However, it couldn't analyze or interpret the meaning behind these emotional fluctuations.
The primary function of the thought controller was to trigger a high-energy electromagnetic wave when Ebony Maw experienced intense emotional fluctuations during the mission. This would cause instantaneous brain death, preventing Ebony Maw from revealing Mark's plans.
However, once this function was triggered, it meant that they would have to go into direct battle with Thanos. At that point, all planning and strategies would be rendered ineffective, and the contest would come down to the strength and luck of both sides.
On the ruins of Titan, only Ebony Maw stood alone. The members of the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, who had originally gathered there, had dispersed to their ambush positions, hiding themselves as much as possible.
After an unknown duration, the two enigmatic sorcerers from Earth, Mark and Doctor Strange, suddenly sensed spatial fluctuations caused by the tearing of space. Accompanying this wave was a massive release of energy.
Clearly, the spatial rift was not the result of mystical techniques used by sorcerers like Mark and Doctor Strange. Instead, it was forcefully created, opening a passage between two points in three-dimensional space. In the entire universe, only the Space Stone had the power to achieve this, and the Space Stone was currently in Thanos's possession.
As expected, a tall, purple figure emerged from the spatial rift, with a physique similar to the Hulk. From his square chin and purple skin, the surrounding superheroes had already recognized his identity – Thanos.
"Greetings, Lord Thanos, and welcome back to Titan!" Ebony Maw respectfully greeted Thanos, following the instructions Mark had given him.
"I've brought back the two Infinity Stones you instructed me to collect on Earth, the Time Stone and the Mind Stone. They are stored on the ship. Lord Thanos, please follow me into the spaceship to inspect them."
Ebony Maw's expression and actions showed no signs of abnormality; he turned naturally and was about to lead Thanos closer to the ambush set up by Mark and the others.
Thanos, with his stoic poker face, did not display any valuable information on his expression. However, when Ebony Maw took a few steps forward, he realized that Thanos hadn't followed him. Instead, Thanos remained motionless in place.
"What's the matter, Lord Thanos? Don't you want to obtain those two Infinity Stones faster?" Ebony Maw turned back, wearing a fawning expression as he inquired.
Thanos continued to stare directly into his eyes, then closed his eyes gently, shaking his head slightly. "It's a pity, Ebony Maw..."
Ebony Maw asked, "My Lord Thanos, I don't quite understand your meaning?"
"I'm just lamenting that you won't be able to witness the sight of the universe returning to balance with me. It's a shame," Thanos said, reaching out and grabbing Ebony Maw's head.
"Ebony Maw, when you decide to betray me, it's essential to take some precautions. I used the Soul Stone to examine your soul. Though I don't know who fractured it, it's evident that you can no longer bear the weight of our great ideal.
So, for the sake of the universe returning to balance, contribute with your life."
After these words, Thanos didn't inquire about Ebony Maw's reasons for betrayal or care about the underlying conspiracy. With a snap of his fingers, Ebony Maw's head was crushed like a ripe tomato, reduced to a pile of fragments.
"Now, little bugs hiding in the shadows, you can come out..."
"For this day, I have already paid too great a price. However, Ebony Maw has still completed his mission, I can sense it, the remaining two Infinity Stones are nearby.
What—do you intend to continue hiding like this?"
As he spoke, Thanos clenched his left hand, adorned with the Infinity Gauntlet, and instantly a wave of energy swept across the entire planet Titan. The ambush locations, once ruins and hiding spots, were instantly leveled, and Mark and his team were all exposed.
Knowing that their plan had completely failed, the superheroes showed no signs of panic. The three members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, in particular, were never good at following plans.
As for the members of the Avengers, they had experienced too many such situations before, with no room for retreat. At times like these, apart from fighting to the death, all their emotions and thoughts had long been set aside.
Mark looked at Thanos, who was dozens of meters away. This was the first time he had truly seen the adversary's true face, and it was far from the movie image from his past life.
Although their plan had completely failed and their ambush was exposed, Mark couldn't let Thanos suppress him in terms of momentum, or the upcoming battle would be very passive. "I don't think it will be long before you regret this, because you've just provoked the most powerful superhero team on Earth, the Avengers, and the famous Guardians of the Galaxy. And we still have two Infinity Stones in our hands."
With that, Mark opened his palm and displayed the Mind Stone he held in front of Thanos. Since the plan to destroy the Infinity Stones couldn't be executed, Mark decided to keep the Mind Stone in his possession.
With the power of the Mind Stone, he not only received a constant supply of magical energy but also enhanced his illusion abilities. It could provide unexpected assistance in battle.
"Do you know where this is? — Titan! This used to be my home, and it used to be a very beautiful place.
But as time went on, like many other planets, it experienced a population explosion while resources dwindled. Finally, when everyone was desperate, I proposed a solution for them."
"Genocide," Mark said it first.
"Exactly!" Thanos said without a hint of remorse. "Completely random, no favoritism, absolutely fair, no distinction between high and low. They all said I was insane, but everything in the end went exactly as I had anticipated.
For the final resources, my fellow beings turned on each other, ruthlessly killing all competitors without mercy. This struggle, tainted with emotions and desires, eventually plunged the entire planet into extinction, and my fellow beings paid a painful price for it."
"If they had acted according to my proposed plan from the beginning, this tragedy would not have occurred in the end. At least half of the planet's population would have survived, and the survivors would not have to endure hunger and beg for food.
Children could have been born into a world where they could eat well and play happily under the blue sky and white clouds, as long as— they followed my plan to erase half of the lives on the planet.
But now you still have a chance to prevent the same tragedy from happening, just by handing over the Infinity Stones you have. Once I collect all six Infinity Stones, I only need to snap my fingers, and they will turn to dust without feeling any pain, and I will turn it into mercy."
Clap, clap, clap, "I must applaud you for that. You truly are a merciful saint, someone who wants to murder trillions of lives across the universe."
Doctor Strange said to Thanos with sarcasm in his words, not believing Thanos' justification, considering it a grand excuse for indulging his desire for slaughter.
But Mark, who had clear memories from his previous life, knew that Thanos was not lying. He was indeed acting on his own rationality and will. It's just that almost no one could agree to have such a fate imposed on them, especially when it required sacrificing their lives.
"Your story is quite compelling, and your ideals may seem very noble, but we have no intention of handing our destiny over to someone else.
Even if you succeed in your plan this time and erase half of life in the universe, life will continue to proliferate, and our universe will eventually fall into silence. What you've done is merely delaying an imminent problem. In essence, it has no practical significance whatsoever.
Moreover, Thanos, the long, agonizing memories of life and misery have trapped you in a thought trap that you can't escape from. You stubbornly believe that, with the power of the six Infinity Stones, all you need to do is randomly eliminate half of life, just like your plan on Titan, to restore balance in the universe.
But, Thanos, times have changed!
You've never considered that with the immense power of the six Infinity Stones, you can do much more than simply randomly erasing half of life. Attempting to wield such vast power but only wanting to use it for an unproductive purpose is simply absurd.
You could use the power of the Infinity Stones to make the resources of the entire universe more abundant, even endless, but your narrow-minded thinking has confined you. Rather than calling yourself a savior or a destiny, it's more accurate to say you're just a remnant of an old era."
Mark's words were like a dagger to the heart, fundamentally denying the meaning of Thanos' actions and the value he had pursued throughout his life.
Hearing Mark's denial, Thanos seemed to have opened the door to a new world, even doubting his own long-standing ideals.
Unfortunately, Mark's words came too late, and even Thanos himself shook his head and sighed, "It's too late..."
Sunk cost refers to the costs that have occurred in the past but are unrelated to the current decision, typically referring to costs that cannot be recovered.
From a decision-making perspective, past costs are only one of the factors contributing to the current situation. What current decisions should consider are the future costs and benefits, without taking into account the past costs.
However, when sunk costs accumulate to a high level, exceeding the threshold that the decision-maker can psychologically accept, the influence of psychological factors can make the decision process lean towards increasing investment to try to make the past costs yield results and harvest rewards.
Thanos is currently in such a situation — his sunk costs are too high. On his left hand, he wears the Infinity Gauntlet, which has already collected all the Infinity Stones except the Mind Stone and the Time Stone possessed by Mark and Doctor Strange.
The first stone, the Power Stone, was taken from the Nova Corps on Xandar. The second stone, the Space Stone, was obtained from the Asgardian spaceship escaping from Asgard. The third stone, the Reality Stone, was taken from the Collector's collection on Knowhere.
As for the fourth Infinity Stone — the Soul Stone, Thanos learned its location, Vormir, by threatening Gamora with Nebula's life. But what he didn't anticipate was that to make the Soul Stone materialize, he needed to sacrifice the soul of someone he loved the most.
In order to restore the balance of the universe and achieve his ideal, Thanos reluctantly pushed Gamora off the cliff altar, ultimately obtaining the Soul Stone.
Apart from his beloved adopted daughter Gamora, his loyal henchmen, the Black Order, either perished on Earth or died at his own hands.
All of these were sacrifices Thanos made to achieve his ultimate ideal, the irrecoverable costs he invested. This is why Thanos told the superheroes that he had already paid too much and later said that Mark's denial came too late.
For Thanos, even if he had doubts about Mark's arguments deep down, the sunk costs were so high that he couldn't accept a change and failure in his long-pursued ideal.
So now, Thanos has only one choice left, to pursue his original goal with unwavering determination.
"You're too late, Mark Stark! I first noticed you when you defeated Loki and the Chitauri army he led. But I didn't expect that a kid with no facial hair would grow up to not only drive people like Dormammu out of Earth but also nearly shake my resolve.
Unfortunately, I didn't pay enough attention to your existence back then, and I didn't meet you earlier. I always thought I was a man cursed by knowledge, but now it seems like I've been imprisoned by knowledge, and what you've received is the true curse. However, no matter what, I won't change my stance. Today, the battle between us is inevitable."
As for Thanos' mention of the curse of knowledge, Mark didn't take it seriously. Someone like Thanos believed he held the most important secrets in the universe, thinking it was a divine duty, and he considered himself destined, mature and lonely and painful because of knowing his mission.
"You think you're the center of the entire universe, the spokesperson for the will of the universe, but you're not! You're just an arrogant, self-righteous stubborn relic of a bygone era. The new era's ship has no room for remnants like you. Today, we're taking back control of our destinies from your hands—attack!"
With Mark's command, the members of the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy launched their assault on Thanos, each following their own pace and style.
The first to act were Captain and Quicksilver, utilizing their speed that made it difficult for Thanos to react, launching a continuous series of attacks.
Boom, boom, boom! Thanos stood in place, his body constantly twisting, and there were also loud collision sounds. This was Captain and Quicksilver's fast-paced attacks, similar to a relay race.
But don't forget, Thanos held four Infinity Stones in his hand, and he had a robust physique, capable of engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the Hulk. While Captain and Quicksilver's attacks landed successively, they didn't cause him any damage.
Next, the Infinity Gauntlet activated the power of the stones, and under the powerful energy shockwaves, Captain and Quicksilver's assault was forcefully interrupted.
One after another, following Captain and Quicksilver, the other superheroes also joined the fray. Spider-Man continuously shot webs to interfere with and restrain Thanos' movements. Black Panther, Bruce Banner, the Undying Black Widow, and Drax, the four of them took advantage of the opportunity to surround Thanos from all sides and launched their most powerful attacks.
Under the interference and siege of many, Thanos couldn't form an effective counterattack. Moreover, the Infinity Gauntlet was entangled by Spider-Man's web, temporarily rendering it useless. The situation gradually turned in favor of the heroes.
The next second, War Machine, Winter Soldier, Falcon, and Star-Lord, with the coordination of Mark and Doctor Strange, continuously engaged in guerrilla warfare around Thanos, using portals to appear next to him and fire high-tech weapons at him.
This moment Hawkeye was absent; otherwise, he would undoubtedly have let Thanos experience the power of the antimatter arrowhead arrow that Mark had custom-made for him.
However, although the coordination of the heroes was clever, and their attacks appeared fierce, it was the same situation as when Captain and Quicksilver attacked. While they seemed to suppress Thanos powerfully, they couldn't inflict any real damage on his formidable physique.
Mark had anticipated this situation from the beginning. In the original storyline, the only weapon capable of posing a threat to Thanos was the Stormbreaker, which Thor was currently forging on Nidavellir.
The attacks orchestrated by the heroes, relying on numbers and coordination, were unable to cause fatal harm to Thanos. However, Mark didn't expect these attacks to eliminate Thanos. Their real goal was to create effective containment, find an opportunity to take the Infinity Gauntlet and the four Infinity Stones from him, and then use other means to kill Thanos, such as Mark's trump card—The Forbidden Technique: Two-way Foil.
After another wave of attacks, Doctor Strange looked towards Mantis, who had been ready nearby. They nodded in unison, and then Doctor Strange opened two portals next to Thanos.
In the moment when Thanos had just endured the successive heavy firepower and hadn't regained his senses, Mantis directly passed through the portal opened by Doctor Strange. She sat on Thanos's shoulder, using her empathic abilities to disrupt Thanos's mental state.
At the same time, the other portal opened by Doctor Strange was positioned next to Thanos's left hand, and his levitating cloak swiftly wrapped around Thanos's left hand, preventing him from using the power of the Infinity Stones.
"Now is the time, go for it!" Seeing that the opportunity had come, Mark quickly gave instructions to the people closest to Thanos. Everyone cooperated, using the full force of their bodies to immobilize Thanos's four limbs.
On the other side, their companions who received the command immediately converged around Thanos, working together to try and remove the Infinity Gauntlet from his hand.
"Please hurry, he's too powerful, and I can't control him for long!" Mantis, who was using her empathic abilities on Thanos, urged the others with a pained expression.
Mark did not join this operation. To ensure that their plan would not fail, he took out the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak he had used on Ebony Maw earlier and threw it towards Star-Lord's position.
Snap! As soon as Crimson Bands of Cyttorak touched Star-Lord's body, the magic formation engraved on the artifact immediately activated, firmly binding Star-Lord's body.
"I'm sorry, Quill, but for the greater good, I have to temporarily inconvenience you."
Having done all this, Mark finally rushed to Thanos's left hand, releasing two magical chains to join forces with the others in their attempt to remove the Infinity Gauntlet.
"Damn it, why is this thing so securely attached? Did he use glue or something?" Tony said as he linked his nanosuit to the gauntlet and activated the thrusters at full power. However, the Infinity Gauntlet still showed no signs of loosening.
Mark, who was also exerting himself alongside the others, felt somewhat frustrated. Everything had happened so suddenly, even earlier than he had anticipated, which meant he hadn't been able to prepare adequately.
If they had a weapon like Thor's Stormbreaker, capable of severing Thanos's arm, or a version of the Iron Man suit with the Infinity Gauntlet from Avengers: Endgame, they wouldn't have had to rely so much on brute strength.
"Wait! There is actually a way to sever Thanos's arm!" Mark suddenly remembered that the portals, besides being used for spatial transport, were also excellent guillotines.
After all, space was supreme, and time was sacred. The terrifying cutting effect of spatial power could not only overwhelm Thanos's body but could even corrode through Dormammu.
Thinking quickly, Mark directly opened a portal at the junction of Thanos's arm and the Infinity Gauntlet, connecting to the Sanctum Sanctorum in New York. There are Terminators and other Masters of the Mystic Arts, so Infinity Gauntlet and the Infinity Stones would be safe.
The next moment, as Mark continuously channeled his magical power into it, the portal rapidly shrank without a moment's pause. When it disappeared completely, Thanos's left hand, along with the Infinity Gauntlet and all four Infinity Stones, vanished from the sight of the group.
"We did it!?" Mark felt a mixture of exhilaration and uncertainty. Things seemed to have gone too smoothly; Thanos's strength shouldn't have been so feeble. Even with his presence in this timeline, their success had come too suddenly and easily.
As Mark harbored doubts, his worst premonition came true the next second.
"So, this is the plan you intend to use against me? It's indeed well-calculated and planned. If it weren't for my creation of this illusion to gather information, you might have succeeded."
As the chilling voice echoed in the ears of those present, they all wore expressions of astonishment and disbelief. Then they saw the Thanos they had just struggled so hard to subdue disappear right before their eyes. Not far away, another Thanos, with an intact left hand wearing the Infinity Gauntlet, stood there, looking at their dejection and surprise with a mocking expression.
Mark, as the one with the strongest soul-sensing ability among them, was the first to discover where Thanos's true form was. In the instant when everything illusory dissipated, Mark's gaze caught the last glimmer of light from the Reality Stone on the Infinity Gauntlet.
It turned out that after Thanos had used the Soul Stone to perceive Ebony Maw's soul, he had activated the power of the Reality Stone to pull the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy into a nearly perfect illusion.
This was the terrifying aspect of the Reality Stone. If Thanos had won the recent battle, everything would have been transformed into reality through the power of the Reality Stone. However, if Mark and the other heroes had emerged victorious, everything would ultimately have turned to nothingness, leaving Thanos with even more intelligence on their side, deepening the information imbalance.
Thanos with the Infinity Stones in his hand and the one without are worlds apart in terms of power. This was why, when they initially devised the plan, their top priority was to seize the Infinity Gauntlet and the Infinity Stones from Thanos.
Unfortunately, Thanos had one last trick up his sleeve, and the advantage of the four Infinity Stones was something Mark and their group couldn't compensate for with mere numbers.
However, even though this plan had failed and had taken the superheroes by surprise, it was not enough to deal a devastating blow to their willpower and morale. As the last line of defense for Earth, their resilience far exceeded Thanos's expectations.
Thanos, facing a team composed of Earthlings, extraterrestrials, and even hybrids of both, displayed a respect in his eyes that was reserved for true adversaries. This level of determination and character was something he had not encountered in his countless experiences of carnage throughout the universe.
"So, out of respect and reverence for my opponents, I will now use all my power to defeat all of you!
For a hero, there is no more suitable grave than the battlefield, and no more worthy ending than dying in battle. Let me be the one to send you to your final resting place!"
"Strange, do you still remember what I once taught you? Magic must be used to defeat magic!"
Just when Thanos seemed to have a sudden bout of teenage angst for no apparent reason, Mark didn't pay attention to him. Instead, he was communicating with Doctor Strange through a magical link.
"Of course, I remember. Every lesson you taught me left a lasting impression," Doctor Strange replied to Mark, a hint of an enigmatic smile playing on his lips.
But Mark could tell from his expression that everything up to this point was still within the timeline he had foreseen. In other words, the 100% success rate had not been broken yet. It just seemed that before they succeeded, they would have to endure some difficult challenges.
"Now that you remember, let me teach you another lesson. To deal with the Infinity Stones, you must use the Infinity Stones to defeat your opponent."
In response to Mark's statement, Doctor Strange nodded with the same expression. Currently, Thanos held four Infinity Stones, while the other two were in the possession of Mark, who guarded the Mind Stone, and Doctor Strange, who guarded the Time Stone.
"Later, I will attempt to cast an illusion on Thanos using the Mind Stone, pulling his consciousness into the illusionary space I've created. If the plan succeeds, Strange, you will use the Time Stone to slow down time for me and Thanos. Then, like I just did, use a portal to take the Infinity Gauntlet. If the plan fails... you should immediately return to Earth with the Time Stone and our other comrades. I will use the forbidden technique·Two-way foil on Titan."
Doctor Strange didn't object to Mark's crazy plan and didn't offer any opinions, simply nodding in agreement.
This was the cost of peering into the future with the Time Stone. Once he knew the only path to success, Doctor Strange's options were limited. To avoid branching timelines, he couldn't reveal information about the future. Instead, he had to follow the established plan while exerting his subjective initiative to guide events toward the desired outcome.
"I'm ready," Doctor Strange said as he unsealed the Eye of Agamotto and activated the spell that controlled time.
On Mark's end, he received Doctor Strange's response and acted swiftly. He tapped into the magical power within himself, connecting it to the power within the Mind Stone. With the amplified psychic energy, he began trying to infiltrate Thanos's mind and cast the Tsukuyomi.
When he had previously cast the Tsukuyomi on Ebony Maw, Mark had chosen to focus on his own dominant soul aspects, considering Maw's formidable psychic abilities. This allowed him to successfully perform the illusion.
But when it came to Thanos, it was a different story. Thanos held the Soul Stone, and his awareness and defense against soul energy were clearly beyond what Ebony Maw could compare with. Even Mark didn't dare to risk probing him.
Therefore, when dealing with Thanos, Mark changed his strategy when casting the Tsukuyomi. He focused more on the dominant mental aspect strengthened by the Mind Stone, bypassing the defensive barrier formed by the Soul Stone.
Mark's vast magical power and the nearly inexhaustible energy within the Mind Stone were continuously converted through magical runes, transforming into mental energy. This energy quietly seeped into Thanos's mental world.
Once this infiltration reached a certain point, it was as if Mark had left a backdoor in Thanos's consciousness. Through this backdoor, Mark could swiftly drag Thanos's consciousness into Tsukuyomi space he had constructed.
"It's almost done, just a little more!" Mark was feeling extremely tense at this moment. The impending battle between Thanos and them was on the brink, but he had to carefully execute his plan without accelerating the penetration of mental energy. If he sped up, Thanos might detect his actions.
Mark could only pray that his infiltration would be completed before Thanos initiated his attack. Otherwise, if Thanos gathered his resolve, the earlier infiltration would be in vain, and Mark might never get another chance like this.
However, just as Mark's mental penetration was about to be completed, a figure he had completely not anticipated suddenly broke through the ranks and appeared in front of Thanos all by himself.
"Star-Lord! I remember I clearly used the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak to restrain him..." Mark turned his gaze to where Star-Lord had been bound moments ago, only to find that the Crimson Bands had broken into several pieces, scattered on the ground.
This artifact, forged by the godlike being Cyttorak, had previously successfully trapped Kaecilius and Ebony Maw. Now, it had been completely destroyed by Star-Lord, who seemed a bit goofy and lacked any combat power. Mark couldn't believe it.
"Is it the power of the Celestial bloodline within Ego's DNA..." Mark speculated with uncertainty.
But before he had a chance to verify his own answer, Star-Lord had already confronted Thanos. This development put Mark in a difficult situation. Star-Lord's sudden approach instantly raised Thanos's guard.
Not only did all of Mark's previous efforts go to waste, but the backlash from the mental energy also left him mentally fatigued. His face turned pale.
Mental losses were not like physical injuries, which could be rapidly restored through the power of regeneration. It was safe to say that sinking into such a predicament at such a critical moment was a further blow to their side.
If Thanos were to make a move to seize the Mind Stone in Mark's possession now, he would have no means to resist. His damaged mental state not only prevented him from harnessing magic, but he also lacked the physical prowess for combat.
"Tell me where Gamora is! I don't care about your ambitions to restore cosmic balance or your desire to erase half of life, but if you dare to harm a hair on Gamora's head, I will make you witness the power and tactics of the legendary leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Star-Lord."
On the other side, Star-Lord was still completely unaware that he had disrupted Mark's carefully planned operation, which had also left Mark severely injured. He stood before Thanos, agitated, and demanded to know Gamora's whereabouts with a fierce look in his eyes.
However, it wasn't just empty threats from him. Star-Lord's current state closely resembled that of Thor when he had just awakened his powers as the God of Thunder.
Unless one observed closely, they might not notice, but Mark possessed informational vision, and nothing escaped his notice. Unintentionally, Star-Lord was emitting faint arcs of blue energy, a sign of his awakened Celestial power, although he hadn't yet gained control over this newfound energy.
However, this did provide an answer to Mark's question about how Star-Lord had escaped the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak. If it was due to the awakening of Celestial power, it made perfect sense.
Star-Lord's Celestial power could be seen as a diluted version of the Reality Stone, as he lacked a planet like his father Ego to provide energy and his abilities had just awakened, imposing certain limitations on their use.
Overall, having Star-Lord, who had awakened this weakened version of the Reality Stone, versus Mark, who could manipulate the power of the Mind Stone and had significant combat abilities, was undoubtedly a losing proposition. The situation for the superheroes on this side had not improved in any way.
Fortunately, Star-Lord's unauthorized action had also delayed Thanos's actions. After Star-Lord mentioned Gamora, Thanos fell silent, furrowing his brow. He neither answered Star-Lord nor attacked him.
"I'm asking you, where is Gamora!" Star-Lord yelled again at Thanos, making everyone behind him nervously sweat.
Star-Lord's power leakage became even more pronounced due to his anger, and everyone in the room had now noticed the changes in Star-Lord, especially Mantis, who had served under Ego. She kept muttering "Celestial power" under her breath while observing Star-Lord.
"Gamora is already dead," replied a voice that Star-Lord was familiar with, but it wasn't Thanos who responded. It was Nebula, Thanos's other adopted daughter and Gamora's sister.
"Nebula! What are you saying? What do you mean she's dead? I don't believe it!" Star-Lord looked at Nebula, vehemently denying her words.
"Gamora is dead, whether you believe it or not. That's the truth! Thanos captured me, threatened Gamora to reveal the location of the Soul Stone, and then took her to Vormir. But now, he has obtained the Soul Stone, and Gamora hasn't returned. Isn't that enough to prove the point? I escaped from captivity to come here for my sister Gamora's revenge—Prepare to meet your end, Thanos!"
With a determined look in her eyes, Nebula screamed in sorrow and raised the dagger in her hand as she charged towards the grief-stricken Thanos.
But Thanos was still Thanos, even when he wasn't in top condition, and Nebula was no match for him. With a single sweep of his hand, no matter how fast Nebula was charging at him, she was sent flying even faster.
Boom! Nebula was forcefully thrown to the ground, and some of the mechanical implants that had been implanted into her body became slightly dislodged due to the impact.
Star-Lord didn't turn to check Nebula's condition. He stared intensely at Thanos, clenching his teeth, and asked, "Tell me she's lying! You bastard, tell me you didn't do it!"
"I had to..."
"!" Upon hearing Thanos's response, the Celestial power within Star-Lord, which had been burning with anger, fully awakened and erupted—Boom!
A massive surge of energy swept up the dust on the ground, creating a cataclysmic phenomenon resembling a sandstorm that enveloped an area several kilometers in radius. Under the force of this power, both Thanos and the superheroes behind Star-Lord were pushed back, leaving deep trenches on the ground.
Star-Lord, covered in sparks and lightning, with glowing eyes, resembled Thor when he had awakened his God of Thunder powers. Could it be that the descendants of gods all have the same skin when their bloodline potential awakens?
"Ha!" Star-Lord, who had lost his reason, instinctively controlled the Celestial power surging from his body in a raw manner, directing it directly at Thanos.
Boom! A massive surge of energy shook the space with intense explosions, and it took a full minute for everything to settle down.
Bang! Star-Lord, who had unleashed his anger-driven power uncontrollably, fell flat on the ground at the exact moment the attack ceased. It was the aftermath of an excessive energy outburst.
Drax and Mantis, two members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, rushed to Star-Lord's side to check on him. Upon finding that he had a steady heartbeat and normal breathing, they breathed a sigh of relief and moved him to the side for care.
"It's not time to relax yet," reminded Captain, who had been closely monitoring the battlefield. His combat intuition, honed through extensive experience, told him that Thanos hadn't fallen to Star-Lord's powerful attack.
Whoosh...
Suddenly, a strong wind swept across the once calm Titan, gradually carrying away the dust and revealing Thanos' figure within. The Space Stone within the Infinity Gauntlet emitted a dazzling blue light, and Thanos, standing at the center of the explosion, had no visible injuries on his body. His mental state was no longer filled with sorrow but was now brimming with determination and battle readiness.
"Get out of the way!" Mark shouted at Captain and the others.
Sizzle! As soon as Mark's words fell, the Space Stone on the Infinity Gauntlet once again emitted a brilliant light, and a surge of energy rushed directly towards the Avengers.
It turned out that Star-Lord's massive attack just now had all been redirected by Thanos using the Space Stone. Now, he was returning all of the energy back to Star-Lord.
Mark had already sensed the spatial fluctuations and gave a warning to his companions in advance. Quicksilver and Captain reacted the fastest, swiftly dodging the incoming energy flow.
However, there was one person who remained in place and didn't move – Doctor Banner. His unfamiliarity with controlling the Hulkbuster armor prevented him from reacting in time, and the immense weight of the Hulkbuster armor made it impossible for Quicksilver and the captain to rescue him.
Star-Lord's full-power Celestial attack, if it hit the Hulkbuster armor head-on, would be devastating, even if the armor's defenses were remarkable. If Hulk didn't intervene in this crisis, with Doctor Banner's ordinary human physique, he would likely be reduced to nothing.
Mark, noticing this, didn't hesitate. He forcefully tapped into his recently restored mental strength and pulled Doctor Banner into the Mirror Dimension.
A deadly crisis narrowly averted, and after the energy flow dissipated, Doctor Strange also pulled Doctor Banner out of the Mirror Dimension.
"I am inevitable, and your resistance cannot stop my actions. You should hand over the Infinity Stones to me, accept the choices made by destiny, and then you will see what the world will be like when the balance of population and resources is restored!"
"That's a hellish fate for humanity! Because the friends and families of those you've erased will make tombstones on the desolate surfaces of countless planets. And the pain and tragedy caused by this act of genocide will not diminish in the slightest until their deaths. You are not destiny; you're just an arrogant madman!"
Tony Stark spoke up at this moment. Since the Battle of New York and up to the creation of the artificial intelligence Ultron to protect Earth's peace, Tony had been preparing. Even when Pepper continuously opposed him spending so much time in the lab, he persevered in upgrading his Iron Man armor.
And today, at this very moment, all the efforts he had made were about to bear witness. He was determined to defeat the universe's most deranged proponent of mass extinction to guard everything he valued and cherished!
Tony's Mark 50 suit had several precision-guided nano-missiles on its back, quickly flying towards Thanos. Faced with this attack, Thanos had to carefully respond, raising his left hand with the Infinity Gauntlet to defend.
Boom!
All the nano-missiles hit their target simultaneously, creating a massive explosive impact. Tony used the latest micro-missile technology on the nanosuit to create explosive effects without relying on traditional gunpowder. Instead, a stable magnetic field was formed within the nano-missiles to contain a certain amount of pure energy. When the nano-missiles hit their target, the magnetic field balance was disrupted, causing the release of uncontrollable pure energy, ultimately resulting in a powerful explosion.
The advantage of using this technology was that Tony could overcome the contradiction between payload capacity and maneuverability in the Mark 50 nanosuit, enhancing his abilities in both single-target and area attacks. As long as there were enough nanometal particles, Tony wouldn't run out of firepower.
Additionally, the blast effects from pure energy had a low thermal impact compared to traditional explosives, allowing for more concentrated killing power on the target.
After long-range attacks came close combat. While Tony didn't have J.A.R.V.I.S. to assist in combat mode analysis at the moment, the standalone AI, Friday, could access various preset combat models within the suit, compensating for Tony's disadvantage in close combat.
Taking advantage of the lingering effects of the explosion, Tony's nanosuit transformed into a warhammer form on his feet, and with his full acceleration, he left a shoeprint on Thanos's chin.
The impact on the chin caused dizziness to Thanos and disrupted his balance, causing his towering figure to collapse heavily onto the ground.
Tony didn't miss this opportunity. His fists also transformed into two warhammers, and with the boosters at his elbows, he swung them towards Thanos's purple head.
However, this close-range attack was noticeably slower than the earlier full-speed strike. Thanos quickly regained his senses as he sat on the ground, and without any hesitation, he directly stopped the attack.
Bang! Bang!
Thanos directly caught Tony's attacks with his palms, then firmly gripped them and effortlessly tossed Tony away.
Following that, the Power Stone activated, and its energy transformed into a powerful force, rushing towards Tony, who had been thrown into the air.
At this point, the standalone AI, Friday, played its role, controlling all the thrusters on Mark 50 suit to urgently help Tony adjust his posture in the air. Then, it called up the preset shield form of the suit, covering Tony's body.
However, facing the attack from the Infinity Stones, the shield made of nanometals couldn't hold up for long. Within a short time, it had already consumed a significant amount of nanometal particles, which only depleted Tony's reserves further.
Tony made a quick decision, abandoning the shield in his hand. With the impulse from the Power Stone's attack, he completed a turn and launched a new round of attacks against Thanos.
The effects of force were mutual, and the recent use of the Power Stone had also had a certain impact on Thanos's response, creating a very brief moment of stiffness, which Tony seized as an opportunity.
The left foot of the nanosuit transformed into a steel claw that firmly restrained Thanos's left hand wearing the Infinity Gauntlet. At the same time, Tony's waist rotated, and with the assistance of the thrusters, the left hand in the form of a heavy hammer hit Thanos squarely on the cheek.
With a successful strike, Tony immediately backed away, not giving Thanos a chance to counterattack. However, this attack by Tony brought unprecedented encouragement to all the superheroes present. It was the first time they had seen Thanos physically injured and bleeding in their long-standing standoff.
Thanos wiped away a trace of blood from his face and expressed extreme contempt for Tony's hard-fought achievement: "All that for a drop of blood..."
Although there was no outward display of anger in his words, it was clear from Thanos's expression and actions that this was not the case at all. Since the start of the battle, Thanos had mostly refrained from using the power of the Infinity Stones, or had used the power of a single stone.
But now, it was evident that he was taking things seriously. The Space Stone shone brightly, and Thanos, like a phantom, appeared behind Tony. Immediately following was the prepared attack with the Power Stone - Bang!
The Infinity gauntlet struck harshly at the back of Tony's head, burying Tony's entire body into the hard ground. But Thanos didn't stop there - Bang! Bang! Bang!
Under the influence of the Power Stone, the Infinity gauntlet struck Tony repeatedly. The nanosuit of Mark L continuously suffered damage under such an onslaught.
Gradually, it seemed like the reserve of nanometal particles was about to be exhausted. The remaining nanometal particles in other parts of the suit began to transfer, converging towards Tony's head, which had taken heavy blows, leaving the rest of Tony's body completely exposed without protection.
At this rate, Tony would undoubtedly be beaten to death by Thanos's fists. The other superheroes tried to take action to provide rescue for Tony, but Thanos, now fully engaged, didn't give them any opportunity. The potent energy of the Space Stone was unleashed, forming an energy force field similar to the one during the Battle of New York when the space portal opened, blocking all rescue attempts outside the energy field.
"You have my respect, Tony Stark. When I succeed, half of the people will still survive, and I hope that by then, they can mourn the efforts you once made for them."
Within the energy force field, after Thanos finished speaking to Tony, the four Infinity Stones on his Infinity Gauntlet shone brightly for the first time, signifying his respect for Tony. This was his way of acknowledging that Tony was worthy of him using the most powerful means for a final strike.
Due to the barrier of the energy force field, almost everyone was unable to stop Thanos's actions and could only watch helplessly as Tony would be killed by the enemy right before their eyes.
Mark turned his gaze to Doctor Strange. At this moment, the only ones who could penetrate Thanos's energy force field were the two of them, who possessed the Infinity Stones. Mark, being unable to control the energy of the Mind Stone, had to rely on Doctor Strange to break Thanos's defenses.
It was an almost pleading look, a look that Doctor Strange and everyone present had never seen on Mark's face. It was difficult to imagine such an expression appearing on Mark.
But Mark understood in his heart that, as an orphan in his past life and growing up in a single-parent family in this life, although his relationship with Tony did not seem like that of a father and son, and their interactions were not very harmonious on the surface, both of them held very important positions in each other's hearts. Mark couldn't just watch his only family member in this world die.
Doctor Strange was shocked by Mark's plea, but he knew the reason for his actions. When they decided to ambush Thanos on Titan as a team, Doctor Strange had made it clear from the beginning: if anyone in the team and the Time Stone were in danger at the same time, he would not hesitate to protect the Time Stone and let the others fend for themselves, because the fate of the entire universe was at stake.
At that time, everyone had agreed with his viewpoint and mentally prepared themselves for sacrifice. But now, Mark's plea meant that Doctor Strange had to break his initial oath, risking the safety of the entire universe to save Tony alone.
However, in the hopeful gaze of Mark, Doctor Strange nodded without hesitation. He agreed to Mark's plea. But to everyone's surprise, Doctor Strange did not use the power of the Time Stone to break Thanos's force field.
"Wait, Thanos! Spare him, and I can give you the Time Stone I hold."
"No... don't!" At Thanos's feet, Tony, who was already seriously injured, used his weak voice to stop Doctor Strange.
Tony rejected Doctor Strange's rescue not because he didn't want to survive and spend his life alone with Pepper, witnessing Mark's future marriage and the birth of his descendants. Instead, Tony didn't want to let Pepper and Mark's fate fall into Thanos's hands, accepting the so-called "fair" random obliteration. He, as Iron Man, felt a strong sense of responsibility and didn't want to become the reason for the failure of this battle.
However, Doctor Strange did not stop his actions. He released the powerful seals set by the Eye of Agamotto, extracted the Time Stone from its core, and then the Infinity Stone directly detached itself from his control. Under the influence of the other four Infinity Stones, it is attached to one of the two remaining slots on the Infinity Gauntlet.
Ding! As the five Infinity Stones gathered on the Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos's aura grew even more powerful. The energy fluctuations formed by the resonance and harmony of the five stones swept through, like a gust of wind passing by.
"Only one more to go!" Thanos looked at the Infinity Gauntlet with all five slots filled, a satisfied expression on his face. He lifted Tony from the ground and tossed him towards Mark and the others.
Doctor Strange controlled his magical powers to safely catch the severely injured Tony and lay him on the ground. Mark tossed a concentrated nutrient repair injection to Tony, urging him to quickly heal his injuries.
"Why did you give him the Time Stone? You said you would prioritize the safety of the Time Stone!" Although he was extremely weak, Tony continued to angrily and incredulously question Doctor Strange.
Mark and the other companions also looked at Doctor Strange with confusion, especially Mark. He had never expected that things would develop to this point in the end. Could it be that even if he was the butterfly flapping its wings in this timeline, he couldn't change the course of fate?
Facing Tony's questioning, Doctor Strange didn't look at him. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Mark in the distance and tremblingly extended a finger. "Now, we've entered the endgame. If you want to ultimately turn the tide and win, everything depends on you and your father. Wisdom and courage are the keys to success."
"Endgame..." Upon hearing these words from Doctor Strange, Mark had already guessed what the only successful future that Doctor Strange saw was. "In the end, we can't escape the fate of a reboot, can we?"
Although he had already anticipated the outcome, Mark couldn't possibly hand over the Mind Stone to Thanos just like Doctor Strange did. He wanted to see if he, as this butterfly flapping its wings, could trigger a violent storm in this timeline.
"Wanda, help me!" With Star-Lord unconscious, Tony severely injured, and Doctor Strange losing the Eye of Agamotto, the only one who could help Mark resist Thanos was Scarlet Witch. Mark's current goal was to fight against Thanos at all costs.
Wanda didn't ask Mark about his plan, but she believed that Mark could lead them to reverse the current situation and escape this predicament.
Buzz! Scarlet Witch unleashed all her power, releasing her scarlet mist and the telekinesis within her body to stop Thanos from getting closer to them. Her formidable superpowers created spatial ripples in the air, an attack that could rival the power of the Space Stone.
Under Scarlet Witch's full-scale blockade, Thanos, who now controlled all five Infinity Stones, couldn't move forward at all. He was firmly pinned in place.
On the Infinity Gauntlet, each embedded Infinity Stone lit up one after another. Thanos began to harness the energy from the stones to resist Scarlet Witch. However, even so, his progress remained extremely slow, and with each step forward, the resistance he faced grew stronger, making his advance difficult.
During this time, Mark also prepared his last-ditch effort. With his current mental strength, he couldn't use the Tsukuyomi, and even the Forbidden Spell - Two way Foil was extremely strenuous to construct. Each stroke of the magical runes made Mark's complexion even paler.
Mark didn't expect the Two way Foil to pose a direct threat to Thanos. With Thanos wielding the Infinity Stones, Mark's constructed Enochian couldn't touch Thanos's body.
However, Mark's goal wasn't to directly harm Thanos. What he wanted was for the Two way Foil and the entire planet of Titan to react. The rapid two-dimensional collapse would generate massive energy radiation, quickly spreading throughout the solar system and even the entire Nine Realms.
Thanos, committed to restoring the balance of the universe, wouldn't just stand by and watch such a catastrophe happen. He would have to use the power of the Infinity Stones to eliminate the terrifying consequences brought about by Two way Foil.
The extensive use of the energy from all five Infinity Stones would undoubtedly place a significant burden on Thanos's body and energy reserves, creating an opportunity for them to turn the tide.
The Two way Foil had been successfully completed, and Mark, enduring without losing consciousness, opened a spatial portal leading directly to the core of Titan. He then placed the Two way Foil into it.
In almost an instant, countless massive cracks covered the entire planet. Intense and glaring light beams shot out like arrows, piercing into the eyes of everyone present.
Titan's crust also began to experience intense tremors. Scarlet Witch, whose powers had been drained due to the immense effort, couldn't maintain her balance under such an impact. She fell to the ground, and her obstruction of Thanos's attacks came to a halt.
However, Thanos had no time to consider the obstacles Scarlet Witch had previously posed. With the Time Stone in his possession, he understood what would happen if he didn't stop the Two way Foil's effects. The entire universe would turn into a two-dimensional space, and all living beings would be annihilated.
"You're insane!" The power of the Two way Foil was immense. For Thanos to reverse its effects, he had to use the energy of the other four Infinity Stones together with the Time Stone to completely eliminate the Enochian.
"Pot, meet kettle. I just don't want you to judge me," Mark replied. Seeing Thanos harnessing a considerable amount of energy to restrain the entire Titan and eliminate the Enochian's effects, Mark knew his plan had succeeded.
A super-intense energy flowed through Thanos's body, making his expression appear extremely fierce. If one were close enough, they could even hear the sounds of muscles and bones within Thanos's body creaking as he struggled to support the effects of the Infinity Gauntlet.
"Ah!" Thanos, the mighty Eternal Titan, lived up to his reputation. Despite the partial alleviation of the burden through the Infinity Gauntlet, he could sustain the exertion of using all five Infinity Stones for a prolonged period. However, every step he took increased the strain on his body, and he continued to exert himself.
The collapse caused by the Two way Foil was ultimately too short-lived. If there had been enough time to trigger a chain reaction and accumulate energy, Thanos might not have been able to endure it. However, reality had no room for "ifs." Thanos successfully eliminated the Enochian's effects, paying the price of excessive energy consumption and slight physical damage. With his Eternal Titan's regenerative abilities, the damage wasn't irreparable; it would just take some time.
"Whew, that's a terrifying move. No wonder Dormammu fled. But now, you won't have any more chances, kid!"
Ignoring the side effects of overloading the use of the Infinity Stones, Thanos once again employed the Space Stone. In an instant, he appeared next to Mark. At this moment, the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, still reeling from the Titan's tremors, couldn't react in time.
"Destiny is absolute, unalterable. And I... am destiny!"
Mark, weakened and helpless, had no resistance left. At the last moment, the Infinity Stones finally fell into Thanos's hands.
The next moment, a snap of the fingers echoed throughout the entire universe...
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