Chapter 453: The Realm of Death
"Why, Gwen... How did you get this power?" Peter asked, letting her go and looking at her with total disbelief.
"I don't know. After that high fever I had, my body just started changing," Gwen explained, shaking her head.
Peter looked her up and down. This was absolutely incredible.
"No matter what happens, I'm still Gwen," she said, leaning in on her tiptoes. She pressed her lips against Peter's in a firm kiss.
Peter's eyes widened. Gwen was actually kissing him! Even after becoming a couple, they hadn't shared a real kiss yet. Peter was far too inexperienced; even when Gwen had dropped obvious hints, his dense head never seemed to realize what he was supposed to do.
"Phew~" Gwen pulled back. "How did that feel?"
"It felt... it felt wonderful," Peter said, a genuine smile breaking across his face.
Hearing that, Gwen kissed him again, and this time it lasted for half a minute.
"And now?" Gwen asked, breathless.
"I feel... I feel amazing," Peter said, gazing into her beautiful eyes.
"Alright, you two. Can we save this for when we get back? You look like two seals fighting over a grape," Rhodey's voice cut in. All the Avengers were peeking out from the ship's entrance, watching with curious eyes.
At Rhodey's comment, the group scattered, scurrying back to their stations.
"Hey, you're just a raccoon," Misty said to Rocket, who was at her feet.
Rocket didn't even look back. "Can't a guy enjoy the show?"
"It's time to go," Gwen said, taking Peter's hand as they boarded the starship.
The Cockpit
Rocket sat in the pilot's seat and turned around. "Is there anyone here who doesn't have space combat experience?"
Most of the Avengers raised their hands.
"Wait, is there something wrong with that?" Rhodey asked.
"Just don't puke on my ship," Rocket said, activating the interstellar jump system.
"Jump sequence initiated. Three! Two! One!" Nebula shouted.
Boom!
The starry sky outside accelerated into long streaks of light. A deep wormhole tore open before them, and the ship plunged through. A moment later, they emerged on the other side, orbiting a planet that looked remarkably similar to Earth.
"That's it? I thought it would be like it was on a movie, with all the spinning," Rhodey said, blinking.
Click.
Carol Danvers unbuckled her seatbelt, her vibrant red suit glowing with energy. "I'll scout the surface first." She flew straight through the airlock and out into the vacuum.
"She can just... survive out there!" Banner said, amazed. The others gave him a look that suggested he was being a bit of a "newbie."
A few moments later, Carol flew back. "No satellites, no ships, no armies. No ground defenses either. It's just him."
"Just him is enough," Misty said, standing up. At this distance, she could finally use her portals.
Crackle!
A spark-filled portal opened in front of her. "This will take us straight down."
"Handy," Banner adjusted his glasses. "This is magic? It feels different from Silas's."
"Don't worry about the details," Misty said, stepping through. A yellow cloak draped itself over her shoulders as she moved, and the Avengers followed close behind.
The Surface
A hulking figure walked through the fields of a garden. His gait was strange, his left leg clearly injured. It was Thanos, the architect of all their suffering. But he didn't look like a cosmic tyrant anymore; he looked like a weary old man enjoying his final days.
Thanos picked a large fruit and placed it in a burlap sack, limping toward his small wooden hut. Before he could reach the door, he sensed something. He pushed the door open and saw a woman in yellow robes sitting on his bed.
"The Ancient One? No, she's dead. Who are you?" Thanos asked, confused.
Misty looked up, staring him in the eye. "After all you've done, I didn't expect your life to be so... pathetic."
"Ah... I know you. Silas's girl." Thanos placed the fruit on the table. Just as he was about to sit, the roof exploded.
BOOM!
A brilliant laser beam tore through the ceiling, carrying a destructive aura straight toward Thanos. He instinctively raised his left hand, and the Gauntlet absorbed the blow, but the impact sent him crashing back.
Misty moved instantly. With a wave of her hands, two bolts of crimson lightning struck Thanos, leaving scorched marks on his armor.
"ARGH!" Thanos cried out in pain.
"THANOS!" Peter and Gwen dropped from the ceiling, landing squarely on his chest. Their combined strength—dozens of tons of force—rained punches down on him.
"Peter! Stop! We need the Stones!" Banner shouted, controlling the Hulkbuster armor to pin Thanos down.
Peter stopped, grabbing Thanos by the collar. "Where are the Stones?"
"Tell us and we'll make it quick," Gwen added.
"I..." Thanos started, but he didn't get a chance to finish.
Thor flew in from the side, and in one swift motion, his axe severed Thanos's left arm—the one wearing the Gauntlet.
"ARGH!" Thanos screamed, sweat pouring down his face from the agony.
With the hand severed, Steve and the others walked through the door. Rocket rushed to the Gauntlet and flipped it over. The sockets were empty. The Stones were gone.
"No... the Stones are gone," Rocket whispered, backing away in disbelief.
"Where are they!" Misty pressed a mirror shard against Thanos's throat, drawing a thin line of red blood.
"The universe required correction. After that, the Stones served no purpose beyond temptation," Thanos wheezed.
"You murdered half of all life!" Misty kicked him in the face.
Thanos collapsed, gasping. "I traded half of life for the future of the other half. It was a worthy trade. You should be grateful."
BAM!
Peter's fist slammed into Thanos's jaw. "You took the two people I loved most."
"No... your brother Silas agreed with me," Thanos smiled weakly.
"Tell us where they are! You used them two days ago!" Misty demanded.
"The Stones were too powerful. I used the Stones to destroy the Stones. It nearly killed me. That is the only reason you defeated me so easily," Thanos said with a hint of his old pride. "My mission is complete. I am inevitable."
"Inevitable? That sounds like someone I know," Rhodey muttered, thinking of Silas's codename, Destiny.
"You're lying!" Misty screamed.
"My father is many things, but he does not lie," Nebula said quietly.
"Thank you, daughter. Perhaps I was too hard on you," Thanos murmured.
Squelch.
Thor, who had been silent, swung Stormbreaker and took Thanos's head in one clean stroke.
"No!"
The Realm of Death
"Silas."
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