Corvus Glaive panted heavily as he looked toward the unconscious Proxima Midnight.
Then he turned and glanced at Carl.
"You are strong, Earthling. But Thanos will never let you live."
As he spoke, a beam of blue light descended from above, enveloping both him and Proxima.
Their figures vanished together with the light.
RUMBLE—
The ring-shaped ship revealed its true form.
It had been cloaked the entire time.
Moments later, the vessel shot skyward with the two Black Order members aboard, breaking through Earth's atmosphere and leaving near-Earth orbit within seconds.
"We need to return to Avengers Tower immediately. Tony's group is in trouble."
Steve stepped forward.
He, Wong, and Clint had spent the battle acting as support and observers. Now they finally had something to do.
---
The moment they returned to Avengers Tower, Nick Fury and Coulson hurried over.
"Tony, Peter, and Strange entered the New York ship. They should be somewhere in deep space by now."
Coulson pulled up satellite footage.
The recording showed the moment Strange was captured, followed by Tony and Peter secretly boarding the ship.
The heroes gathered once more in the conference room.
This time, Tony, Peter, and Strange were absent.
Rhodey and Pepper had joined instead.
"It looks like we're going to need reinforcements," Fury said, resting his chin on his hand.
"This may be the most difficult crisis we've ever faced."
They hadn't even seen Thanos yet, and Ebony Maw alone had effortlessly captured Strange while taking Tony and Peter along for the ride.
Carl looked at Fury.
"Has your secret weapon, Carol, contacted you yet?"
He knew Fury had already sent the message.
Fury shrugged.
"Who knows where she is? The universe is huge. It's not like she can instantly come back."
Carl knew that was true.
In his previous life, Carol hadn't appeared until the beginning of Endgame. There had been a five-year gap between Infinity War and Endgame.
For all anyone knew, she could be halfway across the galaxy dealing with something else.
"Director, incoming communication from Wakanda."
A SHIELD agent's voice sounded through the room.
"Put it through. Looks like our backup has arrived."
Steve smiled.
With Wakanda's technological capabilities, there was no way they could have missed two alien warships appearing above Earth.
---
Meanwhile, in deep space...
A sleek swallow-shaped spacecraft sped through the cosmos.
Inside the cockpit, Quill and Gamora sat together.
"Peter... if Thanos captures me, you have to promise me something."
Gamora's expression was unusually serious.
"You have to kill me."
"What?!"
Quill froze.
For a moment, he thought he'd misheard her.
"You heard me."
Gamora looked directly at him.
"I know something he doesn't."
"If he learns it, the entire universe will be in danger."
She stood and gazed out the window.
Purple cosmic light stretched across the distant void.
"What do you know that he doesn't?"
Quill asked immediately.
"I can't tell you."
Gamora shook her head.
"I don't want to put you in danger."
Quill grabbed her hand.
"Then that's exactly why you should tell me. What kind of secret is worth dying over?"
Gamora turned toward him.
They stood so close their breaths mingled.
"Listen to me, Peter."
"If I'm captured... you must kill me."
Quill opened his mouth to protest.
Instead, Gamora silenced him with a kiss.
Ahem. Ahem.
A cough suddenly echoed nearby.
The two instantly turned.
Drax was sitting a short distance away, eating snacks while watching them.
"How long have you been there?!"
Quill shouted.
"One hour."
"What?! ONE HOUR?!"
Quill nearly collapsed.
That meant everything—including the kissing—had been broadcast live.
Drax nodded seriously.
"Yes."
"I have mastered a special skill."
"If I stand completely still, I become invisible."
He sounded utterly sincere.
The statement itself was complete nonsense.
---
Not long afterward, the ship arrived at Knowhere—the mining colony built inside the severed head of a Celestial.
The Guardians disembarked immediately and hurried toward the Collector's residence.
Inside, the Collector lay sprawled across the floor in a miserable state.
A towering purple figure stood over him with one foot planted firmly on his chest.
The team quickly took cover while keeping their eyes fixed on the scene.
"I know the Reality Stone is here."
Thanos looked down at the Collector as though he were an insect.
"Hand it over now."
"Otherwise, your death will be very unpleasant."
The Collector cried out in agony.
Thanos showed not the slightest hint of mercy.
"I told you already!"
The Collector wheezed.
"I sold it!"
He looked like he could barely breathe.
Several of his ribs had clearly been fractured.
"Lying is practically your profession."
Thanos smiled.
The smile radiated cruelty.
"Yet your mouth is still stubborn."
Nearby, both Gamora and Nebula stared at him.
That expression...
They knew it all too well.
Every time Thanos was about to do something terrible, he wore that exact look.
"I'm not lying."
The Collector's voice was weak.
"I sold it already. I have no reason to deceive you."
His chest was visibly caved in from the pressure.
"One last time."
Thanos's voice grew colder.
"Where is the Stone?"
His foot pressed down harder.
Not far away, Drax stared at Thanos.
Pure killing intent radiated from him.
"I'm going to make him pay for my wife and daughter."
He strode toward Thanos.
Quill immediately grabbed him.
"Drax, calm down!"
"The Stone hasn't appeared yet!"
"If we get the Stone first, then we'll have a chance to kill him!"
"We need the Stone first!"
But Drax wasn't listening.
He shoved Quill aside and continued forward.
At the critical moment, Mantis appeared behind him.
"Sleep..."
Her hand touched his head.
Instantly, her powers activated.
THUD!
Drax collapsed face-first onto the ground.
The impact echoed loudly through the room.
Everyone scrambled for cover.
In the distance, Thanos glanced briefly toward the source of the noise.
His expression became unreadable.
Then he grabbed the Collector by the throat and tossed him into a nearby display case.
CRASH!
The cabinet sealed shut immediately.
Thanos then turned and began walking toward the Guardians' position.
Seeing this, Quill quickly tried to organize a plan.
"Gamora, Nebula—you two go around behind him. I'll—"
Before he could finish—
Gamora and Nebula had already rushed out.
Using a nearby crate as a springboard, Gamora leapt into the air.
Her sword descended toward Thanos's head.
Thanos casually dodged.
Then he caught the blade with one hand.
A slight squeeze—
CRACK!
The weapon shattered into multiple pieces.
But Gamora wasn't finished.
Her other hand flashed forward.
A second blade appeared.
And with a swift thrust—
She drove it directly into Thanos's neck.
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