Remembering his world mission, Soren's gaze regained focus.
Through the soul contract, Dormammu had already informed him, the Black Order fleet invading Earth had been swallowed whole and absorbed as fuel for the dark dimension.
That part pleased Soren.
Earth's catastrophe was over.
But the true instigator, the one who supported Thanos from the shadows, remained untouched.
And the final Infinity Stone, the Soul Gem, was still in the Grandmaster's hands.
A cold breath escaped him.
With a flick of his wrist, Soren tore open a shimmering rift in space, stepping directly toward Sakaar.
…
The star field outside had only just finished repairing itself from the temporal collapse when Sakaar's ruler… the Grandmaster made his decision.
He was going to run.
He gathered his treasures, activated his escape protocols, and prepared to flee the moment Soren or Thanos appeared.
But before he could leave, space rippled violently in front of him.
An uninvited guest stepped through.
Thanos… covered in blood.
Charred with his massive frame trembling ever so slightly.
"…!" The Grandmaster froze.
"Thanos… what happened to you?" His voice cracked from shock. Then, cautiously.
"Did you… kill Soren?"
Thanos didn't answer his question.
"Give me the Soul Gem."
His wounds stitched themselves together rapidly, flesh knitting as cosmic fire ran through his veins.
But his aura usually towering, oppressive… blinked in out of existence.
Even for someone nearing omnipotence, contending with the annihilation of time and space had left scars deeper than his body showed.
Compared to most Cosmic Elders, Thanos' resilience was monstrous.
But not infinite.
The Grandmaster didn't hand over the Stone.
"Our agreement," he said slowly, "Was simple. You kill Soren… and I give you the Soul Gem. So tell me—"
His voice tightened. "Is Soren dead?"
Thanos' jaw clenched. Anger. Shame.
For someone of his stature, lying was beneath him. But admitting he had been driven to this bloodied state by Soren…
That was even harder, he exhaled sharply.
"Give me the Soul Gem," Thanos said again, voice sinking into cold steel, "And I will kill Soren."
"Without an infinity stone equal to his own, eliminating him is nearly impossible, even with the Infinity Gauntlet."
The Grandmaster's pupils shrank. "So he is alive?"
Of the six Cosmic Rough Stones, Soren already possessed five. Only one remained, the Soul Gem and it was in the hands of the Grandmaster.
That was why Thanos arrived on Sakaar the moment he learned of it.
A flicker of humiliation crossed the Grandmaster's eyes.
Like Soren before him, even Thanos dared to look down at him. For an immortal being worshipped across the cosmos, such indignity was unthinkable.
Yet deep down he knew… this fate was of his own making. Had he not provoked Soren, he would never have been beaten to Sakaar.
Had he not sought revenge, he would not have exposed the existence of the Soul Gem. And had he not tried to use its power, he would not be standing here now, trembling before the Mad Titan.
Cornered between pride and annihilation, the Grandmaster surrendered.
Only now did he finally understand… in the face of life and death, all dignity is an illusion.
The Soul Gem materialized in his hand, burning with a radiance so intense it seemed alive.
Anyone who gazed too long into its glow could feel their very essence tugged toward it, as if the gem sought to claim their soul.
The Soul Gem was one of the primordial Infinite Stones, and its name spoke its truth. It commanded life and spirit.
It could enslave the dead, consume the living, and unleash waves of soul-shattering force. Unlike the other stones, it possessed a will of its own…and an endless hunger.
Thanos's eyes gleamed with feverish desire the moment he saw it.
A stone that commanded the soul, if he could bind it to the Infinity Gauntlet, his spirit would ascend beyond mortality.
Even if his body were shattered, his consciousness could endure. He would resurrect himself from sheer will alone.
With this, even Soren would no longer be a threat.
A mere thought from Thanos was enough.
The Soul Gem tore free from the Grandmaster's trembling hand and floated upward, streaking through the air until it landed perfectly in his waiting palm.
With a decisive movement, he set it into the final empty socket on the Infinity Gauntlet.
A surge of unimaginable energy coursed through the Gauntlet, spilling out in torrents of molten gold that climbed up Thanos's limbs and enveloped his entire form.
Within that light, he could feel his soul strengthening, stabilizing, and finally transcending its need for flesh.
He had achieved true immortality.
"HAHAHAHA!" Thanos threw back his head and let out a roaring, triumphant laugh.
The soul-damage he had suffered during the collapse of time and space vanished in an instant.
The Grandmaster staggered under the crushing pressure, nearly dropping to his knees. His instincts screamed at him to submit, and terror forced him to take several steps back.
Thanos lowered his gaze to him, now speaking with a calmness far more frightening than rage.
"Grandmaster," He said, "Since you have offered me the Soul Gem… I will reward you generously."
His golden aura flared. "I will spare your life, and your soul may serve me as my loyal servant."