After flying out of the star, Thanos shook the hydrogen and helium off his body and turned toward Sanctuary II, his massive figure cutting through space like a blade.
The reason a star can burn for billions of years without going out is simple—and terrifying. Its sheer mass generates unimaginable gravity. That gravity compresses the stellar core so brutally that hydrogen and helium are forced into nuclear fusion.
In other words, controlled nuclear fusion on a cosmic scale.
As fusion releases energy, the surrounding hydrogen and helium ignite, forming a blazing atmosphere. Yet none of it can escape. Gravity keeps everything locked in place, creating a perfect closed loop of endless burning.
If Thanos hadn't removed the hydrogen and helium still undergoing fusion on his body, the moment he flew into Sanctuary II, the entire Black Order would have been vaporized on the spot—reduced to cosmic ash before they could even kneel.
When Thanos returned, the Black Order immediately dropped to one knee in unison, their movements sharp and reverent.
A moment later, Thanos settled onto his throne and asked calmly,"Any news about Gamora?"
The void trembled slightly as Deep Blue's mechanical voice echoed through the chamber.
"Reporting to Master. I lost track of Gamora and lost all contact with her half a year ago."
Thanos frowned.
So… she ultimately chose betrayal.
If that's the case, then don't blame me.
"Issue a universal warrant for Gamora's arrest," Thanos said coldly. "Send word across the cosmos. If she does not return within three months, her homeland will be destroyed."
More than a hundred years ago, while conquering the universe, he had come across a planet named Houzeberg.
At the time, Houzeberg suffered from extreme resource shortages and primitive technology. Famine and war ravaged the planet endlessly.
Thanos slaughtered most of the population to stabilize its ecological balance, then provided advanced technology to ensure the planet's survival and development.
During that massacre, he noticed a child—Gamora.
Unlike the others, she showed no fear. She watched her parents die without shedding a tear or lifting a hand.
Her cold indifference intrigued him.
Amused—and perhaps a little impressed—he took her in as his goddaughter.
…It seems I misjudged her.
"Yes, Master," Deep Blue replied.
As an artificial intelligence, it felt no emotion. To it, erasing a planet was no different from crushing an anthill.
After a brief pause, Thanos spoke again."Have Nebula come to Titan."
With the order given, Sanctuary II set course for Titan.
Two hours later.
The blue-green planet of Titan filled the viewport.
After countless technological reconstructions, Titan was beginning to resemble the world it once had been before its destruction. Spaceports dotted the surface, and ships constantly rose and fell like metallic insects.
A vessel as massive as Sanctuary II couldn't dock at a spaceport—there simply wasn't enough room—so it descended instead onto a military base located on one of Titan's natural satellites.
In the next instant, Thanos vanished in a flash of energy and reappeared inside his palace on Titan.
Nebula was already waiting.
As his most "obedient" daughter, she had remained on Titan, awaiting orders. The moment she received the summons, she rushed over without hesitation.
Thanos sat upon his throne, gazing down at her, and felt an unfamiliar sense of reassurance.
At least I'm not a complete failure as a father. I still have one filial child.
"Nebula," he said slowly. "What do you know about your sister?"
Nebula lowered her head. She stayed silent for a moment before answering,"I don't fully understand what happened to her either. I only heard her mention that she'd found her 'destination.' But for some reason, she never reported it."
After a pause, she added,"I also heard that she joined a mercenary group a few years ago… they call themselves the Guardians of the Galaxy. She's been running missions almost nonstop."
Thanos's eyes narrowed at the name.
"Guardians of the Galaxy…"
An absurdly powerful group. They had already defeated Star-Lord, stolen the Power Stone, and even destroyed Xandar.
Troublesome. Very troublesome.
Even with the plot shifting in unexpected directions, Star-Lord still somehow managed to hang out with Gamora. Some things, it seemed, were stubbornly inevitable.
Thanos shook his head, clearly displeased. His voice was cold and sharp, like a blade dragged across stone."If you dare disobey my orders again," he said, "then don't bother coming back."
"Nebula."
At the sound of her father's voice, Nebula snapped to attention instantly, her posture rigid, spine straight as a spear. No hesitation. No delay.
"Present," she said.
Thanos studied her for a moment, then nodded slowly."You are the only one I trust now. I'm assigning you the task of locating the Soul Stone. You may mobilize all available fleets."
"Yes!" Nebula answered with force, her voice ringing with barely restrained excitement. She bowed once, sharply, then turned and left the temple without looking back.
Her eagerness was obvious. She wanted to prove herself—to eclipse her sister, to be seen as stronger, more capable, more worthy. Above all, she wanted her father's approval. His love, such as it was.
Thanos watched her go and allowed himself a faint, unreadable smile.
But even as she departed, a new thought took shape in his mind.
Perhaps it would be better to go to Blue Star first. Collect the other three Stones. Then retrieve the Soul Stone afterward.
After all, with the Space Stone, distance meant nothing. Once he possessed it, the universe itself would feel… smaller. Traveling anywhere would be effortless.
Each of the six Infinity Stones possessed a unique and terrifying nature.
Space.Time.Reality.Power.Mind.Soul.
The Space Stone allowed its wielder to travel anywhere in the universe instantly. More than that, it could bend space itself—separating it, cutting it apart, twisting it into impossible shapes, rearranging it at will, or even creating entirely new spaces.
The Time Stone granted dominion over the flow of time, allowing its user to move freely between the past and the future, so long as it remained within the timeline of this universe.
The Reality Stone could turn desire into substance, reshaping the world according to its bearer's will. But its creations were fleeting; once the user departed, reality would eventually snap back into place, as if offended by the lie.
The Power Stone granted overwhelming strength, assuming the wielder survived using it. It was also unique in that it could amplify and stabilize the abilities of the other Stones.
The Mind Stone enhanced mental power, granting abilities such as illusion-casting, telepathy, and absolute mind control.
And the Soul Stone…It governed souls themselves—stealing them, manipulating them, reshaping them. A gem both feared and misunderstood.
With the Space Stone in hand, finding the Soul Stone would be far easier.
Yet the very next second, Thanos frowned.
Something was wrong.
He felt it—subtle but unmistakable. A foreign presence brushing against his thoughts. Not a voice. Not a command. More like… influence.
In his original plan, he was supposed to claim the Soul Stone first, then go to Blue Star for the remaining three.
That order mattered.
It avoided interference from certain entities—and, more importantly, it prevented the awkward and dangerous situation of wielding five Infinity Stones instead of six.
Because only when all six were gathered could their true power be unleashed.
Power enough to surpass a single universe.Power enough to challenge the multiverse itself.
The Marvel Universe was not merely dangerous—it was absurdly so. Its ceiling for power was terrifyingly high.
There were beings like the Living Tribunal.The Celestials.The five primordial gods—Eternity, Infinity, Annihilation, Death, and the Devourer of Worlds.
And beyond even them…The One Above All.
Thanos' jaw tightened.
Someone was nudging the board.And he did not like being part of someone else's game.
.....
Can't wait to read more exciting chapters then what are you waiting for Join my p*atreon right now.
Get 60+ Premium chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/Earthly_Writer (Remove the *)
2 Chapters for all free members.