The first time it happened, people might not have noticed anything amiss.
By the second occurrence, some had already begun to take quiet notice.
When the third incident followed immediately after the second, it inevitably sparked widespread public attention.
The intensity of the uproar and the scale of public interest depended on the severity of the incidents.
Thus, when Thanos's subordinates were killed in rapid succession, the entire universe nearly erupted in turmoil.
For years, Thanos had led his legions across the cosmos, annihilating countless worlds and forging a fearsome reputation that could silence even a child's night terrors—a reality, not just a legend, for Thanos.
Yet now, someone was systematically hunting down Thanos's subordinates. To the uninformed masses, a formidable new figure had emerged in the universe.
To Thanos, however, the universe... had spawned an anomaly that should never have existed.
Moreover, this person was likely to confront him directly within a short span of time.
After Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight fell in quick succession, Thanos expected this assailant to appear before him immediately... but two months passed without a sign.
Throughout this time, Ebony Maw remained constantly by Thanos's side.
It wasn't that Thanos was trying to protect anything; in truth, there were few things he truly cared about.
He simply felt that if he allowed this suddenly appeared figure to continue slaughtering his subordinates unchecked, his reputation would suffer an unprecedented blow.
When others ceased to fear him, many things would become exceedingly inconvenient.
Thus, he merely waited... waiting for the person to come hunt Ebony Maw, so he could seize him in the process.
Yet two months passed with no sign of movement.
The hunter neither came to kill his subordinates nor appeared before him.
Thanos couldn't even be certain if the interloper had given up.
There's no such thing as a thousand-day defense against a thief, he thought. Am I supposed to just abandon my true purpose? From the beginning until now, not a single Infinity Gem has been found. Do I have time to play hide-and-seek here?
Reluctantly, Thanos ordered Ebony Maw to resume his duties.
Ebony Maw was utterly obedient to Thanos, following his every command without question.
Having received his orders, Ebony Maw piloted his Spaceship, leading his Fleet toward their destination.
But the moment they emerged from the wormhole, disaster struck.
The entire Fleet... was gone!
Every single ship that had followed him through the wormhole had vanished without a trace, leaving only Ebony Maw's Spaceship and the utter absence of his subordinates.
Ebony Maw was bewildered. Had they taken a wrong turn while crossing the wormhole?
But that made no sense!
Until now, as long as the target was clear and the coordinates precise, such a massive collective disappearance had never occurred.
Lost in thought, he suddenly noticed an unnatural silence outside the bridge.
Activating the Spaceship's surveillance system, he saw a man in a crimson cloak knocking on the door.
Knock, knock, knock!
The crisp sound echoed from the reinforced door at the end of the bridge.
Ebony Maw's eyes remained impassive. With a casual wave of his hand, the door was ripped apart by a tremendous force, shattering into fragments that hurtled toward Arthur's face.
In an instant, Arthur vanished completely, reappearing behind Ebony Maw. "You know what happens when a Sorcerer gets up close and personal?"
"The one who gets close... dies a gruesome death!"
Sharp iron spikes erupted from the ground beneath Ebony Maw's feet, but before they could fully materialize, his head had already been severed.
What never fully formed, naturally, could never be completed. Ebony Maw's boastful words still rang in Arthur's ears, yet Arthur found himself in a daze. "Is that... all it took?"
Cut off the claws and fangs, then strike straight at the heart!
The very opponent he had anticipated would be the most troublesome had been dispatched with such effortless ease.
Had he overestimated their mythic status, or had he become... too powerful?
"Though I'd love to chat longer..."
A voice suddenly echoed around him, and Thanos's face materialized in all directions. "I don't think I should give you even a moment's reprieve."
A searing white light blinked around Arthur, his pupils contracting. A destructive force had already coalesced in the void, sealing the entire space.
Even with his instantaneous teleportation ability, Arthur found himself heavily suppressed by the massive-scale lockdown.
He blinked again, reappearing just ten meters outside the bridge of the enemy ship.
Explosion!
An overwhelming light piled up around him, enveloping him completely. Infinite energy instantly annihilated Arthur.
Unbeknownst to Arthur, Ebony Maw's Spaceship had been surrounded by a colossal fleet, which unleashed a concentrated barrage!
Sparks filled Thanos's vision as he sat on his throne, his hands resting casually on the armrests. "Though I don't understand why you would do something so suicidal, I will grant your every desire. Your life will fill the void in my heart."
He closed his eyes, seemingly unwilling to witness the explosive burst of light, the blink, and the withering destruction in the void.
Just two seconds after closing his eyes, he snapped them open again. "He's... still alive?"
A vibrant life force pulsed through the void!
What Thanos had expected to see—a flickering candle extinguished by the wind—was instead a beacon blazing defiantly against the gale, standing proud and shining brilliantly!
Even Thanos couldn't help but rise to his feet. His gaze turned solemn as he descended from his throne in two swift strides. The radiant glow before him gradually faded with the passage of time.
Arthur's battered form stood atop the wreckage of the spaceship, his gaze meeting Thanos's with unwavering calm.
Thanos's pupils constricted as someone handed him a dossier. "Arthur, male, human from Earth. Previously active in..."
"A human from Earth?" Thanos's brow furrowed, but before he could speak, Arthur opened his mouth.
The voice resonated directly through the Spaceship and the Fleet.
"I don't quite understand why you captured me so easily," Arthur said, his voice tinged with genuine curiosity.
"I see no reason to answer your questions," Thanos's cold, authoritative voice echoed in Arthur's ears.
"Then... how about I take a guess?" Arthur tilted his head, completely unconcerned that his true form had been revealed. His battered body began to regenerate at an alarming rate, the gruesome wounds vanishing in moments. As his flesh knit itself back together, he continued, "You knew I was approaching you all along. But you weren't sure which one of us was me, were you?"
(End of Chapter)
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