After ensuring Tony Stark was safe, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Take good care of him. I'll bring him a bottle of Zorian Elixir when I return!" Captain Marvel said.
With that, she stormed off to join the battle.
"Where are you going?" Captain America asked.
"To kill Thanos!" Captain Marvel Carol snarled.
Black Widow Natasha caught up to her. "Hey, we usually fight as a team. Plus, morale is pretty low right now."
Captain America followed close behind. "We know space is your territory, but this is our fight too."
War Machine Rhodes asked the crucial question at that moment: "Do you know where he is?"
"I'll find out!" Captain Marvel Carol replied.
At that, Nebula, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward. "No need. I can tell you where Thanos is."
"Thanos spent years trying to perfect me. He kept telling me about his grand plan. Even when he was tearing me apart, I wanted to please him. I'd ask, 'When we succeed, where will we go?'"
"His answer was always the same: 'Go to the Garden Planet!'"
Nebula recalled her painful past.
Hearing this, War Machine Rhodes couldn't help but say, "Can you believe it? Thanos actually had a retirement plan!"
Those watching the scene exchanged bewildered glances. Though they'd read about it in Lin Feng's diary, it still seemed absurd and baffling. This was the primary antagonist of the first phase—a being who had slaughtered half the universe's population—and he just... retired?
Compared to world-domination-obsessed villains like Hydra or Dr. Killian, Thanos was truly a refreshing anomaly in the villain community.
And the most outrageous part? He actually succeeded! He actually retired!
Where was the justice in that?
If you set aside his villainous nature, from Thanos's perspective, hadn't he simply been a powerful being who, witnessing the suffering of the universe, felt it was collapsing under its own weight? To ensure the perfect balance and prosperity of all life, he had toiled and strived, ultimately achieving his goal before retiring to enjoy his golden years.
This sounds... surprisingly inspiring, in a way.
No, I can't think like that. If I keep this up, my perspective will completely warp.
On the screen, Captain America Rogers asked, "So where is he?"
"Ever since Thanos snapped his fingers, Earth has become a focal point for cosmic energy surges. We've never seen anything like it—until two days ago, right here on this planet!" Rocket Raccoon explained, pulling up a projection.
"Thanos is there!" Nebula reacted immediately, recognizing the planet.
The group stared at the Garden Planet, utterly awestruck. Black Widow Natasha said, "He's used the Infinity Stones again!"
"Heh heh heh... we're really short-handed right now, aren't we?" Bruce Banner said, still shaken.
The last battle had left not only Hulk with psychological trauma, but him too. None of them stood a chance against Thanos.
They couldn't even touch him at their peak—what hope did they have now?
"And the Stones are still in his possession, so..." War Machine Rhodes couldn't help but interject.
"Then we take them back!"
Captain Marvel Carol declared, "Bring everyone back!"
She was so confident that she believed she could even challenge Thanos.
"Even if the hope of undoing all this is slim, for our fallen comrades, we must give it our all!" Black Widow Natasha said.
Bruce Banner shook his head. "Even if we try, how can we be sure the outcome will be different this time?"
Captain Marvel Carol replied with unwavering confidence, "Because you didn't have me before."
War Machine Rhodes frowned. "Hey, newcomer, everyone in this room is a superhero of some kind. I've got to ask—where have you been all this time?"
Captain Marvel Carol answered, "There are countless planets in the universe, but none as worthy of protection as yours!"
Thor, clearly impatient, summoned Stormbreaker and declared, "I like her!"
"Let's go take down that bastard!" Captain America said, staring at the projection of the Garden Planet, his resolve hardening.
The scene shifted, and the Avengers found themselves aboard a Guardians of the Galaxy spaceship.
When the ship executed a hyperspace jump and arrived directly at the Garden Planet, the team couldn't help but show expressions of envy, jealousy, and resentment. *This* was the kind of technology humanity should be developing. Pursuing Asgard's magic-oriented civilization was simply impossible.
The Asgardians were descendants of demon gods; their current state was a result of degeneration, not evolution. Even so, over the millennia, only a handful of deities had emerged.
"I'll scout ahead!" Captain Marvel Carol declared, her body radiating golden light as she hovered in the void.
The harsh environment of space couldn't deter her.
"No satellites, no ports, no military, no ground defenses!" Carol reported after her reconnaissance. "Just him!"
This wasn't the military fortress or scientific utopia they had imagined, but a perfectly ordinary planet.
The Avengers' faces grew grim. Nebula spoke first, her voice sharp. "That's all we need."
As the camera panned, it entered the interior of the Garden Planet, revealing a breathtaking paradise where a small thatched hut stood before the viewers.
Even the members of the Avengers watching from outside were stunned by the beauty of the scene. Such a perfect place seemed ideal for retirement—a life spent gazing at such scenery daily would leave one with no regrets.
But soon, indignation surged through the group. They had fought desperately to reclaim their loved ones, and countless spirits cried out in anguish. Yet here was Thanos, after slaughtering so many, living a pastoral idyll. The injustice was unbearable.
The thatched hut's design was rustic and ancient. A scarecrow outside wore Thanos's former armor.
Thanos limped through the woods, plucking fruits and vegetables as he prepared to build a fire and cook, looking every bit the old farmer of the forest.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, who would ever believe that this was the home of a cosmic tyrant—a renowned Celestial-level powerhouse?
Thanos was struggling mightily when a terrifying beam of light suddenly swept across the battlefield. Just as he was about to block it, Captain Marvel charged forward and instantly locked her hand around his throat.
Simultaneously, Bruce Banner, clad in the Anti-Hulk Armor, and War Machine seized his arms. Thor leaped down from the rooftop and, with a single swift strike, severed the hand bearing the Infinity Gauntlet.
Finally, Captain America Rogers, Rocket Raccoon, and Black Widow Natasha entered the scene. Rocket Raccoon struggled to lift the severed hand, only to find that the spots where the six Infinity Stones should have rested were now completely empty. Not a single stone remained.
The group stood stunned. If the Infinity Stones were gone, what had been the point of all their desperate efforts?
Captain America and Black Widow Natasha exchanged grave glances. Then, Captain America Rogers demanded, "Where did the Infinity Stones go?"
"Answer his question!"
Captain Marvel Carol locked her grip on Thanos' throat, growling in a low, furious voice.
Thanos, enduring the agony of his severed hand, replied, "The universe needed to be set right. After that, the Infinity Stones serve no purpose but temptation!"
Hearing this, Bruce Banner finally snapped. He roared and shoved Thanos to the ground, bellowing, "You slaughtered countless lives!"
But Thanos retorted, "You should be grateful!"
Before the words had fully left his mouth, Bruce Banner's fist slammed into his face.
Black Widow Natasha, barely suppressing her fury and grief, realized the gravity of the situation. If Thanos was telling the truth, the consequences were unimaginable. And judging by his demeanor, he might actually be telling the truth.
"Where are the Infinity Stones?" she asked, forcing herself to remain calm.
"They're gone!" Thanos declared, meeting Natasha's gaze. "Everything has turned to dust!"
"You used them just two days ago!" Bruce Banner interjected, his voice rising in agitation. Two days prior, a massive cosmic disturbance had rippled through the universe, even reaching Earth.
They had just used the Infinity Stones, and now Thanos claimed they were gone? It was a blatant lie—how could they believe him?
They simply didn't believe him, nor did they want to.
Thanos declared, "I used the Infinity Stones to destroy the Infinity Stones!"
His gaze was unwavering as he looked at them all. He showed no remorse for his actions. "This nearly destroyed me, but my mission is complete. It was always meant to be this way. I am... destiny itself!"
Only then did they understand why half of Thanos's body was scorched black. They had been puzzled, wondering who could have inflicted such grievous wounds upon him.
Even when he snapped his fingers to obliterate half of all life in the universe, he hadn't paid such a devastating price. At that time, he had been severely wounded by Thor's Stormbreaker.
So, it was he who had destroyed the Infinity Stones.
Using the Infinity Stones to destroy the Infinity Stones.
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)