"So... do we know each other?"
Natasha narrowed her eyes in confusion. Realizing her words might have come across the wrong way, she quickly corrected herself.
"Thank you, and your friends, for helping us.
If you really know me, then please help us. Whatever happens, don't let Thanos collect all six Infinity Stones. Once he has them all, he'll bring unimaginable destruction to Earth.
You seem to enjoy making jokes about women, so... please protect me, and every other woman on Earth."
As she finished speaking, Natasha nervously grabbed Axel's wrist.
Feeling the sweat and blood on her hand, Axel merely pursed his lips before letting out a faint chuckle.
"Why should I?"
"Huh?" Tony blinked in surprise.
"What?" Clark stared at him in disbelief.
Only Lex and Bruce remained expressionless. They knew Axel well enough that his response didn't surprise them.
Ignoring everyone's stunned expressions, Axel simply shrugged.
"Isn't Thanos doing a pretty good job? He wipes out half the population at random, and the universe enjoys peace for a very, very long time.
Sure, it's painful for the people who lose their loved ones. But even without Thanos, death happens every second in every corner of the world.
People are separated by illness, disasters, accidents, and old age every day. Why is that acceptable, but this isn't?"
With that, Axel casually brushed Natasha aside and walked toward Thanos.
As he moved, he waved one hand.
A powerful wave of telekinesis tore through the earth, pulling countless rocks and soil together into a small hill before him.
The mound was compressed again and again until it became a stone couch decorated with elegant cloud patterns.
Axel lazily sat down, crossed one leg over the other, and waved at Thanos from afar.
Seeing his relaxed attitude, Thanos raised an interested eyebrow.
"Earth truly is an extraordinary planet.
Not only have I encountered humans worthy of my respect, but perhaps I have now met one who understands me."
As he spoke, Thanos slammed his fist into empty space.
Boom!
Blue energy erupted outward.
The surrounding area was instantly cleared, isolating Axel and Thanos inside a sealed space.
Everyone else was pushed outside the barrier.
Even when Clark struck it with all his strength, the spatial wall remained completely unmoved.
Lowering his hands, Thanos looked toward Axel.
"May I know your name?"
Axel laughed.
"Axel. And you?
I already know who you are, but introductions are only fair."
"Thanos, though many call me the Mad Titan.
They prefer that title, but I consider myself the Last Titan.
I am the final survivor of an ancient race, remembered as the one who betrayed his own people.
In truth, I am merely an idealist.
It pleases me to meet someone who understands my ideals."
A genuine smile appeared on Thanos's face.
It wasn't merely because someone agreed with him.
It was because success had never felt so close.
Seated comfortably on his stone couch, Axel nodded.
"An idealist, huh?
I have no interest in becoming one myself, but I can still respect people who truly believe in something.
Like I said, I actually think you're doing the right thing.
Yes, your plan costs countless lives.
But without you, disease, time, war, and fate still claim countless lives every single day.
I've seen people too poor to afford proper medical care, forced to ignore their health until their bodies finally gave out. Then they spend their last moments saying goodbye to grieving family members because they lacked money or time.
Compared to that, your method is at least fair.
Your randomness doesn't care about wealth, status, or power.
Everyone has the same chance.
That's true equality.
More importantly, people think eliminating half the population is pointless because the population will eventually recover.
But I know there's another purpose behind your actions.
You're also preventing the birth of the Celestials scattered across the universe.
Even if we only look at Earth, a Celestial is close to awakening.
Your plan would delay that awakening and prevent Earth's destruction.
At the same time, humanity would gain enormous amounts of available resources.
Conflicts would decrease, and the shared trauma would likely prevent another global war for generations.
With an alien like you becoming everyone's common enemy, humanity would unite faster than ever."
Axel applauded lightly.
Outside the barrier, every Avenger stood frozen.
"Wait... did I hear that right?"
Tony ground his teeth together.
"He actually made that sound reasonable."
Lex nodded repeatedly.
"You're right, Tony.
Axel rarely bothers thinking things through, but he is rational.
If the suffering inflicted on the world truly serves a greater purpose, like the reasons Axel listed...
Then if I were Thanos, I'd make exactly the same choice.
If the entire world hated me but I knew I was right, why should their opinions matter?
The correct destination is more important than the thorns along the road."
Tony shot him an irritated glare.
"That's because you're a villain, Luthor.
I'd rather hear what Bruce and Clark think."
Bruce took a slow breath.
"Humanity's problems should be solved by humanity.
Aliens have no right to decide our future."
Clark awkwardly grabbed Bruce's armored wrist.
"Well... technically I'm an alien too."
Then he looked firmly at Tony.
"Don't worry, Iron Man.
We're on your side.
As for Axel, even if I have to hold onto his leg, I won't let him join Thanos."
Tony sighed helplessly.
"For a second I thought I was looking at the real Superman.
Still... I appreciate the effort."
His attention quickly returned to Axel.
Meanwhile, the Avengers native to this universe interpreted the conversation very differently.
After all, the heroes still standing together after the Civil War belonged to Captain America's side.
Unlike Bruce and the others, they didn't believe Axel actually supported Thanos.
Instead, they assumed he was deliberately distracting him.
Steve rushed over to Vision.
"Move! Get Vision out of here, now!"
He shoved Vision into Wanda's arms.
Back inside the barrier, Axel watched Vision crash into Wanda, making her stumble awkwardly.
He immediately grimaced.
"Easy there. Look what you almost did."
"Hm?"
Thanos looked genuinely confused.
One moment they were discussing philosophy.
The next, Axel had completely changed the subject.
"I thought... you wanted to continue our discussion."
Axel shrugged.
"Haven't we covered enough ideals already?
Men only have a handful of conversation topics.
Once we've finished talking philosophy, we move on to women.
Unless you'd rather discuss the daughter you sacrificed to obtain the Soul Stone."
The teasing grin on Axel's face instantly erased Thanos's smile.
"What did you say?"
"I said your sacrifice."
"Let's not discuss that."
"How can we not?
An idealist's sacrifice deserves admiration.
For your dream, you willingly sacrificed your beloved daughter.
That's truly..."
"Enough!"
The grief Thanos had buried deep inside finally erupted.
Gamora had been with him since childhood.
She had accompanied him for countless years.
The Soul Stone itself proved how deeply he loved her.
The pain of losing Gamora was no less than the pain Clint felt after losing Natasha.
Hearing Axel casually joke about her was something Thanos could no longer tolerate.
The Infinity Stones flared with power around his clenched fist.
Outside the barrier, Wanda finally snapped out of her shock.
Carrying Vision, she flew away at maximum speed.
Steve shouted after her.
"No matter what happens, don't let him get the last Stone!
Take Vision and run!"
Thanos snorted coldly before locking eyes with Axel.
"I believed I had found a friend.
You possess qualities I admire.
But there are far more that I despise."
Axel stood from the stone couch.
"Think whatever you want.
If you've got the guts, come and prove it."
He casually rolled his shoulders.
"We were always going to fight anyway.
Even if I don't care whether your dream succeeds, backing down without a fight would ruin my reputation.
A man lives for his name.
Besides, I can confidently say I'm the biggest obstacle on Earth.
Beat me, and then you're free to do whatever you want."
Boom!
Before Axel could finish speaking, the ground surged upward like a massive tidal wave.
Mud, stone, roots, and debris rushed toward him.
Watching the towering wave approach, Axel merely smiled.
"Is that all?"
The simple taunt pierced Thanos's pride.
Before the first wave had fully passed, an even larger one rose behind it.
Facing the overwhelming wall of earth, Axel didn't even appear to move.
A tiny flame flickered.
The colossal wave passed harmlessly through his body before crashing onward.
The redirected attack spread across the battlefield, turning into a disaster for Captain America's forces.
Steve barely had time to shout.
"Defend yourselves!"
An instant later, the enormous wave launched him through the air.
The wall of earth stood over forty meters high and stretched more than three hundred meters across.
Before it, Steve looked no larger than an ant.
Watching him disappear into the distance, Axel smiled with satisfaction.
"Now that's more like it.
That's how a street-level hero is supposed to fare against someone on Thanos's level."
He had always found it absurd how Captain America could trade blows with someone powerful enough to overpower the Hulk.
Seeing Steve blown away by nothing more than the aftermath of one casual attack finally felt much more believable.
As heroes and Wakandan soldiers were swept away all around them, Thanos frowned.
"They aren't your companions?"
"Them?"
Axel had barely opened his mouth when a furious roar echoed across the battlefield.
"Thanos!"
Lightning exploded across the sky.
Dark clouds gathered overhead.
At the very edge of the advancing tidal wave, a figure wrapped in thunder descended like a meteor.
Crack!
A massive axe slammed into the ground.
Countless bolts of lightning burst outward, forming a sea of electricity that forcefully halted the advancing wave.
Slowly lifting Stormbreaker, Thor fixed Thanos with blazing eyes that shimmered with lightning.
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