Thor stood amidst the ruins of Asgard's Golden Hall, his face hardened with resolve. The decision he had been avoiding could no longer be delayed.
He knew Thanos would stop at nothing to force Gamora to reveal the Soul Gem's location, especially if he captured the Guardians of the Galaxy. Gamora's love for Star-Lord made her vulnerable, and time was running out.
Thor whispered, "Natasha, come with me."
The Black Widow looked up, puzzled. "Where are we going?"
"To Vormir," Thor said grimly.
Under the rubble of the Golden Hall, Hela worked in silence, pulling a lifeless Asgardian soldier from the debris.
With a wave of her hand, a dark green flame engulfed the corpse. The soldier's eyes ignited with eerie green fire, his body twitching unnaturally.
Frigga and the three Asgardian warriors behind her frowned deeply. While they respected Hela's power, this act felt like a desecration of the fallen—a line they were reluctant to cross.
Jean Grey stepped forward, placing her hands gently on the soldier's head. Her telepathy probed his mind, searching for clues.
After a few minutes, Jean shook her head. "His memory is fragmented. The crucial details are missing. Or maybe… he never saw anything."
Hela's expression darkened. "Then we'll find another way. Someone infiltrated Asgard's treasury—a feat even I couldn't accomplish without being noticed. If we don't uncover how they did it, this vulnerability will remain a threat. Next time, we might not be so lucky."
She paused, her gaze cold. "There may be an insider. Someone with a high position. Perhaps more than one."
The group's eyes shifted toward Loki, whose reputation for betrayal made him the obvious suspect.
Loki, for his part, remained stoic.
"It's not Loki," Frigga said firmly. "I trust him."
Hela continued, unfazed. "Another possibility is that a magician of extraordinary power opened a portal directly into the treasury. The Golden Hall is protected by countless enchantments; only a few could bypass them."
"Such as?" Frigga asked.
"The Sorcerer Supreme," Hela replied. "The Ancient One. But she's dead."
Frigga shook her head. "Then it wasn't her."
Vormir.
The desolate planet loomed under an ominous, ash-gray sky. Its barren surface stretched endlessly, devoid of life despite its breathable atmosphere.
Natasha shivered as she stepped onto the rocky terrain. She recognized the place immediately—Wanda's terrifying dream had shown her this very mountain.
"This place has a certain charm," Thor joked, his voice forced. "With better circumstances, it might make for a nice vacation spot."
Natasha turned to him, her expression unreadable. Normally, she'd retort with a sharp quip or roll her eyes. But instead, she gazed at him with an unsettling tenderness.
"You think so?" she said softly. "If that's what you want, I'd gladly come here with you."
Thor blinked, surprised. "Are you feeling okay?"
When Natasha didn't snap back, he placed a hand on her forehead, checking for fever.
To his astonishment, Natasha smiled and clasped his hand, holding it gently against her cheek.
Thor stared at her, utterly bewildered. "Who are you, and what have you done with Natasha Romanoff?"
Before he could say more, a ghostly figure emerged from the shadows. Its skeletal visage and tattered cloak gave it an otherworldly appearance.
"Welcome," the figure rasped.
Thor and Natasha stood their ground as the Red Skull floated closer.
"Thor Odinson, son of Odin… Natasha Romanova, daughter of Ivan… I am the guide to the Soul Stone."
The Red Skull's hollow voice carried an air of inevitability. "What you seek lies within your grasp. But the Soul Stone demands a sacrifice. A soul for a soul."
Natasha's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
The Red Skull gestured to the cliff's edge. "To obtain the Soul Stone, one must sacrifice what they love most. Only through loss can the Stone's wielder understand its value. This is the eternal law."
Thor tensed, his heart heavy. He knew this moment was coming.
Natasha turned to Thor, her gaze filled with a mix of sorrow and serenity. "I've known since you brought me here," she said softly. "You wouldn't have come if there wasn't something at stake. Now I know… your heart."
Thor opened his mouth to speak, but Natasha placed a finger on his lips.
"Let me do this," she whispered.
Before Thor could stop her, Natasha ran toward the cliff's edge, her movements swift and decisive.
"Natasha, wait!" Thor shouted, reaching out too late.
As she leapt, time seemed to slow. Her body arched gracefully through the air, descending toward the golden light below.
At least I'll die as Thor's true love, Natasha thought, her heart steady. This is enough.
The light embraced her as she disappeared into the abyss.