Proxima Midnight had not come alone. She had brought a squad of elite commando soldiers, but their fate had been sealed the moment they crossed the Sanctum's threshold. A barrage of enchanted flying swords had decimated her team, leaving behind nothing but skeletons as a grim testament to their failure.
Now, Proxima Midnight herself hung pinned to the wall, a black dagger embedded in her chest. Her vision blurred, the life draining from her body. Only one thought echoed in her fading mind: I won't live to see Thanos' victory…
She was right. In truth, neither would Thanos.
Clang!
A thunderous sound rang out as Stormbreaker and the Overlord Skyblade clashed again, their collision sending shockwaves across the battlefield. Thanos stared in disbelief at his weapon—or what was left of it. The Overlord Skyblade, an extension of his might and symbol of his invincibility, lay shattered in his hands, split cleanly in two by Stormbreaker.
This weapon had been his constant companion, wielded in countless battles and unyielding in the face of any foe. Yet today, it had met its match. The realization hit him with the weight of years: his era of dominance was crumbling.
Meanwhile, inside the Sanctum Sanctorum, all had fallen silent. Thanos attempted to establish contact with Proxima Midnight, but no response came. He didn't need an answer to know the truth—something had gone horribly wrong.
In the skies above the battlefield, Tony Stark's voice crackled through the comms. "Good news! Steve just confirmed Corvus Glaive has been neutralized! And Strange sent word—Ebony Maw is dead too!"
The Avengers erupted into cheers, but Thor's focus never wavered. From the corner of his eye, he noticed a skeletal Chitauri soldier stumble out of the Sanctum, clutching a weapon. It approached Thor and offered up the spear—Proxima Midnight's weapon—as if delivering a trophy of victory.
Thor accepted it, his gaze meeting Thanos'. The Mad Titan's expression shifted, a mixture of resignation and disbelief.
More than a decade ago, when Thanos first encountered the brash young prince of Asgard, he had dismissed him as little more than an arrogant heir with no substance. A spoiled descendant of Odin. But now, standing before him, wielding the weapon that had shattered his own, was a warrior who had become his greatest adversary.
Thanos smiled bitterly at the irony. "How could it have come to this?" he muttered under his breath.
Thor said nothing. He understood Thanos too well. The Titan was not one to surrender, and the word defeat held no meaning for him. Even now, battered and broken, Thanos was not finished.
Sure enough, the Mad Titan gritted his teeth, grasped half of the broken Overlord Skyblade, and charged forward. His every movement radiated the aura of a man willing to embrace death but determined to take his enemy with him.
Thor braced himself as the battle resumed. Their clash was ferocious, reducing the surrounding terrain to rubble. Buildings crumbled, the ground cracked, and even the air seemed to tremble under the weight of their blows.
Finally, the fight drew to a close.
Thanos knelt on the ground, drenched in blood, his body trembling as he coughed violently. Stormbreaker's last strike had carved a massive gash across his chest, exposing thick bone beneath the torn flesh. It was a gruesome sight, and yet Thanos remained alive—a testament to his indomitable will and resilience.
If it had been anyone else, they would have perished long ago. But Thanos bore not one, but three such catastrophic injuries, each one enough to kill a lesser being.
As he looked at the Avengers gathered around him, their faces filled with resolve and exhaustion, Thanos let out a long sigh. He had always known the risks of his quest. This road had never offered the possibility of retreat. There were only two outcomes: achieving his dream or dying in pursuit of it.
I have failed, he admitted silently.
For a fleeting moment, he imagined an alternate end—one where he succeeded, where he watched the sunrise over a universe balanced in gratitude and despair. But that dream was no longer within reach.
With a heavy clang, the remnants of the Overlord Skyblade fell from his hand.
Thanos raised his gaze to the Avengers, his voice calm and measured. "I ask for a decent death."
The battlefield quieted as the remaining heroes from across the conflict zones gathered to witness the end of a legend. Among the crowd stood a hooded sorcerer, their presence blending seamlessly into the shadows. Few paid attention to them; the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj were enigmatic by nature.
Thor sighed deeply, gripping Stormbreaker as he stepped forward. Gamora, standing nearby, turned her head away and closed her eyes, unable to watch what was to come.
Thanos glanced briefly at Gamora, his expression unreadable, before closing his own eyes. He awaited the final blow, his breathing steady despite his injuries. The sound of Thor's footsteps grew louder, each step ringing like a death knell.
But as Thor drew near, something inside Thanos stirred. A sudden spark of defiance flared to life, a single thought blazing through his mind: No! It's not over yet!
Thanos' eyes snapped open. With a surge of adrenaline, he raised his right hand, the Infinity Gauntlet glowing with fierce energy. Without hesitation, he unleashed a blinding ray aimed directly at Thor.
"Thanos, you bastard!" Thor roared, caught off guard as the ray struck him with tremendous force. He raised Stormbreaker just in time, deflecting the beam. The impact sent him hurtling back, skidding across the battlefield for tens of meters.
The deflected ray tore through the ground, leaving deep scars and kicking up clouds of smoke and debris. The battlefield was shrouded in chaos.
As the dust settled, the Avengers and their allies stared at the scene in shock. Their gazes darted across the battlefield, searching desperately.
Thanos was gone.