As long as Thanos agreed to send his forces to aid in Astra's revenge, Astra would provide him with the precise coordinates of that enigmatic cosmic power. To Astra, this was an exceptionally fair trade.
That mysterious and formidable energy held little personal value for Astra. He had tested it before—judging by the mere fraction of power he had received, his body was utterly incapable of withstanding a full infusion of its might. Instead of letting it go to waste, why not use it as leverage to negotiate with Thanos?
After all, when it came to killing, Thanos was the consummate professional.
"I accept."
Within the base of the Black Quadrant, Astra lay on his bed, staring blankly at the dazzling cosmos outside his window. Thanos' words of agreement echoed in his ears, his thoughts surging chaotically.
He couldn't sleep.
Perhaps it was the unfamiliar surroundings, or the exhilaration of sealing the deal. Or maybe it was something else entirely. Either way, sleep eluded him. Even copious amounts of alcohol failed to lull him into unconsciousness.
"Why is this happening?"
"I got what I wanted. Thanos agreed exactly as I had planned…"
Unable to settle his restless mind, Astra left his quarters and stepped outside to breathe in the fresh night air, hoping to clear his head. But in the hilly terrain outside the base, he spotted Thanos and Lothar.
One clad in golden armor, the other shimmering in silver light.
Cracked stones crunched beneath their feet as they exchanged blows with breathtaking speed, fists and palms clashing in a dazzling display.
"You've improved again."
Thanos withdrew his fist and stood straight, gazing at his son, who was still catching his breath. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"I am proud of you, my son."
Even after just a brief spar, Thanos had already discerned Lothar's progress—his strength had grown significantly since their time on Jotunheim.
"Hah…"
Regulating his breathing, Lothar wiped the sweat from his brow. His silver armor, responding to his will, automatically detached from his body.
"However, your control over your internal energy still has room for improvement."
Having long surpassed this stage himself, Thanos was keen to ensure his son did not veer off course. He paid no attention to Astra, who was quietly watching from the sidelines, and continued his lesson.
Ever since Lothar had begun leading his own forces, father and son had precious few opportunities to train together. Their one-on-one sessions were now limited to twice a year, each culminating in a battle where Thanos would critique Lothar's weaknesses and correct any errors in his energy manipulation.
Simple, fundamental principles. Clear, direct explanations. Practical demonstrations. Watching from a distance, Astra almost felt as though he could do it himself.
Then he tried.
Following Thanos' instructions, he attempted to guide the latent energy within him. But when he raised his hand, not even a spark flickered at his fingertips.
Astra felt ridiculous.
His eyes told him he understood. But his brain and body mercilessly reminded him otherwise.
He could almost feel his face swelling from the humiliation.
"Ahem. I wasn't eavesdropping, I swear."
Perhaps he had made too much noise. When Astra turned his gaze back to Thanos and Lothar, he found both of them looking directly at him.
"The power within you is unique. This method of guidance will not work," Thanos remarked, casting Astra a knowing glance before turning away.
"That's enough for tonight, Lothar."
"Yes, Father."
Lothar bowed respectfully as Thanos walked away, while Astra, still holding up his index finger, finally managed to produce a few flickering sparks.
"Must be nice."
Watching Thanos leave, Astra turned to Lothar, envy flickering in his gaze.
It reminded him of the days when his own father trained him. The broad back that once shielded him from the world.
"This time, you'd better not be scheming anything," Lothar muttered coldly, shooting Astra a wary glance.
Given Astra's past manipulations—even daring to plot against Thanos himself—Lothar had little reason to be friendly.
"Oh, come on, Lothar. If you keep that stone-cold expression all the time, no woman will ever like you. Sure, some girls might be into it, but trust me, mature women prefer someone like me—reliable, charming, and always smiling. Got it?"
Now that the tension of dealing with Thanos was gone, Astra leaned lazily against a boulder, smirking as he spoke.
With the deal secured, he had no concerns for his own safety—at least until the agreement was fulfilled. As long as he didn't provoke Thanos unnecessarily, he should be fine.
As for Lothar…
"Shut your mouth."
A sudden pain in his jaw made Astra wince.
"Great. Like father, like son."
Rubbing his sore chin, he sighed and turned to leave. But after just a few steps, he caught sight of Diana standing atop another hill.
"Feeling homesick?"
"Or thinking about those six companions of yours?"
"Shut. Your. Mouth."
The identical response from Diana stung as much as Lothar's punch.
"You know, I've heard of you before. The Pirate Queen of Planet N52. The woman who once defeated both the Kree Accuser Fleet and the Skrull Empire's Seventh Army."
Astra casually seated himself beside her, gazing at the infinite stars above.
"So?"
"So… wanna join me in taking revenge? Maybe you'll even get your powers back."
Astra had no qualms about recruiting the former queen—she might just be the key to his plans.
"Has anyone ever told you that your pickup lines are absolutely terrible?"
Diana clenched her fists in frustration but then exhaled in resignation.
"Nope. Actually, I get complimented a lot."
Astra smirked, pulling out two bottles of liquor—something Ebony Maw had procured for him at Thanos' command.
"Drink?"
Diana glanced at him before grabbing a bottle, cracking it open, and taking a deep swig. The strong liquid spilled from the corners of her mouth, trailing down her chest.
"Urgh…"
She let out a burp, unsteady on her feet, her gaze clouded with resentment.
There was so much left undone. So many Kree and Skrulls left unpunished. So many enemies who had wronged her still breathing.
"Why… Why?!"
Her sudden outburst left Astra bewildered.
Did she drink bad booze?
"You know, when I was young, Planet N52 was a beautiful world. My homeland, Paradise Island, was the most beautiful place of all. My birth was an accident, my childhood was turbulent, but I loved my home…"
"The sky was blue. The waters were clear…"
"But as I grew older, people wanted me dead, and I killed many in turn. I did everything I could to protect my home…"
"I killed my own subordinates because they said I was changing…"
"I…"
Her voice, barely above a whisper, was swallowed by the silence of the night. Then, like sand dissolving into the wind, Diana vanished before Astra's eyes.
Astra bent down, retrieving the bottle from the dust. The rim still bore the imprint of her lips.
"Heaven and hell—I never had a choice. Only the fate that chose me."
In a distant galaxy, far beyond reach, the shattered core of Planet N52 crumbled under the relentless barrage of imperial warships…
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