After departing the throne of Titan, Supergiant piloted her ship alone toward the coordinates where Cull Obsidian (Black Dwarf) had vanished.
Given the nature of her abilities—and her absolute confidence in them—she required no escort.
Wherever she went,
armies followed in her wake.
"Here?"
"There's nothing…"
Through the transparent viewport, she gazed into the silent stretch of space ahead.
No visible wormhole.
Only a dim river of stars drifting slowly across the void.
Could the information my lord provided be wrong?
She dismissed the thought instantly.
To doubt Thanos was blasphemy.
She guided the ship into a slow patrol pattern around the disappearance point.
It had barely advanced a kilometer—
When—
Vwoom—
A ripple distorted the space directly in front of her vessel.
Before she could react,
a wormhole snapped open.
Ship and pilot were swallowed whole.
Silence returned immediately.
The fragile fabric of space resealed, as if nothing had ever happened.
…
Sakaar
Grandmaster's reception hall.
Beyond the towering glass windows roared the arena—
Crowds chanting.
Combatants clashing.
Thor, Loki, and Tony sat somewhat stiffly, not entirely comfortable with the alien refreshments.
Leon, on the other hand, devoured everything in sight without hesitation.
On the massive display screen behind them played footage of the New York battle—
Specifically, Leon descending like a god and crushing Ebony Maw.
The Grandmaster beamed.
"You know, Leon, I've been a huge fan of the Homelander ever since you went public with that identity."
"A hero who does whatever he wants, whenever he wants."
"Magnificent."
"Honestly? You're the template I wish I'd designed myself."
He turned eagerly.
"Autograph?"
His assistant handed Leon a stylus.
"Of course, my friend."
Leon wiped his mouth and signed boldly across the Grandmaster's back—
Encircling his name in a heart for good measure.
"Follow the Homelander and you've made it in life," Leon declared proudly.
Thor, Loki, and Tony nodded solemnly.
Absurd.
The ruler of this backwater cosmic gladiator world…
was a fan.
Reality had officially given up pretending to make sense.
They chatted casually.
From the Grandmaster, they learned the simple truth of Sakaar:
His word was law.
Always.
A guard entered and reported that scavengers had recovered something "interesting."
The Grandmaster's eyes lit up.
"Leon, care to join me?"
"Why not?" Leon shrugged.
He glanced at the others.
Loki shook his head.
"The arena fascinates me."
Thor stood. "I'd like to explore. Sakaar is… unlike Asgard."
Tony draped an arm over Thor's shoulder. "Count me in."
"Would you like a guide?" the Grandmaster asked pleasantly.
Thor and Tony declined in unison.
"We prefer to explore the unknown ourselves."
"Unknown is half the fun."
The Grandmaster laughed delightedly.
"You understand me already."
…
Elsewhere
Supergiant regained consciousness.
Her limbs were restrained to a metallic chair.
Around her shimmered shifting, unreal scenery—
Like reality itself was unstable.
She attempted to activate her telepathic control.
Nothing.
As if her mind had been muted.
A calm female voice echoed around her.
"Do not be afraid."
"We have found you."
"This is your home."
"No one leaves."
"But what place is this?"
"This is Sakaar."
"Encircled by cosmic pathways."
"The border between the known and the unknown."
"All things discarded and despised gather here."
"Like you."
"Yet here, you are valuable."
"You belong to the Grandmaster."
"He is the Founder."
"The First Lost."
"The Creator of the Contest of Champions."
"You will meet him in five seconds."
"Prepare yourself."
The tunnel of warped light accelerated.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Supergiant's white-hot eyes narrowed.
For the first time since leaving Titan—
She felt something unfamiliar.
Uncertainty.
…
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