CHAPTER 237

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As I prepared for Knull's awakening, a notification popped into my system, informing me that Thanos and his army were on their way to the abandoned planet whose coordinates I had scattered through all of space to manipulate the purple giant into collecting the stone for me.

I smiled, opening my map. From what I saw on it, Thanos and his army would arrive at the planet in an hour and ten minutes.

Plenty of time to prepare.

Smile on my face, I teleported to the planet, where I began to create certain decorations for the titan's arrival. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a few small details to set the mood.

A temple, where I would wait for him.

Traces of a past civilization that had ended because of their hubris, to connect with his past and current motives, and the occasional monument with ancient art telling the story of the stones.

And, a spell or two, to make the planet look and feel more mysterious, by making a deep mist surrounding the location he was to visit, one that would only open to him, to make him feel like the chosen one.

"Hmm, I feel like I'm missing something."

The question was, what.

Oh, right, a fake prophecy, narrated by the paintings or writing of a lost civilization. 

Nothing sells a point more than a prophecy of a promised champion. And Thanos believed himself to be one.

"I still feel I'm forgetting about something."

That's right, the Red Skull. I can't have him ruining my convoluted plan by possibly telling Thanos he was being lied to.

"Time to delete him," I nodded, using [Erasure] on him, effectively ending his weird immortal existence.

With that done.

The only thing left to do was wait.

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[Thanos POV]

I was about to arrive at the planet where the rumors of one of the stones had begun.

I had no idea what I would encounter there.

A lie?

A truth?

Both perhaps?

I mused at that thought for hours, as the ships coursed through the cosmos, nearing our destination.

"Sire, we have arrived," Maw announced, pointing at the screen.

"Any information on the planet?" I asked, leaning towards the screen a bit.

"None sire," Maw replied, frowning.

I sighed, I expected as much, this sector of the universe was nothing but an echo of the past, planets that once had life, turned to nothing, leaving their story, their achievements to rot, to be forgotten.

"Prepare for landing," I ordered. I knew there was a possibility of this being a trap, many wanted my head, and a desolated planet was the best place to do what they so desperately sought for, but for my mission, I would take the risk.

"As you wish," Maw nodded.

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[Alex Walker POV]

I smiled, seeing as Thanos and his army landed on the planet.

It was showtime.

Grinning, I changed my form to that of an old alien, in short, I had changed my appearance to look like Yoda, down to his clothes and lightsaber.

"Ok, I have five minutes at most to prepare my speech," I muttered, modulating my voice to sound like Yoda, and my speech pattern, to seal the deal.

"Hmmm," 

Not yet.

"Hmmm!"

Almost.

"Hmmm! Become powerful you have, the dark side in you I sense." Good, that will do.

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[Thanos POV]

I followed the path that almost seemed laid out for me, seeing the planet and witnessing the story it told.

It reminded me of my own planet, of the destruction it came after they refused to listen to me. It was uncanny, almost perturbing. I pitied those who had lived here, because I knew the pain they had gone through.

I would stop that pain from ever happening ever again.

"Sire," Maw said, pointing ahead.

A thick mist had appeared out of nowhere, covering the entire place.

"It's solid," Maw commented, touching the mist.

I did the same, but unlike Maw, the mist parted at my touch, clearing as if obeying my will.

"Follow me," I ordered Maw and my soldiers. Something about this felt off, but it was clear, only I could lead the way now, regardless of the reason behind it.

"As you command, sire," Maw bowed, getting behind me as I cleared the way, revealing things that were not there before, monuments that seemed as old if not more than some galaxies. 

"This is why I must do what I have set out to do," I said, looking around. Just how many planets had fallen to this? To a lifeless rock, with their history rotting beneath the moth?

"Your mission is holy sire," Maw bowed.

It wasn't.

It was simply a necessary evil.

A sin, for the sake of the future.

As I pondered over those thoughts, the sounds of someone approaching snapped me out of my long reverie. As an alien I had never seen before, walked into view, breaking the mist by simply walking towards me.

The alien in question was small in size, roughly comparable to that of a child, with green skin, large eyes, long pointed ears, and two three-fingered hands that ended in claws.

"Finally arrived you have," The Alien smiled, as Maw took a step forward.

"Hear me and rejoice! You have had the privilege of being visited by the Great Titan. On his holy wake, the universal scales tip toward balance because of his sacrifices. Smile, for you are about to become one of the children of Thanos," Maw recited with a smile on his face.

"Child? Too old for that I am. Hmm." The alien replied with a chuckle, making Maw frown in anger.

But before he could do anything, I stepped in, "Are you the one who has been spreading rumors about the soul stone?"

"Hrrmmm. Yes, I am. Clear the prophecy was, waiting for you all this time I have been, Yrsssss." 

I looked into his eyes and asked, "How can you be sure I am the savior you speak of?"

"Cleared the mist you have. Yrsss, only you the savior can be," He replied, turning around, "Follow me you must, the answers you seek I have."

I sighed, deciding that for now I would follow the strange creature.