CHAPTER 252
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I patiently waited, sitting above the tallest mountain of Vomir, my legs crossed, as I counted the seconds for the Mad Titan's arrival.
[59 seconds for Thanos' arrival.]
I sighed, dragging a hand across my face in boredom, as I looked at the counter, counting each second pass. Feeling the thick mists of Vomir crash against my body, their energy and what sustained them breaking and dissipating upon mixing with my own leaking energy.
It was truly a sight to behold, at least for me, seeing this entire process happen over and over again, as the mist The mists of Vomir attacked my soul, or tried to, with each attempt failing.
A defense mechanism.
One the soul stone had created to protect itself.
How fascinating.
If only I had more time, I would've loved to study this phenomenon.
Unfortunately, we can't always get what we want.
[10 seconds for Thanos' arrival.]
I looked at the timer and smiled. It was time to end what I had set in motion.
Without moving, I turned my attention to the sky, seeing Thanos' ship breaking the atmosphere as it entered the planet, meaning I had a few seconds at most to prepare the last details.
Tilting my head ever so slightly to the left, I grinned, snapping my fingers to create an illusionary replica of the Red Skull to guide Thanos on the process to obtain the stone just like he had done in the movies.
Now, it was simply a matter of watching the Mad Titan kill Gamora from afar, giving the stone the sacrifice it required.
"Well, time to see their last moments," I sighed, using [Sight] to observe the events that were about to unfold.
[Sight] connected, I witnessed Thanos' ship land on the planet, creating a loud rumble across the area as the ship stabilized on the uneven ground of Vomir.
The ship was big, massive even, I wonder why he picked that ship if he knew he was to come only with Gamora.
Which in a completely unrelated note reminds me, I have a ship I have yet to even use properly. Not that I will never need it, I can teleport anywhere, anytime, but even then, the idea of traveling in a ship across space sounds rather exciting.
I mean, it could be my version of a road trip with the girls.
{Jarvis, please remind me to revise the idea of going on a space/road trip with the girls after the war.}
{As you wish sir.}
Bringing my attention back to what was happening with a creaking metallic sound, I watched as the large doors of Thanos' ship opened wide, with the Mad Titan's voice being the first thing to come out.
"Let's go, daughter," Thanos said, stepping out of the ship, his voice soft, sounding almost kind.
"Do I even have a choice?" Gamora shot back as she came into view, glaring at Thanos, her eyes full of loathe and anger.
I pitied the girl.
A pawn, playing under the thumb of another pawn, one I control.
Unfortunately for her, my pity for her was not enough to save her.
"We must do this, Gamora," Thanos replied, bringing one of his hands to her shoulder, looking like a giant grabbing a doll.
"So you say," Gamora replied.
"In time, you will see," Thanos replied, his tone full of melancholy.
I wonder what would've happened, had Thanos gotten a therapist before all of this started. Odds are, he would've been the same but on meds.
"Your demise, I hope," Gamora replied, following Thanos as he started to walk towards the beginning of his, their end. With the next following minutes being drowned in nothing but silence.
Eventually, however, the silence came to an end, as they reached the Red Skull's location, or the illusion of him for that matter.
The illusion greeted them as criptically as the Red Skull would've, starting the conversation, just like the original had done in the movies, starting to guide Thanos and Gamora to the top of the mountain, telling them stories of how all that have ever come for the stone have failed.
As they neared the top, I could see Gamora tensing, sweat running down her forehead, as her eyes darted around, as if trying to find something, anything with what to stop Thanos from reaching the summit.
I sighed, remembering a detail I had all but forgotten. She knew.
Not of how the stone was acquired, but of the location.
Keeping this place hidden was her way to stop him, for that reason she had destroyed the only map in existence to Vomir. She knew she would never have the power to stop him, not in a direct confrontation, so having this place erased from the stellar maps, was her victory, her last stand.
Well, at least her one true desire would come true, Thanos' demise, at my hands, moments after her own.
Focusing back on them, I looked as they reached the summit, trailing my illusion that guided them along the path.
"How is it that you know this place so well?" Thanos asked, as my illusion continued to move forward.
"A lifetime ago, I, too, sought the stones. I even held one in my hands. But it cast me out, banished me here. Enforcing upon me a punishment befitting my hubris. To be a pastor, guiding others to a treasure I cannot possess." My illusion replied, finally reaching their final destination, in more ways than one.
Staring at the edge of the mountain, Thanos turned to my illusion and asked, "Where is it?"
My illusion pointed towards the edge, "What you seek lies in front of you. As does what you fear, as it stands, nothing is ever free."
"What's the price?" Thanos asked, looking down the mountain for a brief moment before taking a step back.
"The soul stone holds a special place amongst the Infinity stones. You might say it has a certain wisdom."
"Tell me what it needs," Thanos pressed, his voice full of determination.
"To ensure that whoever possesses it understands its power. The stone demands a sacrifice." My illusion replied, eyeing Gamora without Thanos realizing.
"Of what?" Thanos asked.
"In order to take the stone, you must lose that which you love." At this, Thanos turned to face my illusion, shock bearing on his face. "A soul for a soul."