Dangerous Ideas

The towering edifice of the Heavenly Palace loomed ominously above, its shadow casting an eerie pall over the battlefield.

A Chitauri commander, his voice laced with disbelief and terror, shouted, "How is it possible, how is it possible? How could the ruler of the Heavenly Palace appear in person?"

This commander, a creature who thrived on the chaos of war rather than any ideological zeal for universal balance, found himself caught in the ironies of fate. He had always relished crushing the spirits of others, yet now, he faced the bitter taste of his own impending doom.

In a panic, he grasped Supergiant's hand, his words tumbling out in a frantic cascade. "Why didn't we retreat sooner? Is Lord Thanos nearby? Can he come to our aid?"

Before he could even finish, Supergiant responded with swift brutality, severing the commander's head with one clean strike.

"I hate when people touch me!" she snapped, her voice cold as the void of space.

Turning her attention to the lifeless body at her feet, she added mockingly, "Also, thank you for your contribution to the balance of the universe!"

She then signaled to another Chitauri, promptly promoting him to commander. Her gaze shifted across the battlefield to where Caesar had emerged from the void. Although she had anticipated confrontation, the swiftness of Caesar's arrival took her by surprise. She had assumed there would be more planets to 'balance' before such a formidable adversary would intervene directly.

Regaining her composure, Supergiant was ready. The most critical part of her plan had unfolded as intended. While she harbored no fear of death, she had no desire to die needlessly either. The grand scheme of balancing the universe was her burden to bear, though weariness tugged at her resolve.

With a respectful bow to Caesar, Supergiant began her carefully chosen words, "Mighty ruler of the Heavenly Palace, we did not recognize this as your protected realm. We meant no offense. But now, aware of our mistake, we are prepared to make amends."

Her voice carried a blend of diplomacy and underlying strength, as she faced the powerful being before her, ready to negotiate for her survival—and the continuation of her mission.

After Supergiant finished speaking, the Chitauri and a large number of Vanguard Guards suddenly erupted into a frenzy of slaughter among themselves. In an instant, nearly half of Supergiant's subordinates lay lifeless in pools of blood.

Most of the fallen didn't fully buy into the idea of balancing the universe.

With a wave of Supergiant's hand, the killing ceased immediately, and the Vanguard and Chitauri reassembled as if the bloody carnage moments ago had been merely a macabre offering.

"We'll retreat from this galaxy at once, and we won't trespass on anyone who belongs to the Holy Heavenly Palace again," Supergiant said respectfully once more.

Thanos, known as the Mad Titan, was regarded by almost all civilizations as the most potent and craziest terrorist, a brutal butcher.

But Thanos had never truly been crazy or foolish. It could be said he had a certain understanding with the genuinely powerful civilizations in the universe. They were hostile towards each other, yet avoided direct confrontation.

In the vast expanse of the universe, countless civilizations existed, many too weak to pose a significant challenge. Why bother with tough adversaries? It would only waste time and hinder the efficiency of universal balance.

Supergiant grasped this concept well. Even Thanos, after achieving his goals, preferred to avoid direct conflict.

Seated upon his throne, Caesar rubbed his forehead with one hand while tapping idly with the other, guarded by Valina and Lian Bing. Behind him, hundreds of middle and high-ranking Angels fluttered their wings, forming an imposing army formation that added to Caesar's authority.

"Quite a spectacle," Caesar remarked coldly after observing the Chitauri and Vanguard Guard slaughter each other with an icy gaze. "Is this an apology or a display?"

Before Caesar could finish speaking, he tapped the air with his fingers, unleashing a devastating blast that struck the remaining Chitauri and Vanguard Guards head-on.

The impact sent them reeling, scattering them in disarray.

Even Supergiant, upon feeling the force of Caesar's tap, seemed to sense an overwhelming power, hindering her ability to tap into her spiritual energy.

With her immense strength, she felt subdued, almost as if Caesar was on a level above her!

"This can't be happening. Even Lord Thanos couldn't suppress my energy with sheer force. Is he stronger than Thanos?" Supergiant's thoughts raced as Caesar's seemingly casual blow shook her to the core, elevating Caesar's might in her mind. She spoke with growing respect, "The great ruler of the Heavenly Palace... it must be more than just hearsay."

"If you still doubt, you have the power to end them all," Caesar remarked coolly. "They would gladly sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the universe."

"And what about you? Are you willing to make that sacrifice for the sake of balance?"

Caesar shot Supergiant a disdainful glance before speaking icily, "The altruism of others is the least of my concerns."

There was a brief silence, pregnant with tension.

Supergiant's response came resolutely, "I have already given everything for the universe's balance. If you demand it, I will give more."

"Thankfully, vital information has been relayed to our superiors," she continued. "And I was tasked by my lord to assess the situation. If I were to strike Angel Star directly, I fear none would survive but my lord."

"They still have lives to live; the universe requires more than just sacrifice," Supergiant added wearily. "I'm just... a bit weary."

With a determined expression, Supergiant closed her eyes, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts.

Knowing too much and seeing too clearly was an agonizing burden rather than a gift for her.

Seeing Supergiant's genuine willingness to sacrifice, Caesar's expression softened slightly, but it quickly hardened again.

Thanos was a threat, too dangerous to be ignored.

But Caesar never shared Thanos's vision.

....

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