Ch.33 The Snap Failed?

Of course, Ronan was just joking around. It was perfectly normal for Peter Parker not to understand, especially since in this world, there was no such card game as Yu-Gi-Oh.

After all, the man hailed as the King of Games had turned the tide of battle many times with that one card. Ronan wished he could borrow that kind of luck.

As they were talking, Thanos and Tony Stark had already started brawling. Their hand-to-hand combat was intense, with each punch and kick landing solidly.

Ronan couldn't help but wince as he watched.

Ouch, that's gotta hurt!

Despite the advantage of his Iron Man suit, Tony was still no match for Thanos in close combat. Soon enough, he was sent flying.

Thor, who had been laying low for a while, charged in as well, but even with both Stormbreaker and Mjolnir, he couldn't overpower Thanos, who blocked the blows with just one hand.

Ronan, watching from the sidelines, shook his head.

"What a pair of brothers," he muttered. "One got humiliated by Hulk, and the other can't beat Thanos. Is this what passes for gods in Asgard?"

Peter Parker overheard Ronan's remarks and frowned.

Is this really the time to be making jokes? We're losing! If Thanos gets the Infinity Gauntlet, we're all doomed!

Peter's worst fears quickly came to pass. Thanos headbutted Thor, sending him flying, and then slammed Steve Rogers to the ground with a suplex, followed by a devastating punch.

At that moment, there was no one left around Thanos.

Thanos reached for the Infinity Gauntlet, but before he could put it on, Captain Marvel—who was essentially using cheat codes—descended from the sky, unleashing a flurry of attacks on Thanos' face.

Yet, Thanos was still Thanos. He found an opening and tossed Captain Marvel aside.

In the next moment, Thanos donned the Gauntlet.

Just as he was about to snap his fingers, Captain Marvel reappeared, grabbing his right hand firmly.

Boom! Boom!

Thanos unleashed his deadly headbutt again. But this time, Captain Marvel simply smiled, completely unaffected.

She even took flight, ready to deliver another punch. Thanos, now fully aware of Captain Marvel's strength, didn't take it head-on this time. Instead, he ripped the Power Stone from the Gauntlet and punched her away.

The battle seemed to be decided at that moment.

As Thanos reinserted the Power Stone into the Gauntlet, brimming with newfound strength, Doctor Strange (who had been busy "managing the water") began searching the battlefield. His left index finger subtly rose.

But to his disbelief, the person he was looking for had passed out!

Tony Stark had collapsed next to the remains of a giant flying creature.

Smack!

Ronan facepalmed.

That creature looked familiar. Judging by its mangled, three-part corpse, it seemed to be…

Realizing this, Ronan shifted his gaze to another part of the battlefield and whistled, amused.

Peter Parker was nearly in tears.

"Bro, are you seriously whistling right now? Thanos is about to snap!"

Are you whistling to send me off with one last farewell?

Finally, Thanos, now acclimated to the surge of power coursing through him, prepared to snap his fingers. His right hand, with thumb and forefinger ready, poised to bring about his grand vision.

"I am... inevitable!"

Everyone watched Thanos strike a pose, their faces filled with despair. It seemed nothing could stop him now.

Had they struggled this long, only to fail in the end?

Just as Thanos spoke those fateful words, the snap rang out.

At that moment, everyone closed their eyes, the scene replaying the nightmare from five years ago.

It was on that day that the same snap had taken from them their closest friends and family.

Steve Rogers, overwhelmed with hopelessness, gazed at Thanos. No physical pain could match the emotional toll of this moment.

Were they about to lose again?

Thanos smirked as his long-held dream seemed to come true at last. Earth would no longer stand in his way, nor would it disrupt his conquest of the universe.

One second...

Two seconds...

Three seconds...

Time seemed to freeze.

Everyone stared at Thanos, particularly his right hand, now wearing the fully assembled Infinity Gauntlet.

Ten seconds…

Fifteen seconds…

Twenty seconds…

Peter Parker touched his own body, muttering nonsense under his breath.

"No, I still have Aunt May, she needs me. MJ too, and Ned, and so many others. I don't want to leave this world."

He recalled the last time his body turned to dust, his consciousness fading as he disintegrated. It was the most vivid experience of death he'd ever had.

And he didn't want to go through it again.

He wasn't the only one. Many were quietly weeping, those recently reunited with their loved ones now shedding bitter tears.

If only they had fought harder. If only they hadn't let Thanos get the Gauntlet.

If only…

But it was too late for that now.

Ronan stood with his arms crossed, observing the others silently. He couldn't help but sigh as he watched Peter Parker's exaggerated display.

"Peter, safe travels," Ronan said solemnly. "I'll take care of MJ for you. Your wife shall be my responsibility."

As he spoke, he patted Peter's shoulder with an expression of deep sorrow.

Peter, on the verge of tears, was filled with a mix of grief and confusion. He was facing his possible death, but Ronan's comment about MJ left him uneasy.

What do you mean you'll take care of MJ? How about you go look after someone else?

Peter took a deep breath, about to give a heartfelt farewell speech before dying, when his earpiece interrupted him.

"Guys, calm down."

"It looks like Thanos' snap didn't work."

"Is anyone around you disappearing?"

Tony Stark's voice came through the comms.

At some point, he had regained consciousness, learning about the situation from Friday.

Upon hearing this, Peter frantically checked his body.

Huh? Everything's fine?

He looked around, and there was no trace of anyone turning to dust. Everyone stood where they were, completely intact.

"Guys, there's no way we're all this lucky, right? No one vanished from the snap?"

"Can someone check with the others?"

Tony continued speaking.

At first, when Friday had relayed the information, Tony was ready to give in to despair.

But he soon noticed something odd.

No one here had disappeared.

Could they really be this fortunate?

"Guys, I think there's no need to wonder."

"Look over there!"

Steve Rogers, ever the timely voice of reason, pointed something out.

Everyone turned their attention back to Thanos.

Thanos stood there, confused, looking around in disbelief. He clearly hadn't expected things to go wrong.

He had formed the thought in his mind as he snapped his fingers, so why didn't anything happen?

He looked completely lost.

And in that moment, Captain Marvel charged in once more, delivering a punch that sent the dazed Thanos flying.

"What are you waiting for? Let's get him!"