Chapter 13: Three Days

Avengers Base

Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton, and Thor stood together, their expressions tense as they listened to Thor outline the dire situation. The gravity of the moment was unmistakable.

"I need your help to fight the Mad Titan, Thanos," Thor said, his voice heavy with urgency.

Steve Rogers didn't miss a beat. "We'll help," he replied without hesitation.

Tony Stark, ever the skeptic, raised an eyebrow. "But why does the cube and the spear end up with this sorcerer?"

Thor met Tony's gaze, unwavering. "The All-Father trusts him, and so do I."

"Odin, right?" Bruce Banner interjected.

"Yes," Thor confirmed, his voice tinged with frustration. "But we haven't found him yet. He was teleported to Earth, and we've lost track of him."

Tony's mind was already at work. "Do you have any pictures? I can try to locate him using satellites."

Thor nodded, grateful. "I do. Thank you for your help, Stark."

Tony gave a quick nod. "No problem."

Nidavellir

The rhythmic clang of hammer on metal filled the air as Eitri worked alone, crafting a weapon with intense focus.

"This is me repaying a favor, Sorcerer," Eitri muttered, as the glowing Uru metal began to take the shape of a gladius.

Kamar-Taj

In the deeper part of the library, Pietro read the knowledge within book, his body moving through pistol squats as his mind absorbed the spells. The physical exertion was nothing compared to the mental challenge he had set for himself.

India

Wanda honed her skills, using Deviants as target practice. Each blast of Chaos Magic was more precise than the last. She was preparing herself for what was to come.

Everyone was getting ready for the inevitable battle against Thanos.

Three Days Later

"Can I borrow the Eye of Agamotto?" Pietro asked.

"Go ahead," the Ancient One replied, handing it over.

Pietro took the artifact and slipped it around his neck. "I'm heading to Nidavellir to get Eitri."

The Ancient One created a portal to Asgard. "We'll head there first," Wanda said, stepping through the portal alongside the Ancient One.

Pietro opened his own portal to Nidavellir. As he arrived, he found Eitri clad in full armor, holding a massive halberd.

"Sorcerer, you're here. Take this," Eitri said, tossing the newly forged gladius.

(Image here)

Pietro caught it with a smile. "Thanks." He sent his old gladius to his room and strapped on the new one. As he held the weapon, he felt a strange pull, as if something was calling out to him.

Pietro stared at the gladius for a few more seconds, half-expecting something to happen. When nothing did, he slid it back into its sheath and quickly opened a portal to the meeting room.

He and Eitri stepped through, drawing surprised looks from the Avengers. Those who had never encountered a dwarf before were taken aback by Eitri's towering presence.

The room was tense, but no one questioned Pietro or Wanda—this wasn't the time.

"What about Odin? Any luck finding him?" Pietro asked.

Hogun shook his head. "No sign of him."

"Not a trace," Fandral added.

Tony chimed in, frustration evident. "I've scanned the globe with satellites—nothing."

The Ancient One crossed her arms, thoughtful. "He must be cloaked. Even in his old age, Odin's still cunning."

Pietro nodded. "If that's the case, I can open a portal to Thanos. But before I do, are there any questions?"

Captain America, ever the strategist, asked the question on everyone's mind. "Are we enough to take Thanos down?"

Pietro's eyes flicked to each of them before he answered. "It's enough. We have the God of Thunder, the Scarlet Witch, and the Ancient One on our side. And if anyone wants to question me, we can do that after the fight."

Wanda and the Ancient One exchanged a knowing glance. They understood Pietro's power, especially with the Time Stone in his possession. Wanda couldn't help but think, 'Who does he think he is, acting so humble?' The Ancient One simply shook her head, half-amused, half-bewildered by Pietro's confidence.

Thor stepped forward, giving a rousing speech to rally everyone, his voice carrying the weight of their mission.

"He fights for himself, driven by madness and ambition. But we fight for each other, for those who cannot stand beside us, for the innocent lives across this universe. We fight for the very essence of existence, for hope, for freedom."

Thor lifted his hammer high, the storm crackling around him.

He brought Mjolnir down with a thunderous crash, lightning sparking from the impact. "Together, we will face him. Together, we will strike him down. And together, we will remind the universe that there are forces even a god cannot conquer."

Thor's voice softened but lost none of its intensity. "Whatever happens today, know this—we fight as one. And no matter the outcome, our courage will echo through the ages."

He raised Mjolnir once more, his voice now a battle cry. "For the realms! For life! For victory!"

As Thor concluded his speech, a surge of energy swept through the room. The Avengers, caught off guard by Thor's impassioned words, found themselves invigorated, their resolve sharpened.

Yet, amid the rising morale, Pietro couldn't shake an uneasy feeling gnawing at the edges of his mind. Something felt off. 'Why is everything going so smoothly?' he wondered, a sense of dread creeping into his thoughts.

Pietro turned, his movements fluid as he activated the Eye of Agamotto, the artifact glowing with power. With a deliberate gesture, he summoned a massive portal, its swirling energy crackling with anticipation. The portal opened wide, revealing the battleground where their fates would soon be decided. The air was thick with the gravity of what was to come.

The time for questions had passed. Now, all that remained was the fight against Thanos.

Sanctuary, Thanos Domain.

A purple, muscular alien sat on a floating chair, his imposing figure unmistakable. This was Thanos, the Mad Titan. His hand rested on the Infinity Gauntlet, currently devoid of stones but no less menacing.

"How goes the search for the Space Stone?" Thanos asked, his voice a deep rumble.

"We've detected its signature, but it's located on Asgard," came the response from his subordinate through the comms built into the chair.

Thanos considered this for a moment before replying, "Forget about it. Focus on finding the Soul Stone." With that, he cut the communication, his gaze turning inward.

"Odin is still alive," Thanos muttered to himself, sensing the Allfather's lingering energy. He knew that any move he made toward Asgard would provoke Odin, and even Thanos wasn't eager to face that confrontation yet.

But then, something unexpected tugged at his senses—a ripple of Mystic Arts. Thanos swiveled his chair around, and to his surprise, a massive portal opened before him. From its swirling depths emerged a host of figures, their intent clear.

"One of the Infinity Stones just fell into my lap," Thanos said, a cold smile spreading across his face.

He stood, stepping off his chair as tension rippled through the air. The gathered heroes readied themselves, but before any could act, a hand suddenly pierced through Thanos's chest, aging him to a skull in an instant.

Shock rippled through the group, but none were more stunned than Pietro. His eyes locked onto the figure standing behind Thanos's collapsed form.

"Kang," Pietro whispered, recognizing the man who had just struck down the Mad Titan.

His instincts were right—something far more dangerous had just emerged.