Chapter 22: Showdown

"So, you're Thanos? The Titan who destroyed his own planet? Not much of an achievement, huh?" Thor taunted, grinning as he needled Thanos. The tension was thick, and with Thanos' overwhelming presence, Thor figured he'd better speak up rather than let himself get overwhelmed.

Beside Thanos, Ebony Maw, his most loyal follower, stepped forward, preparing to scold Thor. But Thanos raised a hand, stopping him.

"Oh? So you know me," Thanos said calmly, his voice cold. "Odin's brat… he certainly raised a bold one."

Then Thanos turned his gaze to the young girl cowering behind Thor. "Well? Don't you want to greet your father, daughter?" he asked, his eyes hard.

The girl trembled, a mixture of hatred and fear flashing in her eyes. She pursed her lips, refusing to speak.

Thor sneered. "You—Thanos, a blood-stained tyrant, killer of billions—have a daughter? I'd love to see what kind of daughter would stick around for you! I thought you'd wiped out everyone on your home world. Or…" He glanced at Proxima Midnight with a smirk that any man would recognize. "You couldn't resist keeping it in the family? Impressive! It's good to see you're resourceful."

Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive both looked enraged, their faces darkening. Only Thanos remained calm, though his expression was unreadable.

Ebony Maw couldn't hold back any longer. "Silence! You ignorant fool! How could you possibly understand the master's great purpose?"

Thanos' voice dropped, his tone menacing. "I hope you understand the consequences of angering me." He raised his hand, a silent command to his followers.

Corvus Glaive was the first to charge forward, enraged by Thor's insult to his wife. His double-bladed spear flashed as he thrust it toward Thor, but Thor sidestepped, grabbed the spear's shaft, and unleashed a powerful jolt of electricity. Corvus Glaive's body seized up, paralyzed by the shock, and the next thing he saw was Thor's boot—surrounded by crackling lightning—hurtling toward him.

BANG! Corvus Glaive flew backward, crashing tens of meters away.

With a flash of light, Proxima Midnight lunged at Thor, aiming her spear. Thor didn't flinch. He spun Corvus Glaive's spear in his hands and swung it down on Proxima with all his strength. She barely had time to raise her own spear to block, the force driving her to one knee.

Thor disarmed her, sending her weapon flying, and prepared to finish the job—when suddenly everything went dark.

"Look out!" the girl cried.

Reacting instantly, Thor grabbed Proxima Midnight and swung her around as a shield. A massive hammer came hurtling at him, courtesy of Obsidian Cull.

CRASH! Obsidian Cull's hammer smashed into Proxima Midnight, knocking her unconscious as she crumpled to the ground.

Obsidian Cull roared in fury and charged forward. Thor dodged, slipping past him and setting his sights on Ebony Maw.

Ebony Maw raised a hand, and the metal floor beneath them twisted, transforming into spears aimed at Thor. Thor swung his electrified spear, shattering them all in a single sweep. In the same motion, he knocked Obsidian Cull, who had leapt toward him, flying backward. But in that moment, metal tendrils from the floor lashed around Thor, binding him in place.

Ebony Maw exhaled, feeling victorious as he turned to Thanos—only to be struck by a thick bolt of lightning. His body convulsed as half of it was scorched black by the blast.

Ebony Maw, for all his abilities, was no match for a storm-wielding warrior like Thor. Against pure warriors, he might hold his own, but Thor's power was far beyond that.

Ignoring Obsidian Cull, who was struggling to rise, Thor raised his spear, electricity dancing along its length, and charged directly at Thanos.

With three of his subordinates down and his fourth reeling, Thanos finally stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. The scene was an embarrassment.

The Mad Titan had had enough.