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"How did you do it?"
"I used every instrument available."
"But even then, it should've taken at least an hour or two."
Shuri took a deep breath, forcing down the shock surging through her.
From the moment Alex said he'd handle it to the moment it was over, not even three minutes had passed.
That was beyond unbelievable.
"It was simple," Alex replied lightly. "I just took it out by hand."
He had no intention of elaborating.
Shuri was undeniably gifted, but there was no need to explain. When it came to technology, he already had someone even more suitable in mind.
"Since the crisis is over, I assume Thanos won't actually come here now."
Alex walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window and looked out into the distance.
Beyond Wakanda's barrier, dense waves of alien creatures were still descending, crazily battering the shield.
"If Thanos isn't coming, does that mean the mission's complete?" Wanda turned to him, her voice soft. "Should I modify it?"
Alex waved his hand immediately. "No. Leave it as it is."
"Even without the Mind Stone, Thanos will look for a substitute."
"He won't give up that easily."
There was another crucial reason too.
If Wanda suddenly canceled the mission, Alex would lose out big time.
Before Wanda could say anything else, Alex added, "You've got things under control here. I'll check on the situation elsewhere."
With that, he turned and left without hesitation.
Now that the Mind Stone was in hand, it was time to collect the others.
For example, the ones currently held by Thanos… and by Stephen Strange.
"Wanda… who exactly is that boy?" Vision asked quietly after Alex left.
"I could feel it. He was the one who removed the Mind Stone from my forehead."
"And the strangest part is… I died. It felt completely real. But now I'm alive again."
His voice carried undisguised astonishment.
As the former bearer of the Mind Stone, Vision's perception was exceptionally sharp. He trusted that sensation completely. There was no mistake.
"You're probably just exhausted," Wanda said gently, raising her hand to stroke his head. "If you had truly died, how could you be standing here now?"
For her, nothing else mattered.
As long as Vision was safe by her side, that was enough.
Vision didn't argue further.
Once they recovered a bit more, they could rejoin the battle.
Meanwhile—
On a desolate planet far away, things had taken a disastrous turn.
Because of Star-Lord's impulsive outburst, Thanos—who had nearly been subdued into unconsciousness—regained control of the situation.
Rocket and Groot were flung aside effortlessly.
Even Drax, whose physical strength ranked among the strongest in the Guardians, was blasted away.
With the Power Stone and other Stones in his possession, Thanos wasn't someone they could confront head-on.
"This is your fault!" Tony snapped, frustration thick in his voice. "We should've just finished him!"
They had been so close.
So close.
"Mr. Stark, we'll get another chance," Peter Parker said, swinging down on a web and landing beside him, trying to reassure him.
Tony didn't need the reminder.
What was done was done.
Now it was a straight fight.
"Don't worry," Stephen Strange said, drawing a golden magic circle with one hand. "I will not hand over the Time Stone."
He was ready.
"It's futile," Thanos said calmly as he swatted Drax away again. Drax's body smashed into a jagged rock formation behind him, shattering it before tumbling across the ground.
"If you surrender the Stones now, you may continue to live in this universe."
"Protect the Stone," Tony said without turning his head.
In the next instant, the nanotech mask flowed back over his face. Blue light flared in his eyes.
Boom.
The armor plates on his back split and reassembled into a massive thruster. Blue flames erupted.
In the blink of an eye, Tony was in front of Thanos, right fist swinging forward.
Mechanical whirring filled the air.
The red armor on his arm shifted, extending additional micro-thrusters. Fire and shockwaves exploded outward, propelling his punch with everything he had.
Bang!
Thanos raised a hand and caught the punch effortlessly.
"Tony Stark. I know you," he said coldly.
"For an ordinary man, you've come far."
"If you stop now, I may spare your life."
With the Power Stone in his grasp, he didn't even need to unleash its full force to hold off everyone present.
Whoosh—
At that moment, Peter flipped through the air and landed behind Thanos, webbing shooting from both wrists and wrapping around Thanos's arms.
"Haaah!"
With a shout, Peter poured every ounce of his strength into pulling Thanos's arms back.
Taking advantage of the opening, Tony's right arm reconfigured again, transforming into a charged cannon.
At point-blank range, he fired straight into Thanos's chest.
Boom!
After taking the blast head-on, Thanos roared and yanked Peter forward, swinging him like a hammer and smashing him directly into Tony.
A heavy, sickening impact echoed across the battlefield.
Both were sent flying.
If Stephen hadn't quickly cast a spell to cushion them, Peter and Tony would have suffered serious injuries.
"Since you refuse to surrender the Time Stone," Thanos said, flexing his hands as he stepped forward again,
"then I'll deal with you. One by one."
"..."
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