"No, this is absolutely impossible."
Within the shattered crystal royal palace, the elder holding twin hammers looked at the "guest" who had traveled from afar and shook his head firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
"Guarding the Infinity Stones is the mission this universe has bestowed upon our clan."
"No, this is not your clan's mission. It is merely shackles your ancestors imposed upon you. While the Infinity Stones enhance your strength, they are also destroying you."
Thanos, plunging his great blade into the crystal floor, raised his hand and stated his viewpoint. If it weren't necessary, Thanos didn't wish to slaughter this race that hadn't disrupted the balance, especially since his sole objective was the Infinity Stones.
"Perhaps, but that is not a reason for me to hand over the Infinity Stones to you."
The elder, with streaks of white at his temples, did not refute Thanos's words. He had long been aware of the racial crisis brought about by the Infinity Stones' radiance. Since ascending to the throne, he had spent countless resources and manpower researching alternatives to the Infinity Stones' power, aiming to change his clan's weakness: rapid physical degeneration and the planet's freezing over once they lost the Stones' power.
However, his life was nearing its end, and he had still achieved nothing.
To thoroughly understand the energy composition of the Infinity Stones, and unwilling to experiment on his own people, the elder had made an exception and left Planet B48. Under an alias, Pete, he rescued a young man named Astre in the universe.
He then subtly infused a portion of the Infinity Stone energy he carried into the young man's body. Faking his death, he escaped and returned to Planet B48, closely monitoring the energy changes within Astre.
Over a hundred years, the elder personally witnessed the transformation of Astre's power. Astre, under the alias Shafrin, provided the Planet B48 scientific research department with an extremely precious, perhaps even the universe's only, "Report on the Changes of Infinity Stone Energy within a Living Organism."
However, what the elder lamented was that not long ago, after the gem energy within Shafrin reached a peak, it inexplicably vanished. According to the research department's conjecture, the energy had likely gone berserk, causing his body to be unable to withstand it, leading to a fatal explosion.
"You will regret this," Thanos shook his head, picking up the great blade still embedded in the crystal ground with his right hand. His gaze towards the elder was filled with coldness.
All races that stood in his path were destined for destruction. The reputation of the Tyrant of Annihilation was forged in countless wars of blood and fire.
"You will be the one regretting it." Energy surged on the silver twin hammers, and a faint red glow flickered in the elder's white hair. The next second, an energy phantom, its face indistinguishable, appeared behind him and rapidly expanded into a colossal form!
The giant phantom, obscuring the sky and earth, roared, waving its cape, crossing its arms over its chest. A cross-shaped energy beam surged directly towards Thanos in the center of the hall!
"That is..."
Outside the crystal royal palace, Beckett, who was still at ease dealing with the combined assault of all the warriors on Planet B48, looked up at the sky after an energy beam pierced the chests of over a dozen enemies. This giant phantom beneath the starry sky reminded him of Shafrin on Planet U40.
When the latter burned his life force, a crimson giant phantom had also appeared behind him.
"A coincidence?"
Beckett, casually dodging the attack, narrowed his eyes. The next moment, a milky white blade light tore through the sky, bisecting the red giant!
"How is this possible?!" The elder controlling the giant phantom knelt on the ground, powerless. The energy emanating from Thanos had directly thrown the power circulation channels within his body into chaos.
"Now, tell me."
Thanos, holding his great blade, walked step by step towards the elder kneeling on the ground, a terrifying aura spreading from him.
"Absolutely impossible."
Despite his internal energy circulation pathways being shattered, the elder's answer remained unchanged.
"You don't care even if your race is annihilated?"
Thanos pointed outside the crystal royal palace. A massive warship slowly descended, and under Ebony Maw's control, the planet-destroying weapon began to rise, its tip aimed directly at the royal city of Planet B48!
"Of course, this is our clan's destiny." The elder's lips were stained with blood that he hadn't wiped away as he closed his eyes.
When the ancestors built the sacred land, they had considered such extreme situations. Therefore, a contingency plan was loaded into the sacred land's program.
As long as the royal city was destroyed, the energy transmission tower housing the Infinity Stones would automatically conceal itself within the star core using the Stones' energy.
Thanos remained silent and raised his great blade.
"I know where that power is!"
A voice rang out, causing Thanos to halt his actions. Following the sound, the scruffy Astra, with his hands bound by chains, raised them high, excitement flickering in his eyes.
Having rushed here, he had finally managed to return to Thanos's side.
"Thanos, I know where that gem is." Astra, who had already entered and exited the Olo Clan's sacred land twice, did not hesitate to state his purpose.
"You were sent by him?!"
The elder, who had closed his eyes to await death, suddenly opened them upon hearing Astra's voice, his eyes wide with fury.
"No, he and I are merely in a cooperative relationship. However, I am a man of my word, so I must see this through to the end. Oh, and one more thing, you really hurt me in prison."
Bending down, Astra looked directly at the elder, whose throat was locked by Thanos, rendering him completely immobile. Astra, holding his hands out level, spoke with a hint of vengeful pleasure in his tone.
"You can't do this!"
"The Infinity Stones are the operational energy source of this planet. Once this planet loses the Infinity Stones, not only our Olo Clan, but even other races on this planet will face utter annihilation!"
"At that time, hundreds of millions of lives on this planet will be frozen, and Planet B48 will be completely reduced to a dead star devoid of any life!"
The elder's voice was more serious than ever before, and Astra's expression instantly stiffened.
An entire... planet's life?
He was a ruthless killer, but all his schemes and murders had been directed at the Skrulls responsible for the destruction of Planet L77. But now...
"Kree, I implore you, on behalf of all life forms on Planet B48, I beg—"
Thanos's great blade ended the elder's plea. The dazzling crimson made Astra's pupils contract sharply, and he involuntarily swallowed. "Thanos—"
"This is a difficult choice, Astra."
Thanos's voice, as he pulled the great blade from the elder's chest, carried no discernible emotion.
"I believe in you. You shouldn't disappoint me."
Astra's expression was unreadable, his gaze fixed on the man before him, a man whose hands were no stranger to bloodshed.
"You are a researcher with a strong will."
"And the most difficult choices often require the strongest will."
The Mind Stone arc concludes~ Please recommend!
On a side note, I'll be at the hospital for a long time tonight. After getting my shot and changing my dressing, I'll need a follow-up check to see if the wound has worsened or if it's healing well. So, there will only be one update tonight. Normal service of two updates will resume tomorrow~
While I'm getting an IV drip at the hospital tonight, I'll be thinking about and organizing the plot for the upcoming Reality Stone arc~
Finally, I wish everyone good health~
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