It was precisely because Robert showed no visible signs of change that Thanos felt an even deeper despair. This despair only intensified when he heard the howls of agony from Corvus Glaive after Proxima Midnight had been brought back by the Beacon of Light.
"No! You can't die! How could you just die like that, Proxima..." Corvus Glaive's voice was filled with grief. By now, Proxima Midnight's body was already cold. Though her weapon was powerful, it did not possess the regenerative properties of Corvus Glaive's blade. Additionally, her physique was insufficient to survive in the vacuum of space.
Coupled with the sheer power of Robert's punch, which far exceeded what Proxima could endure, her life had already ended the moment her body was sent flying into the void.
"I'll kill you!" Realizing Proxima Midnight was truly gone, Corvus Glaive roared in rage. The return of his blade to his hand caused his frail body to swell, resonating with the energy within his weapon. Fueled by rage, the two energies fused into one.
At the same time, Thanos seized the opportunity. Despite knowing Robert was far stronger, he could not afford to sit idly by. Even if it meant his own demise, Thanos was determined to make Robert pay a price.
With a sharp whoosh, Thanos launched his assault. His dual-bladed sword radiated a terrifying energy that caused the ship to tremble. A massive energy wave shot forth, tearing a gaping hole in the vessel.
Under normal circumstances, Corvus Glaive would have been immediately sucked into the vacuum. But now, his altered state allowed him to charge toward Robert without any apparent effect from the hostile environment.
"Going berserk, huh? Makes me feel like Frieza. Shouldn't it be you guys going through multiple transformations while I do the berserking?" Robert quipped as he observed the transformed Corvus Glaive. He conjured a ki blast to intercept Thanos's energy slash and simultaneously punched at Corvus Glaive's incoming blade.
What happened next took Robert by surprise. Thanos's energy was far stronger than he anticipated, imbued with a psychic force clearly stemming from the Mind Stone in his Infinity Gauntlet.
This dual power of psychic and physical energy made Thanos's attack comparable to Robert's. After all, the Infinity Stones not only granted specific abilities but also held immense raw power. Few could wield that power effectively, as the stones' primary strength lay in their respective domains of reality. Yet Thanos now used the Mind Stone's energy as a blunt weapon, a desperate gamble in a situation where he had no other cards to play.
Corvus Glaive's resilience was another surprise. In their prior clashes, Robert had easily overpowered him. But now, as Robert's fist collided with the blade, Corvus did not budge an inch.
"Is he really this enhanced?" Robert muttered, noticing a fine crack appear on Corvus's blade. Though it seemed like Corvus had withstood his attack, the damage was absorbed by the weapon.
As a unique artifact intrinsically linked to Corvus's life, the blade's integrity determined its wielder's survival. Now, with cracks forming, it was clear Corvus was willing to sacrifice everything to give Thanos a chance.
"Interesting, but still not enough," Robert remarked. Though the blade was remarkable, it was no match for a true powerhouse. Even the strongest metals in the universe had limits. Vibranium, one of Earth's most prized materials, could be crushed by Clark, and this blade was no exception.
With a sharp snap, Robert caught the returning blade mid-flight. Pure force surged through his grip, targeting the weapon.
Corvus's face twisted in panic as he felt the feedback from his weapon. Despite his efforts, he couldn't wrest the blade from Robert's grasp. Letting go wasn't an option, as it would mean instant death. His only hope lay with Thanos, the once invincible "father" figure, to exploit the momentary opening.
Thanos, still channeling the Mind Stone's energy into his weapon, swung for Robert's head, aiming to capitalize on the distraction.
However, with a metallic clang, Thanos's full-powered strike was intercepted. The clash sent him staggering backward, his hands trembling. A quick glance revealed his palms bleeding from the impact. Though his strike didn't harm Robert, it shattered the ground beneath him, sending Robert and Corvus hurtling into space.
"This might be an opportunity!" Thanos thought, his eyes lighting up. Robert being out in open space presented the perfect chance for a technological strike.
Like his battle with Thor, Thanos intended to leverage his ship's devastating firepower. The problem had been that Robert was inside the ship, where its systems couldn't fully engage without risking self-damage.
Now, with Robert outside, Thanos unleashed the ship's energy cannons. Disregarding Corvus's proximity to Robert, Thanos prioritized taking Robert down, confident that Corvus, in his current state, would willingly sacrifice himself if it meant harming their enemy.
Robert, watching the destructive beams approach, tightened his grip. With a single burst of strength, Corvus's blade shattered, along with his body. Without hesitation, Robert tossed the fragments into the path of the incoming energy, obliterating them into cosmic dust.
Now, Thanos was truly alone. No allies, no Corvus, no Proxima—only Thor remained on Earth, incapacitated and out of reach.
As the ship's cannons fired relentlessly, Robert suddenly vanished from space, reappearing inside the ship. In a blink, the positions of Thanos and Robert reversed.
Caught off guard, Thanos realized the dire situation. Without Robert to hold the line, his ship's weapons posed no threat. Worse still, Robert could now destroy the ship from within. Desperate, Thanos prepared to use the Beacon of Light to return to the ship, but Robert moved swiftly.
"No need to drag this out. I have matters on Earth to attend to," Robert declared as his aura erupted. In an instant, the ship was engulfed in explosions. As Thanos floated helplessly in space, he watched the destruction of his most powerful asset. His prize vessel, a testament to his dominance, was gone.
Facing the flaming wreckage, Thanos glanced at the Infinity Gauntlet on his hand and the Mind Stone embedded within. Steeling himself, he prepared for one final, desperate act.
Rushing toward Robert, his weapon glowing with the combined power of the Mind Stone and his own strength, Thanos swung. Robert met the blade barehanded, his energy shield countering the combined force. Despite the Mind Stone's infinite energy, it couldn't break Robert's defense.
With each clash, faint cracks began forming—not on Robert, but on Thanos's weapon. The titan felt the pressure mounting, his hopes dimming as Robert's aura intensified.
"Snap..."
The faint sound of breaking metal echoed in the void. For the first time, Thanos truly understood what despair felt like.
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/INNIT
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.