At this moment, Thanos realized he could no longer afford to delay. If he hesitated, he would lose even the slim chance to injure Robert. Worse, he might hand Robert an easy victory, allowing him to claim both the Mind Stone and the Infinity Gauntlet.
Thanos was keenly aware that Earth's defenders already possessed four Infinity Stones. Thor and Supergiant had been tasked with retrieving the Soul Stone by capturing Gamora, but with Supergiant dead and Thor imprisoned, the Soul Stone had likely fallen into Robert's hands.
If Robert acquired the Mind Stone as well, he would have five Stones—bringing him dangerously close to fulfilling the ultimate pursuit Thanos had long chased. Thanos did not believe someone as powerful as Robert would use the Stones for altruistic purposes. If he couldn't have them, no one could.
"I curse you," Thanos intoned solemnly. "I curse you to never gather all six Infinity Stones. And though I have failed, someone will succeed in my stead!" The gravitas in his voice was startling, even to Robert, who raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"I wasn't planning to collect all six anyway…" Robert muttered, momentarily bewildered by Thanos's sudden shift in demeanor.
Hearing this, Thanos froze briefly but quickly composed himself. His body trembled violently as the twin-bladed sword in his hand reached its breaking point. Under the unrelenting clash of forces between him and Robert, the blade shattered into fragments.
"It ends here." Without his weapon, Thanos was no match for Robert's raw physical strength. The Mind Stone might give Thanos some parity in terms of energy and mental combat, but in a direct physical confrontation, he was outclassed. Robert believed the fight was effectively over.
What happened next, however, was unexpected. The battle did indeed conclude—but not in the way Robert had envisioned.
A radiant glow emanated from Thanos's body, specifically from the Mind Stone embedded in his gauntlet. A surge of devastating energy exploded outward, slamming into Robert with full force and striking his consciousness.
In the void of space, it was as though a colossal gamma-ray burst had erupted, obliterating everything within its path. The blast annihilated surrounding star systems, while countless civilizations across the cosmos observed the event in stunned silence. No one dared approach, silently relieved they were outside the destructive radius.
For those civilizations caught within the blast zone, there was no time to react. Entire worlds were reduced to cosmic dust. The energy unleashed was a disaster beyond comprehension—a universe-ending catastrophe, sparing nothing in its wake.
This was the true, unrestrained power of an Infinity Stone unleashed in its entirety. Such an act came at a steep cost: the Mind Stone itself was consumed. While its essence might persist within the fabric of the universe's laws, a tangible Mind Stone would never form in this universe again unless brought from another dimension.
Yes, Thanos had detonated the Mind Stone. He used not only the power of the Infinity Gauntlet but also sacrificed his own life force to achieve it. In a sense, he did not die by Robert's hand but by his own.
Thanos's gamble succeeded in part. Whether or not Robert had any desire for the Infinity Stones or Gauntlet, Thanos ensured these artifacts would never become Robert's spoils of war. If he could also kill or severely wound Robert in the process, all the better.
Eventually, the blinding energy faded, and the universe regained its stillness. The sheer might of the cosmos itself was remarkable, enduring even the incredible upheaval caused by the Mind Stone's destruction without destabilizing.
"Impressive. The Infinity Stones really do live up to their name. That psychic energy... it was terrifying," Robert murmured as his body gradually reappeared. He wasn't unscathed—his form was incomplete, but it regenerated rapidly as time passed.
The physical energy of the blast alone wouldn't have injured Robert to this extent. What made the Mind Stone's explosion truly formidable was the psychic energy radiating outward. It struck indiscriminately at the consciousness of all life forms in the vicinity. And in this desolate stretch of space, Robert was the only living being.
This mental assault was far more intense than anything Thanos had achieved while wielding the Mind Stone. A controlled burst was one thing; an uncontrolled detonation unleashed its full destructive potential.
Though Robert's mental resilience was formidable, the sheer proximity of the explosion caused his consciousness to waver briefly. The unrestrained energy also shattered his body bit by bit.
Ultimately, Thanos's plan, while bold, fell short of its ultimate goal. Even in death, he could not completely suppress Robert's regenerative abilities.
"Thanos is really dead, huh? Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed," Robert muttered as he regained full awareness. His gaze swept across the surrounding void.
If Robert had faced Thanos earlier in his quest, the Titan might have been considered a worthy adversary. But now? Thanos was no longer a threat. Had he confronted Earth's defenders, even with the Mind Stone, he would have fallen without Robert needing to intervene.
It was perhaps this realization that had driven Thanos to seek other means of power. He must have known he couldn't challenge Earth directly.
"Not a trace of Thanos left nearby. Let's extend the search," Robert muttered, casting his senses further. Despite the apparent victory, he remained cautious. Thanos, even weakened, might have hidden somewhere or discovered a new source of strength. Such an eventuality could pose a future threat to Earth.
After ensuring no trace of Thanos remained within his immediate range, Robert teleported to other planets, continuing his search.
"Looks like he's really gone." Hours later, Robert exhaled and relaxed. His extended scans found no sign of Thanos anywhere in the universe. Like the Mind Stone, the Mad Titan had been erased from existence.
"But what did he mean by his curse? And that someone else would succeed?" Robert frowned, recalling Thanos's final words. The curse about the six Stones was clear—now that the Mind Stone was gone, collecting all six was impossible. But the notion that someone else would succeed left him puzzled. Did Thanos have hidden allies?
"Whatever. I'll ask around. Maybe the Guardians know something." Shrugging off his concerns, Robert focused on sensing Earth's location.
"Hmm? Strong spatial fluctuations? The Space Stone? What's happening on Earth?"
A moment later, Robert appeared on Earth, unimpeded by the Space Stone's barriers. The Avengers' base was quiet, but J.A.R.V.I.S. greeted him warmly.
"Saiyan, you've returned! What happened with Thanos?"
"Thanos is dealt with," Robert replied. "But why is the Space Stone in use? Did something happen? Darkseid?"
"No, it's not Darkseid," J.A.R.V.I.S. explained. "Parademons led by Steppenwolf caused massive casualties worldwide. Supergirl used the Space Stone to seal Earth's borders and prevent further attacks."
As Robert processed this, the Avengers and Guardians returned through a portal. Captain America stepped forward eagerly.
"Is Thanos dealt with?" Steve asked.
"Yes. He's dead," Robert confirmed, bringing relief to everyone. For some, like Gamora, Nebula, and Drax, it was deeply personal.
Robert turned to Gamora and Nebula. "Before he died, Thanos cursed me and said someone else would succeed him. Do you know what he meant?"
The sisters exchanged uneasy glances. Finally, Gamora replied, "Thanos wasn't one to bluff. If he said something like that, it might mean he had allies or contingencies we don't know about."
"Great. More mysteries," Robert muttered. "Let's figure it out together. But first, let's clean up Earth."
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