As the daughter most trusted by Thanos, Gamora had a deep understanding of him. Thanos had never hidden his plans or thoughts from her. In many ways, Gamora had been the only outlet for the Titan's fleeting moments of humanity, a rare reprieve from the immense pressure of his grand ideals.
This unique perspective was why Gamora had chosen to flee from Thanos. A heartless madman driven by delusions of grandeur was dangerous, but at least predictable. A rational being, steadfast in pursuing a plan as insane as his, was far more chilling. Gamora feared him not as a monster but as a person who had deliberately chosen madness over morality.
The possibility that the Thanos she had known—the one who could engage in meaningful conversations—was the real Thanos, while the "Mad Titan" was merely a puppet executing a greater will, only crossed her mind after hearing Robert's remarks.
"A puppet? Or something like Thor's controlled state?" Robert frowned. While he hadn't detected anything overtly unusual about Thanos during their battle, Gamora's speculation couldn't be dismissed outright. "Speaking of which, where's Thor?"
"He's still in the underground holding cells," Tony Stark replied with a shrug.
With a whoosh, Robert disappeared, reappearing in the underground prison. Thor was bound by special chains. Though strong enough to break free, Thor remained still. He had no reason to resist—his powers were dormant without Thanos's orders, and creating trouble in the Avengers' base would only lead to a worse outcome.
"You're still under control?" Robert stood before Thor, frowning.
"Under control? Of course. The Mind Stone's power remains intact," Thor responded, visibly confused. He hesitated, then cautiously asked, "Wait… did you kill him? Did you kill Thanos?"
"Yes. Thanos is dead," Robert confirmed. His piercing gaze locked onto Thor. "Can you sense Thanos's presence anymore?"
Thor closed his eyes momentarily, then shook his head. "I can't feel his mind, but the Mind Stone's power hasn't disappeared."
Robert concentrated and delved into Thor's consciousness. There it was—the residual influence of the Mind Stone. "Interesting. If the Stone's destruction didn't erase its power, perhaps it reverted to its original state—or to a formless existence."
This revelation deepened Robert's understanding of the Infinity Stones. Previously, he had viewed them as immensely powerful artifacts capable of altering universal laws when combined. Now, he realized the Stones were not mere tools but embodiments of those laws themselves. They didn't just influence reality—they were reality's governing principles.
"The Infinity Stones are incredible. But the energy inside you is even more remarkable." Robert's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Thor. Deep within, he sensed a power far greater than Thor's previous thunder-based abilities. This new energy was complex, multifaceted, and significantly enhanced Thor's overall potential.
"If you fully master this power, you could possibly face me in battle. But with Thanos gone, what's your plan? Returning to Asgard?" Robert asked.
Thor hesitated. The responsibilities of Asgard weighed on him, but Earth's challenges intrigued him. Finally, he replied, "Asgard doesn't need me right now. Besides, Earth seems to be facing its own crises. I'd like to help protect it. After all, I've lived here too."
"You can stay," Robert said after a moment of consideration. While Thor's current strength wasn't on par with the greatest defenders, his potential and familiarity with Earth's crises made him a valuable ally. "But tell me, have you ever heard of Apokolips or Darkseid?"
Thor frowned and shook his head. "No. Most of my knowledge comes from the Nine Realms. Even Thanos's name was unfamiliar to me before meeting him. As for Darkseid… never heard of him."
Robert sighed, disappointed but unsurprised. "Forget it. Intelligence isn't your strong suit anyway."
Thor winced at the jab but didn't retort. Pre-brainwashing Thor would have lashed out, but the current Thor understood the futility of challenging Robert. He simply clenched his fists and let it slide.
With Thor free and joining the Avengers' efforts, the team resumed their operations. Thor quickly noticed the ease with which the Parademons' portals facilitated invasions—seemingly more efficient than Asgard's Bifrost.
"So, the Bifrost is useless on Earth now?" Thor wondered aloud as he flew over the planet, searching for Steppenwolf. Looking skyward, he called out, "Heimdall?"
"Prince Thor, have you regained your freedom?" Heimdall's voice echoed in Thor's ears. Despite Earth's spatial blockade, Heimdall's all-seeing gaze could still locate Thor.
"Yes and no. Thanos is dead, so no one's controlling me anymore," Thor replied. "Can you summon the Bifrost here?"
"Unfortunately, no. The Space Stone's barrier prevents the Bifrost from reaching Earth. If you wish to return, you'll need to travel to the Moon—I can send the Bifrost there," Heimdall explained, his voice heavy with apology.
"No need," Thor said. The thought of returning to Asgard held little appeal. Earth was far more exciting, and he wasn't ready to leave just yet. "By the way, Heimdall, have you ever heard of Darkseid?"
"Darkseid?!" Heimdall's voice betrayed his surprise. Having refrained from monitoring Earth due to Robert's overwhelming presence, Heimdall was unaware of recent developments. "Has Darkseid descended upon Earth again? Thor, you must leave immediately! He's far beyond your ability to contend with."
Thor frowned but remained unfazed. "Relax. I just heard his name. Do you know where he might be hiding? Or what about his servant, Steppenwolf?"
Heimdall exhaled, clearly relieved. "If Darkseid has not yet come to Earth, then you must be cautious. His strength far exceeds yours. When he invaded before, it took the combined might of entire pantheons to repel him."
Thor's curiosity only deepened. "How strong is he? Stronger than the Celestials?"
"Based on his strength during that invasion, he rivaled the greatest Skyfathers," Heimdall replied. "But that was many years ago, and according to our records, Darkseid might have been in his infancy at the time. In human terms, he was akin to an eight-year-old."
Thor's eyes widened. "Eight years old?!" He struggled to process the idea of someone so powerful being far from their prime. If Darkseid's race wasn't short-lived, his current strength could be unimaginable.
"Yes. That's why he's so terrifying. If not for his invasion, the Celestials might never have turned their attention to Earth, and the gods wouldn't have been driven away." Heimdall's tone was heavy with regret.
"Who's stronger, Darkseid or the Celestials?" Thor asked, his curiosity piqued.
"It's hard to say," Heimdall admitted. "When the Celestials attacked Asgard, King Odin, with the help of the entire pantheon, barely managed to defeat a single Celestial. But we don't know how that Celestial ranked among their kind, nor how Darkseid's current strength compares to them."
Thor grinned. "Interesting. I'd love to see just how strong Darkseid has become."
Heimdall sighed deeply, recognizing Thor's reckless nature.
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