Marvel : I am Thor Chapter 256 - 260

Chapter 256: Dilemma

"Hey! Let me just say, there's no prison in the world that can hold me!" Star-Lord boasted with a grin.

Sanctuary II lay in ruins, The chaos was palpable. Everyone was either scrambling to make repairs or fleeing for their lives. Amidst the frenzy, no one paid much attention to a group of misfits wandering freely.

Seizing the opportunity, Star-Lord and his crew managed to sneak into their spaceship, which had been stored in the wreckage like forgotten luggage. They escaped through a massive hole created by Captain Marvel, slipping out of Thanos' grasp like sand through fingers.

"No, Quill, we got away only because a super, super powerful lady kept the heat off us," Rocket Raccoon corrected.

"Damn it, I know that already! I don’t need you rubbing it in!" Quill snapped, clearly irritated.

"But there’s something about her fighting style..." Rocket mused, scratching his chin. "Flying straight into the enemy without dodging, smashing through the face of a spaceship... It feels awfully familiar. Ugh, it reminds me of Thor!"

The group fell silent for a moment, recalling their escapades on Xandar. Thor had once used a similar tactic to destroy Ronan’s ship, though the aftermath had left him coughing up fragments for days.

"But this woman seems... tougher," Drax concluded, his voice filled with admiration.

"Yeah, and Thor probably learned that move from her," Rocket added, trying to sound nonchalant.

Before the conversation could drift further, Mantis spoke up, her tone hesitant. "Wait, did we forget something important?"

The group turned to her, puzzled. Mantis, though a cheerful addition to the Guardians of the Galaxy, often struggled to find her place among the more... eccentric personalities. Her thoughts, often pure and straightforward, sometimes felt out of sync with her comrades.

"I'm Groot," Groot muttered, his voice unusually subdued. Translation: Gamora is gone.

Realization struck the group like a thunderbolt. "Oh, crap!" Star-Lord exclaimed, slapping his forehead. "We left Gamora behind! With Thanos, of all people! We’ve got to go back for her!"

Logic screamed that returning to Sanctuary II, now a crumbling battlefield, was a suicide mission. Yet not one Guardian raised an objection. With a collective nod of determination, they turned their ship around and sped back toward the chaos.

As they approached, a transmission came through. "Quill, where are you flying, you idiot? Turn the ship around and take me to a hospital!"

Everyone stared at the screen in disbelief as Gamora’s voice echoed through the cockpit. She was seated inside a makeshift spherical escape pod, visibly irritated but very much alive.

Quill blinked in confusion. "Uh... What happened? How did Thanos just let you go?"

Gamora sighed. "He didn’t let me go. Thanos dragged me to Vormir to retrieve the Soul Stone. But then Thor attacked him. Thanos got badly injured and had no choice but to abandon me."

"Is Thanos dead?" Drax asked eagerly, leaning forward.

"No," Gamora replied, her lips curling into a small, vindictive smile. "But he’s seriously injured."

Quill rubbed his chin thoughtfully, trying to piece everything together. Before he could speak, Gamora interrupted him. "By the way, Quill, can you contact your father?"

"My... my father?" Quill stammered, caught off guard. Pain flickered across his face. "My father’s been dead for a long time."

"I meant Yondu," Gamora clarified impatiently. "We need to contact the Ravagers. This is our chance to hit Thanos where it hurts and end this once and for all."

Meanwhile, aboard Sanctuary II, chaos reigned. Captain Marvel’s devastating assault had left the ship in tatters. While the lack of gravity prevented a catastrophic crash, the damage was catastrophic nonetheless. Multiple ammunition depots had exploded, vast sections of the ship had been exposed to the vacuum of space, and countless soldiers had perished.

Thanos, infamous for his unshakable composure, now stood amidst the wreckage, his face twisted in fury. His losses were staggering—nearly a third of his forces had been obliterated, along with countless weapons and fighter crafts. This blow rivaled, if not surpassed, the destruction Surtur had unleashed on Asgard.

For Thanos, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Severely wounded and increasingly reliant on his army, this was one of the heaviest defeats he had ever suffered.

Chapter 257: Collusion

Ordinarily, Thanos' sheer strength and aura of invincibility were enough to keep his subordinates in line. Regardless of how lazy or ineffective they might be, his presence alone ensured that any chaos or failure was swiftly brought under control.

But now, the unthinkable had happened—the boss himself had lost.

As Thanos staggered through the wreckage of Sanctuary II, clutching his severed arm, the soldiers around him exchanged uneasy glances. Even the Black Order, his most elite lieutenants, stood frozen, their expressions betraying a sense of shattered reverence. It was as though an unshakable idol had crumbled before their eyes.

For decades, Thanos had rampaged across the universe, amassing a fearsome reputation. While he had faced defeats in the past, none had ever left such a deep scar on his invincibility. When he clashed with Odin during his ill-fated invasion of Asgard, he had been soundly beaten. Yet, there had been no shame in that loss—after all, Odin, in his prime, was regarded as one of the universe's most formidable figures, a living legend who had stood at the very apex of power.

Escaping Odin with his life had been considered an achievement in itself.

But this? This was different.

Being bested by Odin was one thing. Being humiliated by Thor was another matter entirely. Worse, the damage Thor had inflicted was no mere tactical defeat. It was a blow to Thanos' image, his very mythos. News would spread, and no one would care whether it had been a sneak attack or a fair fight. All that would matter was the fact: Thanos had been maimed by a second-generation god.

Thor’s reputation, despite his recent feats, was still mired in skepticism across the universe. Twenty years ago, he had been dismissed as an arrogant and reckless prince, a “second-generation god” with more bravado than substance. And while he had grown into a mighty warrior, for many, that old image lingered. To the universe’s ancient civilizations, twenty years was but a blink of an eye. Few had truly grasped the extent of Thor’s power.

Some of Thor’s most notable accomplishments were either unknown or dismissed. The destruction of the Frost Giants? Achieved with Loki’s cunning use of the Bifrost. The annihilation of the Dark Elves? Attributed to Odin’s intervention. The Sakaarian gladiatorial matches? Merely a spectacle for the desperate. Even Ego’s defeat had been chalked up to Star-Lord’s family drama, and the galaxy paid it little attention.

Thor’s victory over Ronan the Accuser had briefly drawn praise, but Ronan’s subsequent humiliation on Earth had tarnished his reputation, leading many to label him a fraud.

Ironically, Thor’s most convincing victories were against Thanos himself. With each clash, Thor’s star had risen higher, while Thanos’ aura of invincibility began to wane.

Thanos had made countless enemies over the years, but fear of his power had always kept them at bay. Now, with his defeat fresh in their minds and his army crippled, many would see this as an opportunity to strike. Opportunistic forces would surely move to exploit his vulnerability.

"You're losing your grip," came a low, ominous voice.

"I have not failed," Thanos retorted sharply, his tone laced with defiance.

The voice persisted, unyielding. "You agreed to cooperate with me, asking me to help trigger Ragnarök, and I upheld my end. Yet here we are. Ragnarök has been quelled by Asgard, the Soul Stone has slipped through your fingers, and you’ve been grievously injured in a sneak attack. If that’s not failure, then what is?"

"As long as I live, I cannot lose," Thanos declared, his voice like steel. "They can win a thousand times, and I need only win once. Just one victory, and everything will fall into place."

A pause followed, the air thick with tension. Finally, the voice replied, its tone colder than ever. "But you won’t win even once. You are not Thor’s equal. The gap between you will only grow wider, and now he holds four Infinity Stones. The odds are stacked against you."

Thanos' frown deepened, but he remained silent as the voice continued.

"As for your forces... only three of the Black Order remain. Ebony Maw may still be useful, but the rest are shadows of their former selves. Even the Avengers could overcome them now, and they no longer tip the scales in your favor."

"What is it you want from me?" Thanos growled, his patience wearing thin. He knew the truth in these words, even if he loathed admitting it.

The voice chuckled darkly. "Your plan faltered not because of poor execution, but because of one man. The Ancient One, once foretold that the fate of the cosmos hinges upon him."

"Thor," the voice spat the name with disdain. "He is the obstacle to your destiny. Remove him, and there will be no one left to challenge you."

"And what do you propose?" Thanos asked warily, his eyes narrowing.

"My master can help you eliminate the Asgardian. In return, you must fulfill one request."

Thanos' gaze hardened. "What is it you want?"

"Destroy the Three Sanctums—New York, London, and Hong Kong. Break the seals of Kamar-Taj and allow my master to enter this world. In exchange, he will devour Asgard for you. But first, you and your army must annihilate Kamar-Taj!"

Thanos fell silent, contemplating the weight of this proposition. Destroying the Sanctums sounded straightforward enough, but Kamar-Taj had stood for millennia, its defenders legendary even without the Ancient One. A full-scale assault would not come without significant losses.

"Why does your master obsess over Kamar-Taj?" he asked cautiously.

"If my master descends, what is there to fear from a Kamar-Taj without the Ancient One?" the voice replied coolly.

Chapter 258: Antecedents

For a long moment, the voice from the shadows lingered in silence before finally speaking. "My master was once forced to make a vow to a despicable being—one that forbids him from devouring Earth. The great master never breaks his promises, so he remains bound by this oath. He can only act when that being is no longer part of this world."

Thanos raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

His thoughts were biting. A "great master" bound by a promise? What kind of deity values its word so much that it would play games in the shadows like some skulking rodent? Treaties and oaths exist to be broken—it’s common knowledge in the galaxy.

Yet, despite his disdain, Thanos found himself contemplating the offer. For the sake of his grand ambitions, he had no choice but to entertain this alliance, however distasteful it seemed.

He wasn’t the only one weighing his options. Word of Thanos' grievous injuries and the destruction of Sanctuary II spread across the galaxy at lightning speed. It wasn’t hard to trace the source—Star-Lord and his crew were hardly discreet. The Guardians of the Galaxy, notorious for their loose lips, made no effort to keep the details quiet. Through their chatter, the universe learned how Thanos’ downfall had begun with his failed attempt to capitalize on Odin's death and trigger Ragnarök.

The galaxy buzzed with excitement, the news sparking both amusement and ambition. Opportunistic factions began scheming, eyeing Thanos' vulnerable state and the scattered remnants of his forces. Even Thor, who had unintentionally dealt the decisive blow, was less focused on the aftermath than on the chaos Captain Marvel had left behind.

Star-Lord, for his part, didn’t even recognize Captain Marvel. Her name—Carol Danvers—was unfamiliar to him, and her reputation had yet to reach his corner of the galaxy. Few outside her immediate sphere knew of her exploits; after all, she'd spent decades policing distant sectors as a cosmic peacekeeper, far removed from Thanos' stomping grounds.

Even the Kree, who knew her best, preferred to keep her legacy hidden. For them, Carol’s history was a mark of shame, a reminder of their darkest failures. They buried her story, claiming she was merely a fallen member of the Starforce, a casualty of war.

Back on Earth, however, the Avengers were well aware of Carol’s achievements. Natasha Romanoff had shared her tales after returning from space, and the team had even thrown a celebratory party in her honor.

Meanwhile, in Asgard, Thor found himself engulfed in visions, courtesy of Jean Grey. Her hands rested on his temples, her powers delving deep into the minds of fallen Asgardian soldiers and Chitahuri warriors. She extracted their fragmented memories, piecing together the events of the attack.

Thor’s vision blurred and shifted, showing him a series of disjointed images. He saw Thanos infiltrating Asgard, accompanied by a team of Black Order elites. They halted before the Golden Hall’s impenetrable shield, their path blocked by its radiant barrier.

Corvus Glaive stepped forward, attempting to pierce the shield with his double-edged glaive. The weapon’s enchanted edge failed to penetrate, prompting Corvus to turn to Thanos. "The shield is too powerful to break without drawing attention," he reported. "If the Asgardians respond, they can rally the full might of their forces to crush us."

Thanos nodded, his expression unreadable. He had anticipated this challenge. With a low growl, he turned to another figure, cloaked in black and green robes.

"You can open the door," Thanos said, his voice tinged with impatience.

The sorcerer stepped forward, his tone both confident and calculating. "Yes. But remember our agreement—you will help me acquire the gauntlet and ensure the destruction of Asgard. In return, you must eliminate the three Sanctums on Earth."

The sorcerer began chanting, weaving a spell that shimmered in the air. A golden portal materialized, growing larger with each word. But just as it seemed stable, the portal flickered and vanished, leaving the sorcerer gasping for breath. His body trembled violently, his face pale.

"What’s happening?" Thanos demanded, his temper flaring. "Why has the portal failed?"

The sorcerer clutched his staff, his voice trembling. "The magic here is heavily fortified... I’ll need to draw on the power my master has granted me."

He gritted his teeth, summoning another portal. This time, the effort left him coughing up blood. "The gate is open, but not for long. You must move quickly."

Thanos wasted no time. Leading the Black Order, he stepped through the unstable portal and emerged in Odin’s Vault. The sight that greeted him was both awe-inspiring and puzzling: a gauntlet, adorned with six shattered gems, lay before him.

Thanos examined the gauntlet carefully, his expression unreadable. "A decoy," he muttered. "A mere collectible unworthy of Odin’s Vault."

Still, he slid the glove onto his right hand, testing its fit. "Flawed... but functional. It will suffice for my plans."

Though the gems were decorative, the gauntlet itself retained some power. It was no match for the authentic Uru-crafted Infinity Gauntlet, but it was far superior to the crude replicas forged elsewhere. Satisfied, Thanos issued his next command.

"Leave a mark on this realm," he said, his tone cold. "Let Asgard remember our visit."

The Black Order obeyed without question. One soldier approached a nearby altar, retrieving a helmet and placing it into the Eternal Flame.

"With this flame, you shall be reborn," the soldier intoned.

As the flames consumed the helmet, the air grew thick with heat. The ground trembled as Surtur, the fire giant, rose from the ashes, his form towering and menacing. His resurrection brought chaos, shattering the Golden Hall and overwhelming Asgard’s defenses.

Chapter 259: Asked The Crime

The visions in Thor's mind faded, leaving him with a grim expression.

"So, that's how he managed to sneak into the royal treasury unnoticed," Thor murmured. "He’s using Dormammu’s power. And to think, he’s an old acquaintance."

"Who is this sorcerer?" Jean Grey asked, her curiosity piqued. "He looks like someone from Kamar-Taj, but I don’t recall seeing him when we were there. It’s rare for any sorcerer to have the ability to open such a portal, not even Wong."

Thor folded his arms, his tone heavy with realization. "The only person with that kind of skill is the Ancient One herself. Even Doctor Strange, the current Sorcerer Supreme, struggles with such precision. But this man wasn’t drawing on his own power. That sorcerer is Mordo, the Ancient One’s former chief disciple. He left Kamar-Taj, but I never expected him to join forces with Dormammu."

Jean tilted her head, puzzled. "And what does this have to do with you?"

Thor let out a bitter laugh and gestured to himself. "In his eyes, I’m the root of all his problems, the source of chaos."

Shaking his head, Thor reflected on how he had underestimated Mordo. In the past, he had considered the sorcerer a pale shadow of Wong, hardly worth his notice. But it was becoming clear he’d misjudged him.

The memories stirred another thought. Thor recalled an alternate timeline from a series he had once seen in his previous life—one where Strange never ventured into the mystic arts, and Mordo had ascended as Sorcerer Supreme after the Ancient One. Perhaps Mordo wasn’t incompetent; perhaps Strange was simply extraordinary, overshadowing him with his brilliance.

In the main square of Kamar-Taj, a group of sorcerers was immersed in their training. Unlike the prodigious Shi Legend, most sorcerers were more content with steady progress, diligently practicing their craft. Their lives weren’t glamorous, but they were essential to maintaining the balance of the mystical arts.

The square was bustling with activity, filled with hundreds of trainees. Each sorcerer present would be considered a formidable figure in the mortal world, a testament to the depth of Kamar-Taj’s strength.

Among the Nine Realms, aside from Asgard, Kamar-Taj stood as one of the most powerful forces. Few dared to challenge its might directly. Even Thanos, who sought the Time Stone from Strange, had hesitated to provoke the entirety of Kamar-Taj.

Thor, however, was not bound by such caution.

A brilliant, rainbow-colored flame erupted in the center of the square, accompanied by the oppressive aura of a god’s presence. Startled, the sorcerers prepared for battle, their weapons and spells at the ready.

A voice thundered from within the light. "Strange, come out!"

The assembled sorcerers collectively froze.

One muttered, "Let’s just leave. This guy isn’t someone we can mess with, and he probably won’t destroy the place anyway..."

Strange emerged from a nearby corridor, his expression calm despite the uproar. "Thor, I assume you’re here to settle things because of Mordo?"

Thor stepped out of the Bifrost, his face dark with irritation. "You already know everything, don’t you?"

Strange gestured for Thor to follow him inside the sanctum, leading the way with unflappable composure. "Mordo left because he couldn’t reconcile with the Ancient One’s methods."

Thor smirked, his tone mocking. "The Ancient One’s judgment seems questionable. How did she end up teaching a group of misfits?"

Strange didn’t rise to the bait. "We could say the same about Odin’s parenting, couldn’t we? Between Hela and Loki, he’s hardly the pinnacle of success."

The jab hit home, but Thor brushed it aside. "Fine. But since you clearly saw this coming, why didn’t you warn me? Were you not concerned that Asgard might actually fall? Or did you think you could handle Thanos all by yourself?"

Strange sighed, his voice tinged with weariness. "Asgard suffered minimal damage in the end, didn’t it? If I’d warned you, it would have altered the timeline, masking the threat and creating a disaster that would explode later. I can’t foresee every outcome, but in the scenarios I witnessed, this was the least destructive path."

Thor considered this and gave a reluctant nod. He understood the logic. Mordo’s grievances with the Ancient One were longstanding. His rigid nature had always clashed with her willingness to bend the rules, making his eventual defection almost inevitable. Now, allied with Dormammu, Mordo had become a thorn in both their sides.

And then there was Thanos. Dormammu’s pact prevented him from directly targeting Earth, so Asgard had become his battlefield. Conversely, Thanos couldn’t challenge Thor head-on, leaving Earth as his target. It was a tangled web of conflicting motives and fragile alliances.

"And Thanos?" Thor pressed. "Why did you let him have the Time Stone? Without it, he would’ve fallen on Vormir. As I recall, you and Stark weren’t exactly best friends."

Strange’s lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile. "This war is far from over. Killing Thanos won’t solve everything. Compared to the Time Stone, Stark’s existence is far more critical."

Thor raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "As long as I’m here, this war will end in our favor."

"Perhaps," Strange said, his tone neutral. "But you cannot control the cost of that victory."

Thor frowned. "And you think Stark can?"

Strange nodded solemnly. "Yes. He can."

Chapter 260: The Eve of the Battle

Unexpectedly, the conversation circled back to Iron Man.

Strange’s implications were clear. In every vision he had seen, Tony Stark was a pivotal figure—indispensable to the outcome of the coming battles. His words carried an unspoken truth: Thanos’ death would not be the end.

Even without Thanos, the universe still faced threats like Dormammu. Thor couldn’t suppress a chuckle at the thought. Eventually, I’ll have to deal with Dormammu anyway. He was one of the culprits behind Ragnarök, even if his plans failed.

Thor smirked, breaking the silence. "Looks like I’ll be taking your biggest adversary. Dormammu’s a perfect match for you, though."

Strange shrugged, his expression neutral. "Who knows? By the time it’s all over, you might end up doing all my work for me."

Thor laughed, his mood lightening. "So, after I clean up Kamar-Taj’s mess, you owe me something."

"The magic of unlimited refills for your ale?"

"Deal!"

In the heart of the Stark Tower laboratory, Tony Stark sat hunched over a keyboard, engrossed in his work. Freshly returned from Wakanda, his injuries had healed remarkably, thanks to their advanced technology.

On a nearby table lay a lifeless, headless body—Vision’s remains. Tony was attempting to piece together fragments of J.A.R.V.I.S’ original code, his goal clear: to resurrect Vision.

"Friday, run another check on the target equation," Tony commanded.

"Eighty-five percent similarity to J.A.R.V.I.S," the AI replied.

Tony exhaled heavily, frustration etched on his face. Despite his best efforts, perfection eluded him. Creating an artificial intelligence like J.A.R.V.I.S was one thing; breathing life back into Vision was another.

"Still not enough," he muttered, leaning back against the sofa.

"You can’t do this," came a voice from nowhere.

Tony barely flinched, glancing lazily at Thor, who had materialized in his lab. "I know it’s complicated, but there’s always hope."

"No," Thor said bluntly, stepping closer. "You have no hope."

Tony narrowed his eyes, sitting up. "You’ve got a way with words, don’t you?"

Thor ignored the jab. "Imagine Pepper dies, and you take a blood sample, clone her, and recreate someone identical. Could you treat the clone as your Pepper Potts?"

Tony glared. "That’s a terrible analogy, and no, it wouldn’t be the same."

"Exactly," Thor replied, crossing his arms. "What you’re doing now is no different. Even if you recreate J.A.R.V.I.S perfectly and upload it into Vision’s vibranium body, it won’t be him. At best, you’ll have his twin brother."

The room fell silent. Tony’s defiance softened as Thor’s words sank in. "You think I don’t know that?" he said quietly. "But what else can I do? Vision meant something—he means something."

Thor’s gaze softened slightly. "There’s another way," he said. "The Time Stone can reverse the flow of time. Just like when Strange faced Dormammu and died millions of times, only to reset everything."

Tony’s eyes widened in realization. "Are you saying we can use the Time Stone to bring Vision back?"

"Absolutely," Thor said confidently. He wasn’t bluffing; after all, Thanos had done something similar in the original timeline.

Tony’s lips curved into a hopeful smile. "Then we just need to get that gem back. Thanks, Sparkles."

Thor snorted, hiding his grin. If Strange hadn’t insisted on Tony’s importance in the future, Thor wouldn’t have bothered to lift his spirits.

Asgard was in the midst of rebirth. Under Thor’s leadership, the realm had avoided its legendary fate of destruction. The Asgardians rallied behind their rookie king, their unity and morale reaching unprecedented heights.

News of Thor’s battle with Thanos spread quickly. The Avengers, bolstered by the victory, found their shaken confidence restored. Across the galaxy, factions that once cowered in fear of Thanos began whispering of revenge. For the first time, they saw a glimmer of hope.

The Kree, however, were far from optimistic. They had hoped Thanos would eliminate Captain Marvel, but now it seemed unlikely he would even survive his next encounter. Carol Danvers was a one-woman army, capable of dismantling fleets single-handedly. Her former commander, Yon-Rogg, felt an ominous sense of finality—this time, their reckoning seemed unavoidable.

Thanos, meanwhile, stood at the precipice. His injuries and losses had pushed him to the edge. The Avengers, Asgard, and his countless enemies across the galaxy were aligning against him. If he delayed, his enemies would unite, and his chances would dwindle to nothing.

The Mad Titan stared at his newly installed robotic arm, flexing the mechanical fingers. His gaze shifted to Sanctuary II, still under repair, its massive hull a symbol of his crumbling power.

He could wait no longer.

"Prepare the fleet," Thanos commanded, his voice resolute. "We launch a full-scale invasion of Earth. Destroy the Sanctums and let Dormammu came."