Marvel : I am Thor Chapter 251 - 255

Chapter 251: Routine

When Natasha opened her eyes, she found herself lying in a shallow, tranquil lake. The cool water lapped gently against her skin, and the sky above shimmered with an otherworldly hue. For a moment, it felt like a dream.

But the orange glow in her hand reminded her it was real. The Soul Gem rested in her palm, its eerie light pulsating steadily.

She tightened her grip on the gem, tears welling in her eyes. She thought she had forgotten how to cry, but the weight of Thor’s sacrifice brought the emotions crashing down.

Suddenly, the gem trembled violently, as if resisting her hold.

Startled, Natasha clutched it tighter, but the Soul Gem’s power overwhelmed her, slipping free from her grasp and darting into the distance.

"No!" she cried, chasing after it.

The Soul Gem flew erratically through the air, as if seeking an escape, until it collided with an invisible barrier. A brilliant flash illuminated the surroundings, and the gem quivered, unable to move further.

A familiar voice broke the silence.

"Since you’ve come this far, you’re not going anywhere."

Natasha’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Thor?"

Out of the shimmering light, Thor stepped forward, holding the struggling Soul Gem firmly in his grasp.

Before Natasha could process what she was seeing, she ran toward him, her composure forgotten. Throwing her arms around him, she held him tightly, relief and joy flooding her senses.

Thor chuckled softly, one arm holding her close while the other gripped the Soul Gem.

"I knew you’d have questions," he said, his tone serious yet calm. "But for now, let me deal with this unruly little thing."

Turning his attention to the gem, Thor’s voice grew commanding. "I know you have your own rules, your own twisted logic. But since the test is complete, you belong to me now. Serve me for ten years, and I’ll set you free. In return, I’ll offer you what you crave—souls. Tens of millions, if that’s what it takes."

The Soul Gem vibrated in protest, but Thor tightened his grip. The Power Stone in his other hand began to glow ominously, its energy coursing through him.

"Or," Thor said coldly, "I destroy you here and now."

The gem’s vibrations slowed, then ceased entirely. In that moment, Thor felt an unshakable connection form—a bond that made the Soul Gem bend to his will, more loyal than any other stone.

Natasha stepped back, her emotions shifting from joy to confusion. "Thor… what just happened? You jumped off the cliff. I thought—"

A familiar voice interrupted her.

"I can explain," said Loki, appearing from the shadows with a self-satisfied grin.

"My transformation magic is flawless," Loki said, his tone dripping with pride. "The ‘Thor’ that jumped was merely an illusion. The Soul Gem fell for it, thinking it had claimed a sacrifice."

Natasha turned to Loki, bewildered. "An illusion fooled the Soul Gem?"

Thor shook his head, amused. "Not quite. Loki provided the illusion, yes, but the real trick was the sacrificial soul."

"Explain," Natasha demanded.

Thor hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Years ago, I acquired a unique ability through the use of another gem—one that allowed me to create a temporary soul identical to mine. For one minute, that soul was indistinguishable from me in every way. Not even the Soul Gem could tell the difference."

Natasha’s eyes widened as understanding dawned.

"The Soul Gem devoured the sacrificial soul, thinking it had won. But when the soul disappeared after a minute, the gem realized it had been tricked. That’s when it tried to escape."

"And that’s when you caught it," Natasha finished.

Thor nodded.

Natasha’s expression grew serious. "But what if the trick hadn’t worked? Would you have sacrificed me, or someone else, to get the gem?"

Thor’s eyes softened. "No. A victory that requires sacrifice is no victory at all. I’m not Thanos. If the trick had failed, I would have destroyed the Soul Gem, along with this entire planet."

He raised Stormbreaker, its blade glinting in the dim light. "The purpose of these gems is to stop Thanos, nothing more. I won’t let them cost me—or anyone else—our humanity."

Natasha stared at him for a moment before a small smile broke through. "You really are an idiot," she said, though her tone was warm.

Thor grinned. "Maybe. But I’m your idiot."

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the galaxy, Carol Danvers flew through the void, her mind heavy with the weight of her past.

The Kree’s ultimatum rang in her ears: unconditional surrender from the Skrulls within one day, or the annihilation of their entire race.

Talos, the Skrull leader, had finally sent a distress signal, his pride giving way to desperation.

Carol clenched her fists as she sped toward their homeworld.

Not on my watch, she thought grimly.

Chapter 252: The Stealer Always Steals

Carol's mind was in turmoil.
Although the crisis with Surtur had been averted, she couldn’t shake off the unease gnawing at her. Thanos could launch an all-out assault at any moment, and this wasn't a time for her to walk away. Yet, to her surprise, it was Thor who convinced her to step back and intervene elsewhere.

“It is a trap,” Thor had said, his voice steady yet laced with urgency. “Thanos and the Kree are working together; their timing isn’t a coincidence. Their attack is designed to pin you down.” He paused, his expression fierce. “But remember, when faced with absolute strength, no amount of scheming can prevail. As long as I draw breath, I will not let him win. He and his entire fleet will become nothing more than debris floating in space.”

Carol had been skeptical but listened intently as Thor continued. “Go, Carol. Handle this. Don’t let this weigh on you as a regret.”

With his words echoing in her heart, Carol returned her focus to the task at hand. Her gaze sharpened as an enormous spaceship loomed in the distance.

It was Sanctuary II, one of Thanos’ mightiest strongholds.

A subtle smile graced her lips. “You won’t regret this, Thor,” she whispered to herself.

Meanwhile, Thanos had departed with Gamora, heading toward Vormir. Gamora, knowing the Mind Stone was already in his possession, had no choice but to comply. For the safety of her friends, she agreed to guide him to the Soul Stone. Her team, however, had been left behind as hostages within the massive ship.

“It’s been an entire day since Gamora was taken by that purple-skinned lunatic,” Quill muttered, his worry evident. “What if something’s happened to her?”

His gaze swept across the team, silently pleading for some reassurance.

Rocket Raccoon, however, offered no such comfort. “Who knows? Sure, he’s her so-called father, but let’s be real—family ties don’t mean squat these days.”

Drax chimed in, his tone grave. “Thanos is a butcher with no trace of humanity. Father-daughter relationship? Look at how much Gamora despises him.”

Quill clenched his fists in frustration. “Damn it! We have to do something. We can’t just sit here while she’s out there alone!”

Rocket smirked slyly, lowering his voice. “How about you dance again, Quill? Maybe Groot can sneak in and unlock a door while everyone’s distracted.”

Quill glared at him. “Even if it means dying here in this cell, I’ll never use such a humiliating tactic again!”

Minutes later, however, the group was quietly slipping out of their cell, the scent of freedom tantalizingly close.

“Quill,” Rocket whispered as they crept through the corridors, “doesn’t something feel...off?”

“No,” Quill hissed back, grimacing.

Before Quill could respond, a piercing alarm blared through the ship.

“Great! Just great!” Quill groaned, throwing his hands up. “Not even a minute out of the cell, and we’re already caught!”

Rocket pulled him aside, his expression serious. “This isn’t about us. That’s a ship-wide alarm.”

In the control room of Sanctuary II, Ebony Maw watched the monitor with a grim expression. His hands trembled as he saw Captain Marvel hurtling toward the ship.

“Fire the main cannons! Bring her down at all costs!” he barked.

An officer nearby snorted dismissively. “Sir, it’s just one woman. Surely our troops can handle her—”

A sharp slap cut him off mid-sentence.

“Fool!” Ebony Maw hissed. “This is the woman who killed Cull Obsidian! If you’re so eager to die, go out and face her yourself!”

The officer paled, retreating into silence.

Outside, a relentless barrage of artillery fire filled the sky. Explosions erupted around Carol, but she didn’t flinch. She didn’t even bother dodging, her path unwavering as she charged forward.

Flames roared around her, painting the battlefield in hues of destruction. Emerging from the inferno unscathed, her golden energy aura burned brighter than ever.

Real heroes don’t look back at explosions, she thought with a smirk.

Inside the ship, Ebony Maw’s frustration boiled over. “Impossible!” he shouted.

With a deafening crash, Carol smashed through the hull of Sanctuary II. Golden energy rippled across her body, dimming slightly from the impact, but her speed remained undeterred. Without hesitation, she vanished into the void of space, leaving a trail of destruction in her wake.

Her mission was clear—rescue the Skrulls and prevent further chaos. The current state of Sanctuary II was enough to give even Thanos a headache.

“Well,” Carol muttered to herself with a wry smile, “since Thanos try to destroy Thor’s home, it’s only fair I destroy it back.”

Chapter 253: Killing

The spaceship shuddered violently as it was pierced straight through. Systems sparked and short-circuited, while a cascade of explosions rippled through its core. Control devices were obliterated, leaving the ship’s systems crippled. The naval guns, which had been relentlessly firing moments before, flickered and went dark, silenced by the catastrophic damage.

Chaos erupted inside Sanctuary II. Dozens of Chitauri soldiers were sucked out into the cold vacuum of space through gaping breaches in the hull. They flailed helplessly as the void claimed them, their lives extinguished in mere seconds.

“No! This can’t be happening!” Ebony Maw screamed, his voice tinged with both fury and desperation. His fists clenched as he watched the destruction unfold. What would Thanos do when he returned and found his stronghold in ruins? The thought alone made him shiver.

While the chaos on the ship unfolded, Thanos himself was far away, leading Gamora up the steep, jagged paths of Vormir’s mountain. Above them loomed a foreboding sky, as if the planet itself mourned the task ahead.

A ghostly figure floated toward them. It was the Red Skull, his appearance eerie and surreal.

“Welcome, Thanos, son of A’lars. Gamora, daughter of Thanos,” the specter intoned, his voice cold and resonant.

Thanos arched a brow, his lips curling slightly. He had expected an ominous guardian, but the peculiar figure caught him off guard. “Who are you? And how do you know us?” he asked, his voice low and commanding.

The Red Skull’s expression remained impassive. “I am but a cursed man, bound to this place. I know all who seek the Soul Stone. It is my burden to guide them.”

Thanos scoffed, his patience wearing thin. “Enough theatrics. I’ve come for the Soul Stone. Where is it?”

The Red Skull nodded solemnly. “I know why you’re here. All who come seek the same thing. But to claim the Soul Stone is no simple feat. It requires a price—one that few are prepared to pay.”

“I’m ready,” Thanos declared, his tone unwavering.

The Red Skull’s lips twisted into a faint smile, tinged with bitterness. “So say they all. And yet, none have succeeded. Follow me.”

He led them up the jagged path to a high platform at the cliff’s edge. The air grew colder, the atmosphere heavier with each step. At the precipice, the Red Skull turned to face them.

“The Soul Stone is unlike any other Infinity Stone. It is unique, not just in power, but in the wisdom it demands. To claim it, one must make the ultimate sacrifice.”

Thanos narrowed his eyes. “Sacrifice what?”

“Life,” the Red Skull said plainly. His voice was devoid of emotion, yet the weight of his words hung heavily in the air. “A soul for a soul. This is the unbreakable law.”

Both Thanos and Gamora froze, their eyes widening in shock.

Thanos spoke, his voice laced with suspicion. “If a sacrifice is required, how could the gem be without an owner?”

The Red Skull chuckled softly. “And now you see why so many fail. None have been willing to pay the price.”

Gamora’s laugh echoed sharply across the cliffs. “Isn’t this ironic? You’ve traveled across the galaxy for your precious stone, only to find it’s out of your reach. Fate has finally caught up with you, Thanos!”

Thanos’ expression darkened, his face a grim tapestry of frustration and contemplation. For the first time, he appeared genuinely conflicted.

After a long silence, he finally spoke. “If someone sacrifices their life willingly, can the Soul Stone be taken by another?”

The Red Skull shook his head. “No. The one who sacrifices is chosen by the stone itself. Once they perish, the stone vanishes, awaiting a new seeker.”

The words hit Thanos like a blow. His grand plans, his meticulously crafted visions of balance, now faced an immovable obstacle. He clenched his fists, his mind racing.

Gamora smirked, her voice dripping with mockery. “Looks like even the great Thanos isn’t willing to die for his so-called ideals. What happened to your noble purpose?”

Thanos scowled but said nothing. After a long, tense moment, he turned away from the cliff. “We leave. My mission is not yet complete. I cannot die—not yet. Once the other stones are in my grasp, I will return. The Soul Stone will wait.”

Gamora’s smirk widened. She had never seen her adoptive father so rattled, and the sight filled her with satisfaction.

But as Thanos began to walk away, a sudden jolt of fear shot through his body. His battle-hardened instincts screamed danger.

“Hrraaah!”

He spun around, his fist flying toward the threat.

Boom!

Thanos' fist and Red Skull's fist collided heavily, making a loud noise like a planet colliding.

Chapter 254: Heavy Injury

As the Red Skull's fist connected with Thanos, its ghastly form dissolved, shifting into something far more familiar.

Thanos’ eyes widened. Standing before him, with a smirk that made his blood boil, was none other than Thor.

Relying on countless years of combat experience, Thanos reacted instinctively. Though caught off guard, he channeled all his strength into a hasty punch. The blow landed squarely, sending Thor skidding back several feet.

Thanos, too, stumbled backward, his boots scraping against the rocky ground. He teetered dangerously close to the edge of the cliff, arms flailing for balance. A grunt of effort stabilized him, but the reprieve was brief.

Thor saw his opening and seized it without hesitation. He charged forward, his shoulder slamming into Thanos with unyielding force. The impact was enough to send them both tumbling off the cliff’s edge.

The two combatants fell in a chaotic spiral, their bodies colliding mid-air as they grappled. Thanos, ever the strategist, recovered quickly. He summoned all his strength and delivered a thunderous slap to Thor’s chest.

The blow reverberated through Thor’s armor, numbing Thanos’ arm in the process. But the Mad Titan’s grin widened as he saw Thor plummet faster, the force of the strike driving the god of thunder toward the ground below. Using the momentum, Thanos propelled himself upward, twisting mid-air to reach for the safety of the cliff’s edge.

“Victory is mine,” Thanos muttered, his voice laced with grim satisfaction.

But just as he thought the tables had turned in his favor, the heavens roared their defiance.

Boom!

A colossal bolt of lightning erupted from the sky, striking Thanos with unerring precision. His body convulsed as the energy coursed through him, his ascent abruptly halted.

The purple-skinned Titan fell like a broken marionette, his descent unceremonious. As he plummeted, his eyes locked onto Thor, who hovered effortlessly in the air, radiant with divine energy.

“Did you forget?” Thor called out mockingly. “I can fly!”

Thanos landed with a bone-jarring thud at the bottom of the cliff. The sharp pain was immediate, but it paled in comparison to the ominous sensation creeping into his body.

A faint, otherworldly orange glow surrounded him. The air grew icy, biting through his thick skin as an ancient and sinister force took hold.

“The Soul Gem...” Thanos rasped, his voice barely audible.

Beneath him, a pitch-black magic circle thrummed with power, its intricate patterns glowing faintly. This was no ordinary battlefield. The Soul Gem’s malevolence radiated from the array, its hunger palpable.

Even Thor, as powerful as he was, would find himself in peril in such a place. For Thanos, the odds were even bleaker.

A sharp, searing pain tore through him. He clutched his chest as his very soul began to detach from his body.

“Arrrghhh!” Thanos roared, the agony unlike anything he’d ever endured.

The orange light grew brighter, pulling at his essence. Yet, just as it seemed his soul would be claimed, a sudden, blinding green light burst forth from the Time Stone on his gauntlet.

Time itself froze for an instant. The orange light recoiled, subdued by the green glow. Thanos felt his soul snap back into his body, the reprieve sending him gasping for air.

Boom!

Without wasting a second, Thanos stomped the ground with immense force, launching himself upward like a rocket. His leap carried him to the top of the cliff, his chest heaving as he landed.

For a moment, he simply stood there, shaken to his core. The experience of near-death lingered, his body trembling with lingering fear.

Gamora, who had witnessed the entire ordeal, stood frozen, her expression a mixture of shock and disbelief.

Thanos turned his gaze downward, his eyes narrowing at the faint orange glow at the bottom of the cliff.

“It was a trap,” he muttered under his breath. “The Soul Gem has already been taken by Thor.”

He looked up, his expression darkening as Thor landed before him, Stormbreaker in hand.

“You set me up,” Thanos growled, his voice filled with venom.

Thor’s only response was a sly grin.

Before Thanos could speak further, a flash of silver streaked toward him. He barely raised his arm in time to block Stormbreaker. The force of the swing sent him skidding back, his boots scraping against the stone.

Crack!

A sickening sound echoed as the gauntlet on Thanos’ hand began to splinter. Unlike the original Infinity Gauntlet, this imitation lacked the durability of Uru metal.

Thanos gritted his teeth, refusing to yield. With a desperate shove, he redirected the axe’s trajectory, sparing his neck but sacrificing his shoulder.

The blade sank deep, severing his left arm with a wet thunk. Pain shot through him, searing and unrelenting. He let out a guttural growl but refused to scream.

Thor raised Stormbreaker again, his eyes alight with fury.

But Thanos wasn’t done yet. He clenched his remaining fist, unleashing a simultaneous blast from the Time Stone and the Mind Stone. The twin beams of energy shot toward Thor, forcing him to backpedal.

The attack bought Thanos the time he needed. With his severed arm clutched tightly, he turned and fled, his towering frame disappearing into the shadows.

Chapter 255: Rage

Thor stood at the edge of the cliff, watching as the Soul Gem floated back into his hand. Its orange glow pulsated softly, a faint reminder of the power it held. He turned it over in his palm, his expression shifting between triumph and irritation.

“Useless thing,” he muttered, the frustration evident in his voice. “I handed Thanos to you on a silver platter, and you still let him slip away.”

Moments earlier, everything had been poised for victory. If the Soul Gem had successfully devoured Thanos’ soul, the battle would have been over. Yet, at the critical moment, the Time Gem intervened, reversing the Soul Gem's progress and allowing Thanos to escape.

The Soul Gem remained silent, its glow dimming slightly as if sulking. For an artifact of immeasurable power, even it seemed frustrated by the outcome.

Thor shook his head, turning his attention to Gamora, who stood nearby, her expression guarded. A wry smile spread across Thor’s face as he addressed her. “You know,” he said, his tone light but pointed, “I just saved your life.”

Gamora narrowed her eyes, suspicion flickering across her features. “What are you talking about?”

Thor gestured toward the bottom of the cliff. “The true test of the Soul Gem is to sacrifice the person you love most. And for Thanos, that person is you.”

“What?!” Gamora’s eyes widened in disbelief. She took a step back, shaking her head vehemently. “No. That’s impossible. Thanos doesn’t love anyone. He’s a butcher! A monster! He’s incapable of love.”

Thor raised an eyebrow, letting the Soul Gem speak for itself.

“That purple-skinned brute loves you more than anyone,” the gem intoned, its voice cold and detached. “If he were to sacrifice, it would be you.”

Gamora froze, the words hitting her like a physical blow. For a long moment, she stared at Thor, then at the Soul Gem, her mind racing.

“So,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, “he would’ve chosen to sacrifice me, wouldn’t he?”

Thor nodded solemnly. “Yes. Thanos once fled from what he saw as destiny, and his failure cost him Titan. This time, he wouldn’t run. He’s willing to pay any price for his so-called dream—even if it means sacrificing you.”

Gamora’s face hardened, her eyes flickering with a mix of anger and sadness.

Thor continued, his voice steady. “Thanos is a paradox. He’s not a pure villain, but that’s what makes him so dangerous. Everything he does, every atrocity he commits, he believes it’s for the greater good. That kind of conviction makes him far worse than any common tyrant.”

He paused, glancing at the sky. “The true villains—the ones like yhe Grandmaster or Kingpin—they act out of greed or ambition. You can negotiate with them, manipulate them, even ally with them if needed. But Thanos? He has no desires. No selfish goals. Only his twisted ideal of balance.”

Thor’s voice dropped lower, his tone grim. “And that’s what makes him so damn dangerous.”

Gamora said nothing, her gaze distant as she absorbed Thor’s words.

Far from Vormir, aboard his massive donut-shaped ship, Thanos stormed into the bridge, his face a mask of fury. He activated the controls, his movements brusque. The ship surged into a space wormhole, leaving Vormir behind.

Only when the ship emerged on the other side did Thanos allow himself a moment to breathe. He exhaled heavily, his shoulders sagging.

“The great Thanos,” he muttered bitterly, “reduced to running for his life. How ironic.”

His hand clenched into a fist as he activated the Time Gem. A green glow enveloped his severed arm and shoulder, the magic stitching flesh and bone back together.

But something was wrong.

Thanos winced as a sharp pain radiated from the wound. The Time Gem’s power faltered, the green light flickering weakly. No matter how much he focused, the injury resisted healing.

“What is this?” Thanos growled, his teeth gritted against the pain.

Unbeknownst to him, Stormbreaker’s enchantments included the ability to suppress the power of Infinity Stones. Even the Time Gem, with all its might, couldn’t fully counter the axe’s residual magic.

The Titan’s wounds would heal, but only through the natural resilience of his body—a far slower process than he was used to.

Thanos bared his teeth, his frustration mounting. He slammed a fist onto the console, causing the screen to flicker to life. He intended to chart a course back to his base, but the sight that greeted him made his blood boil.

The screen was filled with an endless stream of messages—alerts, warnings, and frantic communications from Ebony Maw.

Thanos stared at the chaos, his rage building with every passing second. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore.

Boom!

With a roar of fury, he punched the console, shattering it into a cascade of sparks and debris. His voice echoed through the ship, a primal howl of anger.

“How dare they?” he bellowed. “How dare they destroy Sanctuary II?!”