Chapter 1173 Thor's Moral Blackmail, Thanos's Bloodbath of Xandar

“Alright, then we'll have to rely on ourselves.” Thor pursed his lips, turning to look at the first group of Asgardians rescued here. “Does anyone know how to fly a spaceship?”

A middle-aged man stepped forward. “I delivered supplies to the Asgardian warriors, but that was decades ago.”

"Haven't flown a spaceship in decades, huh?"

No problem, you, Loki, and Valkyrie will be in one group and will be responsible for transferring the Asgardians from the outer city to this spaceship.

If other pilots are encountered, allocate other aircraft to help evacuate the people.

"Loki, you are the third prince of Asgard."

Most Asgardians will obey your orders. Explain it to them clearly and don't do anything unnecessary.

“I will,” Loki nodded solemnly.

Thor chuckled and looked at Valkyrie. "If he doesn't understand the situation and tries anything funny, you know what to do."

“Of course.” Valkyrie drew the Dragon Fang Sword halfway out. “I’ll keep an eye on him.”

Loki pursed his lips and wisely kept quiet.

"What about the two of us? Are we going to the inner city to evacuate the people?" Banner asked.

“We need to find some reliable help first,” Thor said noncommittally. “Does anyone know where the Warriors Three are?”

"The Three Warriors of Asgard?"

“Fandar, Volstagg, Hogan,” Loki explained. “Thor’s companions, a bit stronger than the average Asgardian warrior.”

"How does it compare to you?"

"Haha! They almost died at my hands when they went to Earth before," Loki said without batting an eye. "But I spared their lives."

"Is that so?" Thor rolled his eyes speechlessly. "It's like I defeated the Destroyer, and then went back to Asgard and beat you up."

Do you really have to go into such detail?

“I don’t want to discuss the past, but we need their help now.”

“They were badly wounded,” said an older Asgardian. “I saw it. They went to challenge the goddess of death, but the result was that each of them had a sword stuck in their body.”

"Where are they?"

"Dungeon."

"That's great!" Loki clapped his hands and cheered, his face clearly showing schadenfreude. "Now everyone's been to jail."

I must be the luckiest one, after all, I have a single room, clean and tidy, with books, a bed, fruit, and even fine wine.

"Is this something to be proud of?"

"Uh... I mean, it's so good that they're still alive."

"Your Highnesses, they probably can't be of much help."

"What if their injuries heal?" Thor said meaningfully. "Banner, there should be healing potions on the ship, right?"

"Oh... I don't know either!"

“Yes, Captain,” said the AI ​​prophet. “The Creator secretly cultivated a magical crop on the planet Borhart.”

Senzu beans, once eaten, can completely restore injuries and strength, but they cannot restore energy or cure diseases.

"And this treasure too?" Banner asked in astonishment.

"This is a blessing bestowed upon our family by the Creator. However, the cultivation of Senzu Beans is very difficult and the yield is very low. Each spaceship only has three in reserve."

"Just enough," Thor said with some relief.

"Only three?" Banner was a little pained. "Thor, well, these are supposed to be my personal property!"

“Banner,” Saul patted him solemnly on the shoulder, “we’ve been through thick and thin together!”

Banner opened his mouth, about to say something, when Thor interrupted him.

"After this, it may be goodbye forever."

Even if you use these three magic beans, you can ask Aaron for more later.

But your decision now will determine whether some Asgardians will have a future.

"I...you...damn it!"

Banner was speechless. Saul had changed, he had really changed.

He was no longer that simple-minded, physically strong brute.

Now he's not only shameless, he's even learned to use moral blackmail. Isn't that just bullying honest people?

"Fine, here you go, you can have it all!"

Saul immediately gave Banner a hug. "I'm so grateful. You truly are my best friend."

Banner glared at him, but managed to resist the urge to slap him. "Prophet, where are the Senzu Beans?"

"The captain's cabin requires your password and permissions to retrieve it."

"Wait, I'll go get it for you."

"Thank you."

"I'm not trying to spoil the mood, Saul."

Isn't it a waste to give it to the Warriors Three of Asgard?

If Senzu Beans are really that magical, maybe they can create an opportunity for you to compete with our older sister!

"The people of Asgard are more important, and I don't think I have a chance to eat a Senzu Bean in front of her."

“No one can defeat that madwoman in Asgard,” Valkyrie remarked. “As long as Hela is on this planet, she is invincible.”

......

Xandar.

This renowned advanced civilization in the universe is now engulfed in flames of war. The Nova Legion guarding Xandar has been almost completely wiped out, and the air is filled with the smell of war and blood.

Amidst the ruins, Ebony Maw, the strategist with the black tongue, used his telekinesis to bring a silver sphere to Thanos, the Titan clad in golden armor, and slowly knelt on one knee.

"Great Thanos, your humble servant offers you the Primal Power, a symbol of infinite power."

As he spoke, Ebony Maw used his telekinesis to split the sphere in two, and purple light flowed out from the gap, seemingly capable of devouring everything.

Thanos stared blankly at the Power Stone, then removed his helmet, took off his armor, and put the golden Infinity Gauntlet on his left hand.

Thanos didn't hesitate much and reached out to grab the Power Stone.

The moment the fingers touched the Power Stone, countless energies uncontrollably dissipated, wreaking havoc on everything around them.

Most of them traveled along Thanos's arm and invaded his body.

Ordinary life forms would turn to ashes upon contact. Even Ronan the Accuser of Kree could not maintain contact for long; he could only use its energy by embedding it in an object. Only demigods like Peter Quill, who possess the blood of the gods, could barely withstand the backlash of the energy.

Thanos, however, was different. He was a Titan, and his physical strength was comparable to that of the Hulk. He suppressed the power stone's rampage in just a moment and embedded it in the groove of the index finger of the Infinity Gauntlet.

Purple lightning flickered across his body for a moment before slowly subsiding.

Ebony Maw was shocked yet felt it was only natural; his master was so powerful that he could easily conquer even the energy of the Infinity Stones.

“This is the first one,” Thanos said calmly. “There are five more: Time, Mind, Space, Reality, and Soul.”

“Yes, Master,” Ebony Maw said respectfully. “The Time Stone is on Earth, under the control of the newly appointed Sorcerer Supreme.”

The Mind Stone is also on Earth; it is the core of an artificial intelligence life form.

"The Ancient One is dead, and her disciples can't protect the Time Stone," Thanos said dismissively, completely disregarding Strange.

"As for that artificial intelligence life form, it is not a cause for concern."

"The Space Stone is in Asgard, but..."

Although Odin, the king of the gods, had passed away, his eldest daughter, Hela, the goddess of death, ascended the throne.

“Hela.” A hint of apprehension flashed in Thanos’s eyes. “That woman is not easy to deal with; she’s extremely troublesome.”

"Master, we have a powerful army..."

"The army? It's probably only enough for her to warm up."

"In addition to the four of us—Corvus Glaive, Proxima Midnight, Black Dwarf, and Black Tongue Strategist—we are ready to charge into battle for you at any time."

“Far from enough.” Thanos shook his head and said, “If you face the Goddess of Death head-on, you will all die by her sword in less than a minute.”

"What if it were you, Master?"

"You have obtained the Power Stone; can the Goddess of Death stand in your way?"

Thanos glanced at the purple crystal on the Infinity Gauntlet. "The Power Stone only gave me Godfather-level energy, but Hela is the true Godfather."

Ebony Maw pondered for a moment, "We can save the Space Stones for last, and attack Asgard after collecting the other Infinity Stones."

“No need for all that trouble, Ragnarok is coming soon.” Thanos said meaningfully, “Asgard will be destroyed by Surtur, the fire giant king. Hela will be in danger at that time, and that will be our chance to get the Space Stone.”

"Does the master mean to wait?"

"It could also give them a push and hasten the arrival of Ragnarok."

“Yes.” Ebony Maw nodded. “We can send Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight to infiltrate Asgard and look for an opportunity.”

"Ah."

“Master, the Reality Stone is with the collector, but the Soul Stone is nowhere to be found.”

“Someone knows the whereabouts of the Soul Stone.” Thanos’s lips curled into a benevolent smile. “Gamora, my daughter.”

Gamora joined the Guardians of the Galaxy, a small mercenary group whose captain was a notorious thief.

"I will send men to bring her back immediately."

“And Nebula,” Thanos said coldly, “bring that traitor back too.”

"Yes."

Thanos put his helmet back on and donned his armor.

He clenched his left fist tightly, and the Power Stone on the Infinity Gauntlet emitted a purple energy shockwave.

Energy surged from the Earth's surface to its core, causing the ground to tremble violently. Large cracks appeared on the planet's surface, and countless buildings collapsed and crumbled, as if swallowed by a giant vortex.

......

Asgard.

After Thor and Banner rescued the Warriors Three, they split up as planned and brought groups of Asgardians aboard the Monster.

It can transport tens of thousands of people every day, and several floors of space are quickly filled.

Fortunately, the spaceship had enough supplies, otherwise, feeding and drinking these people every day would have been a huge problem.

“We’ve basically brought over everyone from the outer city,” Loki said. “The Asgardians in the inner city are also being gradually moved, but if this continues, we’ll be discovered sooner or later.”

"We were all prepared, weren't we?" Thor said nonchalantly. "If we're discovered, we'll find a way to stall her, and then use the Rainbow Bridge to evacuate the rest of the people."

"Yes, that's right, but I think there's a safer way."

"what way?"

“Let’s get the people on this ship to a safe place first,” Loki said meaningfully. “You should understand the principle of not putting all your eggs in one basket.”

"Instead of being discovered by our sister and then scrambling to evacuate the people of Asgard, it's better to get this group of people away safely first."

The fewer people there are, the easier it is for us to handle things, and even if a fight breaks out, the losses will be minimized.

Even if we are all defeated by Hela, at least a large number of Asgardians can be saved.

"Odin once said that the people are the foundation of Asgard, and Asgard is wherever the people are."

“I don’t remember my father saying that?” Thor asked in surprise.

"Hehe! Before asking that question, why don't you ask yourself how long it's been since you went home?"

Thor paused, speechless.

He hadn't been home for a long time, and Loki knew some arrangements that Loki didn't, so he really didn't have much to say about it.

"do you understand?"

“I admit you have a point,” Thor said in a deep voice, then changed the subject, “but you must have some ulterior motive, right?”

Loki grinned, then straightened his back. "The Asgardians on the ship need a leader, and I think no one is more suitable than me."

"As expected." Thor rolled his eyes speechlessly. "Loki, you really haven't changed at all."

"If you want to run away, just say so. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

"To correct you, it wasn't about fleeing; it was about arranging for people to be transferred to safe places."

The people of Asgard are my people too; I can't possibly use their safety to play pranks on them!

"Besides, Gaius is still on this spaceship!"

Even if I had some ulterior motives, what trouble could they possibly cause in front of him?

"Tch!" Thor scoffed. "You convinced me, brother."

However, this needs to be discussed with Banner, who is the captain of the ship.

“Of course, I definitely need to discuss it with him,” Loki said seriously. “Otherwise, why would I have come to you?”

"Where is Banner? Hasn't he come back yet?"

"You're back." Valkyrie walked over carrying a bottle of liquor, her face showing a mixture of bewilderment and envy.

Banner disembarked from the plane and escorted the newly arrived group of Asgardians onto the deck.

"What's wrong with you?" Thor asked, puzzled. "You seem distracted."

“Ask him,” Valkyrie said, pointing at Banner. “I’ve never seen such a freak in thousands of years.”

"Huh?" Thor glanced at the somewhat 'innocent' Banner and asked, puzzled, "Isn't it inappropriate to say that? Banner has a pretty good personality!"

He's a genius, the kind with seven doctoral degrees. Geniuses sometimes do unexpected things, which is actually quite normal.

"Normal? You use the word 'normal' to describe him?"

Loki's lips curled into a slight smile. "Looks like someone's true identity can't be hidden any longer. Was it particularly exciting to see that beast?"