Hundreds of footprints run across the sands of a dry planet. They were the footsteps of a tired purple seeker, who was only anxious to recover what he had lost.
Finally after several hours of searching, he saw the cursed android that stole the Reality Stone from him a couple of meters away. But he was not alone, in front of him stood a small tree and a young man who was familiar to the seeker.
The two subjects said goodbye to the robot and climbed into the ship. Quickly, they left the atmosphere, leaving the android alone. The latter left the place, probably heading back to his village to report the victory against the Hel-Vulker.
The purple seeker, with extreme caution, approached the android's back and, with a blunt blow, knocked him down. He grabbed it by the neck and looked it straight into its mechanical eyes.
-Where's the Stone, robot?" he asked.
-You're too late, Troll. Groot and Nova took it.
-Nova?" the Titan looked at the floor, thinking, "Is he still alive?
-That's right, and he's looking for a "Thanos"," the android reported.
-He took my Stone, and what's more, he wants to kill me with it," the seeker exploded in fury.
-Are you Thanos?
-Where were you headed, machine?
- I won't tell you.
The Titan released the android and asked him if he had made the Reality Stone radar. The android replied that he had not; he was its creator. The seeker congratulated him for such a good job.
-But how did he get the parts for this great artifact on such a scarce desert planet," asked the Titan. The robot did not know how to answer.
-That means your creator is an interplanetary collector... that's how he got your parts? Collecting on other worlds? That means he has a ship..." he continued.
-Yes, why?" answered the robot, uncertainly. The seeker saw on his radar the course of the Reality Stone.
-Your creator's ship will take me back to the battle..." The android understood everything.
The android understood everything that was happening. He tried to flee from the place but Thanos grabbed his leg and slammed him to the ground. Subsequently, he stepped on his head, crushing it and leaving thousands of nuts and bolts on the floor.
The Mad Titan left the place, looking for the Ship to return to Earth to recover what Sam Alexand'r and the Avengers stole from him and, mainly, to eliminate them.
T'Challa and Shuri arrived on a dark, shadowy planet. An eclipsed sun illuminated the place. A great cliff could be seen in the distance. So high that clouds and fog covered the peak of it.
- Is this where it is? - T'Challa asked, surprised.
-According to the radar, yes," Shuri answered and they decided to move forward.
When they reached the top of the cliff, the surroundings were very dark and quite ruinous.
-Welcome," a rough voice interrupted them. Quickly, the brothers prepared to attack. A spectral figure emerged from the darkness. The dim, natural light of the planet reveals that it is Steve Rogers, in an ash-black tunic, who comes a little closer.
- T'Challa and Shuri, children of Ramonda and T'Chaka. - announced Steve, guardian of the Soul Stone. The duo were surprised to see a familiar battle partner to them, but they understand that it is a version from another Universe that was stuck there.
Steve Rogers guides them to the end of the mountain and the beginning of the deep cliff. He explains to them that to obtain the Stone they must sacrifice that which they love, in an eternal cosmic exchange.
The brothers shared a look of concern and stared into each other's eyes. They both immediately understood what this meant.
Meanwhile, there was an Asgardian Axe lying on the Wakandan floor. Carol Danvers was watching it with a nostalgic look. As she watched it, she threw tulip petals at it in honor of her husband Thor. She realized that in this Universe he had died and she might not be able to return to her World.
From the other side of the Wakandan energy barrier, a ship arrived discreetly. Alternate Danvers noticed this and rose from the log where she was sitting.
An imposing figure stepped down from the ship. Thanos approached the barrier and stared at Danvers. She looked up at him superiorly, as Thanos' physical state was not the best since he had been traveling for several days until he reached Earth.
Danvers wondered who he was. Thanos quickly sensed that this woman was not an ally of the Avengers, for if she were, she would have attacked him or called the other members. Furthermore, the Titan saw in her eyes that she had a great resentment towards them, as he had that look in his eyes as well.
Having the look of a fierce warrior, Thanos decided to form an alliance with Carol. She told him everything that happened. But she doesn't want to fight the Avengers, she just wants to return to her Universe and return the Time Stone to Thor.
Thanos understands and offers her a deal: If she helps him get them, he will return her to his Universe with the six Infinity Stones for Thor. Carol accepts the bargain. She opens the energy barrier of a lightning bolt from her fist and Thanos crosses it, entering Wakanda.
In Vormir things were still complicated. After a long pause in silence, T'Challa approaches the ravine, looking at it briefly.
-What is this all about? - reproached the Wakandan king against Steve. -You are Captain America, the symbol of the heroic values and motivation of the American people. -
Steve explains that the identity known as "Captain America" had disappeared a long time ago. Now he is only a guide for those who wish to obtain the Stone.
- No sacrifice, no Stone," stressed the Guardian. T'Challa approached his sister, who was sitting on a rock analyzing some plan.
-Maybe she's making it all up," said T'Challa.
- No. I don't think so.
-Why does he know our parents' names?
Shuri looked her brother in the eye, trying to make him understand:
-If we don't get that Stone, all the effort we put in will be for nothing.
-That's what it's all about. Bringing everyone back. I'm going to jump," replied Black Panther.
-Oh, don't get decent with me now," Shuri replied, annoyed.
-What, you think I want to do that?
-I'm trying to save your life, you idiot. Let me do it, brother.
- Dying is easy, Shuri.
-You're a pain in my ass, you know that," she replied.
-Then I guess we both know who should jump," T'Challa looked her in the eye. Suddenly, he knocked Shuri down with his spear before running off towards the cliff.
-Tell Mom I love them.
-Tell her yourself," Shuri replied. As she stood up, she fired a blast wave that knocked him down.
She ran towards the cliff but the king speared her with his spear and they were both left on the edge of the cliff. T'Challa slowly gets up, heading for the ravine. He turns around to see his sister; he knew what was going to happen.
-Wakanda forever," whispered T'Challa and, with tears in his eyes, he falls off the cliff. Thus making the sacrifice of the Soul Stone concrete. Not only for the greater good of mankind, but truly for his friends; which was the heart and reason for it.
The sky lights up orange, the clouds open up, a glow sweeps across the sky.
When the light fades, Shuri lies floating in a puddle on the other side of the planet. Confused, she sits up and opens her hand to see the Soul Stone. She realizes that her brother sacrificed himself, saving her, and begins to cry with a great emptiness inside her.
Shuri returns to the base. The heroes were gathered, but noticed that not everyone returned. The initial enthusiasm for having succeeded in most of the missions, quickly turns to sadness and bitterness over the death of T'Challa and the lack of the other three heroes.
Wanda and Shuri were sitting at the end of a narrow plank bridge on the shore of a small gray lake. The sun was peeking through the trees. Wanda understands Shuri's suffering as she too lost a precious one that she will never get back.
Meanwhile, Daredevil and Punisher reunite and embrace. Drax and Mantis also do the same with little Groot. Bucky and Sam are happy to see each other again and be able to survive the missions successfully. They were all fortunate not to have met the same fate as Shuri and T'Challa.
Moments later, the heroes are gathered in the room looking at the six rings with the five Stones on the table.
-So, when the others return with the Stone of Power, who will snap their fingers? - Drax asked.
-We need someone who can withstand such energy that he could shut down the sun," Bucky continued.
-And someone who can regenerate after that," suggested Mantis, chagrined. The attention of the others was focused on her idea. She quickly looked to Groot. Groot saw her confidently, ready to accept that challenge.
The other members of the team didn't look very convinced, but agreed that Groot should be the one to do it, since they understand the magnitude of what will happen.
Wanda, who was sitting quite tense, saw among all the mess on the table and next to Peter Parker's backpack, a small piece of paper on top of it. It was a card: Doctor Strange's card that Peter left there. Wanda takes it and sees the address of the Sanctum Sanctorium.
-Then I'll have to get the help myself," Wanda replied. Quickly, she took her red tiara and put it on her forehead as she walked towards the door.
-Wait, Wanda, where are you going? - asked Mantis, escorting her to the exit.
-Mantis, remember: wait for the sunset and when the sun goes down, watch the west," said Wanda. She opened the door and left in a hurry. The other heroes were confused.
-What are we going to do now? asked Frank.
-Get ready," answered Bucky, turning on his holographic shield. We have to wait for the guys to give us the signal when they have the Stone.
Groot noticed a strange presence, then, he raised his head towards the windows. A shadow covered all the light entering the room.
Suddenly, a loud explosion hit the building as Shuri was about to return them. Within seconds, the building was destroyed by hundreds of explosions.