Stronger

As Thanos and the old man faced each other, it was impossible to ignore the stark contrast between them. On one hand, there was Thanos, a towering titan recently enlightened about the existential veil cast over his true essence. His countenance echoed a rare kind of disquiet, his usually vivid blue eyes shadowed with the weight of new knowledge. Yet, his robust aura remained unscathed. It pulsed around him, a forceful manifestation of his strength and resilience.

Opposite him sat the elderly man known as Wu, his face adorned with a neutral smile. His energy was much softer, wrapped in layers of wisdom and age. The intensity of his gaze had shifted, a gleam of anticipation flickered, mirroring his thoughts. His fingers gently twirled around the ends of his long beard, a trait often observed when a mind spun with plans and strategies.

"I can see it in your eyes, you want to become stronger," the elder stated. Thanos, wrapped in his turmoil, gave a subtle nod. The old man went on, "I don't know why you're seeking strength, and I don't care either." He paused, taking a leisurely sip of his drink. As the liquid coursed down his throat, he released a contented sigh, "All I know is that I can make you stronger, and in exchange, you can get something for me."

"And what is the thing that even you cannot obtain?" Thanos questioned, his gaze piercing into Wu's eyes, a deep curiosity ignited within.

Wu's hand retreated from his cup to caress his beard, his gaze distant, as though he was reminiscing something from the past. His lips parted, and he uttered, "Something that your current self is too weak to take at the moment."

Before Thanos could interject, the elder abruptly materialized a strange piece of paper from thin air and handed it to the titan. Thanos' eyes scanned the contents, his brow furrowing as he read. The more he read, the more his breath became unstable. His internal voice chimed in, grumbling, 'This old fu*k wants our death, yeah, totally.'

Thanos finished reading and looked up at the Elder. Wu shrugged, his face adorned with a wistful look as he assured, "Don't misunderstand, you might not believe me, but I don't seek power." His tone bore a nostalgic touch, "This old man has already passed his prime, I only wish to get that 'thing' for someone that is worth 100... no a 1,000 times my life."

An uncomfortable silence settled over them. Thanos weighed the options, a storm of thoughts brewing within him. Breaking the silence, he finally voiced, "Let's say I accept, how exactly would you support my growth?"

A cackle bubbled from the old man's throat, his face breaking into a wide grin, eliciting another grumble from Thanos's inner voice, 'He's doing it again.' When his laughter subsided, he answered, "Everything."

The old man's usually soft gaze hardened as he elaborated, "I would give you all the support that my position as an Elder of the Heavenly Dragon Sect can afford. Not only that, but I will make you my disciple, meaning that you would receive exclusive rewards if you were to be acknowledged by the Sect."

As the Elder listed the advantages, Thanos found himself swayed, but one question lingered, "Is 'that' mission really that difficult?"

The Elder sighed, "Yes. That's why, even to this day, nobody came out alive."

Despite his initial concerns, Thanos mulled over the pros and cons, eventually deciding to accept the offer. He found the Elder's final words convincing, "I believe that if it's you, you might be able to do it. After all, you have that 'entity' behind you."

"I accept."

The titan finally declared.

This reply seemed to take Wu by surprise. He stopped twirling his beard and gave Thanos an appraising look, "That went easier than expected, I thought you would ask for more."

Thanos shrugged, a thoughtful gleam in his azure eyes. "You already said it," he began, his voice steady and resolute, "I need power, and you can provide that for me. If I manage to succeed in your mission, I might even gain more powerful."

The elder, still smiling, reached out his hand. "Then it's a deal."

With a flick of his wrist, Wu materialized a book, a token, and a bracelet seemingly from thin air, offering them to Thanos. The items looked ordinary, yet a strange aura emanated from them, their simple appearance betraying their profound origin.

"The first step to power is knowledge," the old man began, pointing to the book. "These are the techniques, basics, and stances of our sect. As Xiao Yu told me about your amnesia, you'll need to start from the fundamentals."

Thanos took the book, his eyes scanning its worn leather cover. His fingers traced over the intricate dragon design embossed onto it, feeling the raw aura it gave off. The knowledge within these pages was his first step towards power.

Next, Wu gestured to the bracelet. "This artifact will mask your unique 'essence'," he explained, "To others, you will appear as a beginner in the first stage. As you grow stronger and advance in stages, it will change colors to reflect your progression."

This news made Thanos look at the bracelet with a new perspective. A simple accessory, yet it held the power to conceal his extraordinary identity. It was a perfect shield in a world he barely understood.

Finally, Wu pointed towards the token. "This is my personal emblem," he stated, a hint of pride seeping into his voice. "Present this to anyone within our territory, and you will be treated with the respect deserving of my disciple. It is also your ticket to being acknowledged by the sect."

Taking the token, Thanos turned it over in his hand. It was lightweight, but he could feel the authority it held. Holding it made him feel like he was a step closer to his goal, an anchor in the turbulent seas of power.

As the old man finished explaining, Thanos sat silently, absorbing the weight of what was being offered. He was no stranger to power, but this... This was something else. The path was set before him, fraught with danger and uncertainty, but promising the potential for unimaginable strength.

Wu broke the silence, his tone filled with anticipation, "It's been a while since I've taken on a disciple. Are you ready to receive my teachings?"

Thanos nodded, clenching his fist over his heart in a gesture of greetings. "Yes."

"Yes, who?" the elder prompted, his eyes glinting with mischievousness.

It took a moment for Thanos to reply. This was new territory for him, but he knew the weight his words carried. Finally, he responded, "Yes... Master."

A peal of laughter burst forth from the old man, the sound reverberating in the quiet room, "Very good! Haha!"

In the recesses of Thanos' mind, the voice sighed and shook its non-existent head, 'tsk tsk. Shame on you, man.' However, Thanos dismissed it. He had made his choice, and he would walk this path, no matter what awaited him. For he was Thanos, and he would not be deterred from his quest for power.