What If... Thanos Won?

"In countless realities, there are victories, and there are defeats. But what if the Avengers failed? What if the Mad Titan, Thanos, fulfilled his destiny and claimed the universe as his own? Let us bear witness to a universe where hope flickered, then faded into darkness."

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The Avengers stood on the shattered battlefield of Wakanda, their breaths heavy, their faces streaked with dirt and despair. The Infinity Gauntlet, adorned with all six stones, pulsed in Thanos' hand like a beating heart.

Thor, battered and bloodied, approached the Titan. Stormbreaker gleamed in his hand, the weapon still wet with the blood of Thanos' armies.

"You should have gone for the head," Thanos growled, his deep voice resonating through the chaos.

Thor's eyes widened as the Titan snapped his fingers. A deafening silence followed, and then… nothingness.

Half the universe disappeared in an instant. Cities fell quiet. Families were torn apart. The Avengers watched in horror as their comrades turned to dust before their eyes.

Steve Rogers knelt in the dirt, his shield discarded. His voice trembled as he whispered, "We lost."

Tony Stark stood motionless on Titan, staring at the empty space where Peter Parker had once been. "Kid… no," he muttered, his voice breaking.

On Earth, Wanda Maximoff cried out as Vision crumbled in her arms, his lifeless body already cold. Rocket clutched Groot's remnants, muttering, "Not again… not again…"

The universe was forever changed.

Years passed. The Earth adapted, though it was a shadow of its former self. Cities were overgrown with vegetation as humanity dwindled. The Avengers were broken, scattered across the remnants of a world they had failed to protect.

Natasha Romanoff led a small resistance, operating out of the ruins of the Avengers compound. Clint Barton, now fully consumed by his persona as Ronin, joined her, his soul darkened by the loss of his family.

"We keep fighting," Natasha said one night, her voice weary but determined. "If we don't, there's nothing left."

"Fighting for what?" Clint snapped. "Half the world's gone, Nat. And the other half's barely holding on."

"For what's left," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Meanwhile, in the far reaches of the universe, Thanos sat on a desolate world, his armor resting on a scarecrow. He watched the sunrise with a strange sense of peace, yet deep within, the echoes of his past haunted him.

Ebony Maw, one of the few Black Order members who survived, approached. "My lord, the balance has been achieved. But there are whispers of rebellion… of those who seek to undo what you've created."

Thanos' expression remained impassive. "They cannot accept salvation. Let them try."

Among the stars, Carol Danvers led a coalition of survivors, including remnants of the Kree and Skrull empires. She stood before a holographic display, reviewing reports of Thanos' whereabouts.

"We can't let him continue," she said, her fists glowing with energy. "We have to stop him, once and for all."

Bruce Banner, now fully merged with the Hulk's strength and his own intellect, nodded. "We might not have all the stones, but we can still make him pay."

The final confrontation came years later, on the same barren planet where Thanos had retreated. The resistance, led by Natasha, Clint, Carol, and Bruce, launched a desperate assault.

Thanos met them with his full might. The Infinity Gauntlet, though damaged, still radiated power.

"You come to me with scraps," Thanos said, his voice calm. "You fight not for survival, but for revenge. And that will be your undoing."

Natasha faced him head-on, her determination unshaken. "You took everything from us."

Thanos tilted his head. "I saved everything. You simply cannot see it."

The battle was fierce. Clint's arrows exploded against Thanos' defenses, while Carol's energy blasts lit up the battlefield. Hulk charged with a roar, grappling the Titan and momentarily gaining the upper hand.

But it wasn't enough. One by one, the resistance fell. Natasha, wounded but defiant, crawled toward the gauntlet, her hand inches from the stones.

Thanos caught her wrist, lifting her effortlessly. "You fight well, Black Widow. But your story ends here."

With a sickening crunch, he ended her life.

As the dust settled, Thanos stood alone once more. He gazed at the ruined world around him, his victory absolute. Yet there was no joy, no satisfaction—only silence.

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"In this universe, Thanos achieved his goal. But the cost was immeasurable. Balance does not bring peace, only emptiness. And in this reality, the universe will forever mourn the heroes who dared to fight for its soul."