Chapter 15: Lothar, Master of the Chitauri

The army descended upon the world.

Not long after General Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight led the First Legion to establish their presence on Chitauri Prime, the true mastermind of the Black Order arrived. The last of the Titan race, a being feared across the cosmos for his ruthless conquests—Thanos—stepped onto the war-torn surface, accompanied by his trusted general, Ebony Maw.

Lothar stood at attention alongside Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight, three of Thanos' most elite warlords. They gathered at the landing zone, awaiting the arrival of their adoptive father.

"You have not disappointed me, Lothar."

Clad in golden armor, Thanos strode down the ramp of his warship, his gaze sweeping over the ranks of Chitauri warriors kneeling in reverence. His expression bore no trace of doubt—only recognition of Lothar's accomplishments.

"And you two," he continued, turning toward Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight. "Your coordination with Lothar was flawless."

"This is our duty," Corvus Glaive replied, lowering his head in deference. Despite being the leader of the First Legion of the Black Order, he remained as humble before Thanos as he had been in the days of his first conquest.

"Come. Let us see what we have gained."

As Thanos advanced, his gaze fell upon a figure standing behind Lothar—The Other, the Chitauri who had pledged himself to the Titan's cause. Yet, Thanos said nothing to him.

The rhythmic clash of Thanos' boots against the metallic ground echoed through the halls. Surrounded by his warlords, the golden-armored conqueror disappeared into the depths of the Chitauri warship's command chamber.

Lothar had personally razed the Chitauri king's palace to the ground. In its absence, The Other had chosen the warship's command center—second only to the palace in authority—to serve as Thanos' reception hall.

Unlike the empty halls of the former throne room, the command center was packed with advanced technology, pulsating with energy.

"Please, Lord Thanos, take your seat."

The Other, ever the sycophant, bent at the waist, stepping aside to reveal a throne—once belonging to the Chitauri king, now offered without hesitation to either Lothar or Thanos.

To The Other, it hardly mattered which of them sat upon it. As long as he and his people could bask in the Titan's glory, their new allegiance was unquestionable.

Yet in his heart, The Other had already made his judgment. It would not be Thanos who sat upon the throne of the Chitauri—it would be Lothar.

Thanos had his own empire, his own citadel. He would not remain on Chitauri Prime for long. But Lothar…

Lothar was different. He had operated alone ever since being granted the freedom to conduct missions independently.

And so, The Other's prediction was soon proven correct.

Ascending the throne, the first decree from Thanos was to summon Lothar forward, placing him at his side. In the presence of the Black Order, Thanos declared that, from this day forward, the Chitauri Legion would fall under Lothar's command.

With that single proclamation, Lothar, once a lone warrior, had suddenly become the most well-supplied warlord within the Black Order.

The Chitauri might not have been the most formidable warriors, but their mindless obedience and sheer numbers made them a force feared by countless civilizations.

The Other could barely contain his excitement. His gamble had paid off spectacularly. Declaring his loyalty to Prince Lothar in front of the entire war council had been a stroke of foresight.

But Lothar himself…

He did not share in the celebration.

After the division of Chitauri Prime's resources was settled, the warlords and officers gradually dispersed. Corvus Glaive, Ebony Maw, and the rest exited the command center.

Lothar, however, remained standing beside the throne, his cold gaze watching the others depart.

"...Something troubles you, Lothar?"

Thanos did not miss the change in his son's demeanor. He knew Lothar well enough to recognize when his thoughts were elsewhere.

"Father. I do not need the Chitauri," Lothar stated plainly. His tone was devoid of gratitude, his expression one of veiled disdain.

To him, these so-called warriors were nothing more than cannon fodder.

"You do not need the Chitauri?" Thanos echoed, arching a brow.

"I do not need weaklings holding me back," Lothar said, his voice firm.

Even the Chitauri's monstrous war-beasts, their greatest biological weapons, had crumbled before him. To him, they were useless.

Thanos exhaled, his deep voice carrying both amusement and patience.

"Lothar, this universe is vast."

Rising from the throne, he raised his right hand—

And snapped his fingers.

The room plunged into darkness. Then, in the blink of an eye, a breathtaking projection of the cosmos illuminated the space, reflected in Lothar's sharp gaze.

"It is too vast for you to do everything alone, no matter how powerful you may be," Thanos said. "Even I once thought as you do."

"You are proud, Lothar. That pride is your strength. It is what I admire most about you."

"But do not let it blind you."

Thanos had walked this path before. He had made his mistakes. Now, he sought to prevent Lothar from repeating them.

"Consider carefully… Are the Chitauri truly useless to you?"

More importantly—Thanos' eyes locked onto his son's—

"You are my heir, Lothar. That means you will never be alone. Someday, you must learn to command an army as I do. Just as Ebony Maw and the others serve me, one day, warriors will serve you."

He snapped his fingers again.

The cosmic projection faded. The lights returned.

"War is not won through assassinations alone, Lothar. Do you understand?"

Hands clasped behind his back, Thanos took the first step in molding his son into a true warlord.

Lothar's tail swayed behind him, his face betraying no emotion.

But deep within his mind, he began to consider his father's words.

What use could the Chitauri serve? How could he wield them?

As mere cannon fodder?

That was the first thought that surfaced.

As Thanos had said, Lothar had always operated alone. If he was to evolve, his mindset needed to change.

Assassination honed his personal strength. But commanding an army—

That would allow him to fully absorb the lessons he had learned at his father's side.

A synthesized voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

"Prince Lothar, it is time for your immersion in the Fountain of Life."

A blue holographic feline materialized from Lothar's wrist device, bowing slightly. "Woz has completed the necessary preparations based on the instructions."

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