Chapter 6

Temple One's engines roared back to life.

Deep in the engine room, pale blue energy flared from the antimatter cores, filling the massive chamber with an eerie glow. Towering machines rumbled as power surged through them, bringing the once-damaged ship back online.

Ebony Maw exhaled, watching as the last of the engines stabilized.

"That was the final one," he murmured. "If the battle had reached the engine room, we wouldn't be standing here."

Behind him, Nebula's voice cut through the silence.

"Ebony Maw, are you really going to serve that guy?"

Her tone was sharp, filled with barely restrained frustration.

Ebony Maw didn't even turn around. His telekinetic grip snapped around Nebula's body, lifting her off the ground effortlessly.

"Stupid girl," he said, his voice calm but laced with superiority. "Did you not see? Do you not understand?"

Nebula struggled but didn't speak.

"He killed Thanos."

Those three words carried weight—undeniable, unshakable.

Ebony Maw's expression remained unreadable as his power tightened, forcing a crackle of sparks from Nebula's cybernetic limbs. "That alone proves there is no one else in the universe who can stand above him."

He released her, letting her drop lightly to the floor.

"Serve him well," he continued, stepping past her. "Or you'll end up like Black Dwarf."

Nebula said nothing as she watched him leave. Her fists clenched at her sides, but in the depths of her cybernetic eyes, a flicker of electricity danced.

After a long pause, she turned and followed him out.

---

The Dark Quadrant was restless.

A massive metallic planet hung in the void, its surface covered in an endless sea of towering spires and war factories.

At its center stood a colossal palace, built in Thanos' image, a fortress that had once commanded fear across the universe.

Now, it had become a meeting place for betrayal.

Inside, a thin, robed figure sat upon a throne of black steel. His ashen face remained still as sharp fingers drummed against the armrest.

Corvus Glaive.

Leader of the Black Order.

A dim holographic projection flickered before him—a live transmission intercepted from Temple One.

On the screen, the impossible was unfolding.

Thanos' lifeless body, sprawled across the floor of his own warship.

Lin Fan sitting on his throne.

Corvus stared, silent. He had known Thanos to be a god of war, an unstoppable force who had crushed entire civilizations with nothing but his will.

And now?

Dead.

He leaned back, expression unreadable, before slowly turning toward the two figures standing before him.

Proxima Midnight, his ever-loyal companion, stood at his side, her glowing spear humming faintly with power.

And across from them, Supergiant, her form rigid, her mind sharp.

Tension filled the chamber.

Corvus finally spoke, his voice low and cold.

"Thanos is dead."

The words sent a shockwave through the room.

Supergiant stiffened. "How is that possible?"

Without a word, Corvus flicked his hand toward the hologram.

The image of Thanos' corpse loomed over them.

Supergiant's breath caught in her throat. Even now, her mind refused to accept it. Thanos couldn't die.

And yet, there he was.

Corvus leaned forward slightly, a slow smirk forming. "Are you afraid?"

Supergiant said nothing.

He chuckled, his voice like rust scraping against metal. "I have waited for this day."

His fingers curled over the hilt of his black glaive, the weapon that had earned him his name.

"The Dark Quadrant belongs to me now."

Proxima Midnight took a step forward, her spear flickering ominously.

Supergiant felt the weight of their combined presence—a warning, a threat.

Corvus' voice dropped to a whisper, deadly and certain.

"Tell me, Supergiant… you will support me, won't you?"

The chamber fell silent.

The Dark Quadrant had just lost one ruler.

And a new war for power had already begun.

---