The golden wing-shaped ship appeared amidst spatial ripples.
It hovered steadily at the end of Asgard's reconstructed Bifrost Bridge.
Lin Huai ignored the shouting of Quill and the others inside the medical pod.
He walked straight to the main console, the Space Stone on his left hand shining with a deep blue light.
A massive circular portal expanded outside the ship.
On the other side of the door was the Asgard currently under reconstruction.
"Alright, wounded and guests, we have reached our destination."
His voice rang out calmly within the cabin.
Steve and Dr. Banner supported the unconscious Tony, leading him off the ship.
The surviving members of the Guardians of the Galaxy also helped each other off the ship.
Quill, Rocket Raccoon, and Drax limped along, looking quite pathetic.
They looked at the sacred and solemn Heavenly Palace before them, momentarily forgetting their pain, staring in awe.
Frigga had already been waiting there with a medical team.
"Mentor, where is this?"
Thor looked at Lin Huai, his face full of confusion.
"Settle them in first."
Lin Huai did not offer much explanation.
He watched the medical team take the wounded away, then turned to Frigga.
"I still have matters to attend to."
"Asgard is safe for now."
"I will return as soon as possible."
Having said that, he didn't wait for a reaction before his figure vanished in the light of the Space Stone.
He instantly returned to Vormir, that dead Planet shrouded in blood-colored nebulae.
He restrained all his aura, silently lurking in the shadows of the mountains.
His gaze pierced through the thin atmosphere.
He looked far off at the behemoth hovering in orbit, Sanctuary II.
Thanos's flagship had not yet left.
Lin Huai was very patient.
He waited for the moment the prey relaxed.
On the bridge of Sanctuary II.
Thanos sat on his cold throne, chin resting on one hand, his purple face showing no emotion.
But the oppressive air within the bridge signaled the inner fury of this cosmic overlord.
His daughter Gamora had been rescued right under his nose by a group of what he considered vermin.
And his greatest objective, the Soul Stone, had slipped through his fingers because of it.
"Master."
Ebony Maw knelt on one knee, his voice trembling slightly.
"We... have lost track of that ship."
"Gamora's signature has also disappeared."
Supergiant added.
Thanos said nothing.
After a long while, he slowly stood up from his throne.
He walked to the viewport, looking down at the desolate, blood-colored Planet below.
His eyes were deep and cold, as if calculating the chessboard of the entire Universe.
"Earth."
He uttered a single word.
"That man named Lin Huai, and those rebels, all come from there."
Ebony Maw immediately understood his Master's intention.
"You mean... we go to Earth?"
"They took my daughter and ruined my plans."
Thanos slowly turned, his gaze sweeping over each of his subordinates.
"Find Earth for me."
"I will use the lives of every living being on that Planet to trade back my daughter and the stone that should have been mine."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable will.
"As you command, my Master."
Ebony Maw bowed his head deeply.
Soon, the massive Sanctuary II changed direction, its engines at the stern spewing deep blue flames.
It tore through space and vanished into the ripples of a warp jump.
...
After confirming Thanos's flagship had vanished at the edge of the Star sea, Lin Huai stepped out from the shadows of the mountains.
Now, this desolate Planet would become his personal theater.
He raised his hand, tearing open a spatial rift in front of him.
Two sleeping figures were bound by invisible energy.
They were dragged out of the rift and fell heavily onto the blood-colored sand.
They were none other than the two most capable generals under Thanos, Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight.
"Actors in place."
Lin Huai looked at the couple captured at Nidavellir, a cold smile appearing.
"Next, the audience and... the director's assistant."
He closed his eyes, his spirituality reaching into the gaps of history.
A moment later, four blurry figures slowly took shape before him.
Leading them was a young woman.
She had long flaxen hair, clear eyes, and a noble, elegant temperament.
It was Justice Audrey.
At her Sequence 5 Dreamwalker stage, she was more than capable of guiding a perfect psychological drama.
The other three were Sun Derrick, Moon Emelyn, and Star Leonard.
These three projections, also at Sequence 5 or Sequence 6, would play the role of invincible pursuers.
"Miss Justice."
Lin Huai gave instructions to Audrey's projection in Ancient Hermes Language.
The complex script was instantly instilled through a spiritual connection.
"Your task is not to converse with her, but to dive into her mind."
"At her most vulnerable moment, amplify her love and distort her sorrow."
"Make her firmly believe that following in her husband's footsteps is the greatest end for love."
Audrey's projection performed an elegant curtsy, a flash of understanding in her eyes.
"As you wish, Mr. World."
"As for you three."
Lin Huai turned his gaze to the other three.
"Hunt them down. Make sure to appear cruel, powerful, and invincible."
"Drive them... to the edge of the cliff at this altar."
Having arranged everything, Lin Huai's figure slowly faded, completely hiding in the void.
He lightly snapped his fingers.
The energy binding Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight dissipated.
The play officially begins.
...
An unknown amount of time passed.
Proxima Midnight woke up slowly in a piercing chill.
She looked around blankly.
Blood-red sky, desolate mountains, where is this...?
Weren't they captured at Nidavellir?
"General... General!"
She discovered with horror that her beloved husband was lying not far away.
He had a hideous wound on his chest, and his breath was weak.
She scrambled over, trembling as she shook his body.
"Wake up! Darling! Wake up!"
At her call, Corvus Glaive let out a groan of pain and slowly opened his eyes.
"Proxima..."
Seeing his wife safe and sound, a flash of relief crossed his eyes, which was immediately replaced by vigilance.
"Where... are we?"
"I'm not sure either. I was being hunted by three people as soon as I woke up. Let's go, we have to leave quickly."
Just as Proxima Midnight was trying to figure out the situation, three powerful auras descended from the sky.
A youth whose whole body radiated a purifying glow like the Sun.
An elegant and pale noble.
A young man with sharp eyes.
"Found you, Thanos's lackeys."
Sun Derrick's voice was devoid of emotion.
Corvus Glaive pulled his wife behind him, gripping the Warblade that was linked to his life.
"Go!"
He growled and charged forward.
A brutal and one-sided hunt unfolded.
Corvus Glaive dragged his heavily injured body, fighting as he retreated.
Every time he swung his Warblade, he was buying time for his wife.
Proxima Midnight followed closely behind, her heart burning with anxiety, yet powerless to change the battle.
The enemies' strength was beyond her imagination.
They were driven and pursued, with nowhere to run.
Finally, they were forced to the end of the mountain peak.
Ahead was a bottomless Abyss.
Behind was the closing-in God of Death.
"Ha... ha..."
Corvus Glaive knelt on one knee, leaning on his Warblade.
Black blood dripped continuously from the corner of his mouth.
He looked back at his despairing wife, a flash of determination in his eyes.
"Proxima, I'll hold them off."
He stood up, holding the cracked Warblade across his chest.
He turned his back to his wife, blocking the only path with his body.
"Jump down. There might be a way to live."
"No! I never will!"
Proxima Midnight let out a shrill cry.
"If we die, we die together!"
"Fool!"
Corvus Glaive roared.
"Jump! You still have a slim chance! For me... live on!"
Having said that, he ignored his wife behind him, let out a roar, and charged.
There was no suspense in the outcome of the battle.
Under the solar youth's purifying sword of light, the Warblade in Corvus Glaive's hand shattered inch by inch.
His body was also completely consumed by that holy fire.
At the final moment of dissipating, he turned and used all his strength to give his wife a gentle smile.
"Live... on..."
"No—!"
Proxima Midnight knelt on the ground.
She watched helplessly as her lover turned to ash, letting out a heart-wrenching wail.
Her World completely collapsed at this moment.
And it was at this time.
A gentle voice, full of pity and understanding, rang in the depths of her soul.
[Look, he gave everything for you.]
[To let you live, he embraced death alone.]
Proxima Midnight's wailing gradually stopped.
She was drawn in by this sudden thought.
[How tragic, how great this love is.]
[His sacrifice has made his love eternal.]
Yes... he did it for me... it was for me that...
Tears of emotion welled up in the female Warrior's eyes.
[But he walked that cold road all alone.]
[Can you really bear it?]
[Are you going to let this great love end here, separated by life and death?]
No... I can't bear it...
Proxima Midnight's breathing became rapid.
Her thoughts were being completely guided by Audrey's psychological suggestion.
[Death cannot separate you.]
[Death will only allow your love to be sublimated, to receive eternal witness.]
[Look at that Abyss; it is the home of souls, the holy land that witnesses eternal love.]
[Jump.]
[Go catch up with his footsteps; your souls will be united there forever, and nothing will ever separate you again.]
[Complete this final and greatest sacrifice... for love.]
Proxima Midnight slowly stood up.
She stared blankly at the cliff before her.
She seemed to see Corvus Glaive's soul at the bottom of the Abyss, opening his arms and waiting for her tenderly.
The despair and sadness on her face faded.
It was replaced by a determined yet happy smile.
She walked step by step to the edge of the cliff.
She opened her arms to embrace her lover.
"I'm coming, General."
She leaped, with a satisfied smile, throwing herself into the endless Darkness.