The Rainbow Bridge spanned the universe, carrying everyone from Xandar back to Himinbjorg in Asgard.
Skurge, temporarily filling in for Heimdall as guardian of the Rainbow Bridge, watched as everyone emerged from its light in grim, dejected silence.
Tony Stark's Nano Armor seeped back into his body from the surface like a swarm of ants as he stepped off the Rainbow Bridge, his expression heavy.
Steve Rogers let out a breath, wearily slinging his shield onto his back, his gaze steady.
Clint Barton flicked his right hand, folded up his compound bow, and hung it over his back, his face solemn.
Natasha Romanoff, Pietro Maximoff, Wanda Maximoff, Stephen Strange, Bruce Banner, Star-Lord Peter Quill, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Mantis, Thor, and the others emerged one after another from the Rainbow Bridge's light.
Loki came out last, casting a subtly strange glance over the crowd as he gloomily began planning his next move.
The Loki aboard Thanos's mothership had been a duplicate he released, carrying the Space Stone as a gift to Thanos.
There was no way his real body would remain on Thanos's mothership.
Especially since he knew of a future in which Thanos had killed him.
The Space Stone had to be given to Thanos. It was useless in Loki's hands; he did not believe he could wield power capable of briefly contending with He-El, as his father Odin had.
He could only give the Space Stone to Thanos and make him abandon his plans to attack Asgard.
Of course, driving the wolf to devour the tiger and reaping the rewards while Thanos and He-El fought, keeping Asgard out of this war over the Infinity Stones, was also what Loki wanted.
"The only thing left to do now... is protect Asgard." Having resolved the crisis of Thanos