Knowhere.
This renowned industrial district of the universe had become a sea of flames. Buildings and all kinds of equipment had collapsed and burned, turning into ruins.
Its master, The Collector, Taneleer Tivan, was disheveled, with obvious wounds on his face and a large foot pressed against his chest.
"You know what I want, Tivan.
Hand it over, and you won't have to suffer any more."
Tivan looked at the purple-glowing Power Stone on Thanos's Infinity Gauntlet. His pupils trembled slightly, but he still forced himself to say, "I told you, it isn't with me."
Thanos was clearly dissatisfied with that answer. He put a little more force into his foot, crushing Tivan's breastbone and making him cry out in pain.
"Really, I sold it," Tivan said with difficulty. "Why would I lie to you?"
"I think lying is in your nature." Thanos was unconvinced.
"That would be suicide."
"So you understand.
Even you wouldn't hand over something so precious."
"I said—"
"Found it, Master." Ebony Maw approached with a box in his hands, cutting Tivan off. "This Elder of the Universe is truly foolish. The treasure was in his office drawer. It took no effort at all to find."
Tivan: ...
"Maybe I remembered wrong."
Thanos ignored him. He took the red-glowing box and crushed it in his hand.
Fragments slid from his palm, leaving behind the red Reality Stone.
"The second one." Thanos picked up the Reality Stone and slowly set it into the groove on the ring finger of the Infinity Gauntlet.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle~
Red energy poured out from the Reality Stone and surged rapidly into Thanos's body.
Thanos clenched his fist and grunted as he absorbed the power. Only after several seconds did he calm down.
"Remarkable," Ebony Maw praised. "No one in the entire