Riiip!
Thanos tore off his shattered armor in one pull, leaving only a tattered shirt on his body.
"I suddenly feel rather fortunate—fortunate that you aren't the new Sorcerer Supreme, and fortunate that Ancient One didn't give you the Time Stone. Otherwise, collecting all six Infinity Stones would have become extremely difficult." Thanos sighed sincerely.
"You're right." Aaron nodded noncommittally. "If the Time Stone were in my hands, I could style on you to death in minutes."
"But I don't want to be any Sorcerer Supreme!
Having to protect Earth and the Time Stone is one thing, but there isn't even the slightest compensation.
That isn't even the worst part. The worst part is that I'd gradually become deeply bound to the Vishanti. Who knows, by the end of it, I might even end up sacrificing my soul."
"I'm not noble enough to sell myself into unpaid labor just to protect Earth."
Strange: ...
A dull thud suddenly rang out. Aaron and Thanos both turned toward the sound and saw the incomparably massive Fire Giant fall to the ground.
"Hela?
No, not Hela." Aaron noticed the rapidly vanishing shadow around Surtur's ankle and raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Was that Loki?"
"Loki." Thor, who had retreated to the Bifrost, stared at his pale-faced brother in disbelief. "Did you do that?"
"Shadow magic. That's my specialty." Loki spoke smugly, though the cold sweat on his forehead and his constantly twitching eyelids showed just how exhausted he was.
"Are you okay?" Thor asked worriedly.
"My magic is exhausted. I'll be fine after a short rest."
"You don't look like you've merely exhausted your magic."
"I overdrawn it, all right? Seriously overdrawn." Loki forced himself to stay upright as he cursed.
"Nonsense. Your body won't be able to handle it."
"If I hadn't