Instant Kill

"Marvel's Magnetic Field Rotation"

Thanos's invasion was faster than expected. Sanctuary II, as Thanos's space base, was an absolute fortress. It was enormous, large enough to accommodate a large number of spaceships and warships, and had a massive number of soldiers capable of launching human wave tactics.

In Avengers: Endgame, the Sanctuary II from another timeline underwent modifications to meet the requirements of miniaturization and reduce the impact of shape changes on life forms. As a result, its firepower was reduced to only the missiles on the bow and the energy cannon matrix on the sides of the ship. The star-destroying ion cannons, ground-to-ground bombardment systems, and orbital bombardment systems were all removed to make room for the life support system. This is why the Sanctuary II in Avengers 4: Endgame was such a small-scale production. It's definitely not because the director didn't understand science fiction and war.

With the Reality Stone at its core, the outer space defense network designed by Wei Xiuming was already capable of withstanding a certain level of main starships. However, under the bombardment of Sanctuary II, a first-class war fortress in the universe, it only bought Earth half an hour, and the Reality Stone even fell directly into the hands of the Mad Titan.

Half an hour wasn't even enough time for high- United States officials and dignitaries to evacuate the danger zone, because, unfortunately, Thanos chose to descend upon New York.

The United States, a country plagued by disasters, has once again been visited by aliens. It remains to be seen whether it can, like in countless Hollywood movies, repel an alien army with interstellar travel capabilities using technology that hasn't even left the atmosphere.

The answer is no. A single salvo from Sanctuary II leveled the entire city of New York, with only a few buildings remaining intact—such as Stark Tower, which had been fitted with an energy shield after the Chitauri invasion, and the Sanctum Sanctorum in New York.

In this first wave of attacks, the human ground forces were completely wiped out. Whether it was tanks and armored vehicles, the stripped-down Iron Man suit sold by Stark to the military, or the numerous firing positions set up based on the terrain, everything was rendered useless.

This tactic was developed by the United States military based on the military structure of the Chitauri. After the war, the military sent a team to conduct a questionnaire survey among the survivors. After discovering that they could shoot down alien soldiers with small pistols, they believed that this level of response was completely sufficient.

But they didn't realize that Thanos was willing to sacrifice an army as a result of strategic planning and tactical deception that had been going on for years, so that when the invasion officially began, he would use a force to crush Earth.

After all, the Chitauri army was one of the worst armies in the entire universe, only good at bullying inferior civilizations that couldn't even leave their own planet's atmosphere. Their main purpose was to serve as a smokescreen.

Two Q-shaped spaceships detached from Sanctuary II and flew towards the Atlantic Ocean and the United States interior, respectively, which are the underground base where the Space Stone is hidden and the place where the Great Leader stores the Mind Stone.

The remaining four Black Order split into two groups, each carrying a portion of their forces, and boarded these two spaceships to retrieve the Infinity Stones for Thanos.

Then, one after another, landing craft were released by the Sanctuary II, with a large number of genetically synthesized Outriders being released, sweeping outwards like a tide, rapidly spreading from the ruins of New York in all directions.

This has always been Thanos's tactics: deploy thousands of space warships to bombard the enemy fleet, then destroy large ground military facilities with orbital cannons, then enter the atmosphere to carpet bomb important facilities, and finally land on the planet's surface to Outriders the enemy's ammunition and cut off the enemy's ground forces.

However, since the target is Earth, the preceding steps can be skipped; we can directly use the Outriders to clear the ground.

Because they are positioned as cannon fodder, the Outriders are only equipped with claws and fangs, and their physical strength is quite average due to the lack of resources allocated to them. However, their sheer numbers still make them a significant and effective factor in restraining the enemy.

Especially since Ultron recently caused a stir in the internet world, countries have locked down their nuclear weapons. Now, unlocking them requires a series of necessary procedures. The United States is willing to throw mushrooms at its own head, but it cannot effectively cause widespread damage.

This was also part of Thanos's plan. It was because of the Supergiant's Mind Stone suggestion and close contact with the Mind Scepter that Tony Stark's complete idea of Ultron appeared in his mind, enabling him to complete that massive project in a short time.

A teleportation beam sent Thanos, clad in golden Thanos and wielding a giant blade, to the ground. He would wait there for his admirals to deliver the Mind Stone and Space Stone to him. As for the holder of the Time Stone, he had already offered himself up.

The first to arrive was War Machine. Colonel Rhodes did not immediately join forces with the Avengers, but instead obeyed military orders and remained on guard around New York.

Because of his military background, Rhodey made specific demands regarding firepower when his friend Stark designed this suit of armor for him, requiring it to be able to provide sustained fire coverage of targets.

Therefore, apart from its basic mechanical and electronic structure, the War Machine armor's ammunition replenishment is entirely composed of Nanobots, making its size comparable to half of the Hulkbuster Armor.

However, Colonel Rhodes did not rush straight for Thanos. Compared to a tiny figure on the ground, the giant starship in the sky posed a greater threat.

Unfortunately, War Machine didn't Captain Marvel's incredible strength to pierce through a warship. Colonel Rhodes tested the armor's weapon systems—a quadruple cannon on his back, a high-powered shock beam generator on his chest, and directed energy weapons—but found they were completely unable to penetrate the energy shield of Sanctuary II.

Then came Tony Stark, who rushed over. Nick Fury sent him information about Thanos directly, so Iron Man didn't waste his time fighting the starship head-on. Instead, he aimed directly at Thanos, who was wearing gold armor, and after emptying the micro-storage missiles in his shoulder, he launched a precision-guided missile from his arm.

In the gaming world, he has mastered the technology of nanoarmor and successfully created it in the real world. Moreover, on his home turf, Earth, he has ample logistical support and the assistance of the artificial intelligence J.A.R.V.I.S..

However, his missile exploded on Thanos. Amidst the flames and smoke, Thanos only staggered back a step, a small patch of his armor blackened by smoke. The weapons produced by Stark Industries could not effectively kill him.

Thanos gazed at Iron Man, clenched his left fist, and unleashed a beam of energy from the ever-shining Power Stone on the Infinity Gauntlet, striking Iron Man precisely in mid-air. The Iron Man suit malfunctioned instantly, and he crashed into the ruins of a nearby building.

"Pfft!"

A magical longsword emerged from Thanos's Thanos and deliberately tumbled inside, attempting to damage his internal organs as much as possible.

Behind him, half of Strange's body emerged from the portal, the Sacred Sword of Vishanti in his hand piercing Thanos's heart—if the physiological structure of the Eternals, to which the Mad Titan belonged, was the same as that of humans, then this was true.

"You... you should... cut off my head."

Thanos, whose internal Thanos were half destroyed, spat out a mouthful of purple blood. Then, red light emanated from the Infinity Gauntlet, causing his body to dissipate into nothingness before reappearing on the ruins not far away.

He sat on a chair made of several concrete slabs, his long blade embedded in the ground, his helmet perched on the other end of the blade, while the Mad Titan himself watched Strange's performance with great interest.

"Guardian of the Time Stone, hand it over, and I will grant humanity a just trial, instead of simply killing them."

Thanos said that he meant it.

If Strange were to hand over the Time Stone, he would withdraw his army after collecting Six Infinity Stones, and then randomly wipe out half of all life in the universe with the Snap. Those half would turn to dust without realizing it, instead of dying in pain and fear as they are doing now.

Strange, clad in green armor, said, "But... I refuse."

The sacred sword in his hand transformed into a gun, firing a volley of magical bullets at Thanos.

However, the shield formed by the Power Stone blocked Thanos's attack.

"Thank you for your long journey to deliver this gem to me, Earthling. As a favor, I will spare your life until judgment," Thanos said with a cold laugh as he appeared behind Strange. His control over the Reality Stone was now unparalleled.

After saying that, Thanos Strange squarely in the head. With the power of the Power Stone, Strange's head flew out and plunged into the ruins.

Strange, who had just Thanos away, vanished from his spot once more. He remained seated, motionless, still observing the spectacle. The Reality Stone was merely a weapon in the hands of the Dark Elves; it only unleashed its true power when wielded by Thanos. It could create illusions at will, and until Thanos, the user, actively dispelled them, the illusions were undeniably real.

Powered by the Power Stone, the Reality Stone remained active. Thanos was like a director, freely crafting the plot he needed. However, he couldn't work on Time Stone, which was of the same level, and couldn't directly transfer it from Strange to his own hands by creating reality. He could only target the one who controlled it.

The armor Strange wore was made by the Great Leader himself, so its quality was guaranteed. When Thanos punched Thanos, Strange only suffered a shock to his brain. He was so well-trained that he didn't even faint. He was just a little dizzy, like he had spun around twenty times. He would recover after a while.

The magic Cloak pulled Strange from the rubble, and he immediately cast a spell, preparing to activate the Eye of Agamotto in his chest and use the power of the Infinity Stones counter their power.

However, compared to his long casting animation, Thanos used the Infinity Stones much more simply. He clenched his fist again, and the Soul Stone on the Infinity Gauntlet flashed, spreading out an orange wave.

Strange jolted awake, his chair sliding backward involuntarily. After a couple of seconds, he realized he was in his office; he had simply been too tired and had fallen asleep on his desk.

He had just finished a 16-hour surgery and was exhausted. He had planned to rest in his office while waiting for the General Tso's Chicken and fried noodles delivered by Panda Express, but he ended up falling asleep.

"That dream was so strange!"

Strange rubbed his temples; perhaps due to low blood sugar or lack of sleep, he felt a little dizzy.

"Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One, magic, Kent Clark, the Eye of Agamotto, Thanos..."

Everything that happens in the dream quickly fades away. Strange tries his best to recall, but can only remember a few vague words, as if they were very important, but he can't remember them clearly.

"Since you've misunderstood, then so be it. Even if I say I didn't do those things, you won't believe me."

On television, a press conference was underway, and a woman's voice with a peculiar English accent was speaking to the public. Strange looked up and saw that it was a person wearing strange armor. The headline read, "Latovinia Ambassador's Press Conference."

"Latovinia, a small country I've never heard of, has such a... peculiar ambassador?"

Strange was dismissive of what was happening on television; he was used to the absurdity of the world, but a strange unease stirred within him, as if something bad was about to happen.

"... If you believe it's because of me that they didn't die at the hands of aliens, then I'll take back the lives of eight million people."

"No... Christine!"

Strange roared, remembering the battle that had taken everything from him, and now it was just before it happened, but there was nothing he could do but hide under his desk and eke out a living.

Then the hospital building collapsed, and the light disappeared from Strange's sight.

When Strange woke up from his dream again, he realized he had just taken a nap at his desk...

In the real world, Strange stood frozen in place. Magic is released by the soul mobilizing magical power, and impacted by the Soul Stone, his soul entered a special state.

As the convergence point of the soul essence of all intelligent races in the universe, the Soul Stone has the ability to interfere with all souls, and its life story is one of its abilities.

Thanos used the Soul Stone to access one of the most painful events in Strange's life, then created a closed loop that continuously played out in Strange's soul, immersing him in endless suffering.

This is Thanos's curse on Strange.

By attaching the Power Stone to Strange's armor, the purple power instantly destroyed the armor, revealing the Eye of Agamotto on Strange's chest.

"The fourth Infinity Stones is mine."