I am still destiny

"Then I'll go with you."

Russell tilted his head slightly, a very faint smile curving his lips.

He didn't welcome you, didn't say you made a wise choice, and didn't say anything that came across as condescending or saccharine, typical of a victor.

Russell nodded casually, then turned to face the dark red Nebula above the Temple.

"Then let's go. First, come with me to meet the many people who walk this path."

He stretched out his hand, and a crack appeared in the space in front of him.

On the other side of the rift lies the familiar blue Planet.

Thanos strode towards the rift.

But he didn't go in immediately.

He stopped in front of the crack, turned around, and faced the direction of the Temple entrance.

"Wait a minute," Thanos said.

Russell paused, but didn't turn around.

What? You've changed your mind?

"No," Thanos shook his head, "But before I leave, I need to make things clear to some of my men, lest they still insist on their previous goals and course of action."

Having said that, he shouted sternly towards the outside of the Temple:

"Come in, everyone. I have something to say."

The Black Order.

They remained outside the Temple.

From the moment Russell entered the Temple and was discovered by them, the five of them had been on edge.

Corvus Glaive leaned against a pillar, gripping the Godslayer in his hand. Proxima Midnight stood beside him, her spear already raised, its tip always pointed towards the Temple.

The Cull Obsidian blocked the main entrance, its massive body resembling a moving wall.

The Supergiant hovered in mid-air, its Psychic Power perception fully activated, attempting to detect any unusual energy fluctuations within the Temple.

Ebony Maw stood at the farthest point, his hands behind his back, his face cold and stern, his icy eyes fixed on the entrance to the Temple.

Every single one of them was on edge, waiting for Thanos's command.

Now there's finally new progress.

Upon hearing Thanos's voice, Ebony Maw was the first to enter the Temple.

His steps were steady and restrained, his face revealing no emotion, but his fingers trembled slightly as his mental senses frantically swept across the Temple, trying to determine Thanos's safety and find any information that could be used.

But he found nothing.

Thanos stood calmly before the Throne.

Russell stood in the center of the Temple, hands in his pockets, his expression casual.

There were no signs of fighting between the two, no residual energy, and neither of them showed any signs of injury.

Ebony Maw's brow furrowed slightly.

Corvus Glaive followed behind, still clutching the Godslayer in his hand.

Proxima Midnight, the Cull Obsidian, and the Supergiant entered the Temple in turn, surrounding Russell again from five different directions.

Their demeanor was more cautious and vigilant than before.

Ebony Maw cleared his throat, preparing to speak.

"Your Majesty," he carefully chose his words, "This person has broken into your palace, and we..."

"Shut up."

Thanos's voice was deep and steady, but the weight of those two words made Ebony Maw feel as if something was stuck in his throat.

"Ebony Maw," Thanos asked, "How long have you been following me?"

Ebony Maw paused for a moment.

He hadn't anticipated this problem.

"It has been a long time, Your Majesty," he answered truthfully, "From the moment you conquered the first Galaxy, we have followed you."

"A long time," Thanos repeated, "You watched me destroy countless civilizations, watched me kill countless people, watched me take the Infinity Stones."

Ebony Maw did not answer, not understanding why the usually ruthless overlord was asking these questions.

Do you think what I did was right or wrong?

As soon as he finished speaking, the Temple fell into a deathly silence.

None of the Black Order dared to speak.

Corvus Glaive's gaze shifted back and forth between Thanos and Russell, Proxima Midnight lowered its spear slightly.

The Cull Obsidian's head was bowed, like a silent stone statue. The Supergiant's mental perception suddenly ceased, and she dared not probe any further.

I did a lot of things.

Seeing that none of his five subordinates answered, Thanos continued, his voice steady and heavy.

"I have destroyed advanced civilizations, killed many innocent people, and even pushed my own daughter to her death in order to obtain the Soul Stone."

Until five minutes ago, I thought I was saving the universe, I thought I was doing the right thing, and therefore all the sacrifices were worthwhile.

He turned around, his imposing figure and solitary back to the crowd.

"But I was wrong."

The eyes of the Black Order widened simultaneously.

"What?" Ebony Maw's voice betrayed disbelief for the first time.

"I was wrong," Thanos repeated. "The universe doesn't need half its population wiped out. Such destruction brings no balance. As Russell said, the universe needs to be built."

After he finished speaking, he turned back to face Russell.

"This is Russell, the guardian of Earth, the Omnipotent God. He defeated Knull and unified the Nine Realms."

He accomplished many things I couldn't do, and saw things I couldn't see.

He paused.

"From this moment forward, I hereby announce that I will be joining Russell's team."

The Temple was silent for a full three seconds.

Then Ebony Maw opened his mouth, and this Ebony Maw who was always calm, always restrained, and always calculating everything showed something close to collapse on his face.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out.

"Your Majesty," Corvus Glaive spoke first, his voice hoarse, "You mean..."

"You heard me perfectly well," Thanos interrupted him.

"From this day forward, I am no longer the conqueror, and you are no longer the Destroyer. Together we will join Russell as builders of cosmic civilization."

Proxima Midnight's spear slipped from his hand, striking the stone steps with a crisp metallic sound.

She didn't even bend down to pick it up; she just stood there, looked at Thanos, then at Russell, and then back at Thanos.

"Your Majesty," her voice trembled, "You... are you being controlled?"

Thanos glanced at her.

I am not being controlled.

"Then he must have done something to you." Ebony Maw finally found his voice.

His finger pointed at Russell, and for the first time, something bordering on fear appeared in his cold eyes.

"This is mind control, reality manipulation; he definitely used some methods we don't know about."

Your Majesty, you are never the type to join someone else's ranks. You never give up on your goals.

"Ebony Maw."

Thanos's voice was calm.

"I'm tired, can't I just enjoy myself?"

Ebony Maw's words were stuck in his throat.

"I've traversed countless star systems, killed countless people, and even sacrificed the one I loved most. And then what?"

Thanos looked down at his hands. "Then I obtained the Soul Stone, sat on this ruined Throne, and looked at my homeland, long since a thing of the past."

He looked up.

I really should change my way of life.

The Temple was completely silent. As Thanos's most powerful Black Order, they found it hard to believe that these words would come from his mouth.

"Russell told me something," Thanos continued, "He said there's a much larger world beyond this universe, and that if the resources of this universe aren't enough, then we should expand its capacity."

He paused.

"He's right." Thanos's voice was filled with determination.

"What did you do?" Ebony Maw turned to Russell, his voice almost squeezed out between clenched teeth.

"I didn't do anything," Russell shrugged. "He just decided to come with me."

"Impossible." Ebony Maw shook his head. "His Thanos wouldn't."

"Ebony Maw," Thanos interrupted him.

Ebony Maw turned his head.

"You've followed me for so many years," Thanos said calmly, "Have you ever seen me controlled? Have you ever seen me manipulated? Have you ever seen me bow my head before anyone's will?"

Ebony Maw did not answer.

"I am not controlled; I am still destiny."

Thanos's voice echoed in the Temple.