"You can never defeat me, boy! I am the destroyer of all falsehoods, the executioner of all life—I am Thanos!"
In the shattered universe, Thanos spoke coldly to the frail boy, who was being held by the neck in his hand like a duck.
The victor had been decided. Though the young man had courage, he lacked combat experience. He did not understand that the first burst of effort was strongest, the second weaker, and the third exhausted.
Though rage had driven Thanos mad, even fighting on instinct alone was beyond Zane's ability to handle. He had been using defensive counterattacks all along. It was only recently, when his rebellious son showed signs of fatigue and panicked over the deaths of Ebony Maw and the others, that Thanos finally revealed his true skill.
Not only had he shattered the Pocket Dimension they occupied with a single punch, he had even blasted a small opening in the higher-level, flat Multiverse.
That blow had knocked Zane's jaw clean off. This little Purple Sweet Potato could only make muffled whimpering sounds now, unable to form complete words.
"Mmgh!"
No one knew what he was saying, but the grief and fury in his eyes made it clear he was probably cursing.
Unfortunately, Zane was too young. He did not know many swear words. Otherwise, he should have been making a long string of muffled noises.
Thanos merely gave a cold smile and said nothing more. Instead, he suddenly exerted both hands and snapped Zane's neck as the other struggled desperately.
Although his rebellious son still wanted to launch a Jedi counterattack, clawing at Thanos's arm with both hands while frantically kicking his father in the chest, it was useless. No matter how hard he struck, space was soundless, and his attacks vanished without effect.