Asgard

Beneath the golden ceiling of the Great Hall, a figure strode in with heavy steps, the sound of his boots echoing against the marble floor. A hammer, radiating divine power, rested in his hand. It was Thor, the God of Thunder.

He approached the throne where Odin sat, his one eye steady, ancient, and filled with weight. Dropping to one knee before the All-Father, Thor reported, his voice firm.

"Father, the rebellion in the north has been crushed. The remaining raiders are scattered and pose no threat."

Thor's tone carried both pride and respect. He was the mightiest warrior of Asgard, its frontline defender, and he often led missions to put down uprisings across the Nine Realms.

"There is no need for you to trouble yourself with such small matters," Odin replied, his deep voice resonant. "The warriors of Asgard can handle what remains. No, Thor… I have a far more important task that only you can undertake. One I cannot entrust to another."

Thor lifted his gaze, his expression sharpening. "What is it, Father?"

Odin leaned forward slightly, his eye gleaming with concern. "Just now, I sensed a disturbance. The ether stirred."

Thor blinked in confusion. "Ether? Do you mean the relic of the Dark Elves? How does that concern Midgard?"

Odin exhaled heavily, as though carrying the burden of centuries. "You are still young, Thor, and there are truths you have yet to understand. What you call the Aether is no mere relic. It is, in fact, the Reality Stone—one of the fabled Infinity Stones. Its power can unmake creation itself. And now… it trembles. I fear this means the other Stones are being affected. That is why I must send you to Midgard. There lies another Stone, one guarded by the sorcerers of Earth. You must ensure it remains safe. If there is disturbance there, then danger greater than any war we've faced may already be upon us."

Thor drew a sharp breath. The Infinity Stones—legends he had heard whispered since his youth. Weapons of unimaginable power. That the Aether itself was one of them sent a chill through him.

"I understand, Father. I will go to Midgard at once!"

"Good," Odin nodded, the weight of his decision plain in his tone. "Heimdall is prepared to open the Bifrost. Waste no time."

Thor rose swiftly, determination hardening his features. "I will see it done." With that, he turned and departed, every step charged with purpose.

In the Depths of Space

A massive warship drifted through the void, flanked by smaller vessels like planets orbiting a sun. At its center, seated upon a throne of cold metal, was a towering figure clad in dark armor. His skin bore the deep hue of violet, his expression carved in stone. He was Thanos, the Mad Titan.

Though unmatched in strength, Thanos was not at ease. For years, under the silent will of his beloved Mistress Death, he had sought the legendary Phoenix Force. Yet despite his armies, his weapons, and his endless reach across the stars, it eluded him. Not even a trace had surfaced.

Something about that absence gnawed at him. A hidden truth, veiled beyond even his perception. And now, as his thoughts churned, a sudden pulse of light erupted from the scepter resting beside him.

Thanos' head turned, his eyes narrowing. He grasped the weapon in his hand. Though his own might far surpassed the need for tools, he had kept this one close for a single reason—the treasure encased within its head. The Mind Stone.

The gem blazed unnaturally, casting golden light across his throne room.

"This… has never happened," Thanos muttered, his voice low but edged with steel. "The Mind Stone reacts… then something has stirred the others."

He rose to his feet, realization dawning. The Infinity Stones were awakening.

Without hesitation, he summoned one of his most trusted lieutenants. A gaunt, gray-skinned figure emerged from the shadows and bowed low. It was Ebony Maw, his voice always quiet yet carrying sharp authority.

"My lord," Ebony said, reverence dripping from every syllable. "What would you have of me?"

"The Mind Stone resonates," Thanos declared. "That can only mean another Stone has been disturbed. Perhaps even taken. I suspect other forces are moving against us, reaching for what is mine by right."

His gaze darkened with obsession. "Search for them. Find the Stones. Take Black Dwarf and Proxima Midnight with you if necessary. Leave nothing to chance."

Ebony's thin lips curved into a devoted smile as he bowed deeper. "By your command, great Titan. I will not rest until the Stones are yours."

Thanos' grip tightened around the scepter, the glow of the Mind Stone reflecting in his eyes. His great design, once slow and patient, could no longer be delayed. The universe itself was shifting, and if he did not act, others would.

For the sake of Death. For the sake of destiny.

The hunt for the Stones had truly begun.