"Dormant within your body is a power far beyond the ordinary. The Infinity Stones merely awakened what was already there."
"What you must do now is strive to once again sense the threshold of that power—not place your hopes in the Infinity Stones for further growth."
"Relying on external forces for advancement will only render your body fragile… and your spirit weak."
"You cannot become dependent on the Infinity Stones. Your power… has yet to reach its true limit…"
Could the Infinity Stones really make my heart dependent?
Immersed in the nutrient pod deep within the Black Quadrant, Lothar sat with eyes shut. In his mind's eye, he saw only the golden-haired version of himself, radiating with energy.
That form… was mine. So why can't I reach that threshold again?
According to his adoptive father, Thanos, he had already begun nearing that threshold at the age of seven. But now, years later, that power felt entirely out of reach.
Had he… grown weaker with age?
No, that didn't make any sense.
His current power in base form far surpassed anything from his childhood. He could take on six Hela-class opponents simultaneously—single-handedly.
Or… is my training still not enough?
His eyes snapped open. Soaked and silent, Lothar stepped out of the nutrient pod.
"Prince Lothar, your dinner is ready."
With a reverent grin, Gaitz, the mechanical cat, presented a towel. He rummaged through the pouch on his belly and pulled out Lothar's black combat suit and silver battle armor, already prepared.
"Lord Thanos has sent word: after dinner, you're to proceed directly to the starship dock."
"…Understood."
Dressed and armored, Lothar made his way to the dining hall. Waiting there, seated at the table with staff in hand, was The Other—recently dismissed from the main Black Quadrant throne chamber by Thanos himself. His gaze was locked hungrily on the feast before him.
"Prince Lothar!"
"Don't return to Chitauri Prime just yet," Lothar instructed calmly. "You're coming with me."
"Yes, Prince Lothar!"
Though puzzled, The Other dared not question. He obediently tucked into the meal prepared by Gaitz, the base's domestic savant, eating in silent satisfaction.
Once fed and refreshed, Lothar led The Other to the military starport on the far side of the quadrant, boarding Thanos' personal warship.
"Father."
"Lord Thanos."
Thanos, seated upon the suspended command throne, glanced at his adopted son. Then, without turning, he gestured to Ebony Maw at the command console.
"Depart."
"Yes, Lord Thanos."
Ebony Maw spared a glance at Lothar—and the sycophantic subordinate trailing behind him—then activated the ship's space-folding device.
Thanos' flagship surged forward, disappearing from the skies above the Black Quadrant.
...
B48 Galaxy – Planet B48.
On the edge of night, under the dim sky of Planet B48, Astra slumped in his cell within the planetary prison. Bitter licorice dangled from his mouth—a local specialty rumored to compel truthfulness.
Supposedly unique to this world, protected by the Cosmic Energy Tower, the licorice was said to prevent lies from passing one's lips.
Astra called complete nonsense.
He'd eaten bushels of the stuff and still lied like a politician on trial.
"Outworlder. The King wishes to see you."
The idle monotony was finally broken. A pair of B48 planetary guards approached—right on schedule.
"I told you—I mean, whatever. Do what you want." Astra gave up arguing. There wasn't much of a case when you got caught red-handed inside a sacred site under heavy guard.
His blue skin stood out starkly among the tall, golden-haired, green-eyed natives. Shackled in special alloy chains, he was escorted down a crystal corridor that shimmered and echoed with every step.
"The prisoner is presented before the King."
Shoved into the center of the crystal throne room, Astra crashed to the floor with a metallic clang as his chains hit the ground. Seated on the throne above was the silver-haired monarch of B48, his expression unreadable.
"Outworlder, I will now question you one final time in the name of Planet B48."
"Tell me: why did you trespass into our sacred site—the Cosmic Energy Tower?"
"I've told you—over and over—I have no idea how I ended up there." Astra stared down at his reflection in the crystalline floor, where his unshaven, defeated face gazed back at him.
"How many more times do I have to say it, huh?"
"It started on Planet U40 in the Skrull Empire. I was watching these two freaks duke it out—insane power, the whole planet practically ripped apart."
"They were going at it like lunatics, not giving a damn if bystanders like me got caught in the crossfire. So what choice did I have? I ran!"
"I ran and ran—and then, out of nowhere, a beam of light hit me. I couldn't even resist. Like a puppet, I was dragged through space and ended up smack in the middle of your sacred site."
"Next thing I knew—I was in here."
Once again, Astra told his story, voice rising with frustration and disbelief. He had been to the tower once before—but that was due to an experimental mishap, arriving in a disembodied spirit form no one could detect.
This time? He was fully corporeal—and fully screwed.
"If that's your claim, then take him away. Begin the procedure."
The King's expression didn't change. He was done listening.
"All who covet the sacred treasures of our people… share one fate."
"Should've done this from the start, you crusty old fossil." Astra muttered. With his vendetta long fulfilled, he had no fear of death. His heart had already died—with his family, years ago.
"Your Majesty! Our planetary defense systems have just detected a massive warship breaching our cloaking barrier! It's entered B48 airspace—thirty minutes from atmospheric contact!"
A piercing alarm rang out across the crystalline palace.
They were under attack.
An unknown enemy had arrived.
-----------------------
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