Chapter 804: Thanos, I Understand You Better Than Anyone Else
Chapter 804: Thanos, I Understand You Better Than Anyone Else
Planet Vormir.
A spaceship hovered in the space.
Once again, the place where the Soul Stone was hidden welcomed a new visitor.
The space transmission gravity channel on the spacecraft quietly fell, and a tall and sturdy figure appeared on the ground of Vormir. It was Thanos who came to get the Soul Stone.
"Thanos, son of A'Lars..."
A vague voice echoed in the air.
A cloud of mist quietly rose from the ground and hovered before Thanos, revealing a young man wearing a black leather coat.
"Who are you?"
Thanos slowly clenched his fist.
The black-clothed youth did not answer Thanos' question but instead assessed the situation around him, softly saying, "Hmm? Mr. Thanos, are you here alone?""What do you mean..."
"It seems Ebony Maw didn't bring you the most important message..."
The black-clothed youth, surrounded by mist, stopped in front of Thanos and slowly opened his palm, "Let me introduce myself. I am Uehara Naraku, the Soul Stone's guide..."
Before Uehara Naraku could finish speaking, a vast soul power suddenly surged from the ground of Planet Vormir, and clouds of mist churned...
However, Uehara Naraku casually pressed both of his hands down, suppressing the surging mist.
Uehara Naraku glanced disapprovingly at the ground and murmured, "It seems the Soul Stone has been hidden for too long and is eager for a master..."
"So, Soul Stone's guide..."
Thanos stared at the black-clothed youth in front of him and asked in a deep voice, "Can you now tell me where the Soul Stone is?"
"Follow me."
Uehara Naraku casually shrugged off his black leather coat and said softly, "I hope you can still stand firm after hearing my story..."
"..."
Thanos remained silent.
The towering Titan followed the black-clothed youth, who rode the mist, step by step, ascending toward the highest point of Planet Vormir, the altar.
Along the way, winds howled and clouds surged.
The soul energy in Planet Vormir continued to erupt, causing hurricanes to sweep across the entire planet.
However, Uehara Naraku completely suppressed all this overwhelming soul energy, impressing Thanos with his power. A person of such formidable strength should not be deceiving him...
"To gain, one must lose."
Uehara Naraku waved his hand to disperse the churning mist, his demeanor exuding an air of transcendence. His voice was not loud but always seemed to penetrate to the depths of one's soul, "Now you are facing the most mysterious stone in the universe..."
At this point, Uehara Naraku turned his head slowly to look at Thanos, "Are you really prepared to accept this power?"
"I have always been prepared."
Thanos slowly extended his hand, displaying his Infinity Gauntlet, "I have been preparing for today for many years. Nothing, known or unknown in the universe, can change a man's will..."
"Then follow me..."
Uehara Naraku raised his palm, conjuring up clouds of mist, and gently led Thanos toward the direction of the altar, "I hope you won't regret it."
The two continued to ascend.
Thanos stepped on the stone steps with determination, following Uehara Naraku. His resolute steps indicated his inner strength. Thanos believed his will was stronger than anyone else's.
Thanos glanced at Uehara Naraku floating in the mist and suddenly spoke, "Did Ebony Maw come here?"
"That... loyal person..."
Uehara Naraku furrowed his brow slightly, seemingly indifferent to this person. He continued softly, "That person's life has come to an end, yet he still arrogantly seeks to claim the stone for his master. But obviously, he is just wasting his efforts..."
A hint of regret appeared on Uehara Naraku's face, "I admire his loyalty, so I gave him some soul energy, although he cannot leave Vormir, his soul can still exist..."
Speaking of this, Uehara Naraku's tone became somewhat melancholic, "Unfortunately, he thought he had gained immortality and actually fled Vormir..."
"..."
After listening to this, Thanos couldn't help but fall silent.
This galactic overlord already knew what his subordinates were thinking, and why Ebony Maw met his fate. Thanos spoke softly to defend his subordinate, "He brought me the news of the Soul Stone..."
"Did he tell you?"
Uehara Naraku turned around and asked, "The Soul Stone is not as easily reachable as the steps we're standing on. Why has no one in the universe ever seen the most mysterious gem?"
Thanos shook his head slowly and said in a deep voice, "Ebony Maw's power only allows him to speak more. He used his final moments to give me the most valuable information..."
"Very well."
Uehara Naraku casually spread out his hands and sighed softly, "Such enviable loyalty..."
Other people's subordinates... all have a sincere heart.
His own subordinates... all have a rebellious heart.
After a sigh of emotion, Uehara Naraku finally stopped at the highest point of Vormir. He then whispers, "We're here."
"Where is the Soul Stone?"
Thanos's brow finally furrowed.
"Everywhere."
Uehara Naraku stretched out his arms, indicating as he spoke, "Everything on Vormir is it, and yet it isn't. It's hidden here..."
"The Soul Stone is the most mysterious in the universe. It has its own unique rules. It requires those who wish to use it to understand its power. Anyone who wants to obtain it must pay a great price..."
"A price..."
"A price that ordinary people can hardly pay."
Uehara Naraku looked at Thanos, who seemed somewhat confused and explained softly, "This price... represents what you love the most...
Only by sacrificing the one you love most to the Soul Stone will it favor you, because it signifies that the power in your hands is obtained at a heavy cost...
So you won't use it lightly."
"..."
Thanos fell into silence once again.
This towering man fell into deep contemplation.
Uehara Naraku gazed at Thanos, slowly speaking, "If you lack what you call 'love,' you are destined to be incompatible with the Soul Stone... But if you do have such love, would you truly be willing to sacrifice it to obtain the Soul Stone?"
"..."
Thanos remained silent as ever.
Uehara Naraku gazed at Thanos, then continued, "Thanos, the most powerful being in the universe, a man standing at the summit is destined to be lonely. It seems that there is no one particularly important in your heart..."
"...No."
Thanos slowly raised his head.
The face of this galactic overlord was somewhat complex, his gaze fixed on Uehara Naraku, his voice heavy, "I'll be back soon."
"..."
Uehara Naraku's eyes showed some confusion.
Thanos didn't explain to Uehara Naraku. He just slowly stepped back down the steps and returned to his spaceship.
By the time Thanos returned to the altar...
The green-skinned woman stood by Thanos's side, her expression blank as if devoid of thought, because Thanos had disclosed everything about Vormir to her.
Uehara Naraku looked at the expressionless woman, then glanced at Thanos, "This is your daughter, Gamora. It seems you're ready..."
"..."
Thanos slowly reached out and took Gamora's hand, step by step approaching the edge of the altar, his voice becoming unusually firm.
"I have no choice."
"No..."
Gamora suddenly struggled violently, "How could someone like you ever have love... you, the butcher of this world..."
"Gamora..."
Thanos firmly pulled his daughter forward, tears slowly streaming down his face, but his steps remained resolute.
"Little girl, your father truly loves you."
Uehara Naraku watched this scene and softly remarked, "Be careful what you say, don't hurt an old father's heart too much with your words..."
"How could he possibly..."
Gamora was still struggling desperately!
Yet she couldn't struggle for too long in the end. Finally, Thanos dragged her to the edge of the altar and directly threw her into the depths below!
Thud...
The sound of Gamora's body hitting the ground was somewhat muffled.
Thanos seemed unable to bear his own sin, slowly closing his eyes, his face unable to hide the grief of losing his daughter.
Just then...
Just as the sacrifice hit the ground...
The soul energy of the entire Vormir gathered under the altar, and then the immense soul energy shot straight into the sky, activating the entire silent Vormir!
Uehara Naraku calmly watched this earth-shattering scene, his gaze slowly moving, finally resting on Thanos.
Thanos slowly extended his hand, a bright orange light appearing in his palm, flashing strangely...
The Soul Stone.
The most mysterious Soul Stone in the universe.
Just as Thanos's heart was filled with mixed emotions, about to grasp the Soul Stone and place it into his Infinity Gauntlet, a demon's claw reached out towards him...
"Banshō Ten'in (Universal Pull)!"
Accompanied by a light voice!
A force of attraction appeared in Uehara Naraku's palm, directly pulling Thanos's towering body back to his side!
Thanos was shocked and suddenly realized something. He swung his fist to strike Uehara Naraku
However...
Uehara Naraku merely raised his palm slightly, and a faint blue spatial energy enveloped Thanos, rendering him unable to move at all...
"Who... are you?"
Thanos struggled fiercely while looking at the spatial energy that imprisoned him, his eyes somewhat uneasy, "This is... the power of the Space Stone! Who are you!"
"Me?"
Uehara Naraku walked slowly to Thanos's side, extending his fingers, and plucked the Soul Stone from Thanos's hand.
This scene...
Made Thanos full of anger!
This was the Soul Stone he obtained by sacrificing his daughter Gamora, and yet Uehara Naraku snatched it away so easily!
"That's... mine!"
Thanos gritted his teeth.
"It can belong to anyone."
Uehara Naraku casually opened his palm, appearing indifferent, "I don't care who gets it. As long as it ends up in my hands..."
"You're not the Soul Stone's guide..."
The fury in Thanos's eyes was almost uncontrollable!
Whoever it was, they probably wouldn't remain calm, because he had just sacrificed his most beloved, and now the Soul Stone he sacrificed for was lost...
If he couldn't reclaim the Soul Stone...
Thanos felt like his heart might shatter!
Uehara Naraku nodded, slowly speaking, "Indeed, there is a Soul Stone's guide on Vormir. I also learned how to obtain the Soul Stone from him, but the price is too heavy..."
Having said this, Uehara Naraku looked at Thanos and continued softly, "So I need a man with a firm will and an extreme desire for the Soul Stone to help me obtain it..."
"No one would be willing to sacrifice their most beloved. It requires an extremely firm will, a courage that ordinary people can hardly imagine. Such men are rare in this universe..."
"Only you..."
"Thanos..."
"You are the most likely person I know who desires the Soul Stone the most."
"Of course, I believe you must have someone special in your heart."
Uehara Naraku extended his hand, emitting spatial energy, suppressing Thanos, who knelt in front of him, and then reached out to pat Thanos's head, "I understand your thoughts very well, we are the same kind of person."
"You..."
Thanos stared at Uehara Naraku tightly, feeling somewhat inexplicably stunned, "So you used Ebony Maw's soul to lure me to Vormir, deceived me into sacrificing my daughter to get the Soul Stone..."
"Yes..."
Uehara Naraku played with the Soul Stone in his hand, storing it in his black hole universe, then continued, "Don't get angry about these things now, because there are more things to be angry about later..."
"..."
Thanos felt somewhat choked up.
Where did this guy come from?!
Just as Thanos struggled and wanted to argue, he saw a familiar soul floating out of Uehara Naraku's palm. It was the soul of his daughter Gamora!
"The Soul Stone is really useless..."
Uehara Naraku's face showed some disdain.
To him, the Soul Stone was redundant. His black hole universe already contained a complete soul world from the Shinigami World, making the Soul Stone merely another iteration of the same concept.
The Soul Stone could only slightly supplement his black hole universe.
Perhaps the only thing Uehara Naraku could do was to use the Shinigami method to pull out the dead souls from the Soul Stone, but what was the use of that?
Besides annoying people, what good does it do?
Uehara Naraku shook his head helplessly, then raised his hand to lift the body from the altar below. With a sigh, he uttered, "Since I took the Soul Stone, it's unreasonable for you to sacrifice your daughter... Rinne Rebirt!"
Gamora's body emitted a burst of white light...
Uehara Naraku's hand let Gamora's soul fly into the white light!
Thanos watched in disbelief as his daughter's body stood up again, his most beloved daughter resurrected before his eyes, "...Gamora?"
Resurrection!
The universe was vast, and there were all sorts of wonders!
This man actually has a way to resurrect!
"..."
Gamora looked up and saw Thanos kneeling here. Her face instantly turned fierce and angry, "You..."
Thud...
Gamora fell back to the ground...
"Tsk, such a hot-tempered daughter..."
Standing beside him, Uehara Naraku knocked out Gamora with a punch, then looked down at Thanos and said, "It seems like you really love your daughter..."
A black wormhole opened behind Uehara Naraku. He slowly picked up Gamora's body and whispered, "So, if you want your daughter back, bring the Power Stone to redeem her..."
"..."
Thanos's eyes narrowed!
Damn it, this guy actually used his daughter to blackmail him!
How could there be someone with such a peculiar way of thinking in the universe, wanting to use emotions to threaten a resolute overlord...
"You don't want it to experience it again, do you?"
Uehara Naraku lifted Gamora's clothes, holding her in front of Thanos, and calmly said, "You have already experienced the taste of sacrificing her yourself... Do you want to experience it again... the feeling of losing her?"
"..."
Thanos's heart trembled violently.
At this moment, he finally recalled the pain in his heart when he sacrificed Gamora with his own hands, a feeling of loss he didn't want to experience again...
But...
The Infinity Stones relate to his highest ideals.
"I will consider it."
Thanos didn't give a definite answer. He looked at Uehara Naraku, knowing that this was an opponent who was also collecting the Infinity Stones, "Tell me... who are you?"
"Don't you recognize me?"
Uehara Naraku shook his head helplessly, sighed, grabbed Gamora's body, and walked toward the black wormhole. His figure slowly began to change.
The leather jacket on Uehara Naraku's body slowly transformed, revealing a black robe embroidered with red clouds, which draped over him.
This was...
The uniform of the Akatsuki.
Even though Thanos hadn't paid much attention to the Akatsuki Organization before, the recent large-scale attacks on his subordinates forced him to take notice of this threat...
Unexpectedly...
This was a member of the Akatsuki...
Uehara Naraku stood in front of the black wormhole, his gaze staring directly at Thanos, and softly said, "Then let me reintroduce myself..."
"I am the leader of the Akatsuki Organization, Uehara Naraku."