Chapter 2: Chapter 1: The start
Crying. Screams of horror. The sharp crack of gunfire and the thud of bodies hitting the ground. People fled in panic from humanoid creatures clad in armor wielding advanced laser weapons. Every second, dozens lost their lives. The planet's once-proud army, charged with its defense, crumbled under the sheer numbers of the attackers. The civilization, once heralded as the pinnacle of development, was reduced to ruins.
Towering buildings that once scraped the skies now lay shattered on the ground. Ships that had glided gracefully through the heavens were falling like rain under the relentless onslaught. The peace and order that had reigned only yesterday had vanished without a trace.
BOOM!
Another explosion ripped through the city. A massive structure disintegrated, burying desperate people beneath its rubble. Only yesterday, the sky had been a bright, serene blue. Children's laughter had echoed in the streets, drawing warm smiles from passersby. In a nearby café, a young couple had sat together—the woman gently caressing her stomach, her smile tender. Across from her, the man had gazed at her with pure adoration, feeling like the luckiest man alive.
Now, chaos reigned. Those who ran for their lives could think of only one question: What had they done to deserve this nightmare?
On the rooftop of one of the few buildings still standing, a towering, two-meter figure loomed. His thick, wrinkled purple skin shimmered under golden-blue armor that completely encased his massive frame. His dark, bottomless eyes reflected not triumph, but boredom.
"So, this is what the universe calls its most advanced civilization?" His deep voice was calm, almost disinterested. He glanced to his left at a middle-aged man slumped on the ground.
The man, clad in a yellow, form-fitting suit with a high collar and flowing cloak, struggled to breathe. Blood from a gash on his forehead trickled into his eye. His right arm hung uselessly at his side, bent unnaturally. Glaring up at the purple figure, he spat through gritted teeth, "You're nothing but a monster, Thanos."
The titan smirked, his tone mocking. "And yet you call me your son, Father."
"You're no son of mine!" the man snapped, his voice filled with venom. "A creature like you could never be my child."
Thanos chuckled, a low and resonant sound. "As you say, Father. As you say."
"Why?" the man rasped, desperation breaking through his anger. "Why would you do this? This is your home—the planet where you were born!"
"Home?" Thanos sneered. "The place that cast me out? Don't make me laugh."
"You murdered your mother," the man hissed, his voice trembling with rage. "For… for her."
"Yes!" Thanos roared, his voice cracking with madness. "And for her, I will destroy everything! She will notice me, Father. She will see me. And no one—not you, not anyone—will stop me."
"You're insane," the man whispered, his voice laced with sorrow. "Completely mad."
Thanos's lips curled into a smile. "I know."
Summoning what little strength he had left, the man growled, "I'll stop you. I won't let you commit this atrocity."
Thanos barely blinked. His expression was unreadable as he turned his gaze skyward. Above them, the planet's protective barrier began to disintegrate, revealing a colossal, dark object hovering ominously in orbit.
The man's face twisted in horror. "You… you activated the satellite?!" His voice broke. "Stop this, Thanos! Stop it now!"
"It's too late," Thanos replied, his voice devoid of emotion. "In fifteen seconds, it will impact the surface. Nothing will survive."
"THANOS!" the man bellowed, his anguish echoing across the ruined city. "I beg you—stop this madness!"
Thanos didn't respond. The satellite grew brighter with each passing second, its destructive energy building.
Suddenly, a massive chunk of debris hurtled from the sky, crashing into Thanos and pinning him to the ground. A young man with fiery red hair and piercing blue eyes descended from above, his black armor shimmering with glowing red veins.
"Brother," the newcomer said, his voice tinged with regret. "You've truly lost your mind. I didn't want to believe it."
"Eros!" Thanos shouted, his eyes lighting up with twisted glee. "The whole family's here! I might actually cry."
Eros ignored his brother's taunts, raising his hand above his head. A fiery red sphere began to coalesce in his palm, radiating immense power. The very air vibrated with its energy.
"I should have killed you back then," Eros murmured, his voice steady but laced with sadness. "I won't make that mistake again. Perhaps in another life, we'll meet as brothers… and talk like normal men."
"EROS!" their father screamed, horror etched across his face. "Don't do this! The stone will destroy you!"
"I know," Eros said softly. He glanced at the glowing sphere in his hand—the Primordial Stone of Chaos. Its unimaginable power could rival the strongest beings in existence, but at a devastating cost. It consumed the soul of its wielder entirely.
With a weary smile, Eros whispered, "Forgive me, Father."
In an instant, the world was consumed by a blinding red light. Then, silence.
The destruction ceased as if it had never been. The invaders vanished, leaving no trace behind. Fires were extinguished, and the wounded found themselves healed. Yet, the dead remained lifeless, strewn across the shattered planet.
A'Lars knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face. "Eros," he sobbed. "My foolish son…"
All around, survivors emerged from the rubble, their eyes drawn to the sky. Relief washed over them, but the grief of loss lingered. The nightmare was over, but its scars would remain forever.
Once again, Eros found himself in darkness. It wasn't unfamiliar; this was the second time he'd experienced death.
"Well," he thought, his voice echoing in the void. "That was better than the first time. I had a family, a life worth living… even if it was cut short."
He sighed, trying to focus on pleasant memories, but the endless blackness made it hard to stay positive. "I hope Father's okay. Titan's strong. It'll rebuild."
He floated aimlessly, his thoughts his only companion.
An unknown amount of time passed before something changed. A faint white light appeared in the distance, growing steadily larger.
"What now?" Eros muttered, squinting at the expanding glow. "Well, anything's better than this endless void."
With a resigned sigh, he propelled himself toward the light, leaving the darkness behind.
In an entirely different realm, two beings observed Eros's journey.
"Hashi, why so serious?" a young man in casual clothes teased, draining a glass of golden liquid. "Let's celebrate! Isn't this your new plaything?"
Hashi didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the glowing orb in his hand. Inside, an image of Eros stepping into the light flickered.
"He's entered," Hashi finally said, his deep voice calm but firm.
"Good for you," the young man said with a grin. "I've never seen you take an interest in anyone before."
Hashi's eyes briefly glowed crimson. "He served his purpose. By using my soul fragment, he's strengthened the connection to that world."
"Oh," the younger man said, his tone turning serious. "Didn't think you were the helpful type."
Hashi's lips twitched in irritation. "It's none of your concern." He waved his hand, and the orb disappeared. Sitting down, he poured himself a drink. "Let's see what you do next, Eros. I'll be watching."
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