As Robert seemed lost in thought, immersed in his fantasies, Ebony Maw's voice continued, but his eyes flashed with a cold, murderous gleam. Suddenly, he swung his arm, and a sharp dagger hidden in his clothing flew out, aiming straight for Robert's heart with lightning speed. Ebony Maw's eyes gleamed with excitement as he imagined the dagger piercing Robert's heart and watching him collapse to the ground. Ebony Maw knew telekinetics well; even though he sensed that Robert's abilities were stronger, he was certain that physical bodies were the weak point for all telekinetics, including himself.
Ebony Maw was confident that his surprise attack would kill Robert instantly. He envisioned using Robert's body as a shield against Thor and the others, detonating the surrounding buildings with telekinesis to create chaos and make his escape.
But with a loud "crack," Ebony Maw's heart sank. His attack had succeeded, but not in the way he had expected. The dagger shattered upon impact with Robert's body.
"This is impossible! How can your body be this strong?!" Ebony Maw cried out in disbelief. Realizing the dire situation, he frantically tried to use his telekinesis to bring down the surrounding buildings, creating enough confusion to flee. Ebony Maw knew that escaping from Robert was nearly impossible, but he refused to go down without a fight.
After years of surviving in the harsh universe, Ebony Maw could tell that Robert had no intention of letting him live. Even if he revealed everything about Thanos, death seemed inevitable. That's why Ebony Maw took this desperate gamble. Yet, he had not expected Robert's body to be so resilient. The dagger wasn't just any ordinary weapon; it was crafted from special metal, ideal for telekinetics. Unfortunately, while it was sharp, it lacked durability and wasn't strong enough to pierce Robert's body. Ebony Maw's sneak attack had failed, forcing him to unleash his full power in a last-ditch effort to escape.
But as Ebony Maw's telekinesis surged, a more powerful force overwhelmed him, not only suppressing his abilities but also immobilizing his entire body. Ebony Maw's face stiffened as he realized he couldn't move a muscle or use his telekinesis, effectively paralyzing him.
"How clueless can you be? Did you really think I'd let you escape and make myself look foolish?" Robert shook his head slowly, his voice calm as he spoke to the immobilized Ebony Maw. "And did you really believe that your manipulative tone would deceive anyone?"
Robert wasn't fazed by the subtle, persuasive undertones in Ebony Maw's words. Ebony Maw, however, felt a surge of anger and frustration. Robert had dismissed his talents with such disdain, talents that Ebony Maw took great pride in. Aside from his powerful telekinesis, Ebony Maw's ability to manipulate others with his words had always been his most valued skill. Many who resisted Thanos had been swayed not by Proxima Midnight's mental powers but by Ebony Maw's silver tongue. He considered this skill a personal achievement, yet Robert had belittled it.
If Ebony Maw had the strength, he would have lashed out at Robert, even if it meant a verbal tirade, just to release some of his pent-up frustration.
"Do you have anything else of value to offer?" Robert asked, stroking his chin thoughtfully as he slightly relaxed the telekinetic grip.
As soon as Robert loosened the restraint, a torrent of curses spewed from Ebony Maw's mouth, a stream of universal profanity that came out in a furious rush. But just as quickly as he started, Ebony Maw fell silent again.
With a soft "pop," a small explosion erupted inside Ebony Maw's mouth. Blood gushed from his lips, and though he tried to keep his mouth shut, the blood still flowed out, staining his face. His eyes filled with pain as he realized that not only had his tongue been destroyed, but his vocal cords had been obliterated as well. His throat was in ruins, with only his bones holding his head and body together. Or perhaps it was Robert's telekinetic grip that kept him intact; otherwise, Ebony Maw's head might have already fallen from his body.
"You could have lived a bit longer and died peacefully. Why choose to torment yourself like this?" Robert said, shaking his head with feigned regret as he looked into Ebony Maw's pain-filled eyes.
Ebony Maw, now unable to speak, could only glare at Robert, filled with rage and helplessness. He wanted nothing more than to spit in Robert's face, if only he could.
Thor, the Warriors Three, and Sif stood silently nearby, their expressions grim. To them, Robert's actions seemed like a clear display of intimidation, a way to send a message. They had fought many battles and faced numerous enemies over their long lives, but none had ever employed such cruel methods. Robert, in their eyes, was a true villain, far worse than even Hydra.
"This is only the beginning. Soon, you'll experience much more, until you're not just unwilling to speak out of turn but eager to share everything you know. Then, and only then, will you find peace," Robert continued, ignoring the other Asgardians as he spoke to Ebony Maw.
Ebony Maw's eyes burned with hatred, but he didn't take Robert's words seriously. He had endured countless tortures and trials and doubted Robert's methods could break him to the point of begging for death. He believed he could withstand whatever pain Robert inflicted.
"You don't seem to believe me. But that's okay. Some people before you didn't believe me either. I remember, they were members of Hydra, their minds hardened after brainwashing. Yet, in the end, they revealed everything I wanted to know, pleading for death as a release…" Robert reminisced, smiling slightly. "It's been a long time since I've used this method. I might be a bit rusty, so bear with me."
"Pop! Pop! Pop!" As Robert spoke, a series of muffled explosions sounded within Ebony Maw's body. His flesh exploded in several places, followed by his organs and brain, all in intervals, ensuring he felt the maximum pain.
As Ebony Maw's consciousness began to fade, overwhelmed by the extreme pain, he noticed he could move again. Though he couldn't make a sound, his lips formed a mocking smile as if to say that Robert's efforts were futile. He was about to die, about to find the release he so desperately craved.
But just as his awareness started to slip away, Robert chuckled softly. Ebony Maw didn't hear it, but Robert placed his hand on his body, channeling a healing spell.
"Buzz!" In an instant, Ebony Maw's injuries were completely healed, leaving only traces of blood on his skin. He looked as if nothing had happened.
Robert stepped aside, waiting patiently for Ebony Maw to regain consciousness.
"Ugh!" Ebony Maw groaned as he woke up, the memories of the excruciating pain still fresh in his mind. He was disoriented and confused, initially thinking he was in some hellish dimension. But as he looked around, he recognized the familiar surroundings and muttered, "Is this the hell dimension? Why does it look different from what I've read? Wait, why does this place look so familiar? Isn't this where I just died?"
"Bingo!" A cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts. Startled, Ebony Maw's body trembled as Robert appeared from his blind spot. "Congratulations! You're right! And there's a reward too. You get to experience everything you just went through again. Isn't that exciting? Surprised?"
"It's you?! Wait, I didn't die?!" Ebony Maw exclaimed, realizing that Robert had somehow brought him back to life. He shook his head in disbelief, full of terror. "No! Impossible! Your power to heal such severe injuries should have been the limit! How could you bring me back to life? This is impossible!"
But before Ebony Maw could continue his panicked ramblings, his body froze once more. The agonizing pain returned, searing through his body, as if on repeat. In those moments, Ebony Maw's resolve was shattered. His earlier defiance crumbled as he was repeatedly brought back to life, only to endure the same excruciating death again and again.
At first, Ebony Maw had cursed and raged, but as time passed, he couldn't withstand the endless cycle of death and rebirth. Finally, he broke.
"Wait! Stop reviving me! Just kill me! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!" Ebony Maw screamed in desperation after yet another revival, terrified that Robert would continue the torment.
But as soon as he spoke, his body once again exploded into pieces. Robert looked at him with a hint of apology. "Oops, sorry about that. I guess I got a bit carried away. But don't worry, you'll be back to normal soon…"
Though Robert apologized, his telekinetic grip never relented. He killed Ebony Maw again, then revived him, smiling as the alien regained consciousness.
"See? You're back again. Now, let's talk. Tell me about the remaining Infinity Stones and why Thanos wants to collect them…" Robert said calmly.
"I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!" Ebony Maw quickly nodded, his mind broken. Even though his heart was filled with resentment, he didn't dare show it. He knew now that Robert was more terrifying than any demon from the hell dimensions.
Thor, the Warriors Three, and Sif, though hardened by countless battles, had never witnessed such a gruesome scene. Seeing Ebony Maw on the verge of tears, they instinctively took two steps back. But when Robert turned his gaze toward them, they froze, standing still as if rooted to the spot.
"Power Stone, Soul Stone, and Reality Stone... Thanos hasn't found concrete leads on them yet. What I said earlier was just to deceive you…" Ebony Maw confessed, his voice trembling. "As for why Thanos is collecting the Infinity Stones, it's for his ultimate goal—to reduce the population of the entire universe by half!"
Ebony Maw's revelation stunned everyone present. Even Robert, who had anticipated something ominous, found himself momentarily taken aback by the sheer scale of Thanos' plan. The idea of wiping out half of all life in the universe was not just monstrous; it was a level of ambition that was almost incomprehensible.
Thor and the others were no less shocked. They had faced many threats in their lifetimes, but the thought of a being with the power to decimate half the universe was beyond anything they had ever imagined.
"Half of all life in the universe?" Robert repeated, his voice low and contemplative. "And he believes the Infinity Stones will give him the power to do that?"
"Yes... With all six Infinity Stones, Thanos believes he will gain control over the fabric of reality itself," Ebony Maw explained, his fear evident as he spoke. "He can manipulate time, space, minds, souls, and matter, and with the combined power, he intends to carry out his vision of balance by eradicating half of all life."
Robert's mind raced as he considered the implications of what he had just learned. If Thanos succeeded, the consequences would be catastrophic. The Infinity Stones, each a source of unimaginable power, were dangerous enough on their own. Together, in the hands of someone like Thanos, they could become the deadliest weapon in the universe.
Robert turned his gaze back to Ebony Maw, who was visibly shaking. The alien had been through unimaginable torture, and Robert could see that his spirit was broken. Despite this, Robert felt no pity. He knew that someone as cunning and ruthless as Ebony Maw wouldn't hesitate to betray anyone if it meant saving his own skin.
"You've told me what I wanted to know," Robert said finally. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to let you go."
A wave of despair washed over Ebony Maw as he realized his fate was sealed. Despite his confessions, there would be no mercy.
"Please… just make it quick," Ebony Maw begged, his voice barely a whisper.
Robert didn't respond. Instead, he focused his telekinetic power once more, and within moments, Ebony Maw's body was crushed into a lifeless heap on the ground. This time, there would be no revival, no more torture. Ebony Maw's suffering had come to an end.
With Ebony Maw's demise, a heavy silence fell over the group. Thor, the Warriors Three, and Sif exchanged uneasy glances, each grappling with the gravity of what they had just witnessed and the new information they had learned.
"So, this Thanos… is he truly that powerful?" Thor asked, breaking the silence.
"Powerful enough that we need to take him seriously," Robert replied, his voice firm. "If he gets his hands on the rest of the Infinity Stones, the universe is in grave danger. We need to find those stones before he does."
"And what about Asgard?" Thor asked, his voice heavy with concern. "If Thanos is collecting these stones, he might target us next."
"Asgard is still strong, but you must be cautious," Robert warned. "Thanos won't stop until he has all the stones. You need to be prepared for when he comes."
Thor nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of Robert's words. The battle against Thanos would not be easy, and the stakes were higher than ever.
"We'll do what we must," Thor said resolutely. "For Asgard, and for the universe."
Robert gave a slight nod, satisfied with Thor's resolve. The road ahead would be perilous, but with allies like Thor and the Avengers, there was still hope.
"For now, let's focus on what we can control," Robert suggested. "We need to find the remaining Infinity Stones before Thanos does. And we need to be ready for whatever comes next."
With the immediate threat dealt with, the group began to make their plans. The fight against Thanos would require every ounce of strength, strategy, and unity they could muster. The fate of the universe depended on it.
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