The treasure vault of the Allfather Odin housed precious artifacts from across the Nine Realms. It was like a holy grail for countless adventurers.
Legends spoke of divine armor and swords blessed by the gods, the bones of dragons and deities, the Casket of Ancient Winters capable of freezing entire planets, and the Eternal Flame that could resurrect the dead...
These unimaginable treasures were recorded in ancient texts and age-old tales, filling hearts with longing. This was the vault of the King of the gods, holding miracles capable of altering fate. Many across the Nine Realms believed this without question.
A ripple of azure light tore through space, expanding into a shimmering portal.
Two figures stepped out; Sean, the Sentinel ranked among S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most dangerous individuals, and Jean, the Omega-level mutant known as Phoenix.
The first thing that greeted them was a grand hall, its corridors stretching deep into the heart of the structure. On either side stood rows of elegant display cases filled with divine weapons etched with runes and dazzling gemstones.
The sheer opulence was befitting of the King of Asgard.
An ordinary person might have been overwhelmed by the dazzling array, unsure which treasure to claim...
As they walked, Sean casually explained the origins and powers of each treasure as if he owned the place, "This is the Eternal Flame, Odin's trophy from Surtur, the Fire Giant of Muspelheim. Legend says that once tempered, the sword of the Fire Giant could wield the power to destroy the realm of the gods. This is the Destroyer, the mightiest armor of Asgard. Or at least, it was before it was damaged. Over there is the Orb of Agamotto, an artifact capable of detecting magic and sources of danger. It's a prized possession of a certain great sorcerer. Next to it is the Tablet of Life, originating from an ancient Earth civilization. It is said to aid its user in evolving into a supreme lifeform."
"What is it you're looking for?" Jean asked curiously.
"This is exactly what I want." Sean stopped before a square stone pedestal, atop which rested a gleaming metal gauntlet.
A replica of the Infinity Gauntlet, it shimmered with the same metallic brilliance, its six gem sockets ready to house the stones. As he slipped it on, he could feel the intricate energy pathways within, crisscrossing like circuits.
With a mechanical click, the oversized gauntlet shrank to fit his hand perfectly.
Sean then retrieved the Tesseract, the cosmic cube coveted by both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Loki. A sharp golden light flashed in his eyes.
A torrent of violent golden energy erupted as his fingers tightened. The cube's stable structure began to fracture, faint cracking sounds filled the air until an oval blue stone dropped into his palm...
...
An invisible ripple spread like a pebble disturbing still water.
On his floating throne, Thanos, who had been sitting calmly, suddenly stiffened. He had sensed it... the presence of an Infinity Stone!
"That Asgardian wasn't lying to me." The Mad Titan's heart burned with anticipation.
With a slight gesture, the discarded Scepter flew into his grasp.
The golden staff that had granted Loki the power to manipulate minds shattered in Thanos' grip, revealing a yellow stone. He carefully placed it into one of the gauntlet's sockets.
Two invisible forces clashed...
...
In Odin's vault, Sean turned his head slightly, his gaze piercing through the ruined palace and city...
Entire structures crumbled into dust with thunderous roars.
"I need some time." He glanced at Jean.
With the Space Stone now embedded in the replica gauntlet, he could clearly feel its limits. The delicate forgery could barely contain the energy of a single stone. The internal pathways were already overflowing.
If he were to wield three stones at once, the gauntlet would likely self-destruct under the strain.
Clenching his fist, azure light blazed as cosmic energy flooded into Sean's body. The Sentinel armor materialized in a flash of light, greedily absorbing the near-infinite power.
He was about to break through the 50% threshold!
"No one will disturb you." Jean said in a calm voice.
Her crimson hair billowed like flames as a violent aura erupted. The Phoenix stood before Sean, her eyes ice cold...
...
Meanwhile, Thanos lounged on his throne, indifferent to the carnage below...
The Chitauri would teach the Asgardians that no matter how hard they struggled, defeat was inevitable. In the merciless laws of the universe, weakness was a sin.
Right now, the stone was the priority. Acquiring two Infinity Stones was an exceptionally bountiful harvest.
His mental power spread like a tidal wave, scouring every corner for traces of the stone. Like a predator tracking prey through dense forests, he followed the residual energy, hunting down his hidden target.
"Hiding from my sight won't be so easy." A rare smirk crossed Thanos' face. A storm brewed in his cold eyes.
A violent surge of energy erupted, carrying the chill of an ice age, like a hurricane of death and extinction capable of freezing souls.
The frigid gale tore through space, pouring forth!
"Found you."
A woman in red stood firm in the mental void, blocking the deadly frost with sheer will. Flames of destruction swirled around her, capable of reducing all existence to nothingness!
The psychic realm crumbled and reformed, the physical world trembled.
"An interesting lifeform." Thanos' lips curled slightly, his initial indifference replaced by a hint of seriousness.
A fiery phoenix spread its wings, its radiance a fusion of opposing forces; life and death, creation and destruction.
The woman in red floated in the mental void, her entire body burning with intense flames. Any mental or physical presence that neared her was annihilated instantly!
The Mad Titan's psychic assault intensified, a relentless hurricane battering against her defenses. The cold aura crushed the mental landscape like an unending blizzard.
The vault shook violently, display cases toppling as priceless artifacts shattered into dust.
Jean's face paled, the fire in her eyes blazing even as her body swayed unsteadily.
Her psychic power was formidable, but against Thanos, a veteran of countless battles, she was still inexperienced. He could sense the terrifying potential of the Phoenix Force, but its wielder lacked the skill to fully harness it.
Like a child swinging a hammer, the power was there, but the wielder was lacking.
"Poor little thing. The world of the strong is cruel indeed." Thanos prepared to extinguish this fragile consciousness with one final strike.
A storm of annihilation loomed, ready to swallow the struggling will whole.
"Don't touch what is mine." A deep voice thundered into Thanos' mind.
Golden light erupted. Like a rising sun, it dazzled with brilliance.
Across the vast distance of space, two gazes locked, one cold and calculating, the other deep and unyielding.
An invisible storm erupted, shaking the void itself!