And so—

Kaboom! Kaboom!

One Dark Elf warship after another erupted in flames, raining down from the sky like burning leaves.

In barely a few moments, the entire fleet Malekith had dispatched was annihilated by Alex alone.

Thor's forces hadn't even managed to properly engage. At most, they picked off the few survivors left in Alex's wake.

Boom!

A sonic boom split the air as Alex vanished, reappearing instantly before the Dark Elf mothership.

"Wh-what is this monster?!" Malekith stared in horror as Alex closed in, cold sweat streaming down his face like a waterfall.

He had seen the Cursed Warrior fall with his own eyes. That had been their strongest weapon—and it hadn't lasted a breath.

If he hadn't witnessed it himself, Malekith would never have believed such absurdity. The warrior he had entrusted his hopes to had been no more than a momentary distraction.

Escape.

Escape at any cost.

That was the only thought left in his mind. Heaven knew—he was utterly terrified of Alex.

But whether he could escape was no longer up to him.

Kaboom!

The mothership shuddered violently as Alex smashed through its hull, forcing his way inside with overwhelming might.

"Stop him! Stop him now!" Malekith roared desperately, sending his soldiers to their deaths while he and a handful of guards scrambled toward the escape pods.

But he had barely detached his pod when the mothership behind him exploded in a blinding fireball.

A heartbeat later, Alex's figure blurred—and Malekith's pod was torn apart mid-flight, obliterated along with the Dark Elf leader himself.

It was over.

Back at the Asgardian encampment, Alex landed lightly before Thor and Loki, brushing his hands as though dusting off something trivial. "Well, that's that. The Dark Elves are truly gone."

Having seen the films, Alex had recognized Malekith on sight. Now he could state with certainty: the threat of the Dark Elves was finished.

The Asgardian army, which had captured a few stragglers, would later confirm it beyond doubt.

"This is truly joyous news!" Thor laughed, the weight of battle lifting from his shoulders.

Their mission to Svartalfheim had not only recovered the Aether but eliminated Asgard's ancient enemy. It was an overwhelming success.

"Thor, remind me—never, ever to provoke Alex," Loki muttered sincerely, his voice tinged with awe.

After all, this was a man who had single-handedly destroyed an entire fleet. He was simply not someone you could afford to cross.

What followed was straightforward. Alex, Thor, Loki, and the Asgardian host returned to Asgard.

Upon hearing that the Dark Elves had been eradicated, Odin was elated, as though a mountain had been lifted from his heart.

He ordered a grand feast to celebrate their triumphant return. Warriors were honored, goblets clinked, and the golden halls of Asgard rang with laughter.

Alex and Thor toasted one another again and again, host and guest both in high spirits.

…

"Then, Lord Odin, I shall take my leave now."

When the banquet ended, Alex bid farewell and departed Asgard.

The Aether, of course, went with him—back to Earth.

…

"Alex, you're finally back!"

"It's been so long—finally, you've returned!"

The X-Men greeted him with surprise and delight. Their morale surged.

After all, Alex had been gone for over a year.

"Alex, will you be leaving again this time?" Raven asked quietly after the initial cheer had settled.

"That depends on the situation," Alex said thoughtfully, before lifting the mood with good news.

He produced the Aether and handed it to Hank. "This is the Reality Stone. Keep it safe."

"The Reality Stone…"

Hank's expression turned solemn as he accepted it with the utmost care. This was no mere artifact—it was the key to the survival of their entire race.

"Speaking of Infinity Stones, I also have some good news," Charles said with a smile. "Last month, Danvers reached out. She believes she can locate the Orb within two months."

"Really?" Alex's eyes lit up.

He knew Carol Danvers well. She wasn't one to exaggerate. If she promised to find the Orb within two months, she would.

"In that case… it's time to pursue the Soul Stone as well." Alex finally voiced the decision he had delayed for so long.

Until now, he hadn't sought it. The Soul Stone's method of acquisition was… unique, and besides, it had seemed secure enough to leave for last.

But with most of the Stones already gathered, it was time.

"Alex… are we beginning that plan?" Charles asked carefully.

Yes—the X-Men had prepared a plan.

The rule for the Soul Stone was absolute: a soul for a soul, a sacrifice of one you loved. But it never said whose soul.

That meant there was a loophole. Someone terminally ill, standing at death's door, could serve as the sacrifice.

They had already identified candidates. All they had lacked was Alex's order.

"That's right," Alex said firmly. "The time has come."

Charles hesitated. His conscience balked—this was, in the end, still taking a life. But he also knew the stakes. The survival of countless innocents depended on this. And so he said no more.

"Oh, Alex—one more thing," Raven spoke up again, her tone grave. "Our people have made contact with the Eternals."

Alex's expression hardened instantly.

The Eternals.

He had gathered the Stones for one reason: Arishem. And for that very reason, he had always avoided any direct involvement with them.

But fate could not be evaded forever.

The mutants and the Eternals had crossed paths once more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For 60 advanced chapters, visit my Patreon:

Patreon - Twilight_scribe1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~