Marvel: The Sole Player

Darian turned to look at the attacker, and saw a thin, gray-faced Alien, wearing gold and black armor, with a dark cloak draped over him, stepping out from the Shadow.

He reached out and gestured, and the black Shadow that had just hit the pharaohs scepter flew back into his hand obediently.

That was a strangely shaped golden double-edged blade, the blade body was slender, shimmering with a cold, chilling light; at a glance, it was clearly no ordinary weapon.

As this person stood there, his whole body exuded an intimidating sense of oppression.

[NPC: Corvus Glaive]

[Favorability: -20]

[Evaluation: One of The Black Order, the only one in The Black Order with a wife, skilled at backstabbing, immortal body, the peerless blade is the real body, the soul is hidden in the blade, if the blade is there, the person is there; if the blade dies, the person dies.]

"It is actually a lackey of Thanos?"

Darian narrowed his eyes, sizing up Corvus Glaive before him.

He had certainly heard of The Black Order, the five strongest top-tier thugs under Thanos, the five tiger generals of The Black Order, none of whom were easy to deal with.

And this Corvus Glaive before him was the leader of the five, a strength that definitely could not be underestimated.

At this moment, Ronan was still screaming incessantly on the side.

Darian’s strength was not small; his toes had been smashed into a bloody mess, and the pain was excruciating; that kind of piercing, intense pain was difficult for even a battle-hardened warrior like Ronan to endure, almost overpowering the soreness in his body.

Corvus Glaive glanced at Ronan’s miserable state, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

He had just confidently stated that with him around, no one could hurt Ronan, intending to show off and intimidate everyone, but right after he finished speaking, the very next second he caused Ronan to be injured again; this slap in the face came too quickly.

However, embarrassment aside, Corvus Glaive felt more surprised than anything.

Darian’s strength was much stronger than he had anticipated.

His sneak attack just now had plenty of force, and he had assumed it would be enough to knock the pharaohs scepter directly out of Darian’s hand, but he had not expected it to only slightly deflect the direction of the pharaohs scepter.

Corvus Glaive cast his gaze onto Darian, his eyes holding a hint of interest: "I recognize you, Earthling, I did not expect you to appear here."

"Oh? Have you heard of my story?"

Darian raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a trace of surprise.

Earth was just a backwater little place in the Universe, its fame pitifully small; he had not expected Thanos’s subordinate to actually know of him.

But upon second thought, he felt it made perfect sense.

After all, that guy Thanos had always been extremely focused on all the Infinity Stones; the Battle of New York had his shadow behind it, so it was clear that his attention to Earth was definitely not a matter of one or two days.

It stood to reason that his subordinates would know his background.

Corvus Glaive did not answer his question, saying calmly: "Earthling, your strength is not bad; I will give you a chance to pledge allegiance to us and join the great Black Order."

As soon as these words were spoken, Ronan, who was screaming on the side, immediately became anxious.

He could not care about the sharp pain in his toes and shouted at Corvus Glaive: "Corvus Glaive, do not waste time with him, kill this damned Earthling for me!"

"You are not qualified to order me."

Corvus Glaive swept a cold glance at Ronan, his tone filled with disdain: "My Lord Thanos sent me to be responsible for supervising and investigating you, not to help you clean up the trouble you caused yourself."

Ronan gritted his teeth and retorted: "I still have a deal with Thanos..."

Corvus Glaive interrupted him directly: "That was only after you obtained the Cosmic Orb that we would take action to help you; before that, we were not supposed to interfere in any of your affairs. If it were not for the fact that you still have some utility value, I would not have bothered to save you, you useless guy."

Hearing Corvus Glaive’s mockery, Ronan’s face instantly became extremely ugly, but in the end, he did not retort.

Corvus Glaive did not pay any more attention to Ronan.

As one of The Black Order, a capable general under Thanos, he did not care about Ronan’s status at all.

He turned his head to look at Darian again and asked: "Earthling, what have you considered?"

Darian chuckled: "Easy, easy, if you want me to join, that is fine, but first tell me what the benefits are? Are there any newcomer perks? Like sending a few thousand artifacts as a welcome gift? I do not ask for much, just strength similar to the golden double-edged blade in your hand."

Corvus Glaive’s expression stiffened slightly.

You call this not asking for much?

The war blade in his hand was his life-bound weapon, the peerless blade, which was extremely precious; the entire Black Order could not find a second one.

This guy, on the other hand, asked for dozens of them as soon as he opened his mouth; even if The Black Order had a big business and deep heritage, it was impossible to just take out thousands of artifacts like wholesale junk.

Corvus Glaive paused, resumed his high-and-mighty expression, and said arrogantly: "Joining The Black Order, you will obtain supreme glory."

After hearing this, Darian immediately curled his lips.

This sounded nice, but was it not the same as those company bosses fooling employees, only talking about company glory without raising wages, only drawing big cakes without giving actual benefits?

Is this not just pure free-loading?

Darian sneered: "Thanos is a big shot in the Universe, I did not expect him to be so stingy, not even willing to give a small welcome gift, not paying wages but still wanting to free-load."

You call that a small welcome gift?

Dozens of artifacts, why do you not go to heaven!

Corvus Glaive cursed internally, his tone carrying a trace of unquestionable authority: "You have no other choice, either submit or die."

Darian nodded decisively: "Okay, then I will join."

Corvus Glaive was stunned, his expression instantly freezing.

He had already prepared to take action, but this Earthling had knelt down so readily.

The members of the Guardians of the Galaxy were even more dumbfounded.

It was disastrous; their leader had actually defected to the enemy camp.

Rocket gasped and muttered in a low voice: "What should we do? That guy seems to be Thanos’s man, looking even more dangerous than Ronan, even Darian has defected to the other side, should we just follow and defect too?"

"What nonsense are you talking about! We are the Guardians of the Galaxy, also people of status; if we just kneel like this, how will others look at us when we hang out in the Milky Way Galaxy in the future?"

Quill scolded Rocket for his cowardice, his eyes firm: "At least we have to wait for the other side to invite us before we talk!"

Rocket Raccoon rolled his eyes, the problem was that they had to think we were worthy!

Corvus Glaive came back to his senses, the corners of his mouth curling into a satisfied arc: "You have made a correct choice."

"Corvus Glaive, right? From now on, we are colleagues, please take care of me."

Darian was exceptionally enthusiastic and said happily: "Just joined The Black Order, I do not have anything presentable, but I have a gift I want to offer to the great My Lord Thanos to show my loyalty."

Corvus Glaive, upon hearing this, instantly became interested: "Oh? What gift is it?"

"The head of a traitor!"

Darian’s expression changed, he suddenly raised the pharaohs scepter, aimed it at Ronan, and shouted sternly: "Ronan the Accuser, you actually dared to hide the Cosmic Orb, conspiring for private gain behind My Lord Thanos’s back, and even claimed to trample My Lord Thanos under your feet, chop off My Lord Thanos’s dog head, and use My Lord Thanos’s head as a night pot, completely disregarding the great My Lord Thanos!"

Ronan: "???"

No, who the hell are you talking about!?

Although I did think that, when did I ever say those things?

Just as he was about to retort, a black tentacle that had been wrapped around him suddenly shot out and drilled directly into his mouth, filling the entire oral cavity.

"Mmmmmm!"

Ronan widened his eyes, making indistinct sounds in his throat, almost choking to death.

"It seems you have nothing left to say."

Darian sneered: "Today, I am going to clear out you damned traitor for My Lord Thanos!"

While speaking, he raised the pharaohs scepter high and smashed it down fiercely towards Ronan’s head again.

Clang!

The pharaohs scepter had just fallen halfway when it was firmly blocked by Corvus Glaive using the golden double-edged blade in his hand.

Darian looked at Corvus Glaive with a look of surprise and asked: "Corvus Glaive, what do you mean by this? I am clearing out a traitor for My Lord Thanos, why are you stopping me?"

Corvus Glaive held the pharaohs scepter firmly, veins bulging on his arms, secretly marveling in his heart that this Earthling’s strength was actually so great.

But on the surface, he remained calm and said coldly: "Ronan cannot die; he is still useful."

Darian said righteously: "But he betrayed My Lord Thanos! My Lord Thanos is sacred and inviolable; anyone who betrays him deserves to die! Today he must die, even Jesus cannot keep him, I said so!"

Ignoring Corvus Glaive’s obstruction, he suddenly withdrew the pharaohs scepter, and then swung it again, magic runes flashing on the scepter, blasting towards Ronan’s head.

Seeing this, Corvus Glaive hurriedly swung his blade to block again.

Boom!

The pharaohs scepter and the peerless blade collided fiercely, and a huge wave of air erupted between the two, rolling outwards.

The peerless blade in Corvus Glaive’s hand was indeed not simple; it was not inferior to Ronan’s universal weapon, and it could easily block even the enchanted pharaohs scepter.

After blocking this blow, Corvus Glaive finally could not help it and shouted angrily: "Damn it! Did you not hear what I said? I said Ronan cannot be killed; this is an order!"

Darian also got angry and glared at him, questioning: "Corvus Glaive, you have stopped me from killing the traitor again and again; what is your motive? Could it be that you are also colluding with Ronan and have betrayed My Lord Thanos?"

Such a big accusation was thrown on him, and Corvus Glaive subconsciously denied: "How is that possible? I have not... No, why am I explaining to you?"

Once the words were out, he suddenly realized.

He was an old employee of The Black Order, having gone through life and death with Thanos for many years, while Darian was just a newcomer who had just joined and had not even passed the probation period; this guy actually dared to turn around and question him, it was simply overturning the heavens!

Corvus Glaive suddenly exerted force, pushed the pharaohs scepter aside, and shouted: "You just need to obey orders obediently; if you dare to mess around again, I will kill you!"

Darian looked at him with disappointment and said painfully: "Corvus Glaive, it seems you have really betrayed My Lord Thanos; I am so disappointed in you."

Disappointed your mother!

Corvus Glaive’s eyes turned cold: "It seems you never intended to truly join The Black Order from the beginning."

He saw it now; Darian was clearly just playing with him.

"Since that is the case, then go to hell!"

Corvus Glaive did not hesitate, the golden double-edged blade in his hand turned into an afterimage, swinging towards Darian’s neck, the speed so fast that the naked eye could hardly catch it, the blade cutting through the air and making a sharp hiss.

Darian was prepared, raised the pharaohs scepter, and blocked it steadily.

"Angry because you were exposed? Want to kill me, a loyal subject who is loyal to My Lord Thanos, intending to silence me?"

"Fine, fine, fine, today I am going to clean up the portal for My Lord Thanos!"

Darian kept talking trash, and the pharaohs scepter in his hand was not idle either, backhanding a basic attack with magic, heading straight for Corvus Glaive’s face.

"You have been here less than half a minute, you are no loyal subject!"

Corvus Glaive roared, tilted his head to dodge the pharaohs scepter, and the peerless blade in his hand turned, transforming into countless afterimages, covering Darian from all directions.

The blade light wove into an airtight net, wrapping Darian entirely, every slash aiming for vital points, fast and ruthless.

Darian instantly activated the Dead Eye, and the World around him slowed down, the trajectory of Corvus Glaive’s blade clearly presented before his eyes.

He dodged left and right, the pharaohs scepter blocking repeatedly, the clanging sound of gold and iron colliding was as dense as popping beans, terrifying energy exploded between the two, sparks flying, shaking the surrounding ground until it cracked with fine lines.

"Such a fast blade!"

Darian was secretly shocked.

Corvus Glaive’s speed was more than a notch faster than Ronan’s, and the angle of his slashes was tricky and vicious, completely different from Ronan’s open-and-close hammer style.

Darian fought and retreated, his footsteps getting faster and faster, but Corvus Glaive’s blade shadow always stuck to his face, like a shadow that could not be shaken off, several times the blade edge almost grazed his vital points.

What was even more terrifying was that even the energy shield of the Protection Spell could not fully block it; that peerless blade was ridiculously sharp, piercing directly through, and the energy shield was like paper in front of it.

Darian did not want to be on the receiving end, waved his large hand, and several white balls filled with holy light flew out from his palm, surging into Corvus Glaive’s body.

Weakness, slowness, poisoning, bleeding, dizziness...

Corvus Glaive’s movements suddenly stalled, and the blade shadow appeared with a momentary pause.

Taking this opportunity, Darian swung the pharaohs scepter violently, all the magic runes on the scepter lighting up simultaneously, carrying colorful light, and smashed it towards Corvus Glaive’s forehead.

Under the slow-motion lens of the Dead Eye, Corvus Glaive’s head instantly deformed, the muscles of his cheeks pushed back by the Impact, both cheeks swinging wildly like fan blades of a blower, his facial features distorted to the point where it was almost impossible to see the original appearance.

Bang!!

Accompanied by a loud noise.

Corvus Glaive flew out like a cannonball from the chamber, hitting the wall in the distance, smashing out a big hole.

This would have been hard for Ronan to take.

However, a hand was immediately placed on the edge of the pit, slowly pulling the body out of the wall.

Corvus Glaive stood up.

I saw a big hole sunken into the bridge of his nose on his face, and half of his face had collapsed.

Theoretically, with such injuries, a normal person would have died long ago.

But Corvus Glaive was like nothing had happened, just tilted his head, forcibly snapped his twisted neck back, making a tooth-aching sound of bone friction.

Immediately after, one could see the depression on his head starting to bulge slowly, the collapsed bones automatically resetting, and the wound healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In just a few breaths, that gray face returned to normal, not even leaving a scar.

At the same time, those negative statuses that Darian had just applied to him also disappeared one after another quickly.

***************************

Thoughts on where the plot is heading? Let me know in the comments! If you’re enjoying the ride, please leave a quick review and toss a few Power Stones my way. Every bit of support means the world! 🙌