Marvel : Super Soldier at the Start

"Pfft!" 

Blake couldn't hold back his laughter. 

"You talk as if you can actually stop us." 

Blake wasn't confident that everyone would come out unscathed if they fought, but if his companions were dead set on leaving—especially with Thanos and most of his forces occupied by him—he seriously doubted they could be stopped. 

As if to prove Blake's point, Thor swung his hammer and instantly shattered the metal wall in front of him into countless fragments. 

Ebony Maw, however—whether out of sheer arrogance or sheer stupidity—furiously cursed at them right in Blake's face. 

"You pathetic insects! We haven't even given you permission to leave—" 

**Smack!** 

Just as he was about to lift his arm and use his telekinesis to crush them with surrounding metal, Blake tore open space itself and landed a loud, resounding slap across his gaunt face. 

It turned out that, no matter the civilization or species, some things were universal among intelligent beings—such as the rule: *Never slap a man in the face.* 

And with that one slap, Ebony Maw's fragile pride came crumbling down. 

As the leader of the Black Order, he prided himself on being far above the others in both intelligence and combat ability. Even before meeting Thanos, he had believed that no one in the universe could make him submit. 

Yet now, this proud being had just been slapped across the face. Hard. 

"You… you dare strike my face with your filthy hand? You wretched Earthling, I will—" 

**Smack!** 

Another crisp slap. 

"I told you, do not strike my—" 

**Smack!** 

A perfect three-hit combo. 

But Blake wasn't done. He opened a portal, yanked Ebony Maw right next to him, and without a moment's hesitation, began unleashing an onslaught of slaps. 

A faint blue glow flickered around him—the protective energy of the Space Stone, forming one of the strongest defenses in the universe. Meanwhile, Blake continued his merciless barrage, slapping Ebony Maw's shriveled face left and right without pause. 

"Your master got beaten around like a damn badminton shuttle, and you really think you can stand against me? You dare call my friends 'insects'? You're nothing but a second-rate sorcerer who can't even fight up close—who gave you the arrogance to act like this?" 

Over a dozen slaps later, Ebony Maw's once-gaunt face was swollen to the size of Thanos' broad jaw. 

Disgusted, Blake casually tossed him aside like garbage. But as if that weren't enough, he stomped down, mercilessly driving Ebony Maw's head into the metal floor, embedding it deep into the surface. 

Only after spitting disdainfully at him did Blake finally turn to Thanos' remaining forces. His expression was a hundred times more arrogant than Ebony Maw's had been moments ago. 

"Anyone else have a problem? Step forward." 

His foot remained firmly planted on Ebony Maw's barely moving chest. 

The Black Order collectively swallowed hard and, as if perfectly synchronized, took a giant step back—unknowingly making Thanos stand out even more.

"Let him go!" 

Thanos, having failed himself, didn't blame his subordinate. Instead, he looked at Blake with a calm expression, though his already purple face seemed to darken even further. 

"Let him go? Give me a reason." 

Blake chuckled. If Tony and the others successfully got away, he wouldn't mind wiping out Thanos' entire crew right here and now. 

Thanos didn't speak. Instead, he simply pointed toward the sky. 

The ceiling of the plaza was made of transparent material, allowing a clear view of the outside. 

Blake looked up and saw that the *Wright* had yet to take off. Above it, besides the *Sanctuary III*, even more of those "doughnut" ships had arrived, now densely packed to the point of completely surrounding *Knowhere*. 

"I know your ship is made of a unique material, but we are not as foolish as Ronan. Are you truly confident your friends can break through this blockade?" 

Blake narrowed his eyes. 

"Or do you believe your portals can save everyone in the few seconds before that ship is blown apart? You have allies with normal human bodies—do you think they can survive in the vacuum of space? A single second, and they'll be frozen solid." 

Thanos had pinpointed Blake's biggest concern—his companions' safety. Even though Tony had reinforced the ship's bridge with vibranium, there was no guarantee it could withstand a planetary-class weapon from *Sanctuary III*. 

And it wasn't just them—*Knowhere* was full of civilians, including dozens of Black Widows who had come from Earth to help manage the Tivan Group. 

"I acknowledge your strength. I lost today. But I am injured—I wasn't at full power. I *will* come for you again. However, if you kill my men today, I swear I will do everything in my power to ensure your friends *never* leave this place—by any means necessary." 

Blake fell silent. 

"You're saying… you're injured? You weren't at full strength?" 

After a moment of contemplation, Blake finally spoke. 

"Obviously! If Lord Thanos weren't injured, you think you could've beaten him? Hah—mmph!" 

Before Thanos could respond, Ebony Maw—who had slightly regained consciousness—hurried to defend his master, only to be promptly stomped back into silence by Blake. 

"Yes, I am wounded," Thanos confirmed. "But I admit, even if I were at full power, someone who can open portals at will would still be a headache to deal with. I lost today. But I *will* return for you. So let us leave, and your friends can go safely as well. This place is yours—I swear I will not send anyone to disturb it." 

Blake mulled over his options. Killing Thanos now would undoubtedly be a good thing. But at the same time, leaving him alive was undeniably a risk. 

However, looking at it another way, his own strength was growing at a far greater pace than his enemies'. By the time Thanos returned, who knew how powerful he would have become? There was no need to risk his friends' lives over this. 

Having made his decision, Blake flicked his foot, sending Ebony Maw's limp body flying back toward Thanos with a single kick. 

Thanos did not lie. His forces did not stop the *Wright* from escaping the blockade, and Blake did not stop Thanos and his followers from leaving.

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