In the heart of the desolated city, amidst the chaos and bloodshed, the figure of Thanos strode towards the most massive building in Attilan, a stark silhouette against the backdrop of destruction. His pace was unhurried, almost leisurely, like a king surveying his conquered kingdom.

Surrounding him, a phalanx of nightmarish creatures from the Swarm shielded him, their grotesque forms forming a living barricade around the Titan. The Swarm moved with a terrifying unity, their bug-like bodies squirming and writhing, a grotesque shield that repelled any who dared approach their master. Their eyes, cold and unfeeling, scanned the battlefield, mercilessly cutting down any Inhuman who dared to challenge the Mad Titan.

Suddenly, a brave or perhaps foolish Inhuman made a desperate attempt to strike at Thanos. A powerful surge of energy burst from his hands, illuminating the battlefield in a blinding flash. Yet, before he could reach his target, the Swarm intercepted him. In a chilling display of efficiency, they ripped him apart mid-air, his desperate cry echoing across the battlefield before being swallowed by the monstrous roars of the Swarm.

High above, an ethereal figure floated, its humanoid form strangely out of place amidst the monstrous Swarm. Its eyes glowed with an eerie light, its gaze piercing through the chaos, watching over its master's space with an unnerving vigilance. It was as if the battlefield was under its omnipotent surveillance, and no enemy could escape its watchful gaze. In his mind, Thanos conversed with the voice that had guided him throughout his conquest.

'If that little guy fails his mission, you have an emergency plan, right?'

The voice queried, its tone a strange mix of amusement and concern. "Of course," Thanos replied, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "It will be a little harder to eliminate the big shots, but..." His voice trailed off as the ground beneath him shuddered.

With an almost bored expression, Thanos sidestepped just as an armored Inhuman erupted from beneath, his blade swinging in a lethal arc that sliced through the air where Thanos had stood moments before. The Inhuman clicked his tongue in annoyance at his missed opportunity, quickly retreating back into the earth, away from the inexpressive gaze of the Titan.

"With enough numbers, even worlds can be conquered."

Thanos finished his earlier statement, his gaze following the retreating figure. At this audacious attack on their master, the Swarm erupted into a chorus of enraged screeches. Like a wrathful wave, a large number of them burrowed into the ground, their bodies disappearing beneath the cobblestones as they hunted down the insolent Inhuman who had dared to strike at their master.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

'Hahaha! That's just brute forcing... my favorite plan!'

The voice in Thanos's head laughed, its tone echoing the Titan's own satisfaction. Elsewhere, a gargantuan Alpha, drenched in crimson, engaged in a brutal dance of death with a group of Inhumans. Its movements were a blur, its monstrous form darting amidst the attacks. Energy blasts were sidestepped, elemental onslaughts deflected, and even the mental attacks seemed to have little to no effect.

The beast simply shook its head, as if warding off an annoying insect, before swiftly eliminating the source of the psychic assault. In a fierce one-on-one battle, the Alpha wrestled with a particularly resilient Inhuman, a man whose armored form proved a challenge for the creature's savage claws. The other survivors launched a barrage of attacks at the Alpha, but their efforts were largely ineffectual.

The agile beast deftly maneuvered around the onslaught, its monstrous form a blur against the backdrop of the city's ruins. Their energy blasts and elemental attacks whizzed past the creature, only to explode harmlessly in the background.

Despite the monstrous creature's overwhelming strength, the armored Inhuman held his ground. With a roar, he lunged at the Alpha, his powerful arms wrapping around the creature's twisted form. "Now!" he bellowed, a call to his comrades.

A woman stepped forward, her palms glowing with pulsating energy. She launched herself at the Alpha, her form a streak of light against the dark backdrop of the ruined city. Her energy blast hit the creature squarely in the abdomen, a blinding explosion that tore through the Alpha and sent it crashing into a nearby building.

The impact shattered the silence, a thunderous roar that echoed throughout the city. Rubble and dust billowed into the air, obscuring their vision. A collective sigh of relief swept through the group as the Alpha lay motionless amidst the debris.

"We got him," the armored Inhuman declared, his voice a mixture of exhaustion and triumph. He turned to his comrades, a grim smile on his bloodied face. "Let's go and hel-"

"Watch out!" a voice cried out. But It was too late. Before the armored Inhuman could react, a blade-like limb shot out from the dust and slashed across his eyes. He howled in pain, his hands instinctively reaching up to clutch at his bleeding face.

A chilling screech echoed from the dust cloud, announcing the resurgence of the Alpha. The monstrous creature emerged, its body slowly advancing. The sight of the rapidly healing Alpha sent a wave of dread through the surviving Inhumans. Their breath hitched in their throats as they watched the creature slowly turn its head in an unnatural angle to look at them. Its yellow, predatory eyes glinted with cruel amusement.

The survivors took a step back, their hearts pounding in their chests. The Alpha was not just alive; it was fully healed and reinvigorated, a specter of death slowly advancing towards them. Their main defender was now incapacitated, writhing in agony as he clutched his bleeding face. The Alpha's grotesque chuckle filled the air, a horrifying soundtrack to their impending doom.

Amidst the pandemonium, Thanos observed the scene from afar, a pleased smile on his face. His telepathic link with the Swarm allowed him to follow the fight, his satisfaction growing as the Alpha demonstrated its advanced adaptive capabilities.

"They grow up so fast," a voice in his head mused, its tone a strange mix of nostalgia and glee. "I remember when he was still dismembering his first victim even though it was already dead."

Thanos listened to the voice's jubilations, his lips curling into a knowing smirk. The Swarm was indeed evolving, becoming more powerful with each passing moment. And with a stronger Swarm, he could challenge the heavyweights of the cosmic chessboard.

His gaze shifted to the city's grand building in the distance, the royale palace. His steps unfaltering amidst the chaos. His path was clear, his resolve unshaken. This was just the beginning. The true test was yet to come.