As soon as Max and Malaika stepped forward, the large holographic doors slid open, revealing Nova Prime Irani Rael sitting at a sleek, futuristic table inside a large conference room.
Her expression was stern, her sharp eyes locked onto Max.
"Welcome to Nova Corps Headquarters, Max Ryder."
Max smirked, walking in as if he owned the place.
He casually took a seat in one of the chairs. "I hope this is important. You interrupted my meal."
Nova Prime's gaze didn't waver.
"Let's not waste time, then. What exactly is your purpose here on Xandar?"
The room fell silent as everyone waited for his answer.
Max shrugged. "Can't I just tour around? I mean, my planet was attacked by the Dark Elves, I killed them, took their ship, and now I'm just traveling through space, seeing what's out there."
Nova Prime studied him carefully, trying to determine whether he was telling the truth or bluffing.
After a brief pause, she finally spoke. "Is that all you want?"
Max nodded. "That will be all."
Nova Prime sighed. "Very well, Mr. Ryder. You're free to enjoy your stay on Xandar."
Max nodded in acknowledgment. "What are some famous spots here?"
She gave him a list of popular locations before dismissing him.
Leaving Nova Corps Headquarters, Max walked out with Malaika and a tour guide assigned to him, ready to explore the city—while secretly keeping his true mission in mind.
With Malaika by his side and a Nova Corps-assigned tour guide, Max began exploring Xandar's famous locations.
The cityscape was breathtaking, filled with floating buildings, advanced technology, and an endless sky of speeding hovercrafts.
The tour guide led them through some of the most famous landmarks, including:
The Nova Empire Archives – A vast library containing records of civilizations across the galaxy.
The Grand Market – A massive shopping district filled with exotic goods from across the universe.
The Celestial Dome – A structure dedicated to understanding cosmic phenomena.
Despite appearing interested, Max was secretly scanning the crowd, searching for his real target—a criminal worth sacrificing for the Soul Stone.
As they walked through the Grand Market, Max's sharp senses picked up whispers from the underground world.
A group of shady individuals gathered in a corner, speaking in hushed tones, exchanging what seemed to be illegal goods.
Max turned to Malaika and spoke discreetly. "Run a scan on them."
Malaika nodded, her eyes briefly glowing as she analyzed their identities.
"Master, the leader of that group is Krael Voss—a notorious smuggler and human trafficker. He has a record of multiple war crimes."
Max smiled slightly. "Well, I think we found our sacrifice."
Malaika simply nodded, understanding what had to be done.
As Max and Malaika continued their tour, a shadow slipped past him, moving unseen through the crowd.
At the same time, Krael Voss, who was dining with his group of criminals, suddenly vanished into his own shadow.
It happened so silently that even the criminals sitting beside him didn't notice at first.
Only when someone tried speaking to him did they realize—he was gone.
Panic spread among them as they looked around, their eyes darting in every direction.
They checked their surroundings, searching for any sign of him, but found nothing.
Meanwhile, the shadow that had swallowed Krael reappeared, seamlessly merging back into Max.
Max smirked slightly, satisfied with how smoothly the capture had gone.
Their Nova Corps guide, oblivious to everything, continued explaining Xandar's famous locations, unaware that a wanted criminal had just been abducted right under their noses.
Malaika, walking beside Max, remained calm, but the faint glow in her eyes showed her amusement.
With the sacrifice secured, Max chose not to rush to Vormir just yet.
Instead, he decided to fully experience what Xandar had to offer. After all, it wasn't every day he got to visit a thriving utopian civilization with such advanced technology and stunning landscapes.
Malaika, ever loyal and observant, followed his lead, ensuring he enjoyed himself while also keeping watch for any unexpected threats.
1. The Sky Gardens One of Xandar's most breathtaking sights, the Sky Gardens were floating botanical gardens, suspended high in the air through anti-gravity technology.
As Max and Malaika walked along the levitating platforms, they saw:
Exotic alien flora, some glowing softly, others shifting colors.
Transparent bridges allowing visitors to walk over floating rivers.
Holographic butterflies that reacted to their movements.
Max casually plucked a fruit from a hanging tree, taking a bite.
"Not bad." He nodded in approval, enjoying the sweet yet slightly spicy taste.
Malaika, always curious, tried one herself, analyzing the flavor with a neutral expression.
"A unique blend of nutrients. I suppose it has its charm."
They continued onward, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere before heading to their next stop.
2. Nova Citadel – The Heart of the Nova Empire
Max and Malaika arrived at the Nova Citadel, the grand central hub of the Nova Corps and the political center of the Nova Empire.
The Citadel itself was a massive golden-white structure, radiating power and authority.
Inside, they walked through vast halls filled with historical records, holograms of great battles, and statues of legendary Nova warriors.
As they observed the advanced security and defense systems, Malaika whispered to Max,
"The Nova Empire is formidable, but compared to you, their strength is… lacking."
Max chuckled. "Of course it is. I'm not here to conquer, though. Just enjoying the tour."
A few Nova officials watched them cautiously, but since they had been personally escorted earlier, no one dared to question them.
Satisfied, Max and Malaika left, heading to a more relaxing destination.
3. Crystal Shores – A Beach of Shimmering Light
As the sun began to set, they made their way to Crystal Shores, an otherworldly beach where the sand was made of fine, glowing blue crystals.
Walking barefoot on the shore, Max smirked as the crystals reacted to their steps, creating ripples of light with each movement.
Malaika, standing beside him, looked out at the violet-colored ocean, waves shimmering like liquid diamonds.
"Xandar's beauty is undeniable." She admitted.
***
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