Star-Lord remained safely within the Cosmic Mercenary Union, his gaze fixed on the massive holo-screen displaying the ongoing battle between Nova Corps, Ronan the Accuser, and Yondu's Marauder Legion. The entire war was being broadcast in real time, with cosmic mercenaries and bounty hunters watching with bated breath.
"I didn't expect Ronan's forces to struggle so much. The Nova Corps' defense is stronger than I thought," one mercenary murmured.
"Of course! The Nova Corps isn't just some random force. They're one of the top ten intergalactic powerhouses," another replied.
"Ronan's fleet alone could never take on the entire Nova Corps. Now, if the Kree Empire's full armada was involved, that would be different."
"But what's Yondu thinking? The Marauders actually dared to openly attack Nova Corps alongside Ronan?"
"Why else? Money. A six-billion-unit bounty is enough to make any pirate take risks."
The room burst into murmurs of agreement, their eyes flickering toward Star-Lord, who sat apart, sipping his drink. He was the key to all of this—the man with two billion credits on his head, and indirectly responsible for the four-billion-unit war over the Power Stone hidden inside the Orb.
Even Gamora was among them, though she had originally come to Xandar for the Orb itself. However, with Nova Corps heavily guarding it, she had little choice but to bide her time at the Cosmic Mercenary Union. If an opportunity arose, she wouldn't hesitate to claim a slice of the two-billion-unit bounty on Star-Lord.
Just then, a sudden exclamation echoed through the hall—
"Look at the battlefield! What the hell is that?!"
All eyes snapped to the screen.
An enormous, mechanized suit had emerged from behind Nova Corps' Nova Barrier, plunging into the battlefield like a falling star. The hulking armor effortlessly tore through the Marauder Legion and Ronan's Accuser fleet.
"The Centurion Armor?! But… it's never been this powerful before!" a bounty hunter gasped.
The screen showed the shocking moment Ronan was sent flying with a single punch from the Nova Centurion's colossal mechanized suit.
This wasn't normal. Ronan was an elite warrior, a Kree super-soldier enhanced through countless battles, wielding the legendary Universal Weapon, a warhammer infused with cosmic energy manipulation technology. He was strong enough to challenge Thanos' Black Order and was feared throughout the galaxy.
And yet, this single Nova Centurion, in his enhanced Centurion Armor, had crushed Ronan as if he were nothing.
"Wait… look at the chest of that armor!"
A sharp-eyed mercenary pointed at the display.
In the center of the Nova Centurion's armor, embedded within its core power matrix, a glowing blue gem radiated a terrifying energy.
"That… that's the Power Stone from the Orb!" Star-Lord muttered under his breath.
Realization hit the room like an explosion.
"Nova Corps actually managed to harness the Power Stone?!"
"No, that's impossible. The Power Stone's raw energy would obliterate anyone unworthy. Even Ronan barely controlled it when he fused it into his warhammer!"
"They must be using their Nova Force technology to channel it through the Centurion Armor!"
While the mercenaries debated, the battlefield descended into chaos.
The Dark Aster, Ronan's massive warship, was struggling to stay airborne, its left wing pierced straight through by the Centurion Armor's devastating strike. Marauder starfighters were dropping like flies, overwhelmed by the overwhelming energy of Nova Corps' counterattack.
Yondu, furiously whistling, fired his Yaka Arrow in rapid succession, but even the highly lethal Centauri weaponry couldn't break through the Nova Centurion's energy shield, powered by the Power Stone.
Ronan, bloodied but enraged, grabbed his Universal Weapon and charged, hoping to reclaim the Infinity Stone.
But before he could, something far more terrifying happened.
The Arrival of the Holy Heavenly Palace
Just as Xandar's Archon—the leader of Nova Corps—was beginning to celebrate her unexpected triumph, a massive spatial rift split open above Xandar.
From the portal emerged Ragna, seated upon the Throne of the Holy Heavenly Palace, accompanied by the celestial Holy Keisha wielding the Space Stone.
The First Angel Legion, an elite army of Heaven's most powerful warriors, descended from the heavens like divine executioners. Their arrival shook the very fabric of reality, forcing even the mighty Nova Corps to hesitate.
"The Ruler of the Heavenly Palace… He's actually here?!"
The Nova Centurion, sensing Ragna's overwhelming presence, immediately ceased fire, reorienting Nova Corps to defensive formation. The entire planet Xandar trembled in fear.
Even though the Centurion Armor possessed the Power Stone, its user lacked the physical constitution to fully harness its full capabilities. The Nova Corps' attempt to control the Infinity Stone through technology was an impressive feat, but compared to Ragna's absolute authority, it was laughable.
Without a word, Ragna raised his hand.
The First Angel Legion, with terrifying precision, ripped through Nova Corps' defenses, their divine energy overwhelming even the Power Stone's barrier.
Holy Keisha, wielding the Space Stone, teleported directly inside the Centurion Armor, bypassing its defenses entirely.
"Foolish mortals. You were never meant to wield this power."
A flash of blinding energy engulfed the battlefield as Keisha's mastery over space warped the Centurion Armor apart—
First the helmet.
Then the limbs.
Then the torso.
In a matter of seconds, the once-mighty Centurion Armor was reduced to scraps, leaving only a single, floating blue gem—the Power Stone—shining in the void.
With a graceful movement, Holy Keisha retrieved the stone, placing it inside an ornate containment box before kneeling before Ragna.
"My lord, I present to you the Power Stone."
Ragna, still seated upon his heavenly throne, casually took the box.
Then, he tossed the Power Stone into the hands of Angel Yan, the newly anointed commander of his divine legions.
"Take it. You'll need it for what comes next."
The Angel Legion knelt in unison, their radiant wings shining with divine power.
Back in the Cosmic Mercenary Union, stunned silence filled the room.
Someone finally whispered—
"How powerful is the Holy Heavenly Palace…?"
Some turned to the Known Universe Power Rankings, looking for Holy Keisha's name.
But it wasn't there.
"Why is she not ranked? She's obviously strong enough to destroy entire planetary armies!"
Their questions remained unanswered, but one thing became painfully clear:
No force in the universe—whether Nova Corps, the Kree Empire, or even the Celestials—stood a chance against the Holy Heavenly Palace.
And for those watching, one terrifying question remained:
If this was only the First Angel Legion… then what would happen if Ragna personally joined the war?
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