Chapter 211: The Cosmic Orb (Part 2)
Star-Lord lowered his head stiffly, looking at the orb in his arms.
It was flickering in his hands like a holographic image with a bad signal, fading, and finally, with a soft 'poof', it dissipated into the air.
An illusion. From beginning to end, the thing he had risked his life to steal was just an illusion.
And the real one had been in the other party's hands all along.
Star-Lord opened his mouth, but no words came out.
klein looked at Star-Lord as if he were admiring a monkey in a zoo.
"You're quite interesting, but your brain isn't very bright. Should I praise your courage or scold you for being hopelessly stupid?"
"You... you you you..." Star-Lord was tongue-tied, stuttering for a long time without being able to force out a complete sentence.
Enormous terror nearly suffocated him. He had clearly seen this monster get pinned down by the Kree! He had clearly sprinted all the way without looking back!
How did he get up here? When did he get up here? And when did he turn the Cosmic Orb into an illusion?
"How did I get up here?" klein asked the question for him. "I just walked up. You opened the door, I came in; you closed the door, I sat down. The process was quite simple."
"Im... Impossible! The Kree... those Kree soldiers..."
"Oh, you mean that trash at the door?" klein yawned.
"How many seconds could cleaning up trash possibly take?! If I hadn't dealt with them, do you think you could have run away?"
Star-Lord was struck as if by lightning. That was right; when he escaped, the sounds of battle behind him seemed to have quieted down far too quickly...
It wasn't a case of both sides suffering losses, but a one-sided massacre!
Just moments ago, after Star-Lord had detonated his pre-set explosives to create chaos and seize the chance to flee, klein had stopped playing with those Kree soldiers.
He had simply waved his hand casually at the squad of Kree soldiers rushing in.
Those dozen or so fully armed Kree elites were wiped clean from the canvas of reality, as if erased by a giant, invisible eraser.
No sound, no light or shadow, no energy fluctuations.
Every trace of their existence returned to nothingness with that single wave, as if they had never appeared.
klein bent down, picked up the real Cosmic Orb, and then unhurriedly followed behind that idiotic youth who thought his plan had succeeded and was fleeing frantically, walking step by step back into that small spaceship.
...
Inside the cabin, there was a dead silence.
klein toyed with the real Cosmic Orb, looking at Star-Lord in the co-pilot seat—whose face was ashen and eyes were vacant—and suddenly found it a bit funny.
"Do you know why you've played me twice, yet I haven't crushed you to death?"
Star-Lord shook his head, his throat too dry to make any sound.
"Because I am also an Earthling."
"What?!" Star-Lord snapped his head up, his eyes filled with disbelief. "You... you're also an Earthling?!"
"Otherwise? Why else would I show you mercy time and time again?
In the vast Universe, those who can make it out of that little broken ball are few and far between. The two of us can barely be considered fellow townsmen."
He sized Star-Lord up, a strange smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
"Moreover, I always feel that you're very similar to two of my friends, though they aren't as idiotic as you!" klein was referring to Peter Parker and Pietro.
"...Thanks. You didn't have to say that last part." Star-Lordsqueezed out a dry sentence in a raspy voice.
"Don't mention it." klein waved his hand casually, his expression turning slightly more serious as his gaze fell back to the Cosmic Orb in his hand.
"I'm not stopping you from touching this because it's so precious that I'm unwilling to part with it, nor is it because I think I'm more worthy of owning it. It's because, with your current strength, you really can't hold onto it."
Seeing Star-Lord's still somewhat confused and indignant gaze, he decided to speak plainly.
"Do you know what is sealed inside this Cosmic Orb?"
Star-Lord shook his head again. He only knew it was an ancient treasure containing immense energy; as for what it specifically was, that old man who sold the information had been vague.
"The Power Stone. It is one of the six Infinity Stones that have existed since the beginning of creation, the manifestation of the foundational power that constitutes this Universe. The energy it contains can almost be called infinite."
He stared into Star-Lord's instantly constricted pupils.
"You are just a mortal with a bit of cleverness, some martial arts skills, and a broken ship. You want to touch a cosmic holy relic of this level?
It's like a child who just learned to walk insisting on parading through the market with a fortune. There is only one outcome: after others have stripped you clean, you'll be physically eliminated."
"An ordinary man is innocent, but possessing a jade treasure makes him guilty. This logic holds true throughout the Universe.
Look, you've only just found the place, and Ronan's mad dogs have already caught the scent and pounced.
The Kree Empire is just one of them. There are forces in the Universe stronger, more ruthless, and more unscrupulous than them, as numerous as the stars.
Do you think that you, or that band of Raiders you work with who are just scraping by in the Universe, can protect this thing?"
klein's words struck Star-Lord's heart word by word.
"Never mind you, even Yondu, even if you brought the entire Raider fleet here, in the eyes of a true cosmic crocodile, you'd be nothing more than slightly stronger ants.
Once this thing is exposed, it will be a catastrophe for you and those around you."
Star-Lord listened in silence, the expression on his face shifting constantly.
Fear, unwillingness, doubt, and a hint of the embarrassment of having his mind read.
He admitted that klein's words made sense, but the greed for a priceless treasure deep in his heart was like a weed that was difficult to completely uproot.
Seeing his look, klein suddenly smiled. With a flick of his wrist, he actually tossed the Cosmic Orb—something that drove countless forces mad—back to Star-Lord!
Star-Lord scrambled to catch it. The cold sensation gave him a jolt, and he looked up in shock.
"Continue doing what you originally intended," klein said, leaning back in his seat. "How about we make a bet?"
Star-Lord gripped the Cosmic Orb tightly, feeling the heart-palpitating energy fluctuations faintly coming from within, but he slowly shook his head.
"There's no need. I never bet on a game I'm certain to lose." He took a deep breath and looked at klein with a complex gaze.
"I just... understand less and less what you're trying to do. You possess power I can't comprehend, you know so many secrets, but you don't seem that keen on the Infinity Stoneseither.
You tell me all this and then give the stone back to me. What exactly is your purpose?"
"My purpose? That's too far away for you, kid. So far away that it's like an ant being unable to understand why humans build spaceships.
What you need to do now is simple. Just as you planned when you intended to keep it for yourself: contact Yonduand tell him you got the Cosmic Orb, but you don't plan to hand it over; you'll handle it yourself.
Then, take it to Xandar, or whatever your originally planned next stop was.
Go see if things develop as I predicted. Go see how many vultures and jackals you'll attract when you hold a great treasure but don't have the strength to match it.
Go see how long that little bit of cleverness and luck of yours can hold up in the face of a true cosmic-level crisis."
Chapter 212: Xandar
Star-Lord shook his head violently, leaning back with his arms crossed, his face written with a refusal to cooperate.
"No, I refuse. Until you tell me exactly what you're trying to do, I'm not doing a damn thing for you."
klein looked at his guarded and stubborn appearance, but instead of getting angry, he nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
"Fine, at least you have some spine. You weren't blinded by the gem and still know to ask for an explanation. I need to deliver this gem to where it belongs."
"You went through all that trouble to dig it out of that ancient temple just to send it somewhere else?" Star-Lord's face was full of confusion and skepticism.
"If the end result is just giving it away, why did you go through such great lengths to find it in the first place? Isn't that just like taking off your pants to fart—completely redundant?"
"If I hadn't found it, someone else would have. Ronan's people have already caught the scent, which proves the news leaked long ago."
"Since the Cosmic Orb was destined to be found, why not let the outcome be under my control as much as possible?"
After hearing this, Star-Lord scratched his hair irritably, his face showing undisguised disgust.
"I hate people like you the most! Talking in riddles, with more schemes than holes in a Hive. You take one sentence and split it into eight parts, taking eighteen turns just to be understood!"
"Life itself is made of countless twists and turns, kid. In this Universe where the strong prey on the weak, if you don't want to be a pawn moved by others, or if you even want to sit by the board and play the game one day..."
"You first have to survive various treacherous situations as a pawn. If your heart isn't hard enough, your calculations aren't deep enough, and you can't see the pits at your feet or the nets above your head, then you'll just die. There's no other way out."
Star-Lord stared at klein for a long while, seemingly chewing over every word he said.
Finally, he let out a heavy breath of turbid air as if he had made some sort of decision. He turned abruptly and gripped the ship's controls with both hands.
"Sit tight," he said sullenly. He stopped asking questions and simply pushed the throttle. The ship turned nimbly and sped toward the coordinates for Xandar marked on the navigation chart.
During the long sub-light cruise phase, Star-Lord reached out and activated an encrypted communication channel.
Seconds later, Yondu's iconic blue face appeared on the screen, his red fin-like crest twitching slightly, showing that his mood was anything but calm.
"Boy! You better fucking tell me everything is normal over there!" Yondu's voice carried suppressed fury and a trace of undetectable anxiety.
"Yondu, I got the thing. The Cosmic Orb is in my hands."
On the other side of the screen, Yondu's anger clearly exploded.
"Are you fucking crazy?! Do you know how many eyes are staring at that thing right now? That mad dog Ronan is searching everywhere for it!"
"Just you? With our few pieces of junk ships? How the fuck are we supposed to fight the entire Kree fleet?! Right now! Immediately! Get your ass back here with that thing! Now!"
Yondu knew all too well that this time Star-Lord hadn't just kicked a hornet's nest; he had kicked a Stellar Furnace!
With the Raiders' current strength, directly confronting the Kree Empire was no different from suicide.
He was frantically yelling for Star-Lord to return because, as the leader of the Raiders, he planned to use his connections and methods in the gray zones to try and negotiate with the Kree.
Even if it cost a huge price, he wanted to at least save the life of this brat who didn't know the heights of the heavens.
However, Star-Lord just quietly listened to his adoptive father's roar and then slowly shook his head.
"No, Yondu. This time, I'll handle it myself." He glanced at klein, who was resting with his eyes closed as if none of this concerned him, and continued to the screen,
"I don't want to drag you and the fleet into this vortex. This thing is a hot potato; whoever takes it is cursed. I caused this mess, and I'll carry it."
"Carry my ass! What are you going to carry it with?! Peter Quill! I order you—" Before Yondu could finish, Star-Lordreached out and decisively cut the communication.
The screen went dark.
In the distant command room of the Raiders' mothership, Yondu stared at the screen that had turned to static, his chest heaving violently.
"That little brat who doesn't value his life..." he growled through gritted teeth.
But the next moment, a flash of decisiveness crossed his eyes. He knew Star-Lord; once that boy got stubborn, ten Space Behemoths couldn't pull him back. Since he couldn't be persuaded back, he would save him in his own way!
"Pass the order!" Yondu turned and barked at his subordinates in the command room. "In my name, Yondu Udonta, issue a bounty to the black markets and intelligence networks across the entire known sector!"
"Target: Peter Quill, code name Star-Lord! Charge: Theft of vital organizational property! Reward... make it astronomical!"
"I want every hyena and vulture in the Universe to know he has something good on him!"
The subordinate was stunned. "Leader, this... isn't this pushing Quill to his death?"
"What the hell do you know!" Yondu spat. "Muddy waters make for better fishing! The more people watching him, the messier the scene, and the less the Kree Empire will dare to directly seize him in broad daylight!"
"Under everyone's noses, it's harder for them to play dirty! Move! Get it done!"
...
On the other side, after several jumps, the ship finally arrived at the outer orbit of Xandar.
Through the viewport, the beautiful green Planet was already visible, along with the space cities orbiting it and the busy space lanes.
Star-Lord set the ship to auto-docking mode and then turned to klein.
"We're here. Xandar, the home base of the Nova Corps. It's safe enough and busy enough."
"Now, can you tell me? You went through all this effort to get it here; what exactly are you planning to do?"
klein finally opened his eyes. He stood up, walked to the viewport, and looked down at the vibrant Planetbelow, a hint of pure curiosity on his face, like a tourist entering a city for the first time.
"Take a guess?" He turned back and grinned at Star-Lord.
"Alright, you'll find out, but not right now."
"I've never been here before. I heard Xandar is quite prosperous, so I thought I'd drop by for a stroll to see what a civilized city in the Universe looks like."
He pointed to the Cosmic Orb that Star-Lord had carefully placed by the console.
"As for that orb, it's yours now. Do whatever you want with it. Sell it, hand it over, hide it yourself, or even hold another auction... anything goes."
"You are free now. Bye-bye!"
Chapter 213: Ronan
klein's voice was still echoing in the cabin, but he had already vanished, leaving Star-Lord alone, staring blankly at the Cosmic Orb spinning quietly on the console and the empty co-pilot seat.
"Fuck! Not again!" Star-Lord cursed under his breath, rubbing his face hard.
This guy who claimed to be a fellow Earthling had an acting style that was even more unpredictable than a black hole in the deepest part of the Universe.
One second he was talking about the survival of the Universe and Infinity Stones, and the next he just patted his butt and left, saying he was going for a stroll? That's insane!
However, after being shaken up by klein, Star-Lord's reason returned, and he began to realize the weight of klein's warning.
"Damn it, a riddler!" He spat hatefully, but when his gaze fell on the orb, a hint of reluctance and greed still flashed through.
High risk didn't mean no opportunity; when had he, Star-Lord, ever been afraid of risk? The bigger the wind and waves, the more expensive the fish!
"No matter what you want to do, I'm going to have my fun first!" He grabbed the Cosmic Orb, deciding to carry out the original plan.
Contact that broker with a decent reputation, turn this hot potato into real credits as soon as possible, and then fly far away.
He skillfully connected to Xandar's civilian network, avoided official monitoring, and sent a signal to an encrypted channel.
A few seconds later, a scaly Tamaranian face appeared on the screen.
"Oh~ my dear friend, Star-Lord! You finally contacted me! I heard you got some big goods lately?" The Tamaranianrubbed his hands, his eyes narrowing into slits.
"Cut the crap, the old place, you know it. I brought the stuff, have the money ready, I want cash, bearer bonds are fine too, but they must be large-denomination and untraceable." Star-Lord lowered his voice and spoke rapidly.
"Of course, of course! How many times have we cooperated? You know my reputation!" The Tamaranianagreed readily, eyes flashing with shrewdness.
What Star-Lord didn't know was that almost at the same time he contacted the broker, a sky-high bounty was issued in the name of Yondu Udonta against Peter Quill for allegedly stealing important organizational property.
It had already spread like a virus through various underground intelligence networks, bounty hunter guilds, and interstellar pirate channels, crazily diffusing to every corner of the known Universe.
As an important trade hub, Xandar was naturally at the front line of information dissemination.
klein was currently strolling down a bustling commercial street in Xandar City, the capital of Xandar.
There were skyscrapers everywhere, with various alien races walking the streets; he looked like an ordinary tourist, looking with interest at the strange technological creations displayed in the windows and tasting alien delicacies.
Suddenly, he paused, his gaze attracted by a public information screen on a street corner.
The screen was scrolling local news and a newly updated bounty with bold font, accompanied by Star-Lord's smug wanted photo.
The number of zeros behind the bounty was dizzying.
"Heh, Yondu, that old blue-skin, moves fast enough and is ruthless enough." klein took a bite of a grilled insect skewer, the spicy juice bursting in his mouth, and he smacked his lips.
"Is he trying to muddy the waters completely to give the kid a chance to survive in the chaos? Interesting."
He could almost imagine how many greedy or cold eyes were currently turning from every corner of the Universetowards Xandar, towards that foolish boy Star-Lord.
Meanwhile, in an abandoned warehouse area on the dark side of Xandar.
The transaction between Star-Lord and the broker went unusually smoothly.
After the Tamaranian broker inspected the goods, he pushed a heavy metal case to Star-Lord.
Star-Lord quickly counted the mountain of high-value currencies from various star systems and bearer bonds in the box; his heart began to race, and his mouth split into a wide grin.
"Pleasure doing business, my friend! Hope there's another chance next time!" The Tamaranian took the Cosmic Orb, hurriedly boarded a small, unmarked shuttle nearby, and quickly took off, disappearing behind the buildings.
Star-Lord carried the box and whistled, feeling his steps were much lighter.
He immediately rushed into Xandar City's top entertainment center, Starry Radiance, ordered the most expensive wine, and found the most beautiful girl.
He began to squander to his heart's content, almost putting the previous dangers and warnings behind him.
But he didn't notice that in the dim corners of the entertainment center, at least three groups of suspicious figures were watching him like venomous snakes locking onto their prey.
They were all vultures attracted by the sky-high bounty. They were waiting, waiting for the best time to strike, or waiting for a bigger fish to appear.
Far star region, the dark aster.
This was a massive Kree warship. On the command throne, Ronan the Accuser was clad in heavy armor, his face covered by a metal mask, revealing only a pair of eyes burning with endless hatred.
In his hand, he held a warhammer that made countless Worlds tremble.
He had just received two pieces of news.
The first was that the team he sent to Planet Morag had been completely wiped out; communication was cut off after a few short screams and incomprehensible energy interference, with no effective images or data sent back.
The second was from his galaxy-wide intelligence network, alerting him that a Cosmic Orb transaction signal had appeared on Xandar, with the seller confirmed to be Star-Lord Peter Quill.
Now the transaction was complete, the orb had changed hands, but Star-Lord himself was still squandering the stolen money on Xandar.
"Xandar... Nova Corps..."
The Nova Corps was Ronan's lifelong enemy, and Xandarwas the heart of the Nova Corps.
Two figures appeared on either side of his throne.
On the left was the daughter of Thanos, the assassin Gamora.
On the right was Nebula, who had undergone extensive mechanical modification, with half her face being cold metal.
To get his revenge, Ronan had reached an agreement with Thanos. He would help Thanos obtain the Cosmic Orb, and Thanos would help Ronan destroy Xandar.
Gamora and Nebula, as daughters of Thanos, were sent to assist Ronan in obtaining the Cosmic Orb.
Now that the Cosmic Orb was on Xandar, Ronan could complete two tasks at once: revenge plus fulfilling his promise to Thanos.
He raised the Universal Weapon high, his roar spreading through the communication system across the dark asterand the entire accompanying fleet.
"Order the entire fleet! Target—Xandar! Advance at maximum battle speed! We will crush that ridiculous green Planet and turn the Nova Corps into cosmic dust together!"
"For the glory of the Kree Empire! For revenge!"
The massive Kree Necro-fleet, driven by Ronan's mad will, surged towards Xandar like a cloud of death!
The sky over Xandar City was still clear, and Star-Lord was indulging in a life of luxury in the entertainment center.
Completely unaware of the bounty hunters following him like shadows and the Kree fleet approaching from the horizon.
Meanwhile, klein finished his grilled insect skewer, wiped his hands, looked up at the sky, and a mysterious curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"The show is finally about to begin."
Chapter 214: Ronan's Arrival
In Xandar City, within a VIP box at the Star Shine Entertainment Center, Star-Lord was sitting with two hot alien dancers in his arms.
He was holding a large glass of fluorescent green spirits, bragging to the dancers in his embrace.
For the sake of the money, the dancers gasped in feigned amazement, though a flicker of imperceptible impatience flashed in their eyes.
Veterans of the trade, they could see the big spender before them was a perfect mark, but they also caught the scent of trouble on him.
In the shadows of the entertainment center, at least three different factions' spies were keeping a close eye on the box.
Star-Lord wasn't completely oblivious. Although alcohol and the euphoria of overnight wealth had clouded most of his reason, his instincts from years of living on the edge kept a sliver of alertness alive.
His loud boisterousness and reckless spending were, in a way, a disguise and a test; he was observing who was simply after his money and who had other motives.
However, he underestimated the allure of the bounty and overestimated his safety on the Planet Xandar.
Just as Star-Lord downed another glass of liquor and planned to take the dancers for something more exciting...
*Bang!*
The heavy alloy door of the box was slammed open from the outside by a massive force, flying inward in a twisted heap and crashing heavily onto the long table laden with food.
"Ah!" the dancers screamed, scrambling away.
Star-Lord reacted instantly. Almost the moment the door was hit, he dropped his glass, rolled behind a heavy sofa, and reached for the element gun at his hip, aiming it at the doorway.
Two figures, one tall and one short, stood in the doorway.
The short one wore a filthy, modified spacesuit and carried a bizarre gun longer than he was tall. He bared his sharp teeth in a snarl. Was this... a raccoon?
No, it had to be some kind of genetically modified creature; after all, real raccoons didn't shout profanities.
The tall one was even more absurd. It was a treant, and it was clutching an entertainment center guard who had been stationed outside and was now unconscious.
"Peter Jason Quill!" the raccoon hollered in a shrill voice, his barrel already leveled at Star-Lord behind the sofa.
"Heard you stole something valuable? Hand it over, and we might let you live!"
"I am Groot," the tall treant repeated in a deep, slow voice.
Star-Lord's heart pounded. He slowly stood up from behind the sofa, spreading his hands.
"Whoa, whoa! Friends? Calm down! I think there's been a misunderstanding. I'm just a legitimate archaeologist and adventurer who does a little business on the side."
"But'stealing'? That's such a harsh word. Besides, what is this thing you're talking about? I have no idea."
"Cut the crap!" the raccoon stomped impatiently, waving his gun.
"The Cosmic Orb! The black market bounty on that thing is sky-high! It's in your hands! We've been tailing you for ages!"
"You think we're blind? Where's the orb? Hand it over! Or..." He clicked off the safety on his large energy weapon.
"We'll blow you and this dump sky-high and sift through your ashes for it!"
Star-Lord's heart sank. They knew about the Cosmic Orb! But they didn't know he'd already sold it, which meant their intel wasn't entirely up to date.
And while the duo looked bizarre, that desperate, outlaw aura was unmistakable—especially that cranky raccoon; he definitely looked like the type to follow through on a threat.
"Hey, listen," Star-Lord tried to de-escalate, his mind racing. "The orb isn't with me anymore. I sold it for some pocket change."
"You're too late. How about this: I'll give you a cut? We can be friends."
"A cut?" Rocket sneered, the murderous glint in his small eyes intensifying. "We want the orb! Not your filthy money! Groot!"
Treant Groot stepped forward with heavy strides, making the floor of the box tremble slightly.
He extended his branch-like arms, seemingly intending to grab Star-Lord for a search—or just tear the room apart.
"Wait!" Star-Lord backed up against the wall. Knowing negotiations had failed, he had to fight his way out.
He whipped out his left hand, firing a magnetic cable toward the ornate chandelier on the ceiling. Simultaneously, he raised his element gun and fired several shots into the space between Rocket and Groot—not to hit them, but to create explosions and smoke to obscure their vision.
"I am Groot!" Groot swayed from the Impact of the energy explosions, but his bark absorbed most of the damage.
Rocket nimbly dodged to the side, cursing, "You're dead!"
The large gun in his hands spat out a searing beam of energy, obliterating the sofa where Star-Lord had been hiding and a large section of the wall behind it.
Star-Lord had already swung to the other side of the box using the magnetic cable, crashing through the window and rolling onto the narrow, neon-lit street outside.
Though dazed and bruised from the fall, he didn't dare linger, scrambling to his feet and bolting.
"Damn it! Those two are lunatics!" Star-Lord cursed under his breath as he sprinted through the labyrinthine alleys.
He realized he truly was everyone's target. klein's warning echoed in his ears, but it was too late for regrets. He had to leave Xandar immediately!
However, just as he burst out of an alley into a relatively open cargo plaza, he saw two figures blocking his path.
On the left was a green-skinned woman, tall and athletic, wearing a form-fitting combat suit and wielding a pair of unique short swords.
It was the daughter of Thanos, Gamora.
On the right was a cyborg woman, half her face and body composed of cold metal structures. Her remaining human eye stared at Star-Lord with intense hatred and icy professionalism.
Thanos's other daughter, Nebula.
"Peter Quill, where is the Cosmic Orb? Hand it over, and you might survive."
Star-Lord's heart sank. Great, out of the frying pan and into the fire!
Judging by their stance, these two women were even more formidable than the animal-plant duo from before. Their objective was clear: the orb itself.
"I mean, what day is it today? Cosmic Orb Expo?" Star-Lordfeigned composure, backing against a cold metal cargo container and raising his hands.
"Listen, ladies, the orb really isn't with me. I just sold it to a Tamaranian broker. You should go after him instead of bothering a poor interstellar Traveler."
"Shut up, you idiot!" Nebula spoke. "We know you sold the Cosmic Orb, but contact that broker right now, find his location, and we'll spare your life."
Gamora stepped forward, twirling her short swords in a graceful flourish. "We don't have time for games, Peter Quill."
"Ronan's fleet is approaching Xandar. We must get the orb before then. Otherwise, countless people will die because of you."
"Ronan?!" Now Star-Lord was truly panicked. He'd certainly heard of Ronan the Accuser's fearsome reputation—he was a madman who had destroyed countless Planets! If the orb fell into his hands...
klein's warning surfaced in his mind once again.
"I don't know exactly where the broker went either!" Star-Lord tried to argue, but Gamora and Nebula had clearly lost their patience.
"Catch him!" Gamora barked, and she and Nebula lunged at Star-Lord from both sides like pouncing leopards!
Star-Lord cursed and had no choice but to brace himself for the fight.
He used the terrain and cargo containers to maneuver, but he was barely a match for one of them, let alone two. Soon, he was struggling to keep up, his situation becoming increasingly precarious.
Just then...
*Bang! Bang!*
Two gunshots struck the ground precisely at Gamora and Nebula's feet, blasting small craters and forcing them to halt.
"Hey! Greenie! Tin-face! This guy is our prey!" Rocketemerged from another alleyway, his large gun ready, with Groot following behind with heavy steps.
"Back off, little rodent, and the tree too," Nebula said coldly, her mechanical eye locking onto Rocket.
"Who are you calling a rodent? You're dead!" Rocket hated people commenting on his size and species. Enraged, he swung his gun around to aim at Nebula.
At that moment, Xandar City's air-raid sirens wailed piercingly.
Everyone looked up at the sky. Several Kree Empirewarships had already breached Xandar's outer defenses.
Chapter 215: The Arrival of Ronan (II)
The previously bustling and orderly streets instantly descended into chaos.
Citizens fled in panic as the patrol ships of the Nova Corpsroared into the sky, and pale golden energy barriers lit up in layers across key nodes of the city and towards the spaceport.
The once-clear sky was now obscured by a dense swarm of Kree warships.
At the forefront was that flagship, as massive as a moving mountain—the dark aster, Ronan's main vessel.
It hovered in low orbit, looking down at the tiny green Planet below.
"Ronan..." Gamora's expression darkened as she gripped her short sword tightly.
Ronan was preparing to intervene personally, intending to destroy Xandar and complete his twisted vengeance.
"It's the Kree fleet!" Rocket's small eyes widened, immediately followed by a gloating expression.
"Hahaha! Now this is fun! A big scene!" However, he kept his gun aimed vigilantly at Nebula and Gamora, not letting Star-Lord off the hook either.
Star-Lord's face turned pale; he finally believed klein's words completely.
Being in possession of a treasure is a crime; he had not only attracted bounty hunters and Thanos's emissaries but had also brought about the direct arrival of Ronan, the Destroyer!
The catastrophe on Xandar was, to some extent, indeed caused by his greed for the Cosmic Orb.
"We must get the Cosmic Orb; we cannot let it fall into Ronan's hands!" Gamora hissed at Nebula. Ignoring Rocketand Star-Lord, she turned and dashed in the direction of the previously tracked signal.
Although the energy signal of the Cosmic Orb had vanished, they possessed special tracking methods. After such a long time of locating it, they had roughly locked onto the direction in which the broker had fled.
"Trying to run? Not so easy!" Rocket did not want to let them go; he wanted to find clues about the Cosmic Orbfrom them, so he fired a shot at Gamora's retreating back.
Gamora agilely dodged to the side and backhanded a short sword, pinning it to the ground near Rocket's feet. "Idiot! Now is not the time for infighting! If Ronan gets the Cosmic Orb, we all die!"
"She's right, little rabbit." Star-Lord suddenly spoke, sliding down to sit against a cargo crate, seemingly giving up resistance.
"The Cosmic Orb is no longer with me. But I know where that broker might have gone. In the Void of the underground black market, only the barriers there can temporarily isolate precise detection.
If you want the Cosmic Orb and to stop Ronan, perhaps we can cooperate for now?"
He could see that whether it was Gamora, Nebula, or Rocket and Groot, their greatest enemy right now was the invading Ronan.
After all, this madman wanted to destroy Xandar and wipe out all life here.
And Star-Lord himself, surrounded, had no chance of survival on his own.
Cooperation might be the only chance of survival. Moreover, he could not watch Xandar be destroyed by Ronan because of him.
Rocket narrowed his eyes, clearly disbelieving. "Cooperation? With a slippery guy like you?"
Gamora and Nebula exchanged a glance. Time was tight; Ronan's fleet had already begun exchanging fire with the outer Nova Corps, and the flashes of explosions were constantly appearing in the sky and on the high-altitude barriers.
Every second of delay increased the risk of the Cosmic Orbfalling into Ronan's hands.
"Lead the way," Gamora finally said coldly. "If you dare to play any tricks, I guarantee you will die a very ugly death."
Thus, the scheming Star-Lord, the irritable and greedy Rocket, the adorably powerful Groot, along with Gamoraand Nebula, formed the first generation of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
The five of them put aside their previous grudges and, amidst the increasingly dense sound of explosions and the whistling of falling warship wreckage, rushed towards the entrance of the Xandar City underground black market.
Xandar's proud defense system appeared tottering under Ronan's relentless, cost-no-object assault.
Relying on Star-Lord's familiarity with the black market and the tracking skills of Gamora and Nebula, they quickly locked onto the hiding place of that Tamaran broker.
In the warehouse, that Tamaran broker, guarded by several armed bodyguards, was anxiously trying to start a small stealth spacecraft.
"Put down the Cosmic Orb!" Gamora shouted sharply, charging in first.
The Tamaran broker's bodyguards were vulnerable and quickly dealt with. The broker himself tried to escape with the Cosmic Orb but was firmly entangled by branches extended by Groot.
The Cosmic Orb finally fell into Gamora's hands.
However, the moment Gamora touched the Cosmic Orb, a sudden change occurred!
On the dark aster, Ronan, who had been monitoring the general location of the Cosmic Orb through some hidden beacon, also sensed the location of the Cosmic Orb's energy.
He was no longer satisfied with long-range bombardment.
The bottom hatch of the dark aster opened, and a small assault craft, like a black arrow, ignored the interception fire from the Nova Corps,
piercing through the atmosphere at astonishing speed and charging straight towards the warehouse area where Gamora and the others were located!
The surface of the assault craft was covered with a powerful shield; it took several hits from ground anti-aircraft fire head-on, violently crashed through the warehouse roof, and slammed into the center of the warehouse, bringing with it a sky full of dust and debris!
The hatch slid open, and Ronan the Accuser, clad in heavy armor and wielding his universal warhammer, stepped out with heavy strides.
He locked onto the Cosmic Orb in Gamora's hand immediately, ignoring everyone else in the warehouse.
"Gamora, Nebula. Present the Cosmic Orb. Lord Thanoswill appreciate your efficiency."
Gamora gripped the Cosmic Orb tightly, shielding Nebulabehind her. Facing Ronan, she felt immense pressure, but she still said firmly,
"Ronan, our mission is to ensure the Cosmic Orb is safely delivered to Lord Thanos. According to the plan, you should be cooperating with us, not descending directly and triggering an all-out war!"
"The plan has changed," Ronan said coldly, taking a step forward.
"Xandar must be destroyed, this very day. The Cosmic Orbwill help me complete this holy vengeance. Give it to me."
Nebula stood behind Gamora to the side, her mechanical eye flickering. She did not speak, but her body tensed slightly, entering a combat state.
She sensed that something was wrong with Ronan's tone.
"You betrayed Lord Thanos?" Gamora questioned.
"Betrayal?" Ronan let out an icy laugh,
"Thanos and I are merely cooperating. Give me the Cosmic Orb, Gamora; for the sake of your father, I can spare your life."
"Not a chance!" Gamora knew the negotiations had broken down. She signaled to Nebula, and both of them launched an attack on Ronan almost simultaneously!
However, they underestimated Ronan's strength and his determination to seize the Cosmic Orb.
Ronan didn't even use his warhammer to block. He just let out a low roar, and a powerful energy shockwave erupted from his heavy armor!
Gamora and Nebula were sent flying, vomiting blood as if they had been hit head-on by a high-speed starship. They slammed heavily into the metal walls of the warehouse, collapsing to the ground, and lost their combat effectiveness in a short time.
"Sister!" Nebula looked up with difficulty, looking at Gamora.
Ronan walked step by step towards the Cosmic Orb that had fallen to the ground, his eyes burning with a fanatical light.
Star-Lord, Rocket, and the others, who had been knocked off balance by the shockwave just now, only barely managed to crawl up. Seeing Ronan easily defeat the Gamora sisters, their hearts turned cold.
Just then, a guy covered in tattoos charged at Ronan, wielding dual blades and engaging Ronan in battle.
This person was Drax the Destroyer; his wife and daughter had both been killed by Ronan, and he held an irreconcilable grudge against him.
The meaning of his existence now was to endlessly hunt down Ronan.
Chapter 216: Ronan Arrives (3)
"Stop him!" Seeing someone launch an attack on Ronan, Star-Lord gritted his teeth and raised his element gun to fire.
Rocket cursed as he raised his large cannon and opened fire. Groot roared, swinging his massive wooden arms as he charged toward Ronan.
But their attacks fell upon Ronan's protective energy and heavy armor, having negligible effect.
Ronan didn't even look back; with a backhanded swing of his warhammer, Star-Lord and Rocket were violently sent flying, and even Groot's massive frame was jolted backward repeatedly.
Even the Destroyer was knocked to the ground by Ronan, unable to move.
Ronan had already reached the Cosmic Orb, bending down to pick it up with his metal-gloved hand.
He stared at the deep purple light swirling within the sphere, feeling the vast, boundless power inside that was enough to tear stars apart, and let out a low, satisfied laugh.
"Power... infinite power..." he murmured, and then performed an action that horrified everyone.
He didn't attempt to open the orb safely; instead, he raised his Universal Weapon high and smashed the Cosmic Orbviolently against the hammer's head!
"No! You can't touch it directly!" Gamora shouted hoarsely, coughing up blood.
She knew the danger of the Infinity Stones. Without a specific container or a sufficiently strong constitution, direct contact with the stone itself would result in instantaneous destruction by its violent energy.
However, Ronan's warhammer was clearly no ordinary object; its material seemed capable of bearing the stone's power to some extent.
More importantly, Ronan's own will and his unique Kreephysiology gave him the courage to take the risk.
The shell of the orb shattered under the impact of the warhammer!
An indescribable torrent of violent energy surged out, instantly engulfing Ronan along with his warhammer!
Blinding purple light filled the entire warehouse, even projecting outside and dyeing half the sky an eerie purple!
A terrifying energy storm swept through everything, and the metal structure of the warehouse began to melt.
Star-Lord and the others were blown back and pinned against the walls, unable to move, feeling as if their bodies and souls were about to be torn apart by this force.
The purple light lasted for several seconds before gradually receding.
In the center of the warehouse, a massive molten crater appeared.
Ronan was still standing, but his heavy armor was covered in cracks, and some parts had even melted, revealing charred skin beneath.
His metal mask was also half-shattered, revealing bloodshot eyes burning with purple flames.
And the Universal Weapon in his hand had completely changed its appearance.
The hammerhead had become as translucent as purple crystal, with what looked like galactic vortices swirling inside. Terrifying fluctuations of energy radiated out in pulses like a heartbeat, causing the surrounding air to twist and wail.
The Power Stone had been forcibly fused with his warhammer!
"Haha... Hahaha... AAAHHH!!!" Ronan laughed wildly toward the sky. He felt it—the infinite power flowing through the warhammer, enough to shake stars and rewrite the laws of physics!
He slowly turned his head, his eyes burning with purple fire looking at the fallen Gamora and Nebula, then sweeping over Star-Lord, Rocket, and Groot as they struggled to get up.
"Now, feel true power. Then, along with this pathetic Planet, turn into cosmic dust."
He casually raised the warhammer, not even bothering to aim carefully, and gave a light swing in the direction of Gamora and Nebula.
A pillar of purple energy as thick as a barrel blasted out! Everywhere it passed, space itself was torn with fine black cracks.
Gamora's pupils shrank. Using the last of her strength, she pushed Nebula aside, but she herself had no time to dodge.
At this critical moment, a massive tree-like figure suddenly shifted across, using his broad, trunk-like back to shield Gamora!
Simultaneously, branches all over his body grew frantically, forming a thick wooden shield wall in front of him.
"Groot! No!" Rocket screamed.
The purple energy pillar struck the shield wall formed by Groot.
The wooden barrier, which was strong enough to withstand naval cannon fire, disintegrated as quickly as ice and snow under the Sun before that pure purple energy.
The energy pillar broke through the barrier with unstoppable force and slammed hard into Groot's chest!
"I... am... Groot..." Groot looked down at the massive hole blasted through his chest, then looked up at Rocket. His wooden face seemed to struggle to squeeze out a reassuring expression before his massive body slowly fell backward.
His body began to rapidly lose its vitality, becoming withered and dry.
"Groot!!!" Rocket let out a shrill, inhuman wail of grief.
He whipped his head around to look at Ronan, his small eyes filled with bloodshot veins and frantic hatred. "I'm going to kill you!!!"
Ignoring everything else, he raised his large gun, cranked the power to the maximum, and frantically poured fire onto Ronan!
However, all the energy beams were easily annihilated by an invisible purple force field when they got within a few meters of Ronan.
Ronan didn't even look at him, as if he were merely swatting away an annoying fly.
Carrying the warhammer shimmering with purple light, he walked step by step out of the warehouse.
His goal had changed; it was no longer to kill these few ants, but to use this newly acquired power,
To personally destroy the core of Xandar, destroy the headquarters of the Nova Corps, and let the fires of revenge burn across the entire World.
"Let's go!" Star-Lord endured the sharp pain, scrambled up, and dragged away the still-frantically-firing Rocket while grabbing a single twig from Groot's body that still held a trace of green.
Nebula also hoisted Gamora onto her shoulder, and the four of them quickly escaped from the warehouse.
Ronan paid them no more mind, walking out of the ruined warehouse into a relatively open street block.
In the sky, the battle between the Kree fleet and the Nova Corps had reached a fever pitch, but the Nova Corps was clearly at a disadvantage, their defensive lines constantly shrinking.
Ronan looked up toward the Nova Corps headquarters building in the center of the city, which was shining with a pale golden light.
Grinning wickedly, he gripped the long handle of the warhammer with both hands, aimed the hammerhead at the headquarters building, and began to frantically draw energy from the Power Stone.
The purple light on the warhammer grew brighter and brighter, as if a small purple Sun were being born in his hands. The terrifying pressure caused buildings within a radius of several kilometers to begin creaking and groaning, and glass shattered in sheets.
"In the name of the Kree Empire, and by my, Ronan's, hatred!" he roared, about to swing that devastating blow.
At that very moment, which would decide the fate of Xandar...
A series of dense artillery fire, like a sudden storm, slammed into Ronan's protective force field from the flank!
Although it was still deflected and blocked by the force field, the violent impact and interference successfully interrupted Ronan's power accumulation.
"Hmm?" Ronan turned his head in annoyance.
On the horizon, over a dozen ships of various designs bearing the Raider insignia charged in with a death-defying posture, forcing their way through a weak point in the Kree fleet's flank and diving toward the airspace where Ronanstood!
On the lead ship, a blue figure stood at the open hatch, holding a buzzing metal flying arrow in his hand.
Chapter 217: The Destruction of Ronan
"Ronan! Let go of my son!" The flying arrow in Yondu's hand let out a sharp hum, turning into a red blur that was hard for the naked eye to discern.
It bypassed Ronan's frontal force field in a treacherous arc, piercing straight toward the back of his neck!
This was the unique skill that made Yondu famous—the sound-controlled flying arrow. It was as fast as lightning and impossible to guard against.
Ronan snorted coldly. He didn't even turn his head; with just a thought, the purple force field surrounding him instantly twisted.
The flying arrow, which was capable of piercing a warship's armor, slowed down drastically upon entering the force field's range. Its trajectory was forcibly warped, and it ended up frozen in mid-air less than half a meter from Ronan's body, trembling violently but unable to advance an inch further.
"Trivial tricks." Ronan clenched his hand back, and purple energy surged out. That flying arrow made of Adamantine was actually crushed into a lump of scrap metal by sheer force!
Yondu's pupils shrank, and his heart sank. He knew Ronanwas strong, but he hadn't expected him to be this powerful after merging with the Power Stone! Even his most prized flying arrow couldn't get close!
"Raiders? A bunch of space rats dare to interfere?" Ronanraised his left hand and made a phantom grasping motion toward the direction of Yondu's fleet.
In an instant, Yondu felt his ship's control system fail. The engines overloaded, and the shields flickered violently.
It wasn't just his ship; several nearby Raider ships experienced the same problem simultaneously, as if grabbed by an invisible giant hand and slammed hard toward the ground!
"Steady! Scatter! Don't let him take us all out at once!" Yondu roared into the communication channel, desperately trying to control the malfunctioning ship.
Several Raider ships made messy emergency landings or crashed into nearby buildings, exploding into fireballs.
Yondu's ship was also emitting black smoke as it landed crookedly on a street not far from Ronan, skidding for hundreds of meters before coming to a stop, the hull severely damaged.
The hatch popped open, and Yondu crawled out looking disheveled, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, clearly injured during the crash landing.
He stared fixedly at Ronan, who stood nearby like a descending demon god. There was no fear in his eyes, only resolution.
He had promised himself he would save that stupid son of his, even if the opponent was Ronan with an Infinity Stone!
Carrying his warhammer, Ronan walked toward Yondustep by step. "Your courage is commendable, but meaningless. You shall all become mere embellishments on my path to revenge."
He raised his warhammer again, and purple destructive energy began to gather. This time, the target was Yonduand the remaining Raiders behind him.
Yondu gripped the spare Blaster at his waist. Although he knew it was useless, he still stood tall.
"Yondu..." Not far away, Star-Lord, hiding behind a broken wall, looked at the blue figure who always scolded him but was now resolutely standing before a destructive power. His eyes instantly reddened.
He had never felt so clearly the deep fatherly affection hidden beneath Yondu's prickly exterior.
Everything seemed to be over.
Ronan, possessing the Power Stone, was unstoppable.
However, just as Ronan's warhammer was about to swing down and Yondu closed his eyes to meet his end...
A figure appeared between Ronan and Yondu without any warning.
"Had enough? It's one thing to wreck houses while fighting, but you're going for genocide too? You're being a bit too dramatic."
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Ronan's swinging motion froze, and the condensed purple energy fluctuated slightly. He stared intently at this man who had suddenly appeared.
When did this person appear? How did he not sense him at all?
Yondu also opened his eyes, looking at this back in astonishment. Star-Lord, Rocket, as well as Gamora and Nebula, who had barely managed to crawl out of the ruins, were all stunned.
"Who are you?" Ronan's voice carried the anger of being offended and a hint of instinctive caution.
To be able to appear quietly under the perception of his Power Stone, this was no ordinary mortal.
"That question again. Besides asking 'who are you,' can't you villains ask anything else? I'm your daddy! Who am I?"
"You seek death!" Ronan was furious. To think someone dared to insult him like this; even Thanos had to be somewhat wary of him.
He no longer held back, pushing the Power Stone's energy in the warhammer to the absolute limit of his current control. He blasted a purple pillar of destruction toward klein that was ten times more violent than the one used against Groot!
Wherever the light pillar passed, space collapsed inch by inch, revealing the distorted dark void behind it, as if intending to completely erase klein and everything behind him from the Universe!
The power of this strike made everyone watching from afar, including Gamora and the experienced Yondu, feel their souls tremble.
This was simply not a power a mortal could withstand!
However, facing this world-ending strike, klein merely lazily extended a single finger.
He aimed it at that all-consuming purple light pillar.
Then, he tapped lightly.
The moment that purple light pillar, capable of tearing apart an asteroid, touched klein's fingertip, it was like mist under the sun. Starting from his fingertip and following the trajectory of the pillar, it silently dissipated backward.
Silence.
A deathly silence.
Ronan remained in his swinging posture, the purple flames in his eyes flickering violently, filled with unbelievable horror.
This is impossible! The Power Stone is the power of the Universe's origin! How could it be blocked so easily?
Before he could recover from his shock, klein moved.
With one step, it was as if he crossed the distance of space, appearing directly in front of Ronan, within arm's reach.
Ronan didn't even see how he moved and instinctively tried to swing his hammer to counterattack.
But klein's movement was faster. He reached out and gently grasped the head of Ronan's hammer, where the Power Stone was embedded.
Then, his fingers closed.
With a soft sound, that warhammer that had followed Ronan through years of conquest and had just merged with the Power Stone—
The theoretically indestructible Universal Weapon was crushed in klein's hand like a fragile biscuit!
The Power Stone, which contained the power to destroy stars, was instantly released from the shattered hammer and caught by klein in his palm.
"No!!!" Ronan let out a heart-wrenching howl.
The source of his power, his reliance for revenge, the proof that he had just touched the realm of gods—it was crushed just like that? Like a toy?
The massive backlash and the pain of having his power forcibly stripped away made his body under the heavy armor tremble violently. His skin split, and black blood seeped out.
klein looked up at the nearby Ronan.
"Your part in this play is finished."
klein said this calmly, then, holding the Power Stone in his left hand, he threw a punch at Ronan's chest.
Ronan's heavy armor, the peak of Kree Empire technology capable of withstanding warship cannon fire, instantly vaporized and vanished like a snowflake thrown into a steel furnace.
Ronan's incredibly tough physique was like a weathered sand sculpture; starting from where the punch landed, it disintegrated inch by inch, turning into fine dust.
Ronan the Accuser, the Destroyer who made countless galaxies tremble with fear and the madman who had just touched the throne of power, was thus completely erased from the Universe, leaving not a single trace of his existence.
klein shook his hand and looked at the crowd, who were staring with mouths agape, as if collectively petrified.
"What are you looking at?" klein pointed at the sky. "The show isn't over yet."
He looked up at the Kree fleet that was still in a fierce exchange of fire with the Nova Corps.
klein opened his palm, and with a finger of his other hand, he lightly flicked the stone in his left palm.
An invisible and intangible ripple instantly swept across the entire Xandar battlefield and spread toward deep space at a speed exceeding that of light.
Every fleet belonging to the Kree Empire and under Ronan's command was completely annihilated the moment this ripple passed through them.
Chapter 218 New Spaceship
In the distance, the shaken Commander of the Nova Corps, having witnessed the entire process, knew deeply that the seemingly casual man before him possessed unimaginable power.
Escorted by a team of elite soldiers, he approached klein trembling, yet filled with awe.
"Your Excellency..." The Commander saluted, "Thank you for saving Xandar and saving billions of lives. How do you intend to handle this Infinity Stone?"
"Handle it? This thing just takes up space with me. Isn't your Nova Corps self-proclaimed guardians of universal peace? It's yours. Keep a close watch on it, and don't let anyone snatch it away again, causing such chaos."
The Commander hurriedly signaled the soldiers behind him to take out a specially made, heavily sealed containment box, carefully placing the stone inside and locking it layer by layer.
"We will certainly not fail your trust!" The Commanderpromised solemnly, though his heart was filled with mixed feelings.
He was happy that Xandar had gained such powerful strength, and its reputation would reach unprecedented heights;
He was worried that from now on, the Nova Corps would become the focus of all forces in the Universe coveting the Infinity Stones, bringing immense pressure.
klein ignored the Commander's complex emotions and turned to look at Star-Lord and his group.
Gamora clutched her injured arm, her face pale. She looked at klein with complex eyes, then glanced at the Power Stone, which was being strictly guarded.
The mission Thanos had entrusted to her had failed completely, and in a way that was completely beyond her control.
Go back? She could almost imagine Thanos's rage, and punishments that might be even more terrifying than death. She subconsciously glanced at Nebula beside her.
Nebula and Gamora's gazes met for a split second before breaking away, and she turned her head.
Her feelings for Gamora had always been complex and difficult to define; there was a remnant of sisterly bond, but even more, a deep resentment and jealousy accumulated due to Thanos's favoritism.
Now that the mission had failed, she also didn't want to go back to face Thanos, but she was even less willing to travel with Gamora.
Stay and be with this so-called sister? What a joke.
Almost without hesitation, Nebula dragged her heavily injured body, turned, and stumbled toward a small Kreeassault craft nearby that looked like it could barely start.
She needed to leave here as soon as possible, to escape Thanos's shadow, and also to escape Gamora.
Gamora opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end, she just watched as Nebulasilently started the ship, which ascended crookedly and disappeared into the sky filled with wreckage.
She sighed softly, a trace of gloom flashing in her eyes. She couldn't go back either, at least not now.
She needed time, needed to clear her thoughts, and needed to find a new way to survive.
On the other side, Drax the Destroyer was staring fixedly at the place where Ronan had disappeared with his bloodshot, furious eyes, his chest heaving violently.
His great revenge had been achieved, but the enemy hadn't died by his hand, which left him with a feeling of stifling frustration and emptiness, like punching cotton.
He needed to vent, needed to continue fighting, needed to make the name of the Destroyer resound throughout the Universe to comfort the spirits of his wife and daughter.
Rocket was sitting on the ground, holding the small twig that was all that remained of Groot, which Star-Lord had snatched out. His small body was shuddering.
He appeared unusually quiet at this moment, just clutching that twig tightly with his paws, as if it were his entire remaining World.
The fact that Groot had died to save them stung his heart like a poisonous thorn.
Star-Lord's situation wasn't much better. He looked at Yondu's ship, which was billowing black smoke and nearly scrapped, and his adoptive father, who was limping over, feeling complex emotions.
He knew that after this battle, his name would likely become completely famous on the cosmic black market and wanted lists, although in a way he hadn't anticipated.
"Kid," Yondu walked up to Star-Lord, his large blue face covered in soot and scrapes.
He looked at Star-Lord, the emotions in his eyes complex and hard to define—there was worry, lingering fear, and also a trace of relief, "You played a big game this time."
Star-Lord twitched the corner of his mouth, "I didn't expect it to be this big either..."
Yondu stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly reached out a large hand and vigorously ruffled Star-Lord's hair with a rough movement,
"As long as you're not dead, it's fine. In the future, cause less trouble of this level. I'm old, and I can't handle being scared like this by you."
Star-Lord felt a pang in his nose, turned his head away, and replied in a muffled voice, "Got it."
Yondu didn't say anything more. He glanced at klein nearby; toward this mysterious and powerful man, he felt gratitude and was also filled with awe.
He knew that with this person around, Star-Lord was at least safe for the time being.
He patted Star-Lord on the shoulder, turned, and roared at the surviving Raiders subordinates, "Anyone who can move! Pack up! Dismantle everything that can be used! We need to find another place to fix the ship!"
The Raiders responded and began to get busy. Yondu took one last look at Star-Lord, and with his people, boarded a few ships that were relatively less damaged, slowly ascending and leaving. He knew that Star-Lord's path was one he had to walk himself.
Watching the Raiders' ships disappear from view, Star-Lord took a deep breath, forcing himself to cheer up.
He walked over to Rocket, squatted down, and looked at the twig: "Hey, fuzzball, stop crying. Groot, he..."
"I'm not crying!" Rocket suddenly looked up, baring his teeth and roaring, but his red-rimmed eyes betrayed him, "This stupid wood! Who told it to meddle! I..."
"Perhaps, there is still a way." A voice interjected.
Everyone looked up and saw that klein had walked over at some point, looking thoughtfully at the twig in Rocket's arms.
"What did you say?" Rocket jumped up abruptly, grabbing klein's pant leg, "You said there's a way? What way?! Tell me quickly!"
"Groot is a Flora Colossus, his life force is extremely unique. This twig still retains a trace of vitality, meaning his life essence has not completely dissipated; it's just that the vessel was destroyed, and his consciousness has fallen into a deep slumber."
klein took the small twig from Rocket's paws, a faint, extremely subtle chaotic halo shimmering at his fingertips, which he gently brushed across the surface of the twig.
The twig, which had originally been dull and green, seemed to encounter sweet rain after a long drought; it became plump at a speed visible to the naked eye, and a small, tender bud even swelled at the tip!
"It needs time..." klein handed the revitalized twig back to the dumbfounded Rocket, "Raise it well, don't mess around, and who knows, maybe one day this big lug will be jumping around again."
Rocket hugged the twig tightly, his little paws trembling. He looked up at klein, his lips quivering, and finally managed to squeeze out a sentence, "...Thank you."
"You're welcome. Remember to be smarter when fighting in the future, and don't always let your teammates take the bullets for you." klein patted his head.
At this moment, the Commander of the Nova Corpswalked forward again, followed by several technicians.
"Mr. Quill, and all you warriors, to thank you for your contributions during this crisis.
Especially this mysterious and powerful Excellency, the Nova Corps has decided to grant you the permanent usage rights to the newly developed Sentinel-class multi-functional light assault ship, the Milano.
This is a prototype ship, with excellent performance, possessing superior maneuverability, firepower, and certain scientific exploration capabilities; we believe it will help you travel through the Universe better."
Star-Lord's eyes lit up! A new spaceship! And the latest model at that!
This was far better than his old buddy, which was tattered and likely completely finished by now!
Chapter 219: Bounty Mission
"Oh, you shouldn't have!" Star-Lord said, though his hands were already eagerly grabbing the ship's core controller and identity key.
Gamora and Drax also looked over. Having a reliable spaceship was undoubtedly a crucial guarantee for their upcoming operations in the Universe.
Rocket, meanwhile, was cradling his little sapling, his interest in the new ship temporarily eclipsed by the hope of Groot's revival.
"So, what are your plans next? Go your separate ways, or..."
Star-Lord toyed with the new ship's controller as he looked at the others around him.
Gamora had nowhere to go for now, Drax needed to fight, and Rocket needed to earn some money to nurse Grootback to health.
As for himself, due to the Cosmic Orb and Ronan affairs, he was probably on the blacklists of quite a few factions; going solo would definitely bring endless trouble.
*Cough.* Star-Lord cleared his throat, trying his best to strike a handsome pose, even though he was currently covered in dirt and soot.
"I think, after going through life and death together, we can be considered life-and-death friends. Look, we have top-tier warriors, a fearless powerhouse, a genius mechanic and marksman, and now we even have a top-of-the-line new ship!"
"Why don't we form a team? We can take on challenging jobs, like becoming cosmic bounty hunters or something?"
"We'll split the money we make, and face any trouble together! I've even thought of a name... how about 'Interstellar Legends'? Sounds badass, right?"
Gamora frowned; she wasn't particularly keen on being part of a team, but right now, this seemed like the most practical choice.
Drax spoke in a deep, booming voice, "As long as there's a chance to fight, I have no objections."
Rocket curled his lip. "As long as we can get money and good stuff to raise Groot, who cares who we work with? But I get the biggest cut of the profits! I'm the one who has to fix the ship, after all!"
"Then it's settled!" Star-Lord made the final call, then looked at klein, who hadn't spoken the entire time, his eyes darting around.
"Uh... fellow countryman, look, our team is just starting out. Although we're strong, we're still in the adjustment phase, and we've just offended a lot of people."
"Would you like to tag along with us for a while? Give us some guidance? Don't worry, free food and lodging, and you'll have your own exclusive room on the ship!"
"And with your abilities, you'll definitely save us from taking a lot of detours and help us become cosmic legends much faster!"
Star-Lord's mental calculator was clicking away furiously. With such a powerhouse backing them, what dangerous mission wouldn't they dare to take? What dragon's den or tiger's lair wouldn't they dare to enter?
klein looked at him with a half-smile. "What, trying to use me as a free bodyguard?"
"How could that be! You'd be our mentor! Our Advisor! Our strategic partner! It's not easy to meet a fellow countryman in this vast Universe! Let's travel together for a while and look out for each other!"
"Alright then," klein didn't overthink it and nodded readily.
"I don't have any specific destination anyway, so I might as well wander around with you guys and see the sights of the Universe."
"But let's make this clear beforehand: unless you encounter a crisis you absolutely cannot resolve on your own, don't expect me to make a move. You have to walk your own path."
"Deal!" Star-Lord was overjoyed.
"By the way, you need to change that terrible name! How about the Guardians of the Galaxy? What do you think?"
"Sure!"
"Whatever!"
"It's way better than that awful 'Interstellar Legends'!"
Thus, the first generation of the Guardians of the Galaxy, along with an accompanying Advisor, came together like a makeshift ragtag crew.
Using their newly acquired Milano, they left the devastated Xandar and set sail into the sea of stars.
The journey that followed was not peaceful.
klein was true to his word, acting very much like a bystander most of the time. Only occasionally, when the ship passed through certain areas of abnormal energy, would he suddenly chime in with a few words.
Moreover, with klein occasionally infusing a sliver of Chaos Energy into Groot's twig, it grew better and better, its sprouts already unfolding into two tiny leaves.
During this time, Star-Lord and the others also took on some bounty missions that weren't too outrageous.
They pursued cunning cosmic relic thieves, wiped out small pirate syndicates harassing trade routes, and escorted sensitive materials through chaotic star systems.
The earnings were barely enough to make a living, but the team's synergy slowly began to build through repeated real combat.
Star-Lord's leadership was still somewhat wishful, but Gamora and Drax's coordination grew better and better, and Rocket's mechanical skills also brought upgrades to everyone. They were finally starting to look like a real team.
The names of Star-Lord and his companions also began to circulate in small circles, mainly because they always managed to complete missions in the most unexpected ways.
Star-Lord received a communication request from the Sovereign.
The Sovereign were a gold-skinned humanoid race renowned for their genetic engineering technology, extremely arrogant, and self-proclaimed as the most perfect race in the Universe.
Their representative appeared in the ship's main control room as a hologram.
"We have detected a Subspace Aether Devourer from a dimensional rift approaching our border star system.
The creature feeds on pure energy and ordered matter, posing a massive threat to the Sovereign's energy shields and precise structures.
We need someone to lure it away or completely destroy it.
We have evaluated some recent records of independent operators and believe you might possess the preliminary qualifications to handle this matter.
Of course, the compensation will be highly generous, enough to keep freelancers like yourselves from worrying about resources for a long time."
She displayed a list, with every item on it being extremely valuable.
Star-Lord's eyes instantly turned into the shape of credit symbols, but he tried his best to maintain his composure.
"Respected High Priestess Ayesha, ridding the people of evil and maintaining cosmic peace is our bounden duty! We, the Guardians of the Galaxy, accept this mission!"
"Guardians of the Galaxy?" Ayesha's hologram slightly raised an eyebrow, seemingly scoffing at the name.
"Detailed coordinates and biological scan data have been transmitted. Remember, you must capture it alive or confirm its complete destruction.
If you allow it to approach our Sovereign planet, or if the mission fails and causes any losses to us, you will not only receive no compensation but will also be permanently blacklisted by the Sovereign.
Good luck to you."
"Wow, the reward is indeed great! Especially those energy batteries, the milano's weapon systems and shields are counting on them! And those tech modules, Rocket, you'll definitely love them!"
Rocket was already leaning over the console, his little paws rapidly pulling up the transmitted data.
"A Subspace Aether Devourer, quite an interesting biological structure. And that Sovereign high-condensation energy coupler! I've been wanting to study that for ages!"
Gamora studied the biological scan, her brow slightly furrowed.
"This thing is massive. It can phase between subspace and reality, and it feeds on energy.
We need to make a meticulous plan. It would be best to lure it to a barren star system before we act, to prevent it from getting desperate and heading toward Sovereignterritory."
Drax clenched his fists, his knuckles popping. "As long as we can fight, that's fine. I will rip it to shreds and clean up the garbage of the Universe."
klein remained seated in his usual spot. Glancing at the data, he said unhurriedly,
"The Abilisk loves to feed on highly concentrated, ordered energy and detests chaotic energy fields. The Sovereign's energy shields and precise creations are a delicious feast to it.
Its weakness is that after over-consuming high-purity energy, it goes through a brief period of energy digestion lag, during which its defenses and reaction times drop.
Additionally, its physical body is quite sensitive to strong mental interference, although you guys... never mind, forget I said anything."
Everyone: "..."
Although they were looked down upon by klein for their mental resistance, the weakness information he provided was extremely critical.
Star-Lord immediately began formulating a plan.
the milano would act as bait, releasing a modulated high-purity energy signal to attract the Abilisk.
They would lure it to a pre-selected asteroid belt filled with chaotic asteroids and electromagnetic storms.
Then, utilizing the environmental interference, Gamora and Drax would be responsible for close-quarters containment and dealing damage, while Star-Lord and Rocket provided long-range fire support, aiming to deliver a fatal blow during its digestion lag.
Chapter 220: The Aether Beast
However, they had miscalculated two things.
First was the arrogance and distrust of the Sovereign, and second was Rocket's greedy, uncontrollable paws.
Arriving near the target sector, Star-Lord and the others detected a massive, writhing creature composed of viscous shadow and twisted light—the Subspace Aether Devourer.
It was slowly drifting toward Sovereign territory.
As planned, the milano began broadcasting a decoy signal. The devouring Beast was instantly attracted, turning around to pursue the milano at an ever-increasing speed.
"It took the bait! Keep your distance and lure it into the Asteroid Belt!" Star-Lord piloted the ship, weaving nimbly through space.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly.
The devouring Beast was successfully lured into the Asteroid Belt, which was densely packed with debris and plagued by chaotic magnetic fields.
Here, its subspace transit ability was somewhat disrupted, making its movements sluggish.
"Now's the time! Open fire!" Star-Lord ordered.
Gamora and Drax launched in their small assault pods, drawing the devouring Beast's attention and looking for opportunities to strike its relatively vulnerable energy nodes.
Star-Lord fired the milano's main cannons, while Rocketharassed the creature with his customized ship-borne missiles and drones.
Enraged, the devouring Beast unleashed a silent energy roar that shook their very souls, thrashing wildly with its shadow tentacles in retaliation.
The battle was incredibly fierce. The devouring Beast was thick-skinned, tough, and struck with ferocious power, occasionally flashing out of subspace to launch surprise attacks.
Gamora and Drax's assault pods narrowly escaped destruction several times, and the milano's shield energy was rapidly depleting.
"Its energy readings are skyrocketing! It just devoured the energy from our main cannon blasts! It's entering a digestion phase! Quick! Increase firepower!" Rocketshouted, staring at his scanner.
Everyone's spirits lifted. They concentrated all their firepower, pouring ammunition into the devouring Beast's core, which had temporarily brightened and weakened in defense due to energy overload!
Right at this critical moment, an unexpected change occurred!
The devouring Beast suddenly stopped its attacks and let out an incredibly sharp shriek, its massive body trembling violently.
The energy flowing across its surface became extremely chaotic and unstable, and an unnatural golden light even began to seep out from within!
"What's going on? What's happening to it?" Star-Lordasked in astonishment.
klein's unhurried voice came from behind Star-Lord.
"Do you know why those tsundere Sovereigns insisted on capturing it alive or making absolutely sure it was destroyed? Look closely at the changes in its energy flow."
Hearing this, everyone hurriedly adjusted their sensors. Within the chaotic energy currents inside the devouring Beast, they saw threads of golden light that clearly shared the same origin as the Sovereign energy batteries!
These threads of light were being frantically absorbed by the devouring Beast, causing its already massive energy signature to spike even further. Its physical form began to warp and expand, and a strange, metallic luster appeared on its outer shell.
"Aether Beasts feed on high-purity, ordered energy. Sovereign's perfect energy batteries are a massive nutrient boost for it.
It was probably just scavenging for snacks near the Sovereign border before. But now, after swallowing several of our main cannon shots and passively absorbing the energy dissipated from the battle—especially with the little extra ingredient Rocket mixed into his modified missiles..."
Rocket's face fell, and he muttered, "I only added a tiny bit of high-energy catalyst I got from the black market to increase penetration power..."
"It's precisely this tiny bit of catalyst, combined with the previous energy, that likely reached a critical threshold or triggered a chain reaction with the remnants of the Sovereign energy batteries inside it.
Simply put, it's about to evolve. Its energy levels and defensive power will skyrocket in a short time, and it might gain even more troublesome abilities."
"Then what do we do?!" Star-Lord's scalp went numb as he stared at the devouring Beast's increasingly terrifying energy readings on the scanner.
Their previous attacks had barely worked; how were they supposed to fight it after it evolved?
"Before it finishes evolving, energy attacks will only serve as its nourishment. You need to use physical attacks...
Do you see that grayish-white dwarf planet seven hundred kilometers away at the eleven o'clock position?"
Star-Lord immediately adjusted the camera feed. An asteroid covered in bizarre spiral patterns, with occasional spatial ripples shimmering across its surface, appeared on the screen.
"That planet has an unstable core, and its magnetic field is intertwined with the chaotic radiation of the surrounding Asteroid Belt, forming a natural spatial disturbance field.
"The environment there is extremely unstable, which will severely disrupt and suppress pure energy aggregation and subspace transit.
Lure it there. The unstable spatial environment will drastically delay its evolutionary process while suppressing its spatial abilities, making it more like a Beast trapped in a cage.
But you have to hurry. In its current state, it will enter the critical phase of evolution in half an hour at most. Once it starts, there'll be no stopping it."
"Got it!" Star-Lord's spirits rose, and he immediately took command.
"Gamora, Drax, stop attacking with energy weapons. Use solid ammunition and impact harassment to provoke it, and lure it toward that grayish-white planet!
Rocket, calculate the optimal trajectory, and avoid the spatial rifts on the planet! We have twenty-eight minutes!"
Gamora and Drax's assault pods fired dense metal streams and tow cables. Although they could hardly deal any effective damage, it was enough to infuriate the giant Beast.
the milano also stopped firing energy beams, instead using its maneuverability to make provocative maneuvers in front of the devouring Beast.
Its evolution interrupted, the devouring Beast let out an enraged shriek. Sure enough, it was drawn in and gave chase toward the grayish-white planet.
It was still fast, but as it neared the planet, its body became visibly sluggish, and the energy flowing across its surface flickered dimly, as if suppressed by an invisible force.
The team successfully lured it into the grayish-white planet's gravity well, landing in a relatively flat area covered in sharp crystalline rocks.
The sense of space here was highly distorted, light warped, and there seemed to be countless faint, crackling noises buzzing in their ears.
"Touchdown! Close quarters combat! Remember, no energy weapons!" Star-Lord yelled, being the first to don a basic space suit. He grabbed a large-caliber rail rifle and a Vibranium combat blade, then leaped out of the hatch.
Gamora and Drax followed closely behind. Rocketremained on the milano, controlling several engineering drones equipped with physical drills and cutting blades, ready to provide support and target acquisition.
klein held a flowerpot containing the infant Groot, who had already sprouted two tender leaves and faintly resembled a tiny tree-person,
He sat leisurely by the milano's window, pulling out a bag of alien nuts from who-knows-where, looking completely ready to watch the show.
"Groot, watch closely and learn. Take a look at how your future teammates fight. Though, they're fighting a bit clumsily."
Little Groot's branches swayed gently, as if he really was learning.