What happened next could basically be summed up in one sentence: 'The battle began, and the battle ended!'
There was no helping it, when you don't have the strength, and all you know is brute force without brains, like these Raiders, even forgetting the value of hostages, the result was inevitable… They all rushed forward in a swarm, only to meet their deaths!
Under the combined assault of Arthur and T'Challa, they couldn't even put up meaningful resistance before being cut down one after another.
By the time the remaining few thought of escaping, the chance was already gone! Of course, they never truly had such a chance. In front of Arthur, if you couldn't defeat him, the only ending waiting for you was destruction.
Teleportation, he never gives his enemies a chance to run.
"Hmph, the Mandarin incident… that was just an accident," Arthur reminded himself silently.
Then he walked over to Yondu and spoke: "It's rare to see you in such a sorry state."
Yondu let out a helpless sigh. "Rare to see betrayal on this scale, too."
"Clearly, the balance inside certain people's hearts has been broken," Arthur smiled. "That one over there who never made a move, I left him for you."
Relieved, Yondu flexed his wrist a little, but he still wasn't in great shape. The missing piece of equipment from his head greatly limited his mobility, he could barely even walk properly.
He glanced at Arthur, who was untying Rocket's ropes. "Do me a favor, go to the captain's quarters and fetch me something. A prototype fin… the one I used to wear on my head."
"No problem." Arthur nodded. "But I think we need to hurry… T'Challa, stay here with Rocket and Groot, help them out. I'll head to the captain's quarters."
The so-called prototype was probably Yondu's central control system? Arthur wasn't too sure. Right now, Yondu's head was cracked open, wires crossed and exposed, he practically needed an oversized bandage just to hold himself together.
"Let's hope it really is in the captain's quarters."
Ten minutes later, Arthur returned holding a strange red device.
He remembered seeing it in the movies, and thanks to his enhanced body, his memory of it remained crystal clear. He hadn't forgotten what it looked like.
But still, there was no denying it. This thing was practically a Matt-slaying divine weapon!
Especially once Yondu put it on his head, he instantly transformed into a blue Matt-slayer. Arthur studied him for a while before saying seriously: "I still think the old you felt more… approachable."
"Trust me, the current me is just as approachable," Yondu replied.
Then, glancing at the corpses strewn across the floor, he waved his hand. "Throw them all into space."
The freed Raiders cheered, and, just like the traitors had celebrated earlier, hurled the bodies out into the void without a shred of mercy. T'Challa watched, feeling that, when it came to human nature, both groups weren't all that different.
At that moment, Yondu walked up to someone.
This was someone Arthur had deliberately left alive, Kraglin!
He stood in the corner, silently watching Yondu approach. He said nothing, lips sealed, head lowered.
Arthur didn't find the scene particularly worth watching. He simply said to Yondu: "We're going to need some time, so whatever you decide, make it quick."
With that, he told T'Challa to stay put, while he himself returned to his own spaceship, then piloted it directly into the Raiders' vessel. By the time he came back, the matter seemed to have been resolved. Kraglin's eyes were red, and he followed close behind Yondu, step for step.
Arthur wasn't in the mood to pry into their family business. Instead, he said: "Star-Lord's in trouble. We have two options: One, we move out with everything, fly your ship there directly, but we'll need speed, and I'm not sure it can handle a full-throttle interstellar jump. Option two, we pick only the elites… I'm thinking Rocket, Groot, you, and me. We'll take my ship."
"I want to know exactly what trouble he's in." Yondu's brow furrowed.
"Ego." Arthur didn't elaborate.
But that word alone was enough. Yondu drew in a deep breath, then told Kraglin: "You take them and follow the star map I gave you. I'll go with these guys."
The hatch opened, and Yondu, Rocket, and Groot leapt aboard.
Arthur gave Kraglin one last look. In a flash, his figure disappeared and reappeared in the cockpit of his own spaceship.
Once they had returned to space, Rocket finally spoke up: "I still like my ship better."
"When my men catch up, you'll get that ship back. But if I recall correctly, doesn't it technically belong to Star-Lord?" Yondu asked.
"What, after everything we've been through together, you're still keeping score like that? Anyway, what's the deal with Ego? I've only met that guy once, but I could tell he was bad news. The way you guys talk, though… It's like you all already knew."
Rocket looked from Yondu to Arthur.
Arthur chuckled as he spoke. "The truth might be even more shocking than you think."
"Hey, are you underestimating me?" Rocket shot back, leaping from his seat, fearless as ever. "The kind of terrifying truths I've seen would scare you so bad you'd piss your pants!"
"I just remember last time we went through something big, someone slept through the whole thing." Arthur grinned.
That jab hit Rocket right where it hurt. With a furious howl, he was ready to throw himself at Arthur. But just then, Arthur triggered the first wormhole jump.
The violent shudder flung Rocket across the cabin, but Groot's vines stretched out just in time, catching him gently. The towering tree turned to him and said solemnly: "I am Groot."
Rocket's mouth twitched.
T'Challa, sitting beside Groot, was baffled. He glanced at the towering, wooden figure.
The tree looked back at him, smiling warmly. "I am Groot."
"…I'm T'Challa," T'Challa answered politely.
Groot beamed. "I am Groot."
"Uh… the weather's nice today?" T'Challa tried, having no idea how to converse with a tree.
Groot nodded enthusiastically. "I am Groot!"
T'Challa wanted to die… Why did it feel like, if this kept going, he'd lose his mind?
(End of Chapter)
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