Facts proved that when Adam gradually loosened his restraints on the Xenomorphs, allowing these killing machines to spread and develop freely across the universe, they expanded at an astonishing rate. These creatures were born for slaughter and obsessively driven to propagate and strengthen their species.
If one were to credit those who contributed most to the Xenomorphs' proliferation, it would undoubtedly be the Ravagers.
Led by Kraglin, the Ravagers tirelessly searched for suitable planets to deploy Xenomorphs.
Of course, they weren't doing this out of charity, nor were they truly pledging loyalty to Adam, nor were they parasitized by Xenomorphs. They did it purely because it allowed them to hire Xenomorphs.
"Hahaha, another deal sealed! Having these fine fellows as teammates is just too perfect."
Yondu boarded his ship, unable to contain his laughter. He was ecstatic, clutching a deal worth tens of millions, secured in a single heist, a veritable jackpot from the heavens.
Efficient, precise, practically the perfect mercenaries. Even planets renowned for producing mercenaries couldn't hold a candle to these Xenomorphs, in Yondu's estimation.
Yondu considered himself a seasoned veteran of the cosmos, having encountered countless species, but this was the first time he'd seen one with such consistently high quality.
Even the lowliest Xenomorph was a killing machine. From birth to maturity, they required only a few hours, needing no post-birth training to fight with perfect efficiency. Against most untrained, ordinary lifeforms, they delivered a devastating, almost unfair blow.
As for the fact that deploying Xenomorphs everywhere would lead to their population expanding exponentially, Yondu was well aware. He wasn't foolish.
But even if the universe became overrun with Xenomorphs, that was a problem for the distant future. Yondu figured he might not even live to see it, perhaps centuries or millennia from now, someone else could worry about such trivial matters. After all, the universe was vast, with countless stars.
Most importantly, why would a Ravager like Yondu care about the universe's future? He only pursued what was most advantageous for himself: hiring more Xenomorphs, taking on more missions, earning more money, and gaining greater status and fame.
Ask any cosmic villain in Knowhere: who didn't know Yondu's fearsome reputation now? Who didn't know he was closely tied to the Xenomorphs, that only his Ravagers could hire them for battle?
Yondu looked smugly at the twenty or so Xenomorphs standing silently behind him, like icebergs.
By deploying a batch of Xenomorphs to a habitable planet in a star system, he could secure the service of a single Xenomorph.
Fearless, unwavering, absolutely obedient, willing to self-mutilate or sacrifice themselves to achieve the goal of eliminating enemies.
Yondu repeatedly revised his understanding of these creatures, both horrified and thrilled by their discipline and combat prowess.
"Kraglin, let's sit down and discuss finding new star systems to deploy the Xenomorphs…"
Yondu turned to consult his top lieutenant, but at that moment, a dull thud echoed from his ship.
"Yondu, it's Quill, that guy rammed his ship right into us! Should we activate the cannons and take him out?"
"No, damn it, that traitor I raised has to die by my hand! He must have a reason for this. Bring him to me, now!" Yondu roared.
That little punk dared to come back on his own? After betraying him, why didn't he flee far away instead of returning to his death? Back in Knowhere, Quill had slipped away during the chaos, breaking free from Yondu's control.
And now he had the gall to return voluntarily? Had he hit rock bottom? No, that couldn't be it, otherwise, he wouldn't be worthy of being raised by Yondu.
"Look who we have here? Seems like a stray dog, wagging its tail and running back to its master." Yondu stood, coldly sizing up the burly man. Noticing Quill wasn't badly injured and seemed in good spirits, Yondu's face betrayed a hint of satisfaction.
Quill said earnestly, "Hey, I came back specifically to find you, not to mess around. Yondu, I've got a big job, and I want to discuss it with you."
"I taught you how to kill and how to rob, but it seems I didn't teach you how to show me proper respect."
"Come on, old man, are you in or out on this deal? Let's talk business."
The Ravagers burst into laughter, some even giving Quill thumbs-ups, praising him as a true scoundrel worthy of being raised by Yondu, a proper Ravager alumnus.
But their amusement didn't stop them from itching to take Quill out. However, the sight of the massive figures behind him quickly curbed their impulses.
"Looks like you've been doing alright lately, but I need you to explain what's up with those Xenomorphs behind you." Yondu sneered. "You shouldn't be taking Ravager allies with you after deserting us."
"Ha, looks like all your recent successes have gone to your head. Didn't Kraglin bring these guys to you in the first place? They're still working with you as equals. You don't seriously think the Xenomorphs are fighting fearlessly and dying in droves for you, do you? Go ahead, say that to the Xenomorphs behind you and see if they don't tear you to shreds on the spot."
Two Xenomorphs stood behind Quill as well, and at this moment, the Star-Lord confidently jabbed at Yondu.
Yondu's face darkened, especially since his foster son was mocking him in front of so many subordinates, undermining his authority.
But he had to admit, Quill was right.
Did Yondu truly have no ambitions regarding the Xenomorphs? Did he not want to permanently enlist them, rather than treating them as teammates with a limited number of uses? Of course he did, but he knew full well that trying would be suicide.
These Xenomorphs had shone in wars that shook countless planets, battling godlike races and their vassals. Rumor had it there were even exceptionally powerful individual heroes among them, capable of holding their own against mighty Skyfathers or even challenging beings beyond the Skyfather level.
This meant that control over the Xenomorphs was far beyond the reach of someone like Yondu. Only that man from Earth, young, mysterious, and unimaginably powerful, was the true and eternal master of the Xenomorphs.
That man held absolute authority over these creatures, commanding supreme status. Rumors spoke of his fearsome intellect, though Yondu was skeptical. How could a human be so comprehensively formidable?
Faced with someone wielding such power and authority, Yondu had no idea how to wrest control of the Xenomorphs, this vassal species, from him. It was simply impossible.
"You idiots, still laughing? Haven't you realized yet? As time goes on, our enemies are just as likely to hire Xenomorphs. Think about it, what happens then? We bring a pack of Xenomorphs to fight another group with their own Xenomorphs? Or worse, we take a robbery job, leading Xenomorphs to hit a target guarded by Xenomorphs."
Quill was in a foul mood, without mercy mocking the scoundrels who had practically raised him. "I'm seriously starting to think that in a few years, the whole damn universe will be full of employers and bounty hunters hauling Xenomorphs into battle. Those who haven't hired Xenomorphs will scramble to do so because all their enemies have them. They'll have no choice."
This reminded Quill of the few memories he had of Earth.
It was like setting up mosquito nets in summer. Either everyone skips the net, or everyone uses one. Once a single person puts one up, everyone else, whether they want to or not, has to get one too, or they'll be swarmed by mosquitoes. That's how this cutthroat atmosphere spirals.
Looking across the history of the universe, it seemed nothing quite this absurd had ever happened before. Willing or not, just or evil, it was starting to feel like not having a few Xenomorphs by your side would soon be the universe's greatest mistake. In Earth terms, it was politically incorrect.
"Alright, let's get to business. Thanos gave me a job to steal something called the Orb. He's offering one hundred eighty million!"
"What, Thanos, the infamous cosmic butcher?"
"One hundred eighty million? Oh, that's a generous lord. That kind of money could keep us living large for a while."
The Ravagers erupted in gasps and greedy murmurs.
Yondu's face showed no emotion, nor did he react to his crew's lack of composure. After all, what else drove villains in the robbery business if not money? Love and peace?
"Thanos? The Orb? Logically, someone like him wouldn't notice small-timers like us. Why pick you specifically? Because of the Xenomorphs? That madman isn't secretly eyeing Earth, is he?"
Yondu muttered, but seeing his excited crew, he decided to take the job. He had no choice, any fool could see that if he refused, his crew would find a way to oust him and elect a new leader who'd take them to the money.
Like Quill.
Then Yondu considered that with Xenomorphs by his side, even if the infamous Thanos was using this job to study their traits or had designs on Earth, it wasn't his problem.
Thanos was brutal, but one thing was universally acknowledged: his reliability. If he promised payment, he delivered.
Unlike some volatile types who'd complete a deal with a client only to betray them, seizing back the payment.
"For safety, we'll hire more Xenomorphs as backup. You get it, the more firepower we have, the higher our success rate and the lower the risk." Yondu said.
Kraglin spoke up: "I should warn you, Kamar-Taj has started deploying Xenomorphs to various planets too. Earth's sorcerers are doing the same thing we are, maybe even more efficiently."
"Whether Thanos and Adam end up clashing isn't our concern. We move fast, finish this job, and then pull out immediately, lying low in a remote system for a while."
Yondu resolved to steal this so-called Orb.
He didn't even care what the Orb was. Did it matter? Even if he knew, would he run off with it? Ravagers weren't superheroes, ready to face down a cosmic butcher to save the world.
The Xenomorphs' rampant expansion had already sparked alarm and dread among the universe's various powers.
A newly risen, colossal force, destined to dominate vast swathes of star systems, was bound to unleash new chaos.
In the Magellanic Cloud and Andromeda Galaxy, neighboring the Milky Way, the Kree Empire and Skrull Empire were particularly anxious, fearing Adam might invade their territories.
While they could counter most Xenomorphs with high-tech, wide-range weaponry, the creatures' average strength was now rising at an alarming rate, each equipped with symbiotes as standard gear.
Worse still, if war broke out, they'd face those rumored super-powered Xenomorph heroes, making things even more agonizing.
Several Skyfather-level champions, neither the Skrull nor Kree Empires could withstand that.
No wonder Thanos felt compelled to act.
Some viewed the Xenomorphs as a threat, but others saw these highly disciplined creatures as a blessing.
Lapu.
This was a planet with an utterly inhospitable environment, its surface mostly covered in desert, with only a few struggling oases clinging to life.
If there was anything notable about this planet, it was the obscure pantheon that had developed there.
As mentioned before, races with some history either recruited external aid or built their own pantheons. The Skrulls, for instance, established a pantheon of Skrull gods.
On Lapu, however, the natives worshipped gods not of their own kind.
"My child, hold on just a little longer. If we can find the god who protects us, we'll be saved soon. He'll give us clean water and delicious food."
A gray-skinned man, cradling his daughter, trudged through the desert, his face increasingly etched with despair.
He couldn't find an oasis. Everywhere he looked, there was only sand. In such harsh conditions, how much longer could he and his daughter survive?
The planet was nearly devoid of living Lapuans; the race had almost gone extinct under the brutal natural environment.
Gorr felt he could die, but his daughter must not suffer his fate. He would seek aid from the gods, the deities all Lapuans had worshipped for countless years.
The gods were merciful, surely unwilling to let their loyal followers die horribly. They would intervene.
Gorr believed this deeply.
But as time wore on, his pure faith wavered, giving way to profound confusion: If the gods were so great, why wouldn't they spare a sliver of their insignificant radiance for their devoted followers? After all, he wasn't asking for handouts, just a chance to earn a fraction of the gods' meager blessings through his efforts.
This doubt grew wildly. Watching his daughter teeter on the brink of death, with no future but an inevitable return to Death itself, hatred sprouted in his heart. Like poison, once it took root, it only spread through his body.
Just as Gorr was slipping into madness,
Rip!
Ahead, a golden speck of light appeared, followed by something plummeting down, landing with a thud in the desert.
Gorr froze. On this lifeless planet, he rarely saw anything living.
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