'What's happening? Am I in the afterlife? No, these people in front of me... Am I alive again? And this female terrorist too?'
Gatlin had instantly returned to his pre-death state, leaving him utterly confused as he stared at the strange man who had suddenly appeared and at Zangya, who had also been mysteriously resurrected.
'This female thug must die!'
"You murderous witch, go to hell!" Gatlin's eyes blazed with fury as he condensed rolling energy into his fist and launched himself at the nearby Zangya.
Zangya snorted with disdain at this insignificant ant's attack, preparing to counter with a devastating kick powered by her full strength.
Bang!
Karnel stepped between them, casually catching both their attacks and deflecting them with a slight turn of his body, sending both combatants flying in opposite directions.
"Enough!" Karnel's voice carried a cold edge. "Do you think I don't exist?"
Zangya's entire body trembled as she halted mid-air, quickly returning to the ground and standing with her head bowed submissively. She didn't dare utter a single word, having already experienced firsthand how terrifying this man called Karnel could be. His mere presence had been enough to paralyze her with fear.
"Die! You dare to hurt my brothers!" Gatlin spun through the air as if he hadn't heard anything, turning to charge at Zangya again with his fist gleaming with deadly intent.
'Is he insane?'
Karnel felt genuine annoyance flare within him. He moved to Gatlin in an instant, placing a single finger against the warrior's forehead and giving it the lightest of flicks.
Suddenly, Gatlin, whose fist had been mere inches from Zangya, was sent flying thousands of meters by that casual finger flick, crashing into the ground with tremendous force.
"Ha! This simple-minded galactic guardian has completely lost his mind," Zangya gloated from the sidelines, watching Gatlin's humiliating flight. "He dares to provoke someone of such overwhelming power. He truly doesn't understand the value of his own life."
"Bargonian warrior, stop this nonsense," Karnel said coldly, showing little interest in the hot-headed fighter. "Your two companions aren't dead."
'If all Bargonians are like this..'. Karnel felt a twinge of disappointment.
"Stop! The matter has been resolved!" Pikkon couldn't help but shout. "You should go check on your two companions instead of continuing this futile aggression!"
'Companions... yes, Kaku and Garo!'
Gatlin's rage-clouded mind began to clear as he scrambled to his feet and rushed to his two brothers' sides.
"Gatlin, we're fine now," Garo said while lying down, rubbing his abdomen before slowly rising from the ground.
"Yes, little brother, you're far too hot-headed," Kaku added, standing up with visible trembling and leaning against a large boulder to catch his breath. "We were only seriously injured and temporarily immobilized. If that man hadn't used some miraculous method to save you, I'm afraid Garo would never have seen you again."
Gatlin's expression brightened with relief, though he looked somewhat embarrassed. "Didn't I think you were going to die after being struck by that female terrorist?"
Observing the three brothers' close bond, Karnel felt a stir of emotion. He spoke more gently, "You three are far too reckless. Zangya is obviously much stronger than any of you. Yet you still dared to fight her. I'm not sure whether to call you fearless or foolish."
"No," Gatlin replied with solemn conviction. "Since we accepted the responsibility of being Galactic Guardians, maintaining peace in the Western Galaxy has been our sacred duty. Although we knew this female terrorist possessed incredible power, we felt no fear. For the sake of peace, we have long been prepared to sacrifice our lives!"
This was the creed that every Bargonian warrior selected as a Galactic Guardian had to embrace completely.
'Oh? Is that so...'
Karnel felt somewhat surprised, and his attitude toward them softened considerably.
"Garo... do you find this man familiar somehow?" Kaku studied Karnel for a long moment before turning to whisper to his brother.
Garo looked puzzled, examining Karnel several times without finding anything noteworthy. "Familiar? I don't get that feeling. This is the first time we've seen him, right? How could he seem familiar?"
'No?' Kaku crouched on the ground, thinking intensely.
"Pikkon, there's nothing left for you to do here," Karnel announced, glancing at the devastated planet around them. Everything had been settled, and Zangya, who had been considered a dire threat by everyone, had now been brought under his control. A faint smile crossed his face as he addressed the afterlife warrior. "Would you like me to send you back to the Other World?"
Pikkon seemed startled by the offer and replied hastily, "No, no need! I can return on my own. Yes, I'll go back now."
He didn't want to remain in this place for another moment. The pressure emanating from this mysterious man was simply too overwhelming. After bidding farewell to the three galactic guardians, Pikkon's body slowly became translucent before disappearing entirely, returning to the afterlife.
Karnel observed Zangya, who had lowered her head and was following closely behind him without any resistance, and nodded with satisfaction.
"Since everything's settled, Zangya, let's go home." Looking at the three Bargonian warriors who had gathered together and kept glancing in his direction, Karnel smiled with amusement.
Zangya's eyes flashed with dissatisfaction, but she raised her head and hummed with feigned calm. 'It's better not to anger him right now. Who knows what inhuman treatment he might subject me to. Thinking of this man's overwhelming power, her body trembled again. I must find an opportunity to escape from this devil as soon as possible!'
Suddenly, Karnel placed his hand on Zangya's shoulder.
"Ah! Don't kill me!" Zangya felt her shoulder sink under an inexplicable force pressing down on her, and she couldn't help but scream in terror.
'She's so timid! I can't deal with this. If anyone hears about this, I'll lose all my reputation!'
Karnel felt somewhat speechless seeing Zangya's hysterical reaction, she was so frightened she thought he intended to kill her.
Her screaming continued unabated, waves of high-decibel sound assaulting his eardrums and brain in a manner that was utterly unbearable. Karnel called out in a deep voice, "Stop screaming! Who said anything about killing you?"