Above the battlefield, a man with a beard and a cape stood calmly. His gaze was deep and mysterious, carrying an aura of wisdom.
The interstellar explorer—Ego.
At least, that's what he claimed.
In truth, Ego was sulking inside. He had planned to swoop in dramatically and save the day, but Saitama had acted faster. His chance to show off had turned into a humiliating flop.
Helpless, Ego decided he should at least make an appearance and greet Quill, so things wouldn't be awkward the next time they met.
"What's that? Look!" Quill suddenly spotted Ego's strange, egg-like ship.
"Hey! Quill, this isn't the time to stare at some ugly ship. Get ready for the jump! Has Saitama made it aboard yet?" Rocket grumbled, glaring at the looming jump point.
"I'm here. You guys alright?" Saitama's voice came as he casually rescued Nebula, who had nearly been blown away, while Gamora followed close behind. For once, her green face carried a rare softness.
"Hahahaha! Big Brother Saitama, long time no see!" Drax roared with laughter, unrestrained.
Big brother?
Saitama blinked. Since when did he get a little brother?
"Ahem. Drax decided you were his big brother after you left. He's… not right in the head," Quill muttered, tapping his temple.
He used to resent Saitama—after all, this bald guy had wrecked his 4-billion-unit business deal. But after seeing Saitama's overwhelming strength on Xandar, Quill now genuinely acknowledged him.
"Enough talking. Get ready for the jump! This ship won't last much longer!" Gamora reminded.
Rocket jerked the controls, pulling a sharp maneuver past Ego's ship, nearly scraping its hull.
"Damn it! Almost killed us! Looked like some old geezer up there!" Rocket cursed. The next moment, the ship screamed as it entered the jump point. The ripping spatial forces made everyone scream—except the calm, expressionless Saitama.
Left in the void, Ego clenched his fists. He couldn't explain why, but being ignored like this… made him furious.
…
The jump tore across hundreds of light-years in an instant.
But when the ship finally exited the tunnel, it was in pieces. Plates ripped, joints buckled, fire licked across its battered hull as it pierced atmosphere.
The Guardians screamed as the wreck slammed into a planet below.
Bohart Star.
A fireball streaked through the skies, flattening towering forests before plowing a trench a hundred meters long and smashing into a mountainside.
The ship lay wrecked, groaning and sparking.
Inside, chaos. Gamora and Nebula had clung to Saitama during descent, so they were mostly unscathed. Saitama, though grumbling inwardly about their looks not being his type, had dutifully shielded them.
Drax wasn't so lucky. The brute had been hurled through the wreck, planted head-first into a dirt mound with only his legs sticking out.
Quill stumbled out bloody-nosed, while Rocket and Groot emerged fine, thanks to Groot's protection.
Somehow, they had survived.
"…So this is Bohart Star?" Quill wiped blood from his face, eyeing the dense forests. It looked like some Earth national park, raw and untouched, air crisp and clean.
"This is a landing? More like a death wish!" Drax bellowed, yanking his head out of the dirt.
"If I had a third arm, I swear the landing would've been perfect," Quill groaned.
"What now, Saitama-sama?" Rocket asked, ears twitching. He and Groot still considered themselves Saitama's "pets."
Gamora, Nebula, and even Quill all looked at the bald hero. Like it or not, Saitama had become the core of their group.
"…I don't know this place either. Up to you guys," Saitama said flatly.
So, the mighty Saitama had his clueless moments too.
"But, uh… I think we've wandered into someone else's territory." He pointed into the distance.
The ground trembled.
Something massive was approaching.
"What is that?! Oh my god—I'm excited!!" Drax howled.
From the forest thundered a thirty-meter-tall dinosaur, armored hide, steel claws, and jaws snapping in a roar that shook the earth.
"Leave it to me! I'll fight it alone!" Drax shouted, pulling out his daggers. He charged—
Boom!
The dinosaur rammed him straight back into the mountain, faster than before.
Quill's forehead twitched. "That thing's… way too strong."
"Didn't think we'd be fighting another star-beast here…" Quill sighed, summoning his mask.
Gamora and Rocket readied their weapons. Groot growled low.
Saitama, meanwhile, just stared blankly at the towering dinosaur.
Then his stomach growled. Drool slid from the corner of his mouth.
Scratching his cheek awkwardly, he muttered, "Uh… why don't we just eat this guy for dinner?"
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For 20+ Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!]
[[email protected]/Draumel]
[Thank You For Your Support!]