The BETA people, including Mantis, rode Ego's egg-shaped ship through interstellar space for a while until they finally arrived at a lush green planet.
Ego's planet.
As a Celestial, Ego could devour planet after planet. Theoretically, he was very similar to Dormammu, yet he was a Celestial — a top-level existence in the Marvel universe.
The ship slowly docked at a fountain. The group then boarded white hovercrafts that carried them toward Ego's palace.
The planet was filled with green trees and endless grasslands. The air shimmered with multicolored motes of light, like a dreamscape.
"This is what you call a desolate, barren place?"
Quill was stunned.
"Of course, the moon here isn't as big as yours." Ego smiled.
"Wow, so humble! I'm a humble guy too, hahahaha~~~"
Drax cackled strangely.
Saitama also looked around curiously. It was indeed a beautiful place. They had come under the pretense of a super vacation, and so far, it felt just barely worthy of the name.
"I'm curious — you seem to know too much."
Gamora eyed Ego warily.
This guy seemed omniscient, even knowing secrets that only she had learned by being around Thanos. Yet Ego knew them too?
Under Ego's lead, the group entered his palace.
The towering gates stood magnificent and solemn. The walls bore delicate murals, and crystal chandeliers hung high above. Futuristic instruments filled the hall, making even the Guardians of the Galaxy — who had seen the riches of the Sovereign — gape in awe.
"Alright, no need to pretend. Cards on the table. I am a god."
Ego smiled confidently, his gaze often drifting to Quill, though he also paid close attention to the silent Saitama.
"A god? You're saying you're a god?"
Quill was stunned.
"Simply put, perhaps a minor god. I'm as humble as Drax, hahahaha~~~"
Ego laughed as he led them through the castle, eventually stopping before massive high-tech devices.
Holograms appeared.
Unlike Earth's projections, these were so vivid they looked real. They showed Ego evolving the entire planet, and he explained that even his body was only a part of this world. The true Ego… was the planet itself.
"This is insane… a Celestial?"
Gamora marveled.
"I wonder, does he even have organs? Is he male or female? How do they reproduce? If he's a planet, wouldn't he crush your mom?"
Drax asked curiously.
Quill nearly punched the idiot right there. Why was this guy always so aggravating? But given the circumstances, he forced himself to restrain his rage.
"I don't care how they do it!" Quill snapped.
"Why not? Every solstice my dad tells me how he fertilized my mom~~"
"Oh my god…"
Quill stared at Drax in utter disbelief. "You're disgusting!"
"That's wonderful~~"
The thick-headed Drax still sighed in admiration.
The others: "..."
What a strange guy.
Saitama: "..."
Even he was left dumbfounded, staring at Drax like he was some kind of powerhouse for managing to say such insane things.
While Ego explained what Celestials were and his grand ambitions, trouble was brewing on Contraxia.
"Hey hey hey, you followed me this fast? Well, you'll have to get through Grandpa Raccoon first!"
Rocket grinned from behind a tree, holding a heavy energy rifle. Ever since Saitama and the others left, he had been preparing, turning the area into his territory.
The ones tracking Quill's group were Yondu's Ravager mercenaries.
"If I find Quill, the first thing I'll do is kick him in the nuts!"
A scarred mercenary sneered.
"I never liked that weakling. If it weren't for Yondu protecting him, I'd have cut his head off long ago. Ravagers don't need weaklings!"
Others agreed.
Yondu's authority had fallen to rock bottom. Many of his men were secretly plotting rebellion.
"Hey! Over here!"
Rocket shouted mockingly from atop a tree, firing bursts of energy shots.
"Catch him! Quill's mutt!"
A mercenary yelled.
"You're the mutt!!"
Rocket snapped, quickly darting away.
A dozen mercenaries charged after him.
Crack-crack-crack-crack~~~
Suddenly, electric sparks filled the air. A violent zapping echoed as electromagnetic mines went off.
The mercenaries collapsed, twitching and smoking on the ground.
"Yeah! Beautiful!"
Rocket laughed, dashing nimbly through the trees like a squirrel. He leapt onto another group, slapping explosive caps on their heads.
Boom!
They all fell in a heap.
The forest turned chaotic, filled with screams and gunfire. Rocket reveled in the mayhem — sheer numbers weren't enough to stop him.
But then —
A sharp whistling pierced the air.
A glowing red arrow suddenly appeared, hovering right in front of Rocket's head.
"Crap…"
Rocket muttered bitterly.
"Hahaha, well well, the rat himself."
Yondu emerged with his men, grinning with a blade in his hand.
"You pissed off those golden-skinned rich folk. They paid me handsomely to bring you in — because she wants you dead."
Yondu smirked. "But if you tell me where the batteries are, maybe I won't."
The mercenaries stirred uneasily at his words.
A burly, scarred Ravager with yellow teeth snarled. "Or what? What if we don't?"
"Sell the batteries on the black market. They're worth 250,000." Yondu said.
"But she promised us 1,000,000! You've always been too soft on Quill! We followed you loyally, and you've disappointed us for the last time!"
The man roared.
Tension erupted instantly. The Ravagers split into two factions — Yondu's loyalists and the rebels.
Yondu's face went cold. He whistled, and his arrow zipped to his side. "You dare challenge me?"
The mercenaries raised their weapons. The atmosphere grew suffocating.
Suddenly —
A flash of light struck Yondu's head, shattering the controller for his arrow. He collapsed unconscious.
The standoff froze.
(End of Chapter)
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