The figure was revealed to be the slender, blue-skinned cyborg — Nebula.
She blew the smoke from her energy gun. "Problem solved."
On Ego's planet.
Mantis wanted to say something to her new friend, Drax the Destroyer, but hesitated. Finally, under Gamora's urging, she led them to a valley.
The valley was silent and deep, but the air carried a faint rancid stench.
"What's that smell?"
Gamora frowned.
When Drax pushed aside the vines blocking the entrance, Gamora's face darkened.
There, in the earth mounds of the valley, lay countless human bones — pale, endless, piled like mountains.
"These… were all Ego's children."
Mantis whispered nervously.
Gamora's expression changed drastically. "Go back! Immediately!"
Without another word, she sprinted toward Ego's palace.
—
Aboard the Ravager ship.
Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Yondu — stripped of his arrow controller — were locked together in a cell. The massive old Groot was still alive, so no little sapling had appeared. The three of them were crammed inside.
"No offense, but your men are real bastards."
Rocket glanced at the fallen Yondu.
The former Ravager leader was now imprisoned by his own crew. What a joke.
"Don't worry. Soon, I'll hand you over to the Kree and let them tear you apart. Hahaha~~"
The one at the door was the scarred, ugly-bearded Ravager who had betrayed Yondu — Taserface. He sneered with his men.
"Alright then, Taserface! Hahaha! What a terrifying name!"
Rocket burst out laughing, taunting him.
Taserface's underlings couldn't hold it in — a few snorted before breaking into laughter.
"Hahahahaha~~!"
The name sounded ridiculous, especially coming from Rocket who emphasized it so seriously.
"What's so funny?!"
Taserface roared, glaring at his men, fury boiling inside. He'd had enough of being mocked. The High Priestess Ayesha might want the raccoon alive, but if he broke a few limbs and claimed it happened during capture… no one would question it.
He turned, stomped back, and yanked Rocket out of the cell. His men tied the raccoon tightly to a high stool.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing, Taserface?!"
Rocket began to panic.
"What am I doing? Hehehehe…"
Taserface grinned, showing his yellow fangs. "Break one of its arms first."
Two henchmen stepped forward, gripping Rocket's paw, raising their guns to snap it. Rocket screamed, powerless against the ropes.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Just then, Yondu spoke from the cell.
He sneered, his eyes cold and mocking. It felt like the ones imprisoned were the rebels outside, not him.
"I suggest you don't touch him. That raccoon has someone behind him you can't afford to mess with."
"Someone behind him?"
Taserface frowned, signaling his men to stop.
As arrogant as Yondu was, he rarely claimed the Ravagers couldn't fight someone. That alone gave them pause.
"Who? Tell me! I'll drag him in and kill him in front of you! Hahaha~~"
Taserface cackled.
"Who? Let's see… oh right, you've got his picture. The one Ayesha called the 'special bounty' with ten times the reward."
Yondu said calmly.
"The ten times reward? You mean…?"
The men froze. Of course — the bald guy in the cape!
"The bald guy in the cape?"
Taserface sneered. "That idiot? I swear, if I see him, I'll twist his head off and use it as a piss pot! Hahahaha!!"
He was eager to cement his dominance as the new boss. The ten-times bounty was his chance — and Saitama looked like nothing more than weak prey.
—
Inside Ego's palace.
Ego was demonstrating the power of a Celestial to Quill. Star-Lord's eyes gleamed, enthralled by the idea of being a "demigod."
"Achoo—! …Someone talking about me?"
Saitama sneezed, rubbing his nose as he watched Ego's little show.
No one paid him attention. Quill was fully intoxicated by the notion of being a Celestial's heir, and Ego was guiding him to awaken that divine energy. Only by awakening could Quill act as a battery for Ego's grand plan.
[Ding! Honored Saitama-sama, your pets Rocket Raccoon and Groot are currently suffering a bullying incident. Would you like to assist?]
The system's prompt echoed in his mind.
Back during Guardians of the Galaxy 1, Saitama had formed a master-pet bond with Rocket and Groot. Apparently, it wasn't just words.
"They're in trouble? Of course I'll help."
Saitama muttered.
The moment he spoke, an invisible force wrapped around him. He vanished instantly, leaving only the ball he had been idly tossing behind.
—
On the Ravager ship.
Rocket and Groot were tied up. Poor Groot's massive body was covered with target markings, as the traitors used him for shooting practice. Gunfire and laughter filled the ship, making the air thick and suffocating.
"Groot~~~!"
The tree giant groaned helplessly, humiliated.
"I told you, you'll regret this! Taserface!!"
Rocket roared in fury.
"Regret? Hahahahaha! I never regret! Didn't you say your master was powerful? Tell him to come now! I, Taserface, will take his head myself! But first… I'll roast you alive!"
He grinned wildly, brandishing a red-hot branding iron, moving it toward Rocket's face. The stench of burning fur already filled the air.
"Oh. What are you doing?"
Suddenly, a flat, detached voice cut through the chaos.
Everyone froze, stunned by how calm it was in contrast to the rowdy scene. Heads turned in unison.
(End of Chapter)
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