The Kree soldiers were hurled backward by a crimson energy wave, slamming into the walls with a harsh screech—metal grinding against concrete. The air was thick with heat, charged with a burning tension, and the room fell into a heavy, eerie silence. All that moved was the faint, ominous glow of the orb in Dominic's hand.
Quill raised a hand to shield his helmet, disbelief etched across his face. "Are you crazy?! We're supposed to sell it, not blow the place to kingdom come!"
Dominic ignored him, eyes locked on the Kree soldiers as though daring them to move next. With a casual toss, he sent the orb toward Quill. "You wanted to sell it, right? Here. Go negotiate a price."
Quill caught the orb, frozen as if it were a live grenade. He stared at it, then at the still-wobbling Kree, and stepped back nervously. "Uh… no, you keep it. You're… better at using it than I am."
Gamora slid beside Quill, glancing at the orb with a complicated expression. "You have no idea how dangerous that is. This isn't just a weapon—it could destroy an entire galaxy."
"A galaxy?!" Quill's voice shot up several octaves as he elbowed Rocket. "Hey, did you know it could do that?!"
"Don't look at me," Rocket shrugged, adjusting his weapon. "All I know is it's worth a lot of money. But right now? I'm more concerned about ripping the armor off these guys and selling it for spare parts."
Drax's twin blades clutched tighter. "Their armor is meaningless. Their blood is what I want."
"I am Groot."
Groot glanced down at Rocket, apparently uninterested in the fight.
Dominic's lips curved into a cold smile as he surveyed the Kree, now regrouping. "Alright, then. You wanted to sell Spirit Orbs? Deal with them first, then we'll talk pricing."
Quill stuffed the orb into his pouch with a deep breath. "Looks like negotiations are off. Everyone, prepare for Star-Lord's heroic moment!"
He drew his pistols, jet boots igniting as he charged, blue flames slicing the air behind him. Rocket cursed under his breath and leapt onto a display case, firing a hailstorm from his energy weapon.
"Gamora, cover me!" Quill shouted as he dove behind cover, shooting at every Kree soldier daring to approach.
Gamora ignored him, already charging into the fray. Her twin blades glinted, precisely slicing through armor joints. A soldier fell screaming, but more surged to fill the void.
"I hate tight formations," she muttered, gracefully retreating as her blades deflected attacks.
Drax roared, plunging his blades into two soldiers and flinging them into their ranks. Bloodshot eyes fixed on the next wave. "Who else dares to step forward?! Come, I will make your deaths glorious!"
"Glory my ass! Cover my left flank, Drax!" Rocket shouted.
"I am Groot."
Branches shot out, vines wrapping around enemies near Rocket, slamming them to the floor.
Dominic stood calmly at the center, observing as if this chaos were none of his concern. Raising a hand, he let a faint light shimmer in his palm. A wave of energy erupted, sending two soldiers attempting to ambush Quill flying.
Quill glanced back. "You're awfully relaxed for a hero."
"You can try too. See how easy it is to solve a problem without lifting a finger," Dominic said, a hint of mockery in his tone.
Quill rolled his eyes. "Nope. I like doing the work myself. Some people just stand there looking cool while I'm actually getting stuff done."
The Collection Room was descending into ruin. Broken displays, fallen soldiers, and shards of rare artifacts littered the floor as reinforcements poured in.
"Are these guys endless?!" Rocket barked, firing relentlessly. "Quill, did you get us into trouble we shouldn't have?"
"Hey, stop blaming me!" Quill shouted. "If it weren't for Gamora, none of this would've happened!"
"Enough!" Gamora snapped. "Deal with them, now!"
Dominic raised the glowing orb. "Noisy bunch," he muttered. Then, with a subtle motion, he sent another energy wave toward the reinforcements, sending them sprawling in pain.
The room erupted in a crescendo of explosions and clashing steel. Quill dodged, shouting at Rocket, "Don't you have a bigger weapon? One that can collapse the ceiling?"
Rocket scowled. "Yes, but then we'd collapse with it!"
Quill groaned. "Then take them out fast!" He dove behind cover, reloaded, and gestured.
Rocket tossed him a shiny device. "One button. Don't screw it up, or we're toast!"
Quill stared at the single button. "Press it?"
"Press it!" Rocket yelled, while suppressing enemies with firepower.
Quill hurled the device into the densest group of Kree. A blinding white light exploded, a roar shaking the room, and temperatures spiked. Soldiers were thrown aside, the ceiling collapsed, and Quill ducked, screaming: "This is your bigger weapon?! Nearly killed us all!"
"I told you it's risky!" Rocket replied, eyes still on the enemy.
"I am Groot."
Groot extended branches, shielding the team from the collapsing debris.
"Thanks, buddy," Quill said, resuming the fight. "Almost there!"
Gamora leapt onto a high platform, her blades slicing armor joints with precision. "End this quickly! The Orb cannot fall into their hands!"
Dominic, ever calm, observed the battlefield. A small smile played across his lips. He raised his hand, condensing a dazzling sphere of energy in his palm.
"Hey! Don't—" Rocket started, wary.
Dominic flung the orb at the concentrated enemies. A shockwave rolled outward, stunning the Kree. They fell, groaning in pain, unable to fight.
"What is this?" Gamora asked, scanning the battlefield.
"Shockwave," Dominic replied, clapping slowly. "Temporarily disables nervous systems. No fatalities. At least, not yet."
Quill stood, dusting himself off. "You're getting scarier by the day."
"I never expected to be understood," Dominic replied coolly, eyes returning to Quill's fanny pack. "Now… how about we talk about that Spirit Orb?"