Can't get enough? Why not read ahead?
Visit my P@tr3on or K0‑fi ''Isopuff'' page and unlock +20 extra chapters and daily updates!
Your support means the world to me. Check it out and enjoy the story even more!
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
At that very moment, Rosh had absolutely no idea about the absolute horror show currently unfolding inside Hank Pym's Brooklyn laboratory. He was completely, blissfully unaware that a terrifying, world-ending disaster had just been unleashed onto the unsuspecting streets of New York.
Instead, Rosh was sitting comfortably in his plush executive chair, a faint, relaxed smile playing on his lips. He was in his own little world, and right now, his brain was focused on only one thing:
Testing the absolute limits of his shiny new toy, the Door-Door Fruit.
After spinning a pen between his fingers and thinking it over for a few quiet moments, Rosh looked toward the door and called out.
"Elizabeth."
The door opened almost instantly, and his perfect assistant stepped in. "Yes, Manager?" she answered, her voice as smooth and professional as ever.
Rosh stood up from his chair, casually smoothing out the wrinkles in his sleeves. "I've got some personal errands to run. A few private matters I need to take care of."
He walked out from behind his desk. "For the next little while, keep my schedule completely clear. No appointments, no exceptions. If anyone comes by looking for me, politely tell them they'll just have to wait."
Elizabeth didn't blink. She didn't ask any nosy questions, nor did she let a single trace of curiosity show on her face. That was the best part about her; she knew exactly when to just let her boss do his thing.
"Understood, Manager," she nodded gracefully. "I'll handle everything out front."
With a polite bow, she turned on her heel and slipped out of the office, quietly closing the door behind her.
The second the latch clicked shut, Rosh made his move.
He walked over to the dead center of his office, where there was plenty of open, empty space. Taking a slow, deep breath, he focused on the dormant spark of the Door-Door Fruit sleeping inside his cells.
He reached his right hand out into the empty air.
Then, he grabbed.
*Creak...*
Out of absolutely nowhere, a solid, invisible door handle materialized right in his palm. Rosh gave it a gentle, deliberate tug, and the very fabric of space split wide open.
A simple, completely ordinary-looking wooden door emerged out of thin air, hovering right in the middle of his high-tech office.
Standing in front of this impossible portal, Rosh couldn't help but grin.
"Alright," he whispered to himself. "Let's see if this thing actually works."
Without a single shred of hesitation, Rosh reached out, turned the physical doorknob, and stepped right through the threshold.
*Click!*
The wooden door swung shut behind him and quietly dissolved into nothingness.
A fraction of a second later, the office was dead silent. It was as if Rosh had never been there in the first place.
A few minutes later, Elizabeth came back into the room to file some updated client paperwork. She pushed the door open, humming softly to herself, only to pause.
"...Huh?"
She looked around. The massive leather chair behind the desk was empty. The room was completely, utterly vacant.
If anyone else had walked in and witnessed a grown man vanishing into thin air inside a locked room, they probably would have had a massive panic attack. They would have called security, or assumed some supervillain had vaporized him.
But Elizabeth? She didn't even bat an eye.
Instead, a soft, amused smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. After all, her manager was basically a walking god. This was the guy who could literally transform his entire body into pure, blinding light. He could fly across the globe in the blink of an eye. He could appear and disappear whenever he felt like it.
Compared to all of that, a quick disappearing act in his own office was barely worth raising an eyebrow over.
"Well, he'll be back when he's back," she murmured to herself.
With a relaxed shrug, she walked over to his desk and calmly started organizing the scattered documents, completely unfazed.
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
Meanwhile, lightyears away, on the incredibly distant, sun-drenched planet of Xandar...
A deeply bizarre sight suddenly materialized right in the middle of a bustling, high-tech public plaza.
*Creak...*
Out of thin air, a completely rustic, wooden door popped into existence, hovering a few inches off the polished alien pavement. The dozens of colorful pedestrians walking past barely had time to double-take before the door swung open. A young, stylishly dressed human male casually stepped out.
His movements were so calm, so effortless, and so incredibly smooth that you would've thought walking through dimensional portals across the galaxy was just a normal Tuesday afternoon chore. The exact millisecond both of his shoes touched the Xandarian ground, the wooden door behind him snapped shut and quietly evaporated into the warm breeze.
There was absolutely no doubt about it. The new tourist in town was Rosh.
He slowly stood in the center of the plaza, looking around at his brand-new surroundings. For a brief second, a genuine spark of pure amazement flashed in his golden eyes.
"So..." A slow, highly satisfied smile spread across his face. "This is Xandar."
The legendary capital world of the Nova Empire. One of the most prosperous, advanced, and powerful civilizations in the entire known galaxy.
"Man, they really weren't kidding. This place is lively."
Everywhere he looked, the plaza was absolutely teeming with life, and not the kind he was used to back in New York.
All around him, countless alien races were casually going about their day. Some had bright blue skin, while others sported majestic horns, shimmering scales, or glowing neon eyes. Strange, melodic, and clicking alien languages echoed from every single direction, blending into a massive, vibrant wall of sound.
Sleek, futuristic shops lined both sides of the pristine streets, displaying wild, glowing products that you couldn't find on Earth even if you had a billion dollars. Overhead, high-tech hover vehicles glided silently through designated light-lanes, while massive, majestic starships continuously streaked across the bright sky, disappearing into the upper atmosphere.
The entire metropolis radiated mind-boggling technology that made Earth look like it was still stuck in the Stone Age.
Even Rosh, with all his god-like powers, couldn't help but slow his pace to take it all in.
Instead of immediately hunting down rich alien clients to sell his Devil Fruits to, he made a quick executive decision: he was going to enjoy the ride.
After all, this wasn't just a standard weekend getaway.
This was an interstellar vacation.
Compared to even the most exclusive, ultra-luxury five-star resorts back on Earth, exploring an actual, living alien civilization like Xandar was infinitely more thrilling. It made Earth's finest tourist spots look like a playground.
As he lazily drifted through the bustling marketplace, Rosh found his eyes continually drawn to the glowing, exotic food stalls lining the streets. The aromas wafting through the air were unlike anything his human nose had ever processed before.
Some dishes shimmered with wild, neon colors under the alien sun, while others literally hovered in midair above their serving platters. And a few of the more adventurous, wriggling delicacies even appeared to be... well, alive.
"Man, I'd actually love to try some of that," Rosh muttered, a helpless smile playing on his lips.
He reached into his pocket and chuckled. "...Too bad I'm completely flat broke."
It was a classic rookie mistake. Earth's green paper bills were about as useful here as Monopoly money. Since he didn't possess a single "unit" of galactic currency to his name, the only thing he could do was stand on the sidewalk and admire the local street food from a distance.
"What a tragedy," Rosh sighed dramatically.
Still, it didn't actually ruin his mood. If anything, it just gave him the perfect excuse to come back later with some real pocket change.
Rosh laughed quietly to himself. "Whenever the shop gets too chaotic, and I need to clear my head, taking a casual stroll on another planet doesn't sound like a bad way to relax."
The universe was starting to feel a whole lot smaller, and his future was looking a million times more interesting.
After enjoying the vibrant alien scenery for a little while longer, Rosh finally stopped in his tracks.
"Alright," a calm, confident smile slowly spread across his face. "Time to get to work."
He lightly rubbed his hands together before closing his eyes.
The very next second, his Observation Haki erupted outward in a silent, invisible wave of pure mental energy. It expanded like a massive ripple on a still pond, rapidly sweeping across the entire capital planet of the Nova Empire.
Towering sci-fi buildings. Massive, colorful crowds. Speeding hovercrafts. Every single alien heartbeat. Every unique physical presence. Every burst of biological energy. Everything within range rushed directly into Rosh's conscious mind. It was like having a god's-eye view of the entire city, perfectly mapped out in his brain.
Only a few seconds passed before Rosh's eyes snapped back open, a spark of satisfaction lighting up his golden gaze.
"Found you."
Honestly, Rosh hadn't expected his little search to yield results so quickly. He had simply figured he'd cast a wide net and see what bit. But to his pleasant surprise, the universe had delivered almost instantly.
Rocket Raccoon.
Without a doubt, the feisty little mercenary was one of the absolute main reasons Rosh had chosen Xandar as his first off-world destination. As a future founding member of the legendary Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket was destined to play a massive, universe-defining role in the chaotic years to come.
From going toe-to-toe with Ronan the Accuser, to fighting in the tragic Infinity War, to the final, epic showdown against Thanos himself, the trash panda was right in the center of every major cosmic turning point.
To a businessman like Rosh, Rocket wasn't just a talking raccoon with a bad attitude and a massive gun. He was a walking, breathing treasure chest overflowing with unspent Origin Points. A prime, VIP customer like that was simply too valuable to ignore.
Of course, Rosh had originally been a bit skeptical about whether Rocket would even be on Xandar today. According to his memories of the original timeline, Rocket and Groot weren't supposed to cross paths with Peter Quill on this planet for another couple of years. That fateful meeting, which would end in a massive street brawl and get them arrested by the Nova Corps, was still a ways off.
Right now, Rocket was still operating as a freelance, independent bounty hunter. He and Groot hopped from planet to planet, chasing whatever high-paying gig came their way. He could have been anywhere in the vast galaxy.
But it seemed like Rosh's own luck was on point today.
"I guess my fortune is holding up pretty well, too," Rosh laughed softly.
And finding Rocket also meant a fantastic package deal. Wherever the raccoon went, a certain giant, lovable tree-man was bound to be close behind. Groot and Rocket had been inseparable partners, best friends, and brothers-in-arms for years. That meant Rosh hadn't just stumbled upon one premium client; he had hit the jackpot and found two.
A slow, cool smile crept across his face. "This trip was definitely worth the walk."
Still, Rocket and Groot weren't his only reasons for visiting Xandar today. There was another major objective he intended to complete while he was off-world.
Information.
Specifically, he needed to establish a solid informational baseline about the wider galaxy while he was here. He wanted to get the lay of the land, especially regarding the Ravagers. He needed to map out their territories, understand the power dynamics between their various splinter factions, and get a read on their primary leaders.
Peter Quill and Yondu Udonta, the rugged Ravager captain who had raised him, were already high up on Rosh's wishlist of future clients. Both carried immense destiny, and both represented a goldmine of future Origin Points.
When it came to his second goal of gathering cosmic intel, Rosh was in absolutely no rush. The universe was massive, and it wasn't going to suddenly pack up and disappear overnight. There would be plenty of time to expand his business franchise to other galaxies down the road.
Besides, back home on Earth, there was still a massive, untapped goldmine of influential people who hadn't even stepped foot inside his shop yet. There was zero point in spreading his resources too thin this early in the game.
Step by step. That had always been Rosh's signature play.
For now, Rocket Raccoon was going to be the perfect trial run. If this transaction went off without a hitch, it would mark a massive, historic milestone for the business: the very first off-world Devil Fruit sale in history. The exact moment the Home of the Devil Fruits officially crossed the threshold into the interstellar market.
A cool, confident smile slowly spread across Rosh's face.
"Alright," he murmured to himself, his golden eyes flashing with anticipation. "Time to go meet our favorite little trash panda."
Without wasting another second, Rosh focused his mind and activated the spatial powers of the Door-Door Fruit once again. He casually reached his hand into the empty space in front of him.
*Creak...*
With a familiar, satisfying sound, a wooden door materialized out of thin air. Rosh stepped through the threshold without a hint of hesitation, and the dimensional shortcut quietly snapped shut behind him, leaving the street completely empty.
Moments later, on a completely different, sunlit corner of the Xandarian plaza...
*Creak...*
Another rustic door slowly swung open in midair. Rosh calmly stepped out onto the polished pavement, his hands tucked casually in his pockets.
Standing just a few feet away from him were two highly recognizable figures. One was a small, bipedal, raccoon-like creature carrying a heavily customized, ridiculously oversized blaster rifle that was nearly as large as he was. Standing right behind him, casting a long, gentle shadow, was a massive, walking tree-humanoid.
Rocket Raccoon and Groot.
The exact second Rocket noticed a fully dressed human literally walk out of empty air, his jaw practically hit the pavement.
"...Whoa!" Rocket yelped, his furry ears pinning back as his eyes went wide as saucers. "Hold on! What in the galaxy was that?!"
He immediately spun on his heel, aggressively waving his paws through the empty space right behind Rosh, trying to feel for hidden holographic projectors or cloaking devices. But the mysterious wooden door had already vanished without a single trace.
Rocket rubbed his black-masked eyes in sheer disbelief. "Nothing... there's literally nothing there. No residual thermal spikes, no localized gravity anchors... nothing."
A look of pure, manic excitement washed over the raccoon's face. "...That is absolutely insane!"
Even as a seasoned, galaxy-hopping mercenary who had stolen, dismantled, and rebuilt advanced machinery from dozens of high-tech star systems, Rocket had never seen anything that operated like this. He had broken into highly secure military vaults and cracked open corporate prototype tech, but opening a physical, working door in the middle of empty space? It completely violated every single law of engineering he knew.
He whipped around, pointing an eager, clawed paw directly at Rosh. "Hey, pal! Quick question. How much for the device? You selling that thing?!"
Rosh couldn't help but chuckle. He had expected this exact, tech-obsessed reaction from the little engineer. After letting the silence stretch for a beat to build the suspense, Rosh gave a relaxed, easygoing nod.
"It's not entirely out of the question," Rosh replied smoothly.
Rocket blinked, completely caught off guard. "...Seriously?"
Now it was his turn to be stunned. He had only asked the question out of habit; usually, anyone carrying tech that incredibly advanced would either try to shoot him on sight or guard it with their life. He hadn't actually expected this stranger in the fancy Earth-suit to say yes.
Seeing the sheer shock written across Rocket's furry face, Rosh let out a soft laugh, spreading his hands open in a friendly, professional gesture.
"Of course," Rosh said, his voice dripping with easygoing charm. "I'm an interstellar merchant. My entire purpose for dropping onto Xandar today is very simple: to do business."
He offered a warm, knowing smile. "And that little spatial door you just saw? It's barely scratching the surface of the extraordinary items I have in my inventory. If you're interested, I'd be more than happy to show you what else I'm packing."
Rocket's ears instantly shot straight up, his eyes practically sparkling with greed. "Wait. Hold the phone." He took a step closer, his hands gesturing wildly. "You're telling me you've got gear that's just as good as that teleportation door?"
Rosh's smile widened. "Some of them..." He paused a beat for dramatic effect. "...are infinitely more valuable."
Rocket's mouth slowly fell open. A massive, toothy grin spread completely across his furry face.
"Oh, now you are talking my absolute language!" he cackled, excitedly rubbing his paws together like a cartoon villain.
But then, he paused, his intense engineering curiosity getting the better of him. He pointed a claw back at the empty space where Rosh had emerged. "But before we talk budget, I still can't get that door-trick out of my head. Seriously, how does that even work? Can you show me the mechanics first?"
Behind him, the giant tree-humanoid shifted his weight, his deep voice rumbling through the plaza. "I am Groot."
"Yeah, see? Even the big guy wants a demo!" Rocket agreed, nodding aggressively.
Rosh let out a bright, amused laugh. "As you wish. Although..." He raised a single hand, his golden eyes locked onto the duo. "I think a proper, live demonstration of my stock would be a whole lot better in a more comfortable setting."
With a casual, theatrical wave of his arm...
*Creak...*
A magnificent, glowing golden doorway manifested out of thin air directly in front of Rocket and Groot. Warm, brilliant golden light spilled out of the portal, bathing the dusty plaza in a beautiful, mesmerizing glow.
Rosh stepped to the side, executing a flawless, polite bow as he gestured toward the open portal.
"Dear customers... why don't you step inside my shop? In there, I can show you what true power actually looks like."
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
Next Chapter: A Chance to Become Human
Next Next Chapter: From Now On, I'm the Coolest Guy in the Galaxy
Next Next Next Chapter: Mjolnir Has Fallen
Visit my P@tr3on or K0‑fi ''Isopuff'' page and unlock +20 extra chapters and daily updates!