Despite Ayesha and the artificially enhanced Magus (Adam Warlock) desperately attempting to stall, the Sovereign fleet and their allied cosmic civilizations failed to escape.
Ragna, wielding the power of the Sun Scepter and the flames of heaven, annihilated the majority of the Sovereign forces before ordering the Angel Legion to incinerate the remaining warships of the Cosmic Civilization Alliance in a spectacular display of destruction. He instructed his forces to regroup and prepare to purge the remaining opposition at an opportune moment.
With the battlefield secured, Ragna turned his attention to the captured Sovereign High Priestess Ayesha. At the same time, Magus—once the pinnacle of Sovereign genetic engineering—was subdued by Hela and the elite warriors of the Sacred Heavenly Palace.
"I've already acquired your super-battery technology and the schematics for your autonomous drone fleet," Ragna stated, his gaze cold and calculating. "However, I found no trace of your artificial cocoon technology in the Sovereign database or in the minds of your scientists. So why don't you save me the trouble and tell me directly?"
He smiled at Ayesha, who, despite her disheveled state, kept her composure.
Ayesha remained silent.
"Does it generate energy?" Ragna asked, shifting his gaze toward Magus. "Because he is extraordinary."
He gestured toward the golden-skinned warrior—an engineered being meant to surpass even the greatest champions of the cosmos.
"Give me the creation process, and I'll allow some Sovereigns to survive," Ragna offered. "They can either choose to serve me or be exiled to the edge of the universe—far from cosmic conflicts."
Ragna's words were absolute. He had no need to lie—spare Sovereigns posed no threat to him. However, Ayesha, the mastermind behind artificial cocoon technology and the creator of Magus, could not be allowed to escape. If this technology could replicate a warrior like Magus, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Ayesha lifted her chin, pride evident in her gaze. She turned toward Magus, admiration gleaming in her eyes.
"He is the ultimate evolution of our race," she declared, almost reverently.
Ragna remained impassive, his smile unwavering, though a flicker of intrigue flashed across his expression.
After a moment of silence, Ayesha finally relented. "We never achieved full-scale production. The process demands immense resources, including a rare substance—the Essence of the Starry Sky—something the Sovereign have spent millennia collecting. We had only a single supply, and it was all used on him."
She paused, her voice tinged with regret.
"I will give you the artificial cocoon technology. The Essence of the Starry Sky… perhaps you can find more. If not, there may be lesser substitutes that could create inferior versions of Magus. If I had understood this sooner—if I had mass-produced artificial cocoons years ago—you would not have defeated us so easily."
With a final sigh, she transmitted the full artificial cocoon technology to Ragna.
The Sacred Heavenly Palace would only grow stronger with this knowledge. But Ayesha had accepted reality—her people could no longer contend with Ragna's rule. If resistance was futile, what did it matter if the Holy Heavenly Palace became even more powerful?
Ragna briefly examined the data before handing it to Hexi, the Angel of Creation. She scrutinized it, her golden eyes gleaming with analysis before she nodded and murmured,
"An intriguing fusion of magic and advanced bioengineering. Even without the Essence of the Starry Sky, we can mass-produce second-tier warriors using these artificial cocoons."
"If we invest more resources," she continued, "we can create even stronger beings. But more importantly… this technology hints at the deeper secrets of life itself. These artificial beings have souls, albeit fragile ones. Given time, they could develop faith, and in doing so, strengthen our divine power."
Ragna raised a hand, silencing her. He then turned his attention back to Ayesha and the remaining Sovereigns.
"Choose," he commanded.
They could submit to his rule and be granted his protection.
Or they could flee to the edge of the universe, exiled forever.
Chaos erupted among the surviving Sovereigns. In the end, none of them chose servitude. They activated their jump drives, vanishing into the unknown reaches of space.
Neither Hela nor the Angel Kings pursued them. Even in defeat, the Sovereigns had chosen pride over survival.
Ayesha watched the last of her people disappear into the void. Then, turning to Magus and finally to Ragna, she spoke with a quiet certainty.
"The universe hides many secrets," she mused. "No empire, no matter how powerful, can rule forever. One day, your evolution will stagnate—and when that day comes, it will be your end."
She chuckled, her voice full of defiant amusement.
"The Holy Heavenly Palace… how long can it last?"
Her laughter faded into silence.
Without hesitation, Ragna unleashed golden flames, annihilating Ayesha in an instant.
With the Sovereign destroyed and the Cosmic Civilization Alliance wiped out, Ragna gazed into the void and whispered,
"The Holy Heavenly Palace will only grow stronger."
"Extinction?" He smirked. "No. It is I who bring destruction."
Return to Asgard
With the war concluded, Hela and Ragna handled the aftermath before returning to Asgard.
Hela, ever the strategist, cared little for territory. What she valued was Sovereign drone technology—a force multiplier that would reduce Asgardian casualties in future wars.
Once, she had sought to conquer the universe to build an army strong enough to challenge the Celestials. But now, under Ragna's banner, she commanded a force far stronger than anything she had ever assembled.
Besides, Asgard had no need for territorial expansion. The gods lived long lives, but their birth rate was abysmally low. The tragic loss of Asgardian warriors in the war against the Celestials had yet to be replenished. Even Asgard itself remained underpopulated.
Resources were not the issue—Asgard was one of the wealthiest realms in the cosmos. What it lacked was the population to expand further.
Upon her return, Hela's prestige soared, strengthened by the acquisition of the Sovereign's core technology.
The Universe Trembles
The universe reeled at the news.
In a single day, the Holy Heavenly Palace and Asgard had crushed three of the most powerful cosmic factions, along with an entire coalition of civilizations.
No empire, no warlord, no civilization dared to oppose them.
Statues of Angels were erected across countless worlds.
Even the most lawless sectors of the galaxy saw merchant ships sailing under the banner of the Holy Heavenly Palace, untouchable and free from piracy.
The faith-energy in the Reincarnation Pool surged, strengthening the Angel Kings at an accelerated rate.
Ragna's dominion expanded relentlessly.
Magus, meanwhile, was swiftly brainwashed by Lian Bing using the Mind Stone, reshaping his loyalty to Ragna. Being newly born and emotionally undeveloped, Magus was easily reprogrammed.
However, as his empire grew, Ragna's mind remained troubled.
The whereabouts of Thanos were still unknown.
The Elder Gods and other cosmic threats remained hidden in the shadows.
Their true strength and ultimate goals were mysteries.
Enemies lurking beyond sight frustrated him.
But fortune finally turned in Ragna's favor.
The Cosmic Mercenary Union had located Gamora on a distant, desolate world.
Wasting no time, Ragna contacted Nebula, instructing her to relay Gamora's coordinates to Thanos.
Ragna had already sent numerous beings to Vormir, but none had possessed a love strong enough to claim the Soul Stone.
Mind control, memory alteration, even hypnotic influence had all failed. The Soul Stone possessed a will of its own—and it rejected any false offerings.
Ragna remained undeterred.
He would keep testing. Keep trying. Eventually, someone would be found.
But if luring Thanos to Vormir allowed Ragna to both acquire the Soul Stone and fulfill his deal with Nebula, why wouldn't he seize the opportunity?
One month later—
Gamora vanished.
And with her disappearance, Ragna set his trap.
He and the Angel Kings descended upon Vormir, awaiting Thanos' arrival.
Ragna had a feeling…
The final Infinite Gem would not be obtained so easily.
JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCE 100+ CHAPTERS
PATREON.com/Kora_1