Chapter 296: Ask and Ye Shall Receive
Although Star-Lord felt that using his dance-off strategy again might not be very effective right now, he still took a deep breath and forced himself to take a step forward.
After all, what other solution could there be besides this desperate, non-solution of a plan?
He couldn't exactly expect Peter to take down Ronan all by himself, could he?
What a joke!
Ronan was holding the Power Stone!
If others didn't know how terrifying the power of the Power Stone was, how could he not know?
He had previously planned to sell the Cosmic Orb to The Collector, so he had seen with his own eyes how The Collector's maid, coveting the Power Stone, had merely reached out to touch it and was blasted into nothingness by its terrifying energy!
A mere overconfident attempt to touch it resulted in instant disintegration.
Now that it was being fully unleashed by someone, how could human strength possibly stand against it?
With this thought, Star-Lord took a deep breath, tried his best to put on his usual unserious demeanor, unplugged his Walkman headphones, kept the beat, and wiggled his body toward Ronan, singing:
"Hey, aye~"
Boom~!
The scene he imagined, where Ronan would be crowd-controlled by his dancing and singing, did not happen.
He had only just opened his mouth when Ronanimmediately raised the warhammer in his hand.
The violent energy of the Power Stone instantly poured into the hammerhead, and the blinding purple light made it impossible to keep one's eyes open.
A purple shockwave, as thick as a bucket, blasted straight out from the tip of the warhammer.
Star-Lord had overlooked one thing.
In the original story, the reason his plan succeeded was because Ronan had already almost completely conquered Xandar at that time.
He had crushed all the opponents standing before him and was in high spirits, completely off his guard.
That was why he could be crowd-controlled by Star-Lord's dance-off.
But right now, the situation was completely different.
Peter's act of tearing apart the dark aster's energy shield had brought him a strong sense of crisis.
Under these circumstances, his focus was extremely sharp, so how could he possibly give Star-Lord any opening?
"What do you think this place is!"
Following Ronan's roar, the beam of light instantly struck toward Star-Lord.
"Damn it!"
Star-Lord didn't even have time to finish swearing before he was hit head-on by the beam.
The powerful energy tore apart his prized red leather jacket.
It also sent his body flying far away, like a tattered ragdoll.
Star-Lord spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air before slamming heavily against the metal bulkhead of the dark aster, his entire body seemingly scorched into a semi-crystalline state by the energy.
He lay on the ground motionless, completely still.
"Quill!"
Gamora let out a heart-wrenching scream.
She couldn't believe this idiot actually dared to risk his life like that.
More importantly, she realized that she seemed to have unknowingly fallen in love with this seemingly unreliable but actually very sensitive Earthling.
Rocket Raccoon was so angry that he slapped the spaceship's control console.
"That idiot! Does he think everyone is as stupid as he is!"
Groot, with a face full of sadness, leaned against the porthole, watching the direction where Star-Lord had fallen.
"I am Groot."
Seeing the terrifying power displayed by the Power Stone, the space pirates swallowed their saliva involuntarily and looked at Yondu, whose eyes were almost splitting with rage, and said:
"Boss, I know you're anxious, but we're really no match for this guy. It's time to consider running."
Yondu clearly wanted nothing more than to fight Ronan to the death, but his reason was telling him: he couldn't sacrifice his own life and the lives of all his brothers just for this foster son.
He took a deep breath, forced himself to appear indifferent, and said:
"This job is impossible. I'm not going down with these idiots!"
"Raiders, attention! Turn the ship around immediately, engage the jump drive, and prepare to run!"
Seeing that Yondu had lost his will to fight, the morale of the Nova Corps, which had been so hard to organize, cracked once again.
Rhomann Dey slumped in his chair, already considering whether he should bid a final farewell to his family.
For example, shouting into the communicator, "Tell my mom I'm not a coward," and then launching a suicide attack on Ronan in a Nova fighter.
Irani also squeezed her eyes shut, a tear of frustration sliding from the corner of her eye.
"Xandar... is there really no hope left?"
"That's right!" Ronan heard her murmur and flashed a look of utter contempt at the Nova Prime:
"Feel despair, you bugs! I will use your deaths to announce the end of Xandar!"
As he spoke, he slammed his warhammer down again.
The moment the hammer fell, a terrifying purple energy shockwave capable of tearing space apart, carrying the momentum to destroy everything, blasted toward the crowd.
Wherever this energy wave passed, space itself produced visible distortions. Several Raiders' small fighters that were too close didn't even have time to dodge before they were disintegrated into cosmic dust by the stray energy.
Seeing this, Irani had already closed her eyes in despair.
But she waited for a long time without feeling the expected pain.
What was going on?
Irani opened her eyes a crack in disbelief.
And then... she saw a giant... tree creature!
Was this... that guy who kept yelling "Groot"?
Irani subconsciously looked back in the direction of Groot, only to find that Groot was still standing there foolishly, muttering to himself:
"I am Groot?!"
Rocket Raccoon and Destroyer were also stunned.
They shifted their gaze back and forth between the giant tree creature looming before them and Groot, until Rocketfinally couldn't help but shout:
"Groot? How did you summon your ancestor?"
"Ancestor? I don't have such a dim-witted great-great-great-grandson~"
The giant tree creature retorted, and that young voice left everyone present dumbfounded.
This voice was too familiar; it was clearly—Peter's voice!
But how was this possible?
Wasn't that guy a pure-blooded Earthling?
Why did he suddenly turn into a Flora Colossus?
Just as big question marks appeared in everyone's minds,
Peter smiled slightly at Ronan, who was also looking at him in disbelief:
"Blue-skinned freak, now, let me use you to test my newly acquired ability!"
As he spoke, Peter clapped his hands together heavily.
The next second, the entire dark aster began to shake violently.
Countless thick, brown vines appeared out of thin air, like awakened ancient beasts, piercing through the ship's armor and growing wildly at a terrifying speed.
While these vines grew crazily, they constantly intertwined and compressed, forming thick and sturdy branches.
In just a few short breaths, a vast primeval forest had taken root in space.
Wood Release: Ask and Ye Shall Receive Jutsu!
Ahem, no, that's not right—it's Deep Forest Emergence!
Chapter 297: Wood Human Technique, Crushing This Area
In just the blink of an eye.
The entire dark aster had completely transformed into a vast primeval jungle, and atop the branches of this jungle, massive flower buds could be seen forming.
Ronan, refusing to believe it, unleashed another energy blast, but these impacts hitting the incredibly resilient Deep Forest Emergence only left deep scars, unable to even destroy the tangled giant trees.
"The Power Stone... that's it?"
Peter sat leisurely on the branch of a giant tree, looking down at Ronan with a calm and contemptuous expression:
"Or rather... you trash, you can't even unleash the true power of the Power Stone at all?"
Hearing this, Ronan instantly turned red with rage and lost his composure:
"Damn Tree-man, don't get cocky. I'll cut you down right now!"
As he spoke, he grabbed his warhammer and frantically attacked the surrounding giant trees, causing the entire dark aster to tremble violently.
But the surrounding giant trees were like they had been given super fertilizer.
Their main feature was rapid, frantic growth!
He had just used the Power Stone to destroy one area, but when he turned to clear another and looked back, the previously destroyed area had already grown back.
"Heh~"
Peter yawned, then clapped his hands helplessly:
"Since you love playing so much, then try this too!"
Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!
Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!
As Peter used Chakra mixed with the abilities of the Flora Colossus, in the blink of an eye, an ultra-large Wood Human, dozens of meters tall with a wood dragon coiled around its shoulders, appeared on the battlefield.
The moment they saw that massive Wood Human, everyone present was dumbfounded.
The Centurions, who had thought they were dead for sure, were now staring wide-eyed.
Even Irani, the Nova Prime, unconsciously dropped the scepter in her hand.
This... what kind of monster is this?
Is this really an existence that human power can create?
Yondu and his subordinates, who were preparing to jump and escape, also halted their retreat.
"My god, just what is this kid's background?"
Standing to the side, Groot widened his innocent eyes, the small twigs on his head trembling wildly.
"I am Groot?!"
He felt the pure, kindred aura emanating from that forest; it was the origin power belonging to the Flora Colossus.
This scene made him unable to help but fantasize in his heart:
Could he also become this powerful in the future?
In contrast to the shocked crowd, Ronan's face darkened completely, and an indescribable irritability welled up in his heart.
"Impossible!"
"It's impossible!"
"I am a god! I am the only god in this Milky Way Galaxy!"
He roared and charged at the giant Wood Human, swinging his warhammer and smashing it down fiercely.
"A mortal's trickery dares to show off before a god!"
The purple energy beam collided with the thick wood dragon, erupting in a blindingly bright light.
The Wood Human's right foot exploded directly under the bombardment of the Power Stone, with countless wood chips flying everywhere in the vacuum.
But... that was all.
Even with the Power Stone—or more accurately, with Ronan's strength—even with the amplification of the Power Stone, he could only achieve this much.
"Are you... giving my Wood Human a pedicure?"
As he spoke, the Wood Human's fists and the wood dragon coiled on its shoulders launched a pincer attack on Ronan.
Ronan exerted all his strength and just barely managed to dodge the Wood Human's massive fists.
Then, he was shaken unstable by the terrifying shockwave from the Wood Human's fists hitting the ground, and could only watch helplessly as the wood dragon opened its hideous maw and lunged at him.
"Don't you dare!"
Ronan roared frantically, driving the Power Stone wildly in an attempt to shatter the wood dragon.
Under his full effort, the warhammer indeed exerted an indestructible power, nearly shattering the entire wood dragon completely.
Just as he saw the wood dragon's body getting shorter and shorter, and the smile on his face gradually widened.
His body suddenly stumbled slightly, and the energy output in his hands instantly cut out.
This momentary interruption in output gave Peter an opportunity.
The Wood Human delivered a massive kick, sending Ronanflying hundreds of meters away on the spot.
Even someone as strong as Ronan felt like half of his body was about to fall apart at this moment, and he uncontrollably spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Damn reptile!"
"Do you think this is enough to hurt the great Ronan the Accuser?!"
Ronan roared frantically, trying hard to prop himself up to continue fighting.
But for some reason, he felt weak all over, and even standing up was extremely difficult.
"Idiot! Look around you!"
Peter shook his head helplessly, giving him a reminder out of mercy.
Ronan subconsciously looked up.
Only then did he realize, too late, that the flower buds atop those giant trees had bloomed at some point.
The massive flowers were bright and dripping with color; as the petals unfolded, a faint yellow powder began to spread rapidly in the vacuum.
This pollen completely ignored the vacuum of space, drifting towards Ronan in flurries.
As Ronan breathed, countless pollen particles flooded into his lungs, making him feel more and more dizzy.
"Despicable fellow, you actually poisoned me!"
Ronan cursed indignantly!
"Rather than calling me despicable, it's better to say you're stupid for not even noticing such a simple change!"
As he spoke, Peter snapped his fingers, and two Vine Whips immediately extended from beside Ronan.
The Vine Whips easily pried open Ronan's stiff fingers.
As easily as taking candy from a child, the warhammer that could plunge all of Xandar into despair was snatched away.
"Give me back my hammer!"
Ronan let out an unwilling roar, trying to reclaim his warhammer like a dying stray dog.
But Peter didn't even give him a second glance as he jumped down from the branch.
While in mid-air, he quickly reverted to his human form.
After landing, he arrogantly stepped on Ronan's head, while fiddling with the warhammer like a pair of walnuts:
"Keeping this thing in your hands is a complete waste."
The moment he finished speaking, Peter's right hand was immediately covered with a layer of deep black Armament Haki.
He gripped the warhammer with one hand, applying a bit of pressure with his fingers.
Crack, crack!
The high-tech warhammer, which had condensed the painstaking efforts of the Kree, was as fragile as a crisp cracker in his hands.
With a crisp shattering sound, the warhammer Ronantreasured like a gem crumbled directly into scattered debris.
The Power Stone, no longer restrained, was completely exposed to the air, erupting with purple energy a hundred times more violent than before.
"Don't touch that!"
Gamora shouted a warning.
Ronan, lying on the ground, showed a frantic and expectant expression.
He wanted to see—wanted to see Peter's body being blown apart by the stone's power.
But what happened next disappointed him.
Peter simply reached out casually and easily took the Power Stone into his hand.
The terrifying Power Stone landed in his hand, yet it didn't even leave a tiny white mark!
Chapter 298: Cutting the Ground from Under One's Feet, No Finger Snapping Allowed!
Violent purple energy danced wildly at Peter's fingertips.
The Power Stone was like a top-tier wild stallion, clashing frantically against Peter's fingertips, trying to slip away.
Anyone else enduring this level of energy impact would have been reduced to ashes in a matter of minutes.
But the current Peter was enough to ignore this impact, even tossing the Power Stone into the air and catching it casually like he was playing with a glass marble.
"Give it back to me!"
Ronan, lying in the ruins, saw this and his eyes instantly turned blood-red.
A Beast-like roar escaped his throat.
Dragging his heavy body, he stared fixedly at the purple gem in Peter's hand as if possessed, shouting deliriously:
"A lowly commoner like you has no right to wield it."
"That is the power of a god!"
"Only I, only the great Ronan the Accuser, am qualified to possess it!"
Peter couldn't help but scoff, not even giving the guy a direct look:
"I have to say, you really have a talent for making me laugh."
"A piece of trash like you, who can't even hold onto a stone, dares to call yourself a god in front of me?"
Thoroughly enraged by this humiliation, Ronan lunged recklessly at Peter's calf, his hands grasping forward greedily.
Seeing his insatiable greed, Peter sighed mockingly and then casually tossed the Power Stone into Ronan's hand.
"No!"
Seeing this, Irani almost had a heart attack on the spot!
She was terrified that Ronan would truly be restored to full health after being buffed by the Power Stone, completely reversing the tide of battle!
"Mine! It's mine!"
Ronan lunged at the Power Stone like a dog diving for food, gripping it tightly in his hand.
But he had forgotten that without the help of the Kree's high-tech power hammer, even in his prime, he wouldn't have been able to master the stone's power.
Now, for one, he was weakened after inhaling the pollen from the Deep Forest Emergence.
Secondly, the previous kick from the Wood Golem Jutsuhad shattered all his defenses, leaving half his bones in pieces.
How could he possibly control the Power Stone in this state?
The moment his fingers touched the Power Stone, the terrifying power caused countless cracks to split across them.
The cracks continued to spread at an incredible speed, and in the blink of an eye, his entire body looked like a piece of porcelain about to shatter.
Even so, Ronan still refused to let go, unwilling to give up the power within his reach.
So, Peter nonchalantly raised his right foot.
He stomped down hard on Ronan's head.
Crack!
The scalp-numbing sound of cracking bones echoed clearly through the silent dark aster.
Ronan the Accuser, the supreme figure of the Kree Empire, didn't even get to utter another word before his entire body exploded completely like a ripe watermelon.
As the wind blew, countless fragments scattered through the air, causing everyone present to gasp in shock.
"He... just stomped Ronan to death like that?"
"That was Ronan... even without the Power Stone's buff, he wasn't someone we could easily deal with!"
"Where on earth did that Earthling come from?" Yonducouldn't help but widen his eyes.
He wondered to himself, are Earthlings really this terrifying?
"Wow~ I can't believe that big guy shattered even more thoroughly than I did!"
Suddenly, a voice spoke up; though weak, it couldn't hide its roguish tone.
Hearing this voice, Gamora and the others were startled, then let out high-pitched screams.
It was Star-Lord, who had previously been hit by the Power Stone's energy surge and left covered in cracks, now crawling up from the ground at some point.
His body was still covered in cracks, but he spoke as if nothing were wrong.
Seeing this, the Destroyer thought Star-Lord's corpse had come back to life; despite his muscular build, he jumped into Groot's arms like a frightened little girl.
"I am Groot!" Groot was also startled, hopping and jumping around, nearly stepping on Rocket's tail.
Gamora's eyes welled up. Ignoring the gazes of others, she threw herself into Star-Lord's arms, pounding his back hard:
"You're alive! That's wonderful!"
"Cough, cough!" Star-Lord coughed with difficulty:
"Uh... I feel a little bit dead now!"
While the Guardians were busy clowning around, Peterignored the shock and noise of the others.
He simply picked the Power Stone up from the ground again.
Just then, a system notification sounded in his ear.
[Detected golden sacrificeable item: Power Stone]
[Power Stone: One of the six Infinity Stones formed at the birth of the Universe, possessing infinite energy and extremely high combat value]
[Sacrifice to obtain points: 300,000]
"Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands... hundred thousands?!"
Seeing that exaggerated string of zeros, Peter couldn't help but gasp.
"Holy cow, three hundred thousand! What a fortune!"
Although the number was staggering, Peter regained his composure after the brief shock and couldn't help but complain:
"No way, system. I remember when I took gungnir from Loki, that thing provided 150,000 points.
This Power Stone is the strongest of the six Infinity Stones, and you're only offering 300,000 sacrifice points?!"
The system was silent for a moment before responding:
[The value of this item indeed exceeds 300,000 sacrifice points, but because it is too dangerous and ordinary people cannot wield it, there is a lack of market demand]
"But you still can't just offer 300,000! For that little money, I'd rather hoard it myself!"
After waiting for about a few seconds, the system indeed adjusted the price.
[System loophole detected, repairing...]
[Sacrifice to obtain points: 400,000]
"System, how about you repair it some more?"
This time Peter waited a long time, but there was no response.
Fine!
It seemed 400,000 was the system's limit.
Although he still felt it was a bit of a loss, Peter chose to sacrifice it.
Mainly because he really didn't need the Power Stone that much.
Because the Power Stone can only be used to amplify the power of other stones, not the power of other energy systems.
In other words, even if Peter kept the Power Stone, it would just be an extra Power Stone mode that couldn't be mixed with his other energies.
For the current Peter, this was quite redundant.
After all, whether it was Dual God Resonance, Cosmic Energy, or the Celestial Genes he was about to obtain, the combat power they could exert was not inferior to the Power Stone.
Furthermore, because he had the Horse Talisman, he wasn't lacking in recovery.
Besides, keeping the Power Stone might draw Thanos's attention and could give him a chance to snap his fingers.
For Peter, the disadvantages completely outweighed the benefits.
So, rather than keeping the stone and having Thanos covet it,
it was better to sacrifice it for a richer combat system, while simultaneously putting an end to Thanos's thoughts of snapping his fingers!
Chapter 299: Seeking Death, the Restless Skrulls
At this thought, Peter hesitated no longer and immediately ordered:
"System, sacrifice the Power Stone!"
The moment the words fell, the Power Stone in Peter's hand vanished into thin air.
Not even a trace of energy ripples remained.
In its place, Peter's sacrifice points balance skyrocketed by a full 300,000!
This eerie scene once again caused an uproar among everyone present.
"Where's the stone?"
Irani's voice cracked with urgency.
"Mr. Peter, that is a dangerous item capable of destroying an entire galaxy!"
"We cannot afford even the slightest carelessness!"
Peter brushed off non-existent dust from his hands and then gave the Nova Prime a kind smile:
"Relax, Ms. Irani."
"I just felt that little thing was too dangerous, so I sent it to a place where no one can reach it."
"From now on, anyone wishing to get their hands on this stone is just daydreaming."
"Even if Thanos himself comes charging over, he won't find a single trace of the stone's whereabouts."
Hearing this solemn guarantee and recalling Peter's terrifying power in easily crushing Ronan earlier,
Irani's tense nerves finally relaxed.
After all, since Peter could easily handle someone as terrifying as Ronan, they naturally had no right to question his decisions too much.
If they actually displeased this big shot, wouldn't Xandarface a second catastrophe?
"In that case, I won't ask any more questions!"
Irani let out a long sigh of relief and then excitedly stepped forward to take Peter's hand:
"Mr. Peter Parker, thank you for your outstanding contribution to Xandar."
"You have not only saved Xandar but the entire Milky Way Galaxy!"
"To show our respect, the Nova Corps will immediately host a top-tier victory banquet for you in the capital!"
"The doors to the treasury will also be opened to you; anything you need, we will present with both hands!"
Peter naturally wouldn't refuse such a generous reward.
However, he didn't follow Irani immediately. Instead, he approached Star-Lord, whose body was still covered in cracks:
"Looks like you need a little help, kid."
As he spoke, regardless of Star-Lord's reaction, he placed his hand directly on Star-Lord's shoulder.
In the next second, the power of the Horse Talisman was activated.
A gentle white light enveloped Star-Lord's entire body, instantly restoring his cracked physique to its original state.
"WTF!" Star-Lord couldn't help but curse.
"Are you really an Earthling? Why is it that we come from the same Planet, yet I've never seen such bizarre power before?"
"Kid, there are still many things in this World that you can't understand!"
Peter patted his shoulder gently and then spoke with a smile like a shady merchant:
"Now, let's get down to business. How do you plan to settle the fee for me healing you?"
Star-Lord:???
"Wait, man, I thought..."
"Thought it was America's free healthcare?" Peter looked at him teasingly:
"You didn't really think America would have such a thing, did you?"
"Fine~" Star-Lord raised his hands in surrender:
"Tell me, what do you want? Since you saved my life, as long as I have it, I promise I'll give you anything!"
But in the next second, noticing Peter scanning him from head to toe, he felt a sudden tightening in his rear and couldn't help but shield his chest with both hands, saying nervously:
"But paying with my body is absolutely out of the question. I'm a man of principle."
Peter:...
Before he could even think about how much force to use to avoid slapping his head off, Sif, standing nearby, had already drawn her twin swords.
How dare he insult her man—he's asking for death!
"Forget it, Sif."
Peter held Sif back and then looked at Star-Lord with a face full of black lines:
"I don't plan to take anything from you. I just need you to lead me to your biological father; that's enough."
"My... biological father?!" Star-Lord tilted his head, looking completely bewildered.
"Man, don't tell me we're actually half-brothers or something, and you were abandoned by our deadbeat dad just like I was."
"Though such stories are common in America..."
Peter wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and complained:
"But unfortunately, you're going to be disappointed. I know exactly who my parents are."
Saying this, he glanced at the solemn-faced Yondu nearby and said:
"As for the details, you can ask your adoptive father first. Come find me once you've thought it through."
After saying this, Peter took Sif's hand and said:
"Let's go, babe~"
"The game is over; it's time to enjoy the fine wine and food of Xandar."
"But before we go..."
Peter suddenly thought of something and reached out to press his hand against the wreckage of the dark asterbeneath him.
It would be a waste not to fleece Ronan for all he's worth.
[Purple sacrificable item detected: Heavily damaged Advanced Starship]
[Sacrifice to obtain points: 20,000 points]
Swoosh~!
As Peter silently muttered "sacrifice" in his mind, the dark aster beneath Star-Lord and the others' feet instantly vanished.
The Guardians: Holy cow~!
...
Just as Peter finished fleecing Ronan's legacy and took Sifto attend Xandar's appreciation banquet,
on the other side of the Milky Way.
Earth, Cape Canaveral Space Base.
Under the dim lights, several figures clad in black robes sat around a circular metal table.
Their facial features constantly twisted and morphed in the shadows, eventually settling into hideous faces with green skin and pointed chins.
"That fellow Peter Parker has been away from Earth for more than three days!"
"Not only that, but our satellites haven't monitored any signals related to him, which means there's no way he'll be returning from space anytime soon!"
"Doesn't that make this our god-given opportunity?"
"But as for General Talos's side..."
Just as these words were spoken, a tall Skrull leading them suddenly slammed his hand on the table:
"There are no 'buts'!"
He stood up, his piercing gaze sweeping across everyone present:
"What? Do you actually think that old fossil, who was played like a fiddle by a one-eyed Earthling, can lead us to the true Promised Land?"
"Do you really think that Peter Parker will sincerely find a new Planet for us?"
The Skrulls looked at each other, and finally, a relatively elderly Skrull asked tentatively:
"Gravik, what do you mean by that?"
"What do I mean?" The tall Skrull called Gravik laughed, revealing a hideously grim smile as he spoke:
"I mean to immediately overthrow Talos's senile rule and then, while that monster Earthling is far away in space, completely bring Earth under our control!
We don't need anyone's charity. Earth is our Promised Land!"
Chapter 300: Secret Invasion and the Super-Skrull Project
"This..."
Talos's words plunged the scene into an eerie silence.
A long while later, the elderly Skrull who had spoken earlier could not help but tremble as he said:
"Gravik, this is too risky. If this plan is exposed, it will spell doom for all of us."
"Risky?!"
Gravik chuckled, and then, he suddenly raised his hand and pulled back the hood covering him.
The moment the hood was pulled off, his figure began to grow in a bizarre and frantic manner.
In no time at all, he had transformed into a monster resembling the deceased Abomination!
"This... what is this?!"
Looking at Gravik's current appearance, the Skrulls on the scene could not help but change color:
"Gravik, how did you become like this?"
Gravik looked at his arms, which had expanded by an unknown number of times, with an obsessed expression, a sinister smile appearing on his face:
"I transplanted the genes of that Hulk!"
Speaking of this, his body twisted again, and soon he transformed into the forms of a spider-monster and a lizard-monster:
"It's not just the Hulk's genes; Ghost-Spider, Dr. Lizard, Captain America, Hawkeye, Daredevil..."
He recited the names of the Superheroes one by one as if reading off a menu:
"I took advantage of the previous battle against the Inheritors, as well as the Battle of New York, to secretly collect a massive amount of Superhero genes, and I have successfully completed the development of the gene fusion chamber!"
"Now, I alone can rival an entire Avengers team!"
"And this is just the beginning!"
Gravik spoke in a highly seductive voice:
"As long as we collect enough genes from the Superheroes, and as long as you all sit in my gene fusion chamber just like I did."
"By then, we will all be Super-Skrulls. When we all join forces, do you think Peter Parker will still be our match?"
These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the minds of all the Skrulls.
It constantly fostered the germination of this thought:
"He is right!"
Noticing that the Skrulls were wavering, Gravik spread his arms with great incitement:
"Guys, don't hesitate anymore! Overthrow that fool Talosimmediately! Let me lead you into a new era for the Skrulls!"
"But..." a more rational Skrull raised a question,
"The current America is like an iron bucket; in this country, everyone listens to Peter Parker.
Even if we want to use our shapeshifting abilities to cause trouble, I'm afraid we won't have much chance of winning."
"Who said we were going to cause trouble in America, which is Peter Parker's base camp?" Gravik sneered, then reached out and pointed to his head,
"Do you think I'm as stupid as Talos?"
While speaking, he walked to a huge holographic map, traced his finger over it, and finally pointed to the European continent.
"The United States is his territory; we won't touch it. Our target is here."
"Europe?"
"That's right." A calculating gleam flashed in Gravik's eyes,
"I am preparing to use our shapeshifting abilities to launch a Secret Invasion plan!"
"Starting with major powers like Britain, France, and Russia, we will put pressure on the United Nations. We will use a reason they cannot refuse—Superheroes are the wealth of the World and cannot be monopolized by just one country, the United States!"
He paused, enjoying the expressions of sudden realization on everyone's faces.
"Step one: We disguise ourselves as those greedy human politicians, forcing the United Nations to pass a resolution requiring Superheroes to disperse across the World to handle global crises. In this way, they will change from a clenched fist into scattered sand."
Gravik turned around and spread his arms, like a king about to ascend the throne.
"Step two: We use the gene fusion chamber to disguise ourselves as them and use their abilities to commit crimes!
We will make them despised rats in every country around the World, making the whole World spontaneously boycott this group of Superheroes!"
"By then, we can appear in a new guise, defeating them one by one while copying their abilities, and appearing before the public as a new type of government-controlled Superhero!"
"At that time, other countries in the World will revere us as heroes. In that case, what will these arrangements Peter Parker has made in the United States even amount to?"
The conference room was deathly silent.
Immediately after, there was a fanatical response like a tsunami.
"Brilliant!"
"Long live Gravik!"
"For the new Skrulls!"
The elderly Skrull looked at this crazy scene before him, subconsciously opening his mouth to say something, but when he noticed Gravik's cold and gloomy eyes, he ultimately said nothing.
He just let out a powerless sigh.
He knew that from this moment on, the fate of the Skrullshad completely slid into an unknown abyss...
With the plan set, the rest was execution.
Gravik's ability to act far exceeded everyone's imagination. Once the fanatical flame called war was ignited in the hearts of the Skrulls, who had been silent for decades, the energy that erupted was not to be underestimated.
In less than an hour, Talos was "invited" to the conference room.
Looking at the familiar yet strange faces in the conference room, especially Gravik standing in the main seat—the position that should have been his—Talos's heart sank.
He understood everything.
"Gravik," Talos's voice carried a trace of exhaustion. He looked at this young junior he had once thought highly of, "What do you want to do?"
"What do I want to do?" Gravik straightened his cuffs unhurriedly, not even raising his head, "As you can see, General. Correcting the mistakes you made and leading our people toward a true future."
"Your so-called future is to provoke a war with Earth?" Talos's tone suddenly rose,
"Are you crazy! You have no idea how terrifying Peter Parker is! You are pushing our entire race into a pit of fire!"
"Terrifying?" Gravik finally raised his head, his eyes full of mockery,
"I only see his arrogance, and his arrogance destines him to perish!"
He walked toward Talos step by step, speaking with an imposing manner:
"Forty years, Talos! Our children were born in cold spaceships; they don't even know what the wind of freedom tastes like! They can only live in sewers like rats. And you, stupid Talos, you are still begging for the enemy's mercy!"
"This is not mercy; this is trust!" Talos argued, "We have agreements with Fury and with Parker!"
"Agreements?" Gravik acted as if he had heard a huge joke,
"Just a piece of waste paper that can be torn up at any time! True power is seized by oneself, not given by others as charity! You are too old, Talos; you have forgotten how we Skrulls once roamed the Universe. It is only because you are so cowardly that you would lead us into a bottomless abyss!"
Gravik's words drew fanatical agreement from the surrounding Skrulls.
They had had enough of waiting and had had enough of living under someone else's roof.
Talos looked around and saw eyes ignited by ambition. He knew that the hearts and minds were completely lost.
Thus, he could only let out a helpless sigh:
"Believe me, Gravik, you will regret this."
Chapter 301: Wanda and Quicksilver
"Whether we will regret it or not is none of your concern."
Gravik waved his hand, and two burly Skrulls immediately stepped forward, grabbing Talos on both sides.
"From today on, you are no longer a general of the Skrulls. You will stay here as an 'honored guest,' rest well, and witness with your own eyes how I lead our race to reclaim the glory that should have been ours."
Talos did not resist; he merely gave Gravik a deep look.
There was no anger in his eyes, only a kind of pity that saw through to the end.
He couldn't even be bothered to say another word, simply letting the two guards drag him into the pitch-black dungeon.
The coup ended just like that, incredibly uneventfully.
Gravik wasted no time. After securing Talos, he immediately took his people to Europe!
In just two or three short days, the Skrulls completed their infiltration of various European countries.
At the United Nations meeting.
The British representative was the first to propose the motion for 'Global Accountability for Superheroes.'
The Russian side directly spoke out in accusation, claiming that the U.S. was attempting to monopolize superhuman power, posing a serious threat to global security.
Anti-privatization sentiment regarding Superheroes spread wildly among the French public. Incited by those with ulterior motives, citizens organized massive protests, demanding 'the free and equal right to enjoy the protection of Superheroes!'
Meanwhile, Gravik appeared in a little-known small country in Eastern Europe—Sokovia!
Here, he successfully met with the HYDRA Commander in Eastern Europe, Baron Zemo.
And through Baron Zemo's connections, he met a young man and woman.
"Wanda Maximoff, Pietro Maximoff..."
Gravik's fingers tapped lightly on the photo of the girl on the screen, his mouth curling into an eerie arc.
"Two 'keys' with immense potential—simply wonderful!"
...
Before long, inside a secret HYDRA Base, Gravik, disguised as an ordinary person, successfully met with Wanda and Pietro.
Quicksilver, Pietro, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his gaze vigilant, like a leopard ready to pounce at any moment.
Meanwhile, the Scarlet Witch, Wanda, sat in the shadows of the corner, a wisp of faint scarlet energy lingering around her fingertips, her gaze filled with distrustful scrutiny.
"You're the one who contacted us?" Pietro spoke first, his voice carrying the sharp edge characteristic of a young man.
"That's right. You can call me Mr. Gravik." Gravik wore a kind smile, but it sent an inexplicable chill through the siblings.
"I've come this time to offer you a chance for revenge."
"Revenge?" Pietro scoffed. "Revenge against whom?"
"Do I really need to say the answer to that question?" Gravik paced slowly, his voice full of seduction.
"Tony Stark. That arms dealer, that so-called Iron Man, that hero of the U.S."
The words 'Stark Industries' pierced Wanda's heart like a sharp knife.
The red light at her fingertips flared suddenly, and the air in the entire room seemed to solidify.
"Our parents... died under a Stark Industries missile." Quicksilver spoke, his voice very soft, yet revealing a bone-deep hatred.
"I know." Gravik stopped and looked directly into their eyes.
"I understand your pain, and I understand your hatred. But have you ever thought about whether killing one Tony Stark is useful?"
He spread his hands, coaxing them: "Even without Tony Stark, there will be another 'Stark.' As long as the country that bred him still exists, as long as that hegemony still hangs over this World, tragedies like the one that befell your family will continue to play out in every corner of the World."
Pietro frowned: "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Gravik's voice became impassioned:
"Your enemy is not just Tony Stark, but everything he represents! It is the entire Superheroes system, the hypocritical World order dominated by the U.S.!"
"Peter Parker, the person now hailed as the guardian deity of the U.S., has turned that hegemonic country entirely into his own backyard.
Today, that country is becoming unprecedentedly powerful and arrogant!
Do you guess that a person like him will stop his pace of expansion?
As everyone knows, you have to eat one bite at a time.
When he puts on his napkin, guess what kind of country will be the first one served on the dining table?"
These words struck Wanda and Pietro's hearts like a heavy hammer.
Undoubtedly, once Peter Parker decides to launch an expedition like an emperor, small countries like Sokoviawill be the first to kneel under his iron hoof!
"Join me." Gravik reached out his hand to them. "I will give you the power and the opportunity to personally destroy that old World and establish a new order that is truly equal and free from oppression."
"And the first step we must take is to dismantle their pride and joy, the 'Avengers'."
Wanda looked at Gravik, the light in her scarlet eyes flickering uncertainly.
Pietro looked at his sister, waiting for her decision.
After a long time, Wanda stood up, the red light at her fingertips gradually fading away.
"You had better not disappoint us."
Hearing this, a smile of success couldn't help but appear on Gravik's face.
...
At the same time that Gravik was recruiting Quicksilverand the Scarlet Witch.
At the United Nations meeting, S.H.I.E.L.D. representative Maria Hill appeared isolated in the face of the joint condemnation from representatives of various European countries.
"Gentlemen, Superheroes are not weapons; they are independent individuals. We have no right to order them where to go!"
"Commander Hill, this is not an order, but the demand of the global people!" The British representative said righteously.
"Does the U.S. intend to keep this powerful force for itself, threatening World peace and stability?"
This blow, carrying centuries of weight, was something Hilltruly couldn't withstand!
Ultimately, under immense public and political pressure, a major Eastern power chose to abstain during the third round of voting, and a resolution was forcibly passed:
U.S. Superheroes must be dispersed to various parts of the World to be stationed and accept the unified coordination of the United Nations.
When the news reached the Avengers Tower, there was an immediate uproar in the office.
"This is simply ridiculous!" Tony Stark tugged at his tie irritably. "We haven't even sorted out the issues in the U.S. yet; where would we find the energy to deal with the messy affairs of other countries!"
"But this is a United Nations resolution. If we don't comply, we will be defined as enemies of the World." Captain America rubbed his temples in distress, hesitating for a moment before adding:
"Besides, we are all currently gathered in the U.S., which really easily arouses the apprehension of other countries!"
"If we really drive those politicians crazy, the result will definitely not be something we want to see."
Gwen Stacy stood by the window, listening to the argument in the conference room.
Her beautiful brows unconsciously furrowed into a deep frown.
She knew that there must be an invisible hand pushing this from behind.
But without Peter there, they were like a body that had lost its brain, completely unable to speak with a unified voice.
Chapter 302: The Girl Next Door Has Grown Up; GwenStanding on Her Own
Gwen's finger hovered unconsciously over the Quantum Communicator.
This was a little gadget Peter and Tony had tinkered with before he set off.
Relying on the power of the Tesseract, also known as the Space Stone, they could make video calls instantly even if Peter was far away in the Universe.
She knew Peter would definitely have a solution.
That guy could argue with the politicians at the United Nations until they questioned their own existence, and he could easily trace the network cables to drag out the mastermind behind the scenes for a beating.
No matter how complex a problem was, it became incredibly simple and clear in his hands.
Yet, her finger hovering over the Quantum Communicatorsimply wouldn't press down.
She didn't want Peter to bail her out every time a problem arose.
Peter was gentle and strong; he would never get impatient about cleaning up after her.
But that wasn't what Gwen wanted; she never wanted to live as Peter's dependent.
Peter was already exhausted from carrying the weight of this Planet on his shoulders.
What she should do is play her part while Peter wasn't on Earth and become his solid support.
Not be a princess trapped in a high tower, only waiting for the warrior Peter to rescue her.
With that thought, Gwen completely put away the Quantum Communicator.
"Enough."
The moment Gwen spoke, the meeting room fell silent.
Tony couldn't help but look at Gwen:
"Ms. Little Spider, are you ready to contact Peter to solve this problem?"
"No."
Gwen looked up and said with a firm tone:
"I think we should solve this problem ourselves."
Natasha looked at her with some surprise: "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Then what do you plan to do?" Hawkeye's face was full of inquiry and distrust.
Gwen walked to the conference table and pushed the United Nations resolution to the center. "They want the Avengers to be stationed globally, so we agree."
"Peter just left Earth, and the United Nations passed the proposal so quickly; there's definitely something fishy behind this."
"Right now, the enemy is in the shadows while we are in the light, and they already control the power of public opinion. If we choose to refuse in this situation, it will only give them more opportunities to attack us."
An appreciative smile appeared on Captain America's face:
"Go on, child."
"My plan is that we agree to the deployment, but we will not surrender our independent right of judgment."
As she spoke, she pulled several Little Spider Robots from her pocket.
This was inspired by the Nanobots she had seen in Otto Parker's Universe.
So, after returning, she found an opportunity to make a batch herself.
"We can take these to different countries to handle crises and secretly record the entire mission through the Little Spiders. Once any member faces accusations, these recordings will be the key evidence for us to turn the tables!"
"Good idea," Tony couldn't help but praise.
"But that's not the most important part!" Gwen just smiled slightly, not letting the praise go to her head at all.
"The most important thing is that we must trust each other! So I've decided that starting today, the Avengers will establish a Highest Priority Mutual Trust Protocol."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "That name sounds like something Peter would complain about."
"Then you can give it a flashier name," Gwen retorted directly.
This performance made Hawkeye whistle. "She's starting to sound a bit like Peter."
Gwen clapped her hands, bringing everyone's attention back to her:
"First, if anyone encounters an abnormal event, activate the team channel immediately to make contact."
"Second, if a member loses communication for more than six hours, nearby members are not allowed to act alone; wait until the team launches a collective rescue operation!"
"Third, any evidence involving a teammate's crime will be treated as perjury. Each of you was handpicked by Peter; believe in each other's character."
After hearing this, Tony unconsciously raised an eyebrow:
"It sounds like you've already assumed someone will impersonate us to commit crimes or try to control us."
"Exactly."
Gwen admitted it quite bluntly. "This was pushed through too quickly. The rhetoric from European countries is like it was rehearsed in advance. This efficient style of operation reminds me of an organization..."
Captain America frowned:
"You suspect HYDRA's remnants are still at it?"
Gwen nodded. "It's very likely. Even if it's not HYDRA, it's probably a similar organization."
Hawkeye tilted his chin. "I think she has a point."
Captain America also said in a deep voice, "Child, I completely agree with your arrangements."
Tony stared at Gwen for a few seconds and suddenly laughed. "Alright then, Ms. Little Spider, you've convinced me."
Gwen was a bit surprised. "None of you object?"
She, who had been logical and concise, suddenly became a bit tongue-tied:
"I thought you would only see me as Peter's girlfriend..."
Hawkeye laughed. "Come on, you're Ghost-Spider."
Banner also spoke gently:
"Everyone here has had their life saved by you. How could we possibly treat you as someone else's appendage?"
Tony took a sip of cola and said with a smile:
"More importantly, if we really didn't give you face, that petty guy Peter wouldn't let us off once he gets back~"
At this, Tony looked at everyone and asked:
"So... shall we vote by a show of hands?"
As he spoke, he was the first to raise his hand.
Natasha raised her hand. "Approved."
Captain America raised her hand. "Approved."
Banner raised his hand. "Approved."
Hawkeye raised his hand. "Approved."
Everyone present raised their hands. "Approved."
Passed unanimously!
...
As the Superheroes accepted the United Nations' Global Responsibility Accord, they immediately dispersed to various parts of the World.
Not long after they headed out.
Tony, who was responsible for guarding America and continuing the Battle Suit mass-production plan, received a report from Jarvis:
"Sir, there are reports from multiple locations in Europe of Avengers members attacking government officials."
A strange smile appeared on Tony's face:
"Who is it?"
"Captain America attacked an MI6 convoy in London."
"Mr. Hawkeye appeared over Paris and destroyed three French Military drones."
"Ms. Black Widow assassinated a Russian minister."
"Ms. Ghost-Spider caused a major disturbance in Germany."
Looking at the video footage on the screen showing the destruction caused by everyone, Tony couldn't help but comment:
"Talk about a team of villains!"
However, as he joked, his smile suddenly froze.
Because he realized through the video footage that things were not as simple as he thought.
It wasn't just a crude imitation of appearance; the imposters in the video actually possessed their respective signature skills!
Chapter 303: Star-Lord: He's Launching a Personal Attack on Me!
Xandar, after the banquet.
"My god!"
As soon as Star-Lord was invited onto the deck of the destiny, he was deeply shocked by the luxurious interior design:
"Wait, man, are you sure this is a spaceship and not some kind of mobile palace?"
Rocket Raccoon, currently carrying his gun, had his eyes practically glued to the energy conduits on the walls, his small face filled with greed—if he could steal some of this to sell, he'd definitely make a fortune.
Gamora gave him a cold look. "Don't touch anything. I'm telling you this for your own good."
"I know that, of course. I'm just admiring it."
Rocket reached out a paw toward a metal panel.
The next second, a mechanical arm extended from out of nowhere and lifted him into the air.
Rocket kicked his legs, clutching his paws. "Damn it! It dared to attack me!"
Peter walked over from ahead, leading Sif, not at all surprised by the scene.
"Friendly reminder: the destiny's security system doesn't much like thieves."
Rocket glared at him. "Who's a thief? This is an engineer's spirit of exploration!"
Star-Lord patted Rocket on the shoulder. "Brother, admit it. Your expression just now practically had 'I want to rob this place' written all over your face."
Drax nodded seriously. "His face is too small; it wouldn't fit that many words."
Groot spread his hands. "I am Groot!"
Sif looked at this group of idiots and couldn't help but turn back to ask, "Are you sure you want to take them with us?"
Peter smiled and said:
"Taking them along is much more efficient than us exploring aimlessly on our own."
As he spoke, he leaned close to her ear and whispered mysteriously,
"Believe it or not, as soon as I take them away, someone will come knocking to invite us to fight a giant octopus."
Sif raised an eyebrow. "A giant octopus?"
Just as she finished speaking, the communicator at Star-Lord's waist rang.
Star-Lord looked down, and his expression suddenly became strange.
Rocket immediately leaned in. "Who is it?"
Star-Lord read out: "High Priestess of the Sovereign, Ayesha."
Rocket snorted. "That gold-plated race of morons who make people kneel while they talk?"
Gamora reminded him, "Although their arrogance is repulsive, one must admit they are very generous."
As soon as she spoke, Star-Lord immediately connected the holographic communication.
A projection appeared before everyone, showing a woman with golden skin and a haughty posture sitting on a throne.
Her gaze first swept over Star-Lord and the others, and she said coldly:
"I heard from Yondu that you are a powerful mercenary team."
"The Sovereign's Anulax batteries are being plagued by an extraterrestrial creature."
"We need someone to clear it out."
Hearing 'Anulax batteries,' Rocket Raccoon's eyes lit up. "How much is the commission?"
Ayesha looked at him with innate contempt. "The reward will satisfy a lower lifeform such as yourself."
"Hey, sister, if you want to do business, you should offer a proper price upfront to persuade us. That's the rule," Star-Lord said as calmly as possible.
Ayesha gave him a haughty look and then turned the camera.
The projection then showed a bald girl with blue skin, half of whose body had been cybernetically modified.
"Nebula?!"
Gamora was startled and subconsciously grabbed Star-Lord's hand in excitement.
"Who's that?" Star-Lord couldn't help but ask.
Gamora replied, "My sister."
Rocket immediately raised a paw. "So the mission reward changed from money to trouble? I object!"
Drax, however, said seriously, "Family is important."
Groot also nodded. "I am Groot."
Star-Lord looked at Gamora, then at Peter. Seeing Peternod, he decisively ignored Rocket's objection and said:
"We'll take the job."
Seeing Rocket about to jump up and hit his knees, he quickly added:
"But we want other compensation as well, at least this much!"
Ayesha maintained her look of disdain:
"Truly a bunch of low-class, inferior beings. I accept your terms."
With that, she abruptly cut off the transmission.
Everyone now had a target—the planet Sovereign.
...
After several jumps, the destiny arrived at the Sovereignenergy mine.
Rows of golden buildings floated in space, and a matrix of Anulax batteries emitted a brilliant glow.
In the center of the matrix, a massive multi-tentacled monster was latched onto an energy port, devouring it ravenously.
Sif looked out the window and couldn't help but exclaim:
"It really is a giant octopus."
The Guardians didn't hear her muttering, each of them shouting as they jumped out of the ship.
Seeing this, Peter offered a smiling blessing:
"Good luck to you all."
Star-Lord froze. "You're not coming?"
"I'm in charge of watching the show."
Peter sat in the commander's seat. "Unless you can't handle it, I won't be making a move."
Rocket sneered. "Don't look down on us; we're professionals."
Ten minutes later.
Outside the energy platform, Star-Lord was swatted away by a tentacle, slamming into a golden shield and sliding down.
Drax was laughing maniacally while hugging a tentacle, only to be dragged around the platform three times.
Rocket's guns were firing happily, but every shot was just tickling the monster.
Gamora, on the other hand, was efficient, severing several tentacles in succession, but the monster's recovery speed was absurd.
Groot was responsible for plugging cables back in, his mouth constantly shouting, "I am Groot!"
Sif watched this comical scene and, after holding it in for a long time, finally couldn't resist: "You're really not going to help?"
Peter held a drink. "Don't worry, it's still early. They aren't as incompetent as you think."
Sure enough, everything that followed happened exactly like the plot of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in Peter's mind.
Gamora successfully killed the giant octopus, and the Destroyer—that guy—emerged from the creature's body covered in slime, shouting:
"I killed it from the inside!"
Star-Lord couldn't help but complain:
"You clearly didn't do anything."
Afterward, everyone successfully met Nebula, and Rocket, predictably unable to stay out of trouble, stole the batteries.
A few minutes later, the destiny's alarms blared.
The Sovereign fleet rushed in from the distance, all cannons locking onto the destiny simultaneously.
Ayesha's projection appeared again, the haughtiness on her face replaced by fury.
"Lower lifeforms, how dare you steal the Sovereign's most precious Anulax batteries!"
Rocket immediately hid his backpack behind his back. "Slander! She's slandering me!"
Ayesha said coldly, "Hand over the batteries, and then accept your execution."
Star-Lord turned to look at Rocket. "You stole them?"
Rocket said righteously, "I did it to prevent them from stiffing us on the bill!"
Gamora yelled, "They already paid the bill!"
Rocket shouted, "Then it's a second charge!"
Peter leaned back in his chair, his smile growing wider.
Star-Lord looked at him in a breakdown. "Man, you're still laughing? They're about to turn us into space junk!"
Peter looked at the distant starry sky. "Don't panic."
Sif followed his gaze.
The Sovereign fleet's fire had already lit up.
But further away, a silver-white light streaked through the void, approaching the battlefield at high speed.
Peter stood up and patted Star-Lord on the shoulder.
"Your daddy's here~"
Star-Lord:???
Why the personal attack? What did I ever do to you?
Chapter 304: I Am Your Father
Star-Lord pulled a long face, complaining to Peter with a look of dissatisfaction:
"Bro, we're about to die together, is there any point in taking advantage of me right now?"
Peter rolled his eyes speechlessly.
"What do you mean 'taking advantage'? Do you think I want an outrageous son like you?"
"Is it possible that your biological father has actually arrived?"
Hearing this, Star-Lord couldn't help but freeze.
At the very moment he was dazed, a silver-white ship sped toward them.
As the ship approached, it suddenly fired thousands of white beams. Everywhere the light passed, the fighters chasing the destiny exploded one after another.
It had actually cleared all the Sovereign fighters in a single strike!
"Whoa~"
Rocket couldn't help but nudge Star-Lord with his elbow:
"Though you might not be happy to hear this, honestly, it doesn't seem like a bad deal to claim a father like that!"
Drax the Destroyer also chimed in with a low blow:
"Are you really his child? He is much stronger than you."
Groot was overjoyed: "I am Groot~"
Star-Lord ignored their teasing, staring blankly at the white-haired old man standing on the silver ship outside the viewport. After a long while, he spoke up to complain:
"I get the gist, but why is he... riding an egg?"
Rocket, Groot, Gamora, Drax:...
Nebula, whose hands and feet were still bound, couldn't help but look at Gamora and let out a sneer:
"So this is your taste. You gave up all the young talents of Titan, only to choose a fool as your boyfriend."
"Shut up!" Gamora shouted at her sister, her composure slipping slightly.
In her heart, however, she couldn't help but agree with Star-Lord.
Quill wasn't wrong; that old geezer's ship really did look like an egg!
Before long, a silver-haired old man wearing long robes, with a gentle temperament and an expression that said 'I haven't been the boss for many years,' smiled and knocked on the destiny's viewport.
Noticing this action, Peter and Sif instinctively glanced at each other, instantly reaching a consensus:
A poser!
Although he was frantically complaining about the lecherous old man outside the window in his heart, there was no choice. After all, Peter lusted after his body...
Uh, that sounds a bit weird.
Who told Peter to lust after his genes...
Fuck, that sounds even weirder!
Anyway, Peter still opened the hatch of the destiny and let the old man, Ego, inside.
As soon as he entered, Ego opened his arms toward Peter:
"Peter Quill, my dear child, I've finally found you!"
Ego had come looking for Star-Lord because he had withstood the impact of the Power Stone, thereby awakening his Celestial bloodline.
Therefore, he instinctively assumed that the strongest person in the crowd was his son.
So, without a second thought, he identified Peter as his son.
This action of his successfully plunged the scene into an eerie silence.
After a long time, Drax, who had a very low threshold for humor, burst out laughing, even falling to the floor and rolling around while clutching his stomach.
Rocket couldn't help but continue nudging Star-Lord's shin:
"Now you can even save on the cost of a paternity test. You're definitely his offspring."
"I am Groot~" The clueless Groot also started giggling along.
Only Star-Lord slapped his forehead in agony. Having a biological father who hadn't been seen for twenty years mistake someone else for him upon meeting was hard for anyone to handle.
He then stiffened his face:
"Old geezer, don't expect me to say a single word to you until you've settled twenty-five years of child support!"
Watching Star-Lord turn and walk away, Ego finally realized he had made a blunder.
This awkward scene made even Ego, who had lived for billions of years, curl his toes in embarrassment.
Thus, he could only smile apologetically at Peter before turning his gaze to Star-Lord:
"Child, child support and all that can be discussed. As long as you are willing to return to my side, I will grant you an entire Planet."
"Father~"
...
About ten minutes later, Ego finished explaining his origins to Star-Lord.
Naturally, Star-Lord and the others prepared to follow Egoto his host Planet.
On the way to Planet Ego, Ego couldn't help but frequently glance at Sif.
He suddenly realized that he seemed to have never bred offspring with an Asgardian.
The special bloodline of the Asgardians might be able to produce a better energy vessel for his true self than Star-Lord.
Thinking of this, the lecherous old man ignored the fact that Sif was snuggling in Peter's arms and directly struck up a conversation:
"You are the most beautiful Asgardian girl I have ever seen. May I have the honor of knowing your name?"
Peter:???
It wasn't just that he felt this lecherous old man was courting death.
But also because...
Old geezer, your skin color is seriously incorrect!
Clang~!
Sif directly unsheathed her sword.
Peter was even more direct; his Haoshoku Haki was released.
Although it wasn't aimed at Star-Lord and the others, it still made their hearts skip a beat.
"Old man, take one more look and see if I don't gouge your eyes out and stomp on them like firecrackers."
Usually, with Ego's temper, he would have lashed out by now.
But for now, the situation was special after all.
His son, the only son with the hope of helping him rule the Universe, was still by his side.
And he was even scolding him with a grim expression:
"Father, I think you lack the most basic respect for my friends!"
To avoid ending up with nothing,
Ego had to suppress his urge to lash out immediately and smiled:
"It was just a joke. Don't take it to heart, young man. As an apology, please allow me to invite you all to visit my Planet."
After Sif and Peter exchanged a look, Sif sheathed her longsword, and Peter directly ordered:
"Get off my ship."
Ego was straightforward enough; he shrugged and left the destiny, but he was secretly thinking to himself.
Once we reach my true body, and once I have full control over Quill, you will be nothing more than fish in my barrel.
...
It had to be said that Planet Ego was quite beautiful.
Unreasonably beautiful, in fact.
As the destiny passed through the clouds, they saw vast fields of flowers.
The distant lakes and mountains all glowed with multicolored light, looking like something out of a fairy tale.
When the destiny landed, a young girl with two antennae on her head stood respectfully by the entrance and quietly moved behind Ego.
It was Star-Lord's sister, Mantis Brandt!
Ego did not directly state that Brandt was his daughter.
He never considered offspring who hadn't inherited Celestial power as his children; in his eyes, Mantis was merely a tool to help him sleep well.
As he introduced her, Mantis bowed to everyone one by one.
When Ego introduced Peter, Mantis's body couldn't help but tremble.
She sensed it.
This man before her—his emotions toward his family seemed exceptionally rich!