Just as Darian was grumbling to himself, The Collector placed the Cosmic Orb on a precision instrument.
Accompanied by a faint mechanical sound, the instrument began to operate automatically, and mechanical arms quickly unlocked the metal shell of the Cosmic Orb.
At the same time, The Collector continued to explain: "The Infinity Stones contain powerful energy. Only extraordinary people can fully control them. Especially this Cosmic Orb; sealed inside is the Power Stone, which possesses the terrifying power to destroy everything. It is like this."
As his voice fell, a holographic projection appeared before everyone.
The image showed a huge humanoid creature with a square head and a face flashing with six lights, looking at first glance like a six-dot mahjong tile.
The six-dot giant stood on the surface of a Planet, holding a giant scepter with an ancient design. The Power Stone was embedded at the tip of the scepter, and alien residents were fleeing in all directions at his feet.
He slowly raised the scepter and tapped it lightly against the ground.
In an instant, the Power Stone erupted with blinding purple light, spreading like ripples across the entire Planet.
Wherever the light touched, all life vanished like harvested straw, not even having time to let out a scream. The once vibrant surface of the Planet turned into a dead, silent wasteland in the blink of an eye.
The Guardians of the Galaxy stared in stunned silence. Were they always in contact with such a dangerous thing?
Darian was also surprised.
Although he had already seen more than one Infinity Stone, the performance of the other two Infinity Stones was far less visually impactful than the Power Stone.
To be able to destroy an entire Planet with one strike—is this the true power of the Infinity Stones?
At the same time, Darian felt a surge of relief.
Fortunately, he didn't do anything stupid like giving the Cosmic Orb to Strucker to study. Otherwise, if the other party really managed to research something, not to mention the entire Earth suffering, the entire Sokovia would likely be wiped off the map. He would have gone from being a monarch of a kingdom to a monarch of a lost nation in an instant.
The Collector added: "However, if an ordinary person touches it rashly, they will be completely annihilated by the power of the Infinity Stones."
As if to prove his words, the holographic projection changed. A group of aliens tried to control the Power Stone but were instantly swallowed by its terrifying energy, leaving not even residue behind.
Darian was not surprised by this.
After all, Sokovia had a Mind Stone, which was usually very aloof, cold, and ignored everyone. Anyone who touched it basically turned into dust, let alone controlling its power.
Only when it saw Wanda would this stone act like a sycophant and stick to her.
To control these Infinity Stones, one must either use a medium like lokis scepter or possess enough personal strength to directly withstand the power of the Infinity Stones. In short, the threshold for use is extremely high.
Soon, the instrument finished its work. The metal shell of the Cosmic Orb was completely opened, revealing the Power Stone hidden inside, emitting a heart-stopping purple light.
"It is so beautiful... simply incomparable!"
The Collector leaned in obsessively, almost pressing his face against the Power Stone.
But the Guardians of the Galaxy only wanted to stay far away, just like no one would dare to approach a nuclear bomb that might explode, and this thing was far scarier than a nuclear bomb.
However, one figure moved forward instead of retreating.
Under the shocked gaze of everyone, the alien maid who had been quietly serving beside The Collector suddenly moved.
She grabbed the Power Stone without warning and shouted loudly at The Collector: "I have had enough! I don't want to be your slave anymore!"
In an instant, dazzling purple light burst from her fingers, swirling crazily around her body like a beast breaking out of a cage.
The violent energy turned into countless purple energy balls, rampaging through the exhibition hall, smashing the transparent display cases containing rare creatures. Glass shards flew everywhere, and the released creatures fled in panic. The entire exhibition hall fell into chaos.
The Collector, who was closest, bore the brunt of it and was sent flying by this violent energy, crashing heavily into the distant wall.
"Get down!"
Quill was scared out of his wits and immediately tackled Gamora to the ground. The two of them turned into an invincible rolling wheel, hugging each other tightly as they rolled along the ground and finally fell into a groove.
Rocket Raccoon, under the protection of Groot, rushed out of the building.
Drax, however, appeared very calm, or rather, he didn't react at all. He stood in place without dodging or hiding until a purple energy ball smashed into his face. He was instantly sent flying, knocked unconscious on the spot, and started snoring.
Amidst the chaos, Darian took out his Frying Pan and precisely shattered the incoming purple energy balls one by one.
However, this chaos did not last long.
The alien maid holding the Power Stone suddenly let out a wail. Her body was covered with dense cracks, and blinding purple light was frantically spilling out from the cracks. She looked like a ball of light about to explode.
Boom!!
A deafening explosion resounded through the entire exhibition hall, and a strong Impact swept in all directions, carrying purple energy.
Darian did not choose to take it head-on. He rolled and jumped into the nearest groove, dodging the shock of the explosion just in time.
When he poked his head out again to look, the entire exhibition hall had been reduced to ruins. Most of the display cases had been destroyed, and some lucky alien creatures were fleeing in panic among the ruins.
At the center of the explosion, the alien maid had long since vanished into thin air, and only the Power Stone remained fixed on the instrument, not having moved even a bit.
Darian immediately stepped forward, closed the metal shell again, and resealed the Power Stone inside the Cosmic Orb.
At this time, Quill came over with a clear slap mark on his face, lingering fear in his heart: "My God, this thing almost blew this place up."
"What is that slap mark on your face?" Darian asked curiously.
"Proof of love."
Quill chuckled.
Obviously, this slap was Gamora's masterpiece.
Before, Gamora was always lethal, but now she was just slapping him. Does this mean she has him in her heart?
Idiot!
Darian twitched his mouth and decided to stay as far away from this guy as possible, so as not to be infected by the stupidity on him.
Gamora also walked over, watching the Cosmic Orb with a serious expression: "This thing is too dangerous. No wonder Thanos sent Ronan to find it. We must never let it fall into Ronan's hands, otherwise, the entire Milky Way Galaxy will face disaster."
"I think the safest way is to hand it over to the Nova Corps. Only they have the ability to ensure this stone does not fall into the hands of villains."
"No!"
Quill hurriedly objected: "Did you forget? We are now wanted criminals by the Nova Corps. How is taking the initiative to find them any different from throwing ourselves into the net?"
Just then, Rocket Raccoon and Groot ran back in a hurry.
Rocket Raccoon jumped onto the broken display case, waving his little claws and shouting: "Ronan has arrived at the Knowhere and is now heading in this direction!"
"What!?"
Quill and Gamora exclaimed at the same time.
Quill swallowed: "How did Ronan track us here?"
Gamora frowned: "Ronan has more eyes and ears throughout the Universe than we imagined. It is not difficult for him to find us."
"But this is not the time to look into that. We must take the Cosmic Orb and leave immediately. If we delay any longer, once Ronan's army completely seals off this area, we won't be able to leave even if we want to!"
[NPC Gamora Zen Whoberi Ben Titan has issued a new quest to you]
[Quest: Escape the Clutches]
[Objective: Assist the Guardians of the Galaxy in escaping Ronan's pursuit]
[Quest Reward: Experience Points +1500, Guardians of the Galaxy Favorability +20, Random Item * 1, Random Equipment * 1]
"Ronan!?"
Drax, who was still unconscious just a moment ago, woke up instantly upon hearing this name.
"Hahaha! Ronan, I have finally waited for you! I want to kill my enemy with my own hands and avenge my wife and daughter!"
Drax laughed, immediately picked up two daggers, and rushed out alone.
Gamora shouted hurriedly: "Stop him! He is no match for Ronan at all!"
Quill reassured: "Don't worry, although Drax's brain isn't very good, his combat power is definitely top-notch. Even Ronan cannot easily defeat him..."
Bang!!
Before the words fell, Drax was seen flying back at a faster speed than when he rushed out, crashing heavily onto the ground.
Everyone: "..."
At this moment, from outside the hole in the wall that Drax crashed through, a tall blue elf holding a giant war hammer walked in slowly. He was covered in dark armor, his face painted with black mud, and his eyes were cold as ice.
[NPC: Ronan]
[Codename: The Accuser]
[Favorability: -40]
[Evaluation: The strongest Kree warrior, scared off by Captain Marvel, bullied by Thanos, danced to death by Star-Lord]
What a miserable man.
Seeing these comments, Darian couldn't help but sympathize with Ronan.
Especially the last point, being danced to death by Star-Lord; this is more insulting than any way of dying.
Ronan didn't notice Darian's gaze. His cold eyes swept over everyone present and finally fixed on the Cosmic Orb in Darian's hand.
"Hand over the Cosmic Orb, otherwise, die!"
Facing Ronan's murderous threat, Darian remained calm and pointed to The Collector, who was struggling to get up not far away.
"I have already sold the Cosmic Orb to The Collector. It belongs to The Collector now. If you want it, you have to ask for his opinion first."
Ronan's cold eyes immediately turned to The Collector.
Ronan: (o_o)
The Collector: ∑(°A° ;)
The Collector didn't speak but silently lay back down. He wouldn't wake up until the time was right!
Darian spread his hands: "Well, it seems he doesn't want this thing anymore."
Ronan stared at Darian: "Hand it to me."
Darian said happily: "Since no one wants it, it is ownerless property. Of course, whoever grabs it first gets it."
"You are courting death!"
A cold light flashed in Ronan's eyes. He raised the war hammer in his hand towards Darian, and then a powerful shockwave burst from the Hammerhead!
Hum—!
Darian didn't expect this war hammer to be a long-range weapon, but he reacted in time, sidestepping to avoid the shockwave.
At the same time, his hands had already taken out two golden Desert Eagles, and he pulled the triggers continuously at Ronan—Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang—!
Several energy bullets whistled out, drawing scorching trajectories in the air.
However, just as the bullets were about to hit the target, a translucent energy shield appeared around Ronan. The bullets hit the energy shield, causing ripples, but did not cause any damage.
"Petty tricks."
Ronan stood still, a sneer curled on the corner of his mouth.
This equipment of his was the crystallization of the Kree Empire's top technology. Most weapons were difficult to cause him any damage.
Darian could see that Ronan was not easy to deal with, and whispered to Quill: "You guys retreat first, I'll hold him off."
Quill was a little worried: "Fellow countryman, are you sure you can do it?"
Darian said calmly: "Whether I can beat him is not clear for now, but running away is definitely no problem."
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Seeing that Darian was so confident, Quill had no choice but to choose to trust him.
There was no other way. The one with the highest stats here was Drax, and he knelt in one encounter, not to mention them, these weaklings.
Gamora was not weak either, but unfortunately, her only equipment was picked up by someone, and now she was using all white-tier equipment. Her combat power was greatly reduced. How could she be a match for Ronan, this fully geared boss?
"No one is allowed to leave!"
Ronan sensed their intention, snorted coldly, and raised his war hammer to stop the Guardians of the Galaxy.
"Blue elf, your opponent is me."
The dual pistols in Darian's hands had disappeared, replaced by a scepter with an ancient design.
"Look! It's a mage's exclusive staff. Is he going to chant a spell?"
Quill's eyes lit up, and he suddenly got excited.
The fairy tales he read when he was a child were not lying. A real mage should hold a staff, chant ancient spells, and summon Earth-shattering magic, not some knives, guns, or swords!
In his expectant imagination, Darian should be raising his staff high, surrounded by gorgeous magic radiance, chanting obscure and difficult spells...
However, in the next second, he saw Darian's figure suddenly surge, his arm muscles tightened, and the scepter, carrying a terrifying whistling sound that tore through the air, smashed fiercely towards Ronan's head!
A flash of disdain crossed Ronan's eyes. He raised his war hammer with one hand, ready to block.
He was the strongest warrior of the Kree Empire. When it came to physical fitness and close-quarters combat, he was second to none.
Clang!!!
The moment the two weapons collided, a deafening sound erupted.
An overwhelming, terrifying force came through the war hammer. Ronan's pupils shrank, and the contempt on his face instantly turned into unbelievable shock.
He didn't expect this scepter to be so heavy, and the power contained within it was even more frightening!
"This is impossi..."
The exclamation was still stuck in his throat. Ronan didn't even have time to adjust his posture before that violent force had already sent him and his hammer flying!
His body crashed through several walls in a row, finally smashing a deep human-shaped dent in the distant wall.
Quill: "..."
Damn, the fairy tales are all lies!