The Kree ship powered up.
A massive surge of energy shot out, sending waves that made it impossible to approach.
"Attack!"
Yondu didn't call off the assault. He wanted to bring Ronan down now. After all, they were already at odds.
Rather than letting Ronan escape, he preferred to eliminate the threat immediately.
But no weapon they had could pierce the Kree ship's defenses.
A protective shield enveloped the vessel.
This was standard for spacefaring ships.
The universe was full of high-speed debris. Without a shield, any ship would be damaged in seconds, and even hyperspace jumps would tear a ship apart.
Against ordinary weapons, the shield might not be perfect.
But to Ravagers unprepared for space-grade weaponry, it was like a turtle shell that could not be cracked.
As the ship slowly rose, Ronan stood on the bridge.
He glanced down at the ground, then turned his head with disdain.
Soon, the Kree army would once again set foot on this world under his command.
And then, no one could resist his forces.
He ignored the scene below and approached Star-Lord.
"Tell me. Where is the Power Stone?"
Star-Lord's face drained of color, his mind racing with panic.
He had considered countless scenarios but never imagined being captured by Ronan, and while the Kree ship was already airborne.
This time, he was certain he was done for.
"If I give you the Power Stone, will you let me go?"
His eyes darted nervously as he spoke.
On the ground, Yondu's face darkened.
"Damn it! Our ship isn't ready yet!"
"It takes time, boss!"
Their ship wasn't even prepared for takeoff. By the time they were airborne, Ronan would already be gone.
"Fuck!"
Yondu cursed.
Nolan, however, watched the rising ship with calm eyes.
"You want to see fireworks?"
He asked casually.
Yondu froze before exploding in outrage.
"Nolan Rock! I am not in the mood for jokes! My son has been taken!"
Nolan only smiled.
Without warning, a faint glimmer flashed high above.
Squinting, Nolan made out the shape of something strange.
Then…
Boom!
A Kree ship erupted in flames.
Yondu suddenly remembered Nolan's words.
Fireworks?
Of course he wanted to see them.
Ronan noticed the distant explosion too.
From the fiery gap, a bizarre creature appeared. Flames roared around it, but it seemed completely unaffected.
The creature stood at the rupture, then vanished in an instant.
Ronan's pupils constricted.
Vanished?
No it was just too fast. Too fast for his eyes to track.
A chill ran down his spine.
Boom!
The second ship exploded.
Then the third, the fourth…
Ronan roared:
"All ships, scatter! That damn creature can't fly. Accelerate to escape the planet's gravity!"
But the next moment…
Boom!
A massive rift tore open nearby, and gusts of air surged into the ship.
Yet the creature remained at the edge, seemingly unaffected by the storm.
Ronan gripped his warhammer tightly, eyes locked on the monster.
Star-Lord watched, trembling just as much as Ronan.
No matter what this thing was, it clearly wasn't something Yondu could have produced.
The creature glanced indifferently at Star-Lord, then shifted its gaze to Ronan.
Their eyes met, and Ronan erupted:
"Die!"
He wouldn't go down without a fight.
In that instant, another explosion shook the area, and Ronan was slammed backward, crashing heavily against the ship's hull.
The sheer force left him momentarily stunned.
The creature stomped the ground.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ship began to disintegrate.
On the ground, the Ravagers gawked, mouths agape, as fireworks erupted in the sky.
Nolan's spirits lifted.
It was the creature's first real battle, and the results were spectacular.
Minutes later, two figures plummeted from above.
One screamed in sheer terror Star-Lord.
The other? Among the falling debris, it became clear that the creature did not have the ability to fly it had simply jumped higher than expected.
Did it matter?
Nolan chuckled softly.
Every Ravager held their breath.
Yondu swallowed hard.
This was beyond belief.
He recalled yelling at Nolan earlier and wanted to hit himself.
If Nolan intended revenge, he would be done for.
Fortunately, Nolan didn't seem inclined to punish him.
Nolan looked at Star-Lord:
"Can I have that mysterious sphere?"
Star-Lord stiffened, instantly on guard.
"That… I already threw it into space," he said earnestly.
"At first, I didn't realize how dangerous it was, but then I learned it was the Power Stone. If someone got it, the entire universe could be in peril. So before I came here, I discarded it."
He glanced around, trying to appear casual.
Nolan noticed immediately and didn't bother hiding his knowing look.
He said quietly:
"Good. The Power Stone is a treasure of the universe. I may not seek it personally, but countless others do."
He turned to Yondu:
"Looks like everything here is under control. In a few days, I'll leave. If needed, you can visit Rock Technologies directly."
Nolan was heading to Earth.
Their previous war with the Ruffians had proven their equipment effective.
Now, facing the Kree, Rock Technologies' name would spread across the galaxy.
The Kree were among the universe's strongest warriors.
Using Rock's technology to gain the upper hand would be the best advertisement possible.
Yondu cast a wistful glance at Nolan.
He wished Nolan could stay longer on the Ravager planet.
Who knew if the Kree would return?
On Earth, Bruce Banner and Tony Stark were both sporting deep dark circles under their eyes.
Yet looking at the AI before them, smiles crept across their faces.
"It worked. This will surpass J.A.R.V.I.S."