As the leader of the Ravagers, Yondu trusted the strength of his crew.
Yet he knew better than anyone that no matter how strong, Ravagers were still a group without a home.
And he recognized the ships approaching at a glance.
The Kree were a dominant force in the galaxy, incredibly powerful, and far beyond what any group of Ravagers could handle.
The lead ship descended.
Yondu's anger flared he was ready to give these troublemakers a lesson.
"Quill?"
He froze. His fury vanished instantly.
Some time ago, he had sent Peter Quill on a mission. A buyer wanted a mysterious sphere.
Ravagers never cared what it was. All that mattered was its high value.
But Quill had taken the sphere and then… ran off.
Yondu had been humiliated in front of his own men. He had sworn to teach Quill a proper lesson when he returned.
But now…
Yondu turned back, voice booming:
"Call everyone out! Get our big toys ready, and send for more from Rock Technologies immediately!"
He didn't care about anything else.
No one was allowed to harm his son.
These Kree were obviously after his son. If he didn't step up, who else would?
Yondu's crew didn't hesitate. Their leader had spoken they would follow orders.
Still, some couldn't help but worry. The Kree were not ordinary opponents.
No one voiced the concern aloud. They were Ravagers, and as such, already prepared for death if it came.
"Boss!"
Peter Quill approached, grinning from ear to ear.
Around them, the Ravagers scowled.
This idiot had led the Kree right to them. Killing him would almost be merciful.
Rocket and the others swallowed nervously.
These Ravagers looked like they could devour them whole.
Rocket tugged on Drax's arm.
"Well… you better protect me if things go south."
Drax glanced at him, fearless.
"Drax fears nothing!"
Rocket sighed, realizing that relying on him was hopeless. He looked to Gamora. Same luck no help there either.
Groot gave a small chirp. Rocket glanced at the tiny Groot perched on his shoulder.
"Alright, alright. You'll protect me."
He smacked his forehead.
"I'm insane for thinking Ravagers would help us."
Star-Lord, oblivious to Rocket's panic, forced a smile and stepped toward Yondu.
Yondu's face was dark.
"My son… what about the mysterious sphere? Your mission? You brought it back, right?"
"Of course."
Star-Lord didn't hesitate.
Yondu's stern expression melted into laughter.
"I knew it. My good son, you won't disappoint me."
He patted Star-Lord on the shoulder, then addressed the rest.
"Looks like the Kree want to steal our spoils. Brothers, are we going to let them take what's ours?"
Weapons were drawn, and the Ravagers shouted in unison:
"Never! No one takes what's ours!"
Soon, the Kree ships landed.
At the same time, heavily armed Ravagers approached.
They wore ExoSuit armor, piloted APU combat mechs, and even brought T-800-like Terminators, each armed with massive Gatling guns.
Even Star-Lord, unfamiliar with these weapons, could tell they were extraordinary.
"Look at these toys. New gear," Yondu said proudly. "Impressive, aren't they?"
The Kree ship doors opened. Soldiers emerged.
Yondu hadn't worried too much though strong, the Kree were manageable.
The real problem was the follow-up, not the soldiers themselves.
When the last Kree emerged, Yondu's eyes widened.
"You brought the Accuser here, kid!"
Peter shrank back, and Yondu nearly cursed.
Ronan the Accuser the Kree enforcer was a terrifying powerhouse.
Ronan advanced, each step pressing like a weight on everyone's hearts.
Yondu released Star-Lord and stepped forward.
"Yondu, will you intervene?" Ronan asked coldly.
Yondu inhaled, steadying himself.
"Ronan, Quill is one of our own. If he offended you, I apologize on his behalf."
Ronan's gaze was icy.
"Hand over the Power Stone."
Yondu frowned, glancing at Quill. He had heard the legends of the Stones but hadn't expected Quill to possess one.
Star-Lord's face went pale.
"We can't give it to him. The universe would be doomed!"
Yondu met Star-Lord's eyes, then surveyed his crew before addressing Ronan.
"You heard my son. He won't hand it over."
A tense silence fell. Both sides bristled.
In the midst of this, a Ravager ran to inform Nolan.
Though Nolan had taken a territory, he couldn't have built Rock Technologies alone. He had been staying on Yondu's land.
Hearing the news, Nolan's eyes widened. Quill brought Ronan to the Ravager Planet? Star-Lord really was reckless.
Nolan spoke after a moment's thought:
"I have equipment here to support you. I'll come take a look myself."
Perhaps he could use this to make contact with the Kree. Friends were valuable, after all.
By the time Nolan moved toward the battlefield, the tension between Yondu and Ronan had reached its peak.
Ronan's expression was stern.
"In that case, we'll do this ourselves."
Yondu tensed.
The next moment, the Kree opened fire without warning.
Ronan remained expressionless. He didn't care how many lives were lost only what he wanted mattered.
Fortunately, Yondu's crew was prepared. Battle erupted instantly.
Confidence radiated from Ronan.
The Kree's strength was not hype they were a force to be reckoned with. Ravagers were strong, but this was a different level.
Yet soon, Ronan's expression shifted.
The one-sided slaughter he had expected wasn't happening. These Ravagers fought back.
Their equipment was elite. Even the bulky mechs packed devastating firepower and rapid rates of fire.
Ronan's concern deepened.
This time, the Kree hadn't brought heavy weapons.
If this continued, they might have to retreat in defeat.
Yondu, however, smiled. He had prepared for heavy losses, but with support from Nolan's advanced weaponry, he could feel the true power of his arsenal.
The only problem was cost. The Terminators at the front line were expensive. Each one lost was a blow but even so, Yondu intended to replace them immediately. He wasn't poor.
The Ravagers were exhilarated.
Even the Guardians were caught up in the excitement.
Rocket fired wildly, chatting casually with nearby Ravagers.
"Hey, buddy, where did these gunpowder toys come from? I love them."
"Bought from a merchant," a Ravager replied.
But as he spoke, a Kree energy blast struck his head, obliterating it.
Rocket muttered apologetically before moving to another part of the battlefield.
As the fight continued, Ronan squinted. This wasn't going to end easily. He would need to intervene personally.
Gripping his warhammer, he advanced toward Yondu.
Several Ravagers attacked but were crushed instantly under the swing of his hammer.
Drax saw this and abandoned his own targets, charging Ronan with a roar:
"Ronan, I'm going to kill you!"
As they collided, Drax's punch met Ronan's hammer mid-swing.
Before the punch could land, the hammer sent Drax flying. Only Drax's superhuman physique prevented instant death, though he was left badly battered.
Others gasped at the sight.
Drax, a heavy tank in battle, was defeated so easily?
Yondu's face grew grim. He grabbed his whistle arrows.
They danced nimbly through the air toward Ronan.
Ronan swung his hammer, obliterating each arrow before it could reach him.
After a few exchanges, Ronan charged Yondu directly. Yondu barely dodged in time.
Ronan smirked. One dodge wouldn't save Yondu twice.
Meanwhile, Nolan arrived at the battlefield center.
Bullets and blasts seemed irrelevant to him. His Vibranium Mjolnir-powered armor gave him unmatched defense.
"Looks like your Kree gear isn't much," Nolan said.
Ronan turned toward him, eyes full of disdain.
"I'm Nolan Rock," Nolan replied, smiling beneath his helmet. Service was always his principle.
Before he could finish, a hammer descended from the sky.
Ronan anticipated smashing this insect with one strike but Nolan dodged.
Ronan's eyes flickered with surprise but he swung relentlessly.
Nolan drew his blade with a flash. The clash rang out.
The battle escalated. Each clash of hammer and blade brought intense sparks.
Yondu watched in astonishment.
He had assumed Nolan's confidence came from some hidden power, but Nolan himself was formidable.
The duel raged on.
Ronan's eyes showed surprise and a hint of retreat. He had hoped to claim victory through sheer force, but he was now entangled, and his forces were faltering.
Ronan glanced at Star-Lord, then made his decision.
He would retreat.
"Fall back!" he shouted.
All the Kree withdrew.
Nolan paused, surprised at how quickly Ronan had surrendered.
Though powerful, Ronan was also a master of weapons. Fighting him had improved Nolan's skills.
Unexpectedly, Ronan had chickened out so fast.
Before Nolan noticed, Ronan grabbed Star-Lord along his retreat path.
Mission accomplished.
Ronan grinned. With Star-Lord captured, the Power Stone was within reach. Soon, he would be unbeatable.
"No matter who you are, remember this: I am Ronan the Accuser. No one offends me and lives!"
Before boarding his ship, he sneered at them.
Nolan's expression darkened. Revenge, huh?
"Red Queen!"
In the distance, a robot opened its eyes.