Galactus has a particular fondness for devouring inhabited planets.
The Vulcan Empire's superpowers were engulfed by a sense of despair and profound powerlessness. Laura, too, slumped to the ground.
"When you're up against an opponent of this magnitude, victory isn't remotely achievable," Laura remarked, gazing at the all-encompassing darkness in the sky that seemed to swallow the entire world.
Many civilians of the Vulcan Empire realized the futility of resistance. Families huddled together beneath the massive dark cloud, silently awaiting their inevitable demise. They took solace in the warmth of their final moments together.
Meanwhile, Rhodes told Hela, "Wait here, I'll return in a moment."
Hela nodded, saying, "Please be safe."
Rhodes teleported in front of Galactus's colossal maw.
He observed that Galactus's mouth had already covered 30 to 40% of Vulcan's surface, hovering merely tens of thousands of kilometers above it. In less than ten minutes, the entire Vulcan planet would be consumed.
Rhodes stood in the void with arms crossed, silently facing the formidable Galactus. To Galactus, Rhodes appeared as minuscule as a sesame seed.
Unfazed, Galactus viewed Rhodes with indifference. How could a small human pose any threat? In his numerous planet devourings, the distinction between Rhodes and a grain of sand was negligible.
Rhodes had no effect on him, and he simply ignored the presence of this inconsequential human.
Rhodes was bemused. "Do you truly consider yourself a triviality?"
He watched Galactus intently.
"Fine, then you can deal with this yourself."
Rhodes joined his hands together, using the power of space to create layers of space around him. In the following second, he extended his hands outward. Instantaneously, Galactus's colossal energy-like form, larger than dozens of Vulcan planets, disintegrated into innumerable parts as a result of Rhodes's spatial division.
Countless minuscule sections of space contained portions of Galactus's body, each of them appearing like grains of dust. Rhodes then clenched his palm, and these numerous pocket-sized spaces annihilated Galactus's dismembered body, causing it to vanish completely from existence.
This process was even more devastating than turning Galactus into powder, as the destruction of innumerable spaces erased every trace of his existence, leaving no remnants behind. The Vulcan sky returned to its usual state of clear skies and bright sunlight, much to the astonishment of the Vulcan Empire citizens.
They realized they had been saved, and tears of joy flowed from their eyes. Some shouted and leaped with delight, while others held their families tightly, weeping openly.
Laura wept with joy, acknowledging, "Mr. Rhodes won."
Hela sighed in relief and smiled.
However, Rhodes had a nagging feeling that something wasn't right. A figure in dark red armor, located nearby, was regenerating and gradually taking shape within the empty universe. This individual began to manifest as a humanoid being.
Rhodes was briefly taken aback, questioning, "Nani? Can Galactus be reborn?"
Rhodes was certain that his previous attack should have been fatal. He was puzzled as to how Galactus was managing to reconstruct himself. He could no longer sense any trace of Galactus's presence.
Suddenly, the humanoid entity bore the unmistakable aura of Galactus. It was a new form of Galactus, one more akin to a humanoid appearance. Galactus consumed planets to obtain the essential life force required for his survival, which afforded him great power.
Yet Rhodes's previous attack had not only killed Galactus but also siphoned a substantial portion of his life force. This reduction had reduced Galactus's size considerably.
Upon observing Galactus, Rhodes was astonished that the planet devourer could regenerate. He said, "He can regenerate?"
Rhodes initially assumed that Galactus was undergoing a transformation to reveal some extraordinary ability that would permit him to engage in further conflict. However, he did not expect Galactus to flee.
Galactus's actions bewildered Rhodes, who was not prepared to let him escape. Using his teleportation abilities, Rhodes effortlessly caught up to Galactus.
Rhodes created an exclusive domain within the surrounding space, preventing Galactus from employing his matter-manipulation, teleportation, or any other abilities. He questioned how he could contain Galactus.
Galactus's efforts to use teleportation failed, and he looked bewildered. "How is this possible? Why can't I use teleportation in this space? Is it not a part of the main universe?"
Galactus realized that he had entered a universe created by Rhodes himself, which rendered Rhodes the creator god within it. In this realm, Rhodes could dictate the laws of reality. He could even alter the fundamental principles governing space.
Rhodes replied with a smirk, "In this vast universe, anything is possible. Nothing is beyond reach. Welcome to the universe I've crafted."
Galactus was thoroughly despondent. Within Rhodes's constructed universe, Rhodes wielded the powers of creation and control, making him the true master of this domain. Here, Rhodes held the upper hand, deciding the laws that governed reality.
Despite Galactus's failed attempts, Rhodes acknowledged that his mind control proved futile against Galactus. His abilities were being resisted. Rhodes had assumed that his mind control could dominate almost any being in the universe.
His embarrassment grew when he realized that Galactus was immune to this form of control. Rhodes, frustrated by the inability to obliterate Galactus entirely, found himself pondering alternative strategies.
While contemplating his options, Rhodes continuously killed Galactus through various means, leading to the planet devourer's repeated revival. This relentless cycle of obliteration had Galactus terrified.
Being destroyed repeatedly by overwhelming force was an excruciating and agonizing experience. With each demise, Galactus felt the intense pain of death torture. However, Rhodes's resilience seemed to defy death.
Confronted with the perpetual cycle of obliteration, Galactus reached his breaking point.
Galactus's voice quivered as he spoke to Rhodes, "Please, don't kill me. I... I surrender. Spare my life."
Rhodes was taken aback by the abrupt surrender and presented two options, "Choose either to be under my control or to endure endless obliteration. Pick one."