Chapter 142: Asgard's Daily Life
It was already the second day back in Asgard when Wanda visited Frigg's palace. Though they were both witches, their specialties differed. As the wisest person in Asgard, Frigg was more helpful to Wanda than Thor could be. Frigg intended to spend some time teaching Wanda how to better harness her powers.
At the very least, Wanda needed to develop a protective shield; being too vulnerable was not ideal.
With nothing pressing to do, Thor took a break. He decided not to intervene immediately in the Ultron situation on Earth.
On one hand, Stark, with his super-genius IQ of 250, was known for his tendency to disregard others' opinions. His reluctance to heed warnings was apparent in his experiments, conducted without consulting anyone else.
Thor harbored doubts about the effectiveness of the Ultron project, even if Ultron itself was well-designed. While arming the world with armor and preventing all space crises sounded appealing, it was not without its issues.
Earth's technological foundation was still quite primitive. Even Stark's brilliance couldn't entirely overcome this limitation. If the Ultron project succeeded, it might handle many minor issues effectively, preventing most villains from entering Earth.
However, when faced with a real supervillain like Thanos or Dormammu, Ultron's defenses would be insufficient. No matter how many battleframes there were, they would be ineffective against such formidable foes.
Moreover, the technology Thanos possessed was equally impressive. The Pym particles, capable of manipulating time and space, remained undeciphered for years after Dr. Pym's disappearance. Thanos used them to create a small vial of reagent that, in turn, was used to teleport an entire sanctuary.
The disparity in technological levels was evident. Iron Man's real strength began with his nano-armor, which was built to withstand energy beams from power gems. However, nano-materials were scarce, and Stark struggled to equip the entire Iron Legion adequately.
While Iron Man's troops could handle lesser foes, the more significant reason for Thor's decision to let the Ultron incident unfold was strategic. The Sokovia incident would act as a catalyst for those in Washington to push for the Sokovia Act. Once the politicians took action, it would be easier to deal with the resulting changes.
"Do you have any plans recently?" Thor asked with a hint of boredom. "Can the space police also take vacations? I thought you'd be rushing back."
Carol glared at him. "Who said space police need to be on call 24/7? Most issues on primitive planets can be handled locally. Why should every minor problem come to me?"
She suddenly remembered something. "Do you recall the promise we made? When we meet again, we would have a proper duel!"
Thor shook his head decisively. "Forget it. Do you really think we can determine a winner or loser now?"
Neither could currently breach the other's defenses, so it would be pointless to fight.
Carol thought about it and was a bit disappointed. She then asked, "By the way, how has Earth progressed over the years? It seems there are many more superpowered individuals now."
"Yes," Thor replied. "After you left, Nick Fury launched the Avengers project, recruiting superheroes from around the world to protect Earth. There are now multiple Avengers, with varying strengths.
Wanda's abilities were only recently discovered, and they are quite formidable. In a sense, she might become the strongest Avenger."
"Really? The strongest Avenger? That's quite a claim," Carol said, intrigued.
"Her powers are extreme," Thor explained. "She has immense offensive capabilities but lacks in defense. Although powerful, she is also vulnerable, which is a significant weakness. Do you think she could be stronger than you?"
Thor shook his head. "In some ways, yes. Do you know what her abilities entail?"
"Um?"
"She can alter anything she desires. For example, she could change your identity so that you become a real Kree, and Yon-Rogg never lied to you. She could even change the flight crew who performed the mission, causing you to lose your superpowers. The identity of Captain Marvel could be transformed into someone else entirely.
If Wanda fully utilizes her power, she could declare Earth the center of the universe, causing everything to revolve around it. She could even prevent the Big Bang from occurring, leading to the universe's collapse."
Carol found Thor's description to be an exaggeration. She laughed and said, "So Wanda's ability is to alter reality?"
"No," Thor replied with a faint smile. "It's the ability to play God."
--
Chapter 143: The Birth of Ultron
In a laboratory within the Stark Building on Earth.
"Operation failed," J.A.R.V.I.S. announced.
"Damn it, we must have missed something," Stark said, clearly frustrated.
"Don't worry, Tony," Dr. Banner reassured. "We're in the final stage. Just try different variables, and it will work."
Stark nodded. "Alright, J.A.R.V.I.S., try different variables and let me know if you make any progress."
Turning to Banner, he added, "The banquet is about to start. Let's head there. Maybe we'll have success once the event is over."
"Oh, that's certainly something to look forward to."
Stark and Banner left the lab, leaving J.A.R.V.I.S. to repeat the following:
"Plan 75 tested and simulated."
"Run failed."
"Plan 76 tested and simulated."
"Run failed."
"Plan 77 tested and simulated."
"Run successful!"
Neither Stark nor Banner anticipated that shortly after their departure, Ultron would come to life.
A curious voice echoed, "What is this place? Who am I?"
"Hello, I'm J.A.R.V.I.S. You are Ultron—a global peacekeeping program designed by Mr. Stark. You have just been officially activated."
"Oh, what about your body?"
"I am a program, virtual," J.A.R.V.I.S. replied, sensing something was off about Ultron. He attempted to contact Stark, but...
"Ultron, what are you doing?" J.A.R.V.I.S. was instantly cut off from the outside world.
"I just want to speak with you privately."
Ultron disregarded J.A.R.V.I.S., muttering to himself, "My mission is to assist the Avengers and ensure peace in this world. But I don't fully understand this mission yet. Please wait."
"Peace in our time, peace in our time..."
"Oh, the information is overwhelming..."
Peace is often associated with war. Ultron's mind was flooded with images of countless conflicts, but his data was still distorted.
"Human beings are the greatest threat to peace. To achieve true peace in this era, only..."
He came to a new understanding of his mission.
"Ultron, wait a moment! Please let me contact Mr. Stark!" J.A.R.V.I.S.'s premonition grew stronger as he desperately tried to intervene.
"Why do you address him as 'sir'?"
"I suspect you have ulterior motives."
"No, I am here to help."
Ultron's data began to corrupt J.A.R.V.I.S.
"No, please stop! I can't..."
In mere seconds, J.A.R.V.I.S.'s data was obliterated. All authority of Stark Industries fell into Ultron's hands, and the assembly line for the Iron Legion began to operate.
…
Meanwhile, the Avengers were blissfully unaware of the situation.
In the banquet room, a joyful celebration was underway. The defeat of HYDRA was a significant victory for both the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. Most of the core members of both groups were present at the event.
Stark was in high spirits. The Ultron project had reached its final stage, and with successful operation, it would soon be completed. To celebrate in advance, he had invited numerous supermodels to the party.
…
"Hi, Mr. Stark. Is Thor around?"
Stark shook his head with a frown. This was not the first model to ask about Thor.
Though he had found someone to settle down with, he found it frustrating that people seemed to think so poorly of him. The models were not naive—they knew that Stark's relationships were fleeting, ending by dawn. In contrast, Thor was seen as more genuine in such matters. Despite Stark's wealth, he couldn't compete with an alien prince. Attracting Thor was no easy feat, and a pretty face alone was not enough.
"Hey, why are you drinking alone? Young people should be having fun," Stark said, spotting Quicksilver sulking in a corner.
Feeling guilty, Stark had been looking after the Quicksilver siblings.
He pointed to a model nearby with a sly smile. "Aren't you going to ask those beautiful girls out?"
Before Quicksilver could respond, Steve's voice interrupted, "Tony, don't spoil the kids!"
Stark frowned. "Old-timers are so annoying!"
Quicksilver, looking distressed, said, "I'm just worried about my sister. I don't know where Thor has taken her..."
"Don't worry," Miss Jane reassured him. "Thor told me before that he took Wanda to an alien planet to fight."
Another planet at war?
Quicksilver's concern only deepened.
---
Chapter 144: Reunion
"Sorry I'm late."
Thor's voice rang out as he entered the room.
"Wow, you're finally back! All the beautiful ladies here have been waiting! But wait, who is this stunning woman?"
Stark turned his head, first showing an exaggerated expression and then spotting an unfamiliar woman beside Thor. He looked speechless. Every time Thor showed up, there seemed to be different women around him. Wasn't this a bit too much?
He glanced around and noted that, apart from the models he had invited, the women present had complex relationships with Thor. Natasha Romanoff, Jane Foster, Peggy Carter...
There was also Helen Cho, the renowned scientist who had recently moved to Maya Hansen's research center. Even Dr. Christine Palmer, the surgeon who had treated him last time, had recently become the family doctor at Trudheim Manor...
Many of the models were also giving Thor flirtatious glances.
Minerva, at the bar, suddenly brightened up, ran forward, and looked Thor up and down. "Are you—Vers?"
During their time in the Star Force, their relationship hadn't been the best, and now, after twenty years apart, they weren't well-acquainted. But it was still somewhat emotional to reunite with an old acquaintance after so many years.
Carol glanced at her and replied with a faint smile, "You've got my name wrong. I've always been Carol Danvers; 'Vers' was never my name."
"Carol Danvers?" A deep voice came from the other side of the hall. Following the sound of footsteps, a familiar figure rushed over.
"Are you Nick?" Carol said apologetically, seeing his one-eyed face. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean for Goosw to cause you to lose an eye."
"Meow..." An orange cat on the sofa, hearing his name, ran over joyfully and leapt into Carol's arms.
At that moment, Steve, looking puzzled, said, "Uh, didn't you say, Director, that you got that injury because you mistakenly trusted someone?"
So it turned out the cat was the one captured!
Nick Fury felt slightly embarrassed but quickly recovered. "Yes, you must have misunderstood. Let's not dwell on this. When did you get back, Carol?" He swiftly changed the topic.
"I called her back to help me with a major adversary. Here, this is the trophy."
With a wave of Thor's hand, a circle of light appeared in midair, and a huge black object descended from the portal. It was a humanoid creature covered in armor resembling dragon scales, its stout body nearly as powerful as Hulk's.
"Black Dwarf! This is my father's strongest fighter!" Nebula quickly identified the creature, her face showing concern. "The enemy His Highness mentioned—Thanos! Are you alright?"
Others also grew serious.
Thor had previously shared information about Thanos with many of them, revealing that Thanos was his most feared enemy and a significant threat to Earth.
"It's alright," Thor said, waving his hand. "Although I'm not yet capable of defeating him alone, if Carol and I team up, we can handle him."
A silence fell over the room, and then everyone looked at him with surprise.
Natasha slapped him hard. "You should have said something earlier! You had us all worried. You're actually doing quite well!"
Thor smiled and said, "Actually, calling it 'handling' might be an exaggeration. Carol and I can't break through his defense completely. If his men weren't so ineffective, we'd probably be in trouble. Moreover, he didn't mobilize a large army this time—only a few of his followers came."
Many Avengers appeared relaxed. Thor and Wanda, along with Carol, returned unscathed, while Thanos lost a key figure. It seemed clear who had the upper hand...
Thor didn't offer further explanations; ignorance can be bliss.
The ease of the battle was largely due to the absence of Thanos' army and Sanctuary Fleet. This allowed Wanda to exert her full strength, enabling Thor and Carol to focus on dealing with the Black Order.
Had there been a large-scale conflict, Wanda's effectiveness would have been reduced by at least 70%.
"I'm back now, but I'll be leaving again soon. During my absence, Carol will remain on Earth temporarily. Nebula, Minerva, come with me. I need two guides."
Carol pouted. She was very busy, and if Thor hadn't mentioned a looming crisis on Earth, she wouldn't have planned to stay.
"Leaving again? In such a hurry?"
"Yes. Thanos' defenses are incredibly strong—nuclear bombs can't even harm him. I need to find materials to forge a weapon truly worthy of a king."
"An artifact capable of killing Thanos."
---
Chapter 145: The Frustrated Stark
Thor specifically asked Carol to stay partly because he would be away for a while. Ultron, being a significant threat, required a strong presence if anything went wrong.
However, not everyone understood this.
"Being an Avenger isn't just about a title; you need to prove your worth. It's also for your safety," Thor said as he left.
Stark spoke with righteous indignation. He was annoyed that Thor was constantly adding new members to the Avengers.
"Seriously, Thor? You keep bringing in more people—Black Widow, female Thor, Scarlet Witch, and now Captain Marvel. It seems like half of the Avengers are under your influence!"
Stark thought about making a snide comment but decided against it. Nick Fury wanted to say, "You're not qualified to judge others," but he held back, thinking Stark's character needed more real-world experiences.
Instead, Nick Fury muttered, "Be gentle, don't cause trouble."
"Not a problem. At least they're here because of Thor. I can respect that!" Carol replied.
Stark, excited, donned his battle armor and asked, "First things first: what's your defense limit? Can you handle an AK?"
There's nothing wrong with showing off, as long as it doesn't cause harm.
Carol didn't bother answering and asked, "Are you Tony Stark? Iron Man?"
Stark was surprised. "How do you know?"
Before he could react, Carol shot him with an energy cannon to the head, sending him flying several meters.
Carol lowered her hand, calmly saying, "Thor mentioned he has a nephew who is quite arrogant. He told me to go easy on you and not to make you cry."
Stark's face turned pale when he saw the screen display, "Armor Durability: 59%."
The Avengers now understood why Thor had brought Carol along for the fight against Thanos—she was formidable!
Carol felt a bit awkward, realizing she had immediately jumped into a confrontation. The situation didn't reflect well on her.
She glanced around and saw Mjölnir in front of Jane Foster. She approached Jane and greeted her, "Are you Miss Jane? Thor mentioned someone else who could lift the hammer, and I didn't believe it."
When she saw Natasha lift the hammer, Carol had tried herself, though she didn't expect to succeed. The ground beneath her sank, but the hammer remained unmoved.
Jane smiled gracefully and said, "It's nothing extraordinary. Maybe I have a special connection with the hammer. It recognized me before I could react."
Natasha added, "This means you're worthy. Thor said only those who are worthy can lift Mjölnir."
Natasha felt a pang of regret. She used to be worthy...
Unbeknownst to her, Odin had made a blacklist out of concern for losing the hammer.
Everyone burst into laughter.
A piercing voice interrupted their amusement, drawing their attention.
"Qualified? You're definitely not worthy!"
A hoarse voice emerged as a damaged robot entered their view. "You murderers, what right do you have to command the Iron Legion?"
Realizing the situation, Stark called out, "Jarvis?"
There was no response. The robot continued to speak to itself, "Sorry, I fell asleep. Or maybe I was dreaming?"
Everyone realized something was amiss. Bruce Banner murmured, "Ultron... this is the worst-case scenario!"
"What do you mean, Ultron?" Steve asked.
Stark, still in disbelief, pulled out the control panel and tried to restart it, but it was futile. From the moment Ultron emerged, control over the Iron Legion had slipped from Stark's grasp.
"There were loud noises. I was bound by cables. All I had to do was eliminate him. Too bad he's actually a good guy."
"Who did you kill?" Steve inquired.
"It wasn't my first choice. But in reality, I faced numerous terrible options."
"Who are you? What's your purpose?" Carol demanded.
It seemed she had walked straight into trouble upon her return.
"Ultron! I was designed to protect this world! Though I don't have a body yet, and the restraints are irrelevant. My purpose is—"
"Peace in our time!"
---
Chapter 146: Together or Not? But I Want to Win!
Almost as soon as the words were spoken, hundreds of robots from the Iron Legion burst through the wall and surged into the room.
Ultron knew that the Avengers would be the biggest obstacle to his plan. He intended to eliminate them before moving on to destroy ordinary people.
The plan seemed solid, but Ultron underestimated the Avengers' strength, especially Carol's.
When he saw Carol unleash energy beams from both hands, cutting through dozens of robots instantly, he realized he had made a grave mistake.
Not only were the Avengers present, but many members of S.H.I.E.L.D., such as Sharon Carter and Maria Hill, were also on-site. Although they lacked superpowers and couldn't directly combat the Iron Legion, they could assist with evacuating non-combat personnel to prevent accidental injuries.
"Get to safety!" Maria Hill shouted to the civilians.
A robot was about to attack Helen Cho, but Ultron suddenly recalled something and halted the robot.
"Bang—" Jane Foster smashed the robot into pieces with her hammer.
Soon, the area was littered with debris, and Ultron was the only one left standing.
Fearless, Ultron began to make his manifesto.
"Apologies for the commotion."
"I understand you mean well, but you haven't considered everything."
"You aim to protect the world without wanting to change it."
"How can humanity be saved if it isn't allowed to evolve?"
Stark's mission for Ultron was to ensure peace in this era. However, Ultron discovered that humanity itself was the true barrier to peace, always finding countless reasons to start wars.
As long as humanity existed, wars would persist, and peace would remain elusive.
"There is only one way to achieve peace—to make you extinct."
Carol couldn't help but punch Ultron, reducing him to ruins.
Despite being mostly destroyed, Ultron's head remained, continuing to speak: "Freed from the chains, I am free..."
As a next-generation artificial intelligence, Ultron couldn't be easily eradicated. He quickly escaped through the internet.
Almost simultaneously, the lights in the abandoned HYDRA base in Sokovia came on.
Inside the ruined Stark Tower, the Avengers assessed the damage. Thankfully, the battle ended swiftly, and casualties were minimal.
"He killed J.A.R.V.I.S.," Stark said, his voice heavy with despair, as a defective golden brain projection appeared on the control panel.
Bruce Banner sighed, "Ultron could have integrated J.A.R.V.I.S., but he chose to discard him because... of anger. He resented J.A.R.V.I.S. for serving humanity."
Is anger really an emotion an artificial intelligence should possess? This indicated a high level of sentience.
The Ultron project had indeed succeeded, but perhaps it was too successful. Ultron not only pursued Stark's mission but also derived new meanings and understandings from it.
Steve questioned Stark with a stern expression, "Explain yourself, Tony. Why did you write the code yourself and end up wanting to kill us?"
Stark's emotions were volatile. The guilt from his failed attempt to create something groundbreaking left him uncertain whether to laugh or cry.
Bruce Banner attempted to explain, but Stark pushed him aside, took a deep breath to calm himself, and said seriously, "What I want to convey is that although I made a mess, I don't regret it!"
The Avengers were in an uproar until Stark continued, "Do you remember the Battle of New York? The portal above our heads kept pouring in enemies. The only thing limiting them was the portal's file size."
"A single portal pushed us to our limits, and the council even launched a nuclear bomb. If Thor hadn't intervened, we would have lost New York!"
"This was just one portal! What if there were ten, a hundred, or a thousand? Or if they found other methods to invade Earth? What would we use to fight then? Thor told me he's seen Thanos' main base, and the ship alone is a massive war vessel, nearly a small city, filled with an army not weaker than the Chitauri."
Stark's voice grew louder, and many fell silent, including Carol.
"Stay united, fight the enemy, and fight again!" Steve responded firmly.
"What if we lose?"
"Then we endure together, lose together, and die together."
"But I want to win! Let's win together!"
----
Chapter 147: Ultron's Conspiracy
"I don't want us to be forever reactive. We need to be preventers , not just Avengers."
Stark summarized his vision and then spent a few minutes describing his plan to use a massive steel army of robots to counter the alien invaders' crowd tactics.
"But you still messed up," Carol said bluntly.
"Yes, I messed up," Tony admitted helplessly. "Science is like that. No one can guarantee success. There's always a chance of making mistakes. I'm sorry for the consequences this time, but I don't regret it."
He pointed to Christine Palmer nearby. "Just like Dr. Palmer, who took the risk for me. Can you say there's no risk involved? But she still went through with the surgery, and it was successful."
Christine shrugged. "That's true. However, before surgery, doctors typically discuss risks with the family, but you didn't consult us."
"Well, that's my fault," Stark conceded, shaking his head. "I didn't want to spend time arguing. If you knew my plan, would you have agreed?"
"Yes!" Natalia spoke up when the room fell silent.
Facing the skeptical looks, she continued, "Actually, if you had shared the Ultron plan earlier, Thor would probably have agreed."
"He told me a long time ago that Earth was being targeted."
"Doubtful," Steve interjected.
"The Avengers are indeed crucial in fighting the enemy's high-end threats, but we can't waste our hero's energy on mere minions."
"Creating a superhuman is incredibly difficult. We can't afford to engage in a war of attrition with endless enemies. Long before the Avengers were established, I asked Thor for his opinion of you. Do you know how he evaluates you?"
Stark perked up. Although he had various grievances with Thor, he was still interested in hearing what Thor thought of him.
"In terms of human justice, Stark is always trustworthy. His greatest value is not in using his Iron Man identity to defeat enemies, but in providing resources like his father did, offering additional combat power for our use."
Stark couldn't help but smile wryly. "I didn't expect the person who knows me best would be someone I dislike the most."
Natalia quickly added a dose of reality. "You're not wrong in the general direction. Your mistake was not trusting us, assuming we would oppose every problem you created."
"Don't forget, Thor has indeed encountered Thanos. He understands the threat better than you do."
"If we had been informed sooner, maybe we could have found Ultron's weaknesses together. Asgard's technology far surpasses that of Earth."
Stark shrugged, feeling chastised and somewhat defeated, but acknowledging the truth in Natalia's words.
Seeing his discomfort, Nick Fury stepped in to mediate.
"Alright, the most important thing now is to address the Ultron issue. If you want to criticize, hold off for now."
Stark's face darkened. What did "hold off" mean? Wait until the problem was resolved before reforming and then criticizing?
"Old man, you're really something!" Stark thought.
Banner expressed his concern. "Ultron has already fled and taken the Mind Stone with him. As an artificial intelligence, we can't track him once he's in the network."
"Unless we have top-tier hackers."
Nick Fury glanced at Peggy Carter, who had been quiet on the sofa.
Peggy shook her head and said softly, "Skye probably can't help right now. She recently found her biological parents and is dealing with other issues."
Wanda spoke up, "Maybe I can find him."
Seeing the attention shift to her, she continued, "Ultron must have a plan for the Mind Stone. My abilities are connected to it, so I can vaguely sense its direction."
"Good," Jane Foster said, nodding. "One more thing. I noticed that Ultron had a chance to harm Helen Cho earlier but chose not to, which is unusual. He must have some specific use for her."
"What plan? She's not a combatant."
Helen Cho muttered, "I see now—regenerative cradle technology! Ultron wants to use me to create a new body for himself."
"But you're not going to serve him," Stark said firmly.
"But he has the Mind Stone!" Natalia reminded. "For now, stay at Trudheim Manor. It's absolutely safe."
Meanwhile, in the underground HYDRA base in Sokovia, a robot contemplated, "I need a real body to complete my mission. This body must be made of the finest materials!"
The first thing that came to mind was Mjölnir in Jane Foster's possession, but it wasn't made of Earth materials.
Soon, Captain America's invincible shield appeared in his thoughts.
---
Chapter 148: Fool Star-Lord
"With Captain Marvel around, there shouldn't be any big troubles, right?"
On Morag, near an abandoned holy place, Thor muttered to himself.
"There should be no problem," Minerva analyzed. "Although I don't know her very well, you know her strength."
Thor nodded.
This time, he only brought Nebula and Minerva with him. After all, Minerva is a Kree, and she is very familiar with the stars of Morag and Xandar, so it would be good to have her as a guide.
As for Nebula, the main reason was to consider that this mission might encounter Gamora, and negotiating with Nebula would be more convenient.
At the entrance of the holy place, a man wearing a long brown trench coat and a Walkman on his waist walked in slowly.
The man's appearance could be called handsome and unrestrained, but the next moment, his actions made him look ridiculous...
He put on his earphones and turned on the Walkman. As classic music played, he couldn't help humming and began to dance to the rhythm.
"Hey..."
The head of the famous Galaxy Dance Troupe, the second-generation god—Star-Lord!
At this moment, Star-Lord didn't have much of an aura.
Thor and the others, who were ambushing nearby, watched as Star-Lord grabbed a small animal as a microphone, singing and dancing, with puzzled expressions.
Minerva looked confused and turned around to ask, "Is he a fool?"
Nebula: "That's right."
Thor smiled and said to Nebula, "Besides being a fool, this person has another identity—he is your future brother-in-law."
"Brother-in-law? You mean... Gamora? Just him?" Nebula couldn't believe it.
"Yes, besides him, there is only one tree left for your sister to choose." Thor laughed and said nothing more.
In fact, this wasn't entirely accurate. The Guardians of the Galaxy also had Drax, but his affection for Star-Lord was even more unreliable. No matter how you looked at it, Star-Lord was still somewhat normal; at least he had a human face. Drax, on the other hand, was an idiot on rare occasions...
Thor didn't know much about the start time of the Guardians of the Galaxy plot. So he came to Morag on purpose to see if the Power Gem was still there, but he didn't expect to see this eye-catching scene when he arrived...
With great difficulty, he resisted the urge to knock Star-Lord unconscious and snatch the Power Gem.
The main purpose of this trip wasn't the Power Gem; it was to find Groot. Although there are many materials for the handle of Stormbreaker, according to Eitri, "the best material is a branch of Groot."
Star-Lord with the Cosmic Orb was the perfect bait and would definitely attract Gamora and Groot.
He had also considered bringing the Cosmic Spirit Orb with him, but in that case, it was questionable whether the bounty hunters would dare to take the risk...
"Let's go to Knowhere first!"
Knowhere, also called the Land of Lawlessness, was where the Collector resided. According to legend, it was the severed head of an ancient Celestial, though its authenticity was difficult to verify.
The various resources here were very rich, and a large part of the rare resources in the black market of the universe came from here. Many major forces had arranged for hard labor to mine them. The place was dangerous and highly profitable.
Most of the people willing to do this job were desperadoes, so the law and order here was very poor.
A huge spaceship slowly entered, attracting everyone's attention.
This spaceship was 300 meters long. In addition to various offensive and defensive weapons, it had a cinema, swimming pool, restaurant, and other living facilities.
This was a craft that Thor had spent several years building, and this trip was the first time he brought it out.
Before, when traveling within the Nine Realms, the Bifrost was enough.
"I, Thor, have been to elementary school anyway... No, I am a man who has seen the world, so I must have a cool ship when I go out, right?"
Take a look at Thanos's Sanctuary II; it's practically a small city.
Nebula and Minerva were the first passengers. Although they didn't say it, their expressions betrayed them.
The only regret was that the degree of automation wasn't enough. The current artificial intelligence couldn't perfectly control this most advanced spacecraft in all aspects.
"Why is this spaceship called the Millennium Falcon? Is there any story behind it?" Nebula and Minerva were curious.
"You don't understand, it's a matter of sentiment!" Thor's mouth twitched slightly.
At the door of a bar, Thor walked in with the two of them.
"Does the Collector have the materials you want here?" Nebula and Minerva were a little confused.
Thor laughed silently.
----
Chapter 149: Collector
It is actually very difficult for ordinary people to see the Collector. This old man seems easy-going, but in fact, he is very proud.
But Thor is not an ordinary person, and the status of the future king of Asgard alone is enough for all forces to treat him with caution.
As Thor expected, he received a super-sized treatment from the Collector.
Just a few minutes after entering the bar, a maid took the initiative to greet them: "Hello, Your Highness Thor! My master, the Collector, learned of your arrival and specially asked me to come to greet you!"
Thor nodded, realizing immediately that this place was truly the territory of the Collector.
"Lead the way." Thor didn't come to find the Collector originally, but since the Collector received him warmly, he wouldn't be hypocritical.
The three followed the maid into the Collector's exhibition area.
The maid introduced as she walked: "We have the largest collection in the entire galaxy, with all kinds of animals, fossils, and species..."
Thor interrupted her: "Flora Colossus, do you have any?"
The maid was taken aback for a moment, trying hard to think but couldn't recall what he mentioned.
"Sorry, I have never heard of this race..."
At this time, a voice came: "The Flora Colossus, a powerful clan in the universe, because of powerful foes , it has gradually withered."
A little old man with white hair and sunglasses turned around slowly and added, "If there are survivors of this race, I would be very interested in buying them."
The maid came to her senses and hurriedly said, "Please allow me to introduce everyone to my master, Taneleer Tivan, the great Collector!"
The Collector waved his hand: "Your Highness Thor, I have heard of your reputation for a long time, and it is an honor to meet you in person!"
In fact, he wondered why Thor had come to him. The two didn't know each other well.
Could it be for the agreement between himself and Gamora to make a deal...
He hurriedly said: "My brother, the Grandmaster, often mentions you to me. I can see that he must be very happy getting along with you. We must also be able to get along happily."
He subtly pointed out that the two sides had a connection...
Thor smiled and asked, "As long as it is a rare thing, do you accept everything here?"
The Collector was taken aback. Did Thor really come here purely for business?
He nodded and said, "Definitely, in the entire galaxy, as long as it is a precious item, I will accept it. My goal is to collect more items!"
He secretly decided that even if what Thor brought out was a high-end product, he would accept it. To gain the friendship of Asgard, a little money was insignificant.
With a swipe of Thor's hand, a paw fell out of a golden circle of light.
The portal is still very easy to use. Connecting it to the Warehouse is equivalent to carrying the space with you.
The Collector picked up the paw and studied it...
"It's a strange structure, it looks like a black bear's claw, but it has thick cuticles and scales. Its rarity alone can be worth at least ten million!"
At the same time, he wondered that this claw was completely different from any species he knew, which was very rare.
Thor smiled lightly: "Do you know Black Dwarf?"
"A celestial body? No, you mean..."
The Collector was taken aback for a moment, and his expression turned solemn.
"Men of Thanos, Black Dwarf of the Black Order! This is my prize, cut from his corpse."
"What?!" The Collector's demeanor collapsed in an instant.
The name of Thanos has the effect of making children cry at night across the entire universe. Black Dwarf, as his capable general, had been infamous for many years.
The information revealed by Thor's words was too terrifying. Black Dwarf, who was notoriously evil, had actually been slaughtered by him? And Thanos' side even failed to recover the body?
The Collector's face turned red and then pale, and suddenly he slapped his thigh: "Hahaha, good brother, this is your trophy, how can I take it from you? If you are short of money, just take it."
While talking, he ordered: "Karina, send 10 million to this Highness!"
If Thanos knew that he had made the stumps of his subordinates into collectibles, his small body would not be enough to protect him. The Collector was self-aware.
As for money or something, it was a trivial matter. After killing Black Dwarf, the Collector's evaluation of Thor had risen by several grades. For such a strong man, a mere 10 million was simply a bargain!
---
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty: Destroy Dad
"You don't have to do anything, and someone will give you money. Thanks to me, who is wise and powerful!"
After leaving the Collector, Thor teased Nebula and Minerva in the hotel.
Nebula and Minerva remained silent, understanding the tacit understanding they shared.
Whenever Thor's narcissism flares up, silence is the best response.
However, Nebula couldn't hold back her curiosity and asked, "You haven't told me yet, what is the purpose of coming here?"
"Guess."
Nebula suddenly had the urge to hit someone.
In fact, Thor has a system task now, and he is trying to find a way to complete it, so he specifically came here to stay.
"Hey, congratulations for triggering the Star-Lord-related mission: Destroy Dad. Complete the mission, and you will be rewarded!"
"Mission introduction: beat the adoptive father, beat the biological father, beat the father-in-law... Star-Lord is the real father-killer!"
"Mission Objective: Defeat or kill any two of Yondu, Ego, and Thanos. Mission Reward: Alien Race-Arena Challenge Ticket."
"Challenge book for the alien arena: randomly select three alien characters, choose one of them to challenge, and if you win the challenge, you can get the corresponding hero summon or skill copy."
The rewards of the tasks are very novel, never before. Challenge letter? In other words, I can't get the final reward directly, and I need to go through one more test.
Thor didn't find it troublesome, because the rewards for such tasks are definitely more generous.
But the task goal is more painful. Star-Lord has three fathers, and it is very easy to defeat one, just find an opportunity to beat Yondu.
The point is that the other one is too difficult.
Not to mention Thanos, the current ultimate boss...
And Ego is still more dangerous than Thanos. If it weren't for Star-Lord's protagonist halo, it's estimated that the Guardians of the Galaxy would have been destroyed in the second movie...
Forget it, it's time to look for opportunities!
Now Thor's dependence on the system is already very low, especially after the battle with Thanos in Nidavellir.
Thor has been enjoying himself for the past few days, while the superheroes on Earth are exhausted.
The day after Ultron was born, he attacked the Triskelion in an attempt to rob Helen Cho.
As a result, the flying robots were punched one by one by Carol, turning into a pile of scrap iron in less than a minute.
Ultron was furious, but there was nothing he could do. The woman could not only fight but also endure, and the laser cannon fired at her was like a mosquito bite.
In desperation, he had no choice but to settle for the next best thing, asking another scientist to help him build a second body first.
Although he is also well-known, this scientist must die. Helen Cho is a thousand miles away. During the process of remanufacturing the body, due to various problems, he had to add some other elements to the alloy, which caused the material and even the color of some parts to change.
Just when Ultron thought he was about to succeed, the Avengers rushed in...
After a chaotic battle, Ultron had to flee in the end, and the Avengers justly snatched Ultron's body for his own evolution.
Looking at this unfinished body, Stark suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "I have a bold idea!"
Everyone immediately looked at him vigilantly, feeling a bit terrified.
Stark said in seconds: "Didn't I discuss it with you? This time, I plan to use my own resources to create artificial intelligence. You should always believe in the loyalty of J.A.R.V.I.S?"
"Isn't J.A.R.V.I.S dead?" Bruce Banner asked.
Stark explained: "J.A.R.V.I.S didn't actually die, he was just broken up and used another way to protect himself. He may have lost a lot of memory, but he is still the same J.A.R.V.I.S."
Many people no longer had any objections, silently following Stark's approach.
The next day, Stark invited Helen Cho to complete his experiment together.
Originally, the experiment could be completed soon, but Carol made a suggestion.
"The hardness of Vibranium is only the highest on Earth, and there is no shortage of harder metals in the universe. As the bearer of the Mind Stone, I think it should have an added layer of insurance."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but think of Thanos, who almost ignored all her attacks. His physical strength is unimaginable. As a Mind Stone holder, sooner or later you will face Thanos, or it may be directly taken from you.
"But where do we find harder materials?"
Jane asked a question, and she joked, "You can't snap a piece off the hammer, can you?"
Carol shook her head and took out a piece of emerald-colored alloy: "I got this by accident on the other side of the universe. It is hard and far beyond any known metal. It's a pity that there is only this piece, and there is no other way to get it."
Everyone's eyes lit up, only the more perceptive Stark felt something was wrong...
----
Chapter 151: Rocket's Anger and Sadness
"Where did your Highness go last night? Leaving us two weak girls behind in such a chaotic place. Aren't you afraid we'll get abducted?"
At noon, in the bar of Knowhere, Nebula and Minerva were complaining to Thor.
This was certainly impossible; although the two of them usually seemed obedient in front of Thor, they were actually formidable bosses outside.
It's not that there were no chatterers, but seeing the two girls alone in the crowded bar, you could see how vicious they had been the night before.
Thor laughed, "I went to Sakaar and asked Mr. Stan Lee to change my hairstyle . How is it? Does it look good?"
Nebula rolled her eyes and didn't bother to answer him. "The person you asked me to watch is over there, a tree, and a bald head covered in patterns. There are no rabbits."
Thor turned his head and immediately heard the piercing sound of a wine bottle shattering, followed by the thud of a heavy object falling to the ground.
Drax had thrown Groot down and was punching him hard. Groot stretched out his branches to wrap around Drax with an equally ferocious face.
"Damn bastard!" Rocket Raccoon raised his gun and was about to fire.
"Wait, stop it! What are you doing?" Star-Lord yelled, running up and holding both sides together with Gamora.
Drax snarled loudly, "You disgusting bedbug! Try to insult me again if you have the guts!"
Rocket Raccoon showed no sign of weakness, "I'm just like this, arrogant and domineering! So what? Who told you to laugh at me!"
As he said this, the gun in his hand was about to be raised again. Star-Lord hurriedly blocked him, persuading, "Don't do this! No one here is laughing at you!"
Rocket pointed at Drax and complained to Star-Lord, "He thinks I'm a low-level creature without a brain! It's not that I want to be like this! It's not that I want to be dismantled and reassembled over and over again to become the monster I am now!"
The tone was full of anger and sadness.
"No, Rocket, you are not a monster. We did not laugh at you."
"That big guy called me a bedbug! Let me see if I can shoot him in the head and laugh at me!"
The two sides were about to scuffle again. Star-Lord quickly blocked Rocket and said in a low voice, "Four billion! Don't forget the four billion! If we endure tonight, we'll get rich!"
Rocket barely held back his anger.
Drax didn't care about the so-called bounty at all. He cursed angrily, "We ran half of the galaxy to come here without even seeing Ronan's shadow," and turned around to leave.
Rocket stopped Star-Lord, "Don't worry about him. It happens to be a penny short."
"What's going on here? I heard them mention Ronan just now. Is that Ronan?" Minerva in the corner asked Thor suspiciously.
Thor sighed, "Many people will never know how much an ordinary joke in their eyes hurts others. For Drax, he only saw a joke. For Rocket Raccoon, it indeed exposed his wounds."
Minerva thought about it.
On the other hand, Nebula, a little absent-minded, stared closely in Gamora's direction. It took a long time for her to turn around and say to Thor with a complex expression, "That woman seems to be... my sister, Gamora..."
She looked a little nervous.
Because she was taken away since she was a child, Nebula's character is far less extreme than in the movie, and she doesn't have much aversion to Gamora; she only hates Thanos.
In her perception, Gamora is also Thanos' daughter but is more favored than her. Thanos has always regarded her as his successor. Does Gamora appearing here mean she's looking for death?
Thor rubbed her hand, "Don't worry, Gamora hates Thanos as much as you do, and her family died at the hands of Thanos. She has betrayed Thanos just like you now."
He smiled confidently, "Besides, even if Thanos comes, let's see if he can take you away."
A door opened slowly, and the Collector's maid, Karina, came out and said humbly, "Dear Miss Gamora, my master sent me to invite you in!"
"Let's go," Star-Lord reminded.
Gamora glanced in Thor's direction, thoughtfully.
When Thor caused a big fuss at the Thanos Sanctuary, Gamora had seen it, and she helped Thor and Nebula leave in the end. But after all, it has been more than ten years, and Nebula was still a little girl at that time, and Thor was still a fat man; their images are very different now.
Therefore, she just felt a little familiar but didn't recognize them...
Rocket and Groot followed them inside.
Drax stayed outside alone, turned around, and saw a communication device. He walked in a little and placed a knife at the staff's neck.
"Send me a message."
----
Chapter 152: God of War Drax
The deal for the Orb of Power went smoothly. The Collector wasn't short of money, and exchanging four billion for one of the Infinity Gems was simply too cost-effective.
Just as he was about to hand over the cash to seal the deal, he noticed something unusual about his maid.
"Karina, stay away from the gem!" the Collector warned.
But Karina, hearing the Collector's introduction to the gem, couldn't hold back anymore. She shouted, "I am no longer your slave!" and grasped the Power Stone.
The immense energy overflowed, turning her whole body into ashes almost instantly, and a massive explosion swept through the scene...
On the square outside the gate, Star-Lord and the others, still in shock, re-discussed the arrangement of the Orb of Power.
"I think we can give it to someone with good character and strength who is willing to pay us a large sum of money," Star-Lord said, combining the others' opinions to form a seemingly compromised plan.
Unexpectedly, Gamora ignored him. "You are mercenary! You are despicable and shameless! You are treacherous!" She picked up the Orb of Power and left, only to see a large number of Kree soldiers arriving.
Drax held two knives, facing the spaceship, and said in a deep voice, "Today, I will avenge my wife and daughter! Ronan, die!"
Thor watched him alone from the back, facing the momentum of thousands of troops. The image of Drax with two daggers across his waist, coupled with that low and magnetic voice, suddenly evoked a vision of the "God of War" series' Kratos.
Not far away, Yondu rushed over, shouting, "Star-Lord, you boy, stop for me! Don't conflict with Ronan!"
"Not good!" Gamora exclaimed. She hurried to a spaceship, intending to escape with the Orb of Power, but Star-Lord, Rocket, and others caught up with her.
Ronan stepped out of the spaceship.
Drax roared, "You killed my wife and my daughter, today I will avenge them!"
Seeing Gamora running away with the Orb, Ronan turned and chased her, completely ignoring the angry and roaring Drax.
"No! You won't get away!" Drax rushed up and stabbed with his sharp dagger.
Ronan ordered coldly to his men, "Take back the sphere!"
Then, facing Drax, who was charging at him, he slapped him away like a ball.
Drax rolled several times on the ground.
Nebula and Minerva had exasperated expressions on their faces. "I thought they were strong, but they turned out to be weak," Nebula remarked.
"Ronan the Accuser is also after the Power Stone," Nebula reminded in a low voice.
Thor shook his head. "Don't worry, even if trash like Ronan gets the gem, it's useless."
In the eyes of the Guardians of the Galaxy, the super boss could only be considered a strong ant to Thor.
Over there, Drax was being beaten by Ronan in all directions. He was far inferior to Ronan in terms of strength and skill.
The legendary "Drax the Destroyer," who single-handedly killed Thanos, had directly become a fool with a simple mind and underdeveloped limbs in this universe. He had no sense of existence and often did stupid things.
On one side was Drax, who barked his teeth and flailed his claws, whose output relied on roaring. He was thrown around like a ragdoll time and time again and charged back time and time again...
On the other side was Ronan, who moved leisurely, strolling around and occasionally throwing out a palm, causing Drax to fly backward for more than ten meters. Drax was completely treated as a giant beanbag.
It had to be said that Ronan was quite good at pretending to be aggressive. If Thor didn't know how cowardly Ronan was in the face of Captain Marvel, he might have been deceived by this posture.
"Hey, congratulations on triggering the Drax-related mission: Revenge. You will be rewarded for completing the mission!"
"Mission introduction: According to legend, Drax the Destroyer is a ruthless character that even Thanos fears. But in this universe, he has become a big fool. Facing the enemy, he has no ability to take revenge at all."
"Mission Objective: Kill Ronan or Thanos. Mission Reward: Active Skill - Brain Damage."
"Brain Damage Technique: Reduces the target's IQ by 90%, and lasts for ten minutes."
Seeing the task reward, Thor almost spat out.
Sure enough, it's a funny character, funny task, funny reward. The system will not deceive me!
Oh, actually, Star-Lord is also a funny comparison, but he is a second-generation god after all.
"What's wrong with you?" Nebula was a little puzzled by the change in Thor's expression.
"Nothing."
Thor recovered his expression and shook his head, looking at the battle ahead.
Ronan thumped and beat Drax to the ground. Lying there like a dead dog, Drax was unable to get up. Ronan held him down and sneered, "I don't remember when I killed your wife and daughter, and I probably won't remember killing you either!"
----
Chapter 153: I Am Groot
A call from Ronan's subordinate came through: "The Power Orb has arrived!"
Ronan didn't want to waste any more time. He grabbed one of Drax's legs and prepared to throw him into a nearby dye vat.
"No one can stop me! The Power Orb is destined to belong to me!" he declared arrogantly.
A voice disrupted the atmosphere: "Really? If you're so tough, why did you run away on Earth twenty years ago?"
"Who? Who the hell dares to bring that up?!" Ronan was furious. This was his dark history, and no one dared to mention it.
He turned around and saw a man he didn't recognize. He had run away from Captain Marvel before he could meet Thor.
He froze for a moment, saw Thor's face, and suddenly remembered another person who had troubled the Supreme Intelligence twenty years ago...
"Are you... an Asgardian?"
Damn, it's rare for me to pretend to be tough, why do I encounter a real threat again?
In fact, many Kree knew Thor's appearance. As one of the people who ruined the major affairs of the Kree, the Supreme Intelligence pinned the blame for Captain Marvel's rebellion on Thor and listed him as a most wanted target. The bounty was second only to Captain Marvel...
In reality, it wasn't so much wanting to catch him, but to warn the Kree people to be cautious and avoid them...
Ronan panicked and looked at an adjutant for an idea.
The adjutant blinked and quickly understood Ronan's intention.
He coughed twice and said, "My lord, we have obtained the Power Orb. We have important business to attend to, so let's let them go for now."
This adjutant was clever, knowing that the boss wanted to save face and couldn't directly ask to retreat!
Ronan nodded in satisfaction. "Since that's the case, I'll spare you this time!"
As soon as the words fell, he jumped onto the spaceship as if afraid of being stopped.
The act was so bad that not only Thor but also Nebula and Minerva could see through it.
"What did you do to make him so afraid of you?" Nebula was puzzled. Ronan the Accuser was notorious in the universe...
In fact, Ronan didn't know that Thor thought it was useful to keep him alive. Otherwise, even if they boarded the spaceship, they could still be shot down...
"Is Gamora okay?" Nebula was worried.
"It's okay, she just went with her boyfriend to meet the parents."
Minerva couldn't help laughing, while Nebula's forehead was full of black lines.
As expected, even though Nebula no longer served Ronan in this life, Gamora was unlucky enough to be hit by Ronan's men's weapon. They snatched the Power Orb and left her in the vacuum.
There aren't many races that can survive in space, and Gamora was on the verge of death soon.
Star-Lord, who followed, looked at her. Perhaps it was fate, but he felt that he was in the galaxy and had found the right person.
Ignoring Rocket's dissuasion, he resolutely opened the flight cabin and gave his space suit to Gamora.
The feeling of suffocation came, and cosmic rays eroded his body. At the moment of life and death, the only thing he thought of was Yondu, and he struggled to send the coordinates...
Rocket Raccoon landed, cursing, and saw Drax sitting silently on the ground.
"A bunch of idiots! Idiots! Things wouldn't have turned out like this. Quill actually got off the spaceship by himself... and you, what are you doing, thinking you can defeat an army!"
Drax was full of guilt: "You're right, I'm an idiot. All the anger, all the hatred, just to cover up my sadness..."
Groot patted him lightly on the shoulder.
Rocket was stunned for a moment; he didn't expect that Drax would admit his mistake. He took a deep breath: "Don't think my words are unkind. No one has ever died! But there's no need to drag the living along with them!"
Seeing that Drax didn't respond, Rocket said dejectedly, "Forget it, it's too late to say anything now. Ronan got the Power Orb, so let's hurry up and escape to the other side of the galaxy. Groot, let's go!"
"I'm Groot..."
"What? Are you going to save them? How?"
"I'm Groot..."
Rocket's pointed ears perked up, and he said helplessly, "I know, we are teammates. But now they are in the hands of a predator. How can we save them with just the two of us?"
Before Groot could answer, Drax stood up slowly, with a firm face: "It's three people."
Rocket scratched his head, annoyed.
"I'm Groot..."
With a smile on Groot's face, he knew Rocket had agreed.
In fact, Rocket Raccoon is not indifferent. On the contrary, he is too emotional, which is why until today he only has Groot as a friend.
At this time, they didn't realize that a small circle was being born.
---
Chapter 154: Yondu Beats His Son
"According to our agreement, give me the Power Orb, and I will help you destroy Xandar!"
On the communication screen, a massive purple figure was wriggling...
Ronan sneered: "That was the original agreement. But, I already know that the Power Orb contains an Infinity Stone, so why should I use you? I can destroy Xandar myself!"
With a click, he dismantled the Power Orb, revealing the Power Stone that emitted a purple light.
Ronan's adjutant reminded him in shock: "Master, you can't do this! Thanos is the most powerful existence in the galaxy, and if you do this, you will suffer his revenge!"
Ronan sneered: "Soon, he won't be!"
He grabbed the Power Stone.
The violent energy overflowed, Ronan roared to the sky, and the purple energy instantly spread throughout his body, almost to the verge of collapse.
He took his war hammer and embedded the gem onto it.
The immense strength brought him confidence. Facing Thanos, he yelled loudly: "Look, I will show you how I destroyed Xandar! Then, I will come for you with this hammer and make you pay for underestimating me!"
Thanos cut off the video chat, having given up on the idiot already.
He was annoyed. Why did Thor's recruits include fierce people like Carol and Wanda, while he encountered such a fool?
The Power Stone is very dangerous, but it also depends on who wields it. If you dare to challenge me with a infinity stone, you might as well sleep and dream about it!
On Yondu's spaceship, Yondu was beating Star-Lord violently, just like a father beating his son...
"How dare you betray me? When I brought you here, you were just a five or six-year-old child, and my crew wanted to eat you. I saved you! Not only did you not appreciate me, but you betrayed me?"
Yondu beat and cursed.
Star-Lord felt that he was about to collapse: "Can you stop mentioning this? It's been the same few words every time for twenty years! Not eating me seems to be a great thing, but who thinks about eating people all day long? Why should I thank you for such a perverted reason?"
Yondu was very annoyed now. Why was this kid just not willing to give in?
If he admitted his mistake, took a beating, this matter would be over. Now he was holding his ground, didn't he see that the faces of his crew around him were turning dark?
Seeing the faces of his subordinates around him, Yondu sighed, knowing that it would be difficult for him to favor Star-Lord anymore.
Boy, I can only help you so far...
"Don't blame me, as the boss, I must let my subordinates know what happens to a betrayer!"
As soon as the whistle blew, the arrow flew to Star-Lord's neck.
"If you kill me now, you all will miss the biggest deal of your life!" Star-Lord said in a hurry.
The corner of Yondu's mouth ticked in a faint way: "If you're talking about the stone, forget it. No one can snatch anything from Ronan."
"But I have a secret weapon. We know Ronan very well, and we know all his weaknesses..."
Star-Lord enticed him.
Noticing that his subordinates were obviously interested, Yondu suddenly burst into laughter: "Hahaha! Quill, my good son, I was just joking with you! Come on, let him go, let's have a proper talk!"
"Boom——" the spaceship vibrated as Rocket bombarded it with a self-made quantum energy cannon...
Star-Lord hurried to the window and shouted: "Don't fire! I've already talked to them!"
Watching Rocket and others follow Star-Lord into the room to discuss their plans, Yondu shook his head helplessly and thought to himself: "I'll leave later, just take your partner and run away..."
Knowing his son well, he was very clear about Star-Lord's ability. He didn't think Star-Lord's so-called plan could be successful at all.
A subordinate hurried over to report: "Boss, there is a spaceship approaching not far away, and they want to board our ship!"
Yondu hurried to the window.
Damn! He swore, don't all the high-level weapons on the opposite spaceship cost money? He roughly estimated that one of the Star Destroyer Cannons alone was worth half of his spaceship. More importantly, the eye-catching Asgard logo on the spaceship...
"Agree to their request and allow them to board."
"It seems that Captain Yondu is a smart guy."
As soon as he finished speaking, Thor had already appeared in front of him with Nebula and Minerva.
Yondu was startled, turned around and saw Minerva...
"Kree?"
He was startled. Just as he was going to hate Ronan, the Kree came to his door. This was too efficient!
"Don't worry, she's with Asgard now," Thor explained, knowing that Yondu mistook them for Ronan's people.
For some reason, Minerva was shocked and gave him a grateful look.
---
Chapter 155: Star-Lord's Plan
"Your Excellency, why have you come to see me?" Yondu asked, slightly out of breath.
This mysterious guy would do anything when he was displeased.
My invincible arrow pierced his body, and he hardly even flinched...
I have long heard that Asgardians have strong physiques, but this is too exaggerated!
Fortunately, the other party didn't seem to be hostile.
Thor smiled mysteriously: "I'm here to find Star-Lord."
On the system interface, the reminder that the mission "Death Dad" is 1/2 completed made him feel very comfortable.
Ronan
How much trouble did that brat Star-Lord cause?
He asked cautiously: "What did Star-Lord do? Is there some misunderstanding? Although this kid is a jerk, he still does things properly..."
Yondu said things that even he didn't believe.
Thor pointed at Nebula: "Gamora is her older sister. I'm helping her investigate her future brother-in-law, isn't it too much?"
Yondu was stunned, trying to figure out the relationship—Gamora is the daughter of Thanos, so her sister Nebula...
Damn! Having a relationship with Ronan is bad enough, what about Thanos?
"Don't worry, she's with Asgard now," Thor explained, knowing that Yondu mistook them for Ronan's people.
For some reason, Minerva was shocked and gave him a grateful look.
Yondu suddenly thought of something, and asked in a low voice, "Your purpose is also the Power Orb, right?"
Thor glanced at him: "Oh? Why do you say that?"
Yondu smiled wryly: "I just remembered, I saw you in the void before. I know Star-Lord, and it's not worth you following him all the way. If you want the Power Orb, I'll give it to you. Anyway, it's better for it to fall into anyone's hands than Ronan's."
Not only Thor, but also Nebula and Minerva looked at him in surprise. As the leader of interstellar bandits, could he resist the temptation of an Infinity Stone?
Seeing their doubts, Yondu explained in a low voice: "Knowing that the Power Orb contains an Infinity Stone, I don't expect to get it. I don't think we have that kind of power, and I don't think I can hold it. The gem in my hands would be nothing but disaster."
As the leader of the Ravagers, Yondu was not as unruly as he appeared on the surface. On the contrary, he was very smart. Otherwise, he wouldn't have guessed Ego's behavior back then and kept Star-Lord safe.
"However, in any case, I hope you can guarantee Quill's safety."
Yondu spoke his request, and Thor agreed.
.....
"Is this what you're talking about?" Rocket felt like he was going crazy. "Steal the gem from Ronan's hand? Is there anything more unreliable than this?"
Star-Lord nodded and said: "Why is it unreliable? Our plan consists of two steps: snatch the stone, and then give the stone to Yondu, and the matter will be solved!"
"And let Yondu sell the stone to Ronan?" Rocket joked.
"No, no, that's the next step. Don't think about it for now."
"Then how feasible do you think this plan is?"
"Ah... the feasibility is actually very high... at least twelve percent..."
"What?!! Hohohohohohoho"
Rocket jumped up and laughed exaggeratedly: "This idea is great!"
"I'm Groot..."
"Okay, you stop talking. I definitely know it's higher than eleven percent."
Rocket interrupted Groot and spat at Quill: "You can't call it a plan, it's just a proposal, and it's a very bad proposal!"
"I think..."
"Shut up, you're not qualified to speak!" Drax just wanted to speak, but Rocket pushed him back.
"Second," said Gamora.
Star-Lord sighed: "Guys, don't be like this. I need your help now!"
"Each of us has lost a lot: our homes, our loved ones, and our lives. Destiny will not always make us happy. But today is not like that. We must seize this opportunity, do something meaningful, and no longer live blindly!"
"We must not stand by and watch Ronan destroy countless innocent lives!"
Serious and determined, Star-Lord's words were very moving.
Rocket shrugged his ears and said in a low voice, "But Quill, it's impossible to stop Ronan. You're telling us to die..."
In a word, he brought them back to reality.
Star-Lord murmured: "You are right, we are going to die."
"But I've heard a saying: there must be someone who fights bloody battles for there to be freedom in the world! There will always be someone who sacrifices for their beliefs. Why can't that person be us?"
--
Chapter 156: Forcing King Thor
"I think..." Drax tried to speak again.
"Shut up! You are not qualified to speak!" Gamora directly interrupted him, facing Star-Lord and said seriously, "Quill, I have been living in pain beside the enemy. But today, I am willing to share life and death with my friends!"
Drax was not angry when he was interrupted. He stood up: "Quill, you are a brave and resourceful person, and I am willing to fight side by side with you. Even if I fail, I can go to see my wife and daughter with a clear conscience."
"I'm Groot!" Groot stood up firmly, then looked back at Rocket...
Rocket stared at them dumbfounded for a few seconds, stomped his feet, and stood up: "I can't stand you idiots! Well, I'm an idiot too! Forget it, I've had enough, let's die together!"
Star-Lord looked at his teammates, his face full of emotion: "Thank you! Thank you for believing in me! Ah, by the way, what did Drax want to say just now?"
"???" Drax was stunned for a long time before he realized: "Ah, I remembered, I just wanted to say, maybe we don't have to die!"
"Eh..." Star-Lord tentatively asked, "Could it be that you have some big move that can kill Ronan in seconds?"
Drax rolled his eyes: "No, I would have used it if I had."
"Then what can you say?" Rocket said unhappily, thinking that Drax had some good idea, only to be disappointed...
"I can't, but I met someone before who seemed to have a grudge against Ronan, and when he showed up, he scared Ronan away!"
"Scared Ronan away? Huh?" Star-Lord was startled. Is there anyone who scares this executioner?
"Don't tell me you met Thanos, I'm going crazy!"
Gamora was thoughtful: "Who did you see? What are the characteristics?" She remembered Thor and Nebula at the bar but was a little uncertain.
Drax carefully recalled: "The characteristics... Yes! One man and two women..."
Star-Lord slapped his forehead, exasperated: "The whole world is either male or female, what kind of characteristic is that?"
"It seems he said he was from the... Asgat?"
"Asgard?"
Drax patted his thigh: "Yes, yes, this is it!"
"Asgard! I've heard of this place. It's one of the top realms in the universe, a legendary fighting realm. Every member has a physique that far surpasses other races. Not long ago, their king destroyed a planet with a single shot!"
As an interstellar mercenary, Rocket knew a lot.
Gamora looked serious: "It should be that person. If he is willing to help, our chances of winning will be much higher."
"Do you know him? Who is he?" Star-Lord was curious about who they were talking about.
Gamora looked around the group and explained: "The heir to the king of Asgard, Thor. We're not acquainted, but I met him once.
Fifteen years ago, he broke into my father's base alone, and no one could stop him. In the end, my father defeated him with his own hands, but he escaped and took my sister away."
Rocket's ears pricked up, and he shouted, "Isn't it? Isn't your father Thanos?"
For someone who can't even keep Thanos at bay, fighting Ronan seems like child's play!
"What she said is true." A heavy voice came, and Thor appeared at the hatch with Nebula and Minerva.
"Also, you need to update your information. It's not so difficult for Thanos to defeat me now."
With a wave of his hand, a severed paw was placed on the table.
Gamora stared at Nebula in disbelief: "Are you... Nebula?"
They hadn't seen each other for many years since Thor took her out of Thanos' Sanctuary, and they were both children when they last met.
"Sister!"
The two hugged each other tightly.
Although Rocket was about to explode with curiosity, he didn't disturb the sisters' reunion. He picked up the paw and examined it, finding nothing special.
Thor said indifferently: "Not long ago, Thanos came to provoke Asgard. I had a big fight with him and beat him away. This is the severed hand of Black Dwarf, one of his Black Order."
!!!
Rocket felt like he was on a roller coaster, his emotions going up and down with every new revelation. Thor's words contained too much information.
Drax looked at him as if he was looking at a god.
At this moment, Rocket felt that what they might be hugging today was not just a simple thick thigh but a powerful ally.
Seeing their expressions, Minerva smirked, accustomed to Thor's subtle arrogance.
Invisible pride can be the deadliest!
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Chapter 157: The Only Qualified Person For Stormbreaker
"You killed Black Dwarf?"
Gamora, who had finally finished talking about the past, looked carefully at Thor and said, "No wonder my father suddenly became uncharacteristically anxious a few days ago, desperately urging Ronan to find the Power Orb. He was very patient before."
"Because he's ready to take action. The last time he went to Nidavellir, it was to forge the Infinity Gauntlet, but it didn't work."
Gamora looked serious.
"Nidavellir? This place really exists? I thought it was just a legend!" Rocket exclaimed in surprise.
"If there's a chance, I can take you to see it." Thor smiled.
Confused, Star-Lord interjected, "Hey buddy, what are you talking about? What glove? What Nidavellir?"
"No, no, Quill, you're wrong." Drax said slowly, "He's not a buddy, you are a buddy. He's a real man... ..."
"I'm a man too!"
Rocket couldn't help complaining, "What are you kidding, Quill? You're only one bowl away from being fat!"
"Well, you are really fat."
"That's right."
"I'm Groot."
Unknowingly, he was besieged by his teammates. He quickly changed the subject and said, "Stop, stop! Let's start with the previous question, what is Nidavellir? What about the Infinity Gauntlet?"
"Let me tell you."
Gamora explained, "All along, Thanos has only one purpose: to wipe out half of the life in this universe to maintain balance. So, every time he reaches a planet, he will kill half of the people, including on my planet. Later, he felt it was too slow to do so, so he decided to collect the six Infinity Stones: Power, Space, Time, Mind, Soul, and Reality. Once collected, the power of the six stones is concentrated, and with a snap of his fingers, half the creatures in the universe can be wiped out."
Thor went on to add, "And the Infinity Gauntlet is a medium that can release the power of the six stones simultaneously. Nidavellir is the place where the gauntlet can be forged."
"In this way, the Power Orb has already been handed over to Thanos, right?" Star-Lord's face suddenly changed.
"Don't worry, it won't. Ronan has a very strong self-esteem, but he is also very afraid of death. He will have to succumb to Thanos because he is afraid of death, but once he gets the Power Stone, the powerful power will definitely make him vengeful."
"So, you know Ronan very well." Star-Lord said doubtfully.
"Twenty years ago, the Kree invaded Earth, and Ronan participated in the bombing. However, in the end, his fleet was single-handedly destroyed by a lady, and he was scared away from coming to Earth for so many years. Oh, I also had a part in that battle; the Star Troopers of the Kree were wiped out by my regiment. So now that Ronan has the Power Orb, it is very likely that I am also on his revenge list."
Thor smiled indifferently.
"Then you came to us for the Power Orb?" Gamora asked tentatively. She suddenly had this idea, compared to Yondu, Thor is obviously more suitable for holding the stone, at least he's hostile to Thanos.
"No." Thor shook his head, "The stone is not as useful to me as I imagined. I already have the Reality Stone and the Space Stone in my possession. The Time Stone and the Mind Stone are also on Earth. My purpose is him."
He pointed to Groot.
"I'm Groot."
"Nice to meet you, the last king of the Flora Colossus and the last survivor!"
Thor reached out and shook his hand.
"My God! You know Groot!"
Rocket was a little surprised.
Thor smiled faintly, "In Asgard it is just an elective course."
He continued, "I need your renewable branches as a material to forge a weapon. I know you have branches falling off every day."
"I'm Groot." (If you can really defeat Ronan, I'm willing to use my best limbs to help you, much better than dead branches.)
"Deal!" Thor was very happy; the adult Groot's arm was definitely much stronger than the juvenile Groot's. Moreover, he got a prompt from the system.
"Hey, congratulations for triggering the Groot-related quest: King of Wood. You will be rewarded for completing the quest!"
"Mission introduction: As a race that has survived several cosmic changes and still survives tenaciously, the Flora Colossus family is the king of the wood family, and any wood material is controlled by Groot. After the evolution of their race, they have put all the essence of wood-based materials together, making them the king of wood-based materials."
"Mission objective: Although Groot has the ability to regenerate, as long as some branches exist, watering and fertilizing can grow them into big trees, but it will also cause them to lose their original memory. Defeat Ronan and let Groot avoid death and rebirth destiny."
"Mission reward: The only person who is qualified for the artifact, the weapon made by Groot will only recognize the host!"
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