"Are you actually able to withstand the power of the gem?" Tivan asked in shock.
Just moments ago, Karina's tragic fate was still vivid. The power of the gem was not something an ordinary person could endure.
The person before them clearly had an extraordinary constitution! Being able to withstand the gem's power and remain unharmed indicated a background far from ordinary. Who exactly was he?
Tivan pondered.
As Tivan spoke, the shocked Star-Lord and the others began to understand what had happened.
Rocket Raccoon, bewildered, asked, "This terrifying thing's power, he actually withstood it?"
Star-Lord, equally stunned, questioned whether what he had witnessed was real.
That thing's mere residual energy could blow up Tivan's entire building. How could anyone withstand it?!
Everyone's emotions were in turmoil.
As their minds began to calm, they realized something unsettling.
Looking at the figure in white holding the gem, they had a bad premonition.
Rocket Raccoon cautiously said, "Can we put that thing down? It's worth forty billion, and we need to sell it."
Before Syd could respond, Gamora spoke up, "This thing is too dangerous. We can't give it to Tivan; he can't control the energy of the Orb!"
"We should hand it over to the Nova Corps!"
Rocket Raccoon was astonished. "Are you joking? We're being hunted by them!"
"It would be better to give it to Ronan!"
Star-Lord raised his voice. "Do you want Ronan to destroy the entire universe?"
"Destroy the universe? I think you're the one with issues, wanting to play the saint!" Rocket Raccoon retorted. "What's the universe ever done for you that you want to defend it?"
Star-Lord frowned. "Because I live in this universe, just like the rest of us!"
Gamora agreed, "No matter what, we cannot let the gem fall into Ronan's hands. We need to get back to the ship and deliver it to the Nova Empire!"
At that moment, thinking about the money, Star-Lord hesitated. "Or we could give it to someone who won't capture us, is trustworthy, and willing to give us a huge sum of money?"
"I think that would be the best outcome for all of us."
Gamora's voice turned icy. "You're driven solely by profit, despicable and untrustworthy!"
Rocket Raccoon said, "Enough arguing. I think the real question is whether this guy is willing to hand over the gem."
He pointed to the enigmatic figure in white, who was calmly floating in mid-air.
"What are you planning to do?" Gamora asked, her sense of foreboding growing.
Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon also began to sense that something was amiss.
As they looked at the powerful figure in white, unsure whether to resort to force to reclaim the gem, an unexpected development occurred!
Suddenly, the sound of engines from flying vehicles filled the air.
Everyone instinctively turned their heads.
Through the holes in the roof, they could see numerous gray flying vehicles descending.
"What's going on?" Gamora was bewildered.
Star-Lord suddenly noticed something and turned around, realizing that Drax was missing.
A burst of laughter came from outside.
"Talk about bad timing! You're all dead!"
Drax's excited voice came through.
In an instant, Star-Lord and the others understood.
"This guy actually summoned Ronan?"
"He's so eager for revenge?"
"Crazy, this guy is insane! Does he even think things through?"
Rocket Raccoon and the others were nearly losing their minds.
Outside, they saw an overwhelming number of flying vehicles filling the sky.
It looked like at least several hundred!
"How could there be so many?"
"He mobilized this large of a force just for us?"
On the other side, another voice called out.
"Quill, so you're here after all!"
Yondu, Star-Lord's adoptive father, appeared with a group of Ravagers.
Before Yondu could question anything, the flying vehicles landed, and a figure emerged.
Ronan the Accuser, clad in black armor, with blue skin and black stripes on his face, walked over slowly.
"Ronan the Accuser!" Drax shouted.
"Are you the one who sent the message?" Ronan asked, his voice thick with suspicion.
Drax's voice was filled with hatred as he responded, "You killed my wife and my daughter!"
"I will make you pay in blood!"
Drax charged forward.
However, before he could make much of an impact with his knife, Ronan knocked him down, throwing him heavily to the ground.
At this moment, Nebula, Thanos's adopted daughter who was temporarily allied with Ronan, noticed Gamora nearby and said, "Gamora is over there. The Orb must be with her!"
Ronan's gaze shifted.
Besides seeing the betraying Gamora, he also saw Star-Lord and the others. But what caught his attention most was the enigmatic figure in white floating in mid-air.
Ronan had been keeping an eye on this person through underground sources. To be prepared for any eventuality, he had brought an immense force this time.
Ronan's face showed a hint of a cold smile.
Forget about his own strength. Even if he couldn't defeat them, with so many troops, he didn't believe anything could stop him.
The Orb of Power would be his!
Buzzing sounds filled the air as the flying vehicles surrounded Star-Lord and his group.
"Hand over the Orb!" Ronan demanded, his gaze fixed on Gamora.
Gamora's face darkened. "You'll have to get it from me first!"
Ronan gestured.
Buzzing sounds again as the weapons of the flying vehicles aimed directly at them.
Rocket Raccoon quickly said, "Let's talk this out. The thing isn't with us right now. You should ask this guy."
He pointed at the enigmatic figure in white.
Ronan and Nebula's eyes shifted, and they immediately saw the mysterious figure floating in the air.
The gem was with him?
"Hand it over," Ronan ordered coldly. "That thing doesn't belong to you. It's mine. I suggest you be smart and give it to me."
As his words fell, the scene fell into silence, all eyes fixed on Syd.
What would this person do?
Syd glanced at Ronan, then pulled out the empty Orb and asked, "Do you mean this?"
A mysterious voice echoed, causing Ronan to be startled. But he quickly focused on the Orb.
"Where is it?"
Ronan saw that the Orb's shell was empty.
"Hand over the gem!" Ronan shouted.
Immediately, hundreds of flying vehicles aimed their weapons at Syd, making Star-Lord and the others tremble with fear.
"We should just give it up," Star-Lord urged urgently.
Gamora's face grew grim, already foreseeing what was about to happen.
Rocket Raccoon also tried to signal the mysterious figure, hoping he would make a sensible choice rather than a foolish one.
(End of Chapter)