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On the planet Xandar—a highly advanced, multi-species world—aliens of every color and shape could be seen everywhere. Red-skinned, blue-skinned, long-antennaed, or even crawling forms were nothing unusual. People were accustomed to it, and under the protection of the Nova Corps, all these different races lived together in harmony. But today, that peace was about to shatter.
When Ronan the Accuser's warship, the Dark Aster, appeared in Xandar's sky, the first ones to confront it were not the Nova Corps but a group of Ravagers. Having arrived ahead of time, the Ravagers, led by Yondu, launched an attack on the Dark Aster.
The sight of Ravagers going after Ronan shocked not only Ronan himself but also the Nova Corps. This was Ronan the Accuser! Although the Nova Corps was surprised and grateful for the unexpected assistance, they couldn't understand how the Ravagers dared to take such a risk.
But the Ravagers feared nothing when the stakes were high enough. Peter Quill—Star-Lord—the one who set this entire battle in motion and a member of Yondu's crew, was certain of that. The value of the Power Stone spoke for itself. If there was even a fifty percent chance to take it, the Ravagers were bold enough to try. Besides, their job was only to provide cover.
Star-Lord piloted his Ravager ship and watched the silhouette of the Dark Aster emerge in the distance. He glanced at his teammates and grinned. There was Gamora, the adopted daughter of Thanos; Drax, the big, blunt bruiser; Groot, the living tree; Rocket, piloting another ship; and himself, the impossibly handsome interstellar outlaw known as Star-Lord. Who would have imagined this dysfunctional bunch would end up saving a planet?
After signaling, he steered his ship toward the Dark Aster, dodging the Necrocrafts swarming out of it and flying under the cover of the Ravagers. Rocket, along with a few Ravagers, blew open a breach in the Dark Aster's hull. Their mission was simple in theory: fly in through that opening, kill Ronan, steal the Power Stone, and end the war. But simple plans were never simple in execution. They had to survive waves of Necrocrafts, then fight through Necro soldiers inside, break the command deck's secure entrance, and reach Ronan.
As the Ravagers engaged Ronan's forces, the Nova Corps began moving as well. While evacuating the civilians below, countless small Nova ships swarmed upward like a hive bursting open, rushing the Dark Aster. Explosions rocked the sky, vessels crashed down in flames, and the city was thrown into chaos.
At that moment, the Nova Corps ships maneuvered directly in front of the Dark Aster. Though tiny in comparison, more and more of them formed a precise formation. Golden energy flowed between them, linking them into a colossal net that succeeded in halting the mothership's descent. The Dark Aster bucked like a trapped hawk ensnared in a glowing net, and for a moment, both sides were locked in a stalemate.
But Ronan was dissatisfied. Too slow, he thought, issuing new orders. Instantly, Necrocrafts launched suicide attacks. They smashed into Ravager ships, the ground, and crowds. Fire and explosions ripped apart the city's peace, flinging mutilated bodies into the air and shattering people's sanity. Screams echoed as civilians ran in panic.
Then, a beam of purple energy shot from the Dark Aster, striking the Nova Corps' energy net. It blew open a massive hole. From a distance, it looked like a piece of fine golden silk stained by purple ink before unraveling completely. The entire net collapsed in an instant.
Watching the battlefield, the Nova Prime's expression changed. This was their fastest and most effective method of stopping the ship. With this line breached, nothing could stop the Dark Aster from landing. Her mind went blank, and she swayed slightly—until she remembered the call they'd received from Star-Lord, and a faint hope stirred.
But what she didn't know was that the Guardians were already on the brink of defeat. Not only that, but Groot had already sacrificed his life to protect them. Star-Lord lay on the floor, gripping Gamora's hand, despair filling his eyes as he stared at Ronan wielding the Universal Weapon, the Power Stone glowing in it.
Drax roared and charged with a dagger, but Ronan dismissed him with a single punch, sending him flying. Ronan looked down at the three of them, the Power Stone in his warhammer radiating a hypnotic purple light. "Who gave you the illusion you could defeat me? Who gave you the courage?" he growled at the beaten group. Holding the Stone, he felt invincible, brimming with confidence.
Star-Lord gave a bitter smile and murmured to Gamora, "Sorry I didn't take this bastard out like we planned." Gamora squeezed his hand, glanced at Groot's broken branches nearby, and glared at Ronan with murderous eyes. If Groot hadn't shielded them, they'd already have been obliterated by the Power Stone.
With a furious roar, Rocket piloted a Ravager ship through the hole blown open by the Stone, ready to ram Ronan and die with him. Ronan barely acknowledged him. With a gentle swing of the Universal Weapon, purple energy shot forward and engulfed the ship. Rocket ejected just in time. The warship shattered into fragments under the surge of purple energy. Rocket crashed where Groot had fallen, rolling across the floor and colliding beside Drax, clutching one of Groot's branches.
"Die!" Ronan snarled as the warhammer flared with dangerous purple light. Star-Lord and Gamora clasped hands, Rocket curled around Groot's branch, and Drax shielded Rocket with his body. They had failed. Everything was over.
Just as Ronan raised the warhammer and the four braced for death, a figure in a black combat suit silently appeared behind Ronan. "Hey, now that suits your status as the final boss, doesn't it?" a mocking voice said. Ronan froze, and the Guardians looked over.
A handsome man in a black suit and cape hovered inside the command chamber, looking at Ronan with amused eyes and an odd hint of satisfaction. Satisfaction? What kind of expression was that? Ronan stared at Mike, confused. He felt like he'd seen him before.
Mike glanced around, his eyes passing briefly over the Guardians. From the looks of it, if he hadn't shown up, the Guardians would've been wiped out. But Groot was nowhere to be seen. Groot was still dead? So the story had changed… but not entirely? Mike rubbed his chin, muttering to himself.
"You!" Ronan's face shifted as he finally recognized him. More than a decade ago, this was the man who fought the Kree traitor Vers, blocked missile salvos, and even destroyed a Kree mothership. Mike looked surprised at Ronan. "Oh, you remember me?"
Ronan involuntarily stepped back, but when he saw the Power Stone embedded in his weapon, he stepped forward again with anger and shame. "You're here to stop me too?" he roared.
"No," Mike said with a smile, clenching his fist. "I'm here to kill you." Ronan's expression twisted, but before he could react, Mike punched him so hard he flew away in a daze. With a deafening crash, Ronan hit the hull, leaving a human-shaped dent. Mike appeared where Ronan had just stood.
The Guardians stared, stunned and overjoyed. They didn't know who this man was, but he had just saved them, and from the looks of it, Ronan was no match for him.
Ronan roared, purple energy erupting and shattering the wall behind him. The Power Stone on his weapon shone like a blinding star as the energy surged. He slammed the warhammer into the floor, and purple light spread across the Dark Aster, cracks spiderwebbing through the ship. "He's going to destroy the mothership!" Star-Lord shouted.
Mike glanced at him with a faint smile, and a card appeared between his fingers. In the next moment, as the card dissolved into light, a portal opened. Mike flashed past the four Guardians and tossed them through.
Their vision blurred, and suddenly they were inside another ship. They stared at the swirling portal, stunned, and just as they were about to speak, Mike closed it. But in the instant before it vanished, they saw the terrifying explosion behind him.
The four stared in shock. Why hadn't he come through? "Hey, how are you guys?" Gwen squatted beside them with a cheerful smile, though her gaze landed on Rocket. The four stared at Gwen and swallowed nervously.
"Who are you people?" Star-Lord couldn't help asking, studying Gwen closely. From her appearance, he'd guessed something but couldn't quite believe it.
"We're travelers from Earth," Gwen said, choosing a suitable explanation. She pointed to herself. "I'm Gwen Kent. The man you just saw is my father, Mike Kent, and this is my aunt, Raven."
She finished her introduction and noticed their strange expressions. "Earth? You're from Earth? My home planet?" Star-Lord exclaimed, excitedly sitting up—only to pull at his wounds and hiss in pain. Gwen nodded.
"Earth? They're from Earth, and the difference is that big?" Rocket muttered. Gamora and Drax, remembering Mike's earlier display, nodded in agreement and gave Star-Lord a disdainful look.
Star-Lord was speechless. "He's just an exception," he muttered. Rocket, Gamora, and Drax exchanged looks that said clearly they didn't believe him. Gwen couldn't help but laugh, finding them amusing.
Just then, explosions rocked the Aerial as it came under attack. Gwen growled, "Those bastards. I'm going to make them pay!" "Gwen?" Raven called. "Don't worry, Aunt Raven, I'll be fine! Trust me!" Gwen said seriously. "I'm going to help the others!"
Raven hesitated, then nodded. "Go—and be careful!" "They're the ones who should be worried," Gwen said coldly as she headed for the hatch.
Seeing this, Star-Lord panicked. "Hey! Hey! What is she doing? Stop her! It's dangerous out there!" She was just a normal human girl! He looked anxiously at Raven. Raven simply smiled. "Let her go."
Star-Lord lifted a hand to call out to Gwen, but before he could speak, flames erupted from her body. Before their horrified eyes, she transformed into a burning skeleton. Gwen grabbed an iron chain at the hatch, and as it opened, she blew Raven a flaming kiss and leaped off the Aerial. At the same time, a massive metal eagle burst from the cabin and flew after her.
Rocket, Gamora, and Drax exchanged strange looks with Star-Lord. As expected, Earthlings were powerful. Maybe he was the exception—maybe he was the useless one. Star-Lord froze. Were they really from Earth? Or had something changed on Earth since he left?
Gwen plummeted from the Aerial, caught by Night Eagle, then shot upward toward the Necrocrafts. The chain in her hand swung, and as Night Eagle flew past a Necrocraft, it wrapped around the ship. With a yank, Gwen flung the craft aside and, pulled by the chain, slammed accurately into another. The explosion boomed, and Gwen shot out of the blast, swinging her chain around Night Eagle. With a powerful arc and wild laughter, she launched herself at the next Necrocraft.
(End of chapter)