On Xandar
A massive rift had been torn across Xandar's surface, stretching endlessly like a giant chasm spanning half the planet. Even from outside Xandar's atmosphere, it was clearly visible to anyone approaching—a shocking scar that had almost cleaved the entire sphere in two.
An alien clad in red and gray armor, with skin covered in a soft, rock-like gray shell, stood at the beginning of the rift. He wielded a massive cosmic battle axe that crackled with energy. He looked down disdainfully at the dead and wounded members of the Nova Corps scattered across the ground. The Nova Corps, which had slightly recovered after receiving the Power Stone back following Thanos's defeat, was now nearly annihilated once again.
"Hmph, weak planet," the alien declared with contempt. "I will utterly destroy you all!"
Raising his battle axe once more, the alien known as Terrax the Tamer prepared to completely shatter the planet beneath his feet.
But at that moment, a stream of flame suddenly pierced through the atmosphere and landed before Terrax. It transformed into a man wielding a cosmic staff, his body entirely composed of living flames.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Terrax's expression hardened immediately. He asked with barely concealed annoyance, "Firelord, why have you come here?"
"Our great master has arrived," Firelord replied calmly. "This planet naturally belongs to him now."
Hearing Firelord's words, Terrax's expression hardened even further. He immediately lowered his axe reluctantly. Although unwilling to give up his conquest, he absolutely dared not disobey his master's will.
Just then, outside Xandar's orbit, an energy storm like a cosmic catastrophe approached. It was mixed with boundless cosmic energy and gradually drew closer to the doomed planet.
Seeing this approaching doom, Firelord and Terrax did not hesitate even for a moment. They both soared into the air simultaneously, quickly traversing Xandar's atmosphere. They arrived outside the planet to welcome their master's arrival with proper respect.
The sudden arrival of the cosmic energy storm was so vast and overwhelming that it could be seen with the naked eye even from Xandar's surface.
The leader of the Nova Corps, looking up at the descending cosmic energy storm, finally revealed a look of utter despair on her face.
Xandar's eagerness to create a new Nova Corps using the Power Stone was precisely to prepare for this foreseeable crisis. However, it now seemed that even without Thanos's interference, which had resulted in the Power Stone being stolen and the Nova Corps suffering heavy casualties, they ultimately had no chance whatsoever of dealing with this crisis.
Looking at the Power Stone stored in its core containment area, the Nova Corps leader no longer hesitated. She immediately manipulated the system to place the Power Stone into a specially made Nova helmet.
This special Nova helmet contained Xandar's entire history and accumulated knowledge, as well as the power of the entire Nova Corps. The Nova Corps leader would launch this helmet into space to find a suitable successor—a continuation of Xandar in another form.
With the Power Stone secured in place, the Nova Corps leader looked at the target location selection on the screen before her. Suddenly, she thought of someone specific. With that thought, she chose that location as her destination, placed the helmet in a small spacecraft, and launched it from an inconspicuous location towards that target.
As the Nova Helmet containing the Power Stone was ejected into space, the massive cosmic energy storm outside Xandar finally descended upon the planet. Enveloped by the storm, the vast planet Xandar gradually collapsed and disintegrated, ultimately being absorbed and devoured completely.
After engulfing Xandar entirely, the cosmic energy storm rapidly contracted. It transformed into a spherical spaceship, roughly one-tenth the size of Xandar itself, resembling a small planet. Inside the spaceship, a towering figure appeared. Simultaneously, a deep and authoritative voice resounded in the ears of Firelord and Terrax.
"Firelord, Terrax, proceed to Earth immediately," Galactus commanded. "There are many formidable beings there. Go and help Silver Surfer conquer it. Eliminate its resistance. After I devour the planet Stardust has prepared for me, I will descend upon Earth myself. I hope you will be ready by then."
Hearing this command, both Firelord and Terrax were somewhat surprised. No one knew their master's overwhelming power better than them. Nor did anyone know the extent of their own strength as Heralds, empowered by their master with the Power Cosmic. Why would three Heralds be needed to conquer a mere planet that had not even developed proper space exploration technology yet? Moreover, judging from their master's words, even three Heralds might not be able to accomplish the task. What was so special about that planet?
Although they had questions, Firelord and Terrax responded differently to the situation.
Firelord, regardless of circumstances, followed his master's orders without question. Terrax, however, had his own ideas to some extent. After a slight hesitation, he asked boldly, "Master, what is so special about that planet that makes you treat it with such care?"
"Do not underestimate that planet," Galactus replied. "It is the core and root of Yggdrasil, the World Tree itself, nurturing countless cosmic-level gods throughout reality. Moreover, that planet itself has fused with the life force of all the members of a primordial Celestial being named Tiamut. The Celestial's emergence was stopped recently, and his essence now permeates the planet, making it incredibly rich in cosmic energy. That planet is unparalleled in the universe as a source of sustenance."
"Understood!" both Heralds responded.
"Alright, go!" Galactus commanded.
As soon as the words fell, the enormous planet-like spaceship once again spewed out a large amount of cosmic energy. It transformed into a cosmic energy storm that swept away in another direction toward Galactus's next meal.
After the cosmic energy storm subsided, Terrax and Firelord exchanged a glance. Terrax then said to Firelord, "Firelord, you are faster than me. Go to Earth first. I have some personal matters to attend to, and I will come find you after I am done."
Firelord, indifferent by nature, nodded slightly upon hearing Terrax's words. He said, "As long as you do not arrive after Master does, there should not be any major problems. Remember not to be late."
With that said, Firelord did not linger even for a moment. He transformed into a streak of flame and quickly disappeared before Terrax's eyes, heading toward Earth.
Seeing this, Terrax did not stop either. He turned and headed in another direction entirely, pursuing his own agenda.
Back on Earth
The Silver Surfer's hand was gripped tightly by another hand, unable to move even an inch.
Sebastian glanced at Priya and Harley Keener, snapped his fingers with his other hand casually, and instantly the cosmic energy binding them both disintegrated and vanished into nothing.
"Priya, take this young man and leave this place immediately," Sebastian instructed. "This being is not someone you can handle at your current level."
Since her teacher had spoken, Priya naturally had no questions. Without saying a word, she immediately used her Apparition ability to take Harley Keener away from this location and returned to the amusement park they had been in before.
After Priya and Harley left, Sebastian turned to face the Silver Surfer. He smiled and said, "Galactus the Devourer of Worlds has taken a liking to Earth? I suppose the stopped Emergence of Tiamut the Communicator has made our planet even more appealing to him. The Celestial's essence now saturates Earth, does it not?"
The Silver Surfer's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Although somewhat puzzled as to why Sebastian knew not only Galactus's name but also about Tiamut and the Emergence, he replied calmly, "You are well-informed, wizard. Yes, the stopped birth of the Celestial Tiamut has enriched Earth with cosmic energy far beyond normal worlds. Since our lord has taken a liking to Earth, there is absolutely no possibility of giving up. Accept this reality."
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