Although Richard didn't understand what was happening, he didn't waste mental energy puzzling over the mystery. Since the Nova Corps Centurions lacked knowledge of the Worldmind's location, he would simply target higher authorities—the Nova Prime and Queen Adora.
One led the Corps' field operations, while the other commanded the entire organization. Even with maximum security protocols, they should know the Worldmind's whereabouts. If they didn't possess this information, only one explanation made sense: the Worldmind had concealed its location from everyone.
On the surface, a computer hiding its own location seemed impossible. However, the Worldmind was no ordinary computer—its ability to generate Nova Force proved that much. Conventional computers couldn't create specialized energy fields and distribute that power to other beings.
Having made his decision, Richard quietly searched the Centurions' memories for the current locations of the Nova Prime and Queen Adora.
While these officers didn't know the Worldmind's position, they certainly knew where their commanding officers could be found.
Without effort, Richard located the information he needed. Neither the Nova Prime nor Queen Adora was currently in Corps headquarters. The Nova Prime was conducting field inspections of various Legion installations, while Queen Adora handled administrative duties in Nova Prime's government complex.
After extracting this intelligence, Richard quietly released his telepathic connection and teleported to the government building's roof.
Despite the structure's sophisticated security systems, Richard's arrival triggered no alarms. Once positioned on the rooftop, he reactivated his telepathy and quickly located Queen Adora.
The Xandarian leader was currently managing official business in her private office, accompanied by several aides whose life signatures indicated no particular power or threat.
Richard ignored the office's other occupants and directly probed Queen Adora's mind. Though she held supreme Nova Corps authority, Queen Adora possessed no Nova Force herself—making her simply an elderly Xandarian civilian.
Richard expected to easily extract the needed information from her thoughts, but the reality proved more complicated than anticipated.
The moment he established telepathic contact with Queen Adora's brain, he encountered resistance resembling a psychic shield. While not particularly powerful, the barrier was sufficient to alert Queen Adora to the mental intrusion.
Her expression changed instantly. She immediately opened a desk drawer, retrieved a silver-white bracelet, and secured it around her wrist.
The instant she activated the device, Richard's mental connection was severed completely.
When the psychic link was forcibly broken, Richard sighed in frustration. Obviously, Queen Adora's silver bracelet functioned like a telepathy-blocking helmet, effectively preventing mental invasion.
After donning the protective device, Queen Adora didn't hesitate. "Contact the standby Centurions and security guards at Legion headquarters immediately," she ordered her assistants. "Someone just attempted to invade my mind."
Her aides appeared stunned by the announcement. However, as they reached for their tablet-like communication devices, they suddenly froze motionless like sculptures before they could activate any functions.
The next second, Richard teleported from the rooftop directly into the office, materializing before Queen Adora.
Upon seeing Richard, Queen Adora maintained her composure. "Did you just attempt to invade my mind?"
"Yes," Richard replied, calmly pulling up a chair and sitting down.
"Who are you? What's your purpose? Are you an agent of the Kree Empire?" Queen Adora fired off three rapid questions.
"I have no connection to the Kree Empire," Richard answered. "Let me introduce myself—my name is Richard, from Terra. As for my purpose, it's quite simple: I want to meet the Worldmind."
Terra was the name other galactic civilizations used for Earth. Some preferred alternative designations like Planet C-53 or Midgard.
As Richard had predicted, the silver-haired Queen Adora immediately became extremely wary upon hearing his request.
The Worldmind served as both Nova Force's source and the repository of Xandar's complete historical civilization. It represented the most crucial asset of both the Nova Corps and Xandar itself.
Richard would have been suspicious if Queen Adora had immediately revealed the Worldmind's location without resistance.
"The Worldmind's location constitutes the highest classified information of the Nova Corps and Xandar," Queen Adora declared with conviction. "Even if you kill me, I won't reveal it."
"I understand its location is top secret, but you're misunderstanding the situation," Richard replied calmly. "I'm not requesting your cooperation—I'm informing you of my intentions. If you can't make this decision, I suggest you contact the Worldmind directly. If I'm correct, it provided you with certain mental shielding capabilities."
Not even Nova Corps Centurions could resist Richard's telepathy, much less Queen Adora, who possessed no Nova Force and no supernatural abilities. This meant the Worldmind itself had granted her psychic defense capabilities.
Queen Adora didn't respond immediately, and Richard waited patiently without rushing her.
Time passed slowly. After nearly thirty seconds, Queen Adora spoke. "How do I know you won't use my communication attempt to track the Worldmind's location?"
"You have no other choice now," Richard replied with unchanged expression. "If you don't contact it, I wouldn't mind killing you immediately."
Queen Adora's face darkened significantly. Since becoming queen, no one had ever threatened her life so bluntly.
"You'll definitely regret your actions today!" she declared before picking up her communication device and contacting the Worldmind.
Soon, an AI-like voice emerged from the device.
"Are you Richard Wesley, the Mutant God of Terra?"
Obviously, this artificial voice belonged to the Worldmind itself.
"Yes," Richard confirmed.
"You wish to meet with me?" the Worldmind continued.
"To be precise, I want to meet with you and examine the Nova Force field you generate," Richard answered calmly.
"Why?"
"Because I'm curious about your nature and the principles behind Nova Force."
"Simple curiosity?"
"What else?" Richard asked rhetorically. "You don't need to secretly activate office equipment to detect whether I'm lying. I'm telling the truth. If you need more convincing evidence..."
Richard withdrew the Cosmic Cube from his system space.
When he revealed the artifact, the Worldmind fell completely silent.
After more than ten seconds, it finally responded. "Adora will provide you with my coordinates."
The communication ended abruptly.
"You heard it. Give me the coordinates," Richard said to Queen Adora.
Though she didn't understand why the Worldmind had agreed to meet with Richard, Queen Adora didn't hesitate to provide the requested location data.
After reviewing the coordinates, Richard stood up. "Then I won't disturb your work any further."
He immediately teleported away, vanishing from Queen Adora's sight. The moment he left, the female assistants frozen by his telepathy regained consciousness and mobility.
Seeing them recover, Queen Adora quickly said, "No need to contact anyone—I made an error."
Tens of thousands of meters beneath Nova Corps headquarters lay a massive artificial spherical chamber. In this man-made space—larger than dozens of football fields—only one thing existed: the floating Worldmind.
Unlike conventional computers, the floating Worldmind possessed no physical form. Instead, it appeared as a spherical information flow—vast amounts of data condensed into an orange-yellow light sphere tens of meters in diameter.
This artificial chamber had never received visitors since its construction—until today.
Several hundred meters from the orange orb, a spatial portal surrounded by what appeared to be "thunder clouds" slowly materialized.
When the gateway fully formed, Richard emerged and floated before the glowing sphere.
"You are the Space Stone's guardian. Nova Force is merely ordinary energy compared to your power," the Worldmind stated immediately.
"I know, but I still want to examine the Nova Force field you've created," Richard replied. "In exchange, you may conduct any research you desire on the Space Stone during my time on Xandar."
He threw the Cosmic Cube toward the Worldmind, allowing it to drift closer to the supercomputer.
When the artifact reached the Worldmind, a sphere of golden energy immediately supported the Cube, holding it suspended in the air.
"Aren't you concerned I won't return the Space Stone?" the Worldmind inquired.
"If you don't return it, not only you but the entire Nova Corps and Xandar will become historical footnotes," Richard replied matter-of-factly.
"How do you wish to examine the Nova Force field? Direct connection?"
"Direct connection would be ideal."
After hearing his answer, the Worldmind said nothing more. Under its control, golden energy resembling an information stream approached Richard.
Obviously, this energy would allow him to directly interface with the Nova Force field.
Without hesitation, Richard channeled his magic and connected with the golden energy.
The next instant, his surroundings transformed completely. The empty spherical chamber disappeared, replaced by a vast space resembling the cosmos itself.
Richard understood he hadn't left the chamber containing the Worldmind—his consciousness had simply linked to the Nova Force field.
"I will transmit complete information about the Nova Force field to you," the Worldmind's voice announced.
"Excellent," Richard responded.
As soon as he answered, he received comprehensive data from the Worldmind.
Nova Prime, Planet Edge Hotel - Top Floor Business Suite
Kaguya sat on the living room sofa, complaining about Richard's week-long absence. She had expected him to return quickly after visiting Nova Corps headquarters, but instead found herself waiting seven full days.
Just as she began wondering whether something had happened to Richard, he materialized out of thin air before her.
"Where have you been?" she demanded, immediately standing up. "Didn't you say you were just visiting Nova Corps headquarters? It's been a week!"
"Even after disappearing for a week, you don't need to be so excited," Richard replied with a smile. "What—were you worried about my safety?"
"Who was worried about your safety? Don't be so conceited," Kaguya shot back quickly.
"Well, I thought that since I was gone for a week, you might have been somewhat concerned for my safety. After all, we're companions on this cosmic journey together. I guess I was overthinking it."
Richard settled onto the sofa. "I visited a special place, stayed there for a while, and learned some interesting things."
"A special place? Where exactly did you go?" Kaguya asked immediately.
"An artificial realm called the Nova Force field..."
Richard briefly explained the Nova Force field's nature and what he had gained from the experience.
After receiving information from the Worldmind and spending a day within the Nova Force field, he had not only completely understood its underlying principles but had also used that knowledge as a reference to generate an entirely personal energy field.
He had only returned now because creating his own energy field—the Divine Realm—had required six full days of concentrated effort.