Chapter 803: A Familiar Power |
That wasn't... Nova Force!
At least not the Nova Force that Lord was familiar with, which originated from the Marvel power system.
Instead, it was a more mysterious, immense energy from an unknown realm, outside of any conventional logic.
But if it were just that, it wouldn't have shocked him this much.
What truly shook Lord, making his emotions surge uncontrollably and his killing intent materialize, freezing the surrounding space, was the familiar sensation emanating from that power. It reminded him of a similar aura he had encountered before.
Earlier, the intense golden light had obscured the feeling, making it difficult for him to sense clearly.
However, when Ronan shattered that golden light with his hammer, forcing the Nova Centurion to reveal his true self, the sense of discord became unmistakably clear.
To Lord, that aura was all too familiar.
A deep wound in his heart was violently torn open, bringing back a flood of painful memories.
The aura surrounding the Nova Centurion bore an uncanny resemblance to that of the Broken God.
The delicate porcelain cup in Lord's hand shattered, and as he clenched his fist, the shards were ground into powder.
The spotless, polished stone tiles of the hall began to crack from the spot where Lord sat, spreading out like the fractures of a shattered porcelain vase—startling in their intensity.
The temperature in the high-end reception room, once warm and pleasant, plummeted. Frosty white mist filled the air, and a thin layer of ice formed on every surface as extreme cold gripped the room.
"Searching high and low only to find it effortlessly at your feet," Lord murmured, half-closing his deep, stormy eyes, a flash of fierce killing intent crossing them. "The unfinished business from back then... we'll settle it today."
Meanwhile, the two combatants in the battle were unaware that their fate was being decided by another.
The forced-to-reveal-his-true-form Nova Centurion's eyes glowed with a violent rage as he was once again enveloped in thick golden light. His icy killing intent mixed with a clear, cold voice, erupting from between his teeth, one word at a time: "Very good. Impressive indeed. As expected of the Power Stone, to be able to tear through the Nova Force defense. It seems I underestimated you, Accuser Ronan!"
According to the analysis from the "Worldmind" supercomputer...
Ronan's mastery of the Power Stone had reached an astonishing 40%, and his body was continuing to grow stronger at an incredible rate. At this pace, he would fully control the Power Stone in less than half an hour.
By that time, not even Nova Force would be able to stand against the Power Stone.
So... the fight had to end quickly!
The Nova Centurion made his decision. Taking a deep breath, he seemed to draw in all the surrounding air. The golden light covering his body became blinding, radiating a terrifying energy: "Confirming Centurion-level authority. I am requesting the maximum allocation of Nova Force!"
An almost limitless surge of energy poured into his body like a dam had burst.
The three energy cores on the Centurion's chest simultaneously erupted with blinding brilliance, as bright as a billion stars. An overwhelming, unparalleled force, comparable to the Power Stone itself, exploded out, turning the surrounding kilometers into a field of golden light.
In a flash, the Nova Centurion moved from stillness to motion, streaking across the battlefield like a comet. His blazing light and powerful shockwaves surged through the air, and in an instant, he appeared in front of Ronan.
Ronan's face twisted in shock, completely unprepared for the Nova Centurion's blinding speed.
A fist, growing larger in his vision, quickly filled half the sky.
The sheer force and violent aura slammed into Ronan, making him feel as if resistance and escape were impossible.
In desperation, Ronan raised his universal weapon, channeling every ounce of the Power Stone's energy into it. Rings of purple flames exploded, sending waves of destructive force rippling out in an attempt to keep the Centurion at bay.
"Die!"
But the Centurion showed no fear. His body flared with even more powerful golden light, and his fist, moving faster than the speed of light, crashed through.
Boom!
The wind howled and stormed.
Thousands of gales roared like dragons as the Nova Centurion, bathed in golden light, threw a powerful punch.
The radiant golden light burst forth with a terrifying heat, like a sun smashing into the earth. The punch created a massive explosion of dust and debris, as a colossal mushroom cloud rose into the sky.
The deafening roar of the explosion echoed for what seemed like an eternity.
The shockwave sent dust and debris rolling outward, expanding in circular rings. The ground itself was torn apart, leaving a massive crater with a diameter of several kilometers.
"Ahhh!!"
Ronan screamed as he was sent flying, spewing hundreds of milliliters of blood.
The universal weapon, with the Power Stone embedded in it, was knocked out of his hands, spinning through the air before crashing into the ground. The purple gemstone, glowing with its eerie light, slowly dimmed as it lost its master's control.
The victor of the battle was clear—Nova Corps Centurion had won.
However, after defeating Ronan, the golden light around the Centurion faded, and exhaustion was evident on his face. It was clear that using this level of Nova Force had taken a heavy toll on him.
"It's time to recover the Power Stone..."
The Centurion took a moment to rest before stepping forward to retrieve the dangerous artifact.
But just as he moved, the universal weapon floated into the air, as if lifted by some unseen force. It sped across the battlefield before landing in the hands of a dark-skinned, skeletal old man.
"Ebony Maw... of the Black Order?!"
The Nova Centurion's eyes widened in shock and horror.
"Thank you, Centurion."
Ebony Maw's eyes glinted with mockery as he chuckled. "If it weren't for you defeating Ronan, we wouldn't have had such an easy time taking this Power Stone from him."
"Thanos sent you, didn't he?"
The Centurion's fury flared as golden light surrounded him once more. "Ebony Maw, if you don't want to die, drop the stone! You have no right to take it from me!"
Despite his exhaustion, the Centurion was confident he could stop Ebony Maw.
"Oh... but what if there are a few more of us?"
Ebony Maw's smile grew strange as he raised a bony finger, pointing to the sky.
The Centurion looked up in confusion, only to see a massive warship hovering in the sky, with four powerful presences aboard. According to the Worldmind's analysis, these were the remaining members of the Black Order.
Ronan wasn't the only one after the Power Stone.
After hundreds of space jumps, sowing death and fear across the universe, the Mad Titan's dreadnought, Sanctuary II, hovered ominously in Xandar's atmosphere.
The infamous Black Order, Thanos's elite force, had gathered.
Any one of them had the power to destroy an entire planet's life. And now, all five had come to Xandar for the Power Stone.
"What a lively situation..."
Lord half-closed his eyes, a cold smirk forming on his lips.
His original target had been the Nova Force, but now, a delightful surprise had emerged: Thanos's army had come, lured in as well.
...
...
...
In the Zero Division Palace...
As the last remaining member of the Zero Division, only one person resided there.
The monk, Ōetsu Nimaiya, who sat on a white stone platform, slowly opened his tightly shut eyes, as if sensing something from afar. He raised his large, calloused hand and rubbed his bald head.
The Soul King had sent him a message, seemingly from a distant star system.
Though the details were vague, the message was clear: he was to retrieve the Space Stone behind the throne and travel to that far-off, unfamiliar star system.
"Well, well."
The monk pushed himself to his feet with a smile. "Since the Soul King calls, I guess I'd better go check it out."
