MD-Chapter 389 Frank Words!

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The night passed quietly.

Natasha didn't return to resume her "playful interrogation," which had become something of a routine between them.

As a result, the evening remained silent. The following morning, Rocket's voice echoed through the dining area. Clearly, the events of the previous night had done little to cool the little raccoon's temper.

He was still fuming, mostly at himself, for missing a perfect opportunity to show off his skills.

Not that anyone took it seriously; his outburst was more amusing than alarming.

Over Rocket's grumbling, they finished breakfast. Then, everyone split off to enjoy their own activities for the day.

Today's itinerary was a full-day tour of Xandar. After all, traveling halfway across the galaxy and doing nothing but sitting around would be a waste. It was worth it to take in a new culture, especially one as rich and advanced as Xandar's.

Only Natasha stayed behind with Arthur. She had been tasked with overseeing the development of an intelligence network on Xandar, essential groundwork for any long-term operation in this region of the galaxy.

So, throughout the diplomatic sessions and negotiations that followed, Natasha remained by Arthur's side.

To Arthur's surprise, the process moved even faster than expected.

The truth was, the leverage he had was considerable. Just invoking the name "Thor" was enough to make the Xandarian leadership reconsider their posture.

Even though Asgard had remained quiet for nearly a century, its legacy still carried weight, an unspoken warning, a shining symbol of divine-level power that few dared challenge.

Three days later, Arthur and Nova Prime signed the agreement.

With that, Arthur's influence officially expanded beyond Earth, his reach now extended into the cosmic stage.

Inside one of the compound's quieter meeting rooms, Arthur and Star-Lord sat across from each other.

The table between them was loaded with food and drinks, most of it alien cuisine, but flavorful enough to pass for comfort food. They drank in turns, reminiscing.

As old memories resurfaced, bursts of laughter broke the tension. After a few more drinks, Star-Lord leaned forward and looked at Arthur.

"To be honest," He said, slurring just slightly, "Seeing you again, like this, was the last thing I expected."

Arthur leaned back in his seat, gazing through the transparent panel at the cloud-dappled blue sky of Xandar. "I barely recognize myself. If I met the version of me from a year ago, I probably wouldn't know what to say to him."

Star-Lord laughed but then shook his head with a sigh. "The difference is massive. Back then, you didn't really have a direction. No clear mission. Honestly, your only goal was to get back home. And you did it. Hell of a ride, too. But after that… it feels like something changed. Like everything's different now. I don't even know what your endgame is anymore."

Arthur looked at him for a long moment, then said, "Since we're being honest, there's something I need to tell you, something important."

Star-Lord blinked. "That serious? Alright… shoot."

"Take care of your girlfriend," Arthur said plainly. "Because there's a chance… her adoptive father still doesn't know I exist. But it's only a matter of time. And when he finds out, he'll come for us. Without question. That man is the reason I've become what I am now. He's the enemy we can't afford to underestimate."

"Thanos?"

Star-Lord's demeanor shifted instantly, his expression growing dark and focused. "You've got to tell me everything."

"You already know about the Power Stone," Arthur said. "But that's just one piece of the puzzle. There are six Infinity Stones in total. The first one I ever encountered was the Space Stone. That's where my teleportation ability comes from; it's not magic or tech, not exactly. It's derived from that stone's core energy."

Star-Lord nodded, recalling the first time they met and the chaos that came with it. He still remembered how easily Arthur had overwhelmed him with that power.

"But honestly, even now… I still haven't fully harnessed the energy of the Space Stone," Arthur said, taking a slow sip of his drink. "I'm nowhere near mastering its full potential."

He looked at Star-Lord, his gaze steady. "But there's no denying it, just mastering a single Infinity Stone gives you the ability to travel across the entire universe at will."

Star-Lord's expression shifted.

Gone was the lighthearted, wisecracking rogue. In his place was a seasoned Guardian, eyes sharp, jaw clenched.

He didn't wear that look often, but when he did, it reminded people why he'd survived this long, and why the galaxy trusted him to protect it.

"So what?" He asked, staring directly at Arthur. "What are you getting at?"

There was no way around it now.

Arthur leaned forward, voice low but intense. "Have you ever stopped to think… what would happen if someone could control all six Infinity Stones?"

He held up his fingers, and with a sharp snap, the sound cracked through the room like thunder.

"With a single snap," He said, "half the life in the universe… gone. Instantly. Doesn't matter how strong you are or how advanced your tech is. That kind of power rewrites the rules."

Star-Lord went pale. Then, shaking his head, he muttered, "Man… you haven't even fully mastered one. How could anyone else handle six? That's not possible."

"But it is possible," Arthur said, his voice cold. "There's something else in the universe, something that can channel all six stones."

He leaned back and exhaled. "I found a prototype in Asgard's vaults. The Infinity Gauntlet."

His gaze drifted upward, almost reverently. "Once someone obtains the Gauntlet and slots even a single stone into it, they gain full control over that stone. And with each additional gem… their power multiplies beyond comprehension. Controlling two stones would already make them nearly unstoppable. Add a third? A fourth? A fifth? The sixth?"

Star-Lord swallowed hard, feeling the weight of what Arthur was describing.

"So… you're saying…"

Arthur raised a hand to cut him off. "Do you know what kind of person Thanos really is? He's not just some galactic warlord. He's a twisted idealist. Born into harsh conditions, raised in a dying world, he believes that unchecked growth is the universe's greatest threat. To 'fix' that, he's made it his mission to bring balance by wiping out half of all life."

Arthur's eyes narrowed. "Planet by planet. Civilization by civilization. It's not personal, it's his 'solution.' The Infinity Stones… they're just the means to his end."

Star-Lord stared, stunned. "Oh my God… he's planning to do this to the whole universe?"

"To you, it's a disaster," Arthur replied calmly. "To him? It's mercy. Order. Peace. It's horrifying, but he genuinely believes in it."

"I get it now." Star-Lord ran both hands down his face, sobering fast. "When did you figure this all out?"

"A long time ago," Arthur said quietly. He looked at Peter with a rare vulnerability. "That's why I need your help. We can't let this become reality."

He leaned forward again, voice firm. "If life is truly a burden on the universe… There should be rules, fair ones. But this? This isn't balance, it's tyranny. And no one, not even a Titan, has the right to decide who lives and who dies."

(End of Chapter)

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