Chapter 138: Just a Passerby

Garus watched as the figure floating in midair stared down at the group with piercing eyes. The individual was clad in the distinctive uniform of the Nova Corps.

"You have violated the laws of the Nova Corps. Come with me and face the consequences."

A Nova Corps officer!

Gamora and Star-Lord felt a jolt of panic. The last thing they wanted was to be thrown into a Nova Corps prison. Especially Gamora—if she was captured, she might never get out again.

Without hesitation, they turned to flee, abandoning the Orb.

Rocket, however, was not about to let that happen.

"Hey! That bounty is mine! No one runs!" Rocket shouted at Groot. "Groot! Grab him!"

Understanding instantly, Groot let out his signature response: "I am Groot."

With that, he sprinted after Star-Lord. Just as he was about to catch up, the branches on his body suddenly extended, wrapping around Star-Lord's legs and yanking him backward.

"What the hell?!" Star-Lord crashed to the ground, entangled in Groot's limbs. As he struggled, he found himself being dragged toward the towering tree-like being. "Hey! You overgrown shrub, let me go!"

"I am Groot!" Groot's tone carried a hint of annoyance. Lifting Star-Lord, he slammed him into the ground with force.

"Damn it!" Star-Lord groaned, feeling like his bones were about to shatter.

Meanwhile, the Nova Corps officer, Richard Rider, swiftly descended, intercepting Gamora before she could escape. With blinding speed, he grabbed her by the throat and slammed her to the ground.

"Boom!" His punch landed squarely in Gamora's stomach, leaving her sprawled on the ground, clutching her midsection in pain, sweat dripping from her forehead.

"By the authority of the Nova Corps, you are under arrest." Rider produced a pair of restraints and cuffed Gamora's hands behind her back.

...

Garus had no recollection of this individual. In all his memories, he had never encountered this man before. Watching Rider effortlessly subdue Gamora, Garus could tell he was powerful—perhaps not much weaker than Thor himself.

Holding the Orb in his hand, Garus decided it was best to leave before things got even more complicated.

However, before he could take more than a few steps, a gust of wind howled past him.

Rider descended from the sky, blocking his path. A golden glow emanated from his helmet as he scanned Garus from head to toe.

The sensation made Garus uncomfortable, as if he were being stripped bare.

"Species: Human. Homeworld: Earth. No criminal record. Identity: Unknown."

After processing the data, Rider addressed him. "Sir, you are not permitted to leave. You must accompany us for questioning and provide an account of what transpired here."

Garus sighed. "I'm just a random passerby. I don't even know these people."

At that moment, several Nova Corps attack ships flew in from the distance, golden energy beams illuminating the area. The beams enveloped everyone present—including Garus—suspending them in midair.

Garus felt an intense energy binding him tightly, the same energy he had sensed from Rider.

It reminded him of the Holy Light, a force he now loathed. The deathly energy within him began to stir in response.

A gray aura of necrotic energy formed a protective shield around him, repelling the golden beam. Instantly, he plummeted back to the ground.

"Alert! Attack detected!" The ship that had restrained Garus lost power and spiraled downward.

"Boom!"

The impact cracked the ground beneath it. Fortunately, the altitude had not been too high, so aside from being immobilized, the ship remained intact, and the pilot inside was unharmed.

"Defying the laws of the Corps will not go unpunished, Earthling. You will face the consequences for your actions." Richard Rider's voice carried an icy edge, his stance shifting into a combat posture.

"Whoosh!" A golden streak flashed as he closed the distance, aiming a punch at Garus's chest.

Reacting instinctively, Garus caught the punch. The force of their clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air.

Rider's attacks were powerful but still within Garus's limits. He parried each blow with precision.

Annoyed, Garus let frost energy surge into his fist and struck Rider's armor, causing a layer of ice to spread across it.

Fortunately for Rider, Nova Corps armor was incredibly durable. While his arm guards cracked under the cold's bite, the armor held. Still, the chilling energy seeped into his body, making his hands tremble slightly.

Rider took a few steps back, shaking off the numbing sensation. "Who the hell are you? Someone like you shouldn't exist on a backwater planet like Earth."

"Seems like you don't know much about Earth," Garus replied dryly. "You'd be surprised by the kind of people we have."

Summoning a Death Coil, Garus wrapped Rider in necrotic energy and hurled him toward one of the Nova Corps attack ships.

"Boom!"

A massive explosion erupted as Rider crashed into the ship, denting its hull before falling to the ground.

"Open fire!" The Nova Corps officers inside the ships panicked, launching energy blasts at Garus.

A shimmering anti-magic shield appeared around him, absorbing the incoming attacks.

"One, two, three, four, five…" Garus counted. Aside from the four ships restraining Star-Lord and his crew, thirteen more surrounded him in the air.

Drawing his weapon, Garus leaped onto one of the ships. Frostmourne carved through its hull, sending golden sparks flying. The ship, now trailing smoke, plummeted downward.

"Quick! Ascend! Get out of range!" The Nova Corps officers scrambled to maneuver their ships away from him.

"Boom!"

Beneath them, Rider pushed aside the wreckage pinning him down. Looking up, he saw the devastation—the Nova Corps fleet was in shambles, debris scattered across the battlefield.

"You've pissed me off!"

Cracks spread beneath Rider's feet as he launched himself toward Garus.

"Boom!"

Before he could land a blow, Garus intercepted him with a powerful kick, sending him crashing back into the ground, forming another crater.

When Rider finally pulled himself together, Garus had already disappeared.

"Officer Rider, the fugitives are escaping!" A lightly injured Nova Corps member shouted in alarm.

With the attack ships down and the energy restraints gone, Star-Lord and his crew had seized the opportunity to flee, Rocket and Groot close behind.

"I'll catch them," Rider said calmly, his helmet already locking onto their coordinates.

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