Chapter 261: The Fall of the Nova Corps

Xandar, home of the Nova Corps and a powerful intergalactic civilization, lay in ruins. As Garus and his crew emerged from the wormhole, they were met with a sight of utter devastation. What was once a thriving planet was now barren and lifeless. The ground had fissured apart, and the planet's outer orbit was littered with the wreckage of countless battleships.

What happened here? Thanos wasn't supposed to have attacked this place. Why did it end up like this?

As they moved in closer, they discovered the remnants of various lifeforms scattered across the landscape.

Observing the holographic display, Garus narrowed his eyes in surprise. "These are Brood."

The insectoid creatures had been either half-vaporized by some unknown energy or left in grotesquely mutilated states, as if something had gnawed on them.

At that moment, a dazzling white light shot toward them from the distance, hurtling straight at Garus' warship. A strong sense of hostility radiated from the approaching figure.

Boom!

The ship's energy shield, fragile as paper before the assault, was instantly shattered, leaving a massive hole in its hull.

"I'll handle this."

Gripping his weapon, Garus locked onto the enemy's location and immediately teleported.

Frost Chains!

The temperature plummeted in an instant. A thick layer of ice encased the attacker, freezing him in place.

Garus studied the man carefully—he looked familiar.

That's right. He was a Centurion of the Nova Corps. Richard Rider.

But the ice barely held him for a few seconds before a brilliant white radiance erupted from Richard's body. The thick frost shattered instantly, and he emerged unscathed.

Without hesitation, Richard fired a searing beam of white energy straight at Garus.

Fortunately, Garus managed to erect a protective barrier in time, shielding himself from the attack.

"Wait!"

A crimson glow flashed across the battlefield, and Richard's limbs were suddenly rendered into formless masses. He collapsed onto the ground, unable to move.

"I'm not your enemy. We've met before."

Richard lifted his head and recognized Garus. They had encountered each other once, though it had not been a pleasant meeting.

"Centurion, what happened here?"

Garus scrutinized Richard, noticing the drastic changes in his aura. His power had grown exponentially since their last encounter. His body now radiated an energy akin to the Holy Light—perhaps even something greater, akin to the will of the cosmos itself.

"Why are you here?" Richard asked warily.

"Let's talk inside."

Garus dispelled the Reality Stone's effect, restoring Richard to his original form. The two made their way to the warship's command center.

Though Richard had blasted a hole in the ship, its functionality remained mostly intact. Automated repair drones swiftly moved to patch up the damage.

"What happened here? Why is Xandar in this state? Was it the Annihilation Swarm?"

"The Annihilation Swarm? You mean those creatures?" Richard gestured toward the remains of the Brood.

"Yes."

Only now did Richard realize the name of the horrors that had attacked Xandar. He had never encountered such creatures before.

"A massive horde of them devoured everything in their path. Only a fraction of Xandar's civilian population survived."

The entire Nova Corps had been annihilated. Barely one-fifth of the civilian populace remained. Had it not been for the power of the Worldmind, Richard himself wouldn't have survived to protect the last remnants of his people.

Garus found it puzzling. The sudden emergence of these creatures was highly unusual. And what was this 'power of the Worldmind'?

"What are you doing here?" Richard asked, his posture still tense. If Garus had any ulterior motives, Richard would not yield, even if he wasn't strong enough to win.

"…Forget it. I'll be leaving soon," Garus said. The Nova Corps was already destroyed; his original purpose for coming here was now moot.

Before they could continue, Richard's expression suddenly changed. Without a word, he shot through the warship's hull, ignoring the damage he caused.

"What the hell?" Garus muttered. Turning to the Mutant Academy pilot, he commanded, "Follow him."

Tracking Richard's flight path, they soon arrived at a place Garus recognized.

Isn't this the old Nova Corps prison?

A vast swarm of Brood encircled the structure, their numbers so dense they blocked out the sky. They crashed against the walls in a frenzy, yet Richard tore through them like a force of nature, twin beams of white energy obliterating everything in his path.

Beyond the visible spectrum, Garus perceived something others could not—countless tormented souls drifting in the air, wailing in sorrow, yearning for vengeance against the creatures that had slain them.

Vengeful Spirits!

A wave of death energy swept across the battlefield. The spectral figures, once frail and formless, suddenly became tangible, their translucent bodies solidifying. After a brief moment of shock, they surged forward in a frenzied assault against the Brood, tearing into them with unrelenting fury. The scene turned chaotic. Even Richard stood frozen in place, stunned by the spectacle.

Garus looked down at his hands, sensing a newfound mastery over death. He didn't fully understand what was happening.

"This is the power of the laws of existence. Congratulations," came the voice of the Soul Stone within his mind. "The fusion of the Infinity Stones and Frostmourne is progressing. I suspect Death herself lent you a hand. It would be even better if you could fully claim her power."

The Soul Stone continued rambling, "By the way, if you manage to seize Eternity's power, the fusion will accelerate significantly. If you fully claim the might of the Five Abstracts, a new universe will be born."

Garus rolled his eyes. Eternity was one of the Five Abstracts. He wasn't even remotely strong enough to challenge such an entity. Besides, he had only encountered Death so far. Was the Soul Stone hinting at something?

The attacking Brood swarm wasn't large. Under the relentless assault of the vengeful spirits, they were quickly decimated.

Yet, in the aftermath, Garus, Richard, and the remaining spirits found themselves staring at one another in mutual uncertainty.

Garus wasn't about to waste any more time here. He returned to his warship, preparing to leave. The Celestials were tracking him, and a battle was inevitable.

Just as the ship was about to launch, spatial distortions rippled through the air, disrupting its warp drive.

Massive armored warriors emerged from the rifts, surrounding both Garus' vessel and the last bastion of Xandar's survivors.

-----------------------

TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— PATREON.COM / PRIMALDEMON