Inside the grand hall of Ego's palace, the so-called Living Planet and Star-Lord were tossing a small, radiant blue energy sphere between them. It was a surreal sight—like a father and child playing catch, their expressions brimming with warmth and camaraderie.
"Congratulations, Ego," Ragna said softly, watching Star-Lord's fascination with his newfound celestial abilities. "You finally received the power boost you always wanted."
Ego's joyful demeanor shifted instantly. His smile faltered, his gaze darkening as he stepped protectively in front of Star-Lord, his expression wary.
"You… What do you know?" Ego asked, his voice tinged with caution.
Ragna chuckled lightly. "Who knows? Maybe I know everything. Maybe I know nothing at all." His tone remained playful, but the weight of his words was undeniable. "However, I didn't come here to debate that. I need you to do something for me, and I don't think you'll refuse. After all… I saved your life."
Ego's brows furrowed. "Saved my life?" He scoffed, though there was a subtle hesitation in his voice. "We've never met before. What nonsense are you spouting?"
Ragna 's lips curled into an amused smirk. "I saved you from an almost certain demise. More importantly, I could have easily killed you, yet here you are, still breathing. Isn't that the same as saving your life?"
Ego clenched his fists. "You dare threaten me, Ragna ? I have lived for millennia, and no one—NO ONE—dictates terms to me!"
Ragna remained unfazed. "You should know by now—I'm not joking." He folded his arms and continued casually, "Let's talk about how you've seeded thousands of planets with your essence, planning to assimilate the universe into yourself."
Ego's expression froze. A cold aura radiated from him as he glared at Ragna . "How… How do you know about that? I never told anyone about my Expansion plan."
If Ego weren't acutely aware of his current disadvantage, he would have already lashed out to erase any witnesses. This was a secret he had guarded for countless centuries, and yet Ragna had uncovered it effortlessly.
Behind Ego, Star-Lord stood motionless, his mind struggling to process what he had just heard. Assimilation? Seeding planets? His biological father planned to absorb the entire universe into himself?
It was an overwhelming realization. If this knowledge spread, every major power in the cosmos—the Kree, the Nova Corps, the Shi'ar, even the Celestials themselves—would descend upon Ego to erase him from existence. His planet wouldn't last a day.
"It doesn't matter how I know," Ragna continued. "What matters is that I need your abilities for a specific task. You will initiate your assimilation process on designated planets at a time of my choosing. The rest of the universe is off-limits."
Ego's eyes narrowed. "And if I refuse?"
Ragna 's smirk deepened. "Then I'll make sure you never get to complete your grand vision. Simple as that."
Ego exhaled sharply. He was used to manipulating others, not being manipulated himself. "And what do I get in return?"
Ragna 's voice took on an unsettling edge. "In return, I want your core for study."
Ego stiffened. "My core?"
"Yes. I find it fascinating that a Celestial could exist as a sentient brain. My chief scientist has been urging me to bring back a sample. But rather than a mere fragment, I thought, why not study the entire being instead?"
At that moment, a shimmering blue portal materialized in the hall. From its depths emerged two figures—Holy Keisha and Heavenly King Hexi.
Keisha's radiant golden armor gleamed as she surveyed Ego's domain with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. Hexi, meanwhile, observed everything with an analytical gaze.
"So this is a Celestial?" Hexi mused, her eyes narrowing. "A completely different state of existence compared to Zatanos." She turned her gaze to the surroundings. "And this planet… It's quite unique. Worth studying."
Ego's expression darkened further. "What do you take me for? A mere experiment?"
Star-Lord, standing behind him, quietly took a step back. He wasn't sure how this was going to play out, but his instincts told him that if a fight broke out, he needed to be far away from ground zero.
Yondu's warning echoed in his mind.
"Ego is dangerous. Be careful."
Now, he was beginning to understand exactly what Yondu had meant.
Ragna feigned a thoughtful expression. "An experiment? A tool? Maybe both." He tilted his head slightly. "But if that sounds too cold, I suppose we could call you something else—"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"—A partner."
Ego's patience snapped. "You—You are courting death!"
The entire hall trembled as blue energy tentacles erupted from the floor, intertwined with jagged stone pillars. They lashed toward Ragna and Hexi like living whips, crackling with celestial power.
Holy Keisha immediately prepared to counterattack, but Hexi raised a hand, signaling her to wait.
"Allow me," Hexi said, her eyes gleaming with intrigue.
Ragna leaned back into his throne with mild amusement. He was curious—Hexi now possessed the Reality Gem, which granted her the ability to reshape existence itself. How would it fare against Ego's power, which allowed him to manipulate matter on a planetary scale?
The battle commenced.
Ego's blue and gray tentacles clashed against Hexi's crimson constructs, each trying to consume the other. The palace walls crumbled under the sheer force of their confrontation.
Ragna , Keisha, and Star-Lord ascended to the sky, away from the destructive chaos below. High above, the Heavenly Throne awaited its master. Ragna casually took his seat, while Keisha stood at his side. Star-Lord stood below, eyes glued to the battle unfolding before him.
It was a war of wills. Ego's blue tendrils spread like vines, enveloping Hexi's constructs, attempting to devour them. But the red energy pulsed with something more—supremacy over reality itself.
Slowly but surely, Hexi's power began overwhelming Ego's. His blue light dimmed. His control over the battlefield faltered.
Then, in a final desperate act, Ego summoned a colossal titan—a manifestation of himself. His planetary form coalesced into a giant figure, its body composed of living rock and glowing veins of cosmic energy.
The titan's foot came crashing down, aiming to obliterate Hexi in one devastating stomp.
But Hexi merely sighed.
With a flick of her wrist, red spikes erupted from the ground, piercing through the titan's foot like a blade through paper. The corruption spread rapidly, crystallizing Ego's form from the legs upward.
The titan crumbled into dust, its remains scattering across the planet's once-pristine landscape.
Ragna smirked. "And that's why I told you not to refuse."
Deep beneath the surface, Ego's true essence—his pulsating, fleshy brain—shuddered. Thick veins connected it to the planet, serving as both its lifeline and prison.
Hexi descended, her crimson constructs carving effortlessly through stone and tentacle alike. She finally reached the core, raising her hand as a swarm of red spikes hovered around her, poised to strike.
Ego's body regenerated beside her, eyes wide with fury and—perhaps, for the first time—fear.
Hexi leaned in slightly, her voice a low whisper.
"Perhaps… we can discuss cooperation now?"
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