"I'd advise you to drop that idea. Before you even open your mouth to eat me, I'll blast you into orbit with my cannon!" Rocket Raccoon, who couldn't stand any kind of provocation, showed zero concern about Gwen's teasing.
Besides, they were all teammates now — there was no reason to eat one of their own.
"Alan, are you sure it's okay for us to just head back to Earth like this? What about the Nine Realms…" Gamora looked uneasy. After all, Black Dwarf had attacked Asgard not long ago.
Would Asgard be left vulnerable if they left like this?
"Don't worry. Hela and Angela are still there. Those two aren't so easy to defeat. Besides, I think Thanos cares much more about the whereabouts of the Stones right now."
Based on what Alan knew about Thanos, he wouldn't show up unless he had a lead on the Infinity Stones. Plus, losing Black Dwarf was already a blow to him.
With Hela fully restored in Asgard, even if Thanos came personally, he wouldn't stand a chance against her — especially since he didn't have a single Stone in his possession yet.
The ship gradually descended onto a stretch of ruins, a place long abandoned and devoid of any signs of life.
Landing here was perfect — no risk of drawing attention. Besides, the ship's exterior had been set to near-invisible mode during flight.
The moment the ship touched down steadily, the hatch opened, and they were immediately greeted by the fresh air and familiar scent of Earth.
Drax cautiously stepped down the ramp, only to be surprised by a butterfly fluttering its wings and landing right on his nose.
As a Destroyer, the only thing he knew for sure was that he needed to suppress his destructive instincts while on Earth.
"Speaking of which, Quill, it's been a long time since you set foot on Earth. Do you even know where Meredith's grave is?"
Gamora didn't mean to reopen old wounds, but the question had to be asked. Even though the buildings around them were reduced to rubble, with crumbling walls and shattered remains everywhere, they had glimpsed a more scenic view during their descent — not far away, skyscrapers stood tall, clustered together like a modern masterpiece.
"Finding Meredith's grave won't be difficult," Alan smiled. Returning to Earth filled him with a sense of ease and comfort.
Suddenly, Red Queen tugged at Alan's sleeve, her expression puzzled.
"What's wrong, Red?" Alan asked.
"Master, Tony has an urgent matter. He's requesting you to head to the Sanctum Sanctorum immediately," Red Queen reported.
They had barely arrived, and already Jarvis had relayed the message to Red Queen, who had access to the entire Earth's network.
If Tony was this anxious for Alan to visit the Sanctum, something serious must have happened.
It seemed Alan's hopes for a moment of peace were out the window. Quill and Gamora split off from the group, understanding that Quill had a personal mission — to visit his mother's grave. Alan had no intention of stopping them.
Without delay, Alan set off for the Sanctum Sanctorum.
What greeted them upon arrival was utter devastation. It was clear that a fierce battle had taken place, with heavy casualties and destruction all around.
The buildings that once surrounded the Sanctum were now reduced to rubble, shattered beyond recognition.
"Shit… What the hell happened here? A robbery?" Rocket frowned at the ruins, his heart aching at the thought that any treasures might have already been looted.
Alan's instincts told him something was very wrong. Without wasting another second, he sprinted forward to find the Ancient One. Whatever had happened here, she would have the answers.
...
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