Faced with the Collector's desperate pleas, Robert's expression remained unchanged. From the moment the Collector was tempted by the Power Stone and stole it, his fate had been sealed. Robert wasn't stopping now out of concern that his Ki blast would kill the Collector; rather, he was worried that it might destroy the versatile weapon the Collector held.
As for the Power Stone, Robert wasn't too concerned. After all, it was one of the six ultimate forces in the universe. Even if it was merely a vessel for its rules, it surely wouldn't be easily destroyed—or at least that was the assumption.
The versatile weapon, however, was different. While it was a highly advanced technological tool, possibly even utilizing Kree Empire technology, that didn't mean it could withstand a direct hit from a Ki blast.
"You've lived for so long. Surely, you must be tired of life by now, right? At least this time, you experienced a higher level of power. It's a worthy end," Robert said softly as he appeared next to the Collector, who was clinging to life, his body shriveled but still breathing.
"No! I haven't lived enough! I don't want to die!" The Collector, unwilling to meet his fate, clutched the versatile weapon tightly, as if holding on to his last hope. He looked at Robert with pleading eyes. "I'll give you the Power Stone back. I have many valuable items—I can give them all to you…"
"Do you really think I need you to return it to me?" Robert shrugged, effortlessly pulling the versatile weapon from the Collector's hands. Despite the Collector's grip, he couldn't prevent Robert from taking it.
As soon as the versatile weapon and the Power Stone left his grasp, the Collector's condition improved slightly. His face regained some color, and Robert could clearly sense the immortal energy within him growing stronger.
If Robert were to leave now, the Collector might survive. The damage the Power Stone had done to him would leave scars, but over time, he would recover. This was exactly what the Collector hoped for.
If Robert spared him, even without the Power Stone, the Collector wouldn't consider this a total loss. The Power Stone's gift would still remain in him, and as his vitality and strength returned, he would reach a power level close to what the Power Stone had temporarily granted him.
At that point, even without the Power Stone or the versatile weapon, the Collector would be far stronger than before. He would have the confidence to reclaim what he had lost—including his dignity in front of Grandmaster.
Given this, it was clear why the Collector didn't want to die. He hadn't yet fully enjoyed his immortal life and newfound power.
"No…" The Collector's pleas fell on deaf ears as Robert gathered a terrifying Ki blast in his hand. Seeing this, the Collector's heart sank in despair. "No! Don't kill me! If you do, the Cosmic Elders won't let you off!"
"Hmph, is that so? Let them come," Robert sneered. He had seen Grandmaster's reaction earlier. If he hadn't known the true nature of the Cosmic Elders, he might have believed they were a close-knit group like the Avengers or some other mutual defense alliance.
But having learned the truth about the Cosmic Elders, Robert knew that as long as their own lives weren't threatened, they might act like siblings, but the moment they felt in danger, they would abandon each other without hesitation. Self-preservation was always their priority.
Thus, Robert didn't believe the Cosmic Elders would come after him for killing the Collector. Even if they did, it wouldn't matter. He wasn't afraid of their power. In fact, Robert would welcome the chance to fight more of them.
"Shhh!" With that, the Ki blast consumed the Collector's body. To be fair, the Collector's body was indeed extraordinary. Even in his weakened, withered state, the immortal energy within him still resisted the attack, allowing him to cling to life a little longer.
But this immortality wasn't limitless. If it were, the Collector wouldn't have been reduced to such a state after overusing the Power Stone.
As the immortal energy ran out, the Collector finally met his end. His body was completely engulfed by the Ki blast, turning into cosmic dust just like the planet he once stood on. His life and existence were completely erased.
"The Collector is dead…" Back on Sakaar, Grandmaster sensed something and turned his gaze toward the distant desolate star system, muttering to himself. "Even with the Power Stone, he died so quickly. That young life seems quite dangerous. I wonder where he came from?"
"The Collector is dead, another one of us is gone…" At nearly the same moment, similar sighs echoed across the cosmos.
"The Collector lost sight of his purpose for immortality. He was consumed by the power of the Infinity Stones, so it's not surprising he met this end. Let us continue to follow our passions and extend our immortal lives…"
It was clear that while the other members of the Cosmic Elders sensed the Collector's death, none of them intended to avenge him. Some had even sensed the battle between Robert and the Collector, but none had stepped in to stop it.
The Cosmic Elders sustained their immortality by turning their interests into their will to live. If they abandoned their passions, their immortality would slowly fade.
Just as the Collector was obsessed with collecting items and Grandmaster loved gambling and watching gladiator matches, each Elder had their own unique hobby. No matter the circumstances, they wouldn't easily disrupt their way of life.
"Well, time to find a few more individuals to experience the Power Stone's gift," Robert muttered as he looked at the versatile weapon and Power Stone in his hand. "That chaotic place should work again. Once I've studied the Power Stone a bit more, I'll check out that Martian-looking individual. Maybe through her, I can track down the Martian Hunter or even Lex Luthor!"
A cold glint flashed in Robert's eyes. Lex Luthor was the mastermind behind Clark's lingering injuries, and right now, Luthor was the person Robert most wanted to kill on Earth.
But Robert had to admit, Lex was hiding very well. He had gone completely underground, even abandoning control of LexCorp. The Avengers and J.A.R.V.I.S. had searched for him for so long without any success.
Then there was the Martian Hunter. Robert had no idea what condition the Martian Hunter was in, but he was convinced the Martian was still alive. Otherwise, Robert wouldn't have sensed his presence earlier.
Still, finding a hidden Martian wasn't easy. The Martian Hunter was like a high-tier version of a Skrull. Though he couldn't replicate others' superpowers, his ability to disguise his identity was unparalleled. Changing his entire aura was no challenge for him.
Now, Robert had encountered someone who seemed to be another Martian. If she had the same abilities as the Martian Hunter, she might be able to locate him using their species' special connection.
Just as Skrulls could recognize each other, Martians likely had a way of identifying their own kind. Otherwise, how could they have formed a civilization?
Robert soon arrived at Knowhere. Star-Lord and his team had already left, but Knowhere wasn't completely empty. Many opportunists had returned when they realized the place was becoming more deserted.
For hundreds of years, the Collector had operated on Knowhere, turning his Tivan Group into a renowned corporation. His main business was selling materials extracted from the brain and spinal fluids of the celestial being whose head formed Knowhere.
Now that the Collector had disappeared, and with fewer people around, those who remained saw it as a chance to claim whatever they could from the celestial's remains. The lawless had no qualms about exploiting the situation, even if it meant leaving nothing for others.
Unfortunately for these outlaws, they would soon meet their end, as Robert set his sights on them.
Like a lord of hell, Robert appeared before the outlaws, tempting them to interact with the Power Stone and drawing out its energy. Their lives served as sacrifices for Robert's ongoing research into the Stone's essence.
During his experiments, Robert discovered that not everyone could withstand the energy of the Power Stone, even with the versatile weapon acting as a buffer. Many of the outlaws ultimately died from the energy's impact, their bodies completely disintegrating.
Of course, Robert didn't slaughter everyone on Knowhere. Those who didn't possess such wicked auras, like many slaves sold to the Collector, were spared. Some of them, much like Carina, had been enslaved and forced into labor by the outlaws. After Robert arrived, their roles reversed.
It seemed that some form of justice, however faint, still existed in the universe…
"Even if it's not the 4 billion, this money should keep us living comfortably for a while. So, where should we go next?" On the other side, Star-Lord and his team had finished selling the Collector's items and were flush with cash.
Now wealthy, everyone wore cheerful expressions, including Drax, Nebula, and even Gamora.
Although they hadn't achieved their ultimate goal, they saw hope in defeating Thanos after witnessing Robert's strength. Their spirits were much lighter now.
With money in their pockets and shared experiences bringing them closer together, the group's bonds strengthened rapidly. The core of the Ravager team was forming. At this point, they were still united, their hearts set on common goals. It would be only later, when prolonged inequalities in profit-sharing emerged, that divisions like those in Yondu's Ravagers would arise…
"Hey, how about we go back to Xandar? We broke out of the Nova Corps prison, but unless we commit another crime, they can't arrest us again. It'd be nice to show
up and rub it in their faces!" Star-Lord's eyes gleamed with mischief as he proposed the idea to the group.
"Aren't we going to find that Saiyan?" Gamora hesitated for a moment before reminding him, "The Collector might not be dealt with yet…"
"Don't worry. There's no way the Collector could defeat a Saiyan. Once the Saiyan is done with him, he'll come find me. I just hope I'm not in the shower or doing something awkward when that happens…" Star-Lord, having already contacted the Avengers, thumped his chest confidently, though his muttered grumblings revealed some lingering frustration.
"Fine! We'll do it your way!" Rocket Raccoon was also excited at the idea of seeing the Nova Corps' reaction, especially when they learned of Ronan's death. And so, the team quickly set off for Xandar.
As they arrived on Xandar, the Nova Corps responded exactly as Star-Lord expected. They surrounded the group, treating them like a serious threat. Although technically Star-Lord and his team had completed their prison terms after escaping, the Nova Corps still feared that they might bring Ronan back to cause even more chaos.
After all, even Ronan's lieutenant Korath had shown them no respect. The Nova Empire certainly didn't want to go to war with the Kree Empire if it could be avoided…
However, when the Nova Corps heard from Star-Lord that Ronan was already dead, the entire force—including their highest commander, Nova Prime—was stunned. No one had expected that the seemingly invincible Ronan would meet his end so suddenly…
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