In the vast, emerald-green, and dark expanse of space.
The colossal head of a Celestial, comparable to a small Planet, floated silently in the Land of Nihility, reduced to a monstrous skull with only a trace of flesh still clinging to the bone.
"What a gigantic creature."
The records in the data were never as real and shocking as seeing it with one's own eyes. On the spaceship, Daisy and Jane gazed at the skull, exclaiming in awe.
"Is this the ancient Celestial mentioned in the data?
If its body were still intact, how large would it be?"
Its immensity truly lived up to the name Celestial. One could imagine that if it were alive, its terrifying brute force alone could shake a Planet!
"Celestials."
Ron's eyes glowed with a hint of fervor as he gazed at the skull.
In the comics, the history of the Celestials dates back even before the birth of the Multiverse. Legend has it that at the very beginning, there was only one initial Universe, named the First Firmament. To alleviate its loneliness, it created God-like beings to serve as its servants and playthings.
Among them were Celestials loyal to it, which it called "Aspirants" or Dark Celestials. The Dark Celestials created colorful rebels, which are the Celestials.
The Celestials hoped that the life they created could grow and evolve freely, but the First Firmament viewed this as blasphemy.
Ultimately, war broke out, and the Celestials narrowly achieved victory, shattering the First Firmament. Its fragments became individual Universes, thus giving birth to the Multiverse.
"Celestials are massive beings, each at least several hundred meters tall. The weaker among them are comparable to Odin.
The powerful ones can rival an aspect of OAA, surpassing the Living Tribunal."
The owner of the Land of Nihility's skull was undoubtedly a Celestial far more powerful than Odin in life!
"It's a pity it lies dead here now."
He ordered the crew to pilot the ship into the skull's interior.
The spaceship entered through the enormous eye socket.
"Is this the Land of Nihility?" Star-Lord, who had been knocked unconscious, woke up and exclaimed in astonishment as he looked at the view outside the window.
"Didn't you say earlier you could be our guide?"
Daisy sensed something was off.
Why did his tone sound like it was his first time seeing it?
"Although I've never been here before, I have an unparalleled understanding of the Land of Nihility."
Star-Lord coughed twice, trying to argue, and to gain trust, he even shared some information he had heard about the Land of Nihility in the past.
"A long time ago, The Collector's Tivan Group sent people to mine organic matter, bones, brain tissue, and spinal fluid from the Celestial skull to sell throughout the Universe.
Eventually, this unowned cosmic mining site gradually attracted some desperadoes who also engaged in private mining."
Finally, the Land of Nihility slowly became a famous lawless zone in the Universe, and also the largest black market for trade, where many rare cosmic items and treasures circulated.
"When I was looking at the data, I wanted to ask.
Ron, how long has this Celestial been dead?
Haven't its brain tissue and spinal fluid gone bad?" Jane turned her head and asked, puzzled.
"I don't know the answer to that question either.
Perhaps millions of years, or perhaps as old as the Universe?"
He pondered for a moment, then replied, "Celestials cannot be said to be permanently immortal, but their bodies should retain some vitality long after their Death."
"Who do you think was powerful enough to kill this giant creature?" Daisy asked, with a hint of surprise and doubt, as this question came to mind.
Inside the skull, there were flying mining machines everywhere, and the ground was covered with rows of black market buildings.
Cosmic hotels, taverns, exchanges, casinos, and more were ubiquitous, creating a chaotic and distorted liveliness, filled with smoke and grime.
People of various cosmic races, like tiny nanoscopic ants, made their homes and moved in and out of the Celestial's skull.
"It looks like someone chopped off its head and killed it."
"I don't know. Such ancient matters, no one should know about them." Jane shook her head.
Records of the Land of Nihility date back millions of years, so this Celestial's Death must have occurred even earlier.
Hearing Daisy's words, Ron's expression shifted slightly, as if remembering something.
The power of the Celestials goes without saying. For a Celestial whose head is comparable to a small Planet, there are probably very few beings in the Universe capable of killing him.
"This Celestial has no torso, only a head, as if someone chopped off its head with unimaginable power, sending it flying here."
"Ron, do you know?"
"Regarding the Death of the Celestials, I've only heard of one."
Ron paused, recalling memories in his mind, and said softly.
"Legend has it that at the beginning of the Universe, it was originally a void of chaos. In the darkness, a God was born, who slept peacefully in the deep abyss.
"Later, the Celestials appeared. They created stars, created life, brought light and sound, and woke the God of the Abyss.
He drew a sword from the dark shadows, flew to attack the Celestials, used the sword in his hand to chop off the head of one of the Celestials, and fought a great battle with the remaining Celestials, attempting to plunge the Universe back into dark silence.
He later failed and was thrown back into the abyss."
"God of the Abyss?"
"The Universe is truly ancient and vast, containing many unknown secrets."
After hearing this story, Jane was deeply amazed.
Daisy also nodded. It was only after coming out with Ron this time that they realized how immense the Universe was, and how much mysterious and ancient history it held.
Star-Lord, who had been listening to the story from the side, quieted down. He felt a sense of mystery surrounding Ron, and couldn't help but feel a sense of awe, secretly speculating.
"He's not even afraid of the Mad Titan, who shakes the Universe, and even threatens him.
This doesn't sound like a lie. How does he know such secrets that ordinary people don't?
Who exactly is this guy?"
After disembarking from the spaceship, protected by the guard team armed with Vibranium spears, which deterred a crowd of pickpockets and thieves, Ron and his group walked towards the tall building in the center of the black market.
Actually, there was still more to the story about the God of the Abyss that Ron hadn't finished. That God's name was Knull, and he was also the God of Symbiotes.
The sword that chopped off the Celestial's head was later reforged by him and named All-Black the Necrosword.
All-Black the Necrosword was the first symbiote in the Universe, making it the ancestor of all symbiotes.
Due to the constant burning by Fire and the clanging sound of hammers during its forging, high temperatures and sound waves became the weaknesses of the symbiote race.
In front of the towering, tower-shaped building, many people had gathered, all carrying strange and exotic items from across the Universe.
Unidentified minerals, dancing grass, strange and rare animals with the colors of a Nebula...
They all yearned to trade with The Collector Taneleer Tivan, the Master of the Land of Nihility and the Tivan Group.
They hoped their items would catch The Collector's eye and fetch them a good price.
But meeting The Collector was not an easy task.
They all crowded here, like jesters waiting to be summoned, eagerly staring at the large door.
"Hey, who are you people!"
As the guard team cleared the way, the desperadoes crowded there were pushed aside. Someone shouted in dissatisfaction, with a fierce expression.
"What do you want to do, kid.
Don't you understand first come, first served?"
A burly, blue-skinned man with a leather jacket, a strong physique, and a face full of scars stepped out of the crowd with an displeased expression. He was a Kree.
Kree, with their blue skin, naturally have a flesh density twice that of Earthlings, possessing formidable strength. In terms of individual power, they are considered a powerful race in the Universe.
His eyes, filled with ill intent, fixed on Ron in the center of the group.
"Kid?"
Ron's eyelids flickered.
His Majesty had been disrespected. The guards at the front were enraged and swung their spears to attack, but the burly man grabbed one with his hand. Feeling the ordinary strength, a disdainful and ferocious smile appeared on his face.
"Let me, Spark, teach you a lesson!"
Even Asgardian's flesh density is only three times that of Earthlings, so a man with twice the flesh density would not be weak among Earth's superheroes.
But the next second, the guard's hands glowed with a lava-like radiance, and scorching high temperatures transferred up the Vibranium spear.
Ah!
A piercing scream rang out. The burly man's hands were instantly scorched black. He held up his hands, his face twisted in pain, and stumbled backward.
The female guard let out a low cry, and the glowing red spear sliced through the air. A head rolled away, and the blood from the wound was instantly cauterized. The tall body fell to the ground.
A group of terrified desperadoes quickly retreated.
They didn't know Ron and his group's origins, but Spark had a notorious reputation in the Land of Nihility.
Even he had fallen so quickly to an inconspicuous guard under Ron's command!
None of those who had been cut in line dared to block the way or shout anymore.
"Even if you jump to the front, it's useless."
"Without an appointment, you won't be able to see The Collector; you'll just have to wait like us." Someone in the crowd sneered from an unknown direction.
Although The Collector enjoyed collecting strange and exotic items from across the Universe, over his long life, he had already gathered most of the rare items in the Universe.
In the past few centuries, fewer and fewer people had been able to meet The Collector.
If someone had an appointment, The Collector's maid would wait at the entrance in advance to guide the person into the building.
Within the group, Ron's expression was unreadable, and a red glow flashed on the Infinity Gauntlet.
"Mmmph mmmph."
Suddenly, a guy from behind the crowd covered his mouth with terrified wide eyes; his mouth had disappeared from his face, leaving a flat surface.
Hearing his muffled sounds of fear, the crowd surged back, turning to look at him, startled by his strange appearance.
Many desperadoes realized that this must have been the one who spoke.
When they turned their heads back to look at Ron and his group, their faces were filled with fear and awe. The scene became quiet, so silent that a pin drop could be heard.
Swoosh!
The door of the Tivan building, which had not been seen open for a long time, suddenly opened.
A beautiful maid with pink skin, like a palace lady, gracefully walked out. After a brief gaze with Ron's bright eyes, she bowed her head with a hint of shyness, her voice clear and pleasant.
"Respected King of Asgard, Your Highness Ron.
My Master, Taneleer Tivan, invites you."
"What did Karina just say?
King of Asgard?"
"Did I hear wrong? He... he's the King of those Gods?!"
Hearing this, the crowd erupted as if a bomb had been dropped, their hearts filled with shock.
How long had it been since Asgardian were seen walking among the Universe?
Although the Asgardian ruled by Odin had not been active in the Universe for a long time, their power and renown continued to spread throughout the entire Universe.
Gamora, as Thanos's adopted daughter, possessed a precious short sword called Godslayer, a rare and formidable weapon in the Universe.
And this so-called "Godslayer" actually referred to a weapon capable of slaying Asgardian.
This also indirectly showed the status of Asgardian in the Universe.
If ordinary Asgardian were like this, let alone the King of Asgard.
The gathered desperadoes trembled and bowed their heads in fear, not daring to look directly at Ron and his group.
"Your Master is quite well-informed."
Ron slowly spoke.
Karina looked up at Ron's handsome face upon hearing his words, her shyness deepening, her eyes shimmering with Water, carrying a hint of feigned resistance.
"I feel like she's trying to seduce Ron." Daisy's face darkened as she whispered to Jane.
The three, along with the guard team and Star-Lord, who was being led, walked into the building under Karina's guidance.
The Nine Realms had always been secluded, so others might not know Ron's identity, but The Collector, who was keen on searching for strange and rare items in the Universe, was unusually well-informed.
After the commotion in front of the building, he immediately recognized Ron.
He had been shocked for a long time when he heard the news that Asgard had almost been destroyed several times recently, and the new Queen of Asgard had invited powerful reinforcements to save Asgard.
When did such a powerful individual as Ron appear in the Universe?
Inside the building, countless glass display cases were stacked and hung.
It was a massive cosmic museum.
Daisy and Jane gasped, curiously looking left and right at the various unheard-of and unseen rare items in the display cases.
Karina smiled and introduced, "Our collection is the largest in the Universe, with animals, remains, minerals, artworks, and everything in between."
Walking to the center of the building, The Collector, dressed in furs, with a middle-aged appearance and White hair, turned around. He carried himself with the air of an ancient nobleman, and slowly bowed, placing a hand on his chest, to Ron.
"Please allow me to offer you my highest respect.
Your Highness Ron."
If the desperadoes outside were to see The Collector, the Master of the Land of Nihility, who had lived for countless millennia, bowing to someone like this, they would undoubtedly be even more incredulous.
Asgardian were called Gods by the people of the Universe, but The Collector was also a well-known figure in the Universe.
The Collector was wary not only of Ron's status as an Asgardian Prince but also of his terrifying strength.
"The Collector, it's our first meeting. There's no need to be so polite."
Ron spoke indifferently, looking at The Collector.
He probably knew about him for another reason: he had always coveted the six Infinity Stones.
The Collector wanted to make the Infinity Stones his collection, and Asgard, possessing two of the Stones, was likely under deliberate observation.
"It's my duty, Your Highness."
The Collector slowly rose, smiling humbly.
Karina, standing beside him, watched The Collector, who filled her with endless fear, show such reverence towards Ron. A stronger desire immediately shone in her eyes as she looked at Ron.
"May I ask, Your Highness, what brings you here?"
"I have three objectives for coming to the Land of Nihility.
My first objective has already disappointed me. For the remaining objectives, I hope it won't be a wasted trip."
He said slowly.
"I will do my best, Your Highness." The Collector dared not ask what Ron's disappointing first objective was, or what his remaining objectives were; he simply said.
Ron's first objective was to obtain a Celestial template.
"I originally thought this skull might still have some vitality, and perhaps I could collect a template from it?"
But when his mental power reached out, he got nothing.
It seemed that once it was dead, it was truly dead. With the body incomplete, collecting a template was impossible.
A hint of disappointment flickered in his eyes.
But it didn't matter. There was more than one Celestial in the Universe, and he knew for certain of the existence of another Celestial. Moreover, there was a well-informed person here who might know more.
"The Collector, I want to know the whereabouts of a person."
"May I ask who?"