Three golden figures strolled leisurely out of the exhibition hall. A passerby brushed against them, but Deathmask didn't even bother to look. He simply reached out, clamped a hand around the man's throat, and squeezed. The man's face reddened and twisted in agony as he struggled for breath.
Watching him claw helplessly at his hand, Deathmask let out a sinister laugh. "Don't think I can't tell, you bastard. Your breathing rhythm matches the others. You've clearly had professional training."
Before the man could say a word, Deathmask snapped his neck with a casual twist and tossed the body aside like garbage.
"They've spotted us, but the hostage evacuation isn't finished!"
A guard's voice crackled through the comms of a Nova warship. Centurion Daniell Thiel hesitated for a moment, then hardened his expression. "Forget the hostages. Nova Legion, move out immediately!"
The cold order rippled through the fleet. Three hundred and twenty Nova warships shot into the sky, swarming like an enraged hive.
Deathmask, sensing them with his eyes closed, located the formation instantly. Facing such a massive fleet, he only crossed his arms, looking almost bored, even taking a moment to scratch his nose with his thumb. "They're flying slow. I'll go greet them. As for you two…"
He glanced at the others. "Do whatever you want."
A golden flash burst from him as he rocketed skyward.
Cancer's rudeness made Aries Mu shake his head, though he didn't take it personally. Everyone knew Deathmask's personality was abrasive to the core. "Aldebaran, those spies mixed in with the crowd are yours."
"Understood. I'll handle them." Taurus replied, calm and steady despite his towering, bull-like physique.
He closed his eyes and sensed the surroundings. Within seconds, he locked onto hundreds of individuals hidden within a ten-mile radius—spies the Nova Legion had scattered among the civilians.
A moment later, he disappeared.
Left alone, Mu raised his gaze to the bright blue sky, melancholy flickering in his eyes. As the Gold Saint of Aries, he was fiercely loyal to Lord Gilgamesh, yet he was never a man who reveled in slaughter.
He knew that even after destroying three hundred Nova warships, over three thousand more remained, and the Nova Empire could sustain that attrition. But Xandar itself would crumble long before its fleet did.
He understood Gilgamesh's power and temperament perfectly. If pushed, Gilgamesh wouldn't hesitate to wipe the planet out.
That was why, when Gilgamesh asked who was willing to act, Mu had stepped forward without hesitation.
"At the very least… we should try to persuade the leader of this nation. Prevent him from inviting his own destruction."
Mu walked forward, his figure fading into the air.
At the same moment he vanished, Gilgamesh sensed his intent. A sweep of divine will reached Mu's thoughts, and when Gilgamesh realized Mu planned to try and prevent a planetary war with words, he chuckled.
"Mu is as gentle as ever."
Gilgamesh was not someone who interfered with other people's affairs. If another person's house was on fire, his first impulse wasn't to extinguish the flames but to admire the fleeting beauty of the blaze—unless the fire spread to his own doorway.
And he would never restrain his subordinates' compassion. He knew his own personality wasn't exactly endearing, yet the Saints still chose to follow him with unwavering loyalty.
Since they tolerated his cruelty, why shouldn't he tolerate their kindness?
Therefore, even though he knows Gemini Saga possesses a dual personality of good and evil, he still trusts him; even though he knows Deathmask is a murderous and arrogant psychopath, he still praises his strength; even though he knows Aries Mu has a gentle heart, he still does not restrain him.
Cruel or arrogant, kind or despicable—
Gilgamesh's heart accepts them all.
Yet strangely, he can hardly tolerate provocation from even the smallest ant.
Perhaps this comes from his belief in the principle of "a saint within and a king without."
"Distinguished guest, this is our academy's top designer, Charles. He has been in the field for nearly one hundred and eighty years, received one hundred and twelve honors from the Nova Empire, and served as chief designer at the Imperial Scientific Design Institute. His professional ability is unmatched across the entire Andromeda Galaxy."
The red-skinned guide's solemn introduction finally drew Gilgamesh back to his senses. He turned toward the voice and saw a green goblin—less than five feet tall, with pointed ears and large eyes—slowly making his way in with the help of a cane.
His sparse white hair and deeply wrinkled skin made him look extremely old, causing the Saint Seiya to frown.
Even Gilgamesh couldn't help doubting whether someone of such advanced age could shoulder such important responsibilities.
The goblin clearly sensed their distrust. He didn't explain a thing. Instead, he simply tapped the floor with his cane. Instantly, every projection device in the exhibition hall shifted, and countless holographic images of ships filled the air.
From massive warships, frigates, and destroyers to small shuttles, mining vessels, and autonomous robots—the variety was dazzling, each design distinct and functional, a complete technological ecosystem.
"This is the bionic robotic dog I designed when I was twelve. It has exceptional reconnaissance capabilities and can gather and analyze every image, scent, and trace within a twenty-kilometer radius. It even won first place in the National Youth Science and Technology Development Competition."
Charles proudly described his past achievements as the group examined the wolfhound-like mechanical beast. With a flick of his finger, another hologram appeared—a sleek spaceship.
"This is the Xiaer, the first spacecraft I designed and built. I named it after myself. It features a streamlined hull and an 18.2K faster-than-light engine. I used it to compete in the flying-car race on my home planet, Ize, and won first place once again."
A satisfied smile creased his wrinkled face as he recalled old memories, but the expression quickly twisted into hatred and grief.
"It's a pity. Even at its peak, Ize still couldn't escape destruction at the hands of the accuser, Ronan. That despicable bastard… I swear I'll kill him!"
Overcome with rage, he pounded his cane on the floor, his emotions clearly unstable.
Seeing this, the female guide quickly tried to comfort him. "Master Xiaer, it's all right. The Nova Empire will avenge you!"
Unfortunately, her words only made him angrier.
"Nonsense! Ridiculous nonsense!"
The goblin roared, his fury rising. "I gave all my wisdom to the Nova Empire—and how did those fools repay me? They made a ceasefire agreement with the Kree! The Nova Corps is nothing but a pack of cowardly, spineless trash!"
Author's Note:
The Shire are an original race I created. They do not appear in Guardians of the Galaxy. For the sake of enriching the universe, I'll add more species later. Feel free to comment on any strange or scientifically inspired races you'd like to see.
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