"Your Excellency, if that ancient god truly intends to cooperate with us and visit the capital, then we should publicize it immediately."
One of the Nova Empire's senior officials rose to speak.
"The peace agreement has stalled not only because of Kree hardliners like Ronan, but also because the Skrulls and the Shi'ar have been quietly interfering. If we release this news, it will deter them all. Even if the god never formally allies with us, the pressure alone could push the peace talks to a conclusion."
The logic was simple.
The Skrull Empire did not want peace between the Nova Empire and the Kree. That would leave them facing the Kree alone.
As for the Shi'ar, they preferred to sit back and let the three powers bleed each other dry.
Nova Prime considered this briefly, then nodded.
"Very well. Have Falren extend the invitation. Once he confirms acceptance, Intelligence will broadcast the news across the galaxy. Reception will prepare a welcome at the highest possible level. Make sure he understands our sincerity."
Half an hour later, Falren's reply arrived.
Rowan Mercer had accepted.
The Nova Empire immediately went into motion.
Within half a day, a piece of news detonated across the galaxy.
Major star systems. Media networks. Interstellar powers. Even remote backwater planets heard it.
The Mad Titan was dead.
Thanos, butcher of countless worlds, owner of the most terrifying fleet in existence, a threat even the great empires could not eliminate… had been killed.
Not by an armada.
Not by an alliance.
But by a single being from Terra.
According to the reports, Thanos had issued a billion-credit bounty for the Space Stone, drawing Ravagers and hunters toward Terra and angering an ancient god of that world. The god left Terra in fury, annihilated Thanos and his entire fleet, and in the process saved a Nova border world.
Now, Nova Prime had personally invited this Terran god to Xandar.
The implication was obvious.
The galaxy erupted.
Worlds that had suffered Thanos' massacres celebrated openly. Entire planets held days of mourning turned into festivals, thanking the unknown god who had avenged them. Because he came from Terra, goodwill toward that small, backward planet spread rapidly.
Meanwhile, every major empire convened emergency councils, verifying intelligence and drafting contingency plans. One individual had suddenly become a strategic factor capable of tipping galactic balance.
One day later, on K-9852.
Rowan stood before Yondu, Peter, Gamora, Rocket, and Groot.
"I've already transferred one hundred million credits to each of you," he said calmly. "Now you have two choices.
First, take the money and leave. Go back to your old lives. The Space Stone incident is over as far as I'm concerned.
Second, formally join the academy's off-world division. Come with me to Xandar and help Earth step into the galactic era.
Either way, we're friends. Choose freely."
The eighteen-billion bounty for Thanos and Ronan had already landed in Rowan's account. He'd split five billion among the group without hesitation.
Gamora answered first.
"You killed Thanos and avenged my people. That's worth more than any credits. I choose the second option."
Peter didn't even wait a second.
"Same. I'm in."
He had his reasons. He'd wanted out of the Ravager life for years. Seeing his aging uncle on Earth had changed him. And most importantly, he knew what he felt for Gamora wasn't a fling.
Rocket scratched his chin.
"I choose option two. I saw animals like me on Earth. Never saw that anywhere else. Maybe that's home."
It wasn't the whole truth, but it was close enough.
"I am Groot," Groot declared.
Rocket rolled his eyes. "See?"
Yondu shrugged.
"I'll take the first option. Ravagers don't do long-term contracts. But if you ever need us, you know where to find us."
Rowan nodded, unbothered.
As he looked at Nebula standing beside Gamora and Drax sitting quietly nearby, he couldn't help muttering under his breath:
"Add one mantis girl, and we'd have the full Guardians lineup."
Nebula and Drax, saved and avenged, had already volunteered to follow him.
The galaxy was changing.
And Earth was finally stepping onto the stage.