Chapter One Hundred: Reactions from All Sides

Time passed little by little.

Darm and his companions hit it off immediately with Reynold and his group.

“Darm, with bodies like yours, why didn’t you join the Nova Corps? Why settle for being part of the city guard?” Reynold asked casually as he carried two large fish toward the temple.

Darm’s power was clearly physical in nature—not as impressive as Reynold’s or Kyle’s, but still far beyond that of ordinary people. On Xandar, with such physical abilities, joining the Nova Corps wouldn’t have been difficult.

“To be honest, we didn’t dare go to the front lines before, so we never took the exams. That’s how we ended up with these cushy city guard posts,” Darm replied. “The work is easy, but it doesn’t pay well. I’ve been thinking lately about taking the Nova Corps assessment and earning some real money.”

He spoke lightly, choosing a reason that was easy to believe. Through their conversation, he’d learned Reynold and his group had come to pay respects to Lord Kassadin, though they’d only met Miss Sonia. It was clear that Lord Kassadin had decided to bless them, so Darm kept his distance, not wanting to meddle.

“Being in the Nova Corps is too restricting. Why not be bounty hunters like us? Land a big score and you can rest easy for a year or more—luxury homes, fine wine, beautiful women, all without having to take orders from anyone. Isn’t that a freer life?” Kyle called out, walking steadily with five or six large fish slung over his shoulder. They took great pride in being bounty hunters.

“Bounty hunting is nice, but joining the Nova Corps and getting a Nova suit—that’s what makes me feel secure,” Darm replied. He envied Kyle’s life but still preferred a steadier path.

As they chatted, the group made their way to the temple. Night had fallen, but the temple remained brilliantly lit.

When Darm saw the statue of Lord Kassadin, he pressed his palms together and prayed. His three brothers had wanted to kneel outright—after all, Kassadin’s blessing in just a month had clearly improved their lives and prospects. But, seeing Darm’s gesture, they followed suit instead.

Reynold noticed their synchronized actions, a thoughtful glint in his eye. When he’d first met Darm, the man had referred to Kassadin as “Lord” and spoken with deep reverence. Though Darm had tried to conceal it during their conversation, he couldn’t hide his respect when faced with Kassadin’s statue. Reynold chose not to mention it.

Darm and his brothers had successfully joined the Void Church and seemed to have gained new abilities because of it. This only strengthened Reynold’s resolve to join as well. From the look of things, Kassadin rarely issued commands—joining the Void Church didn’t seem particularly restrictive. Only in special circumstances would Kassadin send his followers on missions.

Reynold went to call Lacey down, and together they lit a fire beneath the temple to roast fish. The group gathered around the flames, chatting as they settled in for the night.

※※※※※※

Meanwhile, word of Kassadin’s personal announcement had spread throughout the galaxy in just a day.

“Join the glorious evolution?” Star-Lord scoffed as he listened to music aboard his ship, reading the news with a skeptical expression. “Kassadin’s probably just trying to scam people.”

“He’s building a power base,” Yondu replied with a grin. “He’ll offer some perks, but who knows how much. Just don’t go looking for trouble. He says everyone’s welcome, but I doubt that includes pirates like us—especially since we’re at odds with bounty hunters. And picking Xandar as his base? There’s bound to be fireworks soon.”

Yondu figured the Nova Corps might survive a bit longer if they played it smart. But if they investigated Kassadin’s new Void Church too closely, he had no doubt they’d be wiped out. Given the choice, he’d rather cross the Nova Corps than anger Kassadin. That being seemed to appear out of nowhere, like a god, and was clearly plotting something.

Whatever it was, Yondu just wanted to watch the show from afar. As long as he kept his distance, he was safe.

“I’m plenty confident in my own strength. No reason to go looking for trouble,” Star-Lord said, intrigued but not foolish enough to walk into a trap. They were already trying to avoid Kassadin; only a fool would deliver himself to certain death.

“I wonder how the Kree will respond,” Star-Lord mused. “Xandar and Hala are two of the galaxy’s great empires.”

“Who cares?” Yondu laughed. “Let the dogs fight—we’ll just watch and maybe grab some scraps when the waters get muddy.” The more chaos in the cosmos, the better for bounty hunters and pirates. Chaos bred hatred, and hatred meant profit.

※※※※※※

On a planet littered with broken bodies and remnants of destruction, a massive, purple-skinned man in armor sat atop a battered throne. He stared at the rapidly spreading news in the cosmic communication network, his deep-set eyes flickering.

Kassadin’s fame had swept the galaxy lately, and Thanos had certainly heard of him. What interested Thanos more than Kassadin’s power were rumors of his language and origin: “C56,” the Blue Planet—one of the Nine Realms under Odin, the King of the Gods, and guarded by the mighty Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One. With such protectors, few dared act rashly.

But when the time was right, nothing would stand in his way. Thanos could afford to move slowly because so few in the universe knew the true nature of the Infinity Stones. As long as Kassadin didn’t interfere with his plans, Thanos had no interest in what this so-called Void God did. Should Kassadin dare to obstruct him, however, Thanos would destroy him for the sake of the universe’s survival and balance of resources.

※※※※※※

In Asgard, Odin also received word of Kassadin’s activities in the galaxy and his establishment of the Void Church. He paid it little mind. Kassadin had defeated various threats and seemed powerful, but Odin had lived thousands of years and seen it all. Building a true power was no easy feat; even Kassadin would need centuries to establish a genuine force.

After all, no mighty power was formed simply by gathering a ragtag crowd. True greatness required generations of succession and the tempering of time. With adequate manpower, one still needed clear systems, hierarchy, and authority to ensure loyalty—only then could a real power rise.

Kassadin seemed intent on giving everyone a chance, seeking talent from all corners and using Xandar as a springboard to forge a force overnight. Yet, all he would have was a motley crew, destined to scatter like sand in the wind.