On a famous transit star, in the backstage of the Stardust Bar, stood a pretty little girl.
Her gaze was fixed on her sister, who had a captivating face.
Chuyou Xing appeared hesitant, her small lips opening and closing, as if she had something to say.
Stardust was busy tinkering with their clan’s specialized combat gear.
This equipment hadn't been used in a long time.
Every time they saw the gear, a sadness would well up in the sisters' hearts.
It was a lament for the plight of their homeland and a mourning for their departed kin.
So, even when carrying out missions in the past, Stardust had never taken it out.
“Chuyou Xing, take this!”
Stardust handed little Chuyou Xing a hourglass-shaped timer.
Inside the tiny hourglass, the sand flowed extremely slowly.
A small display screen below showed numbers in the 700s, indicating hours…
“If I don’t return after the timer hits zero, you must follow our agreed route and return to our home planet!”
Stardust’s expression was serious, as if she were about to undertake a momentous task.
She had set a deadline of one month for herself.
She was already clad in the battle armor from her homeland.
The light armor, with its surface covered in dense scales.
Under the light, the scales constantly reflected a faint black-purple glow.
The armor extended all the way to her feet, clinging to her skin and accentuating Stardust’s graceful figure.
Her tail involuntarily swished gently.
Normally accustomed to freedom, the little thing felt strange being encased.
The entire set of armor, right down to the tail!
Chuyou Xing took the timer, looking dazed.
Finally, she couldn't hold back and spoke.
“Sister, can you not go…”
“Even if it’s just the two of us, wouldn’t it be better to live in peace?”
Chuyou Xing was no ignorant child.
Beneath her youthful appearance lay a weathered heart and wisdom that ordinary adults could hardly match.
She understood that Stardust’s departure was likely a one-way trip.
But it was also the only hope for their race's continuation.
Chuyou Xing knew she couldn't stop her sister, but she couldn't help but speak.
Stardust silently shook her head, grabbed two long sabers, and attached them to her back.
The two sabers were slender and entirely black, so dark that even light could not reflect off them.
The scaled armor acted like a magnet, emitting a click as it securely fastened the sabers to Stardust’s back.
After re-sheathing the two energy weapons at her waist and checking the ammunition, Stardust said, “You know, little Chuyou Xing.”
“That thing is our last hope!”
“And it rightfully belongs to our clan! I am confident I can retrieve it!”
Stardust’s eyes were resolute.
She had been preparing for this opportunity.
And she had ample confidence in reclaiming her clan’s treasure.
Only by reclaiming the treasure could their homeland’s stellar brilliance shine again in the vast universe.
Chuyou Xing pouted, lowering her head aggrievedly.
Sister was right; she had no reason to stop her.
But returning to the home planet?
Although their home planet was well-hidden, it had become a barren, dead world. What was the point of going back?
“Sister, you must return safely!”
“You won’t leave Chuyou Xing all alone, will you?”
Facing Chuyou Xing’s expectant question, Stardust's eyes flickered, then became firm again.
“Yes, it’s a promise. I will definitely come back…”
Stardust stepped out of the bar, her gait filled with determination.
…
Meanwhile, in a corner of the universe.
Inside a spaceship shaped like an eagle.
Rocket was shouting excitedly on the command table.
“Is the ammunition loaded?”
“Are the food supplies sufficient?”
“How’s the ship maintenance? Drax!”
“Damn it, Groot, don’t…”
Gamora, with her instincts as an elite warrior, had a premonition that this journey would be extremely dangerous.
But these two fellows never listened to her.
However, the level of danger warning made Gamora’s scalp tingle, forcing her to try and dissuade them again.
This heart-pounding sense of danger was something even her father, Thanos, had never instilled in her.
“I don’t know where you got your information.”
“But if it’s truly a power greater than the Infinity Stones, I don’t think we can obtain it…”
“The Mad Titan’s daughter is afraid of danger?” Rocket acted as if he had heard the world’s biggest joke.
“Danger and wealth have always gone hand in hand!”
“After this job, I can f**king retire!”
“Ten billion in currency, do you know what ten billion means?!”
Rocket exaggeratedly raised his front limbs.
“That’s enough to buy two complete sets of Infinity Stones!”
“And there’s no need to panic at all, alright? Did you forget we have a secret weapon?” Rocket patted his little money pouch with confidence.
Inside were three super-high-power bombs.
Though the bombs were very small, their destructive power was terrifying, considered contraband even in the universe.
If Rocket didn’t have his wild connections, he wouldn’t have been able to buy them even with all the money in the galaxy.
However, Rocket wasn’t entirely relying on these three bombs.
He also had a backup plan: the Superman distress beacon that Lin Feng had given him.
If he pressed this beacon, he would definitely have to share half of the benefits with Lin Feng.
Therefore, unless it was a sure-death situation, Rocket wouldn't call for help.
This time, Rocket was playing it super safe!!