Chapter Twenty-Nine: Ronan Arrives!

Just as Hao Yun was pulling Kaelia away, she seemed to spot something. Her eyes lit up, and she broke free from his grip, intent on rushing toward the Collector’s vault.

Hao Yun glanced back. Damn it—Gamora had emerged, holding the Orb. Kaelia had likely caught sight of her, and her sense of justice was compelling her to charge over and make an arrest.

"I shouldn't have come here!" Hao Yun cursed to himself. Why come to Knowhere at all? Wouldn't it have been better to just let Kaelia rot in prison? Now, not only did he have to contend with the coming clash between Nebula and Gamora, but he also had to be careful not to get caught by Ronan. After all, he had only just reached the level of a Heavenly Father; he couldn't simply shrug off Ronan’s fleet the way Carol Danvers could in her Binary form.

"Gamora, don't try to run! Surrender now!" Kaelia shouted, pulling her weapon and taking aim as she charged.

To her surprise, Gamora had no intention of engaging in a shootout. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a throwing knife flying, aiming directly for Kaelia’s life.

"Look out!" Hao Yun was quick; he lunged forward and snatched the blade out of the air. "Gamora, are you trying to declare war on Xandar?" He hoped for a peaceful resolution before Nebula arrived.

"Wait, are you two from the Nova Corps?" Gamora paused, looking at them with a glimmer of surprise. Hao Yun guessed her thoughts. He knew she didn't want to hand the Power Stone over to Thanos, and the Nova Corps, with their strong reputation across the galaxy, seemed like a safe place to entrust it. Unfortunately, she didn't realize that because of that very stone, Xandar and the Nova Corps would eventually be wiped out by Thanos’s forces.

"Yes! Gamora, you are suspected of a prison break and the murder of thirty-two guards! I, Officer Kaelia, hereby place you under arrest!" Kaelia raised her blaster, looking righteous as she addressed Star-Lord and the others.

Hao Yun covered his face in frustration. These people had a chaotic-good streak; if it were any other criminals, they would have been dead or severely wounded by now. Actually, if not for him, Kaelia would already be dead.

"You? By yourself?" Rocket Raccoon raised his weapon. "Girl, that gun is too small. Want to try mine instead?"

"Rocket, cut it out!" Gamora saw the man who had just caught her blade with his bare hands looking grim, and she quickly stopped Rocket. "Are you really with the Nova Corps?"

"Doesn't our attire make that obvious?" Kaelia gestured to her uniform. "Hmph! If you're afraid of the Nova Corps, then surrender peacefully and face the judgment of the court for your crimes!"

"In your dreams! We are never going back to that dark cell!" Star-Lord flipped her off and reached for his holster. Hao Yun sighed. Why be so difficult? He really didn't want to fight. Fine, but he couldn't just stand by and watch Kaelia get hurt.

He stomped his foot, channeling his power. Wood Release jutsu erupted from the ground.

"Wood Style: Silent Binding Jutsu!"

Five massive trees materialized in a tenth of a second. The branches transformed into ropes, forcibly binding Star-Lord, Rocket, Gamora, and the other two to the tree trunks, while simultaneously sapping their strength. Even Groot was caught without exception. After all, Hao Yun was channeling the laws of Wood, and even if his control was weak, it was far beyond what a tree creature could resist.

"What is this?! I don't like being tied up, this position is so humiliating!" Star-Lord struggled frantically. The binding style was... let's say, rather provocative—a classic shibari knot. Hao Yun couldn't be blamed; he had never learned how to properly restrain anyone in his past or current life. The only thing he knew was the famous knot he had seen online.

"Let me go! You want me to blast your little parts off with my gun?" Rocket threatened as he struggled. Groot just kept repeating "I am Groot." Gamora shot Hao Yun a look of pure contempt, while Kaelia stared at the scene with a strange expression.

Hao Yun couldn't be bothered with this group of clowns. He picked up the Orb Gamora had dropped and manipulated the energy to make the five of them float along behind him.

"What are you looking at? Let's go. It's settled." He walked over to Kaelia and waved a hand in front of her face. She was still staring.

"Oh." Kaelia obediently holstered her weapon and followed him, looking suddenly meek. *What kind of person did I save?* she wondered. *That binding style was so embarrassing... if Hao Yun wanted, would I let him tie me up like that?* She followed him, lost in thought, forgetting to ask where he got his powers or what those weird trees and floating tricks were.

"Wait!" A few steps later, Hao Yun suddenly raised a hand to stop them, his expression turning grave as he looked at the sky.

"BOOM!"

In the sky, countless streaks of fire descended. A vast fleet of ships hovered above. Ronan had arrived.

"Kaelia, when I say run, you run immediately," Hao Yun whispered in her ear, while quietly releasing the five prisoners.

"Haha! Ronan, you’re finally here! Prepare to die!" As soon as he was freed, Drax didn't even care about the grudge of being bound; he grabbed his blades from the ground and laughed maniacally at the sky, his face filled with the anticipation of vengeance.

"Damn it, did you just summon Ronan?" Star-Lord shouted at Drax in a panic. Nobody cared about what had just happened anymore; everyone was gripped by fury and fear at Ronan's arrival. Including Hao Yun.

A ship descended, the ramp lowered, and Ronan stepped out, his warhammer in hand. He walked directly toward Gamora. Along the way, Drax charged at him, screaming about the murder of his wife and daughter, only to be swatted away with a single blow.

"Gamora, where is the Orb I demanded?"

"Ronan, I’ve already handed the Orb to the Nova Corps. You’ll never get your hands on it!" Gamora gripped her Godslayer blade, standing firmly in front of Hao Yun and Kaelia. A fleeting glance revealed the resolve in her eyes. She was protecting the Orb—and the universe—with her life.

"Gamora, do you think you can lie to me? To the great leader of the Kree?" Ronan’s voice was low and menacing as he reached out to grab her by the throat.

Gamora didn't wait; she lunged, her blade aiming for Ronan’s vitals, while shouting a warning to Hao Yun: "Run!"

"CRACK!"

Unfortunately, the gap in power between them was too vast. She didn't even last a single move before being struck down by a swing of his hammer.