Avengers 3: Infinity War

A year later, the peace of the entire Milky Way Galaxy was shattered.

Led by Thanos, the Dark Order swept across the entire Milky Way Galaxy and even extended into the surrounding Local Group, bringing war and chaos to every corner of the galaxy. Earth was no exception. It should be said that Earth was one of the planets Thanos was most concerned with.

The Dark Order was the instrument of domination and executioner in Thanos’s hands. It had slaughtered countless lives and destroyed planets as easily as drinking water. It was utterly evil.

The Dark Order had four commanders, three men and one woman. They were all immensely powerful top-tier experts capable of suppressing an entire planet alone. Under their leadership, the Dark Order’s members spread throughout the galaxy, bringing death and destruction to the entire Milky Way Galaxy.

Thanos’s will was the Dark Order’s will. Thanos had begun a war to collect the Infinity Stones, and the Dark Order’s hundreds of millions of members fought for him under the leadership of the four commanders.

Naturally, the Guardians of the Galaxy received news of such a major event immediately. By this time, Star-Lord had already matured, because the Plot of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 had ended. Star-Lord had reunited with his father, only to discover that his father was an evil ancient god. In the end, to protect peace in the galaxy, Star-Lord had put righteousness before family and joined the entire Guardians team in killing that unfamiliar father of his.

Star-Lord had been born on Earth. His mother had died of illness when he was young, and he had always harbored resentment toward the father he had never met. The only one he truly cared deeply for was Yondu, his adoptive father who had raised him. As for that Celestial father, what did he have besides power?

After killing his own father, Star-Lord had also learned to control his own power. The power from his Celestial bloodline was no small thing. At the very least, Star-Lord was now not much weaker than Thor. Though he had only just learned to control that power, Star-Lord’s father had been an ancient god whose strength was no weaker than Odin’s. With Odin’s sleep in effect, he had even been somewhat stronger than the current Odin.

The Guardians of the Galaxy had only managed to kill that ancient Celestial through a complete coincidence. They had gotten close to the Celestial’s brain core and detonated a bomb. Thus, that terrifyingly powerful Celestial had died in such an awkward manner. He was even worse off than that ancient god whose head had been cut off. At least that one had died in battle, while this one had died without ever knowing why.

That was getting off topic. Returning to the matter at hand, after Star-Lord and the other Guardians received the news, they immediately headed for Earth. After all, Star-Lord could be considered half-Earthling. He had deep feelings for his mother, and by extension, deep feelings for Earth as well.

"Quill, how much longer until we reach Earth?" Rocket Raccoon stared listlessly at the universe outside the window. It was deep and dark, with occasional pinpricks of starlight flashing past.

"Soon. At most, another dozen or so days." Star-Lord checked the travel schedule as he spoke.

"Another dozen days? What godforsaken place is Earth in? It’s so far away…" Rocket muttered.

"I am Groot…"

A cute little tree person suddenly popped up behind Rocket. It was none other than Groot’s tree son, left behind after Groot had died on Xandar while blocking the explosion of the falling Dark Aster.

Little Groot was adorable and lovable, and everyone liked him very much. Because old Groot had sacrificed his life to protect them all, the Guardians cared for and spoiled little Groot dearly. Little Groot was also very close to everyone, especially Rocket.

"Groot, stop pulling my ears…" Rocket cried out, but carefully pulled Groot down from his head.

"I am Groot…" Little Groot looked innocently at Rocket with his big round eyes.

"Alright, alright. I know you’re bored too. I’ll play with you now…" Rocket took Groot toward the main hall and began playing with him.

Inside the cockpit, Star-Lord was still looking over the travel schedule. Behind him, Gamora, her skin green, walked over and looked at the furrow-browed Star-Lord. "Quill, are you still worried about Earth’s safety?"

"Yeah. According to the information we received, the Dark Order under Thanos split into four forces and swept through the entire Milky Way Galaxy in search of the Infinity Stones. And wasn’t the Power Stone we obtained previously taken away by that fellow Earthling of mine, Xiao Hen?" Star-Lord said. "He’s from Earth. Thanos definitely won’t leave Earth alone. Sure enough, one of the Dark Order’s commanders has led an army toward Earth as an advance force to gather intelligence, and they may even start a war. If Xiao Hen really is on Earth, then Thanos may even come personally. How could I not worry?"

The upper echelons of every major civilization in the Milky Way Galaxy knew of Thanos’s power. Not only in the Milky Way Galaxy, but throughout the universe, Thanos’s strength and influence ranked among the very strongest. The Dark Order had destroyed countless planets, and those civilizations had dared to be angry but not speak out. Wasn’t it simply because Thanos was too powerful?

That was indeed correct. Thanos possessed Main God-level strength, belonging to the level of a Level 8 Civilization. Yet in the Milky Way Galaxy of the Marvel World, there was not even a Level 7 Civilization. The strongest civilizations were only Level 6. How could they compare with Thanos?

"Xiao Hen isn’t weak. Maybe our worries are unnecessary!" Gamora thought for a moment before saying, "He has the ability to collect the Infinity Stones. I don’t think he’s much weaker than Thanos!"

"How is that possible?" Star-Lord was stunned. Thanos’s fearsome reputation had been forged through battle. He had dominated the Milky Way Galaxy for countless years, and the name Thanos itself represented overwhelming intimidation. As for Xiao Hen, Star-Lord had never even heard of him before.

"How is it impossible? Would someone without strength try to collect something so terrifying?" Gamora said.

Star-Lord thought for a moment, then said, "No matter what, we’ll reach Earth in another dozen days. We’ll know then, if Xiao Hen is still on Earth…" In Star-Lord’s view, Xiao Hen might not be a match for Thanos, but he should at least be capable of escaping from the Dark Order. After all, he had encountered Star-Lord in the Milky Way Galaxy a year ago, which showed that he was capable of interstellar travel.

Just as the Guardians of the Galaxy were rushing toward Earth, Earth itself was facing an unprecedented crisis.

At Stark Tower, the Avengers had gathered together, all wearing grave expressions.

At their head was none other than Thor. The Asgardians had far better intelligence than Earth. As the de facto rulers of the Nine Realms, they maintained contact with the major civilizations within the Milky Way Galaxy. Thus, they had received advance notice that the Dark Order was about to come to Earth.

The Dark Order never concealed its movements. It was simply that domineering. Wherever it passed, it left behind only death and destruction.

"We received word that the Dark Order will reach Earth in two days. They may still be outside the Orion Arm, but they possess spatial teleportation capabilities and can reach the Solar System instantly. We only have two days to prepare!" Thor said solemnly.

"Thor, could your information be wrong? Only two days? Is this Dark Order really that powerful?" Tony raised an eyebrow, somewhat unconvinced. With the Avengers’ strength, how powerful could this so-called Dark Order be? Stronger than the Dark Elves? Stronger than the Frost Giants? Tony did not believe it.

"Tony, we must make thorough preparations. The Dark Order is different from the enemies we faced before. Their influence is far greater, stretching across the entire Milky Way Galaxy. They have destroyed countless planets and slaughtered immeasurable lives. They are stronger than every enemy we have encountered before—far stronger." Seeing Tony’s unconvinced expression, Thor immediately said in a deep voice.

"Oh?" Seeing Thor’s expression, Tony’s face gradually turned serious. It seemed this enemy was no ordinary one.

"Is the Dark Order really that powerful?" Captain America asked solemnly.

"Yes, because they serve Thanos!" Thor said gravely. "The evil Dark Titan, Thanos, whose true name is Thanos—the overlord of the Milky Way Galaxy, a cancer of the universe, a supreme powerhouse who commands countless star systems!"