Marvel : Super Soldier at the Start

A warrior deserves a warrior's respect, no matter whether their intentions were evil or just.

As long as they fall on the battlefield, they should receive the honor that is their due—especially when they've used their life to deliver a final blow.

While Blake, Yondu, and Star-Lord were busy erecting a grave for Ronan, something significant was unfolding on the Collector's side.

...

At the Celestial head, power ruled supreme. The saying, "Might makes right," applied universally. Blake's decisive strike took down the Collector's empire with incredible speed.

The Collector himself ended up imprisoned in a transparent cell custom-made by Tony Stark and Rocket.

Unlike the Collector's usual treatment of his biological "specimens," they granted him some decency—locking him in a spacious, transparent box about 20 square meters in size, essentially a see-through prison room.

For safety reasons, all his personal belongings were confiscated.

However, neither Tony nor Rocket, as skilled as they were, were professional jailers. They overlooked the emergency communication device hidden in the Collector's shoe.

As Blake and the others engaged in their fight, the Collector secretly activated the device, summoning aid.

Not long after, one of Thanos' most fearsome generals, Corvus Glaive of the Black Order, arrived in response to the distress signal.

Before leaving the Celestial head, Blake had already retrieved Groot and Natasha, along with a contingent of Widow agents from Earth. These agents were tasked with infiltrating and solidifying control over the Celestial head and the remnants of the Collector's empire.

However, the Celestial head was a chaotic hub, with thousands of small and medium-sized ships traveling in and out daily. The recent takeover left the team stretched thin, and their guard somewhat lax.

When Corvus Glaive's massive donut-shaped ship descended, they initially mistook it for a regular trade or leisure vessel.

But the Black Order wasn't known for polite landings.

The ship crashed through the Celestial head with brutal force, smashing into a metallic structure.

"Boom!"

The impact sent shockwaves reverberating through the interconnected metal corridors, turning them into amplifiers for the deafening crash.

The crash site, a bar catering to rogue pirates and outlaws, was completely obliterated. The establishment, known for its seedy clientele, instantly became a pile of wreckage.

"Enemy attack!"

The Avengers, ever-vigilant, reacted immediately, regrouping swiftly at the scene.

Natasha, Groot, Rocket, a fully-armed Tony Stark, Thor, and Gamora all assembled in record time.

Tony activated a holographic display on the nearby table, now fully synced with the Celestial head's surveillance system.

When he saw the shape of the ship, Tony froze for a moment.

"Did... did we just get hit by a giant donut?"

Tony turned to the group, disbelief in his tone.

The others shrugged it off, unimpressed—after all, they'd seen their fair share of cosmic threats, from Kree Accusers to galactic empires.

Only Gamora's face darkened at the sight of the ship.

"Damn it. They're here already. That's his ship—one of his men has come!"

"Who? Space cops?" Natasha quipped lightheartedly.

"Thanos. The Mad Titan. That's one of his Black Order generals. If they're here, he can't be far behind. We have to alert Blake immediately. This place isn't safe anymore."

Gamora hurriedly reached for the communicator on the table, intending to contact Star-Lord's ship.

"Relax," Thor said, stepping in front of her and blocking her path with his hammer. "You're safe here with us. I don't know how terrifying your 'father' is, but this is just one of his men, right?"

"That's Corvus Glaive—one of the Black Order's top five. If he's here, Thanos won't be far behind. We have to call Blake!" Gamora insisted, pointing at the monitor displaying the figure stepping off the ship—a menacing, armor-clad figure wielding a double-edged glaive.

Before she could act, an armored hand gently stopped her.

"We told you—we'll protect you," Natasha said calmly, pulling Gamora aside. "Trust us. Besides, if Thanos really does come, Blake will be here in an instant, won't he?"

Gamora fell silent, though her expression betrayed her lingering fear. Clearly, the shadow of Thanos loomed large over her psyche.

"Come on, let's welcome our guest. Even if they're a little... unpleasant-looking," Tony said, breaking the tension as he led the group toward the crash site.

...

Thanos' name carried weight across the universe, and Corvus Glaive embodied that infamy. With just four or five subordinates, he boldly marched into the lawless zone of the Celestial head, exuding the aura of a conqueror.

As they passed through the streets, once bustling with outlaws and travelers, the crowds dispersed in fear, vanishing into buildings and hiding in shadowy corners. No one dared cross their path.

"Sorry, but you've scared off our customers," Tony called out as he approached, his tone sarcastic. "If you're here to shop, you'll need to compensate us for damages. Oh, and your companions—are they your bodyguards or... pets?"

Corvus Glaive's entourage included a handful of Chitauri soldiers, the same kind that had attacked Earth under Loki's command.

"Hmm? You've captured the Collector?" Corvus Glaive sneered, ignoring Tony's taunts. "Hand him over. I have questions for him."

Tony raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the demand.

"Did... did he just ignore me and issue a command? Crashes into our place, ignores my questions, and gives me orders? Is everyone in the universe this rude?" Tony asked, glancing at Rocket.

Rocket scrutinized Corvus Glaive for a moment before turning to Groot.

"Hard to say, but I'm curious—what's his skincare routine? Look at that face—rougher than Groot's bark. And Groot's a tree!"

Tony chuckled. "Good point. You know, back on Earth, we have something called face masks. But judging by his face, he'd need a truckload of them."

"Are you mocking me?!" Corvus Glaive snapped, his voice rising in fury. "Do you even realize who—"

Mid-rant, his gaze landed on Gamora.

"Gamora? What are you doing here? You've betrayed Lord Thanos?"

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