NOVEL WEB Chapter 5: CHAPTER 5
Walking deeper into the cave, I saw something that shocked me—and I was pretty sure the others saw it too. As we moved closer and closer, the details became clearer. Bones. They were everywhere, decorating the floor and walls. The sheer number was overwhelming.
I couldn't help but be impressed. Sure, I might've killed more, but I didn't leave them lying around like this. This… this was savage.
"We have to get off this planet," Nebula said, her voice tense.
"That's an understatement," I muttered, glancing up at the sunlight streaming through an opening above.
——
After leaving the cave, we sprinted back to the massive castle to inform Quill. It quickly became obvious I wasn't as physically strong as Nebula and Gamora, so I lagged behind, pacing myself and preparing my sword as I went.
When I entered the castle, I slowed down, following the trail of blown-open doors and the distant sound of yelling.
"Gamora, let her go!" Drax's voice echoed as I reached the room.
"The bodies in the caverns—who are they?" Gamora demanded, her tone sharp and unrelenting.
"You're scared," Mantis said softly, and almost immediately, Gamora released her grip. She stepped back, glancing around fearfully.
"What did she do to me?" Gamora's voice wavered.
"She already told me everything," Drax said gravely.
Mantis hesitated, but then she spoke. "The bodies… they're his children."
We ran toward the chamber where we knew Ego and Quill were. A blinding flash of light forced us to shield our eyes, but only for a moment.
Bursting through the door, we saw Ego holding Quill with a glowing tentacle. Before any of us could react, a ship crashed through a window, crushing Ego.
While the others rushed to Quill's side, I unsheathed my sword, keeping an eye on Ego's scattered remains. I could feel him reforming. Half-listening to the conversation, I focused on covering the rear until everyone made it aboard the ship.
"How do we kill a celestial?" Drax asked as Ego's glowing tentacles began wrapping around the ship.
"There's a center to him—his brain, his soul, something. It's in a protective shell," Quill said, his voice urgent.
"It's in the caverns, below the surface," Mantis added.
As the tentacles tightened around the ship, the thrusters roared to life. The ship shuddered violently, causing us to stumble into each other. After a few tense moments, the ship broke free and rocketed downward.
Knowing where this was heading, I sheathed my sword and braced myself against the nearest railing. The ship bucked and tumbled as it descended, throwing everyone around.
"Here goes that plan," I muttered under my breath, realizing my abilities were being blocked by the intense magnetic pulses of the planet's core.
Suddenly, the ship struck something—a massive fleet of Sovereign ships—and everyone was thrown out. Gripping tightly to the railing, I held on as long as I could before losing my grip.
Switching my sword's position, I stabbed it into a pillar to slow my descent. Momentum eventually eased, and I dropped to the cavern floor, pulling my sword free and surveying the chaos.
Above me, Sovereign ships were exchanging fire with Ego's glowing form.
"Well, damn. Now what?" I muttered, mostly to myself.
Ego reappeared, his form looming.
"He's coming!" Mantis screamed.
"No kidding," I said under my breath.
"Didn't you say you could put him to sleep?" Drax asked, looking at Mantis.
"Only when he lets me. He's too strong," she said, her voice trembling.
Drax frowned but leaned closer to her. "It's okay if you don't believe in yourself… because I believe in you!"
Ego launched another attack, and I teleported in front of it, swinging my sword to block the momentum. My muscles screamed in protest, and I felt the blade beginning to crack.
"Lady, you'd better get a move on—I don't know how long I can hold this!" I shouted.
Mantis dropped to her knees, grabbing one of the glowing veins. With a desperate scream, she yelled, "Sleep!"
Ego's attack vanished, and I quickly retreated, inspecting my sword. Cracks spiderwebbed along the blade, and it looked like it could shatter at any moment.
"I didn't think she could do it," Drax said with a grin. "Not with how weak and skinny she looks."
"I don't know how long I can hold him!" Mantis strained, her voice breaking.
I noticed Gamora staring at me with an expression I couldn't quite place.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked, but she turned away, guarding Mantis without a word.
Before I could think further, a red laser shot past, nearly taking my foot off.
"Hey!" Drax called, pointing upward.
Sovereign ships exploded one by one, but not without cost. The ship responsible for the destruction soon followed, raining down debris.
"Peter! No!" Gamora cried out. Moments later, Quill and a blue-skinned man floated down.
"I'm Mary Poppins, y'all!" the blue man shouted, a proud grin on his face.
Explosions echoed around us, and while everyone was distracted, Mantis was struck by falling debris.
"Mantis! Look out!" Drax shouted—far too late.
With Mantis unconscious, Ego began to reform, his glowing tentacles breaking through the ground. Quill snapped into action, barking orders.
"Drax, take Mantis! Tenno, go with them!" Quill slapped a device onto Drax, activating it.
Immediately, I grabbed onto Drax's leg as we shot into the air. Below, I watched as Ego's tentacles lashed out, but the others were holding their ground. For now.