Star Destroyer

Warm light poured down from above, like the gentle sunshine of an Earth spring day, making Galacta feel as though all the pain and exhaustion in her body had melted away.

Her long eyelashes fluttered as she opened her weary eyes and stared blankly ahead.

Through the haze, she vaguely made out a familiar figure—the sharply defined face and those pale golden eyes.

She realized that her right hand was being firmly held by a large, powerful hand.

The blue giant was crouched halfway down. Galacta's head rested in the crook of one of his arms, while her other hand was tightly clasped with his.

Galacta's lips were pale as she asked in a voice barely above a whisper, "Richard, is that you?"

"Of course. Who else would it be?" Richard replied softly.

Galacta blinked blankly. "Huh? Why... why are you here?"

Richard chuckled softly. "Because I'm a guardian deity, remember? If I can't even protect you, then what right do I have to talk about protecting a planet? I might as well resign on the spot."

"But, but... they're all so powerful." Galacta struggled to sit up.

"I know," Richard said. "But we aren't weak either, are we? You and me, together, working as one."

Galacta looked into his eyes for a moment. She said nothing more and obediently nodded.

Richard smiled silently.

This had diverged greatly from his original plan, and the situation they faced was far from optimistic. At worst, the two of them might both be defeated here next... but none of that mattered now.

At least he had achieved his purpose.

He had crossed more than half the universe, barged into the territory of the Elders of the Universe, and taken on six cosmic gods at once, all to see Galacta.

And now, his wish