Hela wanted to absorb the Brood's life force, but the aura of Negative Space nearly made her cough up blood.
The stench was unbearable. She simply could not absorb it, so she ordered Baldy, "Go find me someone stronger. No bugs!"
After sending Baldy out to ambush someone, she turned curiously toward Galactus.
"Polluted energy, but it will do." Galactus stood far above Hela in realm. He needed no additional aids whatsoever. Like wireless transmission, he merely inhaled toward Ronan.
Ronan's cells resisted desperately. Under normal circumstances, Galactus could not draw out this fundamental power. Otherwise, he could just take a breath from every powerhouse and become invincible.
Ronan had no ability to resist now, giving Galactus an opportunity. Though his cells fought the suction with all their might, they began to collapse after holding out for thirty seconds.
His skin, muscles, and bones remained completely unharmed, but the Primordial Cosmic Energy that had been artificially processed within Ronan's body was reshaped into the activation energy for Galactus's massive form. The amount was tiny, like needing five hundred thousand to unfreeze national assets—a drop in the bucket. Still, Ronan's payment restored Galactus's ability to move.
And Ronan's life came to an end.
His sacrifice gave both Galactus and Hela some mobility. Galactus turned to absorb the source energy taken by the giant beetles, while Baldy tricked another sturdy fellow over for Hela to drain his life force. They were both rapidly recovering their strength, while Baldy examined the man on the ground who still had one breath left. To cut the grass, one must remove the roots—every Hydra agent understood that.
The tip of Gungnir aimed at Ronan's heart, poised to strike.
"Do not think of humiliating me! The Kree will never surrender!..." Ronan suddenly opened his eyes, startling Baldy.