Everyone looked toward the breach.
Two figures stood there. One was a hulking man covered in red tattoos: Drax the Destroyer.
The other was an alien woman with two antennae and unsettlingly large eyes: Mantis.
Drax charged into the hall, swept his gaze around, then rushed up to the others. His eyes widened as though he had uncovered an earth-shattering secret, and he shouted:
"Everyone, listen to me! I've discovered an earth-shattering secret!"
"This ugly woman with the antennae told me everything!"
Drax looked deadly serious, as if he were announcing the end of the world.
"This Ego... he's a villain!"
"He doesn't want to find his son at all! He wants to use Quill! He's going to plant seeds on countless planets, then turn the entire universe into himself!"
"We have to stop him!"
With that, Drax struck a fighting stance and looked around, waiting for everyone to react in shock.
But...
The silence was painfully awkward.
Everyone stared at him as if he were an idiot.
"..."
Still holding his pose, Drax blinked in confusion.
"Why... aren't you surprised?"
Rocket walked straight up to Drax and patted his muscular leg with one paw.
"Wow..." Rocket said with exaggerated sarcasm. "That really is an... earth-shattering secret, Drax."
"If your brain worked half as fast as you eat, you would've figured it out two days ago."
Looking smug, Rocket pointed to where Ego had just dissolved.
"And that villain you're talking about? Yours truly already killed him."
"He's dead?"
Drax froze, then looked at everyone's relaxed faces.
"Ha! Hahahaha!"
He burst into hearty laughter and slapped Rocket on his bare head, nearly driving the raccoon into the ground.
"I knew it! Nothing can stop us! Drax the Destroyer's friends have slain that great demon!"
"No..."
A trembling voice spoke up.