The Battle of the Celestials

Ego's smile froze.

For the first time, the smile on that handsome, charismatic face stiffened. He stared at the miniature version of himself in Chu Hang's hand. A flash of undisguised shock flickered deep in his eyes, followed by undisguised killing intent.

He could sense that the other man wasn't imitating him, but creating. That fundamental control over matter and energy was exactly the same as his own.

This meant that the seemingly ordinary human before him had already reached the same level as him in terms of life hierarchy.

"Interesting." Ego quickly reined in his emotions and put his smile back on, though it looked somewhat forced. "It seems I'm not the only lonely wanderer in the universe. My friend, are you a Celestial too?"

"More or less." Chu Hang dispersed the energy in his hand and answered casually.

He could sense Ego's killing intent, but Ego had concealed it well. Clearly, until he had figured out Chu Hang's true capabilities—and while he still needed Quill, this battery—he had no intention of turning hostile.

"Wonderful!" Ego put on an ecstatic expression. He stepped forward and tried to pat Chu Hang on the shoulder, but Chu Hang dodged it without making a fuss.

"Peter, did you hear that? We're not the only ones!" Ego turned to Quill, his voice filled with excitement. "We are the most exalted life-forms in the universe. We share a common mission!"

He pulled Quill along and began painting a magnificent blueprint. He said that his expansion plan was meant to bring order and light to the cold universe, incorporating all life into his eternal consciousness and making everything one.

Quill was utterly bewitched by these words. Becoming a god, gaining eternal life, and reshaping the universe alongside a Celestial father—those were temptations he couldn't resist.