In a remote and sparsely populated part of the Knowhere.
A group of Ravagers, armed to the teeth, surrounded three individuals who appeared human.
The Ravagers, fierce and daunting, did not seem like good folk they exuded a malevolent aura, and the weapons in their hands grew hotter by the second.
The air around them became stifling hot, a terrifying murderous intent sweeping across the area.
In contrast to these daunting figures, the three surrounded individuals seemed as helpless as rabbits, merely waiting to be slaughtered.
However, to the Ravagers astonishment, their prey was not only unpanicked but even dared to strike first.
The leader of the trio moved his hand fast as lightning.
Before the Ravagers could react, Yondu face sported a fresh bruise, and his body flew backward like a rag doll, knocking down a swath of his comrades.
This commotion made the remaining Ravagers realize what was happening and they aimed their guns at Superman without hesitation, pulling the triggers relentlessly.
Bang bang bang bang bang!
The energy fluctuations from the laser bullets, like raindrops, fell on Superman.
Superman, expression unchanged and dressed in battle attire, stood his ground amid the horrified stares of the onlookers, bearing the brunt of these energy bullets.
Zzzzzz!
A sound akin to electricity crackled continuously.
Superman stretched himself and, looking at the Ravagers before him, cracked a smile, then spoke again.
"No good."
He said, "This kid massage effect isn't quite up to par, you might want to increase the intensity a bit it like tickling."
This remark stunned everyone.
Including Superman companions, Carol and Nick Fury.
They were well aware of the firepower of these weapons.
These were not earthly arms but mainstream laser guns of the universe.
The energy bullets released from the laser guns not only reduced recoil but also enhanced power, capable of easily annihilating enemies into dust and even piercing through the hulls of starships.
Even Carol, who possessed extraordinary powers and whose combat abilities far exceeded the cosmic average, dared not claim she could withstand so many laser bullets.
Fortunately, they had anticipated Superman strength, and although shocked, they weren't completely taken aback.
The real shock was on the enemies faces, unable to accept this reality.
"How is this possible?"
Someone exclaimed, trembling, knowing they had provoked someone they shouldn't have.
"Being able to withstand so many laser bullets, who are you exactly?"
This wasn't just one person question.
Yondu, who was slapped by Superman and took half a minute to get up, his inner fury ablaze, saw this scene and felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head, extinguishing his rage.
Having traversed the cosmos for many years, he considered himself well-traveled.
People with special powers were a common sight for him that was nothing new.
But those like Superman, who could withstand laser bullets without a scratch, were exceedingly rare.
Such individuals were invariably significant figures in the universe, almost sovereign-like in their might.
And from Superman demeanor, it was evident this was not even his full strength.
Yondu then realized that this man in the unique suit, marked with an S had an extraordinary confidence from the moment they met.
Anyone who dared challenge the Ravagers was certainly not ordinary.
"You're not human..."
Yondu suddenly realized, his eyes wide with horror, and simultaneously, numerous questions popped into his head, utterly perplexed:
"Who exactly are you? With your capabilities, why would you need Peter to carry out tasks for you? What are you trying to use Peter for?"
Yondu reference to Peter was definitely about Star-Lord, Peter Quill, and not the young Spider-Man, Peter Parker.
In the Marvel universe, the coincidence of names is countless, and Anton, transformed into Superman, had long stopped bothering to correct them.
So far, he had met at least three Johns, two Peters, two Phils, two Johnnys, and so on.
Hearing Yondu barrage of questions, Superman expression remained unchanged.
"If I had to personally handle every mission, what would I need you for?"
Superman said coolly, "Then the Ravagers would just be a joke."
Yondu was left speechless.
He knew things were not as simple as Superman made them sound, but Superman comment stifled all his retorts.
With Superman power far surpassing theirs, Yondu had no room to question further.
"Mr. Kent, we don't want to be your enemies!"
As the conflict escalated and Yondu realized Superman strength, he knew he had to accept the slap he'd received, so his attitude shifted, showing no intention to retaliate, and he pleaded,
"I will do everything I can to help you find Peter whereabouts, hoping we can turn enemies into friends."
"We were never enemies."
Superman spoke, "But as long as you stay, we have a simpler and more direct way to solve our problems."
"Is staying the only option?"
Yondu face turned sour.
"Yes."
Superman nodded affirmatively, "It mandatory, but whether you stay on your own accord or I make you stay is up to you."
His expression was impassive, but his words were ice cold.
"After all, I don't mind if you stay as corpses."
Hearing this, a chill ran down Yondu and his team spines.
Superman performance had instilled an unprecedented fear in them, and now, they exchanged looks, seemingly communicating through their eyes.
In fact, Yondu was using subtle gestures to command his comrades.
Whether it was staying passively or actively, it meant placing their lives in someone else hands.
This was a situation Yondu and his people could not accept.
So, they decided to fight desperately.
"Attack that woman!"
Yondu commanded his subordinates in code, "If we can capture that woman, we can threaten this damned bastard."
"Understood!"
His subordinates caught the coded message and understood.
Superman saw their subtle movements and, although he didn't understand the coded language, his keen senses could tell that Yondu and his men had no intention of surrendering.
"Move!"
The next moment, as Superman seemed distracted, Yondu whistled sharply, retreating explosively.
His head-arrow, controlled by his whistle, shot out like lightning toward Superman.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
The arrow burst with red light.
Instantly, the air exploded, and the currents stirred by the arrow flight spread in all directions, aiming straight for Superman eyes with piercing precision.
Superman didn't even blink as the arrow approached.
In his gaze, he looked beyond the arrow, seemingly about to pierce his brain, and focused on Yondu, who was still whistling.
"Hmm?"
In a flash, Yondu heart tightened, as if a giant hand was squeezing his heart.
He couldn't understand why, with danger imminent, this man could remain so composed.
It was as if this man was dealing with child play, not even considering them a threat.
Unless... he didn't see it as a danger at all.
Yondu eyes widened, a bad feeling washing over him.
The next moment, exactly as Yondu feared, just when the arrow was millimeters from Superman eye, Superman raised his hand and caught the arrow.
Under Yondu shocked and incredulous gaze, Superman easily snapped the arrow, made of a special material, as effortlessly as snapping a chopstick.
"Gulp!"
Yondu swallowed hard, inhaling sharply.
Then, his pupils constricted again.
The man in front of him suddenly closed the distance, standing less than half a palm width away.
Yondu could even smell the strong masculine scent emanating from the man, mixed with a faint hint of a clean fragrance.
"No!"
Yondu cried out in alarm.
In his mind, he imagined this man reaching out with a large hand, gripping his neck, and effortlessly snapping it, ending his life.
"Aren't you worried about your companions..."
While speaking, he glanced from the corner of his eye and saw that under his order, the attack on the seemingly frail woman among the three had resulted in being blown away by a tremendous and unstoppable force.
Boom!!
The sound of the explosion echoed in everyone ears.
Yondu was stunned.
His companions were blown away by the energy shockwave released by the woman, sprawling over ten meters away.
If not for their protective suits, they would probably be nothing more than mangled corpses now.
"How is this possible?"
This thought flashed rapidly through his mind.
"Who exactly are you?"
Then, he slumped to the ground in a gesture of giving up resistance, his body dripping with cold sweat.
Yondu had just sat down when he saw a large hand reaching out toward him.
Under his terrified gaze, the hand gripped his neck as he had imagined, lifting his limp body off the ground.
The other party spoke calmly.
"Now is not the time for you to ask questions."
Superman stated blandly, "If you want to stay alive, you'll follow our instructions."
He paused, "I want to see Peter Quill in front of us immediately, handing over what shouldn't be in his possession. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
Yondu conceded.
Seeing that the other party had no intention of killing him or his men, at least not immediately, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'll cooperate with you in whatever you need to do."
Yondu attitude pleased Superman, who nodded, "Then act immediately, send a message to Star-Lord."
"Alright."
Yondu nodded, seeing the hand release his neck, he couldn't help but exhale deeply.
While following Superman instructions, he desperately tried to recall who these people could be.
Such powerful beings with extraordinary abilities were exceedingly rare in the universe.
Such figures could not be nameless.
He must have overlooked something.
Suddenly.
Carol Danvers.
Yondu felt like he had heard that name somewhere before.
After contacting Star-Lord as instructed by Superman, including him, the entire Ravagers team had their interstellar communicators taken away and were physically restrained from moving.
Staring hard at Carol, Yondu suddenly realized where he had seen this woman before.
"Carol Danvers…"
Yondu gasped.
"No!"
"She not Carol Danvers, she Carol, a traitor to the Kree, a criminal listed on the highest wanted notice issued by the Kree Empire…"
"It definitely her!"
Meanwhile.
In a different star system, aboard a spaceship aimlessly wandering through space, Star-Lord, who had not gone to the Knowhere to meet with Superman and the others, received a "greeting" from "home."
Star-Lord read the message and his expression changed.
Having grown up among Yondu band of Ravagers, Star-Lord understood exactly what the message meant.
It seemed like a greeting, but it was actually a warning to run.
Yondu and the others were in danger, unable to escape, telling Star-Lord to get away quickly and not get involved.
Though Star-Lord was known to be miserly and greedy, he was not inherently evil.
He deeply valued his companions.
Yondu, who had raised him from childhood, was especially important to him. Even though he never verbally acknowledged it, Star-Lord always considered Yondu like a father.
Now, with Yondu and the entire team in jeopardy, how could he possibly flee alone?
"What has happened?"
Star-Lord mind was in chaos.
He had been in a good mood initially.
Although the object he possessed had attracted the attention of the Kree, after learning of its substantial value from certain sources, he tried to extort more money by leveraging the Orb. The other party readily agreed.
This made Star-Lord suspicious.
He felt he was being drawn into a whirlpool.
Indeed.
In the following days, his movements were completely monitored by someone, and a series of assassination attempts ensued.
Star-Lord became even more certain of the Orb uniqueness.
This strange sphere must contain some secret unknown to him.
Therefore, Star-Lord decided to keep the Orb until he could unravel its mysteries.
Shortly after, he received the "greeting" from "home."
"Stay away from the Knowhere!"
Star-Lord frowned, realizing where the problem lay.
The Knowhere was the location he had agreed upon for the trade with the mission issuer.
Only, he had stood them up.
"Could it be them?"
Star-Lord pondered, feeling it very likely was those three fellow Earthlings.
"If it really is you, I'll make you regret it," Star-Lord muttered to himself.
He now had a plan to break out of this predicament.
Though risky, it was the only and most effective way.
The Orb was his opportunity.
As far as he knew, three forces were currently pursuing him.
One was the Earthlings who had put Yondu and the others in danger second, Ronan minions, those Kree and third, a green-skinned woman, seemingly from the now-extinct Zen-Whoberi race...
All these forces, undoubtedly, were after the Orb in his possession.
To rescue Yondu and the others, Star-Lord only option was to use these three parties to cause a major chaos, then sneak in amidst the confusion to free Yondu and his team.
"The Knowhere..."
While contemplating, Star-Lord sneered and sped towards the location.