It wasn't that Adam's strength had evolved beyond what the Guardians of the Galaxy could handle. Rather, for the Guardians, Adam was already one of them. Even though Adam's mind was still somewhat immature, it didn't prevent the Guardians from recognizing him as part of their team.
Therefore, when Adam's attention was drawn to the problem posed by Brute Bear, the Guardians were concerned. However, as Star-Lord ordered them to engage in battle, their worries quickly dissipated because Adam, without hesitation, followed Drax straight into the fray.
"I was planning to buy some time and deal with your ship first, but I guess I was being too cautious. You'll all die now!" Brute Bear sneered, his mechanical device spinning rapidly and transforming into a rotating energy blade aimed at Drax.
With a resounding clang, Drax's dagger met the attack, but despite his immense strength, Drax staggered backward, nearly losing his balance.
"Hahaha! Such power!" Drax laughed maniacally, showing no fear as he steadied himself and charged at Brute Bear again, as if he were the one gaining the upper hand.
"What's wrong with your brain?" Brute Bear sneered with disdain at Drax's reaction. "I really don't want to waste my time with such a primitive being. Just die already!"
With that, Brute Bear increased his offensive pace. For a moment, Drax could only struggle to keep up, using his dagger to parry Brute Bear's relentless attacks. Surprisingly, this single foe was enough to keep one of the Guardians' strongest fighters at bay.
Elsewhere, the battle was equally challenging for the Guardians. Gamora and Rocket Raccoon were both facing difficulties, especially Gamora.
Though Gamora was renowned as the most dangerous woman in the galaxy, her individual strength wasn't top-tier. She could easily handle average aliens, but against the augmented soldiers of the Orgocorp, her speed and strength were no match.
Even Drax, whose raw power surpassed Gamora's, was being suppressed by Brute Bear. While Gamora's agility and flexibility gave her a slight edge, it wasn't enough to dominate or defeat the mechanically enhanced lifeforms she faced.
Rocket Raccoon fared better due to his unique situation. As a key target for the High Evolutionary, none of his enemies dared to seriously harm him. They were restricted to attempts at capturing him alive, making it easier for Rocket to evade them.
Rocket's small stature worked to his advantage, allowing him to dart nimbly among his foes. For now, he faced no immediate risk of capture.
Meanwhile, the other Guardians performed admirably. Groot, in particular, entered a berserk mode, utilizing his massive form and racial advantages to create a miniature forest within the organic environment of Orgocorp. Despite the lack of soil and the strange composition of the terrain, Groot's roots spread rapidly, transforming the area into his domain.
Groot's intervention greatly aided his teammates. For instance, Mantis, whose combat skills and speed were no match for their opponents, found it easier to operate thanks to Groot. Though her initial surprise attacks succeeded in neutralizing two foes, the rest of the enemies quickly became wary, keeping her at bay. Groot's vines, however, tripped and trapped several of them, making them easier to subdue.
Adam and Star-Lord also proved to be formidable. Adam's energy waves, resembling fiery blasts, enhanced his destructive power, while Star-Lord's combat abilities, augmented by his mech suit, allowed him to deal significant damage to their enemies.
"Damn it! How are 89P13's companions so strong? I almost had that brute, but what's with these cursed vines?" Brute Bear, unfamiliar with Groot, grew increasingly anxious as the forest hindered his progress.
Without Groot and his newly created forest, Orgocorp would have had the upper hand. However, the tables turned, making it difficult for Orgocorp's forces to deal substantial damage to the Guardians. Groot's vines, though not indestructible, grew back rapidly, endlessly hindering their enemies' movements.
"What's going on? Is His Majesty watching? Why hasn't he stepped in? And what about the ship outside? Why hasn't it been dealt with yet? What if 89P13 escapes?" Brute Bear's internal panic grew. His distraction allowed Drax to seize an opportunity, pinning him against a nearby tree trunk.
At that moment, a thunderous explosion erupted within Orgocorp, briefly startling Drax and allowing Brute Bear to escape.
The explosion's cause was none other than Nebula, stationed outside. Initially concerned about Gamora and the team, she hesitated to act without their signal, fearing it might complicate matters. But when the Guardians' ship's alarms blared and enemy ships appeared, Nebula sprang into action.
The ensuing space battle showcased Nebula's exceptional piloting skills and the Guardians' ship's advanced capabilities. Despite being outnumbered, Nebula destroyed Orgocorp's ships and launched an assault on the giant organic structure housing their enemies.
The bio-organic fortress exhibited extraordinary resilience, its defenses far exceeding those of a comparably sized planet. Nebula's firepower barely breached its surface, but the impact was enough to reconnect communications.
"Star-Lord, can you hear me? I couldn't contact you before—Orgocorp's ships are neutralized, but they might have reinforcements. Should we retreat?"
"You're just in time! Open fire on these bastards! Our plans are compromised, so we have no choice but to fight head-on!" Star-Lord's frustrated voice crackled over the comms.
Without hesitation, Nebula unleashed the ship's weaponry, careful to avoid harming her allies on the ground.
"Shit!" Brute Bear cursed as he realized he couldn't withstand the ship's firepower. He turned and fled deeper into Orgocorp's base, intent on regrouping.
"Don't let him escape! Groot, grab him—he must have information on the High Evolutionary!" Star-Lord ordered.
"I am Groot!" Groot responded as his vines surged forward, ensnaring Brute Bear's mechanical legs. Despite his struggles, Brute Bear couldn't break free.
In desperation, he detonated his leg implants, sacrificing them to escape. Propelled by his arm-mounted thrusters, he hurtled toward the heart of Orgocorp.
"After him! Nebula, pick us up and level this place!" Star-Lord shouted.
Nebula promptly retrieved the team and unleashed the ship's full firepower, obliterating Orgocorp's bio-organic structure. Amid the fiery destruction, Brute Bear managed to flee in a small spacecraft, heading toward another sector of the galaxy.
"Follow him!" Star-Lord commanded as the Guardians' ship gave chase.
Unbeknownst to them, another vessel arrived shortly after, its crew scanning the ruins. Among them were Thor and Supergiant.
"We're too late. A battle took place here, but it's unclear who won," Thor muttered, his gaze fixed on the debris. "If Gamora lost, the Soul Stone's location will be even harder to uncover."
"Relax. No prey escapes the Black Order," Supergiant replied confidently. Their ship's scanners detected recent energy trails, leading them to pursue the Guardians.
Unaware they were being followed, the Guardians pursued Brute Bear into a familiar sector of space.
"Wait... isn't this the solar system?" Rocket muttered, recognizing the surroundings.
"Is that Jupiter? No... it's really the solar system! Could the High Evolutionary be on Mars or Venus?" Star-Lord exclaimed, quickly contacting the Avengers.
Though no immediate danger was evident, Star-Lord knew that confronting their enemy near Earth required a heads-up to the Avengers.
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