The Collector removed his glasses and studied the group before walking straight to Gamora. He gently lifted her hand.
"It is an honor to meet you, Lady Gamora."
He pressed a delicate kiss to the back of her hand.
Behind her, Quill rolled his eyes. Anyone can play the gentleman.
"We have what you're looking for," Gamora said coolly.
The Collector tilted his head. "And what might that be?"
His gaze drifted past her—to Groot.
"I am Groot," Groot offered politely.
The Collector approached him slowly, eyes gleaming with fascination.
"Allow me to purchase you. Name your price. I will not bargain."
"I am Groot."
Rocket snorted. "What, you gonna turn him into some weird decorative chair?"
The Collector didn't look away from Groot. "Is this creature your pet?"
Rocket bristled instantly, yanking his weapon forward. "Say that again—"
"Enough," Gamora cut in sharply.
"We crossed half the galaxy to show you this."
She nodded to Quill.
Quill stepped forward, pulling out the Orb. He clearly intended to perform some flashy flourish—
Instead, it slipped from his hands and clattered loudly onto the floor.
Every single person facepalmed in perfect unison.
Drax quietly slipped out of the room during the distraction—so subtly that even Karl didn't notice. All attention was fixed on the Orb now cradled in the Collector's hands.
---
The Collector placed the Orb into a mechanical cradle. Twin prongs locked into its lattice framework.
"In the dawn of the universe," he began, pressing a button, "there emerged six singularities."
The prongs rotated. The Orb spun.
Around them, circular holograms ignited, displaying cosmic imagery.
"After the great cosmic expansion, fragments of those singularities crystallized into six stones."
Six gems appeared in the projections—each a different color. Towering, godlike beings loomed in the background.
The outer shell of the Orb split apart.
"These are known as the Infinity Stones."
The second layer peeled back, revealing a growing violet glow.
"Their energy is beyond measure."
Images flickered: the Tesseract. The Aether. The Eye of Agamotto.
"But immense power is rarely easily controlled."
The central projection shifted to a colossal armored being wielding a staff tipped with a purple gem. He struck a planet's surface.
A tidal wave of violet energy consumed the world.
Civilization died in seconds.
The planet turned to ash.
"An Infinity Stone in the right hands can annihilate an entire civilization as effortlessly as breathing."
Quill stared wide-eyed. "That's… horrifying. I might actually wet myself."
The Collector's lips curved faintly.
"Once, foolish beings attempted to contain such power within their bodies."
The final shell of the Orb unlocked.
A radiant purple crystal hovered within.
The Power Stone.
Its glow bathed the chamber in violet light.
"Under its energy," the Collector continued, "they were reduced to dust."
The chamber brightened as the Stone's brilliance intensified.
"Magnificent…"
Behind him, the red-skinned servant, Carina, stepped forward—resolve hardening in her eyes.
Rocket waved dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, bedtime stories later. When do we get paid?"
He didn't care about cosmic history.
He cared about the forty billion.
"How would you prefer payment?" the Collector asked.
"Cash," Rocket replied instantly. "No transfers. No trail."
Just like Earth—digital credits could be traced.
Cash vanished.
The Collector opened a drawer, revealing neatly stacked metal credit bars.
As he reached in—
He noticed Carina approaching the Stone.
"Carina. Stand down," he ordered sharply.
But she didn't stop.
"I will not be your slave anymore!" she cried.
And she grabbed the Power Stone.
Instantly, violet flames erupted from her hand, racing across her body. Bolts of purple energy blasted outward in chaotic arcs, detonating glass cases and displays.
Explosions ripped through the chamber.
Artifacts shattered. Living specimens screamed. Fire spread rapidly.
Violet veins split across Carina's skin as energy coursed through her. Her eyes burned with purple fire.
Groot scooped up Rocket and bolted for cover.
Quill dove behind a reinforced wall, dragging Gamora down with him.
The Stone's power overwhelmed Carina. Her body began to disintegrate—cracking, burning, unraveling.
Energy surged toward critical mass.
One more second—
"Ice Wall!"
Karl thrust his hand forward.
A massive barrier of dense, crystalline ice erupted before him. Frost rolled outward, forming a chilling dome that suppressed the violet energy within its radius.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
For a brief moment, the Stone's destructive surge stalled against the wall.
Then—
BOOM.
Carina exploded.
A catastrophic blast tore through the chamber. Purple firestorm waves obliterated displays and incinerated countless treasures.
Even with Karl's barrier absorbing part of the shockwave, the hall was left in ruins—burning, shattered, and drowning in violet embers.
The Collector's priceless collection lay in smoldering wreckage.
And the Power Stone, still glowing, hovered amid the devastation.
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