"Apparition."
With the awakened ship's magical barrier fully active, Rowan Mercer vanished from the carrier and reappeared above the planet. In the next instant, his body twisted and expanded as he invoked his Animagus form.
A dragon.
"Maximum output."
Giant-scale magic surged to its limit. The dragon's body, already colossal at five hundred meters, continued to swell until it reached nearly seven kilometers in length before finally stabilizing.
His magic hadn't stood still. During his time studying advanced spellcraft in other worlds, he had refined the concept of size manipulation itself. The result was cleaner, more efficient, and vastly more controllable.
This dramatic entrance wasn't just fueled by anger at the slaughter below.
Rowan was furious, yes, but he wasn't reckless. Rage never replaced calculation.
Quill's proposal had merit. Lure Thanos and Ronan out with the Tesseract, eliminate them cleanly, seize their ships intact, and walk away with maximum profit and minimal effort.
But that wasn't the outcome Rowan wanted.
With restoration magic, even a shattered fleet could be rebuilt. Material losses meant nothing to him. As for Thanos, wielding only the Mind Stone, he was hardly an existential threat. Powerful physically, deadly up close, but against Rowan, still just a target.
Ronan was even less concerning.
What mattered was perception.
If Thanos and Ronan died through an ambush, the galaxy would credit cleverness. They would praise Rowan as dangerous, but only individually so. No one would believe he could stand alone against an entire armada.
But if he crushed their fleets head-on, annihilated them in full view, then the message would be unmistakable.
One individual outweighed two of the universe's most feared war forces combined.
That was the kind of fear that shaped diplomacy.
Earth's entry into the cosmic stage required deterrence, not courtesy. The Nova Empire, despite its civilized veneer, had only survived by being strong. Without overwhelming force on display, Earth would invite endless trouble.
That was why Rowan chose dominance over subtlety.
"What the hell is that?"
A seven-kilometer dragon materializing in orbit naturally drew everyone's attention.
Including Thanos and Ronan.
On the planet's surface, their meeting was already underway.
Ronan had fulfilled Thanos's demand. The planet's defenses lay in ruins, and half its population had been exterminated. Proof of loyalty, paid in blood.
Thanos sat upon his floating throne, towering and composed, looking down on Ronan as one might examine a useful tool. Ronan stood below, gripping his universal weapon, the Kree warhammer.
"Saros," Ronan said, voice sharp with restrained fervor. "I've done as you asked. We can discuss the details of our alliance now."
"Kree," Thanos replied coolly, eyes heavy with disdain. "You've shown competence. Speak your terms."
To Thanos, Ronan was a rebellious child throwing a tantrum against his empire. Immature, volatile, but potentially useful.
"My demand is simple," Ronan declared, raising his hammer. "Help me take Xandar. Erase the Nova Empire. When it falls, I will overthrow the Supreme Intelligence and rule the Kree as their true king."
Hatred burned behind his words. His family had died in the war. And now the Supreme Intelligence sought peace.
Unforgivable.
"Xandar is of little difficulty," Thanos said flatly. "But what do I gain?"
Ronan's answer came immediately. "Half of Nova territory. Their worlds are yours to cull as you see fit."
Thanos sneered.
"I want none of that. Find me the Orb, and I will help you take Xandar. That is our agreement."
Ronan stiffened, fury flashing through his eyes. But he swallowed it.
"Very well. I will deliver the Orb."
Inside, he promised himself that once the empire was his, Thanos would be the first to die.
"Father," Nebula said, stepping forward, her blue skin gleaming with cybernetic lines. "Gamora's ship has arrived."
At that, Thanos finally smiled.
He looked skyward, spotting the descending Ravager carrier marked with familiar insignia.
"My beloved daughter," he murmured. "You never disappoint."
Then the sky darkened.
A massive shadow fell across the battlefield as the dragon's form eclipsed the clouds.
Before anyone could react, Rowan spoke.
"Gather, river of light guided by the fair folk.
Shine forth.
Judge the fangs of evil."
"Fairy Radiance."
He didn't strike Thanos or Ronan.
Instead, the newly mastered super-spell detonated toward Sanctuary II.
Cripple the escape.
The hunt could wait.