Star-Lord pulled a long face, complaining to Peter with a look of dissatisfaction:
"Bro, we're about to die together, is there any point in taking advantage of me right now?"
Peter rolled his eyes speechlessly.
"What do you mean 'taking advantage'? Do you think I want an outrageous son like you?"
"Is it possible that your biological father has actually arrived?"
Hearing this, Star-Lord couldn't help but freeze.
At the very moment he was dazed, a silver-white ship sped toward them.
As the ship approached, it suddenly fired thousands of white beams. Everywhere the light passed, the fighters chasing the destiny exploded one after another.
It had actually cleared all the Sovereign fighters in a single strike!
"Whoa~"
Rocket couldn't help but nudge Star-Lord with his elbow:
"Though you might not be happy to hear this, honestly, it doesn't seem like a bad deal to claim a father like that!"
Drax the Destroyer also chimed in with a low blow:
"Are you really his child? He is much stronger than you."
Groot was overjoyed: "I am Groot~"
Star-Lord ignored their teasing, staring blankly at the white-haired old man standing on the silver ship outside the viewport. After a long while, he spoke up to complain:
"I get the gist, but why is he... riding an egg?"
Rocket, Groot, Gamora, Drax: ...
Nebula, whose hands and feet were still bound, couldn't help but look at Gamora and let out a sneer:
"So this is your taste. You gave up all the young talents of Titan, only to choose a fool as your boyfriend."
"Shut up!" Gamora shouted at her sister, her composure slipping slightly.
In her heart, however, she couldn't help but agree with Star-Lord.
Quill wasn't wrong; that old geezer's ship really did look like an egg!
Before long, a silver-haired old man wearing long robes, with a gentle temperament and an expression that said 'I haven't been the boss for many years,' smiled and knocked on the destiny's viewport.
Noticing this action, Peter and Sif instinctively glanced at each other, instantly reaching a consensus:
A poser!
Although he was frantically complaining about the lecherous old man outside the window in his heart, there was no choice. After all, Peter lusted after his body...
Uh, that sounds a bit weird.
Who told Peter to lust after his genes...
Fuck, that sounds even weirder!
Anyway, Peter still opened the hatch of the destiny and let the old man, Ego, inside.
As soon as he entered, Ego opened his arms toward Peter:
"Peter Quill, my dear child, I've finally found you!"
Ego had come looking for Star-Lord because he had withstood the impact of the Power Stone, thereby awakening his Celestial bloodline.
Therefore, he instinctively assumed that the strongest person in the crowd was his son.
So, without a second thought, he identified Peter as his son.
This action of his successfully plunged the scene into an eerie silence.
After a long time, Drax, who had a very low threshold for humor, burst out laughing, even falling to the floor and rolling around while clutching his stomach.
Rocket couldn't help but continue nudging Star-Lord's shin:
"Now you can even save on the cost of a paternity test. You're definitely his offspring."
"I am Groot~" The clueless Groot also started giggling along.
Only Star-Lord slapped his forehead in agony. Having a biological father who hadn't been seen for twenty years mistake someone else for him upon meeting was hard for anyone to handle.
He then stiffened his face:
"Old geezer, don't expect me to say a single word to you until you've settled twenty-five years of child support!"
Watching Star-Lord turn and walk away, Ego finally realized he had made a blunder.
This awkward scene made even Ego, who had lived for billions of years, curl his toes in embarrassment.
Thus, he could only smile apologetically at Peter before turning his gaze to Star-Lord:
"Child, child support and all that can be discussed. As long as you are willing to return to my side, I will grant you an entire Planet."
"Father~"
...
About ten minutes later, Ego finished explaining his origins to Star-Lord.
Naturally, Star-Lord and the others prepared to follow Ego to his host Planet.
On the way to Planet Ego, Ego couldn't help but frequently glance at Sif.
He suddenly realized that he seemed to have never bred offspring with an Asgardian.
The special bloodline of the Asgardians might be able to produce a better energy vessel for his true self than Star-Lord.
Thinking of this, the lecherous old man ignored the fact that Sif was snuggling in Peter's arms and directly struck up a conversation:
"You are the most beautiful Asgardian girl I have ever seen. May I have the honor of knowing your name?"
Peter: ???
It wasn't just that he felt this lecherous old man was courting death.
But also because...
Old geezer, your pick-up is seriously very old!
Clang~!
Sif directly unsheathed her sword.
Peter was even more direct; his Haoshoku Haki was released.
Although it wasn't aimed at Star-Lord and the others, it still made their hearts skip a beat.
"Old man, take one more look and see if I don't gouge your eyes out and stomp on them like firecrackers."
Usually, with Ego's temper, he would have lashed out by now.
But for now, the situation was special after all.
His son, the only son with the hope of helping him rule the Universe, was still by his side.
And he was even scolding him with a grim expression:
"Father, I think you lack the most basic respect for my friends!"
To avoid ending up with nothing, Ego had to suppress his urge to lash out immediately and smiled:
"It was just a joke. Don't take it to heart, young man. As an apology, please allow me to invite you all to visit my Planet."
After Sif and Peter exchanged a look, Sif sheathed her longsword, and Peter directly ordered:
"Get off my ship."
Ego was straightforward enough; he shrugged and left the destiny, but he was secretly thinking to himself.
Once we reach my true body, and once I have full control over Quill, you will be nothing more than fish in my barrel.
...
It had to be said that Planet Ego was quite beautiful.
Unreasonably beautiful, in fact.
As the destiny passed through the clouds, they saw vast fields of flowers.
The distant lakes and mountains all glowed with multicolored light, looking like something out of a fairy tale.
When the destiny landed, a young girl with two antennae on her head stood respectfully by the entrance and quietly moved behind Ego.
It was Star-Lord's sister, Mantis Brandt!
Ego did not directly state that Brandt was his daughter.
He never considered offspring who hadn't inherited Celestial power as his children; in his eyes, Mantis was merely a tool to help him sleep well.
As he introduced her, Mantis bowed to everyone one by one.
When Ego introduced Peter, Mantis's body couldn't help but tremble.
She sensed it.
This man before her—his emotions toward his family seemed exceptionally rich!
***************************
Thoughts on where the plot is heading? Let me know in the comments! If you're enjoying the ride, please leave a quick review and toss a few Power Stones my way. Every bit of support means the world! 🙌
