Rocket and Groot didn't have any objections.
Rocket had already started working with a nano-repair device slung over his shoulder. Once the blueprint was loaded in, the nanomachines could automatically restore the damaged sections of the ship according to the design.
As for Groot, he remained his usual laid-back tree self. No matter where he was, his level of relaxation never changed, so naturally he had no complaints either.
"He's not a fox, Nebula. Besides, don't you suspect there's something wrong with Ego too? We'll need backup."
Gamora had clearly found the one argument Nebula couldn't refuse.
At the same time, elsewhere nearby, Karl pulled Tony aside.
"Tony, stay here and help Rocket repair the ship. I need you guys to finish as quickly as possible and come support us. I've got a bad feeling about this trip. We're going to need reinforcements."
Tony naturally understood what Karl meant.
After all, he felt the same way. Something about this whole situation seemed off.
"Fine. Once the ship's repaired, I'll come find you immediately."
"Rocket has Quill's location tracker. As soon as the ship's fixed, head straight for us."
Karl reminded him once more.
He had absolute confidence in Tony. With Tony and Rocket working together, the ship would definitely be repaired much faster.
Soon after, the others packed up and boarded Ego's egg-shaped spacecraft, setting course for Ego's planet.
"Well then, Rocket, let's begin repairing this thing. Honestly, this ship is ugly as hell. It completely clashes with the great Tony Stark's aesthetic standards, so we're definitely making improvements…"
The moment Ego's ship lifted off, Tony's arrogant voice echoed out behind them, followed immediately by Rocket's furious shouting and a series of loud clanging noises.
---
In space, the egg-shaped spacecraft had already entered hyperspace.
Everyone sat together in the cabin while Ego himself rested asleep in his room.
"Mantis, what are your antennae for?"
Quill was the first to ask.
"My antennae?"
Mantis glanced at the soft antennae on her head, which resembled a snail's feelers.
"Yeah. Quill, Karl, and I made a bet…"
Drax said bluntly.
"Buddy… you really shouldn't say that out loud. That's rude."
Quill was speechless. Drax's brain was basically empty space.
Completely unfazed, Drax continued:
"I bet your antennae are for detecting low doorframes so you don't hit your head."
It had to be said—Drax's train of thought was truly unique.
"Exactly. If they're used for literally anything other than avoiding head injuries, then Karl and I win."
Quill immediately chimed in.
No normal person would assume Mantis's antennae served the same purpose as cat whiskers.
Mantis quickly shook her head.
"Of course they aren't for sensing doorframes."
The instant she said that, Quill burst into laughter and high-fived Karl, while Drax wore a disappointed expression.
"They're directly connected to my empathic abilities."
Mantis still spoke softly, maintaining her gentle and timid demeanor.
"When I touch someone, I can feel what they feel."
"You can read minds?"
Gwen asked curiously. It sounded somewhat similar to mind reading.
"No. It's more like telepathy. I can sense people's thoughts… their emotions… and their feelings."
Mantis looked toward Gwen, who sat beside her.
"Would you like to try?"
Gwen nodded immediately. She was curious about how strange Mantis's powers really were.
Mantis took Gwen's hand.
The antennae on her forehead began glowing faintly like fireflies.
"Your heart is filled with love. You deeply care about the people close to you."
With her other hand, she pointed toward Skye, Wanda, and Karl.
"That's pretty obvious. Nothing amazing there. We can all see that already."
Quill curled his lips dismissively.
Truthfully, he was extremely jealous of Karl.
Karl had three beautiful girls by his side, while Quill only had Gamora—even though he genuinely loved her.
Still, from a purely numerical standpoint, he had lost.
Men sometimes compared themselves over the weirdest things, but that was simply part of male nature.
Gwen didn't say anything.
Because she knew Mantis's power was real.
Everything Mantis said reflected exactly how she felt inside.
Next, Mantis reached toward Wanda.
But the instant her empathic ability activated, a surge of scarlet energy exploded within Wanda's mind.
An overwhelming force blasted Mantis straight out of Wanda's mental landscape, while an even stronger psychic power counterattacked and invaded her consciousness in return.
"Ahhh!"
Mantis cried out in pain and instantly withdrew her power, staring at Wanda in horror.
"What happened?!"
Everyone jumped in shock.
Everything had been perfectly fine when she read Gwen moments ago, so why had she suddenly screamed?
"Y-your mind… it's filled with an enormous power. The moment I tried to connect with you, it attacked me."
Mantis clutched her head as she sat back down.
Wanda immediately apologized.
"I'm sorry, Mantis. That power is something I was born with. It's called Chaos Magic. It probably sensed you entering my mind and reacted automatically."
The deeper Wanda's understanding of Chaos Magic became, the more she realized the power possessed something almost like awareness.
It constantly protected her consciousness.
That was the terrifying strength of magic users—magical power naturally formed defensive circuits within the body to guard the mind and soul.
But Chaos Magic was far more violent than ordinary magical energies.
Other magical forces might simply defend.
Chaos Magic retaliated instantly.
"In any case, that's basically how my abilities work. I can also slightly influence emotions. I can calm people down and soothe their minds… or even make certain people more obedient to my suggestions."
Mantis continued explaining.
"My main role is helping Master sleep peacefully. He often thinks about his descendants at night and can't fall asleep."
The moment Drax heard this, he instantly became interested and slapped his chest proudly.
"Try it on me! I want to experience falling asleep instantly too!"
Mantis immediately placed her hand on Drax's forehead.
"Sleep."
THUD.
Drax collapsed backward onto the chair and immediately began snoring with his mouth hanging wide open.
"Wow. That works way better than heavy-duty sleeping pills."
Karl joked.
Watching a giant like Drax sleep like a baby right before his eyes, Karl suddenly felt like he'd discovered a business opportunity.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side, Tony and Rocket were still working tirelessly to repair the ship.
Night had completely fallen.
Strange animal cries echoed continuously through the surrounding forest, sounding extremely unsettling.
"I think we should light a campfire outside."
Tony glanced toward the pitch-black woods while welding a circuit board.
Rocket and Nebula each carried a nano-repair unit on their backs while continuously scanning the ship's hull.
The programmed nanomachines tirelessly repaired the damaged areas.
"Groot, go start a fire. And see if there's anything edible nearby."
Without even turning around, Rocket ordered Groot—who had been curiously watching them work—to go do something useful instead.
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