Soren choked on his own breath, utterly speechless. A phrase from his previous life drifted back to him…
'Many mouths can turn gold into dust.' Rumors build and truth dies.
That was exactly what had happened to him.
Somewhere along the endless chains of the cosmic network, he had been twisted, exaggerated, and blackened.
Whether through malice or simply because the universe loved a dramatic monster, someone had sculpted him into the perfect nightmare, a cosmic executioner who hunted 'bad guys'.
Yet the truth couldn't have been more mundane, he dealt with the Red Devil because the tyrant tried to kill him.
He killed the Flame Titan because the brute ambushed him.
Ronan and his Accuser fleet… they fired the first shot.
Soren had never been bloodthirsty, nor had he ever dreamed of becoming some interstellar hero. He simply defended himself.
But try explaining that to a room full of Ravagers staring at him like a god of death. He could already imagine their reaction… none of them would believe him.
And honestly?
Maybe he didn't need them to…
If they insisted on imagining him as a cosmic demon, perhaps he could use that reputation… to get answers.
Soren crossed his arms and let a hint of cold authority seep into his tone.
"Alright. I can consider letting you live. But first, one of you will tell me~ where is the Ravager Yondu?"
At the mention of Yondu's name, a shock ran through the group.
To them, it probably looked like the Great Devil Soren had chosen his next target.
Yondu Udonta, next in line for slaughter.
The captain trembled so hard that sweat practically streamed down his spine. Whatever loyalty he had to his fellow Ravagers evaporated instantly.
"I, I know! Please, don't kill me!"
"Stop wasting time and speak."
"Yes! Yes!" The captain flinched so violently he nearly bit his tongue.
"Yondu took his men and went after the Guardians of the Galaxy's Peter Quill! He said Quill betrayed him, and he wants to capture him, to make an example for the others!"
Yondu's chasing Star-Lord?
He had assumed Yondu would be somewhere in Ravager territory.
"Where is he now?" Soren asked.
"M-My lord," The captain stammered, "I can find him! All Ravager warships are connected. I can use this ship to locate Yondu's fleet… I only need a moment!"
Facing what he thought was the great cosmic devil himself, the man was terrified that even a slow blink might get him sliced in half.
"Then why aren't you doing it already?!"
The captain almost burst into tears. "My lord… I can't move!"
"… oh." Soren paused and remembered the rather important detail.
He still had them all frozen in a spatial lock.
With a wave of his hand, the confinement dissolved. The captain inhaled like a drowning man breaking the surface.
The instant his limbs returned to him, he scrambled toward the command platform, nearly tripping over his own feet in his haste.
He slapped controls, activated channels and frantically began cycling through Ravager communication frequencies, anything to keep from angering the 'big devil' behind him.
The other Ravagers scattered like mice. Several practically flattened themselves against the walls.
"Well, well, Soren." Freyja watched them quiver and couldn't resist. "I didn't know you were this famous."
"Don't start." He muttered.
"Someone out there is spreading these stories on purpose… twisting everything I did, and turning me into some cosmic boogeyman. If I find out who it is, I'll skin them alive."
Freyja raised a brow. "And this speech doesn't help your 'not-a-devil' case at all."
Soren froze. "…You don't actually believe their nonsense, right?"
"Believe it? Why wouldn't I?" Freyja teased, deliberately imitating the skinny Ravager from earlier… eyes wide and shaking. "They're bandits, and even they're terrified of you. Must be true~"
"Freyja!" Soren's face fell so hard he nearly cracked the floor with it.
"What? You just say 'boo' and they almost pass out."
"Why is this happening to me?!" Soren snapped, unable to yell at her, so he vented on the trembling Ravagers instead.
The captain practically leaped out of his boots.
"M-My lord! I've contacted Yondu's warship, but~" he swallowed hard, "There was no response!"
"…" Soren's eyes narrowed dangerously.
The captain shook so violently his beard quivered. "B-But! But! My lord! I can locate them! Their ship is on a planet right now!"
"Where?" Soren demanded.
"Berhert. Far from this sector," The captain pointed desperately at the coordinates glowing on the monitor.
Soren pulled out his star map and plotted the position.
Berhert was indeed distant, far beyond normal Ravager operating zones. A long trip, even with shortcuts.
"Fine," Soren said, turning away.
"For answering properly, I'll spare you today. Stay out of trouble if you want to stay alive."
The Ravagers nodded so fast their necks nearly snapped.
Soren grabbed Freyja's hand, tore open a shimmering space channel, and stepped through leaving the terrified crew behind, sagging with relief.
As the universe stretched around them, Freyja crossed her arms.
"So," She said dryly, "Are we really going to Berhert now?"
"Because at this point, Soren, your 'interstellar journey' looks a lot like you bullying random people across the galaxy."
Soren chuckled. "Don't worry. We're almost at the good part of our journey."
"Oh? And what's that?"
"I'm taking you," he said, eyes gleaming, "To meet a Celestial."