112 Proxima Midnight
AN: About Proxima, I tried to look up her origin but I can't find any so I just made one up. Just in case you're wondering if this is canon. That's all. Enjoy!
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Proxima was stunned for a few moments before reconfirming what she heard.
"You're saying you want me…to kill my ex-husband for you? In exchange for power?"
"Well, I didn't say kill. Unless…did you want to?"
Benjamin looked at Proxima with pity.
Poor girl. It seems she's had a lot of repressed hatred for her ex-husband.
Proxima noticed Benjamin's weird look and quickly denied it.
"I just misheard it! Don't think too much into it!"
"Sure sure. Anyway, what do you think? If you can catch Corvus and end his plans, I'll give you power."
Proxima sighed.
Why does it feel like he didn't believe her at all?
She shook her head and stopped thinking of nonsense. Instead, she wordlessly deliberated the pros and cons of this deal.
Pros: She'll gain power. Although she doesn't know what yet, it shouldn't be anything small coming from the man who toyed with Thanos.
She will also be able to resolve any previous hatred if she completes this task.
Better yet, she may even gain an even more powerful backer and will no longer be on the run.
Proxima thought.
Given my experiences, it shouldn't be hard to climb up the ranks and become a trusted subordinate.
Earth had only just begun to reach towards the vastness of space while she had been traveling plants and galaxies for years. There should be a spot for her if Benjamin wanted to assemble a team specialized in this area.
And she was indeed right. The reason Benjamin suggested this deal was because he wanted to recruit her.
She was more useful here than rotting in a cell.
In fact, if Benjamin wanted, he could have the whole former Black Order join their side but Benjamin also felt it wasn't too necessary at the moment.
If Proxima declines, Benjamin would just shrug and either ignore or capture her.
Proxima continued to deliberate in her mind.
Cons: There's a chance she wouldn't retain her freedom. Or at the very least, have some kind of restriction.
Then again, this was a given since she was a former enemy so Proxima didn't mind it too much.
As long as she can think for herself and doesn't become a mindless zombie, some restrictions to her freedom are manageable.
Other cons are…
Proxima shook her head.
She couldn't think of any big issues if she accepted.
As for lingering feelings for her ex-husband?
Proxima didn't care. After the two separated, Corvus was already a stranger to her.
Having decided, Proxima turned to look at Benjamin.
"I'll do it. However, it might take some time since I'll be doing this alone."
Benjamin nodded. He thought for a moment before stretching his hand forward with his palm facing upward.
The next moment, several white strands appeared and formed into a blob hovering over his palm.
This was the Untainted Symbiote. Well, not the complete one anyway but a portion of the one he was using.
All he did was tear off a small piece of it so he could use it on Proxima.
"Here, take this. Consider it a sneak peek of the power you will have when you complete your task."
Proxima looked at it curiously.
"What is it?"
"A weapon. Once you take it, it will bound to your body and you will be able to control it at will. You can have it change its form into whatever you want."
Benjamin demonstrated by turning the white blob into a sword, dagger, shield, spear, and such.
"It can also help you heal from any injuries. Of course, since this isn't complete, it will take longer to heal and you will also not be able to heal different areas at the same time."
So if she had both hands injured, the incomplete symbiote would only heal one hand first before moving to the other hand.
"Those are just the most basic uses. You can slowly discover its other uses on your own."
Benjamin stretched his hand forward to hand over the white blob.
Suddenly, he paused.
"Oh, and do remember. This is just a small portion of the power you will receive. I only tore it from my own body. Meaning, even if it binds to you, I am still its primary host and can control it as I wish, even if it is in your body. I hope you take your time to consider again."
Proxima only hesitated for a moment before reaching out to grab it.
The instant she grabbed it, the white blob dissolved in her grasp and entered her pores.
She clenched her fist a few times and with a thought, a white blade appeared from her fist. With another thought, the blade disappeared and reappeared at different parts of her body as she started getting used to controlling it.
After a while, she nodded.
"With this power, I should be able to complete the task faster."
Benjamin nodded.
At this moment, Selene asked.
"Are you guys done yet? Are we still gonna go sightseeing or what?"
Benjamin rolled his eyes.
"Oh, right. Proxima, do you know any places worth visiting here?"
"Uhh, I don't think Knowhere is a place you should visit if you want to go sightseeing. This place is merely full of the scum of the universe. There's nothing worth mentioning here other than the place being inside a Celestial's head."
Proxima shook her head.
She then remembered something.
"Although, I guess you can try visiting the Collector's place. That place should have some sightseeing value."
Benjamin nodded.
He was familiar with the Collector.
The Collector is the Grandmaster's brother and is also said to be fond of collecting various unique things or creatures in the universe. Hence, the name.
"Lead the way then."
"Huh? I still need to prepare for the task you gave me…"
"No rush. You can start when we leave Knowhere. Until then, you'll be the tour guide!"
"..."
Proxima was speechless.
She has been through many things in her life. Never did she ever think that she would become a tour guide one day…
She sighed.
Anyway, this guy is her future boss. Might as well start listening to him now.
Selene glanced at Proxima curiously.
Proxima looked at her and asked.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just wondering if there's any meaning to that weirdly shaped huge helmet of yours…"
"..."
Benjamin also glanced at Proxima curiously.
After all, he also doesn't know the reason and from what he knows, he's never seen an image of her without the helmet back in his previous world.
Does she never take it off or what?
Proxima turned her head and saw her own murky reflection in a window nearby.
"It's a reminder."
Benjamin thought for a moment and asked.
"Does it have something to do with Galactus?"
Proxima's eyes widened in surprise.
"You know him?"
"Just by reputation. Never met the guy."
Proxima nodded.
She sighed as she continued to explain.
"Galactus. The World Eater. Many years ago, he came to my homeworld and ate our whole planet. Only a few of us managed to survive. Since then, I've been hopping from planet to planet to survive until eventually, Thanos found me and recruited me."
She glanced at her murky reflection again with hate in her eyes.
"The helmet is something I made to remind myself to keep getting stronger. Strong enough to one day kill the World Eater! Only then, will I remove this helm."
Benjamin and Selene glanced at each other.
Although the atmosphere was really solemn…
"Then, you haven't washed your face until now?"
"..."
Proxima's face twitched in annoyance.
"I do remove it from time to time for maintenance but you get my point! Also, when I do remove it, I do it in a place without mirrors or other people."
"So even your ex-husband doesn't know what you look like?"
"That's right."
"I'm kinda curious now."
"Me too."
Selene nodded as well.
To her, Proxima seems kinda like an alien princess from a fairy tale or something. Like, she was cursed to not reveal her face until she met her destined prince or something.
She nudged at Benjamin.
"If you kiss her, will that undo the curse?"
"???"
Benjamin and Proxima's face was full of confusion.
This girl's imagination is too much!
While the group was fooling around, they eventually reached their destination.
Proxima pointed at the building in front of them.
"We're here. This is the Collector's place."
