Essence

Bastis saw the crystal in Zane's hand and couldn't contain her emotions, letting out a meow.

From that tiny object, she sensed a power similar to the divine essence within herself, but purer. She immediately felt an overwhelming desire for it.

"Meow! Meow! Woman! If you don't want it, it's mine!"

Now reduced to the size of a regular cat, Bastis could no longer suppress her desire and leaped toward Zane's hand.

Thud!

Just as Bastis jumped into the air, her entire body was restrained by an invisible force.

It was as if a glass cube, only slightly larger than her body, enveloped him.

Then, Rocket and the others watched as Bastis remained frozen in place, her fur appearing to flutter in the wind, mouth wide open, but no sound came out.

"Alright, you can see that Bastis recognizes its value. This is the divine essence from the Searcher's body."

"Or you can think of it as the condensed form of all his energy. You can slowly absorb it over time."

Zane explained to Lorna, who was examining the crystal in her hand.

"In this universe, a human life form possessing divine essence will find it easier to break free from the constraints of the universe."

"In other words, they'll ascend to higher dimensions more quickly."

"Thank you, dear!"

Lorna, knowing how significant this seemingly ordinary crystal was, happily kissed Zane on the cheek.

Zane, holding Lorna, stood at the back of the cockpit and glanced at the Destruction Celestial in the direction of the former planet Vormir.

He noticed the Celestial staring silently at the gleaming divine essence.

...

Then, he turned to Rocket and the others and calmly said:

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Now, it's time for me to face this alone."

"Zane, are you confident you can defeat that big shit outside?"

Rocket, having quickly put on a pair of pants while no one was looking, realized they didn't fit at all.

"No," Zane said frankly.

"Groot..." The little tree blinked, filled with doubt.

Rocket, hiding in the corner and changing into another pair, translated for Groot: "He said, didn't you just take one down earlier?"

"That one wasn't good at fighting," Zane replied.

"Zane here, this is your Infinity Gauntlet."

"You saw it yourself—I just used it to punch that red-headed freak a few times."

"If you use it, you'll definitely be able to defeat that guy."

Lorna hurriedly took off the Infinity Gauntlet, which had saved their lives multiple times, and pushed it into Zane's arms.

Zane stopped her and continued:

"Time is running out. Everyone, I have a good place for you to hide."

After saying this, he looked at Little Bone and Skynet, who had been silent, and said, "You two can demonstrate."

Little Bone and Skynet knew that their master was referring to the upgraded "Divine Kingdom," though they didn't realize it could now hold living beings.

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Zane approached them, and with a touch, they both transformed into beams of light and entered his body.

Zane then pulled out a transparent crystal from the "King's Treasury" slightly smaller than the Infinity Stones.

"Meow! This is the power of the divine essence!"

In the distance, the Destruction Celestial watched as Zane absorbed two people into his body, sensing an unusual power.

"A pocket universe?"

"No, the properties are too simple. It's just a dimensional world."

"However, I can't let that woman enter. Even if it's just a pocket dimension, the entrance to its world will be difficult to find."

"The Infinity Gauntlet and the divine essence—both of them are mine!"

With this thought, the Destruction Celestial extended a finger toward the remains of the mechanical planet, and a terrifying force bypassed the glowing 'white hole,' speeding toward them.

Sensing the approaching threat, everyone stopped hesitating and quickly gathered around Zane.

"I am Groot..."

"He says what I'm thinking too—brother, take care!"

Clap!

Clap!

Zane extended both hands and, with a clap, both the racoon and the tree disappeared in an instant.

"Zane, can you tell me, what dimension is that red-headed freak from?"

Lorna tightly gripped the crystal divine essence in her right hand, asking in a low voice.

"Since I've only just entered the seventh dimension, I can't be certain, but I estimate that he's mid-level in the seventh dimension."

Zane looked at Lorna with tenderness, then pulled her close by the waist, and she vanished.

"What about you? Stay or go?"

After Lorna disappeared, Zane's tone suddenly turned cold.

He gazed icily at Gamora, who stood devotedly by Star-Lord's side.

"Will you bring him back to life?" Gamora replied in a similarly cold tone.

"When I promise something, I do it," Zane said firmly.

"Fine, I want to take his body with me," Gamora said resolutely.

Swoosh!

With a flash of light, Zane granted her request.

He then glanced at Bastis, who was frozen in midair, and shot her a glare.

Bastis immediately regained movement, pouncing into Zane's arms, looking around nervously as she exclaimed, "Meow! Where's my divine essence?"

It was as if he had amnesia, completely unaware of what had just happened.

This was because Zane could now halt the flow of time on living beings or objects.

So, even though all these events had just transpired, only a moment had passed in the outside world.

This delay also explained why the Destruction Celestial's attack had not yet arrived—he had been cautious of the 'white hole's' gravitational pull and hadn't unleashed his full power.

Zane playfully pinched the tuft of fur on the back of Bastis's head and pointed her toward the exposed exterior of the mechanical planet.

A destructive force was rapidly tearing apart the ship's metal hull.

"Meow! Bastis was wrong! Master, don't mistreat small animals!" Bastis cried out in terror, flailing her legs in a desperate attempt to resist.

Swoosh!

The light flickered.

"Take care of them for me, and manage the Divine Kingdom."

Zane's voice echoed in the still-shaken Bastis's ears.

Boom!

At that moment, the terrifying force finally reached Zane.

"I said, you will be destroyed!"

Zane's eyes flashed red, and with a swift motion, he swung the black Reaper's Scythe, slicing through the center of the energy wave.

Like a needle piercing a swollen balloon, the force rapidly disintegrated and vanished, leaving no trace, not even a ripple.

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