Chapter 73: God of the Void

Harvey stuck to his routine, rising early and returning late, completing one tier-two mission after another. As he grew more experienced, his efficiency improved, and he started completing these missions astonishingly, shocking many across the galaxy.

In the blink of an eye, two months passed, and all tier-two disaster bounties had been cleared by a single bounty hunter—Kassadin.

Disasters usually represented entities or events that a planet's civilization couldn't handle alone. Therefore, those who could solve these calamities were often seen as possessing godlike power.

Because of this, Kassadin's name began spreading across planets, with people referring to him as the God of the Void.

"Damn it, the last tier-two disaster bounty is gone. This Kassadin is ridiculous!"

Onboard a starship, Yondu cursed as he looked at the bounty hunter leaderboard, where Kassadin's name now claimed the last tier-two disaster mission.

"Boss, do you think Kassadin will come after us?" one of Yondu's subordinates asked nervously, having also seen the updates on the bounty board.

"How the hell should I know?" Yondu snapped, irritated and anxious.

The Ravagers, a group of space pirates led by Yondu, often took on shady tasks to make money. Their missions were often in direct conflict with bounty hunters, operating more on the fringes of galactic law.

Though bounty hunters and space pirates had long been adversaries, the Ravagers often managed to escape danger. Most bounty hunters operated solo or in small teams, while the Ravagers were a larger organization, able to avoid trouble by sticking to the vastness of space or avoiding prolonged stays on any one planet.

There were unspoken rules too—certain neutral planets served as recreational hubs where violence was frowned upon. Both Ravagers and bounty hunters needed each other to keep the balance, as completely wiping out one side would reduce opportunities for both.

But the emergence of Kassadin, the God of the Void, a tier-three bounty hunter who had singlehandedly wiped out all disaster-type missions, had thrown this balance into chaos. Now, with all the disaster missions complete, Yondu worried if Kassadin would set his sights on the Ravagers next.

"Honestly, I'm not sure," Yondu admitted, his tone betraying his concern.

Other Ravagers shared Yondu's unease, feeling similarly uneasy about Kassadin's growing influence. The fact that someone with seemingly divine powers could arrive on any planet at any moment to eliminate them was unsettling, to say the least.

"You're all overthinking this," Star-Lord interjected, sensing the tension. With a smile, he tried to lighten the mood. "Our missions rarely cross paths with bounty hunters. Plus, there are bigger pirate crews out there than us. If Kassadin's going after anyone, it'll be them first."

"And if they get into trouble, we'll have enough time to figure out our next move, right?"

Star-Lord's easygoing nature helped defuse the tension a little. He was an optimist by heart—so long as Kassadin wasn't directly targeting them, he saw no reason to panic.

Yondu, though still worried, couldn't argue with Star-Lord's logic. Seeing the rest of his crew relax slightly, he forced a smile.

"...You're right. No point worrying about things that haven't happened yet."

Though Yondu wore a grin, the rest of the crew couldn't completely shake their anxiety. The looming presence of Kassadin, now dubbed the God of the Void, was simply too overwhelming. As a figure who stood in stark opposition to their way of life, it was impossible for them not to feel uneasy.

While the Ravagers were riddled with fear and uncertainty, the bounty hunters' guild had embraced Kassadin as a living legend.

Thanks to his efforts, the bounty hunters had seen their reputation improve across many planets. Though Kassadin had cleared out many disaster-type missions, he hadn't monopolized all the work, leaving plenty of other jobs for the rest of the guild.

With the wealth Kassadin had amassed over three months, many believed he could easily retire from frontline bounty hunting and live a life of luxury, taking on occasional high-profile tasks only when he felt like it.

Kassadin's fame had spread far and wide, and his name was now on everyone's lips. People across the galaxy, from bounty hunters to ordinary citizens, were fascinated by him.

Some bounty hunters even traveled across lightyears to Xandar, the planet where Kassadin was rumored to reside, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

Some wanted to express their gratitude for saving their homeworlds from disaster. Others hoped to build connections with him, hoping to advance their careers in the bounty hunter world.

Kassadin's name alone was enough to strike fear into the hearts of many. Yet no one knew his exact whereabouts; all they knew was that he lived somewhere on Xandar.

On this particular day, a group of bounty hunters arrived at Xandar's city gates, finishing up their registration.

"Think we'll have a chance to meet him in person?"

"Xandar's huge. Running into Kassadin here won't be easy," one of the hunters replied skeptically.

"Let's check out the bounty hunter bar. I heard that's where he first made his appearance," another hunter suggested.

The group, all sporting different skin tones and strange outfits, chatted as they walked through the city gates.

"Wait... Who are you talking about?" asked a guard named Darm, overhearing their conversation. His eyes flickered at the mention of the name, and he quickly stopped them to ask for clarification.

The bounty hunters exchanged glances before pulling out a holographic communicator and reviewing the information on it.

"According to the reports, the God of the Void, Kassadin, lives here on Xandar, right?"

"Yeah, that's what it says," one hunter confirmed.

"But this guard seems to have no idea who Kassadin is. Could we have bought faulty intel?" one of them speculated.

"Please don't joke like that," another hunter groaned. "We traveled through so many wormholes to get here, and I even threw up twice along the way. Don't tell me this is bad info!"

The five bounty hunters continued their spirited debate, their expressions growing more colorful with every passing moment.

"Tell me more about this God of the Void, Kassadin," Darm said, still skeptical but extending a few cigarettes as a gesture of goodwill.