Marvel With Zanpakutou

Chapter 812: The Forbidden Truth

The barrier—Sanctuary.

Using the Power Stone as its source, it activated the full potential of the Space Stone, combined with Quincy technology, creating an independent dimension.

Once fully opened and formed, the barrier set up by Ōetsu Nimaiya would completely isolate the inside and outside, cutting them off from the rest of the world. This barrier was of such strength and scale that it went far beyond anything ordinary. Even someone as old as Unohana Retsu, who had lived for millennia, had never seen anything like it.

"Who exactly is he trying to trap?"

As Unohana stared at the enormous barrier, a deep sense of unease surged as if something terrifying was about to happen.

"H-He... Is he dead?!"

"F-F-F... Fuck!"

"Gr-G-Gr... Groot!"

Star-Lord and his companion’s face pale; they were utterly terrified. Their screams filled the air.

Ōetsu Nimaiya’s body exploding was undoubtedly a horrifying and shocking sight. It wasn’t their fault for overreacting, given the sheer brutality of the scene—limbs and pieces of flesh mixed with a rain of blood made it look like the scene of a massacre.

"Quiet down."

Unohana Retsu was feeling slightly irritated and didn’t bother with pleasantries. Her sharp glare swept over them, cold and unyielding.

A chilling, murderous intent, like a blade scraping their skin, sliced through the air. That bone-deep fear and the icy sensation crawling down their spines was like being submerged in a frozen lake, causing their hair to stand on end.

The warmth in Unohana’s eyes was gone.

Her cold gaze was like that of an executioner, making them think their heads might be severed at any moment.

Their throats felt like they were being squeezed shut, and the screaming abruptly stopped. Star-Lord, Rocket, and Groot clamped their hands over their mouths, terrified of provoking the woman, lest they lose their lives.

"Stay put and don’t move."

Unohana had no intention of explaining much to them, nor did she care to engage with the bumbling crew. She flashed over to where Ōetsu Nimaiya’s body had exploded and picked up the two fallen stones.

Of course, she didn’t touch them directly.

The Power Stone was safely re-sealed in the orb while the Space Stone was tucked into her robes. With that, the task was complete.

The glowing blue Space Stone was now the only key to leaving the barrier.

Unohana wasn’t naive. She understood its hidden meaning when she held the stone: if danger arose, she could immediately use the Space Stone to escape.

But there was another layer to this message.

It implied that what was about to happen might exceed Lorde’s control, and to prevent her from being caught up in the chaos, he left her the only key as a safeguard.

...

Nova Empire’s Capital—Council Hall.

This was the center of power for the entire Xandar civilization. Queen Adora, the supreme ruler, sat in the council chamber.

The Nova Corps had suffered a devastating blow, with losses exceeding seventy percent. The Centurions were wiped out instantly, and an unknown force locked down the entire planet. Order was teetering on the brink of collapse.

Xandar was on the verge of destruction.

Queen Adora sat on her throne while the officials below her bickered endlessly. She, however, seemed indifferent to the chaos, her gaze fixed calmly on the palace doors as if waiting for someone.

The next moment, the noise stopped.

It was as if someone had pressed pause, freezing everyone’s expressions in place. Their trembling pupils and the sweat pouring from their foreheads showed they weren’t immobilized.

The council chamber fell silent, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

A slim figure slowly walked into the room as if strolling through a garden, but the invisible pressure from him made it hard for anyone to breathe. It was as if they were at the bottom of the ocean, crushed by an immense weight, teetering on the brink of being flattened into pulp.

One of the council members dared to look directly at the newcomer. Before he could even open his mouth to speak, he was reduced to ashes.

It wasn’t a warning.

That councilor had simply made the mistake of crossing paths with a furious Lorde, whose spiritual pressure was so immense that even the slightest wave of emotion, unintentionally released, was more than an average person could bear.

In short, the man had simply been unlucky.

The terrifying scene left the remaining council members trembling with fear. Some were so frightened that they wet themselves, filling the air with the stench of urine.

"You came after all, heretic."

Queen Adora had seemingly anticipated the man’s arrival, her face showing no sign of surprise. She addressed him calmly as though he were a guest.

Heretic?

The officials were confused by the Queen’s choice of words. Xandarians didn’t believe in gods, so who could this man be to deserve such a title?

"Yes, I’m here."

Lorde stepped into the center of the chamber, meeting the gaze of the Xandarian queen. His voice was calm as he asked, "So... where is He?"

"Heretic, follow me."

Queen Adora stood slowly, a rare look of authority in her eyes. "The great god of the Xandarian civilization has been waiting for this moment for a long time."

Her eyes glowed with the power of the Nova Force, shining like a billion stars. The oppressive aura she exuded caused all the councilors to bow their heads, unable to withstand the pressure instinctively.

Was this their queen?

The usually meek and easily manipulated Queen Adora, who had always shown no interest in governance, now exuded a terrifying power. How was this possible?

"Good."

Lorde’s eyes narrowed slightly. Beneath his lowered lashes, his emotions simmered with rage, ready to explode. "I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, too."

After they left the council hall, the oppressive force finally lifted. The councilors collapsed to the floor, drenched in cold sweat.

"Holz... did we really worship that god?" one councilor asked, wiping sweat from his brow, still shaking with fear.

"Shut up!"

The other councilor, looking pale, snapped back, "Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t! Have you forgotten the rules?"

The others fell silent, their faces darkening as they recalled something.

Only the first councilor murmured, "Could the Queen have meant... the Worldmind?"

...

Following a hidden passageway behind the council hall, Lorde and Queen Adora descended into a dark, mysterious corridor that seemed to lead deep into the earth.

Adora remained silent as she led the way while Lorde followed quietly. Though their pace was slow, each step covered a significant distance.

The deeper they went, the more the marks of artificial excavation became apparent, and the temperature rose steadily. Each breath they took was filled with the scent of sulfur and heat.

After a while, Adora stopped.

Lorde lifted his head, looking past the queen to see a massive bronze door. The door was ancient and weathered, its surface a mottled, rusted green. It stood tall like an impassable barrier deep beneath the earth.

"This is the Nova Field."

Adora fulfilled her duty by explaining, "This is where the Nova Force resides, along with the Worldmind and our great god... they are all behind this door. From here on, you must proceed alone."

"Very well."

As Lorde gazed at the bronze door, an unprecedented wave of killing intent surged within him, fueled by an uncontrollable rage. His chest felt ready to burst, wanting to eradicate everything before him.

He had seen this door before.

A century ago, when the Broken God was summoned in Newcastle, it was this very same ancient, decaying bronze door.

The Nova Force...

It had originated from the Broken God!