Chapter 460: Friends and Foes Are Unclear

As Star-Lord and Elena walked through the corridor of the abandoned base, there was an eerie silence in the air, as if everything had stopped. Star-Lord frowned, his eyes full of confusion and alertness, his fingers tapping lightly on the handle of his gun, thinking over and over again in his mind about the group of soldiers wearing Umbrella equipment that he had just seen.

"This equipment doesn't look like the orthodox Umbrella style," he muttered to himself, feeling something was amiss. "How could it be them... What's the problem here?"

At this moment, Elena walked to his side coldly, without any fluctuation in her eyes, but still spoke: "Thank you for saving me just now." Although her tone was cold, there was a hint of imperceptible softness in her voice.

Star-Lord's brows relaxed slightly, he glanced at Elena sideways, and a playful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Oh, don't say that, beautiful lady. Isn't this exactly what I, Star-Lord, am good at? Saving beautiful ladies is part of my duty."

Elena rolled her eyes. Although she didn't respond, her heart seemed to be moved. She slowed down her pace and walked side by side with Star-Lord. The distance between them seemed to have suddenly shortened a lot. Star-Lord winked at her proudly, trying to close the ambiguous atmosphere between them.

Just as the atmosphere was heating up, Drax unknowingly stepped into their conversation. He strode over and shouted excitedly, "Hey! I've made a new discovery! There's a strange smell here! Like the blood of the enemy!"

The two were interrupted by Drax's sudden voice. Elena immediately returned to her stern expression and hurriedly left Star-Lord's side, as if the subtle emotion just now had never existed.

Star-Lord bit his lip, scratched his head helplessly, and cursed Drax in his heart for being a "fool who ruined the atmosphere", but then he returned to his normal expression. He turned to Drax and asked, "What did you find?"

Drax pointed forward unceremoniously, "There's a strange room over here with a strong smell. We'd better go in and take a look."

They walked forward quickly and finally came to a huge and heavy metal door. The door was covered with thick dust and had obviously been abandoned for a long time. Elena took a step forward and signaled the soldiers behind her to prepare to open the door.

"This place makes me uneasy," she whispered, staring sharply at the crack in the door.

Star-Lord held his weapon tightly, and stood behind her with Groot and Drax, ready to respond to any emergency. With the sound of heavy machinery, the metal door slowly opened, and thick dust instantly floated in the air.

The moment the door opened, a man in a black robe suddenly appeared in front of them. He stood in the middle of the room with his back to everyone, as if he had been waiting there for a long time. There was a strange atmosphere in the air, and the man's figure seemed particularly mysterious.

Elena frowned and raised her bow and arrow towards the man: "Who are you? Why are you here?"

The man did not respond immediately. After a moment's silence, a low voice came from his mouth: "You came at the right time... Umbrella has found me." His voice was hoarse and cold, as if mixed with some indescribable pain and ridicule.

"Turn around!" Star-Lord ordered loudly, his expression tense, his finger tightly on the trigger, ready to deal with any unexpected situation at any time.

The man in black robe turned around slowly, and when his face came into everyone's sight, everyone gasped.

"Selton?!" Elena's voice was full of shock and disbelief.

Star-Lord and the others also stared with their eyes wide open, totally unable to believe what was happening before their eyes. Seldon, the Ego star who was supposed to be captured by the Umbrella, was standing in front of them, wearing a black robe, as if he had completely changed into a different person. His face was full of pain and fatigue, and his eyes were filled with despair and madness.

"Why are you... here?" Elena asked in disbelief, her voice trembling slightly.

Selton laughed softly, with a hint of madness in his laughter: "I am no longer the Selton you knew... You know too little. Umbrella's plan is more terrible than you can imagine..."

Seldon's eyes flashed with pain and madness in the shadows, and his voice was low and hoarse, as if mixed with countless pain and fear: "You still don't understand... Umbrella is not just catching me, they have a bigger plan."

Star-Lord frowned slightly, holding his weapon tightly in both hands, and asked calmly: "What's the plan? What exactly does Umbrella want to do?"

Seldon took a deep breath, as if trying to calm his inner fear, and then said: "Their target is not me, but King Ego. Umbrella has been looking for a force that can control the entire universe, and Ego... as a god, he has endless energy and vitality. Umbrella wants to capture him, study his power, and even use his energy for the 'expansion' plan."

"Expansion plan?" Elena interrupted him coldly, with a hint of confusion and anger in her eyes, "What on earth is this?"

Selton nodded slowly, his eyes filled with helplessness and despair: "The expansion plan is Umbrella's core plan to conquer the universe. They plan to implant part of Ego's energy and genes, expand it to every planet, and bring all life forms under their control. Ego is their starting point. Once they control Ego, the future of the entire universe will no longer be free, but will be controlled by Umbrella."

Star-Lord's expression changed slightly. Although he was usually careless, he also felt the seriousness of the problem at this moment: "You mean, Umbrella wants to turn the entire universe into their slaves? This is not good news."

Serdon's voice was filled with pain and anxiety: "Their technology is far beyond our imagination. Once they successfully capture Ego, the entire universe will fall under their rule. Every person on Ego, and even all life in the universe, will become their experimental subjects."

Elena's breathing was rapid. She clenched the weapon in her hand and asked coldly: "Then why did you tell us this? You should have been their prisoner, why are you here?"

Selton smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I am no longer the Selton I used to be. Umbrella has conducted countless experiments on me, and I have witnessed their cruelty and brutality with my own eyes. I know that I can't escape, but I don't want to let Ego and my compatriots fall into the fate of destruction. So... I place my hope on you."

He raised his head and looked directly at Star-Lord and Elena, his voice filled with final pleading and determination: "Only you can stop them. I know it sounds ridiculous, but you must save Ego and save this planet."

Star-Lord had a complicated expression, his hands unconsciously clenched the handle of the gun, and he felt unprecedented pressure in his heart. He turned to look at Elena, and saw determination and determination in her eyes. Although Elena's face was still indifferent, she showed some sympathy for Salton at this moment.

"We must do something." Elena said coldly, "We can't just watch Ego and our people being destroyed."

Star-Lord pursed his lips and nodded slightly. Although he was full of doubts, he knew that they had no way out now. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and then said in a firm voice: "Okay, guys, it looks like we have to be heroes again."

A weak smile appeared on Seldon's face, with a glimmer of hope in his eyes: "Thank you... I believe you can do it."

......

In the lounge of Ego's palace, the air was filled with a tense atmosphere. Star-Lord had a solemn expression and a frown on his face, and he had obviously made a difficult decision deep in his heart. He stood in the middle of the lounge, took a deep breath, and swept his eyes firmly over everyone in the room, then said solemnly: "I have decided, I will protect Ego, no matter what the cost."

Rocket Raccoon folded his arms, leaned against the wall, glanced at Star-Lord, sneered and asked, "Are you really so sure? Peter, you have seen those 'Umbrella' equipment, right? You don't really believe that they are the evil side, do you? After all, those equipment don't look like authentic Umbrella stuff at all."

Star-Lord frowned, and it was obvious that Rocket's words made him unhappy. His eyes could not help but move to Gamora beside him, as if looking for her support. Gamora nodded slightly. Although her face seemed to support, her eyes revealed a subtle hesitation and complex emotions. Star-Lord's heart tightened, and then he couldn't help asking: "Gamora, do you also think that I shouldn't trust Ego?"

Gamora did not answer directly, but seemed to be evasive. Her expression was calm, but she and Rocket had obviously reached some kind of tacit understanding. She said softly: "Peter, I understand your choice. It is your responsibility to protect your father's planet... but we must also be careful. This matter may not be as simple as it seems on the surface."

Star-Lord clearly sensed Gamora's implicit attitude, and a trace of doubt rose in his heart, but he did not ask any more questions. He knew that Gamora and Rocket obviously had their own ideas on this matter, but they were not willing to make it clear to him for the time being.

Drax didn't think much about it. He strode towards Star-Lord with a masculine attitude, patted him on the shoulder heavily, and said heroically: "Peter, no matter what decision you make, I will fight with you! Protect Ego and defeat those enemies who call themselves Umbrella! They will not be able to withstand my powerful muscles and fighting power!" He waved his fist, his muscles tense, as if he was ready for the next battle.

"I'm Groot." Groot stood aside, looking at Star-Lord innocently, the twig in his hand swaying slightly. Rocket immediately translated, "He said that no matter what you decide, he will stand by your side." After that, Rocket sighed helplessly and shrugged, "Well, since everyone says so, I have no choice but to follow you. Don't make me regret it."

Star-Lord looked at everyone. Although he was still full of doubts, he was moved by the support of his teammates. The corners of his mouth slightly raised, and he felt a surge of power in his heart. No matter what he would face next, he knew that with these friends by his side, he could face all challenges.

"Well then," Star-Lord took a deep breath and said firmly, "Let's protect Ego together, no matter what the cost!"