Chapter Seventy-Three: The God of the Void

There were plenty of second-level bounty missions, so Harvey kept up his usual routine of leaving early and returning late, completing one after another. His speed increased with each task, constantly challenging and overturning people's expectations. In the blink of an eye, more than two months had passed, and every single second-level disaster-type bounty mission had been completed by a bounty hunter named Kassadin.

Disaster missions typically involved creatures or phenomena beyond the ability of a planet’s civilization to resolve, so anyone who could handle such calamities was seen as possessing godlike power. As a result, stories of the Void God Kassadin spread across every planet.

“Damn it, even the last second-level disaster bounty is gone! This Kassadin is just too much.”

On the Star Skiff, Yondu stared at the bounty board, where the final disaster-type mission now bore Kassadin’s name, and swore loudly.

“Boss, do you think this Kassadin might take on a job to come after us?”

One of Yondu’s men, having witnessed all this, asked nervously.

“Hell if I know!” Yondu replied, his frustration evident.

The space raiders operated as an organized group. Besides plundering other ships, they often took on jobs for profit. However, their assignments tended to conflict with those of the bounty hunters and were generally darker in nature. Because of this, space raiders and bounty hunters had long been rivals.

The second-level bounty hunters were all highly skilled, though most worked alone. Even those who formed teams rarely had enough numbers to threaten a raider gang. If they ran into a tough bounty hunter, the vastness of space meant the raiders could simply lay low, making it hard for any adversary to pose a true threat. Most space raiders were old hands, rarely staying on any planet for long.

The planets that provided entertainment and work for both raiders and bounty hunters operated under certain rules—no one was allowed to stir up too much trouble. So, though the two sides were at odds, both knew that if one were wiped out, the other’s business would dwindle as well. Thus, a delicate balance was maintained.

But with the arrival of the Void God Kassadin, a third-level bounty hunter, the balance was shattered. Now that all disaster-type missions were completed, would he turn his sights on the space raiders next?

Truth be told, Yondu wasn’t sure, and that uncertainty made him restless and uneasy. He wasn’t alone; the rest of the raider crew shared his anxiety. The thought that a being of unfathomable power—one who could appear on any planet and was regarded as a living god—might come for their lives at any moment was enough to shake anyone.

“You’re overthinking it,” said Star-Lord, noticing the tense atmosphere. “We mostly take on specific assignments anyway, so it’s not like we run into bounty hunters all the time. Besides, there are bigger, more notorious raider groups out there. If Kassadin wants to pick a fight, he’ll start with them. If they actually get into trouble, we’ll still have time to plan our next move, right?”

His relaxed tone and easy smile helped ease the tension. By now, Kassadin’s name had become synonymous with death and power across the galaxy. Judging by the reports, this Void God treated the slaying of terrifying monsters as if he were chopping vegetables. If he ever set his sights on them, they’d be as good as dead.

But Star-Lord was an optimist. As long as Kassadin wasn’t after them specifically, there was nothing to worry about.

Yondu, though anxious about Kassadin possibly targeting the entire raider organization, was reassured by Star-Lord’s words and the expressions of the others.

“…You’re right. There’s no use worrying about things that haven’t happened.”

He covered his concern with a smile. As Yondu smiled, the tension eased somewhat, though a shadow of worry lingered on the brow of every raider. Kassadin was simply too formidable and now stood squarely opposed to their interests. It was impossible not to worry.

※※※※※※

In contrast to the fear and anxiety of the space raiders, the bounty hunter community had come to revere Kassadin as a god. His exploits had greatly improved the reputation of bounty hunters on every planet. Though his focus on disaster-type missions had taken some work from others, it had not monopolized all the available jobs.

With the wealth Kassadin had earned from so many missions, he could easily retire from the front lines and live a life of luxury, taking only the occasional job as he pleased.

Kassadin’s three months of activity had made his name famous across the planets. Bounty hunters and civilians alike traveled from worlds far and wide, crossing light-years in hopes of finding him on Xandar.

Some came to express gratitude for saving their homeworlds. Others hoped to forge connections, believing that acquaintance with Kassadin would help their careers. His reputation was so great that even the mere mention of his name struck fear into many hearts. Yet, no one knew his true residence, only that he lived somewhere on Xandar.

One day, at the city gates of Xandar, a group of bounty hunters registered their arrival.

“Do you really think we’ll get to meet the man himself?”

“Xandar is huge—running into Kassadin won’t be easy.”

“Let’s check out the Bounty Hunter’s Bar. Rumor has it, that’s where Kassadin first appeared.”

Clad in a variety of odd fashions and colors, the group chatted as they entered the city.

“Wait… Who exactly is this Kassadin you’re talking about?”

Hearing the name again after so long, Dam’s eyes flashed with recognition. He quickly stopped them and asked.

The group exchanged glances, then wordlessly pulled out their universal communicators and checked the information displayed in holographic light.

“According to the reports, the Void God Kassadin resides on Xandar, right?”

“That’s what the information says.”

“So why does this guard seem like he’s never heard of him?”

“Could we have bought fake intel?”

“Please, don’t even joke about that.”

“We traveled through so many wormholes to get here—I even puked twice—and now you’re telling me we might’ve been duped?”

The five bounty hunters’ faces were a study in frustration and disbelief as they discussed the matter.

“Why don’t you tell me about this Void God Kassadin?”

When Dam heard them refer to Kassadin with such reverence, his curiosity was piqued, though he still doubted it. He offered them a few cigarettes in a friendly gesture, inviting them to share what they knew.