Nagato dived right after the angered Kree, who was falling towards Xandar at an incomprehensible speed. Seeing Ronan's weapon being just a few meters away from its wielder, Nagato extended his hand forth and used attraction.
Ronan, who was about to grab onto the hammer, suddenly felt an incredible impact coming from the front. He tried to resist, however, he couldn't use his powers properly while falling.
Sparing a glance at the rear, Ronan's face grew red with anger. Nagato was lingering in the air as the pull got even more powerful, causing Ronan to fall in the opposite direction.
"Why are you getting in my way so much!?" Ronan roared, veins bulging in his temples. As he neared the flying Nagato, Ronan drew his hand back to prepare an attack. "Just die!"
Yet Nagato didn't even show a hint of emotion in response. No rage. No worry. Only composure. Feelings were useless during the battle, and Nagato understood that clearly.
He stopped attracting Ronan towards him, forcing the enemy to stop in mid-air and linger for a few seconds. There was obvious uncomfortableness in Ronan's posture, for he had never fought in the air before.
"You are a strong opponent, however, you are blinded by your rage." Nagato declared before grabbing Ronan by the neck and deactivating all of his powers. Suddenly, there was nothing else stopping them as they both fell towards the earth.
Ronan resisted fiercely, hitting Nagato in every place possible. Yet, Nagato endured the pain, though multiple of his bones got broken. The power behind Ronan's fists, however, declined broadly since losing his weapon.
Soon, they began to reach the ground, and Nagato finally made his move. Nagato released Ronan from his grip, an act that the opponent by surprise. He didn't know what was the enemy's plan, but he truly felt like it was getting dangerous.
Some of Ronan's anger subsided, and he tried to concentrate on Nagato's movements, yet even if he knew what was going to happen, there was no way to stop him anymore.
"Almighty push," Nagato murmured from above, descending an even greater force on Ronan's body. It was just a blink of an eye before Ronan felt his back hitting against the ground. The terrain shook in terror as a deep hole, almost a crater, decorated the Xandar.
Nagato's push was enhanced in power by the long fall from the ship, making it a deadly attack. Deeply imprinted in the ground, Ronan was struggling to breathe properly. Blood spurted from his mouth, painting the ground in crimson.
It has been a long time since he felt such pain. Perhaps it was only during his youth when he was fighting against enemies...alongside his father. Hatred replaced the perception of pain and Ronan managed to stay conscious.
He glanced around his surroundings, immediately noticing the hammer stuck in the ground several feet away from him. Ronan struggled to get up, but he somehow did it.
Then he began to walk towards the weapon with sloppy steps. The rage inside his mind pushed him forward, yet it was all just a futile travail in the end.
"Where do you think you are going?" Nagato mumbled from above, finally descending towards the enemy to finish him off. Ronan could barely even turn around as a punch landed on his face, sending him plummeting against the ground.
Nagato then jumped upon Ronan's body, pressing his knees against the enemy's forearms. Ronan grunted slightly, glancing to the side. The hammer was so near, yet it seemed so far away at the same time.
"You should have handed me the stone right away," Nagato said, pressing the black rod against Ronan's heart. Kree's skin was truly tough, as the rod didn't even cause any injury at the beginning.
"You are strong. Truly." Ronan mumbled, stopping himself from resisting. The anger somewhat subsided from his veins, though it was still visible in his expression. He had lost fair and square, but it still didn't change the fact that he had failed his ancestors. "I am sorry, father. I couldn't avenge you."
As his words landed, Nagato finally penetrated the rod inside his body. Ronan didn't even shout before his death. He simply accepted it.
Embraced it.
There was a long moment of silence filled with nothing but Nagato's intense breathing. It had already been a long time since he pushed his body to such limits, but the fight wasn't with no prize.
He glanced back at where the hammer had fallen, heaving a sigh of relief. Finally, he was going to yet another step closer to achieving the ultimate peace.
"!!!" Nagato's face twisted into a frown, for he didn't expect to see a person standing just beside the weapon. He had been so concentrated on the fight with Ronan that he paid no heed to his surroundings at all.
The man was dressed in a strange costume and bore a mask covering his face. He looked like a simple human, but that didn't let Nagato relax a single bit. The distance between them was a tad too long, and Nagato wouldn't be able to stop him in time if he grabbed the weapon.
This was getting troublesome.
"I don't know what your true intentions are, or whenever your talk about ending everyone's suffering was genuine, but I can understand one thing clearly," Quill murmured under his nose, looking at the weapon beside him. "This stone should never fall into the hands of anyone."
"You are going to die." Nagato alarmed him, hoping that Quill would decide to rethink his settlements clearly. Taking Quill's temporary silence as a sign, Nagato promptly took out one of the smallest, yet sharpest, rods from beneath his ripped sleeve.
"I know I am. Perhaps I am just being stupid, but for the first time, I feel like I am doing something good." Quill declared as Nagato released the rod from his fingers, sending it flying towards the man at incredible speed.
Unfortunately, Nagato was too late. No longer doubting himself, Quill took the hammer by its hilt as violent energy exploded from his body. The rod got deflected away by the barrier of pure force forming around Quill, and Nagato's expression turned into a frown.