As the people of Xandar were still debating whether to believe Star-Lord's words, Ronan's flagship had already arrived above Xandar.
Inside the flagship, Ronan, wielding his warhammer, sat on his iron throne while the Kree below made final preparations for the impending battle.
Just then, Nebula, who was sent to assist Ronan, entered and reported, "An unknown fleet is approaching, they appear to be Ravagers."
As Nebula finished her report, the nearby Ravagers, already prepared, unleashed two fully charged floating cannons at Ronan's flagship at the command of Yondu.
Fortunately, Ronan's flagship had a shield, which blocked the two energy projectiles before they could reach it.
However, Nebula's composure wavered. Seeing the Ravager fleet already closing in, she immediately ordered a full-scale attack.
Watching Nebula give orders, a flicker of displeasure crossed Ronan's face. Yet, he suppressed it and merely remained seated on his throne, observing their performance.
Under Nebula's command, individual fighter craft, numbering in the thousands, swarmed out, attacking the Ravager fleet like a swarm of bees.
These individual craft were inferior to the Ravagers' smaller ships in both firepower and armor, but they excelled in sheer numbers, appearing endless and overwhelming.
The two sides immediately engaged. Facing the fierce onslaught, neither side showed any sign of retreat, and the skies above Xandar quickly became a brutal battlefield.
Star-Lord and his companions weaved their ships through the crossfire. Fighter jets exploded before their eyes, and they themselves were nearly shot down multiple times. However, they pressed on towards Ronan's flagship with unwavering resolve.
Before the engagement, Star-Lord and his team had devised a plan: the numerous ships were merely a diversion to draw Ronan's fire, while only a select few were tasked with executing the real mission.
Three Ravager fighters, piloted by Rocket and two other Ravagers, broke through the blockade and reached the underside of the flagship.
After adjusting their positions slightly, the three ships unleashed a barrage of fire onto the flagship's metal plating.
It didn't take long before their sustained assault created a large hole on the flagship's hull.
"Okay, okay, our mission is complete. Quill, Yondu, it's up to you now."
The Kree noticed their presence and immediately dispatched fighter squadrons to attack them.
"Received."
After the three ships departed, the fighters piloted by Star-Lord and Yondu sped towards the breach. However, the prepared Kree had dispatched a large number of craft to intercept them.
Under the dense firepower, Yondu's fighter was hit in the wing and began to fall shortly after. Star-Lord's fighter, though still holding on, struggled to break through the intense barrage.
Fortunately, at this critical moment, a large number of Xandarian fighters appeared around Star-Lord's ship, and their concentrated firepower carved a gap in front of him.
Initially, the Xandarian leadership had been skeptical of Star-Lord, a criminal, suspecting he was fabricating stories to steal something. However, upon seeing Ronan's flagship descend upon Xandar, the truth was undeniable, forcing the officials to mobilize their forces.
Under the escort of numerous Xandarian fighters, Star-Lord's ship finally broke through the enemy interception and entered the flagship.
Inside the flagship, Kree soldiers were already on high alert. Upon seeing the intruding fighter, they opened fire without hesitation.
However, the damage inflicted by their rifles was limited, and the barrage caused no substantial harm to the fighter. Instead, Star-Lord maneuvered his ship in a skillful evasive move, unleashing a torrent of machine-gun fire that decimated most of the blocking Kree soldiers, with the rest fleeing in panic.
In the command center, Nebula reappeared. Seeing Ronan still calm and unfazed, she said irritably, "The lower left of the flagship has been damaged, and the enemy has infiltrated the interior!"
Facing Nebula's impatience, Ronan glanced at the warhammer embedded with the Power Stone in his hand and said, "It matters not. Once the flagship lands, all problems will cease to exist."
Seeing Ronan's attitude, Nebula grew more infuriated. However, she knew that arguing further with him was pointless. She turned and walked away, ordering as she went, "Close all blast doors. The flagship will descend at full speed. Get out of my way!"
To hasten the destruction of Xandar, the flagship descended at full speed, even at the cost of numerous fighter craft.
Faced with the rapidly descending flagship, everyone in the command center wore grim expressions. If Star-Lord's words were true, the flagship's landing would spell the doom of Xandar, and it must not be allowed to happen.
"Quickly, link the fleet together! We cannot let the Dark Aster land!"
Under the command of the Nova Prime, all Xandarian fighters converged, connecting with their surrounding craft from all sides to form a golden net that enveloped nearly a third of the Dark Aster.
"Brothers, we can't let it land!"
With all fighters pushing their engines to maximum, they managed to halt the descending Dark Aster through sheer numbers.
At this point, Ronan on his throne could no longer remain seated. He slowly stood up, intending to resolve the current predicament.
Ronan took his warhammer, embedded with the Power Stone, to a viewport and unleashed a purple energy wave towards the fleet. The beam pierced the glass, striking the closest fighters directly.
While the linked fighters possessed formidable strength, this very connection now became the source of their annihilation.
After the energy wave destroyed the fighters near the viewport, it rapidly propagated through their connections, spreading in all directions.
These valuable fighters exploded one after another like popping beans, at a speed that allowed no time for reaction. By the time the explosions ended, only a few scattered fighters remained near the edges, with the losses being staggeringly severe.
Just as Ronan reveled in having dealt with the Xandarian fleet.
*Boom!*
The blast door was violently blown open from the outside, and Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, and Groot appeared.
Even Ronan was startled by this sudden development, as he had been confident in the flagship's defenses. The sheer number of Kree soldiers armed with laser weapons and the sturdy blast doors, yet they were breached by three individuals and a tree, was unbelievable.
A moment's hesitation provided Star-Lord with an opportunity.
Seeing Ronan before him, warhammer in hand, Star-Lord did not hesitate. He pulled out the quantum cannon assembled by Rocket and fired decisively.