Chapter 17:
The Hunger of Galactus
Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, found himself suddenly transported to an alien
world. The Space Stone, wielded by Apocalypse, had flung him across the cosmos,
away from Earth. He looked around, his cosmic armor battered and scarred from his
recent battle. His wounds were deep, but it was not pain he felt. It was hunger.
The world before him was teeming with life, an insectoid civilization that had built
towering hives and intricate tunnels. They scurried about, oblivious to the cosmic
entity that now loomed over them. To Galactus, they were insignificant. He did not
see their cities, their culture, their lives. He saw only sustenance. He hungered, and it
was time for him to feed.
With a wave of his hand, he began the process. Energy crackled around him as he
activated his world-devouring machinery. The ground shook, the sky darkened, and
the very fabric of the planet began to unravel. The insectoids panicked, their feeble
weapons and defenses useless against the cosmic onslaught. Their world, their
home, was being consumed.
As he fed, Galactus found his thoughts drifting back to Earth. Perhaps he could leave
it alone for now. His new herald, Captain Marvel, was more than capable of finding
him other worlds to sate his hunger. Worlds that did not have defenders like the
Avengers or beings as powerful as Apocalypse.
With each passing moment, the alien world was reduced to cosmic energy,
absorbed into Galactus, healing his wounds, replenishing his power. The insectoid
civilization, their history, their achievements, all were erased in the blink of an eye. To
Galactus, they were a means to an end, a temporary reprieve from his eternal
hunger.
As the last remnants of the world were consumed, Galactus turned his gaze to the
stars. There were countless worlds out there, countless meals. His hunger was
abated, for now. But he was Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, and he would always
hunger.
