19 Enslaved

Determined.

That was the best way to describe me at this time. I hadn't felt this way in a long time, not since when I was released from my coma and trained brutally in the ways of combat. Even after my time amongst the Military Guild of Krypton, even during my escape of Krypton Space and eventual battle with Doomsday, even when invading the Vrangs and battling against the Viltrumites, I hadn't felt this way.

Oh, I had been determined, even when facing off against Tyrany'r and Conquest I had felt the determination to escape.

But this, this was pure determination, that was what was driving me now. My footsteps were light and nimble, whipping out in a powerful motion that cut those it came into contact with in half. Fists strong and firm, crushing all those in their path.

I was a blur of motion and death.

In my mind, I envisioned this as if it were nothing more than a game rather than real life. Everything I saw, every living being I encountered was but a simple mob that when killed gave me experience. I needed to think this way, it was obvious that the bug-like creatures were simply defending their territory and I was a trespasser. Their numbers continually increased with every passing moment, coming at me with new and inventive ways to attack me.

I just took it all for what it was, a means to truly test the understanding of my powers and how to use them in battle. The sun here was weak, weaker than it was in Viltrum and so the replenishment of my powers was slower.

But I was still far faster and stronger than these beings, my might almost overwhelming. If I wanted to I could kill them all with little effort, just a simple blast of my heat vision could cut through them all with ease. I could blitz past them all, cutting them down with fast swipes of my hands. Or simply crush them with overwhelming strength.

Yet I restrained myself, I held back.

Why you might ask? Well, that's simple, I recognised my failings from before. I spent little time truly accustoming myself to the power I gained from the yellow sun after defeating Doomsday. I still fought like a Kryptonian under a red sun, a very key weakness. But not only that, I rushed from one battlefield to the next.

I didn't consolidate my rule over the Vrangs fully, the fact that they did nothing to defend me once Conquest and Tyrany'r and the other Viltrumites ganged up on proving that I had not done enough. The Viltrumites in turn were similar, I should have spent more time there, ensuring at least a stable foothold of power and influence that Kregg could not have pulled this move.

And it was Kregg, I wasn't stupid, I had just made mistakes that were born from inexperience in rulership on such a scale.

That was why I was going to use this opportunity for what it was, a chance to fully acclimatise myself to my new powers. To understand them and how to use them properly in a fight. How to use the principles of Torquasm and even the brutality of Horu-Kanu with the strength of a Kryptonian.

If I was able to fully implement these with my powers, then I was confident I wouldn't be beaten so easily again. 'The biggest problem I faced was against Tyrany'r. His power set was one I was aware existed, but had no first-hand experience with dealing with. My knowledge from comic books is good, but it's not perfect. But now I've faced him and constructs, I know now that simply punching them may not be enough.'

Yet my biggest problem was that I looked down upon him. As one of the first of the Green Lanterns, his Power Ring is nothing more than a prototype and much weaker than the modern day ones used by the rest of the Corps. Yet above all else, I looked down on the Green Lanterns in general. In comics, they were often used in a similar way to the likes of Aquaman, as a means to show how strong the enemy is. Which often means, that they come across as nothing more than canon fodder but that is far from the truth.

In comics they were just a storytelling tool and in real life, they are hardened warriors with the power to destroy planets. That was something I had recognised and something I would bare in mind for the future.

I would not repeat my mistakes again.

"Nara toru." Hearing those words in the back of my mind, I took a peek out of the corner of my eye, noticing the approach of a large contingent of soldiers. They were heavily armoured and looked to be a space-fearing race by the level of their technology.

Hardly on the level of the Vrangs or Viltumrites, let alone Krypton, but still advanced. Especially in comparison to these bug-like creatures I had been fighting recently.

However, they instantly caught my attention when I saw the approach of something coming directly towards me. It was small and shiny, metallic and looking very much like a weapon. I didn't even hesitate, head whipping back and smashing into the face of a bug that attempt to ambush me. At the same time, the dart-like object that whizzed past my face struck another bug, it slumping to the floor unmoving.

I could still hear its heartbeat so it was alive, but it told me all I needed to know. 'Capture.' As the bugs backed away from me, well-aware of the approaching entourage, I too moved back.

Again, the group shared some words in a language I didn't know, they looked intrigued by my actions. But they raised their guns and fired, dozens this time, not just one. They moved incredibly fast, yet hardly anything for me to worry about as I dashed to the right avoiding the hail of darts before rushing in.

Most of this entourage wasn't even carrying guns, they were just carrying spears.

I was hardly going to be beaten by such a primitive species.

-X- Line Break -X-

"We'll start this auction with these three primitive natives." Slowly my gaze flickered open and I winced at those loud chatter that rang in my ear. My eyes scrunched up as I took a moment to recollect myself and concentrated on my powers, limiting the amount of bombardment against my senses, especially hearing. "Chem-bonded and neutered. They're entering into voluntary service to raise money for their starving Hive."

As I opened my eyes once more, I looked upon the surroundings that greeted me.

I was still on the same planet as before, that was obvious. But this time I was within a bustling city, in a market square to be precise. One with which dozens of figures all gathered around eagerly to look upon us all, the man before us gallantly spinning a tail to inflate the price of his slaves.

Slaves?

Reflexively, I went to get to my feet only for my body to be restrained by the heavy chains. They were beyond anything I had felt before, weighing down so heavily it was like being pinned down by Doomsday himself.

Beside me, the three but-like creatures cluttered, their words somehow understandable now. "Please buy us!" But their words were pathetic and I wished that they simply sounded like chittering fools.

Did they have no pride? No sense of self-worth? How could they so easily accept servitude? I would never bow nor scrape, no matter what, Tah-Rao would not kneel to anyone. The universe was mine to conquer and no matter who got in my way, I would kill them all. Even if they're Superman or Darkseid, weak or strong, mortal or god. I would succeed and nothing would get in my way.

"Taking it easy, two-hander?" Beside me, another voice chattered the creature different yet similar to those begging to be bought. His skin was much darker and form much stronger looking, though that wasn't saying much. "You freshling from portal, not so strong."

"You're not so strong either," I replied, eyes indicating to the chains wrapped around the creature. "I've killed plenty of your kind and I killed plenty of those red skins who attempted to capture me. If it wasn't for them calling back up and getting more soldiers, more armed than those previously I would have killed them all."

"You still lost." I would give the bug his props, he had nerves of steel. Even as I glared out at him, eyes flashing red, he didn't cower in fear just staring up at me. Oh, there was fear in his eyes, but at least this one had a spine and at the end of the day, he wasn't wrong.

I had lost.

Twice that made it.

Twice I had been defeated and it was no one's fault other than my own. My hubris and pride had gotten the better of me. But there would not be a third, if there was, I might as well kill myself and save me the trouble. It would be clear to me then that I was not fit for this life and I'd save myself the effort of trying to achieve something and inevitably failing.

"Sixty for the lot!" One man proclaimed hand raised.

I turned, looking upon him and glared at the man who thought himself my new 'master.' I'd kill him eventually, all I needed was a singular moment. And if this planet was what I thought it was, then that meant this opportunity would soon present itself to me.

-X- Line Break -X-

I was right.

This planet, this entire thing had seemed so similar to me. I remembered this story, I remembered what it symbolised and what it meant for fans of the character it followed. This planet was no ordinary planet that existed within the infinite universes of comic books and their franchises.

It had a name; Sakaar.

A name that held close ties with the Hulk and what would later evolve into the World War Hulk storyline.

And I knew that for a number of reasons, each providing proof. The first of which was the little creature beside me, the bug I met at the slave auction. Its name was Miek a member of Hulk's Warbound.

The others were upon the main balcony overlooking the arena within which I found myself currently. The first, the primary antagonist of the Planet Hulk story, the Red King himself. But more importantly, my gaze was drawn to the woman who stood behind the Red King, she was quite beautiful and I had to tip my head to the Hulk for getting her.

She was, after all, his wife, Caiera the Oldstrong.

This couldn't be more perfect. I had in some strange fashion, taken the role of Hulk in this story who it seemed, had not been kicked off Earth by the Illuminati. Yet at the same time, Miek was here as was Caiera.

'Well, it would be rude for me not to take part in this little play.' I thought with a smirk, preparing myself for the inevitable battle to come. 'After all, what better way to get better than by battling within a colosseum as a gladiator? They are, after all, said to be some of the greatest warriors in my old world.'