Sakaar's Liberation

She was silent, unsure of how to respond as she looked upon the roasted remains of the Spikes as they fell out of the sky. There was no denying my words, no denying that the Red King had released the Spikes upon them, including her. Yet I could see her fists balling together, anger radiating from her form as she glared upon the charred remains.

I hadn't utilised the full strength of my heat vision, if I had there wouldn't be anything left of the Spike. But that wasn't what I wanted, I needed Caiera to see the truth, preferably without me being infected.

And I could already hear in the distance, the stampede coming towards us. The Red King had no intention of letting our rebellion continue, he wanted us all dead. Right now, no doubt being ferried by the guards, an army of Spike infested people were going to be stampeding towards us. They also showed no sign of stopping, which meant that Beta Ray Bill had yet to complete his task. That or the Spike Fathers hadn't been able to quell their children enough to halt this horde.

Which meant I would have to deal with them.

"Stay there if you wish," I told her, marching towards, ignoring the numerous attacks that came my way as soon as I came up from the crater. "But at the end of the day, it comes down to whether you're willing to make a small sacrifice today, or a large one tomorrow."

As soon as I came up all the way, I was no longer the only one to hear the sound of the approaching horde. Both sides slowly came to a stop and looked around to try and find the origin of that noise. All eventually landing upon the sight of the large dust cloud approaching us from a distance. They would be upon us in no more than a few minutes and I was already prepared to face them.

If Beta Ray Bill couldn't get the Spike Fathers to stop the advance of their children then I would be forced to stop them permanently.

Beside me, Caiera crawled her way up, looking upon the approaching dust cloud. "What is that?"

"Have you ever wondered what happened to those infected by the Spikes?" I asked and Caiera froze. She wasn't stupid and was well-aware of the meaning behind my words. "I had hoped that Beta Ray Bill would have been able to stop them, it seems though we made a miscalculation."

"We need to evacuate the area!" Caiera responded urgently.

"No, we don't," I replied firmly. "All forces clear a path!"

My voice was loud and booming, echoing across the battlefield. The rebels parted easily, breaking from their stupor and wonderment as to the meaning behind the approaching horde. However, the guards loyal to the Red King and under the command of the Caiera didn't make a move.

Not until Caiera nodded her head. "Do as he says! All forces make way!" She called out, the soldiers reluctantly doing so, but as soon as the horde crested the hill revealing grotesque, deformed monsters, their speed was far more rapid. In fact, all forces retreated, withdrawing behind me and Caiera as we stood in front of it all.

Not everyone was lucky enough to do so in time, both mine and Caiera's forces incurring losses, but they were minimal in comparison to what they could have been.

"What do you intend to do now?" Caiera asked.

I could see her nervousness, but her willingness to fight. "Just watch," I replied, smiling confidently as I marched forwards.

Spreading my legs apart to just beyond shoulder width, I bent my knees slightly to give me a more stable foothold. Taking a deep breath, I felt the telltale itch within the backs of my eyes as my vision began to go red and then, I pushed.

Two powerful and large beams of burning energy rushed out, tearing a deep grove along the ground and engulfing the entire Spike horde within its embrace. Each of them cried and screamed out in pain, screams that were quickly silenced as their bodies were reduced to nothingness in an instant.

I kept this beam up for a short few moments before closing my eyes, cutting off the energy to them.

Releasing a breath, I turned around, hearing the cheers from both armies alike at the sight of absolute power. Yet I could also see the awe and fear in all their eyes, those of my enemies and allies alike feared the power I held, yet were simultaneously in awe of it all.

Caiera on the other hand seemed fascinated.

"There you have it, Caiera the Oldstrong," I told her triumphantly. "There is the strength of a Kryptonian."

She was silent for a little while. "You could have escaped at any time, couldn't you?"

"Yes, I could have." Not entirely true, it was only after I escaped the Maw and when I gained the assistance of Governor Denebu that I was able to truly consider escape.

But I wouldn't tell her that, I wouldn't tell anyone that.

"Why choose to stay?"

"Because I needed to improve myself." That was the truth.

I had improved myself and from here on out, I would only continue to improve. There was an endless universe of power out there that was ripe for the taking. An endless supply of powerful allies and vast swathes of space was waiting to be conquered. As a Kryptonian, I had an endless lifespan so long as there continued to be a sun from which to draw power.

I would not rush as I had in the past, instead take my time and consolidate my holdings before moving on to the next. Just like The Tortoise and the Hare, slow and steady would win the race.

"Do you see now, the type of King you serve?" I asked once more, extending one hand to Caiera. "Help me and I can promise you that Sakaar will be liberated from his rule and placed under one more deserving."

-X- Line Break -X-

With a roar, Beta Ray Bill gripped hold of the metal arm tightly, his muscles straining as the arm groaned under the force he exerted. The Red King raged and screamed, demanding that he release him, but Bill didn't pay him any attention.

So, with one final pull, he ripped the arm free from its socket, wires sparking as the Red King clad in his suit stumbled away, his small red arm flaying around freely in the air. All around him, the battle raged, the slaves and the Spike Fathers leading their children alongside Korg to defeat the forces of the Red King.

Victory was theirs, it was just a matter of time now.

"You fool! How dare you betray me!" The Red King screamed, eyes bloodshot and veins pulsing upon his forehead. "Don't you know who I am?! Don't you remember what I did for you?!"

Beta Ray Bill remained silent, simply staring at him. The initial battle against the Red King had been a little difficult. His suit was powerful, containing powerful weaponry and defence, even augmenting his strength to a level that Beta Ray Bill couldn't ignore. However, even as Bill had become acutely aware that he was not the most skilled warrior, always purely relying upon brute strength.

The Red King was even worse.

He had no experience in combat, no instincts that Beta Ray Bill had. Even without the skill of Tah, defeating the Red King was a simple task once he understood what the suit was capable of. Now he simply had to finish him off and so, Bill marched forwards.

"Stop right there!" The Red King ordered. "I said stop! Do you hear me?!"

Yet Beta Ray Bill didn't stop.

"I'll blow up this planet!" That's when Korg landed to his side, rising up from the smoke his landing made as the Red King looked towards the Kronan in a mix of shock and fear. He recognised he was surrounded and that he couldn't win.

Yet before he could say anything, Korg beat him to it. "You can try." Korg scoffed, rocky lips twisting into a smile. "However, Tah has already learned of the bombs you planted and removed them. Pressing that button of yours will accomplish nothing. So go ahead, do it, if you don't believe me."