Chapter 16: Massive Gain

"Reporting on The Daily News, Absolver is currently battling a new villain. He seems to be some type of beast man. This is the first time in the hero's career that he hasn't immediately won. Just how dangerous is this enemy?"

A female reporter spoke into the camera. The screen focused on her before moving to the sky. Shockwaves visible to the human eye detonated continuously. The two figures collided again.

BOOM

One of the fighters was launched into the city, smashing through the side of a corporate building. Debris fell from the structure and crashed onto the ground. Civilians could be seen escaping the city turned battleground.

"This battle has reached a cataclysmic level…Ah!" She screamed while dodging falling debris. The surroundings were tearing apart.

"I see him!" The cameraman declared.

The screen zoomed in on a collapsing building. A dark silhouette was visible inside the falling steel. Two red lights were shining in the dark. Suddenly, he vanished.

…

…

…

In the dilapidated room of fallen heroes, silent footsteps could be heard. Invisible figures spread across the room. They stopped after checking all sides.

"Clear!" One exclaimed.

With that announcement, the cloaking was released. A plethora of splinter cell operatives were revealed, automatic rifles in hand. Along with the declaration, a team of medics burst into the room. They hurried toward the unconscious Guardians.

Only Rex Splode remained free from injury with his hand on the tied up Machine Head's shoulder. Cecil teleported in along with his assistant Donald. After grabbing one of the medics, he pointed to Invincible.

"Blood samples. Now!" He ordered.

The man nodded and sprinted over to the fallen viltrumite. As the Guardians were put in stretchers and incubation chambers, Donald noticed the unconscious Dupli-Kate. He felt a bit queasy upon seeing the ripped up copies. Cecil walked over and frowned.

"Her injuries…" He muttered. The medic tending to her spoke up.

"They've been seared shut. Only high intensity heat could do this."

The old man thought for a moment. Looking out the hole in the wall, he could see the two fighters duking it out in the sky and through the city. He looked back at Dupli-Kate.

"He used his laser eyes. I'm sure he saved her life. The only problem is, the amount of precision needed to do this…it reminds me of the missing evidence from the previous Guardians." He declared. Donald raised an eyebrow.

"You mean…you think Absolver was involved in their deaths?" He asked. Cecil heaved an exhausted sigh.

"I hope not, but it's plausible."

"Then…what do we do?"

"Nothing. Do you really think we could handle Omni Man and Absolver together? Or at all? Only once we find a solution to the problem will we act."

The two then walked over to Rex. The hero seemed to be extremely irritated. It was probably due to the state of his comrades. Before Cecil could even ask what happened, the man spoke.

"We lost. We lost bad. I guess Absolver came after I passed out." He spoke without his extra sarcasm. The old man grabbed the side of Machine Head's metal skull.

"Hey! Watch it! This is high state of the art-" His words were interrupted as he powered down. Cecil had removed the sim card from the villain's temple.

BOOOOM

Another shockwave detonated in the distance. The old man looked at the device in Kate's hand before turning to the city. The villain rocketed through the sky. It seemed like he was finally being forced to leave the city. Absolver flew after him at high speeds, blasting him further and further away.

"It needs to end soon. The casualties are getting too high." He muttered.

…

…

…

Taz wiped a bit of blood from his mouth as he flew after Battle Beast. He spun like a whirlwind upon catching up. At the peak of his twist, a heavy fist crashed down onto the warrior's chest.

KABOOOM

The surroundings detonated from the impact. The white lion's body curled like a bow and shot down toward the ground. They were now in the green hills past the outskirts of the city.

As the young soldier crashed down on the villain, Battle Beast rolled away, narrowly avoiding the stomp. His golden mace twirled with elegance before smashing up into the stoic hero's chin.

BAM

"Ughf!" The viltrumite grunted.

His feet left the ground. The attack wasn't finished. A downward swing connected with the back of Taz's head, sending him back to the ground. The floor cracked as he landed on his knee.

"Hahaha! I'm having so much fun! Are you?!" The lion roared with adrenaline.

Both of them had barely started bleeding even though the fight had begun hours ago. The white lion threw a punch down onto the soldier's head, causing his forehead to smack on the ground.

"Fuck off!" Absolver growled.

The air crackled and popped when he clenched his fist. An overwhelming uppercut connected with the warrior's jaw.

BOOOM

Battle Beast flew into the sky once again. The ground splintered as the hero blasted up toward him. Taz grasped his chest plate with one hand and raised the other for a heavy punch. He wasn't the only one in action. The golden mace smacked the side of his face. Blood spurt out of the young viltrumite's mouth.

Ignoring the blow, he stepped off the air, blasting toward the ground with the lion in tow. A huge crater was left upon crash landing. Taz dragged him across the earth, a flurry of punches smashing down the whole time.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

The surroundings were decimated as the scramble continued. More and more blood flew between the two fighters. Their fight took them around the world due to Absolver's flight speed keeping them moving. The hero pushed him through mountains, watching with glee as Battle Beast vomited blood.

"I thought you were tougher than this." The viltrumite mocked.

Another mountain range was decimated as they beamed through it at mach 40. Turbo charged punches rained down on the white lion's torso, leaving dents. Taz had pulled from his reserves of strength and unleashed it on the warrior. He now had the advantage.

The beast man realized that he was fighting a losing battle. Even though he was currently able to keep up with Taz's strength, it kept increasing. He wondered if the man even had a limit. Battle Beast needed to gain the advantage again.

Taz wrapped his arms around the lion's throat from behind and squeezed. The two crashed through rocks and gravel all the while. Realizing the opportunity, the white lion bit down on the viltrumite's arm.

CRUNCH

"Ahhhhhh!!!!! You mutt!" The hero roared in pain.

While the soldier was struggling to open the villain's mouth, the lion sneakily pressed a button on his wrist. A golden portal opened up in front of them. Their speed didn't allow for an instant change of direction. Taz could only watch as he flew through it.

The surroundings instantly changed. A grassy plain spanned the horizon. A kingdom was visible in the distance. The young viltrumite threw Battle Beast to the ground in annoyance. The white lion gave a bloody grin.

"You're in my turf now. I'll deal with you cleanly. A great battle this was." He exclaimed. The stoic hero raised an eyebrow.

"Idiot. You just unleashed me upon your world."

Turning to the now blue sun, he could feel its rays washing over him. His cells drank in the radiation like someone who hadn't drunk in days. His wounds healed at a visible rate. The strength that now coursed through his veins reminded him of his time on Astra. The only difference was that he could go even further now with his golden form.

Taz knew he would win this fight even before coming here. Now, Battle Beast's fate was sealed. Dirt rose from the ground around him. The elite soldier opened his arms wide as he floated above. The lion raised an eyebrow in response.

"Round 2 then? I am Thokk, protector of worlds." He announced. The stoic man tilted his head.

"I am Taz…a viltrumite."

Hearing his words, Thokk froze. His eyes widened in shock. Eventually his expression changed to one of excitement.

"Hahahaha! Excellent! I must win now, or my world will be conquered. An incredible situation I've found myself in."

"Speak no more. It's time for you to suffer the consequences of bringing me here."

No more words were said. Battle Beast raised his hand. A whistling sound could be heard as golden armor flew from the kingdom and covered his body. A helm wrapped around his face. He twirled the golden mace around his fingers before leaping toward the floating man.

Taz watched with apathy as the lion neared him. He saw the mace hurtling toward him and paid it no mind. He clenched his fist. A vacuum of air was the result of his action. Crackles and pops resounded as his arm raised. In an instant, he swung.

The mace snapped in half. The viltrumite's arm continued forward unabated. A whistling sound could be heard as it neared the beast man's torso. Time froze for a second as it connected.

KRAKOOOOOM

The godlike fist smashed down into his torso, causing him to beam to the ground. A crater was left so large it created an abyssal pit. Thokk didn't even realize he was in the ground yet. He also didn't notice the large hole in his chest. His mind hadn't caught up yet.

The powerful shockwave annihilated everything in the vicinity. The grassy plain disappeared. It was just a hole. A deep, bottomless hole. Taz floated above his handiwork without a care.

After a few seconds, Battle Beast caught up. Blood spurt out his mouth in droves. A satisfied smile adorned his face as he slowly ran out of breath. If left unattended, he would die in the next few minutes.

"Kuhuk…Amazing…Pfftt." He exclaimed through the blood.

The viltrumite soldier flew down into the hole and grabbed Thokk by the hair. After leaving the crater, he slowly flew toward the kingdom. He didn't have to go far. A large number of white lions were headed toward the crater. The sound of that single attack had alerted the kingdom.

Taz threw the warrior to the ground. It only took a few moments for the entourage to arrive. The leading beast man frowned while looking at the dying Thokk.

"You…" He muttered. He then turned to the floating man. The abyssal crater behind him made the figure gulp. Taz tilted his head to the side.

"You wear royal threads. A king?" He presumed. The man nodded humbly.

"I am a king, but I also hold a seat at the Coalition of Planets." He declared. The viltrumite raised an eyebrow.

"What a find…I have a question that needs answering."

"Do tell, mighty one."

"Are you going to serve me, or do I need to conquer this place myself?"

"...What?!" He exclaimed in disbelief.

Hearing the word 'conquer,' he could tell where this powerful man was from. The elite soldier floated directly in front of the king. His soldiers readied their weapons. Taz scoffed at the notion.

"Are all of you as strong as this one?" He gestured to Thokk. The king shook his head.

"They can kill normal viltrumites, but the strong ones…will kill us all."

"That brings me back to my other question. Submit, or die? Your answer decides the fate of this world."

The soldiers glared at the viltrumite with fury. Right before the king got any ideas, the stoic man circulated his solar energy. His skin immediately revealed a golden sheen. The surroundings began to burn. Fear was the next expression on their faces.

The king raised his hand, ordering his soldiers to stand down. He quickly kneeled right after. His entourage looked at him before gritting their teeth and kneeling.

"By your will." The king spoke with subservience.