The Red Kings Champion

Today was the day.

Pushing off the fight for as long as possible I supposed had worked, though I wish it had been a little longer. I was finally as strong as I had been before my defeat at the hands of Tyrany'r and Conquest. But I always wanted more and I always would, that much I knew and accepted as part of who I would be for the rest of my life.

Never content, constantly desiring more.

In a way, I could look at this as my biggest challenge. This would be the very moment that determines my fate, if I won, my journey to the top would begin once more. Sakaar was a second-place for me, a place that I could use to centre myself and refocus my will to get to the top. If I failed, then death would await me and it would be deserved.

Doomsday had been a matter of survival.

Thragg, a matter of victory.

Tyrany'r and Conquest, once more a matter of survival.

Those three battles had been the biggest of my life and I had survived each. I had gotten stronger after my battle against Doomsday. I had gotten stronger after my battle against Thragg. But in a way, I had also gotten weaker as I relied purely upon power and not upon skill.

Then after my defeat at the hands of Tyrany'r and Conquest, my eyes had been opened and I worked to improve myself. It had been a slow journey, but now that I had gotten here, I knew within my heart that I was stronger than I had ever been before. It was time to show the world who I was and when Sakaar fell, I'd take my revenge against those that had wronged me.

And at my side, an army of freed slaves, grateful and adoring of what I had done for them.

-X- Line Break -X-

"I welcome to you all, the main event!" The commentator cried, the roar of the crowd erupting outwards at the news. It was a deafening sound, one that all had become used to at this point. Hard to believe that in the past, such a sound had been impossible to bear. "The clash between two men who have remained undefeated within the arena."

Leaning forward, Korg gripped hold of the bar between his rocky fingers. He leaned forwards, looking out across the sands and towards one of the entrances at the side of the arena. Then his gaze trailed all the way to the opposite where another entrance stood.

Large metal doors of imposing size and structure remained firmly shut, all around the arena, guards floated upon platforms outfitted with the best armour and weaponry. The disks on their chests were meant to keep them in check, but they weren't taking any chances. Why would they? The two men about to enter the arena had slaughtered thousands between them, more so if the stories Tah had told him about what led him to crashland on Sakaar.

"Can two hands do it?" Miek asked, the rest of their Warbound coming up behind him and looking upon the sands in preparation. All of them had fought earlier today, nothing more than a warmup event for what was to come.

Hiroim, the man who had led them to join together as the Warbound after their second official fight after their exit from the Maw, frowned deeply. "He is confident that he can." He responded though he didn't look fully convinced. "Tah-Rao is not a man to place his bets all in one pocket, or at least not from what I've seen. He must have a backup plan."

"We just have to place our faith in him," Lavin spoke up. "He hasn't been wrong so far and we've followed his lead all this time and nothing's gone wrong. In fact, by following his lead, things couldn't have gone better."

'Hiroim's not wrong though.' Korg didn't say it aloud though, instead remaining silent. 'Tah may have until this point not acted recklessly, but he wants the Red Kings Champion upon his side. Right now, is the most reckless I've seen him, though not as much as he has been in the past according to himself.'

Despite being told that by Tah, Korg wasn't fully convinced.

For their plan to work, they needed a mind like Tah's because, for all the faults of his past, he was still a military leader. Korg had been a follower and Lavin had only been a guard, Tah on the other hand had fought and led armies to victory time and time again. Korg was going to gamble everything upon him, just like many were, Tah couldn't lose.

'You better succeed, Tah.' Korg thought, grip tightening around the bars.

-X- Line Break -X-

Steadying my breathing, I listened to the stomping of the crowd as they waited in anticipation. Fingers flexing around the handles of my twin blades, I rolled my neck as I began to loosen off all the muscles in my body.

I knew this wouldn't be an easy fight.

On top of all that, I remembered that in the comics, the final foe that Hulk fought before going rogue was the Silver Surfer. I hoped that it both was and wasn't him for a number of reasons. First of all, I didn't want it to be him because I'm pretty sure that even with all my exposure to the yellow sun that I wouldn't be able to beat him and ultimately, I couldn't hold off any longer. The Governor's patience had finally reached an end and without my consent, organised the fight.

Which meant that if it was Silver Surfer, my chances of winning in a straight fight were slim. On the other hand, I didn't have to beat him as I could remove his disk and he'd probably leave. At least I hoped so but I couldn't be one hundred percent certain. He wasn't meant to have arrived before Hulk and the others had exited the Maw, but in this world, the Champion had been around for decades by the time I arrived.

So I wondered what kind of impact that would have if it was the Silver Surfer. However, if it was him and I managed to free him and he didn't still try to kill me, then that was only better. I'd have him indebted to me and hopefully, I could use that to help me conquer Sakaar in short order.

The only downside then was that I'd have Galactus' favoured Herald at my side, which would probably mean Galactus would be on his way.

As you can tell, lots of pros and cons to it being Silver Surfer.

"I give to you, Tah-Rao!" The commentator roared, suddenly drowned out by the loud cheer of the crowd. Before me, the metal door opened up and I marched out, my twin blades thrust into the air only inciting the crowd further.

Making my way to the centre, I stabbed my blades into the centre of the ground forming an X-shape. Taking a deep breath, I focused myself completely, drowning out the sounds of the arena and the roar of the crowd. Throughout my time, I drew out fights to not only hide my strength but to practise Horu-Kanu and using it in conjunction with my powers.

But now though, I'd use everything.

Horu-Kanu, Torquasm and my powers. Not a single thing would go to waste as I didn't have a choice. If it was Silver Surfer like I thought, then this was the perfect opportunity to truly test myself. It had taken months of time to regain my former strength, a stark difference compared to the handful of weeks it took me to reach this level of strength after my bout with Doomsday.

I had finally regained my former power and now I had a chance to see what I could do when I not only had power but skill. Now I could finally see what I could do when I wasn't blinded by arrogance or by the power I had at my fingertips.

It was time to see what I could really do when I didn't have anything holding me back.

"And finally, the man that needs no introduction." Opening my eyes, I looked upon the crowd that had fallen deathly silent. "A man who has reigned as King of the Arena for decades."

Suddenly the people began a low chant that was slowly beginning to rise in tempo as they stomped their feet.

At that moment, the doors on the opposite of the arena began to open. In response, I gripped hold of the handles of my blades and pulled them from the ground, giving them a light twirl. The louder chanting of the crowd didn't matter to me as I looked upon the shadowed entrance, just waiting to see the Silver Surfer come out.

"I give to you, a true God of the Arena!" The commentator thrust his arm out, just as we all caught a glimpse of a figure moving forwards. As soon as the crowd saw it, they erupted into an even louder outcry of adoration. "Beta!"

'What?' I questioned internally.

"Ray!"

Suddenly the figure became more clear and outstepped a large hulking beast of a figure, one with a horse-shaped head.

"Bill!"

And there, walking towards me, stood the very man who handed Thor Odinson his ass. Even though I know that the Silver Surfer was far stronger than Beta Ray Bill, just looking upon the man who would lift Mjolnir, I could tell something was not right.

'Fuck.'