Planet Arc Part 5
The Red King's throne room was eerily quiet as he stared at the massive spike, a weapon of unimaginable destruction. It was his last resort, a device that could decimate entire cities with ease. His anger had festered since the escape of Hulk and the gladiators, and now, the whispers of rebellion were growing louder.
"Prepare the spikes," the Red King commanded, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.
Caiera the Oldstrong, his most trusted lieutenant, stepped forward, her face etched with concern. "My lord, unleashing the spike will kill thousands of innocents. It will devastate our own people."
The Red King turned to her, his eyes blazing with a madness that frightened even her. "Our people need to understand the consequences of defiance. They need to see the price of rebellion. If I must destroy them to maintain control, then so be it."
"My lord, there must be another way," Caiera pleaded. "We can still quell the rebellion without resorting to such extreme measures."
The Red King shook his head. "No. The time for mercy is over. We will unleash the spike, and they will bow to me or they will die."
He waved his hand dismissively, signaling for the spike to be prepared for launch. The room buzzed with activity as soldiers and engineers began the final preparations.
Caiera stood there, torn between her loyalty to the Red King and her own sense of justice. She had served him faithfully for years, but this was a step too far. The lives of innocents hung in the balance, and she could not stand by and watch them be sacrificed.
"My lord," she said quietly, "I cannot be a part of this."
The Red King's eyes narrowed. "Are you defying me, Caiera?"
She met his gaze, her resolve firm. "I am protecting our people. I will not allow you to destroy everything we have built."
The Red King sneered. "Then you are no longer of use to me."
Before she could react, he raised his hand and sent a blast of energy her way. Caiera deflected it with her Oldstrong power, but the force of the blast sent her crashing into the wall. She struggled to her feet, her eyes filled with determination.
"This is madness I will stop you," she said. "Even if it costs me my life."
She turned and fled the throne room, knowing she had to warn the Hulk and the others. The Red King's madness had reached a tipping point, and only by joining forces with the rebels could she hope to save Sakaar.
Kade stood beside the Hulk, watching as the freed gladiators and slaves prepared for their next move. The camp they had liberated was bustling with activity as weapons were distributed and plans were made.
The Hulk's eyes were filled with a mix of pride and determination. "We need to hit the Red King hard. Show him that we won't back down."
Kade nodded. "We've got the momentum, but we need to be smart about this. If we rush in without a plan, we'll be walking into a trap."
Korg stepped forward, his massive frame casting a shadow over the group. "We should attack his supply lines near the capital. Cut off his resources and weaken his defense forces."
Meek now the king of his hive said . "Yes, cripple his ability to fight back. Then we strike at his heart."
The Hulk nodded, a grim smile on his face. "Agreed. We'll hit him where it hurts."
Suddenly, Caiera burst into the camp, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "The Red King... he's preparing to unleash the spikes. He's going to destroy us all."
The camp fell silent as her words sank in. The spike was a plague of death and destruction, its power feared by all on Sakaar. Kade's eyes narrowed. "What's a spike?"
Hiroim stepped forward "the spikes arrived here on Sakaar a century ago they are small creatures that dig themselves into a living organism turning them into a host controlling their body as they destroy everything and everyone".
Kade shook his head "great so we're dealing with a dollar tree symbiote this is exactly what I needed".
Caiera looked at the Hulk, her eyes pleading. "Join forces with me. Together, we can take down the Red King and save Sakaar."
The Hulk studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. We'll fight together."
The rebels quickly formed a plan. They would divide their forces, with one group attacking the Red King's palace and the other infiltrating the city and distract his main forces. Kade and the Hulk would lead the assault on the Red King themselves.
As they prepared to move out, Kade pulled the Hulk aside. "Hulk, we need to talk about what happened back there. We can't afford to lose ourselves in this fight."
The Hulk's eyes softened. "I know, Kade. It's just different compared to earth here I'm not seen as a monster I'm wanted here and I know I can do more good here."
Kade nodded, relief flooding through him. "Good. We need you, Hulk. The real you."
With their resolve strengthened, the rebels set out on their mission. The fate of Sakaar rested in their hands, and they would stop at nothing to save it.
The city of Sakaar was in chaos as the rebels launched their attack. Kade and the Hulk led the charge, their combined strength cutting through the Red King's defenses like a knife through butter. Caiera fought alongside them, her Oldstrong power a formidable force.
Large explosions rang across the city giant tanks drove into the city destroying everything in their path both civilian and rebel."We need to take those tanks out before they end the battle before it even begins"Korg said as he bashed the head of an imperial guard before grabbing another and throwing him across the battlefield.
The Hulk nodded, his eyes locked on the palace. "Leave it to me. Kade and Caiera take care of the Red King."
Kade and Caiera fought their way into the palace, their progress slowed by the Red King's elite guards. But their determination was unyielding, and they pressed on.
They burst into the throne room to find the Red King waiting for them, his eyes blazing with madness.
Turning to the intruders the Red King roars "You will all die!"
Caiera stepped forward, her voice strong. "It's over, my lord. Your reign ends here."
The Red King sneered. "You think you can defeat me? You are nothing without my protection."
"There's something about all you cliche snob nosed villains,you think everything is about you and hurt others when you don't get what you want but your wrong," Kade said, his voice steady. "This ends now and we will stop you."
The Red King gritted his teeth pointing his suits hands at the duo as he yelled"DIE!" shooting an energy beam at them but Kade and Caiera quickly dodged.
Kade launched himself at the mech, dodging energy projectiles with incredible speed. He aimed for the joints, trying to disable the massive machine.
Caiera engaged the Death's Head Guards, her skills in combat evident as she parried their strikes and countered with devastating blows. The battle was fierce, the air filled with the clash of steel and the roar of combat.
The Red King's mech swung a massive energy sword, narrowly missing Kade as he twisted out of the way. "You think you are this worlds savior you are nothing but a pretender," the Red King snarled. "This world is mine!"
Kade gritted his teeth, feeling the strain of the battle. "This world belongs to its people," he shot back. "Not to a tyrant like you."
As the fight raged on, Kade and Hulk worked in tandem, their combined strength pushing the Red King's mech to its limits. The Death's Head Guards fell one by one.
The Red King was not done yet. With a final, desperate surge of power, he unleashed a blast of energy that sent Kade and Caiera crashing to the ground.
"You will not win," he hissed, his voice filled with venom. "I will see you all dead before I let you take my throne."
Kade struggled to his feet,"We're not giving up," he said, his voice weak but determined. "We're fighting for these peoples future and right to live freely."
Together, they launched a final assault on the Red King, their combined strength overwhelming his defenses. With a final, desperate cry, the Red King fell, his body crumpling to the ground.
"Release them," he wheezed to his remaining loyalists, his voice a venomous whisper.
"But, my lord, the Spikes will—"
"Release them!" he bellowed, the force of his rage giving him one last burst of energy. "Let them feast on the blood of my enemies. Let them consume this world if it must be so!"
With trembling hands, the loyalist obeyed. A series of switches were flipped, and a foreboding alarm echoed throughout the palace. Deep within the bowels of Sakaar, containment units opened, and the Spikes, ancient and ravenous, were set free.
With the Red King defeated, the rebels began the task of rebuilding. The city was in ruins, but the spirit of its people was unbroken. Kade and the Hulk stood side by side.
Caiera approached them, her expression solemn. "We have won a great victory today, but the road ahead is long. The people will need strong leaders to guide them."
The Hulk nodded. "We'll be here for them. We'll build a better Sakaar."
Kade smiled. "Together."
But before they could fully enjoy their victory black ships started crashing down into the ground around the city gates one after the other.
Caiera's eyes widened in horror as she sensed the impending doom. "The Spikes. He's released the Spikes."
A wave of panic spread through the capital as word of the Spikes reached the rebels and civilians. The ground trembled slightly, and a faint, eerie buzzing grew louder.
"We need to evacuate all the civilians," Kade said, taking charge. "Get everyone to higher ground and prepare to defend."
As the rebels scrambled to organize the evacuation, the Spikes appeared on the horizon—a dark, seething mass moving with terrifying speed. Their sharp, needle-like forms glinted in the harsh light, and a collective shiver ran through those who saw them.
The Spikes descended upon the camp like a plague. They pierced through flesh and armor alike, their voracious hunger driving them to attack anything that moved. Screams of pain and terror filled the air as the rebels fought to protect themselves and each other.
Kade used his super speed to dart around the battlefield, rescuing those he could and delivering them to safety. Hulk, his rage a barely contained inferno, smashed through the Spikes with brute force, though for every Spike he destroyed, more seemed to take its place.
Caiera fought with a warrior's grace and determination, her Oldstrong powers creating a protective barrier around those she could shield. Despite their efforts, the sheer number of Spikes overwhelmed them.
"We can't hold them off forever!" Kade shouted, looking to Caiera for guidance.
"We need to retreat to the mountains," Caiera replied, her voice strained. "The terrain will give us an advantage."
"Everyone, fall back!" Kade yelled, rallying the rebels. "To the mountains!"
Guided by Caiera, the rebels moved deeper into the mountains, navigating through treacherous paths and narrow tunnels. The Spikes, relentless as ever, followed, but the fire barrier and difficult terrain slowed their advance.
At last, they reached a hidden chamber within the mountains. Inside, an ancient weapon lay dormant—a massive cannon-like device inscribed with Oldstrong symbols.
"This is it," Caiera said, her voice filled with reverence. "The Spike Repeller my people the oldstrong created it for the Red Kings father when the spikes first arrived but due to the immense energy and power it can only be used once every decade."
"How does it work?" Kade asked, examining the device.
"It uses concentrated energy to generate intense heat from the planet," Caiera explained. "We need to power it up."
With the help of the rebels, they began the process of activating the weapon. As the Spikes closed in, the tension grew palpable. The air was thick with anticipation and fear.
"We don't have much time," Kade urged, glancing back at the approaching horde.
Finally, the Spike Repeller hummed to life, its energy core glowing with a fierce, radiant light. Caiera took her place at the controls, her hands steady despite the urgency.
"Everyone, get behind the device," she ordered. "This is our only chance."
The Spikes swarmed into the chamber, their needle-like forms gleaming with predatory hunger. As they surged forward, Caiera activated the weapon.
A powerful beam of concentrated energy shot forth, creating an intense wave of heat that washed over the Spikes. The creatures writhed and shrieked, their forms dissolving in the unbearable heat. The Spike Repeller's energy beam continued to burn brightly, decimating the horde.
The rebels watched in awe and relief as the Spikes were obliterated. The weapon's power was overwhelming, its ancient design proving more than a match for the relentless parasites.
With the immediate threat neutralized, the rebels collapsed in exhaustion. The air was filled with the smell of scorched earth and the distant sounds of lingering combat.
Kade approached Caiera, his expression one of gratitude and respect. "You saved us."
"We saved each other," Caiera replied, her voice weary but resolute.
As the battle wound down, the rebels discovered something unexpected. The Spikes, now subdued and no longer attacking, appeared weak and emaciated. Caiera, with her deep knowledge of Sakaar's history, realized the truth.
"Quick we need to head to their ships I feel something or someone trying to reach to me"Caiera said as they all rushed to the giant blast ships that held the Spikes.
"Thank you for hearing our call green one,please hear our story.You know us as the spikes killing spores that consume any organic material they touch.But that is not who we truly are,In our natural form we live in space absorbing cosmic energies from dying stars.Every few generations we migrate to new galaxies,We meant to pass this world and go to your sun but something went wrong.Our ships crashed onto the surface of this planet,stranded and starved of cosmic energies we lost our minds and our souls.And we went insane and became hungry so so hungry that we began to consume everything we touched but nothing could satisfy us.We killed millions,it wasn't until the emperor's father that drove us back to our ships that we were sent to this planets moon where we ate each other only returning to this planet whenever the emperor brought us down as his weapons."
"I'm sorry that this happened to you but if we help you can you control your children to stop harming the people of this planet"Kade stepped forward and asked.
Hulk, understanding the implications, made a decision. "If they need energy, they can have mine only if you help us".
"We shall help you green scar"The father spike said.
The Red King back at the capital his body broken forced himself to stand with his half broken mech "all right green scar,you have refused to kneel before me and beg me for mercy now I shall burn every soul you tried to save if I cannot rule Sakaar there will be no Sakaar left to rule.The Red King pressed a button smiling with madness.
All of a sudden a rumbling began the entire planet started shaking everyone rushed outside as lava began spitting out of the ground.
"Earthquake?"Kade asked.
"No it's something worse,the Red King he's killed us all".Caiera said
"What's she talking about"Hulk said
"I'm an Oldstrong.This planet talks to me,And it cannot hold - - The Red King has the cracked the plates"Caeira spoke as she knelt down accepting her fate.
Korg agreed"Yes,stone speaks to stone,This is the end"
A group of rebels on their knees looked to the Hulk "But the green scar,the green scar will save us."
"He is the Sakaarson he and the Superman will bring us towards greatness the can save us just as the prophecy has fortold "Another said as tears dropped from their eyes.
"Hush softskin,the crust of the planet itself is splitting,With all his strength,the green scar could smash this world to pieces but what can he do to heal it?"Korg said as he began to hug a child off the hive.
Kade looked around unsure what to do 'a dying planet with the power I have now would be worthless I've never even attempted to push a planet like the real Superman' Kade thought as he looked around at the hundreds of people running as lava rose from the ground.
Kade felt a tap on his leg as he looked down at a small child "Mr Superman are you going to save us."
Kade knelt down to the child his face going from nervous and anxious to a kind gentle smile."Of course I'm going to save you I'm a hero and that's my job now go to your mother she's gonna need you.Make sure to take care of her,Okay?"
"Do you promise?"The child said.
Kade paused looking around as he saw the chaos around him mothers holding their children as fathers tried finding ways for them to run and find safety but there wasn't any.
"I promise,now go hug your mother and tell her you love her" He said smiling
"Yes sir"The child said as he ran back to his mother who was on the ground crying and hugged her.
Kade stood up and walked forward he looked at Hulk as they both locked eyes they knew what to do and they both smiled."You better not lag behind runt or else everyone here is dead "Hulk grunted as he looked forward at the giant split in the ground ahead of them.
"Worry about yourself you look tired already"Kade shot back as they both ran forward.
'I might not be as strong as the real Superman right now and might fail these people,but I sure as hell won't try first'
Both Hulk and Kade dived into the ground the heat was extreme they both grabbed onto the splitting earth and both began to pull pull pull pull with all their might.Both roaring due to the struggle of the weight and the heat of the lava burning them.
"Impossible"The Red King said as he watched the impossible happen before him.
Caeira and Korg watched in awe
"They the shifted the very plates of an entire planet"Caeira said
"Of course they did he's the Hulk and that's Superman."Korg replied
"But you said he couldn't do it"Caeira said as she looked at Korg
"I was just making him mad,he seems to work best that way right greenskin?."Korg smiled
'PULL GOD DAMN IT I REFUSE TO FAIL THEM I REFUSE TO LET THESE PEOPLE DIE WHAT KIND OF HERO WOULD I BE OF I DID I MADE A PROMISE I REFUSE TO NOT UPHOLD IT NOW PULL PULL PULLLLLLLL'Kade screamed in his mind his teeth grinding together as the plates of the planet began inching forward and forward until it was fully in place.
Due to all the stress and power used Kade fainted but before he hit the ground Hulk grabbed him."Heh guess you aren't completely worthless kid"Hulk said as he looked down at his unconscious friend.
Korg held his rocky hand out as the Hulk with Kade in his arm grabbed onto it.Korg grabbed Kade and with all his strength threw Hulk into the air where the Red King was hovering over with his shield activated
"You may have won today green scar bu-
"DIE."Hulk yelled as he punched the Red King completely destroying his shield throwing him miles away where he landed in a crater alive.
A couple of stragglers ran over looking at the Red Kings mech amazed"look it's a wildebot maybe we can strip it for parts".But the Red King with what little consciousness he had left looked at them with anger and hatred in his eyes and said "you dumb slave I'm no wildebot I am the hero protector,the crown Prince,The Red King,The Emperor Of Sakaar,I AM GOD IN FLESH AND BLOOD AND YOU CANNOT -"but before he was able to finish a blade stabbed him as he looked down as hundreds of wildebots attacked him as he yelled in pain and agony.
In Crown City the capital of Sakaar their was a celebration a parade of the Hulk and his allies as the rebels parades around the city.Kade in the back of a horse like salamander creature smiled and waved as people cheered.
"GREEN SCAR"
"GREEN SCAR"
"GREEN SCAR "
"GREEN SCAR"
"GREEN SCAR"
"GREEN SCAR"
Thousands yelled because for once they were all freed.No more slaves,Gladiators it was all peace now.
Hulk led the Father Spikes to the throne room of his new palace,it was time for him to keep his promise and help them.He knelt down and allowed the Spikes to feed on his gamma radiation. The creatures, once feral and terrifying, became docile and grateful, their hunger sated.
Outside people were still celebrating as fireworks went off and for once people danced and sang.
Hulk looked at Korg who entered the throne room as he asked him"what's all that noise?"
They're celebrating"
"Celebrating what"
"Your coronation"
"Your bright idea?"
"Greenskin"
"You know me Korg,why're you…why're you doing this?"
"Because I know you,and to hold the many different people of the world together.Only you have the strength and only you have the will."Korg said as he looked at the Father Spikes who were draining the gamma radiation from the Hulk.
"Forgive us green scar"
"So hungry"
"Forgive us"
They all said ashamed of what they are doing and what they have done due to their hunger.
Caeira walked in shocked at what she saw "Holku?"
Hiroim walked in as well and looked at her"while the Spike Elders feed on him the spike children outside are quiet".
"But he can't..he can't bear every burden of this world".
Hulk grunted as he looked at her"says who?"
Caeira approached Hulk as he gripped onto the hard throne he was on cracking it,she held her hand out to him as he grabbed it gently and she hugged him.
"May the prophet preserve you King Hulk"Hiroim said.
Kade was outside of the throne room he was ashamed he wish he could help he offered but with what solar power he had left in him he could die.Unlike the Hulk who was a gamma radiation battery he was in pain but still did it.He was wrong about the Hulk he thought that this planet really did consume him and bring out the worse but he was wrong Hulk was a hero and he was proud of his friend.But soon it would be time for him to leave and go home,Hulk found his home now it's time for him to go back to his.
Kade made a silent prayer that nothing would destroy the peace and happiness that Hulk and Banner have found here.Because if there was
God help them all
A/N Oh boy did I have fun writing this chapter I'm sorry it took me so long I made 4 different versions of it and didn't know what to put up so I just combined all of em.But guess what next chapter coming out tomortow is gonna be the last of the Planet Hulk arc and for u comic nerds you know what that means
WORLDBREAKER