Chapter 5

Thragg's fist hung in the air for a fraction of a second, the force behind it dissipating as Ax-el remained rooted in place, completely unaffected. The two locked eyes, and in that moment, Thragg knew what he was dealing with wasn't just raw power—Ax-el was beyond anything he had ever encountered.

Ax-el tilted his head, a smirk creeping across his face. "You're fast, I'll give you that. But it's not going to be enough."

Thragg's expression darkened. Without a word, he threw another punch, aiming directly for Ax-el's face. This time, Ax-el didn't stand still. With blinding speed, he moved to the side, effortlessly avoiding the attack. Thragg's punch hit nothing but air, and before he could react, Ax-el delivered a counterpunch to his gut.

The force of Ax-el's blow sent shockwaves through the arena, and Thragg was launched backward, crashing into the far wall of the coliseum with a thunderous boom. Dust and debris exploded from the impact, and for a moment, the arena was silent, all eyes locked on the crater where Thragg had landed.

Ax-el stood calmly in the center of the battlefield, his arms crossed as he waited for Thragg to emerge. He wasn't concerned—he knew Thragg was tough, but even someone as powerful as him wouldn't be able to withstand the full might of a Kryptonian for long.

From the rubble, Thragg slowly pulled himself out, his expression twisted with rage. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his once pristine Viltrumite armor was dented and cracked. But despite the pain, there was a fire in his eyes that hadn't been there before.

"You… You're holding back," Thragg growled, his voice strained but laced with fury.

Ax-el gave a casual shrug. "If I wasn't, you wouldn't be standing."

Thragg wiped the blood from his lips, his eyes narrowing. He knew Ax-el wasn't lying, and that infuriated him even more. His pride as a Viltrumite, the leader of the most powerful empire in the universe, was being challenged by someone who didn't even consider him a threat.

With a roar of pure rage, Thragg launched himself forward again, his fists flying faster than before. He was relentless, throwing everything he had at Ax-el. Each punch came with enough force to shatter a planet, but Ax-el dodged or blocked them all with ease, his movements a blur of speed and precision.

It was clear to everyone watching—Ax-el was toying with him.

From above, Anissa watched with a mix of awe and trepidation. She had never seen anyone handle Thragg like this. No one dared challenge the Grand Regent and lived to tell the tale. But Ax-el was doing more than just surviving—he was dominating. She felt a strange mix of fear and excitement at the sight of it.

As Thragg threw another punch, Ax-el caught his fist mid-air, gripping it tightly. Thragg's eyes widened in shock as he realized he couldn't break free. Ax-el smirked, tightening his grip, and with a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed Thragg across the arena once again.

The Grand Regent slammed into the ground, creating another crater as his body skidded to a halt. This time, he didn't get up immediately. The crowd of Viltrumites, who had been watching in stunned silence, began to murmur among themselves. For the first time, they were seeing their leader struggle.

Ax-el floated above the ground, his arms still crossed as he watched Thragg try to rise. "You're strong, Thragg. Stronger than anyone else here. But you're not the strongest anymore."

Thragg slowly pushed himself up, his breathing labored. "We'll see about that," he spat, his voice filled with venom.

Suddenly, he shot into the sky, disappearing from sight in a blur of motion. Ax-el raised an eyebrow, sensing where Thragg had gone. He wasn't running away—he was preparing for something bigger.

Within moments, Thragg reappeared, carrying a massive chunk of the arena floor above his head. With a savage roar, he hurled the debris at Ax-el with all his strength, the sheer size of the object blotting out the sky.

Ax-el didn't even flinch.

With a single punch, he obliterated the massive chunk of debris into countless tiny fragments. The shockwave from his punch sent the remaining Viltrumites reeling, struggling to stay on their feet as the arena quaked around them. Dust and smoke filled the air, but Ax-el stood unscathed in the middle of it all, his gaze fixed on Thragg.

"That's enough," Ax-el said, his voice calm but commanding.

In an instant, he vanished from where he was standing, appearing directly in front of Thragg. Before the Viltrumite leader could react, Ax-el grabbed him by the throat and lifted him into the air. Thragg struggled, his hands clawing at Ax-el's grip, but it was no use. Ax-el's strength was absolute.

"Your empire is built on conquest and brutality," Ax-el said, his voice cold. "But strength without control is nothing more than chaos. I could tear this planet apart if I wanted to. But that's not my goal. Not yet."

He tightened his grip slightly, watching as Thragg's face contorted in pain. "I'll be watching your empire, Thragg. And if I see any more mindless destruction, I won't hesitate to end it. You're not the strongest anymore. Remember that."

With that, Ax-el released his grip, dropping Thragg to the ground. The Grand Regent gasped for air, collapsing to his knees as he struggled to catch his breath. He glared up at Ax-el, a mix of rage and fear in his eyes, but he didn't say a word. He knew better than to challenge him further.

Ax-el floated down to the ground, his expression unreadable. The Viltrumites around the arena were silent, their eyes wide with shock and awe. None of them had ever seen Thragg brought to his knees before. And now, they had witnessed something even more terrifying—a being who could do it with ease.

Anissa, still watching from above, felt a chill run down her spine. She had always believed in the power of the Viltrumites, in their superiority over all other races. But Ax-el… he was something else entirely.

Without another word, Ax-el turned and began walking toward the exit of the arena. His work here was done. For now.

As he left, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The Viltrumites were a proud race, but even their pride had limits. And Ax-el was going to push those limits until they either broke… or bent to his will.

Anissa floated down to meet him, her expression serious. "You're not what I expected."

Ax-el glanced at her. "I get that a lot."

"You could have killed Thragg," she said, her voice low. "But you didn't."

Ax-el shrugged. "I don't need to conquer yet. There's more to be gained by waiting."

Anissa studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I want to see more of your strength. You're different. And that interests me."

Ax-el smirked. "You'll see it soon enough."

Together, they left the arena, leaving the Viltrumite empire in a state of shock and uncertainty. But one thing was clear—Ax-el was no ordinary conqueror. He was something far greater, and the universe was about to find out just how powerful he truly was.