Chapter 133: Beta Ray Bill

Emerging from the arena entrance were two figures. One was Garus' Death Knight, the abomination Emil Blonsky. His massive red body was painted with streaks of vibrant colors, and he wore thick, battle-worn armor. In his hands, he carried a gigantic axe that seemed to radiate menace.

The other was a figure with a horse-like face, clad in armor identical to Thor's, wielding a hammer in his hand.

Garus squinted at the horse-faced warrior, a flicker of familiarity crossing his mind. Moments later, he recalled the figure's identity: Beta Ray Bill, a powerful superhero.

According to legend, Beta Ray Bill hailed from the planet Korbin and was a cyborg champion of his people. He had once bested Thor in combat, earning the respect of the Asgardians. His weapon, Stormbreaker, was personally forged by Odin. While formidable, it wasn't quite as powerful as Mjölnir, the dwarven-forged hammer wielded by Thor himself.

As the two gladiators entered the arena, the crowd erupted into a thunderous wave of cheers and applause.

Seated in the grandstands, the Grandmaster turned to his guest, the Collector, and remarked with smug satisfaction, "Isn't my gladiatorial spectacle far more exciting than your collection?"

The Collector shrugged, his expression indifferent. "I collect things not just for entertainment, but as preparation. You know Thanos— that lunatic—is slaughtering across the cosmos to woo his so-called goddess. I need to gather certain artifacts to ensure he doesn't destroy the universe. That's the only joy I find in these grim times. Oh, speaking of collections, I recently acquired a peculiar duck—"

"Stop. I don't want to hear about your obsessive collecting. Focus on the championship bout." The Grandmaster silenced him with a dismissive wave. He knew all too well how the Collector could prattle on endlessly about his acquisitions.

Blonsky, now in the arena, immediately sensed Garus' presence. Looking up, he spotted his master seated among the spectators, watching him intently.

The sight of Garus stirred mixed emotions in Blonsky—joy at his arrival, but also a tinge of regret. It was time to leave this place, though he felt reluctant. His time on Sakaar had been oddly fulfilling. Here, life was simple: eat, sleep, and fight. He had almost grown fond of it.

Due to Sakaar's unique position at the crossroads of time and space, time flowed differently. While only a month had passed since Garus and Blonsky had parted ways, nearly two years had elapsed on Sakaar.

"Today's match will crown a champion," announced the arena's announcer. "The winner shall bask in glory, while the loser's corpse will feed the beasts. Let the battle begin!"

As the referee declared the start of the fight, small hovering drones ascended around the arena, broadcasting the event live.

"I'm sorry," Beta Ray Bill said, his glowing white eyes crackling with electricity. With a swing of Stormbreaker, a bolt of lightning shot toward Blonsky.

BOOM!

The ground around Blonsky exploded as dirt and debris shot into the air. The lightning strike blasted him back, slamming him into the arena wall, leaving a massive web of cracks upon impact.

The crowd responded with a mix of boos and jeers.

"Get up, Crimson Fury!" someone yelled, their frustration evident—clearly a bettor who had placed their hopes (and money) on Blonsky.

In just one exchange, Blonsky had been thoroughly outmatched, a testament to Beta Ray Bill's strength. It was no wonder he had once defeated Thor himself.

Shaking his head clear, Blonsky glared at the horse-faced warrior, his crimson eyes now blazing with fury. This was an insult he could not endure. In two years of fighting, he had never tasted defeat in the arena.

"I'll rip you apart!" Blonsky roared, charging at Beta Ray Bill with a cloud of dust trailing behind him. Just before reaching his opponent, he leapt into the air, bringing his massive axe down in a devastating arc.

With a deafening CLANG, Stormbreaker met the axe mid-swing, shattering it into countless fragments.

Weaponless, Blonsky lunged forward, grabbing at Stormbreaker with his bare hands. The hammer's surging electricity coursed through him, causing his body to convulse.

Beta Ray Bill looked at him with pity. "Hey, big red brute, the control chip in my head leaves me no choice. One of us has to die, and I'm sorry—it won't be me."

"Die?" Blonsky sneered, his fists suddenly radiating a bloody aura. With a roar, he lunged, landing a powerful punch on Beta Ray Bill's face. "As a Death Knight under my master's command, death is an eternity away for me!"

"Blood Strike!"

The punch sent Beta Ray Bill staggering, blood streaming from his nose. The crimson mist that followed was drawn toward Blonsky, enveloping him and healing his injuries.

"Dark magic," Beta Ray Bill muttered, the blood's stench stirring haunting memories of his destroyed home and the plight of his people. His expression hardened as he gripped Stormbreaker tighter.

Ascending into the air, Beta Ray Bill raised his hammer. Overhead, thick storm clouds gathered, crackling with streaks of lightning.

From the stands, the Grandmaster watched with glee. "Oh, look! Bill's charging up for his ultimate move. Seems like our champion warrior is about to fall!"

A series of lightning strikes descended from the storm, slamming into Blonsky relentlessly. Each bolt sapped his strength and left him trembling. Despite his immense resilience, he was no Thor or Hulk.

Kallruth, standing beside Garus, looked worried. "Master Garus, Blonsky is going to lose. Here, failure means death..."

Before he could finish, Garus raised a hand, silencing him. With a calm yet commanding gesture, he conjured a swirling orb of blood magic and directed it toward Blonsky.

"ROAR!"

Blonsky's body erupted with a chaotic, savage energy. His mind plunged into madness, and his already massive frame grew even larger.

"What's going on?" murmured some spectators, noticing the sudden shift in the arena.

The Grandmaster frowned, displeased. Garus' subtle interference hadn't gone unnoticed. "Someone's cheating in my champion's battle. Unforgivable! Topaz!"

His lieutenant, Topaz, pulled out a control device, ready to intervene. Before she could act, the Grandmaster stopped her.

"No, no, no. Let it play out. This just got interesting." He gestured toward Garus' seat. "Bring him to me."

"Understood, Grandmaster." Topaz grabbed her weapon and left the stands.

"Hmm, caught already?" Garus muttered, noticing the Grandmaster's gaze fixed on him. He chuckled to himself as the cosmic elder waved in his direction.

While surprised at being detected, Garus remained untroubled. The Grandmaster, for all his flair, didn't strike him as a true threat.

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