Mark and Thragg launched themselves at each other. Their initial clash sent a shockwave rippling through the arena, a testament to the immense power both combatants wielded.
Mark had clashed with powerful opponents before, but Thragg was different. His strength, his precision, and the way he moved it was obvious that he was much stronger than the rest. This was someone who had refined his combat technique over thousands of years and became the strongest Viltrumite in history. Mark could feel it in every strike. Thragg wasn't wasting a single movement; every punch aimed for a vital point. His neck, his solar plexus, his heart. Anywhere that might cripple or kill a lesser opponent. But Mark wasn't a lesser opponent.
Mark allowed some of these blows to land, just to see what the guy was working with. And as expected? They didn't hurt. But he recognized that if they were equal in strength, speed, and durability, Thragg's technique could have overwhelmed him and caused serious damage.
Still, Mark wasn't going to let the old man run the show for much longer. He had to show the people why he was fit to rule
"Alright," he muttered under his breath, shifting his stance.
Deciding to shift tactics, Mark adopted a boxing stance, a style he hadn't utilized at all since gaining his powers. It was the first martial art he'd ever learnt when he realized he was in the Invincible universe. He hadn't used it ever since he got his powers, since his raw strength and speed were always enough to get the job done. Something he'll have to fix in the future.
He didn't want to become like Superman, who always relied on his powers, but he realized it was hard to find someone to practice against at full strength. Sparring was the best way to get better, and while he had his Invinci-bots, they were too fragile for him.
'Maybe I should contact an alternate version of me to spar against. Whatever, I'm getting distracted. Focus on the fight.'
Mark ducked under a sharp hook from Thragg and slipped in close, landing a quick body shot that made the larger Viltrumite grunt. Mark could feel Thragg's bones creak beneath his fists as he hammered into Thragg's ribs and stomach, while dodging and weaving with the ease of someone who'd drilled this for hours in a gym on Earth.
The Viltrumites watching were stunned at how good of a fight Mark was putting up against Thragg. Many believed he would just get killed, but Mark was putting him on the back burner.
Thragg snarled, clearly thrown off by Mark's sudden shift in style.
Smart as he was, Thragg wasn't going to play Mark's game for long. He growled, spread his arms wide, and rocketed upward into the sky. Mark followed, breaking through the clouds just behind him.
They hovered for a moment, facing each other under the bright light of Viltrum's sun. Thragg scowled, blood running from a cut near his temple.
"You're good," he admitted, voice gravelly. "Better than I expected."
Mark grinned. "I told you I was coming for the throne. Best believe I'll have the power to back it up."
"I am. But don't get cocky, boy. When I'm done with you, your traitorous father and that mongrel he bred with will be next." Thragg taunted, trying to get under Mark's skin.
Mark's eyes narrowed. Insulting his mother crossed a line. "You shouldn't have said that," he replied coldly.
Thragg barely had time to register the movement before Mark drove into him like a human missile, both fists extended. The impact sent a shockwave through the upper atmosphere. Thragg's body crumpled around the hit, ribs crunching, blood flying from his mouth.
Mark didn't stop.
He kept pushing, spearing Thragg down through the sky. They crashed into the earth with a deafening boom, carving out a crater nearly twenty meters deep. Mark shot back up, grabbed Thragg by the ankle, and hurled him high into the air like a ragdoll.
And then the real fun began.
Mark blurred into motion. Zipping from one side of the sky to the other, punching Thragg around like a volleyball. He hit so fast, so hard, that to the watching Viltrumites below, it looked like there were a dozen Marks surrounding Thragg at once. They couldn't believe what they were watching.
Eventually, Mark caught Thragg mid-air and spun, launching him like a cannonball back down into the colosseum floor. The ground shook on impact.
Mark hovered above, x-ray vision scanning Thragg's injuries. Broken left arm a fracture in his right, multiple cracked ribs, and some Internal bleeding. The guy was wrecked.
"Yield Thragg," he muttered. "I am showing you mercy. You have been beaten."
From within the crater, Thragg stirred.
Then he rose.
Thragg staggered to his feet, blood dripping from his mouth, left arm dangling uselessly at his side. And yet, he kept walking. He looked up at Mark with wild eyes.
"I… will not be defeated… by a child barely a century old…" Thragg said, panting. He was caked in his own blood and sweat, but he moved forward through pure determination and force of will.
Thragg roared, charging forward on trembling legs. With all the strength he had left, he swung a desperate punch. One of the strongest punches he had ever thrown toward Mark's chest
...and screamed as his own arm snapped on contact, with bone peaking out through the muscle and lots of blood gushing out.
He kneeled in pain.
Taking the opportunity, Mark delivered one final punch to his head causing Thragg's eyes to roll back.
Silence.
Then a whisper from the announcer's booth.
"…The winner… and the next Emperor of Viltrum… Mark Grayson."
A moment passed. Then another.
And then, one by one, the Viltrumites dropped to their knees.
Mark stood there staring at the heads bowing before him. Even his father knelt, though Mark could tell Nolan was holding back a proud smile.
"Stand," he said.
"Some of you may know that my father was stationed on Earth, where I was born and raised. And that while there, his father's value on life had changed. Well, I will be bringing this change to Viltrum to lead it to a better future than the path it is currently on. With such a low population, and most of the universe fearing and plotting against us. I will bring change to Viltrum and make it better than it was before." Mark proclaimed.
Then, from the crowd, a shout:
"For the Empire!"
More joined in.
"For the Empire!"
"For the Empire!"
XXXX
Two weeks passed in a blur. Viltrum was alive with movement. A massive ship was being fueled and prepped for launch to Earth, and Viltrumites who were stationed across the universe were ordered to return home. When the news of Viltrum's change in leadership was spread to the returning Viltrumites, many questioned it at first, while others outright denied it. But that was until they saw the recording of the battle.
Where they saw Thragg, the unchallenged Grand Regent for over two millennia, broken in a crater while Mark stood over him without so much as a scratch.
Dissent died quickly after that.
But there was something else, too, that made everyone more obedient. The reveal that Mark was the grandson of Emperor Argall.
It started during a conversation with General Kregg and his father in the imperial archives. Mark had been studying Viltrumite history. With General Kregg being one of his new advisors, helping him. General Kregg was old enough to survive the Great Purge and Scourge Virus, so he was a good source of historical information.
They were going over history when General Kregg brought up the search for Argall's heirs.
"After the Scourge Virus," Kregg said, arms folded behind his back, "We just assumed Argall's bloodline was lost".
However, Mark knew this was not the case. So he put on an act to get this information.
"Sooo... Dad… were you ever tested for Emperor Argall's bloodline?"
Nolan looked confused, eyebrows furrowed. "Not that I know of. I mean, maybe when I was a kid? I was born around the time of Lord Argall's death. I don't really remember if I did get tested."
Putting on a smile that looked like a scammer's, Mark just said, "Well, you should go get tested now... I mean just in case, ya know."
Nolan looked even more confused and said. "I don't see a reason for it. I mean, you already beat Thragg, and it's not like just because I take the test I'll be declared an heir to Lord Argall."
Cut to the testing lab.
A Viltrumite scientist stared at the results on a glowing screen and nearly fell out of his chair.
"Oh my God," he whispered (I know they don't believe in God). "You're… you're Emperor Argall's son."
Nolan blinked. "Huh. Well, what do you know?"
XXXX
News spread fast.
Thragg, who was recovering in a Viltrumite hospital, crushed his bed's armrest when he heard. His jaw clenched. The muscles in his arms trembled with suppressed rage.
'All those years of searching. All that time spent trying to rebuild a broken empire… and the heir walks in and takes all my hard work after a single battle.'
He hated it. But there was nothing he could do.
He had lost the duel.
XXXX
After another week, it was time for all remaining Viltrumites in the universe to leave the planet.
Mark stepped onto the command deck of the massive imperial vessel. He wore the traditional garb of the Viltrumite emperor: a crimson upper body suit, a long white robe beneath, and the white fur-lined, red mantle that once belonged to Argall and Thragg.
The Viltrumites gathered before him, waiting.
"This is a new era," he began, his voice steady and powerful. "One where Viltrum will stop being a force of conquest and start being a force of unity. Our strength is not to be wasted on meaningless wars for territories not needed. With great power, comes great responsibility. And we're going to use our power to build a better universe."
He looked out over the crowd of warriors, many of whom had known nothing but conquest their entire lives.
"We are heading to Earth—my home. But before that, we will stop at Talescria and end the war with the Coalition. We are no longer conquerors from this day forward."
The crowd roared with approval. They now followed Mark, thinking he had inherited Emperor Argall's wisdom, which was the reason they followed Argall.
Mark took one last look at his people and gave a final command.
"Set a course for Talescria."
XXXX
News of Thragg's defeat had spread to the Coalition. The moment Thragg was defeated, Allen flew to Talescria to deliver the news.
As the flagship reached Talescria's orbit, the sight alone was enough to send the entire planet into panic. Coalition citizens screamed in fear, broadcasting emergency alerts as three Viltrumites exited the massive ship. It was Mark, Nolan, and Anissa.
Anissa flew close to Mark's side. She had effectively cemented herself as his right-hand. Equal parts advisor, bodyguard, and enforcer. He knew what she was really doing, but he was a little uncomfortable at first with how she followed him everywhere. Even went as far as to follow him into the bathroom, but now he barely even minded her.
"You don't have to be beside me all the time, you know," Mark said without turning.
"I'm your guard," Anissa replied smoothly. "It's my place."
They were brought straight to the newly rebuilt Coalition Council Hall. The damage from Conquest's earlier attack had been repaired with impressive speed.
Allen stood near the front of the room, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He waved excitedly the moment he saw Mark. "Hey! You made it! I told these guys all about what you did! Showed 'em that insane fight too. Man, you really wrecked him."
Anissa stepped forward immediately, voice sharp. "Bow when addressing Emperor Mark."
Allen flinched. "Whoa... uh...okay!"
But Mark just found Anissa's enthusiasm funny and waved a hand. "It's fine. He's a friend."
He then smiled at Allen. "Hope you got my good side in that footage."
Allen gave him a double thumbs-up.
Across the chamber, Thaedus rose from his seat, cloak billowing behind him. "Welcome back, Mark. Or rather… Emperor Mark."
Mark gave a respectful nod. "Thaedus."
"Your reign will change everything," Thaedus continued. "With you as Emperor, there is hope for true peace between the Viltrum Empire and the Coalition."
Mark addressed the rest of the council, who couldn't believe what they were hearing. "The conquering ways of the old Empire are finished. There was practically no reason for it in the first place. Viltrum will be stronger than ever, and instead of promoting domination, we plan to promote unity across the Universe. From this day forward, we will bring peace to every planet we've ever touched. And we start with an alliance with the coalition."
Applause followed. Allen clapped hard. Even a few more skeptical council members began to stand in support. Until it happened.
"Death to the Viltrumites!" a voice cried out from the stands.
A grenade hit the floor with a clang, bouncing once, twice, then a hiss.
Green smoke exploded outward in thick, rapid tendrils, clouding the air with a sickly hue.
The smoke traveled to Mark, Nolan, and Anissa. But, before Nolan and Anissa could even react, Mark took a step forward, before taking in a deep breath and sucking in all the smoke.
Then, laughter from the traitorous council member: a Mobian from Mobius 6 named Zoidberg.
"You fool!" Zoidberg cackled. "You breathed it in! That was an enhanced version of the scourge virus. Thaedus thought he could hide it, but I had one of the scientists who made it bring it to me. You Viltrumites will all die for your transgressions and their will never be peace until all of you are dead!"
Mark dropped to a knee, a faint burning sensation simmering in his chest. Nolan rushed forward, but Mark raised a hand and shook his head.
Nolan froze mid-step. While Anissa, who was initially stunned, soon turned angry and grabbed Zoidberg by the neck, preparing to kill him.
Anissa then heard Mark command, "Stop!"
She looked back at Mark when he did something completely unexpected.
Mark let out a massive burp. The sound echoed loudly and awkwardly through the chamber.
"Ugh. That gave me some serious heartburn." Said Mark while dusting off his shirt. It seems like he had been completely unaffected by the biological weapon against his Viltrumite half.
Thaedus with a look of sheer disbelief just said, "How...how are you ok?"
"I'm just built different," Mark said, but when his father got closer to check on him. "Seriously, don't get near me. I absorbed it all, but until I burn it out completely, I'm a walking biohazard to other Viltrumites."
Drawing on his Kryptonian air-magi abilities, Mark created an aura of energy around himself. A protective air bubble formed, isolating the virus within his own space.
"Let him go," he said to Anissa, his voice steady. She had the traitor locked in a tight chokehold.
Anissa didn't loosen her grip. Her eyes narrowed. "He tried to kill you."
"I know," Mark replied calmly. "But I understand why."
Zoidberg stared at him, anger still evident. "What...?"
Mark turned to face him fully. "You're angry. You're scared. The Viltrumites have left a trail of destruction across the stars. I don't blame you for hating us."
Zoidberg's expression shifted. His anger faltered for just a moment.
"But that's why I'm here. That's why we're all here now," Mark continued. "This is our chance to change. To do better. And that begins by choosing a little something called mercy."
Zoidberg was still taken into custody, but the message had been made loud and clear. The new leader of the Viltrumites was completely different.
He looked toward Nolan and Anissa. "Head back to the ship. I need to take a… sun bath."
"A what?" Anissa asked, blinking.
Without another word, Mark blasted off into the sky.
Nolan and Anissa stared after him for a beat.
"Did he just say… sun bath?" Anissa asked.
Nolan sighed and brought his hand to his face. "Yeah. He does that sometimes. Always leaving people confused."
.
.
.
Author's Notes:
Be sure to check out my p*tr-eon where you get early access to my chapter and you'll be able to talk to me as I'm writing the story. You'll be giving me ideas I can incorporate into the story or feedback as I am a new writer so there may be plot points or mistakes that I haven't thought about. My p*tr-eon name is Bah_Goat.