"Seems you bastards won't choose," Fury sneered, positioning himself as if to kick off into the vastness of space. "Fine. I'll choose for you." With a fierce thrust, he rocketed toward his next target, a sinister grin stretched across his face.
On the Command Ship of the X3X Fleet
The cockpit was in chaos. Frantic X3X officers scrambled to calm the captains of the other ships, who were demanding either permission to retreat or to fire on Fury himself. They were losing ships rapidly to Fury's reckless attacks, as well as to the Shadrax.
"Someone tell those captains that I said no one engages Fury!" Commander Jzon barked, his voice cutting through the noise. He watched the mayhem unfolding through the ship's main observation window. "He may be causing damage through our fleet, but he's at least handling those damn Shadrax."
"DAMAGE?!" a voice roared from the holographic communication console, where six figures flickered into view. One of them, a humanoid raccoon-like figure with an expression of pure outrage, spoke for them all. "DAMAGE? YOU CALL THIS CHAOS DAMAGE? FURY IS KILLING MORE OF US THAN THOSE DAMN SHADRAX!"
"Ahh, if it isn't Major Snarlk and the other majors," Commander Jzon said,walking towards the projections with a fake smile. "At least what's left of you that came. It's good to see at least six of the 12 majors survived the Shadrax's rampage."
"All six of the other majors ships weren't destroyed by the damn Shadrax; it was that bastard FURY!" Snarlk shouted, his face contorted with rage. The other majors nodded in agreement, glaring angrily through their holograms.
"And your here ordering us around, telling us to not attack that bastard when you yourself hate Fury, Jz—" Snarlk began shouting, but Jzon cut him off sharply.
"Let me stop you right there." He started pacing in front of the projector, his tone icy. "I'm not stupid enough to piss off Fury, even if I hate the guy. He's still one of the X3X Gold Stars; even if he might only be ranked tenth, there is nothing we can do to him; he's thrashing the same things that almost destroyed us. Even if he tried to kill all of us... there is nothing we could do." He stopped pacing and leveled them with a cold stare. "It took a lot of our galaxy's resources to get his help, so you guys better act like good dogs and shut up while you wait until you receive anymore of my orders."
The holographic majors looked at him in shock, then one by one nodded before vanishing—except for Snarlk.
"Coward," Snarlk sneered before cutting off his own transmission.
Jzon watched the projector power down, a dark expression on his face. "You dogs don't see the bigger picture," he muttered under his breath, turning back to the chaos unfolding outside the ship's glass.
Back in Outer Space, Where the Battle Unfolded
Fury had swiftly slaughtered every single Shadrax, leaving just one alive. "Looks like you're the lucky winner, alive for a few more seconds—YAYY," he jeered. The last Shadrax floated there, staring back at him, its cold, red eye unblinking. Fury smirked. "You should be grateful I let you live this long, but you don't seem to appreciate my gift." With a powerful charge, Fury shot forward. "Guess I should cancel your plan on life, then."
From Afar
Carter had been observing the battle, a smoldering anger building as he watched his Shadrax fall one by one. He closed his nonexistent eyes slowly. "Hmm... seems it's time for me to act."
Fury's blindingly fast strike obliterated the last Shadrax, reducing it to nothing. With a cruel grin, he turned to the remnants of the fleet's ships. "Are these really the useless beings you were all so afraid of? Helpless against?" Fury planted his feet on the tip of his spear, stretching his arms wide, basking in his brutal victory. "I, the Golden Star of the Empire, have shown you weaklings my strength and how I am unmatched, i have shown you how i hea—"
BA-THROOM!
Out of nowhere, an immense force struck Fury, hurling him across space until he collided with a nearby asteroid belt.
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
On the other side of the battlefield, Carter's god form hovered, emanating a powerful, intimidating aura; his six wings flapped beautifully. Four of the five compressed planets he had spun around his palm like toys. "Funny," he said, his voice echoing across the soundless void. "I don't remember saying the fight was over."
The X3X soldiers looked on in shock at the spectacle unfolding before them. Those in the cockpit froze in horror, while crew members across the deck stared at the screens also in terror. Carter floated before them, his majestic cloak billowing around his dark form like a shadowed tempest.
"SIR, HIS COSMIC ENERGY LEVELS—THEY'RE LIKE NOTHING I'VE EVER SEEN!" one of the analysts yelled. "IT'S HIGHLY POSSIBLE THIS IS THE STAR-EATING ENTITY."
Commander Jzon, his face drained of color, stared at Carter—this enigmatic being, unlike anything in the encyclopedias. "No need to tell me... that's definitely him."
Carter hovered silently, his gaze fixed in the direction where he'd blasted Fury away. Slowly, Fury's form reappeared, floating back toward him, his body battered and dripping purple blood. Three of his hands clutched onto something, straining to lift it, while his fourth held his spear.
"Hey, you ugly bastard," Fury's voice was strained as he struggled to open his hand, revealing the fifth planet Carter had condensed. "I think you dropped something."
Carter's golden eyes emerged from the darkness of his form, glinting as he met Fury's defiant stare. "Seems I have," he replied coldly. He drew the planet back to his grasp. The moment he seized it, Fury shot forward, moving faster than before, his spear aimed straight at Carter's face.
THA-BOOM
The impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield, launching nearby ships into chaotic spirals. Some were obliterated instantly, while others collided with asteroids. By the time the chaos settled, only 50 ships remained, the command ship among them, barely intact under the strain of its energy shields.
But Carter stood unscathed, his finger effortlessly stopping the spear's tip. Fury's defiant grin faded as he stared in disbelief.
"H-how... how could you so easily stop my spear?" Fury's voice trembled.
""It's simple, really," Carter's voice resonated, cold and unwavering. Fury shivered, struggling to identify where the voice came from. "You are simply too weak."
BAM!
Carter slapped Fury across the face with the back of his hand, sending him spinning violently through the void of space. As Fury's form hurtled away, Carter caught the spear he left behind. He turned, facing what remained of the X3X fleet; they watched with terrified expressions on there faces.
"Don't worry," he said, his tone dark. "I'll go get him."
Carter rocketed off after Fury. The commander, now desperate, attempted to issue a retreat. "NOW'S OUR CHANCE TO—" he stammered, but before he could complete the order, Carter was back, holding Fury's limp body as if it were nothing more than a duffle bag.
"You all pursued me for years, thinking I hadn't noticed," Carter's voice cut through the silence. "Now, it's time you reap what you've sown." Fury's body floated in the air, manipulated by Carter's control over gravity, limbs suspended in a crucifixion pose.
"This is who you sent after me? I am not impressed." Carter's golden eyes glinted through his dark cloak, directed at the fleet.
"Don't you dare kill him!" came Commander Jzon's voice, desperate. Carter focused on Jzon, An alien species resembling humans? Interesting, he mused.
[System]
This person is indeed a human who has been modified by alien DNA to be stronger. Many galaxies have similar races, even though they are not native to that world; it mostly depends on how the said planet was formed. Earth is not unique in having humans.
Carter's thoughts turned inward, consulting his system. So if I kill this guy...
Commander Jzon's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Fury is one of the empire's ten golden stars. Killing him—killing any of us—would be a declaration of war with the entire X3X Empire." Sweat trickled down Jzon's face, hoping his words might buy them a chance.
System, Carter thought, what are the ten golden stars?
[System]
The elite force of the X3X Empire, known as the X Champions, reputed for godlike strength. Most champions are planetary-class aliens modified to wield cosmic energy, Others are entities with inherent abilities to manipulate cosmic energy as if it were there own.
Cosmic energy manipulation... Does that mean there are beings capable of creating life, like I can? Carter thought.
[System]
While other beings possess the ability to create life, none are capable of doing so at the host's level. Additionally, none of these entities reside in minor worlds like galaxies. Further information is restricted.
Satisfied, Carter's eyes dimmed back into the shadowy shroud of his form. "No need for more," he muttered to himself.
"You seem to misunderstand something," he spoke, his voice heavy. A surge of pressure erupted from Carter, forcing the crew members to their knees, muscles locked under the crushing weight. Those who resisted were flattened, while the ships themselves remained eerily untouched.
"This is my declaration to you rat bastards." Carter ripped Fury in half with his gravity control, throwing his body toward the command ship. It was as if time slowed as they all watched, in horror, helplessly as Fury's body fell on the glass.
"And I only need one ship to tell the rest of you bastards what happened today." Carter threw one of the condensed planets into the center of all the ships. "Now die from your pitful arrogance."
BOOM!!
The planet expanded just enough to destroy every ship except one. Carter compressed the planet, pulling it back. "You know what your job is. Now get out of my face before I decide the rest of you bastards can find out what happened on a whim."
With no time to react to the chaos, they hurried and flew off. Carter watched until they left the range of his zone vision. "War is coming... and the only victor... will be me."