บท 8: Chapter 7
(Deleted on accident)
The ship hummed with a low, steady sound as it cut through the endless expanse of space. Ax-el stood near the viewing window, arms crossed, gazing out at the stars that streaked past in a blur. Anissa, sitting at the ship's control console, adjusted their course. The silence between them was comfortable, though the weight of recent events still hung in the air.
Anissa couldn't help but replay the battle in her mind—how easily Ax-el had handled Thragg, the Grand Regent, the strongest Viltrumite she'd ever known. It was more than just strength; Ax-el had shown patience, something most Viltrumites lacked. For someone so powerful, he had surprising control. And that control intrigued her.
"You're thinking about the fight, aren't you?" Ax-el's voice broke through her thoughts.
She turned slightly, catching his reflection in the window. "How could I not? I've never seen anyone take Thragg down like that. It was… impressive."
Ax-el chuckled softly. "Impressive? I'd call it necessary. If I didn't make a point, your people would've just kept testing me."
Anissa nodded, her expression thoughtful. "You've shaken the Viltrumites. They'll never see Thragg the same way after what you did. You know that, right?"
"Good," Ax-el said with a smirk. "They need to understand their limits. If they don't, they'll keep pushing until they break."
Anissa turned fully in her seat, facing him. "And what about you? You didn't take control of the empire. Why?"
Ax-el leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "I don't need an empire to define my power. The Viltrumites are useful, but they're not ready to follow someone like me yet. I'd rather them see the bigger picture first."
"The bigger picture?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
"There's a lot more going on in this universe than just Viltrum," Ax-el said, his voice calm but firm. "I'm not here to play by Thragg's rules. I have my own plans. And the Viltrumites will be part of that plan when the time is right."
Anissa's curiosity deepened. She could see the conviction in Ax-el's eyes, and it stirred something within her. Viltrumites were bred for conquest, for expansion and domination, but Ax-el—despite his overwhelming strength—seemed to be thinking beyond that. He had a vision, and it wasn't just about ruling over planets. It was bigger, more profound.
"Do you ever wonder why we're like this?" she asked, breaking the silence. "The Viltrumites, I mean. Why we're so obsessed with power?"
Ax-el raised an eyebrow at her, a little surprised by the question. "Power is survival for your people. The strong live, the weak die. It's been your way for centuries."
"I know," she said, her tone quieter. "But lately… after meeting you… I've started to think there's more to life than that."
Ax-el didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stepped away from the window and moved toward her, standing tall with a sense of authority that was impossible to ignore. "There is more, Anissa. Power's important, but without direction, it's just chaos. You've seen what unchecked strength can do. That's why I don't conquer for the sake of it. You need control, and you need a goal."
Anissa looked up at him, her eyes searching his. For so long, she had believed in nothing but the might of the Viltrumites. Yet here was someone stronger than her entire race, telling her there was more to it. His words resonated with her in ways she didn't fully understand yet.
"I want to understand your vision," she said finally, her voice firm. "I want to see the universe the way you do."
Ax-el smiled, nodding. "You will. But that's going to take time. First, we need to see what this universe holds."
Their ship continued its journey, moving swiftly across the galaxy. Ax-el could feel it in his bones—something big was coming, something that would challenge even him. But for now, he would explore, learn, and grow. And with Anissa by his side, things were only going to get more interesting.
Several hours later, the ship's proximity alarms blared, pulling Ax-el from his deep thoughts. Anissa quickly checked the controls, her face tightening in concentration.
"We're approaching a planet," she said, her fingers dancing across the console. "Looks like a Viltrumite patrol base."
Ax-el raised an eyebrow. "A patrol base?"
Anissa nodded. "Thragg keeps outposts scattered across various galaxies. This one monitors activities in this sector. We could stop by, gather some intel."
Ax-el leaned back, considering her words. He hadn't originally planned on making a stop so soon, but it could be useful. Learning more about Viltrumite activities would help him shape his next moves.
"Alright," he said, nodding. "Let's see what they've got."
The ship descended toward the planet, breaking through its atmosphere with ease. From the viewport, Ax-el could see a sprawling military base—a massive, cold steel structure surrounded by Viltrumite warships and heavily fortified defenses. As they landed, Ax-el could feel the eyes of the Viltrumite soldiers watching them, their curiosity piqued by the arrival of an unfamiliar ship.
The landing bay doors opened, and Ax-el stepped out, followed closely by Anissa. The Viltrumites in the bay immediately straightened, saluting Anissa with respect. She was, after all, one of their most trusted warriors.
"Anissa," a tall, muscular Viltrumite greeted her, his tone formal but respectful. "We weren't expecting you. What brings you here?"
Anissa glanced at Ax-el, then back at the soldier. "This is Ax-el," she said simply. "He's here to assess the situation."
The soldier frowned, his gaze flicking over to Ax-el. He was clearly trying to size him up, but Ax-el remained calm, offering no hint of intimidation. After what had just happened on Viltrum, Ax-el didn't need to prove himself to anyone.
"We weren't informed of any assessment," the soldier said cautiously. "Does Thragg know about this?"
"Thragg doesn't need to know everything," Anissa said sharply, her voice cold. "Do your job and take us to the command center."
The soldier hesitated for a moment, then nodded and gestured for them to follow him. As they made their way deeper into the base, Ax-el could sense the tension in the air. The Viltrumites here were on edge, likely aware that something major had happened back on Viltrum but unsure of the details. Thragg's defeat at Ax-el's hands had no doubt sent shockwaves through the empire, and these soldiers were waiting for the fallout.
At the command center, the doors slid open, revealing a large room filled with monitors and consoles displaying data from across the galaxy. At the center of it all was a Viltrumite commander, overseeing the operations with a stern expression.
"Anissa," the commander greeted her with a nod. "And who is this?"
"This is Ax-el," Anissa said again, her voice steady. "He's here to assess your readiness."
The commander frowned, clearly skeptical, but before he could speak, Ax-el stepped forward, his gaze locking onto the man.
"Tell me," Ax-el said calmly, "what's your current position on expansion?"
The commander blinked, surprised by the question. "We're… continuing as planned. Thragg's orders were to maintain our current patrols and secure key planets in this sector."
Ax-el nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I see. And how do you think that's going to go for you, now that Thragg's been… incapacitated?"
The commander's eyes widened slightly, his expression faltering. "Incapacitated? What are you talking about?"
Ax-el smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "Let's just say things have changed. Thragg won't be leading you for a while. You might want to start preparing for that."
The room fell silent, the weight of Ax-el's words sinking in. Anissa watched as the realization spread across the faces of the Viltrumite soldiers. The empire was changing, and Ax-el was at the center of that change.
"Now," Ax-el said, his voice firm, "let's see what kind of force you're really working with here."
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