When Garus entered the Battleworld, decades had already passed here. Over the years, under the direction of God Emperor Doom, the system had become highly refined and stable.
Garus was struck by the scale of the realm. It was vast—terrifyingly so—with clearly divided zones, each governed by its own administrator. Many were once famed superheroes or notorious villains.
Though frequent conflicts broke out between these territories, none dared challenge Doom's authority. As long as the destruction didn't exceed a certain threshold, Doom simply let it be.
"Stop! Who are you? Why is there no identity record for you?"
A small patrol squad—dressed somewhat like Thor, armed with devices and suspicious gazes—intercepted Garus.
"I'm here to see Doom—"
Before he could finish, the squad leader barked, "Insolence! How dare you speak the name of the God Emperor so casually? Detain him immediately!"
This world was Doom's creation. All who lived here worshiped him with near-fanatical devotion—especially these so-called Thunder Legionnaires, empowered by Doom with the gift of thunder. Their loyalty was absolute.
Garus frowned and caught an incoming hammer midair, effortlessly crushing it to pieces. Though these soldiers wielded the power of lightning, they were far from matching the true Thor. Still, their strength lay in sheer numbers—enough to overwhelm any ordinary foe.
Like disturbing a hornet's nest, Garus was soon surrounded from all directions by a flood of pseudo-Thors. Bolts of lightning blanketed the skies, consuming his figure in searing white.
Then a ripple—ashen and soundless—burst outward from Garus, spreading in all directions. Everyone it touched collapsed instantly, paralyzed and helpless.
How Doom had created so many thunder-wielders was beyond Garus's understanding.
His eyes turned toward a distant spire that pierced the clouds. That had to be Doom's citadel.
He strode there unchallenged, reaching the base of the tower and staring up at the monolithic structure.
Boom!
Cracks spread beneath his feet as Garus launched himself into the air, soaring hundreds of meters to land atop the tower.
There, not far away, stood a man clad in an iron mask—watching him silently.
This was God Emperor Doom, ruler of the Battleworld. He had clearly noticed the earlier commotion caused by Garus's clash with the Thunder Legion.
Doom's gaze swept Garus from head to toe. "You are not of Battleworld... not even of this multiverse. Tell me—are you one of those Beyonders who devour entire universes?"
The guards at Doom's side raised their weapons, training them on Garus.
"No," Garus said calmly. "I'm human. From a parallel Earth. I've come for the control of this Battleworld."
"Insolence!" one of the guards shouted. This world was their master's divine creation—how could it possibly be handed over to another?
Doom remained still. His iron mask concealed any expression, but his voice was measured. "Do you know what you're saying, boy?"
Boom!
In an instant, Doom appeared at Garus's side, a lightning-charged fist rocketing toward his chest—but Garus caught it firmly in one hand.
A surge of voltage numbed his palm. This man... this so-called God Emperor was strong—strong enough to flatten Thanos with a single blow, perhaps.
"I mean to merge this world into my universe," Garus said, locking eyes with him. "What happens to it afterward isn't my concern. Refuse, and I'll rip your soul from your body and take it by force."
"You dare threaten me?" Doom growled. Arrogant and unyielding, he was not one to bow to threats. "Here, I am God. The laws of this world are mine alone."
Suddenly, the very space around Garus compressed, pressing in from all directions—while Doom remained untouched.
Garus's form flickered, shifting slightly as he resisted the crushing force. Doom broke free from the counter-pressure just as swiftly.
"If it's a fight you want," Doom said, "then let's see if your arrogance is backed by strength."
The world around them twisted. They were no longer atop the tower but inside a sealed pocket dimension—crafted for battle. Doom wouldn't risk damaging his hard-earned creation, and Garus had no desire to destroy it either.
Far below in the cities of Battleworld, the people looked up at the glowing rift in the sky. Bursts of radiant energy flared from within, but none believed the intruder stood a chance against their all-powerful creator.
The battle between Garus and God Emperor Doom raged for an uncountable span. To the outside world, it was but a moment—then came a thunderous crash that shook the earth, nearly knocking onlookers off their feet.
Two blurred figures plummeted from the sky.
Doom's tower—the once-proud spire that loomed over Battleworld—began to collapse under the force of their impact. Concrete shattered, beams bent, and within seconds, the mighty skyscraper was reduced to rubble.
Fortunately, those within had already evacuated.
Thick smoke choked the air. The onlookers waited with bated breath, eyes fixed on the dust-filled sky, expecting their God Emperor to emerge victorious, dragging his enemy in chains.
Instead, they saw Doom—bloodied and broken—being dragged out like a ragged animal. His once-pristine armor was caved in with fist-sized dents. His mask had been torn away, revealing a swollen, bruised face.
The crowd recoiled instinctively.
Garus scanned the gathering—recognizing a few familiar faces. Superheroes from alternate realities, now ruling zones of Battleworld under Doom's dominion.
Doom's prestige lay in ruins. Humbled and humiliated, he had no choice but to yield. To think that within his own forged reality, he could still be defeated.
Garus gave the onlookers one last glance before opening a Death Gate and stepping through, dragging Doom behind him. Whether Battleworld would fall into chaos without its ruler—he didn't care.
They reappeared inside the ancient temple once belonging to the One Above All.
"What is this place?" Doom muttered, eyeing the arcane instruments with a flicker of unease. But before he could protest, Garus sealed him inside a transparent chamber.
"Commencing scan… missing control protocols detected… initiating extraction…"
Doom pounded against the walls, but it was futile. The chamber looked ordinary—but was unbreakable, beyond even his strength.
A sweeping beam passed over him. He could feel something being stripped from deep within.
"I was going to extract your soul," Garus said flatly, "but I've changed my mind. I'll absorb Battleworld into my universe. Try not to cause trouble again."
With a casual wave, Garus opened a spatial rift and tossed Doom through it.
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TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— PATREON.COM / PRIMALDEMON