At this point, Axis was terrifying beyond imagination. He could destroy a planet with ease, fly across the skies or burrow beneath the earth.
With a single punch, he could shatter a mountain or even smash an entire continent, causing tectonic plates to shift.
A casual stomp of his foot could trigger earthquakes across the globe. Such was the extent of his monstrous power!
In Russ's eyes, only the Emperor of Mankind could truly suppress Axis.
And if the Emperor didn't use psychic powers, not even he could defeat Axis in a straight fight.
"I know my limits. I won't harm Axis. I just want a friendly spar, nothing more," said the Lion.
As the first of all Primarchs, Lion El'Jonson was supremely confident in his strength.
In his mind, he was second only to his father, the Master of Mankind, the Emperor himself!
Among all the Primarchs, even Horus and Sanguinius could not compare to him!
So, after learning that Axis was also a Primarch, a living weapon personally cultivated by the Emperor, the Lion naturally wanted to test his mettle against this new brother.
And as luck would have it, the Emperor himself had instructed him to see what Axis was made of.
He couldn't let his father down!
"I'm not worried about Axis. I'm worried about you!" Russ shook his head.
It sounded a bit harsh, but Russ had to be clear.
Otherwise, after the fight, as Axis's uncle, Lion might just end up sulking in a corner.
At those words, Lion frowned, a fierce light in his eyes.
His golden hair fell like a mane, making him look every bit the enraged king of beasts.
"And how much do you really know about my strength, Russ?" Lion asked coldly.
"I don't know exactly how strong you are. But trust me on this," Russ said.
He really didn't know the full extent of Lion's power, but he did know just how terrifying Axis was!
Axis, meanwhile, crossed his arms and watched Lion with mirth.
Did this proud Lion know something from the Emperor? Had he, perhaps, heard about how Axis had trounced the Second Primarch?
That would explain why he was so eager to spar!
Now, the real question came. Should Axis hold back, or not?
But for a Saiyan, holding back was easier said than done!
Yet, before Axis could even react, it was the Dark Angels on the sidelines who lost their composure.
Their Father—the great Lion El'Jonson—was actually going to challenge a mere mortal? Even if Axis was a Space Marine, he was still, to them, just a mortal!
And to make things worse, Russ, the Sixth Primarch, had just implied that even their own Father might not be able to defeat Axis!
What an insult!
"Great Lion, mighty Father!
"Please, allow me to challenge Captain Axis! There's no need for you to waste your time on the likes of him," declared one Dark Angel, stepping forward.
"Let me, great Father!"
Several more Dark Angels volunteered, as if Axis was the real challenger, not the Lion.
Axis could only shrug helplessly.
He definitely wasn't going to hold back against these bitches.
If he left them half-crippled, they'd have no one to blame but themselves!
He probably wouldn't kill them, but whether he'd put them in dreadnoughts for the rest of their lives, well, that was another story!
I should probably show some mercy, given that the campaign is just around the corner. Or should I? Don't they have enough numbers? Axis was caught in a dilemma.
"Enough!" Russ roared, "You idiots have no idea how strong Axis is!" He was just taunting at this point. They simply didn't know how to appreciate his kindness, might as well rile them up a bit more. At least, he'd have a good show to watch, and his brother would save some dignity.
The difference between a Space Marine and Axis was like earth and space.
In fact, compared to Axis, even Space Marines were barely above mortals! If they'd even last one punch was the question.
Russ's shout was so loud that some of the Dark Angels around them nearly lost their balance.
They felt that Russ was truly angry. But this only made their blood boil.
"My sons, this is not your place, stand down. And this duel is not a matter for you or me to decide," Lion El'Jonson snapped, stepping in front of Russ.
This was the Emperor's command, and he would obey!
Lion and Wolf were now face to face!
Russ stared at Lion, now he understood the meaning behind those words.
This duel wasn't something either of them could stop.
Which meant, the Emperor himself had arranged this battle, despite the overwhelming difference in strength.
But why would his Father do such a thing? It seems his efforts at taunting the marines were wasted.
"Lord Lion, if your sons want to see my strength, I don't mind. I'm in a hurry, though, so why don't you all come at once? Anyone who isn't convinced, can step up together!" Axis said with a smirk.
"Insolence! Kneel before the Primarch!" one Dark Angel beside Axis barked, clamping a hand heavily on Axis's shoulder.
He pushed down, trying to force Axis to his knees, but Axis didn't budge, standing as solid as a mountain.
No matter how hard the Dark Angel pushed, he couldn't move Axis an inch.
Another Dark Angel on the other side of Axis placed his hand on Axis's other shoulder, seeing his brother's predicament.
Both of them exerted all their strength, enough force was exerted to crush power armor.
But they still couldn't make Axis move at all.
In fact, Axis wasn't even wearing power armor, just a tight-fitting undersuit.
A Space Marine in power armor was ten times stronger than one without it.
"You two skip lunch, or what?
"Or are you both actually a couple of little girls in disguise? How else do you explain being so weak?" Axis sneered.
"You—!" The two Dark Angels couldn't hold it in anymore.
Almost at the same moment, they both kicked at the back of Axis's knees, trying to knock him over.
Bang!
The armor plating on both their legs warped, and their limbs were left numb from the shock.
They could barely stay standing.
"I let you have the first shot. That was just Space Wolf courtesy.
"I let you have the second shot, out of respect for your primarch.
"But there won't be a third time. Get lost!" Axis snorted, unleashing a terrifying surge of ki from his body.
The two Dark Angels were instantly sent flying, slamming into the wall and embedding themselves in it.
Axis hadn't even needed to lift a finger.
Just the recoil from his ki had done all the work.
The surrounding Dark Angels were stunned.
A man without power armour possessed such terrifying strength?
Russ made no move to stop it, watching from the sidelines with a grin.
It was a perfect chance for the Lion to see what Axis was really capable of.
It seems his taunting had indeed not gone to waste.
"Now, I don't want any acxcusations of bullying the weak.
"All of you," Axis gestured with his chin, "I don't care how many there are, come at me at once!
"As long as you can make me take even one step back, I'll count it as your win."
The arrogance in his tone was highlighted by his lack of power armour and at ease posture.
That declaration completely ignited the Dark Angels' fury.
The fact that two brothers in full power armor hadn't managed to beat Axis was a humiliation.
"Bastard! Don't get cocky. Let me show you the might of the First Legion!"
"See what the Knights of Caliban can do!"
"I'll be your opponent!"
In an instant, a dozen Dark Angels rushed forward, lunging at Axis.
Axis just sneered.
He leaned forward without moving his leg, ducking beneath the armoured man's punch, caught the man's torso with his shoulders, swinging him over his back.
He put his hands forward, punching another with a sloppy posture, sending him crashing back.
Axis stood his ground like an immovable mountain, his movements impossibly fast.
Each punch landed squarely on a Dark Angel's body.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One heavy impact after another echoed around the hall.
The Dark Angels were sent flying like ragdolls.
Their power armour meant nothing in front of Axis's iron fists.
Breastplates caved in, pauldrons shattered, some were even smashed into the walls, unable to move.
"Too weak. This is the strength of the vaunted First Legion?
"Maybe I should prepare a dress for each of you. Starting today, all you Dark Angels should wear women's clothes.
"You punch like girls," Axis taunted.
Lion El'Jonson, standing at the side, was visibly enraged.
Russ stood to the side, a smirk still plastered on his face.
Axis's words only further infuriated the Dark Angels. More of them leapt into the fray, joining the attack.
Axis smirked, then spun his upper body and landed a crushing elbow on one who tried to sneak up behind him.
Boom!
The floor cracked instantly.
The Dark Angel's back armor was warped, and he was smashed deep into the alloy deck, unable even to struggle.
At last, the remaining Dark Angels realised this enemy was not someone they could fight with brute force.
But as proud members of the First Legion, their pride would not allow them to retreat.
"Form up! All together!" an old veteran roared.
The survivors quickly adjusted, surrounding Axis in a standard close-quarters formation, hoping to use numbers to overpower him in sequence, have him at least take a step back.
Axis's lips curled in amusement.
He lightly stomped his right foot.
BOOM—!
The entire ground shuddered as if struck by orbital bombardment.
A terrifying shockwave exploded outward from Axis, hurling every Dark Angel nearby through the air like leaves in a hurricane.
They crashed hard into walls and floors.
With just a single stomp, Axis had wiped out the entire squad of Dark Angels, without taking a single step back.
Hundreds of Dark Angels lay sprawled across the ground, unable to even crawl up, all staring angrily at Axis.
The fact that one son of Russ had floored all of them was something they simply couldn't accept.
Lion El'Jonson's pupils narrowed.
This brat's fighting power was indeed beyond expectation.
Russ sighed and patted Lion's shoulder. "Now do you understand? This kid is terrifying."
Lion was silent for a moment.
Then, he slowly drew his Sword, his golden eyes blazing with battle-lust.
"No. Now I want to verify his power for myself even more."
"..." Russ was speechless.
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We're still short of some powerstones for the bonus chapter! what are you waiting for?! bring it on!!!!
have a great day/night!