Part 5 - Blood of the King

Chapter 109 - The Final Battle (Part Two)

The next morning arrived with a red sunrise. Max stared across at Khahrahk who was sitting cross-legged behind his army of Kates, staring back.

"How do you feel?" Asked Miles, coming up to his son and putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Like there's a lot resting on my shoulders. And that's just your hand."

Miles chuckled and removed it, offering Max a slightly singed slice of toast. The God took it gladly.

"Thanks. Can I ask something, Dad?"

"Sure."

"Did it feel like this when you first became Spiderman? Did you feel like you were way out of your depth and just wanted to get on with things?"

"Of course I felt like that. It's a massive task saving the world, or worlds this time. You just have to think on a smaller scale. What will you, personally, lose if you fail?"

"My home."

"Even smaller than that. Don't save the omniverse; save one person."

"Do I have to tell you?"

"No, but I'm guessing you thought of Grace first."

"How'd you work that out?"

"Easy: you'd be fine saying me or your mum or your sister, but too awkward to talk about Grace. Especially with what your mother has been telling me."

"Oh jeez…"

Miles chuckled again, then became serious.

"Look; I believe in you, Max. And I'm not just saying that to make you feel better. I remember when you would get bullied and beaten up at school, but you figured that out and made friends."

"Yep, then no thanks to the Legion only two of them don't hate me."

"That one's on me, not you. My point is you can figure this one out. Khahrahk is just another bully."

"A pretty big bully, if you ask me."

"Just like that kid…what was his name…"

"Gregory, or something."

"Yeah, just like him. I want to be called in because you gave him a bloody nose."

"I didn't know you were proud of me for that."

"I gave you a rant about not hitting people, but I was proud of you for standing up for yourself."

Suddenly, Khahrahk stood up.

"Dei Volente!" He roared.

Max stuffed the last of his toast in his mouth.

"Go get Gregory 2.0." Miles encouraged with a pat on the back.

Max didn't reply for almost a minute as he stuffed another piece of toast down.

"Face me, Dei Volente!" Khahrahk roared.

"Alright, alright! I'm here! Don't get your horns in a twist."

The two opposing armies were formed up in ranks; the shield around the Tree still stood strong. Max pushed to the front of the alliance ranks; Khahrahk watched him with his burning yellow eyes.

"So, we doing an epic charge or is it just you and me?" Asked Spider-God

"You and I. You will not prevail, Dei Volente."

"Before we start, let me ask you something: how can you be the Shormaush Urdal, the Scarlet King, when there'll be nothing left for you to be king of?"

"I am the King of the Darkness Below."

"Yeah, but if you want to destroy everything you have to destroy that too, so you aren't king of anything."

"Silence! They should have called you 'Defectum', for it is all you spread."

"Yep, I like failure. Helps me learn something new to kick your ass harder with."

Max drew his sword and leapt into the air, the red trim on his suit glowing threateningly. Khahrahk took a swing with the Scarlet Crucible which Max dodged with ease.

"The Moon no more shall shine." Khahrahk boomed as Max tore through the air at his forehead.

The King headbutted him away.

"All Creation will burn."

Max sighed, raising his sword high and bringing it down so a bolt of lightning ravaged his enemy's head.

"Hey Corbo, you there?" He asked the assistant in his suit.

"I am always here, sir. How can I help?"

"This guy isn't going to shut up. You got any music?"

"I have downloaded your entire music library from your phone."

"Play something up-beat, maybe some fight music."

"I will work on a playlist. For now, here's 'Rumble' by 'Zayde Wølf'."

"Good choice."

The song started playing in Max's suit as he did a loop-de-loop over another swing from the Crucible. He narrowly avoided a punch, then the handle of the Crucible. When the King's assault slowed a little so he could regain his balance, Max raised Furore Mortale to the sky. The world seemed to heat up, inexplicably, then the clouds started to swirl. A few seconds later, a tornado started to grow which ignited to become what would usually be referred to as a 'Fire Devil' among other things. The King roared furiously as the fire engulfed him; he clenched his fist, sucking up the flames into seemingly nothing before unleashing them in a powerful stream towards the teenage God. Max thrust his fist out in front of him and they scattered around a bubble shield.

"You cannot stop this." Khahrahk roared.

"Corbo, I need suggestions."

"For music?"

"For a strategy. The music's good."

"Hit him from behind."

Max feinted to go left before changing direction to fly round the right side of his opponent. Khahrahk tried to spit at him but missed. Now he tried to turn, to swat the insect buzzing around the back of his head. He couldn't turn fast enough and felt a sharp nip like a mosquito bite. He slapped the back of his head, missing Max by inches as the God realised going for the neck had done nothing.

"How thick is your skull?"

"Thicker than yours."

"Duh."

The King flapped his arm around behind him, trying to defend his head. Max hovered, trying to time this perfectly. When he was confident, he streaked forward past the arm and over the top of the King's head. As he passed, he sliced his sword through one of the seven black spikes on the King's head. Khahrahk let out a horrific noise somewhere between a roar and a scream as the horn came clean off, hitting the ground a long way down with a thump. The alliance army let out a victorious shout as Max came to a hover. Khahrahk snarled at him.

"I will burn everything you love!"

"That's why we're having this fight, right? So I can stop you?"

"Do not believe you have won this, Dei Volente."

"I'm not. I'm just keeping in mind a little pep-talk my dad gave me before this. Why? Are you running away? I could do this all day."

"You irritate me."

"That's half the plan, douchebag."

"Hmph."

Max's senses alerted him to a projectile coming from behind him and he rolled out of the way just in time to avoid a chunk of rock.

"Oops! You missed!"

"Silence, you gibbering rat!"

Max raised his sword and hit the stump of Khahrahk's horn with a lightning bolt. However, in doing so he opened himself up for an attack. Khahrahk ignored the searing pain and hauled up one more chunk of rock which shattered on impact with Max. He tumbled out of the sky, almost unconscious.

There were boos from the alliance army as he struck the ground sending up a large dust cloud. Miles clenched his free hand which wasn't holding revived Gwen's.

"Come on, Max…get up." He muttered.

"You cannot best me, Dei Volente. Now I will kill you and finish what I started."

Khahrahk raised the Crucible high; Miles still hadn't seen Max emerge from the small crater in the ground. The Scarlet King brought the weapon down. Suddenly, it was deflected away and the tip clattered harmlessly in the mud. People breathed a sigh of relief, but Miles spotted a flash of gold go out and a black object tumble from the sky. He sprinted forward, letting go of Gwen's hand. Khahrahk watched, bemused, as he stopped at the rim of the crater where Max was coming to his senses. A short distance away, Conall lay completely still. His body began to break down into golden ash which came together to form the Ethereal Plate of Power. The immortal had given his life knowing Max was the only hope for the omniverse. The best that could be done in his memory was to win this. Miles offered his son his hand and hauled him to his feet. The young God's suit was covered in mud, but he didn't seem injured. Max double-tapped the side of his head, morphing away his mask and hood. Miles wasn't sure if he was about to be blasted with a vision, but his son refrained from making eye contact as he spoke.

"Send everyone home but leave Helltreader; I know what part he has to play."

"You're burning the Tree…are you sure you want to make that decision?"

"I hate it, but it's what we've got to do. It's what we always had to do. Everyone that dies goes to Bastria. People in Noladis survive."

"I hear every word of what you say, Dei Volente." Said Khahrahk with a haunting grin.

"I don't care. I'll see you on the other side, Dad."

Miles didn't want to let his son's hand go, knowing that a whole load of multiverses collapsing may be enough even to kill a High Elder God. However, he knew the stakes and let go.

"I love you, Max. And I'm proud of you."

"Go, Dad."

Khahrahk chuckled as the alliance army began to disperse until it was only Max and Helltreader left. The star eater and Max spoke quietly a short distance from the crater. Helltreader nodded and launched into the air. Khahrahk watched curiously as Max rose up beside him, sheathing his sword.

"Decided to give up? I was right: they really should have called you 'Defectum'."

"Like I said, I couldn't agree more. But it doesn't have the same ring as Dei Volente, does it? I mean, adding letters like V and X makes everything cool. And in Latin; ultra cool. 'Defectum' is Latin, but it just doesn't have that cool feel to it."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm distracting you, idiot."

As Max finished the sentence, the Tree lit up with light of the Sun. Khahrahk growled and covered his eyes; the Kate army was killed by the intensity. The omniverse began to shake as its very roots were engulfed in flames. The ground in Zaltoxir began to split, and black cracks formed in the sky. Khahrahk laughed, staring at Max beneath the palm of his hand.

"What does this achieve? You have granted me victory."

"No, I haven't."

As the Scarlet King made to open a portal, Max dropped from the air and fired two webs from his wrists. As he wrapped them round and round his adversary, red chains tangled themselves amongst the webs. As the King tried to break free, Max landed and planted his feet in the ground, refusing to give even an inch. Every muscle in his body screamed, but he didn't care. Khahrahk roared angrily, pulling at his restraints desperately.

"You do not know what you have done, Dei Volente! You have killed yourself!"

In the last moments as Zaltoxir, Vaxar, Premis, Secadis and Treladis collapsed on themselves, on Max and on Khahrahk, Max felt a moment of joy seeing the Scarlet King toppled from his throne at last.

Crossovers in this Chapter

- SCP Foundation