Radiating Wrath
Being a newcomer to the Colosseum isn’t easy, especially when you’re the first from your world. Coming out from the white doors and being greeted by a mix of heroes, villains, antiheroes, scum, humans, humanoids, monsters, gods, devils and everything in between, all sitting together, only held back by whatever magical or mechanical atmosphere the Colosseum wields that just barely contains each of their bloodlust and killing instinct. But while the threat of death may not be present the nastiness, sadism and psychoticism of some of the combatants are still free to display their true colours. Thankfully, the warm welcomes by the Man of Steel and Super Saiyan always make sure a newcomer’s first contact is not hostile. With luck and time, most get comfortably assimilated into the environment. Making new friends they probably couldn’t make back in their world. Usually, one of these first friends tends to be their opponent but this does vary between fights. Not all heroes see eye to eye and pairings of villains rarely get anywhere friendly but that’s not to say two combatants can never click. Whether it’d be through a shared interest, world view or suffering. These relationships are very beneficial when at least one of the combatants is already familiar with the Colosseum. Because at least the other has someone to go to whenever they face unfamiliar challenges.
———
Kratos was leaving his dorm intending to go back to his world, as he is one of the combatants who only comes around when there’s a fight he feels like watching, when he was stopped at the stairs by Asura who had come looking for him.
Asura: What do you know about a man named Bruce?
Kratos: Hmm? You refer to the scientist, Bruce Banner. Correct?
Asura: Yes, he’s been asking me permission to experiment on me and he’s annoyingly persistent about it.
Asura’s voice grovels and his teeth clench as he speaks. Kratos gives the Wrathful Deity a sympathetic look, having been asked to be examined by Bruce before, albeit he only came around to Bruce’s persistence after his long absence from the Colosseum. Still, despite knowing the uncomfortable feeling of being under examination, Kratos decided to urge Asura to listen to him.
Kratos: Bruce is just curious. He means no harm. I suggest you take him up on his offer. You may find you have a lot in common.
Asura raises an eyebrow at the God of War, who walks past him down the stairs. The next day, he finds himself walking through the massive laboratory on the second floor following a mild mannered scientist to his workshop.
Bruce: Thanks for finally coming. I promise this won’t cause any extreme harm. As long as you listen to what I say and we cooperate well.
Bruce today was wearing a simple lab get up, a purple shirt, black tie, white cloak, black pants and a pair of glasses. Asura didn’t say a thing, simply looking around at the various other workshops dedicated to different combatants. One workshop displayed various armours that looked to be made of some sort of gold with red highlights on them. Another looked like some sort of garage, with a plethora of gadgets, tools and hip flasks literated inside. One displayed a workbench that was covered in weapons. Another looked like it had a bunch of toys scattered on its desks. Asura could tell this place was volatile. All it would take is one mistake and the whole place could explode. Of course, each person who owns a spot here knows that and has set up force fields around their respective areas to prevent such accidents from spreading beyond ground zero. Bruce’s spot in the far corner looked no different from your standard bio-lab, other than the few human-sized vats, radiation analysis equipment and a bunch of other things he uses to examine what makes up each combatant on the biological level.
Bruce: So, uhh, if you don’t mind the mess. Just take a seat over there while I get things sorted.
Bruce pointed to what looked like a modified surgical chair with limb braces containing sleeper agents meant to hold patients down, if they were being unruly, and wires attached to various computer screens around it. Asura hesitantly took a seat and waited for Bruce. While he waited he began feeling a heavy aura in the air. The kind you would feel when faced with a formidable foe. Looking around he spotted a towering man with fiery red hair, wearing a blue-grey gi and prayer beads around his neck. The man glared at Asura as he walked toward him and Asura met his glare with his own. Pretty soon the man was standing right in front of Asura.
Asura: You!
Akuma: So you recognise me?
Asura: I had a dream where I fought a warrior like you.
Akuma: So did I. A very vivid dream that I still to this day question if it really was just a dream.
Asura: What do you want?
Akuma: To make that dream a reality.
The two warriors stared at each other with faces of wrath but before things could escalate they were interrupted.
Bruce: Hey Akuma! I’m busy here with Asura, okay. If you wanna fight him you need to wait.
The Great Demon had no intentions of listening though. He turned to the Mild Mannered Man and stood before him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Akuma then shoved Bruce back with enough force to crash through a desk containing several vials, test tubes and flasks before coming to a crashing stop at a glass cupboard on the wall. Asura sat up in alarm at Akuma’s aggression toward the innocent man, who now laid unconscious on the ground covered in broken glass. The crash also alerted the other combatants who were in the lab at that time. From around the corner near the entrance Batman came running, from inside his workshop out came Lex Luthor conjuring up his warsuit around him and from inside the pile of weapons that covered that desk Rocket Raccoon peaked his head out in confusion.
Rocket: Hey! Cut the racket will you!
Lex: What’s going on here?
Batman eyed Asura’s face, which slowly began being contorted with wrath. In his hand he held a small communication device. He pressed a button on it three times before carefully disappearing back to where he came from, knowing full well that neither Akuma or Asura were going to be the main threat to worry about.
Akuma: That should knock him down long enough. As long as we take this fight some-
Press B to shut Akuma up
Asura slams a fist into Akuma’s face and sends him flying across the room. Akuma skids on the ground before coming to a stop near the entrance. He then charges forward at Asura, who begins charging at him as well. When their fists meet they release a shockwave that shakes the lab and would’ve destroyed everything inside had it not been for each workshop having their own protective measures. Lex began dematerialising his warsuit and went back to work, uninterested in the brawl that was happening, while Rocket began cheering them on.
Rocket: Yeah! Kick his ass!
Akuma and Asura began exchanging blows. Blocking, parrying, kicking, punching and headbutting each other but the fight never escalated to anything more destructive. Asura fought in his base, not wanting to be the one who would promote the need for more destruction. Akuma wasn’t having any of that though. He feigns a strike to Asura’s chest, forcing Asura to block there, in order to land a blow on his head.
Akuma: Where’s that form you fought the god with?
Asura slides across the floor back to Bruce’s workshop. However, he has little time to recover as Akuma quickly closes the distance and begins pummeling him with a flurry of punches, forcing Asura to block.
Akuma: Show me your true power! Show me what a god like yourself can do!
Asura yells as an aura of Mantra pushes Akuma back to the center of the room. The mantra solidifies around Asura and four extra arms grow from his back. Akuma smirks in response to Asura’s restraints being lifted and he prepares himself for another round. Asura does the same. Then, just as the two warriors fly at each other with mach speeds, their punches both collide with a forcefield leaving both confused. Standing in the center of the forcefield was a man wearing a suit of armour that looked similar to the red and gold ones Asura had seen earlier but this one was all grey.
War Machine: Sorry gentlemen but this fight is over.
[Now playing: The Cyborg Fight]
Akuma felt a metallic hand grab him from behind. He was then flung back before being blasted by a beam of fire. The source of the fire moved too quickly for the Akuma to register who it was and before he knew it he was pinned against the wall with a hand around his neck. Staring back at him was the Demon Cyborg, Genos. Even with Akuma supposedly subdued Asura was still on his guard. Whether or not his last fight with the Great Demon was real didn’t concern him. He remembered vividly a form that was consumed in blue flames that stared down at him with red eyes. Perhaps if he rushed at Akuma now and knocked him out he could prevent him from transforming into that… thing. He began rearing himself up for another charge but was stopped by Rhodes.
War Machine: Hey hey hey hey hey hey! activates and aims his missiles and guns toward Asura There’s no need for that, alright. It’s all under control.
Boom
War Machine turns around to the sound of the explosion and is greeted by Genos’ damaged body slamming into him with an immense force.
[Music stops]
Asura’s eyes widen as the two fly into him, sending them crashing into the forcefield around Burce’s workshop. Asura pushes both War Machine and Genos off of him and glances back at Bruce, his body still lying unconscious on the floor. Asura tried to reach out to him but his attention was stolen by the Oni now standing before them. Only 30 feet away from them, blue skin and muscles even larger than before with hair that not only glowed but flowed like fire. Blue flames contrasting the red eyes that pierced his gaze. Asura tried to scramble onto his feet to prepare himself for the fight as the Oni began charging toward him while letting out a guttural battle cry. But just before the Oni was able to land a punch on the unprepared Deity a massive green fist, half the size of the Oni’s body, crashed into him and sent him flying across the lab and cratering the wall, sending a vibration out that not only shook the lab but the entire floor. Asura now looked up in shock at the green-skinned behemoth in front of him. This monster let out his own roar and began charging at the Oni at full speed. As Asura stared in disbelief, War Machine and Genos began to slowly recover.
War Machine: Great. cough That’s an even bigger problem.
As Asura watched the Green Giant run he noticed he was wearing a pair of black pants and pieces of purple and white cloth were flying from his body. A sudden realisation hit him and he turned back to where Bruce’s body once was, only to find him gone. The Oni recovered from the attack and raced forward to face the Incredible Hulk head on. Unfortunately for him, the Hulk was way out of his league. The two clashed fists but the Oni was immediately overpowered and was slammed into the floor by his opponent. Hulk then grabs the Oni’s legs and begins flailing him around while slamming him into the ground. Eventually, he grabs the Oni with both hands and slams him into the ground one last time before lifting both fists into the air and smashing them down.
Hulk: Hulk smash!
The attack shook the floor again and began causing a commotion around the Colosseum. Just next door in the room that contained the magic workshops combatants were gathering outside the entrance to see what was happening. They were joined by a few others from other floors who were curious enough to investigate the cause of the pseudo-earthquake. Rocket had left his pile of weapons and began wielding his ‘Thanos Buster’, aiming it at Hulk in case he decides to hulk out on anyone else. Lex had decided that the noise was too much for him and had actually left the lab back when Genos had Akuma pinned down. Hulk released his hold on the down mortal Akuma, who lay in the cratered floor unconscious. The Hulk began growling and coughing as his body began to shrink. His arms began thinning out and his green complexion faded into a more pale one. Soon, Bruce Banner was kneeling in front of the crater he had made. Gasping for air and hanging his head down in exhaustion. It took a lot of energy to keep the Hulk at bay when was unconscious and even more so to keep his anger focused on Akuma once he transformed. Now that the source of the Hulk’s rage was gone Banner was able to take back control and bring himself back down to Earth. War Machine quickly got up to help Bruce while Genos ran over to deal with Akuma.
From a concealed spot in the lab, Batman watched the whole thing go down. He had been the one to call Genos and War Machine to break up the initial fight between Asura and Akuma but he knew they weren’t going to be enough to hold back the Hulk. Next to him stood the Purple-Clad Trick Shooter, Hawkeye, armed with a special arrow given to him by the Bats that can drain radiation from its targets. For those wondering why Green Arrow wasn’t called, it’s because Batman figured that if the Hulk spotted them the presence of his own teammate would dull his anger just enough for them to escape. Batman had intended for Hawkeye to fire it at Bruce once he transformed but the Bats halted that order when he began fighting the Oni. He had almost given Clint the order to fire when the fight was over but Banner managing to gain back control over the beast meant there was no need for this plan to be put in action.
Hawkeye: Well, that’s a relief.
Hawkeye comments as he turns to Batman. Batman nods in response.
Batman: The damage is not as bad as I thought it would be but the clean up will still take time.
Hawkeye: Well, good luck with that.
The Archer waves a goodbye at the Caped Crusader and takes his leave.
As this was all happening, Asura still sat on the floor in front of Bruce’s workshop. Snapping himself out of his daze he picked himself up by his six arms and made his way over to Bruce, who was being helped up by War Machine. However, he was denied the ability to help.
War Machine: It’s okay, we got this. Just try not to break anything else.
War Machine brought Bruce back to his workshop and had him sit down on an examination table. Meanwhile, Genos carried Akuma out of the lab and back to his room.
———
It was dinner time and Asura, now back in base, grabs a tray of food and heads over to the table Bardock and Vader were sitting at. He sits down and the three eat (drink in Vader’s case) peacefully for a while before Bardock brings up the incident from earlier.
Bardock: So I heard you were involved in the fight that happened in the labs today. What happened?
Asura: Just some brute who couldn’t mind his own business.
Bardock: So you didn’t start the fight?
Asura shook his head.
Vader: You were lucky you were not the aggressor. Lest you draw the ire of the Hulk.
Asura: So that’s what that thing’s name is?
Bardock: I’ve heard of that. What is he? They say he’s a big, green monster but I haven’t seen anyone like that around here yet.
Vader: He is a manifestation of Bruce’s anger. If his anger overwhelms him he turns into a beast capable of unfathomable destruction.
Bardock: So, if you want to fight him you need to make him angry.
Vader: It would be your grave.
Bardock: But he can’t kill me.
Vader: You will be wishing he could.
Asura pondered on that fact for a moment. Having held the mantra of wrath for most of his life he would know better than anyone the unadulterated power it holds when wielded. Even when wielded incorrectly, wrath is a force to be reckoned with. From what he saw, Bruce seemed to have a decent hold over his wrath.
———
A few days later, after the craters in the lab were fixed, Asura was back in Bruce’s workshop. He was lying back on a surgical chair with his chest open. Wires attracted to the Mantra Reactor inside of him.
Bruce: I didn’t expect you to come back after what had happened. I promise this will be worth your time.
Asura said nothing as Bruce examined a computer screen that was collecting data from the Mantra Reactor.
Bruce: The energy readings are off the chart. So you’re saying that this thing channels spiritual energy, called Mantra, that powers you and keeps you alive? How is this energy formed?
Asura: It comes from emotions.
Bruce: Oh yeah, that makes sense. You are the Wrath Deity, right? So your anger is what strengthens you.
Asura nodded before asking a question of his own.
Asura: Anger strengthens you too, does it not?
Bruce: Well, I wouldn’t say it’s the same but there are some parallels. Both of us get stronger the angrier we get but the foundation of your strength is this Mantra energy while mine is radiation.
Asura cocked an eyebrow in curiosity.
Asura: What is that?
Bruce: Well, specifically you could say I’m powered by gamma radiation. It’s a type of electromagnetic radiation that can penetrate the human body and cause ionising reactions inside that damage cells and DNA. I shouldn’t really be alive but I am.
Asura, given his background, understood none of what Bruce had said.
Asura: So what does that green thing have to do with you?
Bruce: It’s what happens when I get really angry. I hulk out and destroy everything around me. Takes a lot to control the big guy. What about you? Since you’re all about anger I’m sure you know how hard it can be to control it.
Asura thought back to his early days as a general of the Eight Guardian Generals. As far back as he could remember he could always properly direct his wrath toward his foes. Of course, there were cases when his wrath may have taken more control, like in his Berserker and Wrath forms, but more often than not he never let his anger be a tool of indiscriminate destruction.
Asura: I always had control over my wrath.
Bruce: Really? I guess the simulator was acting up again. I’ll take your word for it though. I’m sorry you had to see me like that. All angry and destructive. If I ever hulk out again here, please promise me one thing.
Bruce’s face went from neutral to a mix of fearful and pleading when he turned to Asura.
Bruce: Don’t fight me.
Asura was left confused again. Though after Bruce’s explanation he understood where he was going.
Bruce: I get stronger the angrier I get, you get stronger the angrier you get. At what point will either of us stop being angry? We’ll just keep getting stronger and stronger in an endless cycle of wrath. What devastation could be caused by that?