"How... is this possible?!"
The searing pain that wracked Babar's body no longer registered—his mind was consumed by sheer, unrelenting terror.
The crystalline core of power granted to him by that lord, an emblem said to be unbreakable, had just been reduced to nothing but dust—true, irredeemable dust—within the grip of Lothar's hand.
"Before Prince Lothar, the impossible does not exist."
"To overturn the expectations of his enemies, to redefine the limits of possibility—that is Prince Lothar! The almighty Prince Lothar!" The Other, grasping his azure scepter, spread his arms in reverence, chanting praises devoted to Lothar.
"...Huh?" This was Babar's first time encountering someone who came with his own narrator. He blinked twice in confusion.
"Who sent you?"
Lothar, however, ignored The Other's customary chants. Descending before the bewildered Babar, he extended his right arm and seized Babar's skull in a single-handed grip, hoisting him from the crater where he lay.
Who had sent Babar here? That was the answer Lothar truly sought.
To so quickly see through Woz's forged identity, to command Babar—the captain of the U40 Planetary Defense Force—into attacking his group, the mastermind behind this was someone Lothar was exceedingly curious about.
Logically speaking, with the Kree Empire at war with the Black Quadrant, the Skrull Empire should have been doing everything in its power to forge an alliance with him.
"Of course, it was that lord," Babar sneered, even as his shattered bones barely allowed him to do so. His gaze burned with resentment as he glared at Lothar.
"No one escapes that lord's machinations. Not even you, son of Thanos."
"I won't ask the same question three times. Now, tell me—who is it?" Lothar remained wholly unfazed by Babar's attempt at intimidation.
"Without that lord's permission, no one may speak his name. Because that lord is everywhere." Babar's face grew paler, yet an eerie smile stretched across his lips.
"But I'll make an exception just this once. I want you to understand just how powerful that lord truly is."
"That lord—he is the pride of our planet U40. His chest bears the highest honors of our world. The crimson cloak at his back is forever billowing. His power is unstoppable."
"His name is Sha—"
BOOM!
The clear skies instantly darkened with thunder and lightning. Before Lothar's eyes, Babar's body crumbled into ashes, scattering at his feet.
"What...?!"
"Prince Lothar?!"
The Other gripped his azure scepter tightly, shuffling to Lothar's side in nervous anticipation.
"Interesting."
Lothar gazed at the ashes beneath his feet, his eyes flickering with intrigue. A hint of excitement slowly crept across his face.
"Woz."
"Lord Lothar, I have been denied access to U40's planetary information control center. Additionally, we have been placed under global manhunt." As Woz finished speaking, a massive blue holographic display materialized before Lothar.
Three freshly issued wanted posters.
[Name: Lothar; Gender: Male; Age: Unknown; Origin: Unknown. Personality: Bloodthirsty, ruthless. Identifying feature: A red tail. Criminal Record: Destruction of Planet N52; assassination of 404 members of U40's Planetary Defense Force, including the brutal murder of Captain Babar.]
[Name: Lothar's subordinate; Gender: Unknown; Age: Unknown; Origin: Unknown. Criminal Record...]
[Name: Astra; Gender: Male; Age: Unknown; Origin: Unknown. A heavy drinker, proficient in the use of an impact cannon. Shares a name with the Kree scientist Astra but is not the same person. Criminal Record...]
"Three resource-rich planets as a reward for providing information?" Astra nearly considered turning himself in.
"Prince Lothar, what should we do?"
The Other, despite his indignation at Astra having his name on the wanted list while he remained nameless, suppressed his frustration and turned to Lothar for guidance.
Lothar silently swiped through the holographic display, his gaze sweeping over the wanted notices repeatedly.
"A global manhunt?" He narrowed his eyes as a thought crossed his mind.
"Woz, connect me to General Corvus Glaive."
"Understood, Lord Lothar. Establishing communication..."
"Connection failed. Attempting to reach Sanctuary II..."
"Connection failed. Lord Lothar, I am unable to establish external communications." Woz, usually unrivaled in digital infiltration, was shocked to discover he had been completely cut off from the outside world.
"Lord Lothar, our warship has been seized!" The Other's pulse quickened with each piece of dire news. If Woz was right, then they had been under surveillance from the moment they set foot on U40—the Skrulls had simply bided their time before making their move.
"Our ship's database is under siege. Lord Lothar, shall I trigger the self-destruct sequence?"
"Do it."
The moment the words left Lothar's lips, a mushroom cloud erupted on the outskirts of Eifeld, U40's capital city.
...
"My lord, the intruders' warship self-destructed exactly as you predicted."
Within the upper floors of the Eifeld City Hall, a Skrull warrior knelt on one knee, respectfully reporting to the masked figure seated upon the high throne.
"How is the information lockdown progressing?" The man's chest gleamed with the silver light of numerous honor medals, and the kneeling Skrull's expression shone with fanatic admiration.
"Per your instructions, we have completely sealed off U40's planetary information network and issued a global manhunt. The merchants stranded on the planet have expressed their understanding regarding the lockdown."
The warrior relayed the details with unwavering reverence. Their intelligence division had failed to detect the enemy's infiltration, yet this man had uncovered them in an instant and devised a flawless response. Truly, a warrior worthy of bearing every honor of the Skrull Empire!
"Well done. Now go. Prepare to welcome the return of Generals Baltan and Gazzler."
"Yes, Lord Shafrin!"
The Skrull soldier saluted with excitement before departing. As the doors closed behind him, Shafrin rose from his throne and stepped toward the window, gazing down upon the planet below. His crimson cape rippled in an unseen breeze, the medals on his chest clinking softly. Yet the darkness in his masked visage remained untouched by the light of the sun.
"Lothar, son of Thanos."
"My foolish little brother... you have certainly given me quite the surprise..."
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