10-25-2023, 06:54 AM
In the fiery depths of Hell, EDWARD overcame the mighty Demon King, Asmodeus.
Thinking he'd return home through a portal, he was instead thrust into the dystopian "Tromaville", ambushed by a green mutant.
Upon awakening, he's accused by Sargent Kabukiman NYPD of rebellion.
Determined, EDWARD shares his quest for the "SHINY", piquing Kabukiman's interest and aligning him with the Toxic Avenger.
They unveil the tale of Tromaville's subjugation by Thunder Knuckles and Corey Smith.
As Thunder Knuckles seethes over Corey's scorn, EDWARD and the Toxic Crusaders hatch a plan to reclaim Tromaville.
With EDWARD as the decoy, they brace for the looming showdown.
Thinking he'd return home through a portal, he was instead thrust into the dystopian "Tromaville", ambushed by a green mutant.
Upon awakening, he's accused by Sargent Kabukiman NYPD of rebellion.
Determined, EDWARD shares his quest for the "SHINY", piquing Kabukiman's interest and aligning him with the Toxic Avenger.
They unveil the tale of Tromaville's subjugation by Thunder Knuckles and Corey Smith.
As Thunder Knuckles seethes over Corey's scorn, EDWARD and the Toxic Crusaders hatch a plan to reclaim Tromaville.
With EDWARD as the decoy, they brace for the looming showdown.
Tromaville: dilapidated structures and smokestacks line the horizon.
Among these, a warehouse stood out — the sinister heart of Thunder Knuckles' operations.
EDWARD treaded softly, using the shadows as a cloak.
He neared the warehouse and found a secluded spot behind a stack of corroded barrels to observe.
Before him, the Radioactive Neanderthal Renegades paraded around boisterously, their luminescent green skin glowing eerily in the dim light.
EDWARD's keen eyes darted from one renegade to another.
They laughed loudly, shoved each other around, and, most disgracefully, took joy in tormenting weaker beings captured from Tromaville.
They held no honor, no sense of discipline — mere puppets dancing to the wicked tunes of Thunder Knuckles.
This dishonorable display riled EDWARD, awakening the warrior within him.
One Neanderthal, threw a glass bottle against a wall, cheering as it shattered.
Another, lifted a car with one hand, only to drop it abruptly, smashing it for the mere pleasure of destruction.
They reveled in chaos, caring little for the true potential of their strength.
To EDWARD, strength was a gift, and these renegades squandered theirs.
"LONG AGO, SUNS AND MOONS PAST, EDWARD FIGHT MIND MASTER. HE HAVE SHINY THEN. EDWARD FACE HIM. EDWARD WIN. SHINY BELONG TO EDWARD. FOR 73 MOONS, SHINY STAY WITH EDWARD."
"MIND MASTER... HE VANISH. LIKE SMOKE. NO THREAT TO EDWARD. NO THREAT TO SHINY."
"THEN, SMALL WOMAN COME. NAME RUBY. RUBY TAKE SHINY FROM EDWARD. EDWARD FALL. HOW? HOW SMALL WOMAN DEFEAT BIG, STRONG WARRIOR? EDWARD CONFUSED. EDWARD HURT. EDWARD LEAVE TO THINK. WITH APE FRIENDS, EDWARD SIT. EDWARD REFLECT. APE FRIENDS SAY, 'EDWARD STRONG. EDWARD WARRIOR.' THEY HELP EDWARD FIND CONFIDENCE AGAIN."
"EDWARD RETURN. READY TO TAKE SHINY BACK. BUT RUBY GONE. INSTEAD, BIG MAN NAMED HGH HAVE SHINY. HGH SHADOW, NOT REAL MUSCLE. HGH CRY LIKE BABY. LIKE SMALL CHILD. EDWARD CHALLENGE HGH. EDWARD WIN. SHINY BACK WITH EDWARD."
"EVERY MONTH, WARRIORS COME. THEY CHALLENGE EDWARD. THEY WANT SHINY. THEY CLIMB MOUNTAIN TO REACH EDWARD. BUT THEY FALL. ONE BY ONE, THEY FALL. NO ONE MATCH EDWARD'S STRENGTH. NO ONE TAKE SHINY."
"EDWARD STRONGEST OF ALL. LEADER OF TRIBE. KING OF JUNGLE. MASTER OF WILD. WHO DARE TO DEFEAT EDWARD? WHO? MUST BE MIGHTY WARRIOR."
"MIND MASTER? HIM? HA! HE LOSE MANY TIMES. ALMOST BREAK OWN RECORD OF LOSING. YES, MIND MASTER BEAT ROGER. BUT ROGER... NOT WARRIOR. ROGER ALWAYS SEEM TO LOSE. MIND MASTER BEAT MOLLY BARNES. BUT MOLLY... HER MIND WANDER. HER SPIRIT NOT STRONG. MIND MASTER BEAT HGH TOO. BUT HGH... EDWARD ALREADY DEFEAT HIM. DEFEAT MOLLY TOO, AND WHEN EDWARD FIGHT THEM, EDWARD FIGHT ALONE. NO HELP. NO TRIBE."
"NOW, LISTEN! HEAR EDWARD'S ROAR! WHEN EDWARD STEP ONTO BATTLEFIELD WITH MIND MASTER, EDWARD HOLD SHINY FOR 168 MOONS! LONGER THAN ANY WARRIOR! LONGER THAN MIND MASTER, LONGER THAN FAKE MUSCLE, LONGER THAN RUBY! EDWARD BREAK ALL RECORDS!"
"BECAUSE EDWARD STRONGEST WARRIOR!"
"MIND MASTER, WE FIGHT IN DARK PLACE. BOTTOM OF BIG SHIP. PLACE COLD. PLACE TRAP SPIRITS. WEAPONS LIE AROUND. BUT MIND MASTER, LISTEN WELL. MISFITS NOT HELP YOU. WEAPONS NOT SAVE YOU. GHOSTS... THEY WATCH. BUT THEY NOT SAVE YOU. ONLY ONE LEAVE WITH SHINY. AND THAT ONE... IS EDWARD!"
"ANARCHY CHAMPIONSHIP... EDWARD WILL DEFEND. EDWARD WILL WIN. MIND MASTER... MISFIT'S CARRY YOU THIS FAR, BUT NOW, THEIR STRENGTH WILL DWINDLE. THEIR LOYALTY? FICKLE. WHEN THE SHADOWS OF THE SHIP SWALLOW US, WHEN THE SPIRITS WHISPER IN DESPAIR, IT IS THE WILL OF A WARRIOR THAT WILL PREVAIL."
"MIND MASTER, GET READY. LAST FIGHT COME. WHEN DUST SETTLE, STRONGEST ONE STAND WITH SHINY."
"AND EDWARD STRONGEST WARRIOR!"
EDWARD's eyes sharply focused on the Radioactive Neanderthal Renegades.
Every fiber of his being itched to charge forward and deliver justice. The renegades' dishonorable antics, the tormented cries of the innocent, and their sacrilegious wastage of strength.
It all boiled within EDWARD, creating a volcanic eruption of rage.
Without warning, EDWARD roared and lunged at the nearest Neanderthal, catching him off guard— A swift uppercut sent him flying into the pile of barrels nearby.
Surprised by this sudden attack, another two renegades rushed at EDWARD. With a deft spin, EDWARD grabbed one by the arm and used his momentum to swing and slam him into the other.
Their bodies crumpled on the ground.
Neanderthals began to take notice, but EDWARD was relentless.
One Neanderthal swung a metal pipe, but EDWARD caught it mid-air, wrenching it from his grasp and swinging it back at him, causing a domino effect as several renegades were knocked off their feet.
For a brief moment, it seemed EDWARD was invincible.
But numbers began to play their role.
The renegades regrouped, realizing that individually they stood no chance against the mighty EDWARD.
Together, however, they could overwhelm him.
Suddenly, from his blind side, a massive Neanderthal tackled EDWARD, pinning him to the ground. As he struggled to break free, more renegades leaped atop him, each trying to pin down a limb.
EDWARD roared and writhed, managing to throw off a couple of the Neanderthals.
But more kept coming, their weight and combined strength proving too much.
It was like trying to fend off a swarm of ants, each time he swatted one away, two more took its place.
The area quickly became a chaotic scene, with the ground shaking, dust rising and neanderthals grunting and yelling.
EDWARD's roars of frustration echoed as the scene faded...
To... Be... Continued...