The battle ended in Rhodes' complete victory.
Gromm's power was tremendous—his physical prowess eclipsed all but Tartarus and the Dark Giant among Rhodes' summons.
Even a fully enhanced Zetton couldn't match him physically.
But Rhodes, strengthened by two cosmic phantom beasts, C'tan shards, and six monsters, had reached terrifying heights.
He could go toe-to-toe in raw strength. The WAAAGH! power was a trump card, able to remove disadvantages by force.
It was powerful, but not enough to threaten Rhodes. Even if it could rewrite some physical laws or reality, Rhodes' psychic powers, teleportation, barriers, and beams were more than a match.
Rhodes approached the battered Ork warlord.
Half of Gromm's body was gone, even his head half pulped. Yet the Orks' tenacious vitality kept him alive and conscious. Any other lifeform would be dead, but Orks had plant traits.
Even if you cut off their head and reattached it to another body, they'd live.
So, to truly kill an Ork, you had to reduce him to complete mush.
Rhodes released Phoenix Fire from his palm, restoring Gromm's body in moments.
Restored, Gromm sat listlessly, crestfallen—he'd given his all, used every power, but was still utterly defeated.
He couldn't accept how little damage he'd managed to inflict.
"So, you lost. From now on, you'll follow my orders—unless you plan to break your word?" Rhodes asked.
"You win. I'll obey your orders," Gromm grunted.
But I'm still young, he thought. I've only just grown up—not even a year old!
I still have time—I'll keep biding my time and growing stronger!
Rhodes could tell what Gromm was thinking, but his own power was growing even faster.
When I first crossed over, I was just an ordinary person. Now, my strength is nearly invincible in the real universe.
You'll make a fine henchman!
If only I could enhance Ork intelligence as easily as their WAAAGH! power. Unfortunately, this Ork wasn't a summoned monster.
Still, there were monsters among the Ultraman cosmos who could absorb other species' abilities. Maybe, one day, Rhodes could acquire the Orks' reality-warping power.
"Very good. Now, stand up. Gromm Hell Roar is the name I gave you at birth.
Gather your fifty million most elite troops—war is coming," Rhodes said, shrinking and floating before Gromm.
"Yes, my master. You are the one I acknowledge," Gromm nodded, flying into the sky and letting out a thunderous roar.
"My beloved Boyz! A great WAAAGH! awaits us—let's go on an adventure!
Only the strongest Ork warriors will be chosen for my crusade," Gromm declared.
Though defeated, he was still excited for the coming war.
"WAAAGH! WAAAGH!"
"WAAAGH!"
To Orks, nothing was more joyous than war—nothing made them happier than a mighty WAAAGH!
Upon receiving the order, the entire planet's Orks erupted in wild howls, drums thundering across Ork planet.
Green-skins howled, rushing to enlist—they didn't care who the enemy was, only that they were big and strong.
Rhodes nodded in satisfaction, landing again.
Unknowingly, he'd been in the Warhammer universe for two years, and his power was now top-tier.
Among his summons, only Tartarus could defeat him outright.
As he gained more monsters, Rhodes' power would grow exponentially—he'd have to be picky about future enhancements.
"That was a blood-pumping fight, Master. Your strength surpasses my imagination.
I remember half a year ago, you weren't nearly this strong!" Zett said.
He could only control the Ork Superbeast with the Battlenizer, but his master had won by pure strength!
"You're my solid support—no need to belittle yourselves," Rhodes smiled.
"Master, I must remind you—this Ork warlord may have yielded for now, but he likely won't submit easily. You'll need to restrain him in the future," Mefilas warned.
"I know. As long as I'm stronger, he won't betray me—and even if he does, Zett's Battlenizer will handle it," Rhodes said.
Orks were tough—Monster Capsules couldn't capture them, only the Reionic's Battlenizer could force control.
If you defeated a wild Ork warlord and expected him to submit, you'd be sorely mistaken.
These cunning, savage green-skins weren't so simple.
…
In a single day, Gromm gathered his fifty million best fighters.
Each Boy was armed—Sluggas with choppas, Shootas with rusty rifles, Flyboyz in rickety planes.
Their gear looked crude, but if they found a wealthy world, they could instantly rearm and become a formidable army.
"Great master, tell me who our enemy is—I can't wait to make them bleed," Gromm said.
"It's the Tyranids—an expedition to Octarius.
Gromm, I wasn't planning to have you join this fight—you're my trump card."
At this, Gromm wilted like a frostbitten eggplant.
What? I can't join a glorious war? Nothing could be more painful for an Ork!
"But I see you crave battle.
So, I'll give you a chance—you may lead the army yourself.
But during the battle, you must not fight in giant form—only your normal form," Rhodes said.
Forbidding him to fight would crush his spirit and the army's morale. So he'd let him go—as long as he didn't get exposed.
"If, in normal form, I can't defeat the enemy and am about to die, may I use my transformation?" Gromm asked.
"That's fine—but if anyone sees your giant form, you must kill everyone who isn't one of us," Rhodes said.
As long as humanity didn't witness the giant Ork, it was fine—the Tyranids wouldn't care.
"No problem, Master!"
"Good! I'll forge you new armor and a power axe from extradimensional and regenerative metals, and add a power gloves and ranged weapons," Rhodes said.
Time to upgrade his gear.
"Boyz! Get ready for a great WAAAGH!"
"WAAAGH!"
A few days later, the fifty million-strong Ork horde assembled. Gromm Hell Roar, in new armor and wielding new weapons, led his army to launch the expedition to Octarius.