KREM (Earth-7)

Biography 

Origin

The Yellow Hills is a planet organized under a rigid feudal system. The name refers to its capital and the center of its civilization, where the ruling lords reside. Surrounding it stretch the Purple Farms, small agricultural settlements that produce resources and pay tribute to their feudal masters.

Krem is one of the great-grandsons of the Great Lord. The people of the Yellow Hills enjoy exceptionally long lifespans, while the inhabitants of the Purple Farms live at an accelerated pace, reaching old age in roughly twelve months.

Raised amidst the privileges his lineage could provide, Krem nevertheless fulfilled his assigned role within that hierarchy as one of the Great Lord's tax collectors. During a routine visit to one of the farms, he discovered that the patriarch of the Knoll Farm had been making profits outside the established system, withholding part of his earnings instead of declaring them as tribute.

The farmer was an exceptionally skilled weaponsmith, something Krem saw as an opportunity for personal gain, since tax collectors were only permitted to carry hunting bows for livestock control.

Krem lied, claiming that the Great Lord had already uncovered the scheme but was willing to forgive the farmer if he forged a powerful sword from a material Krem would provide: bars of Nth Metal.

The Treat

A few days later, Krem returned to collect the sword.

It was magnificent.

Holding the finished weapon, he mocked the Great Lord's selfishness, claiming that his ruler cared only about exploiting others. The farmer, however, was deeply offended by the accusation. He insisted he was proud to serve the Great Lord and grateful to be part of that society. He asked Krem to return the sword so he could personally present it as an apology.

Instead, Krem killed him with the very blade the farmer had forged.

The sword became his new symbol of power.

Believing he no longer belonged in that world, Krem abandoned the Yellow Hills in search of a new life, one where he would never have to bow before anyone again.

What he did not realize was that the farmer's death would not go unanswered.

Among the many children left behind was a young girl named Ruthye, who witnessed the murder from afar. Unable to erase the memory of what she had seen, she set out on her own journey of vengeance.

The Brigands

Within days, Krem had assembled his own band of outlaws. Known as the Brigands, they survived through raids and coordinated attacks against defenseless settlements.

For the first time, Krem believed himself to be the center of his own universe.

Until someone greater arrived to end the illusion.

Rumors spread through the local taverns that the Earth-born champion Supergirl had accepted payment from a grieving child to hunt Krem down. He did not know whether the stories were true, but he decided it was wiser to believe them.

When the heroine finally arrived at the Brigands' hideout, the gang had already prepared to flee aboard a fleet of stolen space caravels. Spotting her in the distance, Krem fired his hunting bow, striking the companion animal traveling beside her and buying himself precious time to escape.

Meeting Mongul

Fearing what would happen if a Kryptonian ever caught him, especially if the tales of the House of El's immense power were true rather than myth, Krem sought out Mongul on Warworld.

He pledged that the Brigands would serve Mongul's interests in exchange for protection should Supergirl ever find them.

After hearing Krem's story, Mongul immediately understood the kind of man standing before him.

Krem would never become a true leader, nor would he ever wield genuine power, because he was weak in spirit. The moment he was forced to face the consequences of his own actions, he ran to a stronger master, another father figure, to solve his problems.

That, Mongul believed, was the greatest flaw of men raised in palaces.

And for that very reason... He accepted the bargain.