The air shook with every blow.
The Omni-Man hologram was dialed to the highest combat setting, borderline suicidal difficulty, and yet, Conner and I refused to back down.
My fist collided with his chest like a sonic cannon, Conner's follow-up blow slamming into his jaw. But the bastard barely moved. His grizzled face twitched only slightly, eyes burning with rage as he absorbed the impact and redirected our momentum like paper planes in a storm.
Again!" I barked, gritting my teeth. Conner and I circled him. We were banged up, and battered but relentless.
In a flash of crimson, I was caught mid-air by a brutal hook that sent me crashing through three skyscrapers, concrete and steel were shattering like glass around me. I landed hard in a smoldering crater, coughing and spitting dust, just in time to see Conner explode through a concrete column, following a similar arc of destruction.
"Still conscious?" I called through the shared comms.
"Barely," Conner grunted. "This sucks. I feel like none of our hits are actually affecting him."
Before we could recover, a blur of pink energy surrounded the battlefield. Eve dropped in, hands glowing, her constructs already forming a spiraling maze of pressure walls, trying to isolate and delay the Omni-man. It bought us seconds. Seconds was all we needed.
Then the heatwave came.
Supergirl dove from the sky, her heat vision erupting in twin beams, catching Omni-Man full in the chest.
"NOW!" Eve shouted.
She released a concussive blast towards his head, like a flashbang turned into a rail gun. That made Omni-Man staggered. Not much, but enough.
"Go!" I roared.
Conner and I surged into the sky, two blurs of raw momentum, before coming down like twin thunderbolts, fists leading, slamming into Omni-Man's chest in perfect sync with Supergirl blitzing him from behind.
The sound shattered windows across the city.
A shockwave erupted, sending rubble and fragments and dust spraying outward like confetti.
For a split second… I thought we had him.
Then he looked up.
Bruised. Bleeding slightly. Still smiling.
Oh sh—
He moved before I could finish the thought.
A blur of precise violence.
His fist crashed into my ribs, folding me in half before I was launched into the side of a suspension bridge. Conner was next, struck with a palm to the throat and a backhand to the skull that bounced him off a ruined tower.
Omni-Man turned to Eve and Kara, still mid-air.
They didn't stand a chance.
He blitzed past Eve's barriers, grabbed her by the arm, and planted her face-first into the ground like she was nothing more than a child's doll. Kara met him head-on with a war cry. The two exchange blow after blow, the force from their fist sent shockwaves around the destroyed city. but one savage uppercut had her body ragdoll through a city block into a building which cause it to collapse on her. She stood up again ready for another round. her eyes glowing red.
And then, the simulation ended.
The city blinked out.
We were back on the hard metal floor of the Watchtower's virtual combat chamber, bodies aching, breathing hard.
"That's enough," said a voice from the shadows.
Nightwing walked in, datapad in hand. He looked impressed, if only mildly.
"Ten minutes longer than last time," he added. "Considering you've been sparring heavy hitters all week, Superman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, that's a win in my book."
I rolled onto my back, groaning. "A win? He wiped the floor with us for the tenth time. At least the Superman was easier to deal with. But Omni man has the strength like superman but Wonder Woman's battle experience and skills if not more. He's a deadly middle of both."
"Yeah," Kara said, rubbing her jaw. "Would've been nice if we knew when this Anissa is actually coming. Feels like we're waiting for a enemy we know we can't beat, and we're just trying to survive until the league comes."
"Agreed, Cain was right were lucky we had 5 years with no problems, but one month if were lucky isn't enough time." Eve added. She looked over, still catching her breath. "How are Static and Cyber doing with the armored suits?"
Nightwing checked his tablet. "Progress is solid. They're syncing the suits to our existing comms and power channels. Cain" he pointed at me " you need to stop by the Towers Armory. Time to finalize your official suit design. Also… there's a legend waiting for you."
I raised an eyebrow. " A legend? Who?"
He smirked. " It's a surprise. You'll see when you get there."
Before I could question it further, Eve sat up beside me.
"Can I come?" she asked.
I nodded. "Yeah. Sure ."
"I'm gonna hit the showers," Kara muttered, voice tight. Her cheeks were flushed, not just from frustration of the simulation but from being around me. You could feel it in her aura. "Ten minutes isn't enough. Not when lives are on the line."
Nightwing gave a nod of understanding, then turned to Conner. " Mind Joining me in Mission Ops. Kid Flash and Robin are waiting. We need to plan for evacuation routes and shelters."
Conner stood slowly, nodding, still sore but already shifting into work mode. Just as the doors slid open again, Aqualad and Tempest entered, looking sharp and composed.
"Aqua-Girl and Steel have arrived," Garth said. "They're ready to assist in evacuation logistics and shelter coordination."
Nightwing nodded. "Perfect timing. Get them briefed."
Then came the heel-click of boots.
We all turned.
Blackfire entered the chamber. "I would like to join this meeting," she said smoothly. "If I am welcome."
She looked directly at Nightwing.
Her stare was Intense. Like a lioness eyeing her prey
Nightwing tilted his head slightly. "Any insights you have would be appreciated, Your Highness."
They locked eyes for a second too long.
I blinked.
Then glanced at Eve.
She was already looking at me.
I leaned close and whispered: "Why is she still here?"
Eve lowered her voice, smirking. "She's waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"For her Goddess and Queen to arrive," Eve murmured. "Her ship's in orbit, but the league said she is good, as long as she doesn't cause any trouble. She's staying at the tower so we have eyes on her, but so far, no issues. We tried to get in touch with Starfire but still nothing."
Then she leaned in closer, just enough for me to hear.
"But yeah. You're seeing what I'm seeing, right?"
I nodded, staring at the electric tension between Blackfire and Nightwing.
"She wants Dick."
Eve snorted, biting her lip to stifle laughter. "You mean she wants Richard."
"Nope," I smirked. "I know what I said."
She nearly lost it, covering her mouth to hide the full-blown grin.
"I mean, besides Batgirl and Zatanna… who hasn't found this guy attractive?" I added, rolling my eyes.
Eve laughed for real that time. "Alright," she said. "Let's go. Armory time."
I stood up, cracking my neck. "Let's suit up."
The halls of Titans Tower echoed with the subtle hum of technology and the distant vibration of training exercises in other wings. The corridors weren't as crowded today, giving Eve and I a rare moment of peace as we made our way toward the Armory.
The walk was quiet at first, then casual, familiar.
"This week's been crazy," Eve sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. " We spent so much time training with the league and in simulations. Then when not doing that meetings on evacuation routes and plannings for shelter. Then after that school and work. Kara's pushing herself too hard. Between the whole pheromone thing and training. Conner's not sleeping cause he keeps trying to keep up with you. And you? You're doing that thing again."
I raised a brow. "What thing?"
"Pretending like you're fine. Especially after you finished talking to that Alien Allen guy, from the Green lanterns."
She wasn't wrong.
"I am fine," I said out loud, but inside, my thoughts drifted again to the name that had been weighing on me all week, Zod.
General Zod. He was always a big threat to superman in the comics. But in this universe he's Conquest. The Monster and literal destroyer of worlds. The Empire would only send him when they want the planet's population wiped out and don't care for the parameters. And now he is also the father of Anissa. She was already a problem being a Viltrumite hybrid with Tamaranean powers. I don't know how we are gonna stop her considering she probably has kryptonian powers as well.
The implications twisted in my chest like a vice. Maybe she could be reasoned with, a part of me whispered, but I knew better. If she was raised by Zod... if conquest was in her blood...
There was no way she wouldn't fight me. She would probably love to fight me.
"Hey," Eve said, bumping my shoulder. "Earth to Cain."
I blinked, snapping back. "Sorry. You were saying?"
"I've been working with Kyle Rayner and the Atom. They've been helping me dig deeper into my powers. Apparently, I can create something like a high-pressure kinetic beam if I focus my powers on atoms down to a needlepoint."
I whistled. "Sounds like you're leveling up."
"You're damn right. Maybe I'll finally put a dent in that Omni-Man sim next time." She grinned.
I smiled back. "We should talk more about it tomorrow."
"What, like a debrief?"
I raised a brow and smirked. "No. Like Sunday Dinner."
"Oh?" Her voice curled with amusement. "Is that a date invite?"
I kept my tone even, but the corner of my mouth lifted just slightly. "It's an invite to a tradition. Sunday dinner with Wonder Woman. Since my parents got trapped in the Phantom Zone. She started to come over on Sundays, and we kept it going since. Sometimes we invite others."
That caught Eve off guard.
"Wait… you mean I get to have dinner with Diana?" she beamed. "I've never met her. But my mom, Aster, has told me all kinds of stories."
I nodded. "Then it's settled."
Just as we turned the corner, the tall vault doors of the Armory hissed open, and we were hit with a wave of smooth jazz, the rich scent of roasted coffee, and the distinct ozone-like tang of tinkering energy.
This wasn't just an armory. This was the Towers of memorial.
There weren't just weapons or armor. There were flight suits, undersea exo-frames, utility cars or T cars, even high-speed T jets cyborg calls them. But what caught my eyes every time I came here were the glass display cases.
Each one immortalized a fallen Titan.
Speedy's quiver and bow.
Beast Boy's communicator and torn red and white uniform.
Jericho's belt and communicator.
Guardian's triangular shield.
There were more in the distance. I know some of them died because of me. I know it wasn't my fault but it's hard not to reflect back on it.
I felt a beat of reverence pass through me, and Eve did too.
As we walked in, Cyborg was crouched beside his Titans utility truck, a customized car of a machine with gleaming blue circuitry lining its exterior. He stood and grinned.
"Yo, good timing. The special guest is over by the long table, with Vergil."
We turned to see Vergil, wearing a fitted lab coat, sipping black coffee .
Sitting beside him was a man I recognized instantly.
Art Rosenbaum.
I blinked. No way.
The Art Rosenbaum, tailor, genius, and legendary costume designer from the Invincible universe. Here in the flesh.
"He's part of one of the unsung pillars of the superhero community," Static explained, motioning toward Art. "Helped design suits for dozens of heroes after the fall of the JLA. Reinforced most with protection tech. Not bad for someone who claims to just 'know how to sew.'"
Eve eyes lit up the moment she saw him.
"Art!" she called, rushing over and pulling him into a warm hug.
"Samantha, good to see you again," Art said with a chuckle. "Still using those alternate suit modes you designed?"
"You bet. Because of you, I've got three on standby. And just call me Eve."
". Will do kiddo. An don't give me that much credit. You made them your own. I just gave you the right start."
When I stepped up, I gave Art a respectful handshake.
"It's an honor, sir."
He grinned. " Same to you Cain. I knew your dad he's a great man. I hope he get's to come home soon. Anyway Time to make you your first suit. Let's get you fitted."
We moved to the central platform, where projectors lit up around me and sensor nodes scanned my vitals and measurements.
Art paced slowly around me, stylus and pad in hand. "Let's talk."
"Colors?" he asked.
"Black," I said without hesitation. "With red as an accent. But black is the base."
"Symbol?"
"None."
"Cape?"
"No. Hood."
> "Good call. Capes are overrated unless you fly a lot… even then, depends on the theatrics."
Eve giggled from the side, sipping some tea along with Vergil, watching with interest.
"Utility belt?" Art asked.
"Yes."
> " Any Inspirations?"
I hesitated. Then I said it. "Omni-Man's suit. Simple. Practical. Clean lines."
Art nodded approvingly. "Excellent choice."
Then I raised a new idea. "You got Superboy's measurements and suit, right?"
Art narrowed his eyes. "I do. But he didn't like the original design I made for him."
He pulled up a file and showed me: a black jacket with red detailing, his first comic costume. It was classic, powerful… but underused.
"I've got an idea," I said, fingers already sketching.
I redesigned it, Going for the New 52 Superboy style, black bodysuit, slim armored plating in red accents, a high collar, and a short black cape . Stylish, efficient, imposing.
" Can you add the same solar absorption tech Superman uses, but make it nanotech-based so it can break down and reform."
Art raised a brow. "You planning on one-upping him?"
"Not exactly," I smirked. "But maybe don't tell him?"
"Done. I like the design and how the practical it is for Kryptonians"
Static added, "I'll help reinforce the suit's internal matrix. We can design it to auto-repair minor rips with the right nanofiber mesh."
I turned back to Art. "Then I want my suit built the same way. Aesthetically similar, but functionally equal."
Art nodded. "You've got taste. But now comes the real question..."
He stepped back, arms crossed.
"Cain... what's your name gonna be?"
The room quieted.
I hesitated. I thought about my name for so long but could never settle on a idea.
Then, like a thunderclap through my thoughts... it came to me.
"Call me... Superior."
Eve blinked. "Pretentious much?"
I shrugged.
But Art's brow lifted.
"No. That's a strong name," he said. "It doesn't just suggest strength, it claims it."
Vergil nodded in agreement. "From what I've seen, and heard, you're always trying to move ahead. Stay above. Be better."
"The name fits," he added.
I gave a small nod.
Inside, I thought of the Superior Spider-Man. A hero born from conflict and reinvention.
But unlike that story… I won't fall.
I'll be better. I'll be more.
I'll be Superior.