The night air crackled with tension as Mark and Saitama soared toward the glowing chaos on Chicago's outskirts. A warehouse district burned, flames licking the sky like a dragon's breath. Sirens screamed below, drowned out by the roar of collapsing steel. Whatever was causing this wasn't just a monster—it was deliberate.
"Bet I get there first!" Mark shouted, his blue-and-yellow suit a streak against the smoke.
Saitama, gliding effortlessly in his tracksuit, yawned. "Bet I finish it first."
They landed amid the wreckage, boots crunching on shattered glass. The epicenter was a crater where a warehouse used to be, and at its heart stood a figure—tall, broad-shouldered, with a cape fluttering like a storm cloud. Not Omni-Man, but his silhouette screamed Viltrumite: chiseled jaw, cold eyes, and a smirk that promised pain.
"Who's this guy?" Mark muttered, fists clenching.
Saitama tilted his head. "Dunno. Looks like he's cosplaying your dad."
The Viltrumite turned, his gaze locking onto them. "Invincible," he said, voice like a blade. "And… the anomaly. I am Thragg, emissary of Viltrum. You've meddled in our plans."
Mark stepped forward, heart pounding. "Plans? You mean like my dad slaughtering the Guardians? Yeah, we're not fans."
Thragg's smirk widened. "Nolan was weak. Sentimental. I am not."
Saitama scratched his nose. "Cool speech. You done? I've got a coupon for half-off wings expiring soon."
Thragg's eyes narrowed. "You mock me?"
"Nah," Saitama said. "Just bored."
The air exploded as Thragg launched himself at Saitama, fists blazing with Viltrumite fury. Mark dove to intercept, but Thragg's elbow caught him mid-air, sending him crashing through a burning truck. Pain flared in Mark's ribs, but he gritted his teeth and flew back into the fray.
"Saitama!" Mark yelled. "He's not like the others!"
Saitama sidestepped Thragg's punch, the shockwave leveling a nearby wall. "Yeah, he's faster. Still kinda slow, though."
Thragg roared, grabbing a steel beam and swinging it like a bat. Saitama caught it with one hand, bending it into a pretzel shape before tossing it aside. "You're gonna have to try harder than that."
Mark rejoined the fight, landing a punch on Thragg's jaw that echoed like a cannon. Thragg staggered but countered with a knee that sent Mark skidding across the pavement, tearing up asphalt like tissue paper.
"Okay," Mark gasped, clutching his side. "This guy's tough."
Saitama, unfazed, blocked another of Thragg's blows, the impact shaking the ground. "Tough's good. Means it's not over in three seconds."
Thragg's eyes burned with rage. "You think this is a game? Viltrum will crush this planet, and your insolence will be your end!"
Saitama yawned. "Heard that one before. Got anything new?"
The fight escalated, a blur of fists and fury. Thragg's strength was monstrous, each punch cracking the air like thunder. Mark weaved through the chaos, landing hits where he could, but Thragg's focus was on Saitama, who danced around the Viltrumite's attacks with infuriating ease.
Mark spotted an opening and tackled Thragg from behind, locking his arms in a chokehold. "Saitama, now!"
Saitama nodded, winding up for a punch—only for Thragg to break free, hurling Mark into a pile of rebar. Before Saitama could strike, Thragg unleashed a sonic scream that shattered every window in a half-mile radius. Saitama winced, covering his ears.
"Ow," he muttered. "That's annoying."
Thragg seized the moment, grabbing Saitama and hurling him skyward. The bald hero rocketed through the clouds, disappearing from sight. Thragg turned to Mark, cracking his knuckles.
"Now, boy," he snarled. "Let's see how long you last without your pet monster."
Mark staggered to his feet, blood trickling from his lip. "I'm not done yet."
He charged, fueled by anger and desperation. Thragg met him head-on, their fists colliding in a shockwave that flattened nearby cars. Mark's training with Saitama kicked in—dodge, weave, strike. He ducked a haymaker, landed a jab to Thragg's ribs, and followed with an uppercut. Thragg grunted, surprised, but retaliated with a backhand that sent Mark spinning into a fire hydrant, water geysering into the air.
Above, a sonic boom announced Saitama's return. He plummeted like a meteor, fist cocked back. "Yo, cape guy! Catch!"
Thragg barely turned before Saitama's punch connected, a casual tap that sent the Viltrumite crashing through three warehouses, leaving a trail of debris and silence.
Mark coughed, wiping blood from his face. "Took you long enough."
Saitama landed, dusting off his gloves. "Had to fix my hair. Wind up there's a mess."
Mark stared. "You don't have hair."
"Exactly. Took effort."
Before they could celebrate, Thragg emerged from the rubble, battered but standing. His armor was cracked, his cape torn, but his eyes burned with defiance. "This… changes nothing," he spat. "Viltrum is eternal."
Saitama sighed. "You guys are really into this eternal thing, huh?"
Thragg lunged, but Saitama sidestepped and flicked him—hard—into the sky. The Viltrumite vanished, a twinkling speck against the stars.
Mark blinked. "Is he… coming back?"
Saitama shrugged. "Maybe. If he does, I'll flick him again."
The Teen Team arrived minutes later, their drones and jetpacks cutting through the smoke. Eve landed beside Mark, her pink shield flickering. "You okay?"
"Barely," Mark groaned, leaning against a wrecked car. "That guy was a Viltrumite. Like my dad, but… meaner."
Robot's drone hovered nearby, scanning the crater. "This Thragg matches no known Viltrumite profile. His presence suggests a larger invasion."
Rexplode kicked a tire. "Great. More alien jerks. And Baldy just yeeted him into space?"
Saitama, munching on a taco he'd somehow acquired, nodded. "Yup. Tacos?"
Rexplode glared. "Stop offering me food!"
Dupli-Kate smirked. "You're just mad he's better at hero stuff than you."
"Am not!"
Monster Girl, in her human form, studied Saitama. "You're not even winded. How do you do that?"
Saitama swallowed. "Push-ups. Sit-ups. Squats. And a good breakfast."
Mark laughed, despite the pain. "He's not kidding."
Eve turned to Mark. "You held your own against a Viltrumite. That's… impressive."
Mark shrugged, wincing. "Saitama's training. It's brutal, but it works."
Robot's monitor blinked. "We must report this to Cecil. A Viltrumite attack this soon after Omni-Man's betrayal indicates escalation."
Saitama raised an eyebrow. "Cecil's the grumpy guy with the screens, right? Tell him to chill. I've got this."
Deep beneath the Pentagon, Cecil watched the battle footage, his coffee cold. Donald stood beside him, arms crossed.
"That's two Viltrumites now," Donald said. "And Saitama handled both like they were sparring partners."
Cecil rubbed his chin. "He's a wildcard. Too powerful to control, too apathetic to manipulate. But he's all we've got."
On the screen, Nolan's voice crackled from his cell. "You're fools to trust him. He'll tire of your games. And when he does, no one will stop him."
Cecil muted the feed. "He's not wrong. But for now, Saitama's our shield."
Donald frowned. "And if he becomes our sword?"
Cecil didn't answer.
Back at the Grayson house, Mark collapsed onto the couch, ice pack on his ribs. Debbie hovered nearby, worry etched into her face.
"You're pushing yourself too hard," she said. "First your dad, now this… Thragg?"
Mark sighed. "I have to, Mom. If Viltrum's coming, I need to be ready."
Saitama, sprawled on the floor with a manga, looked up. "He's fine. Kid's tougher than he looks."
Debbie glared. "You're not helping."
Saitama grinned. "Sure I am. I didn't let him die."
Mark chuckled, then winced. "He's got a point."
Debbie softened, sitting beside him. "Just… be careful. I've already lost your dad. I can't lose you too."
Mark squeezed her hand. "You won't."
Saitama closed his manga. "Alright, enough mushy stuff. Tomorrow, we train harder. Double squats. And maybe a dragon or something."
Mark groaned. "A dragon? Seriously?"
"Yup. Heard there's one in Canada. Also, they've got good maple syrup."
Debbie laughed despite herself. "You're impossible."
Saitama stood, stretching. "That's what they keep saying."
Outside, the stars shimmered, but a shadow lingered—a Viltrumite ship, cloaked in orbit, watching. Waiting.
End of Chapter 7