September 1st, 2015 — The Grayson House — 7:46 PM
Kai and Mark were in their rooms after the burial, and yet the mood wasn't as heavy as it should've been.
Not because it didn't hurt.
Because it was different now—more familiar. Like they were learning how to carry it. Death. Grief. The responsibility that came with the suit. All of it piling up in less than a month—at least for Mark.
Their eyes held the same thing: sadness, but… life went on.
Mark started gathering clothes off the floor and tossing them into the hamper. He grabbed a shirt that had been hanging on a chair and folded it with zero precision.
"Dude, William said the school's going to let us do orientation visits to a few universities," Mark mentioned while he kept cleaning. "Like… to help us decide next year. We're interested in Upstate."
Kai sat on his bed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
"Upstate University?" he murmured, half-distracted as he scrolled on his phone. "Yeah… cool."
Mark kept organizing, turning slightly toward him.
"I decided I'm telling William. About our identities." He picked up another T-shirt. "He's way too suspicious. He's gonna say something he shouldn't."
Kai nodded again without looking up.
Something under his bed caught his eye—a sneaker tossed back there, half-hidden. He bent down, pulled it out, and recognized it immediately.
Mark's.
Kai lobbed it at him. Mark caught it midair.
"Seriously, Mark," Kai muttered. "Can you not turn this place into a pigsty?"
Mark gave him a half-smile as he shoved the shoe into the closet.
"My bad. I'm fixing it."
He turned back to Kai, his expression shifting—brighter, more animated.
"And about Upstate… Amber's excited to go too. What do you think ab—"
Something tapped against the window.
Both of them snapped their heads toward it at the same time.
Eve hovered outside, suspended in the air. Her eyes were red. Her face was wet with tears.
Mark crossed the room in three long steps and yanked the window open. Eve slipped inside, stumbling a little, then collapsed onto the nearest bed and buried her face in the pillow.
Kai and Mark exchanged a quick look—confused—then looked back at her as confusion got shoved aside by worry.
Kai tilted his chin toward her, then toward Mark.
You ask.
Mark approached slowly and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Are you okay?" he asked, voice careful. "What happened?"
Eve lifted her face. Tears were still running.
"It was horrible." Her words came out cracked, broken by small, ugly breaths.
She tried again, but it came in fragments.
"Rex was…" Her throat tightened. "Kate…" Another breath, shaky. "And there was more than one of her."
Kai's jaw flexed.
"Fuck," he muttered under his breath.
Mark frowned, looking to Kai for half a second, then back to Eve—still trying to put the pieces together.
"What are you talking about?"
Eve grabbed Mark's sleeve with both hands, fingers crushing fabric.
"He was cheating on me," she choked out. "With that… multi-bitch."
Mark got it. His face hardened instantly.
He glanced away like he was searching the room for the right sentence and coming up empty, and when he spoke, it was the best he had in the moment.
"Hey… it's gonna be okay." His hand landed on her shoulder, trying to be steady. "I always thought he was an idiot. He just proved it."
Eve folded into him, crying harder. Mark went stiff at first, shoulders tight, then—after a second—his hand moved to her head and stayed there, gentle, like that alone could keep her from cracking apart.
Kai grabbed the water bottle off the desk, twisted it open, filled the cup sitting beside it, and stepped over.
He offered it.
Eve didn't stop crying, not at first. Kai hesitated, then leaned back against the wall near the open window, staying close without crowding.
A few seconds passed.
Eve lifted her head and took the cup with both hands, trembling a little.
"Thank you."
She drank half of it in one go, then held the cup against her chest like it was something solid.
"I was coming back from the burial today," she said, wiping her face with the back of her hand. "I stopped by the base to grab my stuff… and to see if he was there. I hadn't seen him since yesterday."
Her voice shook again, anger tangling with the hurt.
"I saw Kate coming out of the shower, but the shower was still running." Her eyes squeezed shut for a second. "When I got closer… Rex was in there with three versions of her all over him. And another one was outside trying to stall me."
Her mouth opened—like the crying was about to come back full force—
And then her phone rang.
She answered without thinking and put it on speaker.
Robot's voice filled the room—mechanical, clean, no softness anywhere.
"Atom Eve. Are you available? Since our team technically still exists, there's a situation at Ashland Avenue and North Avenue. Warehouse robbery in progress. I'm unavailable at the moment. Can you handle it?"
Eve swallowed hard and leaned toward the phone.
"Okay, I—"
Kai reached in and took the phone out of her hand before she could finish.
"You're staying here with Mark." His tone left zero room for debate. "You're not in any shape to do anything."
Eve started to protest, but Kai had already turned the phone back toward himself.
"Robot. Infinity here. I'll take it. Send details."
He ended the call, pulled his suit from the closet, and stepped into the bathroom.
Ten seconds later he came back out already dressed—black and gray, mask fitted.
He looked at Mark.
They exchanged a small nod—silent, understood.
Kai stepped up onto the windowsill and launched himself out.
WHOOOOSH!
Wind surged through the open window, fluttering the curtains.
Mark stayed on the bed, Eve still curled into his lap, crying quietly now.
He didn't know what to say.
So he stayed. His hand still on her hair. Waiting, hoping it was enough.
Ashland Avenue, Chicago — 7:58 PM
Kai dropped out of the sky like an arrow and cut straight for the warehouse. Sirens wailed three blocks away—police on their way, but not close enough to matter yet.
He landed near a side entrance.
The door was blown open. Metal twisted. Burn marks along the edges—explosives.
Eight men inside. Three on the main floor hauling crates. Two watching the doors. Three hostages tied up in the corner.
Kai stepped in.
The first guy turned—
Too late.
Kai drove a fist into his jaw. The man spun and hit the floor like a sack.
The others reacted.
They didn't have a chance.
Forty seconds later, all eight were piled outside—unconscious.
Kai walked back in and stared at the crates they'd been trying to steal. He cracked one open.
Advanced tech components. High-end processors. Hardware that didn't belong in a normal warehouse.
He pulled out his phone—improvised in the suit—and dialed.
Robot answered on the first ring.
"Infinity."
"They were stealing electronics," Kai reported, eyes still on the open crate. "Processors. Advanced parts. This doesn't look like regular equipment."
"Visual description?"
Kai flipped one over and read the label.
"GX-7 series. Integrated circuit boards. Compact lithium battery."
Two seconds of silence—Robot processing.
"It may be connected to the android we faced. Bring samples to the base. I'll analyze later."
"Copy."
Kai hung up, grabbed one of the thieves' bags that had been left on the floor, stuffed it with components.
"This makes it seem like I'm the thief. " He sighed and flew out just as the sirens turned the corner.
A cop down the street waved, recognizing the black-and-gray suit cutting through the night.
Teen Team Operations Base — 8:12 PM
Kai descended through the opening in the ceiling and landed lightly on the metal floor. He walked to Robot's workbench and set the bag down, careful with it.
Footsteps echoed from deeper inside the base.
Kai turned his head.
Rex stormed out of the corridor, moving fast.
"Eve?" Rex blurted, urgency riding his voice. "She's back? Look, I'm sor—"
He stopped when he realized who he was looking at.
"…I thought you were Eve."
Kai didn't answer. He just adjusted the bag on the bench, turning it so nothing would spill.
Rex took a few more steps and stopped a few meters away.
"I thought she'd be the one answering this call," Rex said, voice trying to sound reasonable. "Robot asked me earlier and I turned it down. I had to sort things out here."
Kai turned slowly. His expression stayed neutral, but his eyes narrowed.
"You turned it down and figured she'd go?" The sarcasm hit hard, the volume staying low. "She could barely breathe. Yeah—great plan. Sending her out on patrol."
Rex froze. Discomfort crawled up his face. His jaw tightened.
"She told you?"
Kai turned away and started walking toward the center of the room—already done, already leaving.
That set Rex off.
"Oh, cut it out!" Rex snapped, voice rising. "She was already getting cozy with Mark. I didn't even do anything that bad."
Kai stopped.
His head tilted just slightly, looking back over his shoulder.
"Impressive observation skills." His tone stayed calm, but the words were sharp enough to draw blood. "So cheating is justified because she talked to another guy and suddenly you're the victim?" His gaze didn't blink. "Maybe all those explosions rattled your brain. When you stay quiet, you almost pass for a poet. You should try it more."
Rex stepped forward, fists clenching.
"What's your deal?" he barked. "You trying to get with her now??"
Kai turned fully.
No speech.
Just one short step.
CRACK.
His fist smashed into Rex's jaw. Rex flew back and skidded across the floor—more shocked than hurt.
Kai stood there, staring at him without any expression shifting.
"I knew you were an idiot," he said flatly, "but you really outdid yourself. She was wrecked, Rex."
The whine of thrusters cut through the silence.
Robot descended through the opening and landed in the center of the base. Green optics swept the room—Rex on the floor with blood on his lip, Kai standing still.
"Infinity."
Robot's head turned between them.
"I do not know the cause, but internal violence is not productive."
Rex pushed himself up slowly, rubbing his jaw, wiping blood from his mouth and nose with the back of his hand.
Kai faced Robot.
"It's fine. I was leaving anyway."
His eyes flicked to Rex. There was no resentment in them—just fatigue.
"This has nothing to do with me," he said, voice controlled. "You two can deal with your mess. But…" His gaze tightened, a shade more serious. "Even if some warped part of your head thinks she shares blame, at least be decent enough to own what you did."
Robot's attention slid to the bench. He began examining the components.
Rex was still massaging his jaw when his voice spilled out, bitter and loud.
"I didn't do anything that can't be fixed. And who the hell are you to lecture me?"
Kai's mouth curved into a small, mocking smile.
"I'm nobody." He looked toward the exit, already done with it. "The only thing I know is Eve's better off now—far away from you."
Kai shot upward through the ceiling opening and vanished into the Chicago night.
Rex didn't even get the chance to fire back. He just stood there shaking, then kicked the floor hard, jaw locked and lip swelling.
The Grayson House, the Twins' Room — 8:18 PM
Debbie opened the door without knocking.
"Mark, when you and Kai g—"
She stopped.
Mark was sitting on the bed with a girl in a superhero outfit lying in his lap.
Mark spun around, eyes wide.
"What— Mom! Knock!"
Debbie's nerves flared, her voice jumping.
"Knock? What is happening in here?" She pointed down the hallway. "Get downstairs. Both of you. Now!"
She turned and marched out, heavy steps pounding down the stairs.
Eve looked at Mark—still hurt, but calmer than before.
They stood up. Mark went first, Eve right behind him.
Halfway down the stairs, Mark started talking fast.
"Mom! It's not what you think. Eve and I are just friends!"
Debbie stopped at the bottom, one hand on her hip.
"Alone in your room? And for God's sake—on your brother's bed?" Her eyes cut between them. "You're sitting down and we're having a conversation."
She walked into the kitchen.
Mark glanced back at Eve, guilt flashing across his face.
"Sorry. I'll explain."
Eve lowered her gaze, a sad half-smile tugging at her mouth.
"It's okay."
Outside, Kai landed in the backyard at the exact same moment.
Mark and Eve reached the kitchen and sat down. Before Mark could even start, Debbie lifted a hand and cut him off.
"Mark, you are way too young to be sneaking girls into your room."
Mark's voice jumped, echoing through the kitchen.
"Kai had Kiana over all the time! Why is it different with me?"
The back door opened.
Debbie turned.
Half a second of thick silence.
Mark's eyes widened.
"Shit," he mouthed.
Eve felt the tension too, her eyes snapping to Kai by the door.
Mark looked at his brother, shoulders tight.
"Sorry."
Kai only shook his head, pulling his mask off with one hand.
"Relax." His voice stayed flat. "What are you sorry for?"
No one spoke. The hum of the refrigerator filled the kitchen.
Debbie looked at Mark. The line between her brows softened.
"Mark… Kai and Kiana were dating. He introduced her to us." Her arms crossed again. "I just want to make sure you understand consequences."
Kai leaned against the counter and let out a slow breath.
"It's not like that, Mom. She came here because something bad happened and she needed to talk. When she arrived, I was home." His eyes cut briefly toward Eve, then back to Debbie. "Then there was a robbery and I went to handle it."
Debbie's gaze moved across the three of them, weighing whether she believed it—or whether Kai was covering for Mark again.
A quiet sigh left her as she focused on Eve and Mark.
"What happened?"
Eve's eyes dropped. Her hands curled over her pants.
"My boyfriend…" Her voice thinned. "He cheated on me."
Debbie's face softened instantly. She pulled out a chair and sat.
"I'm so sorry, honey."
The conversation kept going—Mark explaining how Eve had shown up, Kai confirming the call, Debbie listening while the weight of the day finally started to loosen, just a little.
Kai mentioned—casually—that Rex had asked how Eve was doing. He left out the punch.
She didn't need to know Rex had been stupid enough to try to justify it. Eve was already hurting enough.
Eve didn't say anything.
But something at the corner of her mouth eased—just a bit.
They talked a little longer. Debbie made tea to calm her down. Kai headed upstairs early, leaving the three of them downstairs.
He was already asleep by the time Eve left and Mark returned to the room.
And the day the world finally said goodbye to the Guardians came to an end.
September 3rd, 2015 — Thursday — School — 2:34 PM
Two days had passed since the burial.
Routine crept back in little by little—classes, loud hallways, lunch in the cafeteria—like the world hadn't just buried its guardians.
Mark and Kai stepped out of class side by side and stopped at their lockers.
Mark stowed a few things, then paused, looking toward where Eve's locker was.
"Eve…" he said quietly. "She was really messed up, huh? Do you think she's better?"
Kai nodded as he slid books away.
"Worse than she looked," he said bluntly. "But she'll be fine."
Mark hesitated, then looked at his brother.
"I didn't know what to say. Like… what do you even say when someone tells you that?"
"Nothing." Kai shut his locker and turned. "You just stay there. That's what you did."
Mark's gaze drifted.
"I wish I could've helped more."
"It was enough." Kai's tone was almost bored, like he was forcing the subject to stay small. "Nobody dies of a broken heart. She'll be fine."
Amber walked up from the corridor and stopped beside them, stealing their attention.
"What're you talking about?" she asked.
Mark turned, his face shifting.
"Uh… hey, Amber."
Kai looked between them once, then stepped back.
"Alright, I'll leave you two lovebirds." His backpack hit his shoulder. "I'm heading home."
Mark rolled his eyes.
"Kai—"
But Kai was already walking off, waving without looking back.
Amber let out a small laugh and leaned against the locker beside Mark.
"Lovebirds?"
Mark gave her a sheepish half-smile.
"Just ignore him. So… how are you?"
"I'm good." She tucked hair behind her ear. "You look like you're worried about something."
Mark hesitated.
"It's nothing."
Amber nodded slowly, accepting it for now.
"Okay… then how about a café nearby?"
"I'm down."
Amber stepped in and kissed him.
He kissed her back, his hand sliding to her waist for a second before he pulled away, suddenly aware of the hallway and the eyes.
"Come on," she said, taking his hand. "Let's get that coffee."
They walked off together, talking in low voices.
Across the corridor, near the side exit, Eve closed her locker with a metallic click and adjusted her backpack.
It was a simple mission—check an energy fluctuation downtown. Nothing urgent, but it would mean calling Kai and Mark.
That made more sense now.
She turned her head, searching the hallway for the Grayson brothers.
And found Mark near the exit—walking with Amber. Amber laughed at something he'd said, her hand touching his arm lightly.
Too close.
Eve stood still for two full seconds, watching.
Something tightened in her chest—small, annoying, like a stone that wouldn't go down.
She looked away and yanked her backpack strap tighter than she needed to.
Let it go.
Then she left through the opposite gate.
Alone.
Minutes Later — Teen Team Operations Base — 2:42 PM
Eve dropped through the ceiling opening and landed without a sound. The base smelled like cold metal and reheated coffee.
In the main room—right beside the bikes with their flight thrusters already humming—Rex stood with an arm around Kate's shoulders, speaking to her in a low voice like nothing had happened.
Eve stopped.
Her eyes locked onto them for three full seconds.
"So this is how it's going to be?" Her voice came out firm—too loud for what she actually felt.
Rex snapped around, the color draining from his face.
"Eve, wait, I—"
"No." A humorless laugh slipped out of her, her eyes bright with anger. "Don't."
Rex took two steps toward her, hands raised in a defensive, pleading gesture.
"I just… I messed up, okay? I know. I already got punched for it, but we can fix this."
"Fix?" Eve repeated the word like it tasted rotten.
Rex swallowed hard. And then he did what he always did when panic grabbed him—he talked. Too much. Making everything worse.
"Look—Kate's… different. And you're different. So maybe it doesn't have to be a big deal—"
Eve's hand curled into a fist.
"You're suggesting I 'share' you?" Her voice sharpened. "Are you even hearing yourself? Every time I think you can't surprise me, you somehow manage to be even more disgusting."
Her gaze slid to Kate—cold, contemptuous—for a second.
"I don't know who punched you, but it's a shame it only swelled your lip." Her lip twitched. "It should've been harder."
She turned, already ready to take off.
Robot stepped into the corridor at the exact wrong moment, blocking her path without touching her.
"Atom Eve. I detected a vari—"
"You knew." The words came out like spit. "You knew about them, and you didn't say anything."
"I do not know what you are referring to." Robot's tone stayed neutral, mechanical. "I probably don't know what you're suggesting, but I do not interfere in personal matters."
Eve took a step closer, trembling with rage.
"You don't interfere?" Her laugh was thin, ugly. "But you had plenty to say when Infinity needed advice about talking to his brother."
Robot watched her for a beat.
"I did that because you suggested it. It would prevent internal conflict and operational losses." A calculated pause. "I do not monitor your personal lives. Addressing matters of that nature is inappropriate and would likely create more problems than solutions."
Eve stared at him like she was trying to find a human being behind the lens.
There wasn't one.
"Then write that in your report." Her voice cracked with anger. "You're great with numbers… and terrible with people."
She shot upward, leaving the base behind.
Somewhere Isolated in Chicago — 3:12 PM
Eve landed on the roof of an abandoned building—far enough and high enough that no one would find her.
She sat on the ledge and hugged her knees to her chest.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket.
She took it out, glanced at the screen… then at the horizon.
And turned it off.
"Damn it." The words came out small. "I shouldn't have talked to Robot like that."
And why did it bother me—seeing Mark with Amber?
Did Rex have a point?
She exhaled, face tightening with irritation.
Of course not. I'd never do that. Not with that cheating piece of—
She hugged her knees tighter and stayed there alone.
Meanwhile — Chicago, Downtown — 3:26 PM
The portal tore open the sky like a wound—bright orange, pulsing, swelling until it swallowed half a block. The air around it shuddered. Tires screeched. People screamed and ran.
Robot landed first, green optics flaring as he scanned the rift.
"Readings confirm: Flaxan dimension." His head turned toward the rooftops where the others were arriving. "Third invasion. Reinforcements requested. ETA: two minutes."
Rex touched down beside him, explosive spheres rolling between his fingers. Dupli-Kate landed a heartbeat later—four copies snapping into existence around her. Frost slid down the side of a building on an ice ramp, cold mist spilling from her hands.
Frost looked around, brow furrowing. "Why isn't Eve here?"
Rex stayed quiet, gaze drifting away.
One of Kate's copies turned toward him, disapproval written all over her face.
"Because the genius over there suggested dating two girls at the same time." Her arms crossed.
Frost let out a short, derisive laugh.
Robot cut through it, voice firm and flat.
"Now is not the time."
The portal pulsed harder. Shapes formed on the other side—green armor, rifles up, moving in clean military lines.
The first Flaxans stepped through.
Twelve soldiers at once, firing before their boots even hit the pavement.
FWOOOOSH! FWOOOOSH! FWOOOOSH!
Rex hurled three spheres. Chain explosions knocked five of them back into the portal.
Kate multiplied—eight copies now—swarming three Flaxans and pinning them while Robot fired paralytic darts from his wrists.
Frost skimmed across the ground on ice skates she made under her feet, hands up. White vapor blasted from her palms, freezing two soldiers at the knees. She spun and kicked—hard enough to shatter the ice and send one alien flying.
More Flaxans poured out. Twenty. Thirty.
Frost dropped two more, then narrowed her eyes at the growing wave.
"Just curious…" Her voice stayed dry. "Where are the reinforcements?"
WHOOOOSH! WHOOOOSH!
Two figures fell out of the sky like meteors.
Mark and Kai hit the street directly in front of the portal—impact cracking the asphalt.
Kai spun, grabbed a Flaxan by the chest, and threw him back through the opening. The alien slammed into three more trying to step out, piling them up on the other side.
Mark flew low, swept five soldiers off their feet with a spinning kick, then caught two by the shoulders and hurled them into the orange rift.
Frost exhaled.
"Yeah… okay. Never mind."
Kai drove a punch into a Flaxan's helmet. Metal crumpled. The body flew fifteen meters and slammed into the pavement. He seized another by the arm, turned once, and used him like a hammer—smashing two soldiers at the same time before letting go.
Mark rose, gained momentum, and dropped with both fists together—BOOM—crushing three Flaxans into the asphalt. He rolled aside, dodging an energy shot, then surged forward and punched straight through another soldier's armor.
Ten more tried to step out.
Kai intercepted—flying horizontally like a projectile, cutting across the line. Bodies scattered in every direction.
Mark landed beside his brother, wiping blood off his face.
"Dude, I had to come up with an excuse for Amber." His mouth twisted. "It didn't land. She got pissed."
Kai dropped two more with quick strikes—jaw, stomach—then looked over.
"You're gonna need better excuses than 'I have to clean my room.' Or you're gonna have to tell her you're Invincible." His tone stayed blunt. "Feels a little early for that."
They went back to work.
Kai glanced over his shoulder mid-punch.
"Robot!" His eyes locked on the green optics. "Any idea what's keeping them from turning into bingo-night customers the second they come through?"
Robot snapped three darts out, hitting three targets at once.
"Still verifying."
Kai threw another Flaxan through the portal, then cut his eyes to Mark.
"How many is that?"
"Too many." Mark smashed two with one punch. "And they won't stop coming."
Robot's optics flickered as he analyzed the rift.
"Entry rate: twenty per minute." A pause. "Sustainable for approximately… indefinitely."
Something slammed down from the sky in the next instant.
CRAAAAASH!
Omni-Man landed in the middle of it all—crater exploding outward, debris flying. He held an armed Flaxan by the throat, the alien's feet kicking in the air.
Nolan lifted him to eye level.
"This is the third time." His voice came out low, dangerous. "Stay away from my planet."
He threw the Flaxan like a stone.
The body ripped through the air and smashed into four more soldiers. All of them splattered against a building wall—blood bursting in a red spray.
Omni-Man launched forward, cutting across the plaza in a straight line. He stopped near his sons, hovering inches off the ground.
Mark and Kai turned toward him.
Nolan's eyes moved between them, expression hard but controlled.
"Tell your mother I'm not coming back for dinner tonight."
Then he turned and accelerated straight into the portal.
WHOOOOSH!
He pierced the orange opening and vanished to the other side.
"Dad—no!" Mark shouted, but it was already too late.
Kai's eyes widened.
"Shit!"
The portal flickered—unstable—then steadied.
Mark took two steps forward, fists clenched. Kai caught his shoulder.
"He knows what he's doing."
The portal began to stutter again—shrinking. Three seconds later it collapsed completely, leaving only empty air.
Silence.
The Flaxans still trapped on the Chicago side started to age—skin wrinkling, backs curving, panic sounds echoing through the plaza. Their time-pace had depended on the rift; without it, whatever imbalance kept them stable became a sentence.
Before long, all of them died of old age.
Mark stood there staring at the blank space where the portal had been.
Kai exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
Robot touched down beside them, scanning the remaining data.
"Invasion terminated. Omni-Man crossed into origin dimension."
Mark turned to him, worry plain on his face.
"He's gonna be okay, right?"
Robot processed for a second.
"Based on analyzed capabilities of Omni-Man: probability of success is ninety-seven percent."
Kai kept looking at the place where the portal had been.
He went in alone. Against an entire army. To protect Earth.
Maybe I should've gone. Or thought of it before.
And as absurd as it would sound to anyone else… somehow, none of it surprised any of them.
The Grayson House — 5:42 PM
Mark and Kai cut through the Chicago sky side by side, flying in a loose formation. The sun was lowering, stretching long shadows across the rooftops.
Mark turned his head slightly.
"I think we should've gone with Dad."
Kai's eyes flicked toward him.
"Yeah…" His voice softened just a fraction. "I thought the same thing when the portal closed."
Mark let out a crooked half-smile.
"If we had, Mom would've lost it."
Kai angled through a gentle curve, adjusting course. "I really want to hear what she'll say about Dad going to another planet." He glanced over. "If you'd gone, what excuse would you have given Amber?"
Their house appeared below—familiar roof, familiar yard.
"…Fair point."
They dropped into the backyard and landed. Masks came off as they headed for the kitchen door.
Debbie stood at the stove, shifting a pan to the other burner. She glanced over her shoulder as they entered, eyebrow lifting.
"Where's your father?"
Mark and Kai exchanged a quick look.
Mark cleared his throat.
"I think he's going to be a little late for dinner."
Debbie turned, wooden spoon in hand, waiting.
"He went through an alien portal to stop an invasion downtown," Mark added quickly.
Debbie sighed like it was just another weekday.
"Then that's one less plate on the table."
Kai muttered under his breath.
"Not the reaction I expected."
Debbie faced them fully, resting the spoon on the edge of the pot.
"Well, if one of you had gone, I'd be worried." She shrugged. "But after all these years…" Her voice softened. "Your father always comes back. I've been… a little on edge since the Guardians thing, but—" another small shrug "—you two get it."
Mark grabbed a glass of water from the sink.
"Yeah." His voice was gentle. "We get it, Mom."
"Now go change," Debbie said, already turning back to the stove. "Dinner's in an hour."
They headed upstairs.
Halfway up, Mark glanced sideways.
"Eve didn't show up today. Not for the invasion, not at the base afterward…" His brow creased. "Do you think she's okay?"
Kai kept walking, not turning around.
"No idea." His tone stayed flat. "But it's not surprising after what Rex and Kate pulled."
Mark nodded, worry still sitting on his face.
They reached the top and went to their room.
Meanwhile — Somewhere — Flaxan Dimension
Nolan crossed through the portal and hit the ground.
It wasn't a landing—it was an impact.
The floor detonated under his feet, concentric craters rippling outward. Debris launched into the air. Flaxan soldiers too close got tossed like rag dolls.
He stood on a military platform—dark green metal, energy towers pulsing along the edges, troops mobilizing in every direction. The sky was orange, two moons hanging low on the horizon. The air tasted like burnt ozone.
Nolan straightened, cape settling across his back.
Hundreds of Flaxans surrounded him—rifles up, armor gleaming under harsh light. At the center of the formation, someone larger stepped forward.
The leader.
Gold armor sealed over the body, a helmet with a triangular visor, military insignias etched across the chest plate. One hand lifted—silent gesture, a finger circling in the air.
The troops shifted. The ring tightened around Nolan with near-perfect precision. Something heavy rolled in from the rear—metal cylinders mounted on a mobile platform, thick cables feeding into a central battery.
A device.
A frequency inhibitor. Off-dimensional tech.
Built to disrupt Viltrumite cells. Destabilize the biological field that made him what he was.
The leader advanced two more steps, stopping five meters away. The voice came distorted through the helmet's filter.
"You made a mistake coming here, Viltrumite." The head tilted slightly, studying him. "But it's useful. Now we neutralize you. And when we're done…"
The leader turned toward the still-glowing portal behind Nolan.
"We go after your wife… and your two sons."
Nolan stood still for half a second.
Then something changed.
His eyes narrowed. His jaw locked. The air left him heavier—even though he didn't need it.
The device began charging—an ascending whine, lights igniting in sequence along the cylinders.
If they hadn't said it…
If they hadn't provoked him…
Maybe they could've caught him off-guard.
But not now.
Not this Nolan.
Something old weighed inside him—guilt he never named, the memory of almost getting his sons killed years ago, a pressure that sharpened into violence.
He saw everything at once: soldiers adjusting their stances, cables locking into place, the leader retreating three steps.
WHOOOOOOSH—
The machine activated.
Too late.
Nolan was already in the sky.
He shot straight up, cutting through the firing line as the wave of energy surged beneath him—hitting nothing but empty air.
He twisted midair and dropped like a meteor.
He hit the platform dead-center.
Metal screamed—then blew apart. Cylinders shattered. Released energy detonated uncontrolled, incinerating twenty soldiers around it.
And then Nolan moved.
He tore across the planet in a straight, brutal line—
Leaving destruction in his wake.
One Month Later — Flaxan Dimension
Nolan was already above a city.
He didn't wait for them to regroup.
He dropped low over the military platform, fists extending—then his first strike caved in an energy tower. Metal folded. The structure collapsed. The blast swallowed thirty soldiers in fire and shrapnel.
He pivoted and tore through a line of troops. Bodies launched in every direction—armor crumpling, bones snapping, blood bursting into the air like paint.
A Flaxan tank fired.
Nolan caught the shell in one hand, crushed it like paper, and threw it back.
The tank detonated on impact, the shockwave flipping three more vehicles as if they weighed nothing.
He landed in the center of the base, turned once, and drove his fist into the ground.
CRAAAAACK!
The entire platform split. Structures sagged and fell. Soldiers tumbled into the fissures opening beneath them.
Nolan rose again, hovering as the base—and the city around it—buckled below.
Then he turned toward the next city—five kilometers north, green skyscrapers spiking the horizon.
And he flew.
He cut the sky in a straight line, accelerating until the air around him shimmered into plasma. He hit the first building dead center—punched through it from one side to the other without slowing. The structure groaned… then collapsed, sliding down into the streets.
He shifted and speared through another tower.
Then another.
Then three more in a chain.
Six skyscrapers fell in under a minute.
He dropped into the streets. Flaxans ran—screaming, scattering, trying to hide in narrow alleys and under overpasses. Nolan didn't swerve. He kept moving.
Bodies burst on impact.
Blood painted the walls.
A fleet of military craft rose to meet him, encircling him. They fired together—fifty energy blasts converging at once.
Nolan accelerated through the barrage. The bolts scorched his suit, blackening cloth and tearing seams, but none of it pierced his skin. He struck the first ship, passed through its hull, and came out the other side.
It exploded behind him.
He did it again.
And again.
Twelve ships were gone in twenty seconds.
The rest fled.
Nolan landed in the heart of the city—surrounded by wreckage, fire, and bodies. Blood coated his face. His beard had started to come in, a dark shadow crawling across his jaw.
The Flaxans were hiding anything that could send him back. Their only bargaining chip. Hoping they could negotiate. Hoping exhaustion would do what their weapons couldn't.
Maybe they could win by waiting him out.
But he didn't get tired.
He looked around.
Then he kept going.
Weeks Later
Nolan's beard had grown—no longer a shadow, but defined strands covering his chin and cheeks. His suit was torn in multiple places, stained with dried blood that never truly came out.
He'd torn through seventeen cities.
All of them were ruins now.
He flew over the eighteenth—an industrial metropolis. Factories exhaled green smoke into the sky. Bridges stitched districts together. Population: three million.
He dropped like lightning.
He hit the first bridge, cutting through its support columns—six in a row—shearing them in sequence. The bridge collapsed into the river below. Vehicles and bodies followed it down.
Nolan turned, accelerated straight into the central factory. He tore through the outer walls, then through the energy reactor in the core.
The explosion swallowed four city blocks.
He burst out the other side wrapped in flames—fire that died off seconds later, leaving his skin untouched.
Flaxan troops mobilized by the thousands. Tanks flooded the streets. Artillery locked in on rooftops. They fired everything at once.
Nolan flew through the fire.
He grabbed a tank by the barrel, spun once, and used it like a hammer—crushing five other tanks before letting go and hurling the wreckage into a building.
He landed in the middle of their formation and punched the ground again.
The shockwave carved craters, knocked soldiers off their feet, flipped vehicles like toys.
Then he moved.
Punch. Punch. Punch.
Each blow went through armor, through bone, through whatever was left to break—splattering the streets, painting the ground.
An hour later, the city was burning.
Nolan climbed again, staring down at the devastation.
His beard kept growing.
White strands began to appear among the brown.
A Few More Weeks Later
Nolan's beard was full now—thick, heavy, swallowing half his face. His suit was more rag than clothing. Only the cape still held shape, snapping behind him as he flew.
He'd stopped counting cities.
Now it was regions.
He crossed the northern continent at speeds that cracked sonic barriers every second. The trail behind him was visible from space—brown scars cutting through the planet's green.
He struck a mountain range—a strategic pass connecting two territories.
He flew through the mountains, punching holes straight through them.
Seven peaks collapsed, sealing the passage completely. Landslides buried the valley cities below.
Nolan turned south.
He crossed agricultural fields—thousands of kilometers of crops feeding billions. He flew low, plowing the earth with his body. The vacuum behind him tore everything up—plants, soil, irrigation infrastructure. What had been green turned into a brown, dead desert.
He hit dams.
Destroyed every one.
Rivers changed course. Floods erased entire cities.
He hit power plants.
Reactors blew.
Whole regions went dark.
He hit communication hubs.
Transmission towers collapsed.
The planet went deaf.
With every day that passed, Nolan slept less. Ate less. He just kept moving—flying, destroying, erasing civilization off the map.
His beard grew whiter—more pale than dark now—still stained with blood that never fully washed away.
Months Later
Nolan landed in the capital.
It was the last significant structure still standing—a massive dome covering the political center, wrapped in walls, defended by entire armies.
It didn't matter.
Nolan accelerated.
He punched through the outer wall like paper.
Through the second.
Through the third.
He hit the dome, pierced the top, tore down through twenty internal floors, and landed in the central hall.
The leader was there.
Seated on an elevated throne, surrounded by elite guards. The gold armor still gleamed, but it was scratched now—dented in places. The helmet was spiderwebbed with cracks.
Nolan walked toward him.
The guards surged forward.
Nolan went through them—literally. He flew straight through the line, bodies exploding on impact.
He stopped at the foot of the throne.
The leader didn't stand. He only looked down through the fractured visor, meeting Nolan's gaze with something caught between fear and defiance.
Nolan grabbed the helmet with one hand and ripped it off, tossing it to the floor.
The leader's face was humanoid—green skin, eyes too large, a mouth without lips. He stared up at Nolan.
Nolan leaned in, voice low—raw, hoarse from months without rest.
"It was you." His words scraped out. "Your choices. Your threats." He gestured behind him, toward the ruins beyond the hall. "All of this… was you."
The leader opened his mouth, trying to speak.
Nolan didn't let him.
He took the leader's head in both hands and pulled.
CRAAAACK!
The head tore free. Green blood erupted from the stump. The body slumped out of the throne.
Nolan held the head for a moment, staring into glassy eyes—then dropped it, letting it roll across the floor.
He turned.
Along the side of the hall, a group of scientists knelt—ten of them, white uniforms smeared with soot. Trembling.
Nolan walked up to them.
"Portal." The word was simple. Final. "Back to Earth. Now."
One scientist—the oldest—nodded frantically.
"Y-yes, sir. We will need three days to—"
Nolan leaned in, eyes hollow, voice flat with certainty.
"Six hours."
The scientist swallowed and dropped a tablet. It cracked on the floor and nobody moved to pick it up.
"Six hours." He nodded again, fast, terrified. "Yes. We will do it."
Nolan stepped back and sat on the broken remnants of the throne. His beard was heavy. His eyes were sunken. His suit hung in strips.
And he waited.
Six hours later, the portal opened.
Nolan crossed through it.
And left a dying world behind.
Months for the Flaxans — A Few Hours on Earth — Grayson House — September 4th, 2015 — 2:12 AM
The kitchen door opened slowly.
Nolan stepped inside.
His suit was in tatters—ripped in dozens of places, stained with dried blood turned dark brown. The cape hung from his shoulders like old cloth. His beard covered half his face, thick and grown out, white strands threaded through the brown.
He crossed the kitchen with heavy steps and stopped at the threshold to the living room. His eyes went to the staircase.
"I'm guessing the boys are asleep." His voice was rough, exhausted. "I need to shave."
Debbie sat on the couch with her back to him, TV light washing over her face. She looked over her shoulder, eyes taking in the ruined suit, the beard, the blood.
A low breath left her.
"Thank God."
Nolan crossed the living room and went upstairs.
Debbie turned off the TV, stood, and followed.
Nolan showered long enough for the pipes to complain. The sound of running water filled the hallway, then stopped. A drawer opened. A razor clicked against porcelain.
By late morning, he looked like Nolan again, and the day was—finally—normal for once.
Nolan went out in the afternoon the way he always did when the city needed him—fast, efficient, gone and back before Debbie could even finish convincing herself not to worry. Mark and Kai went to school, came home.
By dusk, the house had settled into that uneasy imitation of normal.
That was when Damien Darkblood showed up.
Nolan was outside when Damien arrived.
"What do you want here?" Nolan's arms folded across his chest.
Damien approached calmly.
"I only wanted to ask if you can think of anyone else who might've had motive to attack the Guardians."
Nolan held his stare.
"And Black Samson?"
"Innocent." Damien's voice stayed even as he watched Nolan's expression. "I investigated. Sanford's attack had no connection to him. The butler acted alone. And both had solid alibis for the day it happened."
He adjusted his coat, continuing like he was reciting a report.
"I also spoke to Arthur Rosenbaum. He confirmed you were there that day."
Nolan lifted an eyebrow.
"So?"
Damien straightened his hat, already turning away.
"Then we're back to square one. If you learn anything, come find me."
Nolan stood in front of his house, arms still crossed, watching Damien walk off.
The air didn't feel lighter after he left. It felt watched.
But for Nolan, it didn't matter.
By the time September 11th came around, the week had dragged like wet cement.
Robot didn't show up at the Teen Team base—busy with preparations for something bigger—but he still sent one or two missions by message. Robberies. Third-rate villains. Nothing that required more than two hours of patrol.
The point that actually mattered was something else: the GDA was assembling the new Guardians. Officially. And a recruitment test had been scheduled—an evaluation for potential candidates, with Robot at the front of it.
Outside of hero work, Kai stayed in the same rhythm. He watched TV, went out on missions with Mark, came home. The routine was predictable—almost numbing.
But something had changed.
Viktor didn't appear anymore. Not once. Since the Guardians' funeral, the ghost that used to show up in the corners of Kai's mind had simply… vanished. Like whatever he came to do was finished.
Mark was different at the same lighter way. He and Amber had grown closer—officially dating now. He even set a date to introduce her properly to Debbie and Nolan, without any surprise bedroom-door disasters this time.
One Week Later — September 11th, 2015 — Friday — Grayson House — 8:24 PM
The table was full—lasagna, salad, garlic bread. Debbie had gone all out. Amber sat beside Mark in a floral blouse, smiling while Debbie told an embarrassing story about Mark at five years old.
"Mom, stop." Mark covered his face with both hands, but he was laughing.
Amber bumped his shoulder lightly.
"I need to know these things."
Nolan cut into the lasagna in silence, but the corner of his mouth lifted—almost a smile.
Kai sat across from them, eating slowly, watching more than participating.
Amber dabbed her mouth with her napkin and looked at Mark.
"Oh, I forgot to mention—William confirmed he's going on the Upstate orientation visit. You and your brother decide if you're going?"
Mark nodded.
"I'm going. It'll be cool. The school set everything up—bus, campus tour, talks."
Debbie looked at Kai, setting her fork down.
"And you, Kai? What do you think?"
Kai chewed, swallowed, then shrugged.
"College is… mostly a piece of paper. It's just a diploma for a résumé."
Debbie frowned.
"You need to do something besides being a hero."
Kai turned his head toward her.
"For what reason?"
"Because it's an experience that can help you in the future." Debbie's tone held steady, but her eyes studied him. "Meeting people. Learning things that aren't just punches and powers." She tilted her head slightly. "Have you never thought about doing anything?"
Kai went quiet.
The question hung in the air.
And then the image came back. Debbie's motivational voice somewhere in the background—"…because Janet was always praising how you handled—" but the words never reached him.
Kiana's face. The rooftop. Her hand in his. Her eyes bright as she talked about the future. "Medicine sounds good. I'm in. We'd be like Cosmic and Elise." And then that half-smile, fingers tucking her hair back as she looked at him. "We're synchronized, so… promise you'll go with me. No matter what happens."
Kai blinked hard and shoved the memory down.
He looked at Debbie, who was still mid-sentence.
The answer came out low—uncertain, but it cut her off anyway.
"Medicine."
It wasn't like him. Not in this life. Not in the last.
Debbie's eyes widened slightly. Mark turned, surprised.
"Seriously?" Mark asked.
Kai shrugged and went back to cutting his food.
"Why not?"
Debbie exchanged a glance with Nolan, then smiled.
"I think it's a great choice." Her voice warmed. "But you should start thinking about a part-time job to help pay for it."
The topic shifted—Amber talking about campus, Mark asking about dorms, Debbie planning visits. Kai kept eating in silence, not explaining himself.
No one asked why.
And he didn't offer.
It didn't make sense to keep a promise that was already over.
But it was still something inside him that wasn't completely empty. A mind cracked by the Void, slowly stitching itself back together—one day at a time, as long as the ghost stayed gone.
Amber left a little after nine, Mark walking her to the door. When he came back, Nolan, Kai, and Mark stayed in the kitchen helping with dishes.
Mark dried a plate, then glanced at Nolan.
"Dad… what do you think about that test for the new Guardians?"
Nolan rinsed a glass and set it on the rack.
Mark waited, but Nolan didn't continue, so he pushed.
"Do you think we should try?"
Nolan shut off the faucet, turned, and looked at him.
"I don't think it's a good idea."
Mark's brow creased.
"Why?"
"Better to operate independently." Nolan folded his arms, leaning on the counter. "Without being tied to any organization. You can still help when necessary—without formal commitments."
Mark processed that, then nodded slowly.
Kai leaned against the fridge, arms crossed, listening. He nodded too—the logic made sense.
But something moved in the back of his mind.
The Young Team. The day Russell attacked. The times Kai wasn't there when he should've been. The missions that happened without him because he simply wasn't officially part of anything.
Kai stayed quiet.
Maybe he didn't agree with Nolan as much as he used to.
The Next Day — September 12th, 2015 — Saturday — Pentagon, GDA HQ, USA — 10:35 AM
The GDA complex occupied three underground floors beneath the Pentagon—metal, reinforced concrete, technology that didn't exist anywhere else. Fluorescent lights sliced through corridors wide enough for three people to walk side by side.
Mark, Kai, and Robot moved down one of those corridors.
Around them were dozens of heroes—colorful suits, masks, capes, armor. Some talked in small clusters. Others stood alone, watching in silence before the competition.
Everyone there wanted the same thing.
A spot on the new Guardians.
Mark turned his head, recognizing faces—well, masks.
"Is that Demi-God? Dude—Shrapnel!"
His excitement didn't match the tense air. A few heroes glanced over.
Robot kept pace, green optics scanning as he walked.
"And that one is Burly. Pangea. Bug-Eye…" A small, controlled gesture toward each. "There are many here, and not all have arrived yet. Being selected for the Guardians is the greatest achievement in any hero's career."
Robot stopped and turned fully to face the brothers.
"That is why I'm asking again. You came because I requested it, but why do you both refuse to join?"
Mark scratched the back of his neck, posture losing some confidence.
"I mean… I tried talking to my dad, but he said it was better not to." He glanced aside. "And my mom would lose it if Kai and I started missing school."
Robot processed for a second, optics blinking.
"And yet you still came. Contradictory." He subtly indicated the corridor behind them. "I don't know if you noticed, but most heroes you passed were watching you. Your recent performances have made your hero identities… well-known. It would be wise to reconsider and decide for yourselves."
Mark looked around—and yeah. Fixed stares. Masks turning. Quiet murmurs in groups, fingers pointing discreetly. He blinked, caught off guard.
Robot tipped his head slightly toward him.
"Despite the name, I believe you underestimate yourself, Invincible."
Mark thought for a second, then smiled, hand going to his hip.
"We're not going to stop helping. We just won't join—"
"I will." Kai cut in, and for once his voice didn't carry that usual bored edge.
Mark snapped toward him, eyes widening.
"What? You sure?"
Kai nodded once. "Let's do it."
Mark let out a long sigh, like his brain was trying to catch up.
"Man, normally I'm the one telling us to disobey and do something stupid." He gave Kai a look. "Who are you and what did you do with my brother?"
Kai exhaled with a half-smile and tipped his chin toward Robot.
"We're already working with him anyway."
Mark stared at him for a beat, then looked at Robot, and let out a short laugh.
"Okay. I don't know what happened, but you've been way cooler these past few days." He straightened. "I'm not ruining it. I'm in too."
Robot's tone stayed as mechanical as ever.
"Excellent."
Minutes Later — Testing Area
The room was massive—high ceiling, reinforced walls, technology embedded along the edges. At the center stood an open arena surrounded by elevated observation platforms. Cameras watched from every corner.
All the heroes were gathered—fifty, maybe more—forming a semicircle around the ring. Mark and Kai stood among them, watching.
Robot stepped forward until everyone could see him.
"Thank you all for coming today."
His voice rolled through the built-in speakers, amplified yet still unmistakably mechanical.
"The Guardians of the Globe were more than a team of heroes. They were icons. Those who pass our tests today will stand among the elite. The best of the best."
He turned slightly, green optics sweeping across each face.
"It is evident not all of you will be equal to the challenge. But those who are will not succeed solely because they possess powerful abilities." A brief pause, measured. "You will succeed because of how you use them. Your tactics. Your adaptability. The agility of your mind."
His head angled a fraction, as if weighing the next words.
"And most importantly… the character that makes you true heroes."
Silence held.
Then a door opened at the side of the arena—metal sliding back, revealing the entrance.
Robot gestured toward it.
"The tests begin now."
And just like that, the fights started—fast. In under fifteen minutes the arena had already seen three bouts. Not long after, Frost stepped in.
Ice formed beneath her feet as she glided to the center, stopping in front of her opponent—a guy dressed like a biker, neon-green mohawk, arms and legs wrapped in robotic armor. Servomotors hissed at every movement.
He struck first.
His right fist launched—hydraulic, sharp, heavy enough to crack concrete.
Frost slid aside. The punch tore through empty air.
He spun into a kick.
Frost ducked, the armored leg slicing over her head.
She raised both hands.
White vapor burst from her palms, washing over his arms. Ice formed instantly—locking his elbows, freezing his joints.
He tried to punch again.
His arm seized mid-swing.
Frost circled him, brushing each leg as she passed. More vapor. More ice. Knees locked. Ankles froze solid.
Twenty seconds.
The guy stood in the middle of the arena with arms raised, legs braced, completely frozen—more statue than fighter.
Frost leaned on his shoulder, crossed one leg over the other, and tossed a wink toward the reinforced glass where Robot was observing.
Back in the waiting area, Mark let out a laugh and nudged his grin toward Kai.
"That was quick."
Kai nodded, tilting his chin toward the panel as the next name appeared.
"You're up."
Mark stepped in, tugging at his gloves as he walked to the center.
Across from him floated a purple head—no visible body, just a face suspended in the air. Beneath it, clothes hung as if someone invisible wore them: a gray sweater vest, white shirt, blue tie, black gloves, gray slacks, brown shoes.
Demi-God held a metal staff with a purple orb floating at the tip.
He aimed.
FWOOOOSH!
A violet beam shot straight for Mark's chest.
Mark snapped aside, the blast shaving past by inches. He surged forward, closing the distance in a straight line.
Another shot.
Mark twisted out of it, rotated in midair, and came down hard—hands clamping around the staff before Demi-God could adjust.
A sharp yank ripped it free.
Demi-God tried to drift backward.
Mark spun the staff once and cracked the floating head with the side of it.
THWACK!
The head whirled in the air. The invisible body hit the floor.
Mark tossed the staff beside him and walked out of the arena.
A victorious grin tugged at his mouth as he passed through the automatic doors, fist lifting.
Kai met it with his own—quick contact, matching smirks.
A new matchup flashed across the screen.
Kai vs Green Slime
"Your turn." Mark folded his arms, eyes following his brother.
Kai read the name and let out a short laugh. "Green Slime? I'm fighting a kid's toy?" He rolled his shoulders like he was warming up for a light spar.
The door slid open. Kai stepped in, boots echoing against metal until he reached the center.
Across from him stood what looked like an ordinary guy—until he yanked a device off his wrist.
In seconds, skin melted into green viscosity, rising from the floor like living dough. The humanoid shape finished forming—translucent slime, underwater-green lights burning where eyes should've been inside the gelatinous mass.
Kai tilted his head. "So that's why they call you that." He cracked his knuckles, joints popping softly. "Let's get this over with."
He lunged, punching straight into the center of mass.
His fist sank through the slime like gelatin. Nothing solid. His arm plunged in up to the elbow—and the goo sealed around it like a wet mouth.
Kai's brow tightened. He yanked.
Nothing.
The slime pulsed—its whole body vibrating—and surged up his shoulder, climbing toward his neck like a green tide.
Kai flared his arms explosively.
CRACK!
The tension ripped the slime in half, chunks flying in opposite directions and splattering across the floor.
He took two steps back, wiping at his arm.
The chunks twitched, slid across the ground, and drew back together like magnets.
Five seconds later, the humanoid form stood again.
"…Okay." Kai lifted an eyebrow. "You're annoying."
The slime attacked without warning—one tentacle whipping out from its shoulder toward Kai's face.
Kai darted low and fast, the lash snapping through the air where his head had been half a second earlier—wet, brutal.
Another tentacle came from below.
Kai spun in the air, dodging by inches.
Now the slime multiplied its angles—multiple tendrils, striking from three directions at once.
One caught Kai's ankle.
He jolted midair, yanked downward. Slime coiled around his leg, climbing fast.
POW!
Kai punched his own ankle—breaking the tentacle free. He shot upward, gaining distance.
Below, the slime re-formed, waiting.
"Alright. Punching isn't working." Kai hovered, eyes narrowing as he assessed. The green lights inside the mass tracked him, burning brighter. "You just… stitch yourself back together. No structure. Just mass."
He dove again—this time grabbing near the top, where the head formed, fingers digging into a solid nub—an antenna, or maybe a tentacle emerging from the crown.
The slime reacted instantly, expanding, trying to swallow him whole.
Kai squeezed hard, feeling the one part that resisted like something real. He rotated his body once, building momentum.
And he threw.
The slime rocketed across the arena like a green cannonball, slamming into the far wall hard enough to spiderweb cracks through the reinforced surface.
SPLAT!
It ricocheted down, spreading into a puddle three meters wide.
Kai landed, watching.
The puddle began to gather itself again, rising slowly, rebuilding the humanoid outline.
"Oh, no." Kai moved before it could finish.
He grabbed the antenna again and accelerated.
He dragged the slime through the air, crossed the arena in a straight line, and drove its core into the metal wall with brutal force.
BOOM!
The wall dented inward.
The slime went still for a beat—then reassembled into its green humanoid shape again, frozen in place long enough to concede defeat as the movement finally returned.
Kai walked back toward the exit without any urgency.
The door slid open, then shut behind him.
Mark winced, rubbing his own shoulder like he'd felt the impact secondhand. "Ouch." A low exhale left him. "But yeah—you did good. Took a second, but you figured it out."
Kai shrugged, confidence still sitting easy on his face. "Just had to understand the mechanics. Been a while since I played with a slime." He clapped his hands lightly, flicking the last green residue from his fingers. "Easy."
They exchanged a satisfied look and moved closer to the glass to watch the rest.
The tests continued, and not long after, the screen flashed again:
Eve vs The Hunk
Eve walked in with her expression locked tight.
Across from her stood a giant bodybuilder—straight blond hair, shirtless, blue shorts, muscles exaggerated like carved stone. He was over six and a half feet tall without even trying.
The Hunk took two steps in, flexing his biceps.
"You sure you want to do this?"
A wink, paired with a ridiculous chest flex.
Eve didn't answer.
She raised her hands.
He charged, fist cocked.
A pink energy barrier snapped into place. His punch hit it and bounced off. The Hunk stumbled back.
Eve dropped the barrier, stepped in, and drove a hook into his ribs—pink energy exploding on impact.
He folded with a grunt.
Eve spun and swept a kick into the side of his knee, her leg wrapped in pink energy like armor.
He crashed down.
He tried to rise.
A second barrier formed—this one around his head—and tightened.
The Hunk slammed into invisible walls, choking.
Ten seconds later, he passed out.
Eve dissolved the barrier and walked out without looking back as the doors slid open.
Mark glanced at Kai.
"We still haven't had time to talk to her." His tone dipped. "She's pissed."
Kai's eyes slid sideways—landing on Rex across the room, leaning against the opposite wall like nothing in his life was on fire. "Yeah. Wonder why."
Rex lifted a shoulder with a lazy smirk. "No clue."
Mark didn't say a word. Just crossed his arms and stared.
The screen rolled on to the next fight:
Shrinking Rae vs Man Kong
Rae stepped in—tight green suit, mask covering the top and back of her head, ponytail out, glasses still on. Across from her, Man Kong roared—a massive gorilla with black fur, pounding his chest.
Rae shrank.
Vanished.
Man Kong looked around, confused—
Then something slipped into his ear.
Man Kong screamed, flailing, punching at his own head. He staggered, dropped to his knees—
And vomited.
Rae crawled back out, growing to full size as Man Kong collapsed unconscious.
Kai watched the gorilla on the floor.
Something twisted inside him—memory rising.
The gorilla guy.
The one who'd been there the day Viktor died.
Kai's jaw tightened. His fingers curled into a fist.
Mark didn't notice.
A few more fights passed—some quick, some longer. Kai steadied himself. The brothers watched and commented now and then.
Until another name appeared.
Black Samson vs Throwbolt
Kai stared at the screen. "Black Samson? What's he doing here?"
Mark turned. "Dad said he was cleared. He had nothing to do with the attack at the Guardians' funeral."
Kai lifted an eyebrow, then let it go, watching.
Black Samson stepped in wearing the rebuilt suit—yellow and black, thrusters on his feet. Throwbolt entered from the other side—white uniform streaked with yellow lightning, electricity crackling in her hands.
She fired—an electric bolt cutting the air.
Samson hit his thrusters, rose, and dodged. He accelerated straight at her.
Another bolt snapped out.
He rolled in midair, slipped past it, and drove a punch into her chest.
CRACK!
She flew ten meters, hit the floor, and rolled.
Samson landed, walked over, and offered his hand.
Throwbolt took it. He pulled her to her feet.
The arena kept going.
And then, a few fights later… it was finally over.
All the heroes gathered in the observation area—some leaning against the walls, some sitting, most standing in a semicircle around Robot.
A man in a gray-and-green suit entered through the side door. A mask covered him from the nose down. He stopped in the back, folded his arms, and watched.
His eyes narrowed—locked on Kai. Or rather, Infinity.
That white hair…
Rex, standing beside him, noticed the staring and turned his head. "Fanboy? Or you hate him too?"
"Neither." The man's voice was calm, but something sharp lived underneath it. "He just reminded me of someone."
Rex nodded like that made perfect sense.
"So what's your name? You probably know mine—Rex Splode."
The man rolled his eyes, confident.
"Beast."
Robot stepped forward, green optics glowing as he scanned the digital tablet in his hand.
"Thank you to everyone who participated. And now, based on our evaluations, I have the honor of presenting the new Guardians of the Globe."
Everyone straightened.
Robot lifted his head.
"Black Samson."
Samson stepped forward, the yellow-and-black suit shining under the lights.
"Invincible and Infinity."
Rex immediately complained, voice too loud.
"Oh, come on! You gotta be kidding me—I'm definitely getting in, and I'm stuck working with that idiot?"
Robot continued.
"Shrinking Rae."
Beast let out a low, amused scoff and angled his head toward Rex.
"Why do you hate him that much?"
"That guy thinks he's hot shit. Shows up whenever he feels like it, always thinks he's right." Rex grimaced toward Infinity. "And he's been like that since he had a different hero name."
Beast's brow pinched.
"Different name? What was it?"
Robot announced the next one, "Beast."
But Beast barely registered it.
Rex answered at the same time, dripping disdain. "Grey."
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then Beast's breathing changed—sharper, shallower.
His eyes locked onto Infinity with sudden, terrible recognition.
His hands curled into fists.
"No fucking way..."
Robot announced the next name. "Monster Girl."
Kai felt it before he heard it. That shift in the air. The way someone looks at you when they've just remembered something they'd buried.
He turned his head slowly.
And their eyes met.
Beast's voice cut through the announcements, shaking with rage.
"You son of a bitch!"
Kai drew a slow breath. "Who the hell is this clown?"
Robot stepped forward, tone unchanged. "Beast. Calm yourself. You underwent an extensive re-education period. I'm certain you do not wish to return."
"Fuck that!" Beast transformed.
His expanding mass shoved heroes aside.
Gorilla.
Bigger than Man Kong. Dense fur. Carved muscle. Eyes too intelligent to be an animal.
Kai recognized him instantly.
The reaction was immediate—blue light flared behind his mask as the Six Eyes snapped on, something he hadn't done in a while.
And they moved.
BOOM!
They collided in the center of the room. The impact cracked the floor and knocked nearby heroes off balance.
Mark's voice tore out.
"What the hell is happening?!"
Kai grabbed the gorilla by the chest and hurled him toward the arena. The body ripped through the entrance and slammed into the floor inside.
Kai shot after him before anyone could react.
Up above, Rex laughed loud, smug.
"I'm rooting for the gorilla. One 'cute little girl' on the team is already bad enough—I'm not dealing with Mister Infinity-Boring too."
The ponytailed girl beside him turned her head slowly.
"Cute little girl?"
Inside the arena, the gorilla rose with a roar, pounding his chest.
"You're gonna pay for Robert!"
Kai didn't answer.
He just surged forward.
The gorilla swung.
Kai caught the fist with one hand, locked the arm, and started punching—face, chest, stomach. Pure violence.
The gorilla dropped to his knees.
Mark flew in, trying to grab his brother. Eve followed. Frost jumped in, snapping a wall of ice between them.
They restrained Kai.
The gorilla pushed up again, breathing heavy, blood spilling from his mouth.
Mark grabbed Kai by the shoulders.
"Dude—what is going on?!"
The gorilla shattered Frost's ice wall with a punch and charged—straight at Frost.
Kai saw it.
His eyes were still glowing blue.
He shot in front of the strike, caught the gorilla's arm, and twisted—exactly the way he'd done once before.
CRACK!
The shoulder dislocated.
The gorilla howled.
Kai didn't let go. He drove forward and slammed the gorilla into the wall hard enough to warp the metal. The massive body went limp—unconscious.
Kai released him and turned to Mark.
"Sorry, man." His voice sounded tired behind the mask. "I'm out. Dad was right."
Then he flew out of the test.
Mark lifted off instinctively to chase him, but—
BOOOM!
Everyone turned.
Rex lay on the arena floor.
In front of him stood the ponytailed girl. Her left arm had transformed—green, massively muscled, completely wrong compared to the rest of her body.
Her voice was sharp with irritation.
"You must've missed my test."
Then her other arm changed—then the rest of her body—swelling into a huge green monster with jagged teeth and yellow eyes.
A guttural voice rumbled out.
"Still think I'm cute?"
She punched.
Rex flew across the arena and slammed into the opposite wall.
BOOOM!
Rex staggered up, coughing three teeth into his palm, blood pouring between his fingers.
"You filthy bitch!"
He charged his hand and tossed three explosions into the monster.
The blasts landed. Smoke swallowed her.
When it cleared, the monster was still standing—unmarked.
"Aw." Her grin widened. "That was adorable."
They rushed each other and collided at the center.
Rex pulled a baton from his belt.
"I'm gonna blow that stupid green smile off your face!"
Eve watched from a distance, disgust carved into her stare.
Mark hesitated—eyes flicking between the direction Kai had gone and the brawl erupting now.
Robot's voice boomed from above.
"Stop. Internal conflict is not constructive."
Monster Girl knocked Rex down, mounted him, and started punching—over and over.
Eve's mouth curved into a satisfied smile.
"He asked for it."
Mark sighed. "Someone has to stop this." And he shot forward.
He caught Monster Girl's fist before the next blow landed.
"That's enough."
She snapped her head toward him.
"Enough of what? Get lost!"
She shoved Mark hard.
He flew back, spun, planted his feet against the wall, and launched back with momentum.
"I said—enough!"
His punch hit her chest.
She flew, slammed into the wall, and de-transformed—shrinking back into her normal form.
Monster Girl got up slowly and walked to Rex, who was still on the ground, face wrecked, bruises blooming.
She offered her hand.
"I'm sorry… I—I lose control when I hear 'cute.'"
Rex pushed himself up alone, swatting her hand away.
"Don't." His voice was tight, but he tried to act unfazed. "I'm fine."
He wasn't. His face was a mess—swollen, split lip, purple bruises building fast.
He limped off, glanced at Invincible, and flipped him off.
"Hey. Didn't need your help."
The chaos finally cooled. Two minutes later, whoever was still standing gathered again around Robot.
Robot waited until the room went quiet.
"Well. As I was saying before I was interrupted." His optics blinked. "The remaining members not yet announced are: Dupli-Kate, Frost, Atom Eve, and—finally—Rex Splode."
Everyone looked at Rex, barely upright, leaning on himself.
Robot added, with the same calm certainty:
"Of course, after he recovers. We will announce to the public soon."
Rex spat more blood onto the floor. "Damn… I'm definitely shitting blood tonight."
Mark looked toward the direction Kai had flown.
Eve, still simmering, started walking toward Robot and the exit.
"I'm not staying on a team with Rex and Kate."
Mark turned toward her. "Eve—wait."
She didn't stop.
"I'm out."
Mark glanced at Robot, awkward guilt on his face.
"Look, it's not personal. But… I'm out too."
And he flew after her.
Robot stood in the center of the room, optics blinking as he processed. He turned toward Rex, who was bracing himself in the corner, barely standing.
"You were speaking with Beast before the incident." The optics held. "First Eve, and now this. Rex, what did you do?"
Rex straightened with effort. His swollen face didn't hide the sarcasm.
"Thanks for the support, Robot. Can't wait to be on this team."
He limped away, one hand pressed to his ribs.
Robot remained alone in the ruined arena—cracked wall, melting ice on the floor, blood staining the metal.
His mechanical voice echoed into the empty space.
"Calculation: 44.4% desertion rate. Not anticipated."
The new Guardians of the Globe had been announced.
One was out likely going back to prison, and three had already quit.
Interlude — Part 1: Not So Immortal After All
Meanwhile — A Laboratory Somewhere in the City
The lab felt like a high-tech workshop—wires hanging from the ceiling, electronic equipment scattered across benches, monitors streaming data in blinking sequences that would've looked like nonsense to anyone who wasn't a genius.
The Mauler Twins were hunched over an autopsy table—an unmoving body stretched between them, covered by a white sheet stained with dried red.
One of them held a surgical tool, indicating the corpse's opened chest. The other stood with arms folded, brow furrowed.
"This crap is fake. It's not the original body. That's why we couldn't resurrect him."
The other snapped his head toward him.
"You were there. You pulled him out of the hole with me."
"And I'm telling you this isn't him." The first one struck the tool against the table—sparks jumped. "Look at the cellular structure. Look at the bone density. This was assembled."
The second Mauler leaned in, examining the body more closely. He produced a magnifier and ran it over the exposed ribs.
Five seconds of silence.
Then he exhaled, irritated.
"So the GDA lied—and they're hiding his real body."
"Incompetent idiots." The first Mauler tossed the tool aside. "They probably don't know how to bring him back. We need to find where he is."
The second straightened, eyes sweeping the lab—half-built machines, unfinished projects, plans left on pause.
"This sets us back."
The first nodded, turning toward a side bench where holograms displayed schematics for something bigger.
"We change the plan. Then we circle back to this."
They stood there for a moment, staring at the counterfeit corpse on the table.
Then they covered it again with the sheet and returned to their computers—leaving the Immortal, not-so-immortal after all, resting beneath cold fluorescent light.
And they began working on something else.
Maybe something worse.
Interlude — Part 2: The One Who's Remembered
Hours Earlier — The Dawn Before the Guardians' Test — Seoul, South Korea — 5:28 PM
Kiana stood atop the rooftop of her building—an orange sky draped over the city, lights beginning to bloom in the towers around her. She held her phone with both hands, staring at the screen for a few seconds before she finally typed.
Kiana: Cassie, since we were talking about it… have you been talking to Kai?
The reply took fifteen seconds.
Cassie: No. I haven't seen him in a while.
Kiana bit her lip, typing slowly.
Kiana: Hm. I wanted to ask you a favor.
Cassie responded fast.
Cassie: If it's not what I think it is, sure.
Kiana's fingers stalled over the keyboard. Ten seconds passed without a single letter.
Cassie's next message came in.
Cassie: What do you need, Ki? Just say it.
Kiana let out a breath and typed quickly before she could change her mind.
Kiana: I wanted you to tell Kai to watch my next chapter.
Chicago — Cassie's Bedroom — 2:28 AM
Cassie was sprawled on her bed, half-asleep, when her phone buzzed. She grabbed it, read the message—
And sat straight up.
"Are you kidding me, Kiana?"
Her voice came out too loud in the quiet room. She clenched the phone and started typing, her fingers hitting the screen harder than they needed to.
Cassie: Which part of "I haven't seen him in a while" did you not understand? If you want to talk to him, message him—not me. Seriously. I'm your friend, not your carrier pigeon.
She sent it. Then immediately typed another.
Cassie: Also, it might still be afternoon for you, but here it's already 2 a.m. I'm going to sleep. Talk tomorrow.
On the other side of the world, Kiana read the messages. Her expression sank. She typed back quickly.
Kiana: Okay!!! Sorry. I thought you could help.
Cassie read it and didn't answer. She just tossed the phone onto the bed beside her and killed the light.
Kiana stayed on the rooftop, phone in hand, staring at the conversation.
Then she locked the screen and slipped it into her pocket.
And the sun kept sinking over Seoul.