Bubble Boy

Exterior – Central City – Street

BOOM.

Shadow's punch connected with Dravus' face like a meteor strike, an explosion of force so immense it shattered the sound barrier.

The shockwave ripped through the block, blasting cars into the air, windows exploded in every direction, and an entire building behind Dravus crumbled like sand, collapsing with a thunderous roar. The news helicopter spiraled, nearly losing control before jerking away, the pilot screaming, "We're pulling back! We can't get any closer!"

But the world still watched.

High above Earth, space drones, deployed from international agencies, snapped into orbit, locking cameras on the battlefield below. The feed blared to every screen, every device, every corner of the globe.

Starbreaker stood tall, steam hissing off his armor, his glowing eyes fixed on Dravus' unmoved figure.

Dravus slowly turned his head, his jaw slightly bruised but his smile intact.

"That… tickled."

With a sickening crack, Dravus punched Shadow so hard, the armored hero bounced down the street, smashing through concrete and rebar like a pinball. The HUD inside Jace's helmet flashed red.

Zero(AI): Shields: 0%. Armor: 53% integrity. Kinetic absorption overloaded. You're bleeding internally.

Shadow grunted, coughing. He forced himself to his feet just in time to dodge another punch. The air itself split, and the shockwave destroyed a row of buildings, shattering foundations and crumbling rooftops.

Jace moved on instinct, duck, roll, counter-punch, backstep, blast, his every move a dance of survival. His gauntlets flared, launching sonic bursts and plasma rounds. He struck Dravus repeatedly, trying to buy time.

But Dravus kept walking forward, slowly, deliberately, like he was trying to swat a fly that just wouldn't die.

Another blow missed Shadow by inches, yet the force of it shattered the street beneath them, launching chunks of tar and rebar into the air.

People all over the world watched in horror.

"He's not human…"

"Why isn't the Legion here?"

"Is he… stronger than Starman?"

Dravus backhanded Shadow across the avenue.Jace hit the side of a truck, denting the frame, but rolled and fired a magnetic pulse. It didn't even make Dravus flinch.

Zero (AI): Emergency backup cores failing. Suggest: retreat.

Jace wiped blood from his mouth. "No retreat."

He lunged again, slamming a kinetic blade into Dravus' chest. The feedback rattled his arm. Dravus responded by grabbing the blade and snapping it in half with his fingers.

"You're brave," Dravus said. "But not built to stop gods."

He stomped, and the street collapsed, swallowing them both in a pit of dust and flame.

Exterior – Central City – Crater

Shadow crawled from the crater, bleeding, breathing hard, armor sparking. The suit was barely holding together. Helmet face shattered.

He looked up.

Dravus stood above him, glowing with red eyes, the same eyes that once leveled entire moons.

And he was smiling.

"Your people… they worship us. But I don't want worship. I want fear."

Jace braced himself, fists raised. "Then let me be your nightmare."

Exterior – Central City – Crater

Jace rose shakily, body trembling, blood dripping from his mouth. He barely held his stance, one gauntlet sparking, the other missing entirely. Dravus advanced, unbothered, untouchable, unstoppable.

Then...

KRA-KOOM.

Lightning split the sky.

A blur of motion struck Dravus from the side, a shockwave followed. It was Bolt, crackling with energy, eyes wide with desperation. "Tag! You're it, jackass!"

From the air, Construct dived in next, conjuring a titanic mech-fist with his mind, slamming it down. "Say hello to Mr. Smashy, punk!"

"Get Starbreaker out! NOW!" yelled Gladiator, blade glowing as she slammed into Dravus with a fury of strikes. Her eyes burned with something raw, fear and rage tangled into one.

Water erupted from the sewers as Seaman rose with a tidal wave, trident spinning. "This ends here!"

Void dropped from the sky like a fallen star, beams of light forming spears around her. "Die, monster."

The Legion had arrived.

They fought like hell.

But it wasn't enough.

Dravus caught Bolt mid-run and slammed him into the pavement, bones cracked, screams echoed. He batted away Void like a fly. He grabbed Construct's mech-fist and crushed it, sending feedback straight into his brain, causing him to seize. Seaman's trident shattered on contact was send flying through a building, and Gladiator was slammed through four city blocks, coughing up blood.

In seconds, they were broken.

Gasping, mangled, burned.

The world watched in horror.

@TrinityBlaze_99: "That was the Legion. THE LEGION. And he wrecked them like toys..."

@SuperFan_June: "Where's Starman?! WHY ISN'T HE HERE?!"

@ElDiosEnVivo: "That thing… it's stronger than Starman. It has to be."

@BubbleBoyForLife: "I don't care how strong he is… Bubble Boy's still gonna win. I believe in Troy."

Dravus stood tall over their ruined bodies. "Like cockroaches," he sneered. "Persistent. Insignificant."

BOOM.

A ripple of red dust and power cracked the earth.

Mr. Mars landed with silent fury.

His cloak billowed in the firestorm. He walked forward slowly, looking down at Bolt's broken body, at Gladiator trying to crawl toward her sword, blood in her mouth.

Then he looked at Dravus.

And spoke.

"I know what monsters your kind are."

Dravus tilted his head. "Oh? A Martian with a conscience. That's rare."

"You enslaved my people," Mr. Mars said softly. "Tortured them. Used them for sport."

Dravus chuckled. "Still do."

Then his smile faded. "But you're different… I can smell it. You were trained. By him."

Mr. Mars's face didn't flinch. "I trained myself. To be better than Starman."

The air grew heavy.

Every camera zoomed in.

@MoonEyeTV: "Is this… Mr. Mars's real power?"

@RealShadowNation: "I swear, if he dies too… I'm losing faith."

@HistoryFan7000: "This is like when Starman fought Gravis… but worse."

Dravus smirked. "So that's what you call the Prince, Starman? Then die like him too."

He sent shivers across central city this by walking.

Multiversal force.

Multiversal speed.

Indestructible durability.

This wasn't just an enemy.

This was Starman's equal.

And now… Mars was all that stood between him and Earth's final breath.