Invincible: Krypton's Legacy

Mark strolled into school, his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. The morning buzz of students filled the halls as he approached the lockers, where his best friend William stood waiting.

"Morning, Will," Mark greeted, his tone casual.

"Hey, man," William replied, closing his locker. "Did you see the news last night? That new hero—Invincible? The dude's insane! He took on an alien invasion, flew into their portal, and came back with a beard."

Mark chuckled, scratching his freshly shaved chin. "Yeah, I heard about it."

William leaned in conspiratorially. "Can you imagine? One minute you're stopping a robbery, and the next, you're leading a revolt in some alien dimension. That guy's got to be hardcore."

Mark smirked. "I'm alright, I guess."

William blinked, his brow furrowing as he processed Mark's words. "Wait. What?"

"I'm Invincible," Mark said with a nonchalant shrug.

William froze, staring at Mark like he'd just announced he was an alien. "You're joking."

Mark shook his head, his smirk growing wider. "Not joking."

William grabbed Mark's shoulders, his eyes wide. "Wait—you're serious? You're Invincible? The guy who fought aliens, flew into their portal, and came back with a freaking beard?"

"That's me," Mark replied, enjoying his friend's reaction. "Though the beard's gone now."

William's mouth opened and closed as he struggled to form words. "You're… a superhero. My best friend is a superhero. And you didn't think to mention this before?"

Mark shrugged. "Secret identity and all that. Plus, I figured it'd be more fun to tell you this way."

William groaned, rubbing his temples. "I can't believe this. You're just… casually dropping this bombshell on me like it's no big deal."

Before Mark could respond, a voice interrupted them.

"Hey, Mark," Amber said, walking up with a confident smile.

Mark turned to Amber, giving her a friendly nod. "Hey, Amber."

Amber leaned against the lockers beside him, her smile playful. "So, I was wondering… got any plans this weekend? There's this art exhibit downtown I think you'd like."

Mark hesitated for a moment, but before he could respond, he caught sight of a familiar face further down the hall—Atom Eve. Without thinking, he straightened up, his attention shifting.

"Sorry, Amber," Mark said, stepping away. "I'll have to get back to you on that."

Amber's smile faltered. "Wait, what?"

Mark walked toward Eve, leaving Amber standing there in stunned silence. She turned to William, her arms crossed. "Is he dating her or something?"

William, still reeling from the earlier revelation, shrugged. "I… don't know anything anymore."

Amber huffed, crossing her arms. "Unbelievable." She stormed off, muttering under her breath.

Mark stopped in front of Eve, who was busy grabbing books from her locker. "Hey," he said, his tone casual. "We didn't get a chance to talk much yesterday."

Eve glanced up, her brow furrowing. "Do I know you?"

Mark smirked. "Guess you don't recognize me without the beard."

Eve's eyes widened as realization hit her. "Wait… you're Invincible?"

"Guilty as charged, name's Mark Grayson" Mark replied, shrugging. "The clean-shaven look threw you off, huh?"

Eve laughed softly, closing her locker. "Well, that's not something you hear every day. Name is Samantha Eve Wilkins. What are you doing here?"

"School," Mark said simply. "Gotta keep up appearances, right?"

Eve studied him for a moment. "You don't seem like a rookie with the way you fought yesterday."

Mark shrugged. "I've trained a lot. My dad's been a hero for years, so I guess it runs in the family."

"Really?" Eve asked, intrigued. "Who's your dad?"

Mark hesitated, keeping his tone light. "Just someone who's been around a while."

Eve nodded, clearly curious but not pressing further. "Well, welcome to the world of superheroing, Invincible. You should come by the Teen Team HQ sometime. I think the others would like to meet you."

Mark grinned. "Sounds like fun. Afterschool."

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As they left the school grounds, Eve glanced at Mark with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Teen Team HQ isn't far from here. You ready to fly?"

Mark smirked. "Always."

Without warning, Eve shot into the air, a trail of pink energy shimmering behind her. "Try to keep up, Invincible!" she called over her shoulder.

Mark grinned. His school clothes shifted into his invincible costume and launched himself into the sky, the wind whipping past his face as he quickly closed the distance between them. The city stretched out below, a blur of buildings and streets as the two heroes raced across the skyline.

"You're pretty fast," Eve called out, her voice teasing as Mark caught up beside her. "But can you do this?"

With a flick of her hands, Eve created a glowing pink ramp in mid-air, using it to slingshot herself forward. The sudden burst of speed widened the gap between them.

Mark laughed, his voice carrying through the wind. "Not bad, but watch this."

He leaned forward, pushing his speed to the limit. The air around him rippled as he broke through Eve's lead, the pressure building around him like a sonic boom. He glanced back with a cocky grin. "Still keeping up?"

Eve smirked, unfazed. "You're not the only one with tricks."

She conjured a series of energy platforms, bouncing off each one with incredible agility. The pink light danced around her as she darted ahead of Mark, her movements fluid and precise.

Mark couldn't help but admire her skill. She's good, he thought. But he wasn't about to let her win. He tilted his body, angling downward to use gravity to his advantage, then shot back up, intercepting her path just as they neared the industrial district where the HQ was located.

Eve's eyes widened slightly as Mark pulled ahead, but she quickly recovered, grinning as they approached the Teen Team building.

The two landed on the rooftop almost simultaneously, their laughter echoing in the quiet evening air.

"Not bad," Eve said, brushing her hair out of her face. "For a rookie."

Mark smirked, crossing his arms. "Rookie? I just beat you."

"Barely," Eve shot back, her smile playful. "Let's call it a tie."

Mark chuckled. "Deal. That was fun."

Eve gestured toward the entrance. "Come on, let's head inside. The others are probably wondering where we are."

As they walked into the HQ, Mark couldn't shake the grin on his face. 'Flying's fun, but flying with her? Even better'.

The Teen Team headquarters was tucked away in an industrial area, its exterior unassuming but hiding state-of-the-art technology inside. As they entered, Mark took in the futuristic design, his eyes darting between the advanced tech lining the walls and the familiar faces waiting for them.

Rex Splode was the first to speak, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So, this is the guy who stole all the glory yesterday?"

"Rex," Eve warned, shooting him a look.

"What?" Rex said, throwing up his hands. "I'm just saying. He looks like he's already got a big head."

Mark smirked, unbothered. "Nice to meet you too."

Dupli-Kate offered a polite smile. "Ignore him. He's always like this."

Robot approached, his mechanical form whirring softly. "Your suit… it's remarkable. May I inquire about the material?"

Mark glanced at Eve, who nodded encouragingly. He extended his arm, and the suit rippled, forming a blade that glinted under the fluorescent lights. "It's… adaptable."

Robot's sensors focused on the transformation. "Fascinating. Did you design it yourself?"

Mark nodded. "Yeah. I made it while studying Flaxan technology. Took a lot of trial and error, but it was worth it."

Robot tilted his head slightly, his curiosity clearly piqued. "I would like to study it further. The material could provide invaluable insights."

Mark shook his head, his tone firm but polite. "Sorry, not happening. It's one of a kind, and I'm keeping it that way."

Robot's sensors whirred faintly, but he nodded in understanding. "I respect your decision."

Eve chuckled. "Don't take it personally, Robot. Mark's just protective of his work."

The rest of the visit was filled with casual conversation and playful banter. Mark quickly realized that Rex was just as much of a jerk as he'd seemed in the comics, but the rest of the team was welcoming. By the time he left, he felt comfortable with the team and left them his contact in case they needed his help.

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Underneath the dim light of the Guardians of the Globe's headquarters, Cecil Stedman stood amidst the aftermath of the massacre. The room was eerily silent, the metallic tang of blood still lingering in the air. The walls were splattered with crimson streaks, and the bodies of the Guardians had already been carefully removed, leaving only the brutal signs of their struggle behind.

Cecil adjusted his coat and sighed. 'Whoever did this didn't just kill—they sent a message'.

A low growl of disapproval interrupted his thoughts. "Blood speaks," came the raspy voice of Damian Darkblood as he emerged from the shadows, his glowing eyes scanning the room.

Cecil didn't flinch. He had grown accustomed to the demon detective's unnerving presence. "What do you see, Damian?" he asked, his voice steady.

Darkblood knelt near a darkened stain on the floor, his clawed fingers tracing the edge of a massive blood splatter. "Violence. Precision. Rage," he muttered, his voice gravelly. "This was not a battle—it was an execution."

Cecil nodded grimly. "That much is clear. The Guardians didn't stand a chance."

Darkblood straightened, his trench coat swaying as he turned to face Cecil. "The question isn't how. It's why. And by whom."

Cecil sighed, rubbing his temples. "It's a mess. And it's going to stay a mess unless we get control of this narrative."

Darkblood turned to face Cecil, his raspy voice cutting through the quiet. "Omni-Man. Last one standing. Blood tells his story."

Cecil took a step closer, his tone sharp. "And what? You think accusing Earth's greatest hero of murdering its greatest team is going to help anyone? You don't have proof, Damian."

Darkblood gestured to the bloodstains, the shattered armor, the destruction surrounding them. "Proof is here. In blood. In carnage. You choose not to see."

Cecil's voice rose, his frustration boiling over. "I don't need you telling me what I see! What I see is a situation that could destroy this planet if handled wrong. If Nolan did this—and I'm not saying he did—we don't need you stirring the pot!"

Darkblood stepped closer, his glowing eyes blazing with intensity. "Truth must come to light. Secrets will destroy you."

Cecil's face darkened, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. "You think you're untouchable, huh? You're only here because I let you be here. You keep pushing this, and I'll send you straight back to hell."

Darkblood held Cecil's gaze for a long moment before stepping back, his trench coat swaying as he turned toward the shadows. "You fear the truth. But it's already here. Blood whispers… and it doesn't lie."

Without another word, the demon detective disappeared into the darkness, leaving Cecil standing alone amidst the wreckage. He exhaled sharply, adjusting his glasses as he turned to face the scene.

'If it's him, we're not ready. Not yet', he thought, his mind already racing with contingency plans.

Looking at the bloodstained walls one last time, Cecil muttered under his breath, "Nolan, you better have a damn good explanation for this."

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Author's Notes:

Be sure to check out my p*tr-eon where you get early access to my chapter. The first R-18 chapter is already out there.