Invasion

Just as Mark was beginning to feel the thrill of battle course through him, he forced himself to stay focused. 'Protect the civilians first. Keep the Flaxxans busy'.

"Hey! Need a hand?"

Mark turned to see a flash of pink energy soaring through the air. A girl landed gracefully nearby, her glowing constructs pushing back a group of Flaxxans. Her red hair framed her face, and her emerald eyes burned with determination. Mark froze for a moment. 'Atom Eve'. He had seen her in the comics during his past life, but here, in person, she was breathtaking. For a second, he forgot where he was, transfixed by her beauty.

"Focus!" she called out, breaking him from his thoughts. "We've got a lot of these guys to handle."

Snapping out of it, Mark nodded. "Name's Invincible," he said, stepping forward and punching a Flaxan so hard it flew back into its comrades. "Nice to meet you."

"Welcome to the fight, Invincible," she said with a small smirk, her hands glowing as she created another energy shield to block incoming fire.

More flashes of light signaled the arrival of additional heroes. Rex Splode leaped into action, his explosive attacks tearing through enemy ranks. Dupli-Kate multiplied herself, overwhelming the Flaxxans with sheer numbers, while Robot barked orders, coordinating the team's efforts.

"Who's the new guy?" Rex called out, lobbing an explosive coin at a Flaxan soldier.

"Invincible," Eve said as she deflected a blast with her energy constructs. "And he's strong—really strong."

"Good," Robot said, as he dodged a swing from a Flaxan. "We could use the help."

Mark didn't waste time with introductions. He dove back into the fight, his fists a blur as he tore through the Flaxan forces. He noticed the Teen Team was coordinated, but the sheer number of enemies was starting to overwhelm them. Mark took it upon himself to handle the bulk of the army, drawing their fire and keeping the team from being overrun.

Mark fought with precision, taking on the majority of the army while keeping the Teen Team from being overrun. But his focus wasn't on victory—at least, not yet. He was watching, waiting, keeping track of the time. The Flaxans might have overwhelming numbers, but Mark knew their biology couldn't sustain itself on Earth.

'They'll start aging soon', he thought, dodging a blast and countering with a devastating punch. 'I just have to hold the line until then'.

The battle raged on, the Teen Team holding their ground as best they could. Eve's energy constructs shielded civilians and redirected enemy fire, while Rex's explosive attacks scattered their ranks. Dupli-Kate and Robot provided much-needed reinforcements, but the team was clearly starting to tire. Mark noticed Eve falter slightly, and his instincts kicked in.

Without thinking, Mark launched himself in her direction. "Eve, watch out!" he shouted, throwing himself in front of the shot. The blast hit his back, the force knocking him forward, but he stayed upright, shielding Eve with his body.

She turned to him, her eyes wide. "You okay?"

Mark grinned. "Takes more than that to hurt me."

Eve's expression softened briefly before she turned back to the battle. "Thanks."

Finally, it happened. The Flaxan soldiers began to falter. Their movements slowed, their attacks less precise. Armor-clad bodies began collapsing, their once-formidable forms withering with age. Mark smirked. 'Right on schedule'.

"They're aging!" Robot shouted, confirming what Mark already knew. "They can't sustain themselves here much longer."

As the Flaxans retreated toward their portals, the Teen Team regrouped. Exhausted but victorious, they watched as their enemies began to crumble under the weight of their own biology. For the others, this might have seemed like the end of the battle. But for Mark, it was only the beginning.

He turned his gaze toward the largest portal.

Before anyone could react, Mark launched himself toward the portal. Eve's eyes widened in alarm as she realized what he was doing.

"Invincible!" she called out, her voice desperate. "Wait! Don't—"

Her words were cut off as Mark disappeared into the swirling vortex, the portal's energy rippling in his wake.