Titans in the Jungle

The humid air hung thick as Marco approached the village, his senses sharper than ever. Ten Years has passed, Marco was no longer the uncertain boy who had stumbled upon his powers. Years of mastering Rokushiki techniques, refining his Phoenix flames, and understanding his role had turned him into a formidable presence.

For the past decade, the villagers had come to revere him—not just as a protector but as a miracle worker. He healed their wounds, traded supplies, and even helped rebuild after natural disasters. Yet this day, the calm was shattered by the sound of panicked footsteps.

A villager ran up to him, wide-eyed and trembling. "Marco! Someone stole the Phoenix mangoes and sold them! Now strangers have come—they're dangerous!"

Before Marco could respond, the ground trembled as two imposing figures landed in the village square. Solomon Grundy, a towering undead brute, loomed over the villagers with menace, while Weather Wizard, clutching his storm generator, sneered at the crowd.

"Where's the source of the mangoes?" Weather Wizard demanded, his voice sharp and biting as he summoned a gust of wind that sent market stalls crashing.

Marco stepped forward, his expression calm but unyielding. His flames flickered faintly at his fingertips. "You're trespassing. Leave, or you'll regret it."

Grundy growled, cracking his knuckles. "Grundy no care for warnings. Grundy smash!"

Before the brute could move, a swirling portal appeared, and the Teen Titans emerged. Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Raven, and Blue Beetle stepped into the clearing, their stances defensive and alert.

"Grundy and Weather Wizard," Robin announced, his staff ready. "We're here to take you both down."

But before the Titans could act, Weather Wizard unleashed a torrent of lightning at the villagers. Marco vanished in a blur, his Soru propelling him to intercept the strike midair. With a twist of his body, he redirected the lightning, sending it harmlessly into the ground.

"Stand down," Marco said, his voice steady but commanding. "This is my fight."

Robin frowned. "You can't handle them alone."

Marco didn't respond. Instead, he launched himself at Grundy with Geppo, his fiery wings propelling him forward. The impact of his flaming kick sent Grundy skidding back, his feet gouging trenches in the dirt.

Grundy roared and swung a massive fist, but Marco ducked under it with Kami-e, his movements fluid and precise. He countered with a fiery uppercut that sent Grundy crashing into a half-finished statue of Marco the villagers had been building.

"You hit hard," Marco said, dodging another swing, "but you're too slow."

Weather Wizard, furious, aimed his Wand at Marco, releasing a massive bolt of lightning. Marco raised his hand, and caught the bolt midair. With a smooth motion, he redirected the energy, sending it arcing into the jungle with a resounding crack.

"That all you've got?" Marco asked, his tone cool and unimpressed.

Weather Wizard scowled and summoned a cyclone, aiming to sweep Marco off his feet. But Marco leapt into the air with Geppo, flying above the storm and diving down in a spiral of flames. His fiery wings slammed into Weather Wizard, knocking the Wand from his hands and sending him sprawling into the dirt.

"Your tricks don't impress me," Marco said, extinguishing his flames with a flick of his wrist.

Grundy, recovering from Marco's earlier assault, charged again. This time, Marco met him head-on. Grundy's massive fists swung with earth-shattering force, but Marco's mastery of Tekkai allowed him to absorb the blows with ease.

When Grundy overextended, Marco countered with a barrage of fiery punches, each strike amplified by Shigan. The flames burned with an intensity that even Grundy, in his undead state, couldn't ignore.

Grundy stumbled back, his body smoking, but he wasn't out yet. Roaring in frustration, he ripped a massive tree from the ground and hurled it at Marco.

Marco smirked, his wings unfurling. With a single beat, he soared above the incoming projectile and dove down with blinding speed, landing a spinning kick that sent Grundy crashing into a rocky outcrop.

Nearby, Weather Wizard crawled toward his Weather Wand, desperate to regain control. Before he could reach it, Marco landed in front of him, his fiery claws crackling.

"Don't," Marco said simply, and Weather Wizard froze.

The Teen Titans watched from the sidelines, caught between awe and uncertainty. Starfire stepped forward. "You fight with great skill, but you should not bear this burden alone. Let us assist you."

Marco glanced at her but said nothing, his focus still on Grundy, who was struggling to rise. With one final surge, Marco unleashed a torrent of flames that engulfed the undead brute, weakening him enough to send him collapsing into unconsciousness.

Weather Wizard, seeing his ally defeated, raised his hands in surrender. Marco extinguished his flames and turned to the Titans.

Robin stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "We appreciate your help, but we need answers. Who are you, and where did you learn to fight like that?"

Marco crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering. "That's none of your business."

"We can't leave without understanding the situation," Robin insisted. "You have powers that we've never seen before, and they're dangerous in the wrong hands."

The air around Marco grew heavy as he activated his Conqueror's Haki, the sheer force of his will pressing down on everyone.

Weather Wizard collapsed instantly, the Titans staggered, their instincts screaming at them to back away.

"You don't want to make me your enemy," Marco said quietly. "Take your prisoners and leave."

Robin hesitated, glancing at his team. Starfire nodded reluctantly, and Raven summoned another portal. The Titans gathered the unconscious Grundy and Weather Wizard, dragging them through the swirling vortex.

As the portal closed, Marco extinguished his flames and turned to the villagers. "Clean up this mess," he said simply before walking back toward the jungle, his wings folding neatly against his back.

The villagers watched him go, their fear giving way to relief and gratitude. Once again, Marco had protected them—but the world beyond the jungle was beginning to take notice of his power.

The swirling energy of Raven's portal deposited the Teen Titans in the debriefing room of the Watchtower. Solomon Grundy and Weather Wizard were carried off by League operatives, still unconscious and restrained in reinforced bonds. The Titans gathered in front of the Justice League's Trinity—Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman—who waited for their report.

"Explain," Batman ordered, his voice sharp as ever.

Robin stepped forward, his expression serious. "We intercepted Solomon Grundy and Weather Wizard in a remote Amazonian village. They were acting on orders from Lex Luthor to locate and obtain a mysterious resource."

"A resource?" Superman asked, his arms crossed.

"Yes," Robin replied. "The villagers admitted one of their own sold some regenerative fruit to the black market. Lex must've discovered its potential and sent Grundy and Weather Wizard to locate the source. They didn't get far, though."

"Why?" Wonder Woman inquired.

Robin hesitated. "Because someone stopped them."

"Who?" Batman pressed.

"We don't know his name," Robin admitted. "He's young, around sixteen. His hair is white, his skin is light brown, and he has massive black wings. His eyes—they're sharp, almost birdlike."

"Wings?" Wonder Woman repeated, leaning forward slightly.

"Yes," Starfire chimed in, her tone tinged with awe. "And his power is... extraordinary. He completely overpowered Grundy and Weather Wizard without much effort."

Superman frowned. "What kind of powers are we talking about?"

Beast Boy interjected, unable to hide his excitement. "Okay, so Weather Wizard tries to zap him with this huge lightning bolt, and guess what? The dude redirects it. Like, no big deal—just catches it and sends it flying back!"

"Energy redirection?" Batman murmured, his gaze narrowing. "What else?"

Raven spoke next, her voice calm but heavy with meaning. "He generates blue flames. They're unlike anything I've seen—hotter, more concentrated, and... regenerative. I watched him heal his injuries in seconds. Those same flames caused significant damage to Grundy, likely because of his undead nature."

Superman's brow furrowed. "He incapacitated Grundy? That's no small feat."

"He didn't just incapacitate him," Robin added. "He toyed with him. Grundy's strength didn't faze him at all. And his speed—he moved so fast, it was hard to track him. He's highly skilled, using an advanced combat style I couldn't identify. He's clearly trained for years."

"And Weather Wizard?" Wonder Woman asked.

Robin exhaled. "He didn't stand a chance. The boy closed the distance in an instant and disarmed him with ease. It was... surgical."

Superman leaned forward. "If he's that powerful, why didn't he attack you?"

"He didn't see us as a threat," Raven said. "After he defeated Grundy and Weather Wizard, he turned his attention to us. For a moment, it felt like he was analyzing us—deciding whether we were worth his time."

"And what did he decide?" Wonder Woman pressed.

"He wanted us to leave," Robin said, his voice tight. "When we tried to question him, he unleashed this... pressure. It wasn't physical, but it felt like an overwhelming force weighing us down."

"An intimidation tactic?" Superman asked.

"No," Raven replied. "It was deeper than that. It felt like his will was bearing down on us, overpowering our senses. Weather Wizard collapsed under the pressure, even though. We had no choice but to retreat."

Blue Beetle added, "But he didn't seem like a bad guy. I mean, he didn't kill them, even though he could've. And he didn't try to fight us either."

Batman's voice was cold. "That doesn't mean he isn't dangerous. Powers like these, unchecked, could become a significant threat."

"Perhaps he's protecting something," Wonder Woman suggested. "If those fruits are tied to his power, he may see outsiders as invaders."

Superman nodded. "That would explain his hostility. If he's lived in isolation, he might view anyone from the outside world as a potential threat."

Batman's gaze remained fixed on the Titans. "Can you track him?"

Raven hesitated. "It's difficult. His energy is faint, as if he's masking it. I might be able to locate him again, but it will take time."

"Do it," Batman ordered. "If Lex Luthor knows about him, others will too. He's already a target."

"Perhaps we should take a different approach," Wonder Woman countered. "If he's truly as young as they say, and living in isolation, he may be more receptive to diplomacy than force."

Robin's voice was firm. "He's not someone we can approach lightly. He's disciplined, controlled, and extremely powerful. If we push too hard, he'll see us as enemies."

Superman's tone was calm but resolute. "Then we tread carefully. If he's alone, he might not have anyone to rely on. If we can show him that we're allies, we may gain his trust."

Batman's expression didn't waver. "Whether he's an ally or a threat, we need more information. Begin the search immediately."

The Titans exchanged uncertain glances as they left the room. Though they had faced powerful enemies before, none of them could shake the image of the boy.

The League would have to act quickly. The boy was out there, and the world was already beginning to take notice