Chapter 48: Facing Super Skrull

To read up to 20 chapters ahead: https://www.patréon.com/SlyOW

---------------

Edward had prepared himself for the arrival of the Fantastic Four as he believed the chances of an attack were high.

So when he heard there was an attack on Central Park, he immediately wanted to create a portal and head there. However, before he could create his portal, he was attacked by several enemies who all looked the same.

As soon as they entered his Chi Sense, Edward knew they were not actually people but actually robots, so he knew he didn't have to pull his punches.

The robots were strong, but what troubled Edward wasn't really their individual strength but their numbers. Moreover, every time he tried to get away, they would start attacking civilians, forcing him to destroy them to the last robot.

So the robots managed to stall him for a few minutes before he got to the last one.

Thankfully, the fight in Central Park was making quite some noise, and he wasn't far, so he was able to teleport there right away.

As soon as he arrived, he saw the situation was dire, but thankfully no one died, although the Invisible Girl was exhausted and her Chi was weak.

But what really caught his attention was the strange feeling he was getting from her, he couldn't really pinpoint what it was, but there seemed to be something familiar with her.

Unfortunately, Super Skrull was about to attack, and she was too weak right now so he pushed her into the portal he came from and closed it as the fire fist descended from the sky.

With a burst of speed, Edward dodged the giant fire fist, and used a nearby monster as support to make a second jump, heading toward the enemy. He didn't really understand how the enemy had the power of the Human Torch, but he saw the real Human Torch on the side so he didn't hesitate.

Up in the air, Super Skrull had more than enough time and speed to dodge, but he merely sneered at Edward as he stood there, unmoving. On the ground, Reed shouted "Don't! He's made of plasma!"

Edward paid no heed to his words though, and as he approached Super Skrull his fist took a purple color as he smashed it toward Super Skrull.

The alien did nothing but intensify the heat from his plasma body, intending to melt Edward's fist as he attacked him.

But much to everyone's shock, Edward's fist did not go right through Super Skrull's body, but instead smashed into him, like he had a physical form.

Super Skrull was taken completely by surprise and did not put up any defence as the powerful fist smashed into him.

Super Skrull lost his plasma form as he was smashed down into the ground, the force with which he was sent flying created a large crater in the ground, where he landed.

But things weren't over as Edward also began falling, and he used his favourite move under the Dragon Stance, descending from the sky as he smashed his Chi clad leg onto the fallen Super Skrull.

The later was still stunned from the earlier impact, and barely had the time to cover his arms with the Thing's rock skin as Edward's leg smashed into him.

The ground shook alongside Super Skrull's inner body as Edward showed his powerful strength. Edward wanted to continue the assault and finish Super Skrull, but he felt through his Chi Sense Super Skrull wanted to use an attack that would cover his surroundings, so he jumped away.

Right as he did, Super Skrull's surroundings exploded into flames as Super Skrull got up, before turning back into his normal form.

Super Skrull still had a hole in his abdomen, caused by the Invisible Girl earlier. But now, he also spat out a mouthful of blood, and his chest was a little caved in.

Edward raised an eyebrow at his appearance though and, much to Super Skrull's shock, spoke in the Skrull's language "I didn't expect to see a Skrull here. I would advise you to leave this planet, unless you want your empire to go up in smoke."

Super Skrull opened his mouth wide, but in the end didn't say anything as he regained his calm and covered his body with the Thing's skin.

Seeing this, Edward looked at Super Skrull for a couple of seconds, pondering, before he took out the Ebony Sword from his space bracelet.

This time, despite having full confidence in his durability, he did not dare underestimate Edward, and went on guard right away.

Seeing this, Edward smiled lightly and rushed at Super Skrull. He first sent a flying slash at Super Skrull, who blocked it with both his arms. The power behind the slash wasn't that strong though, and he easily blocked it.

Still, he didn't grow overconfident and remained on the defensive against Edward. The later got in close proximity and slashed his sword at Super Skrull, who smashed his fist against the sword.

However, much to his shock, his rock like skin, which could defend against the strongest blows and shatter any weapon, was cut open easily by the sword. Thankfully, he reacted fast enough to stop himself and kick at Edward, forcing him away.

Still, his hand was now unusable for this fight, Edward's sword had severed several of the nerves inside.

Super Skrull returned to his base form as he looked at Edward with wariness, before he took the Human Torch's form and flew away quickly.

Seeing this, Edward felt pleased. From his opponent's Chi, Edward knew he was much stronger than him. However, because he had underestimated him, he was defeated. Had he been expecting Edward's first attack to reach him, he would have been able to dodge easily.

And after that, he had known Edward's sword could easily bypass his rock like skin, he could have simply used his other powers to attack Edward from a distance, something he couldn't have defended against.

Or Super Skrull could have been even more direct and use his body's raw strength to overpower Edward through sheer power, but Edward's first attack had misled him into thinking the human was at least as strong as him, hence the swift defeat.

Now that his fight was over, Edward looked at the other two fights ongoing. On one side, Mr Fantastic was fighting with the one who had sent the robots after him, and on the other side the Human Torch, the Thing, Peter and Iron Man were fighting against a strange opponent, who appeared to be a strange mix between a robot and a living being.

Edward wouldn't have to choose a fight though as Doom knew today's fight was over with Serenity's arrival.

Before this fight, he didn't think much of him, he had sent his Doombots against him because he was the only nuisance he knew of. He didn't even know of Spider-Man, and Tony Stark wasn't supposed to be in New York.

However, today he learned that there were two serious threats in New York, and that he should keep a closer look on Stark.

Doom sent a look at Reed, and felt the temptation to simply end it there, to use a deadly spell to finish his nemesis, but quickly stopped himself. It would be a pointless victory.

So he crossed his arms and created portals below everyone of his remaining allies, sending them away, before creating one behind himself. He sent a look at the masked Serenity, and warned "This isn't over."

Serenity made no response though, so Doom left through his portal.

As soon as he did, Edward didn't talk to the other, but instead opened a portal. On the other side, the Invisible Girl had fallen to the ground, but thankfully was still there, and still alive, although unconscious.

Edward grabbed her and pulled her to their location before closing the portal. As he did, the rest of the Fantastic Four rushed at him, eager to see how their teammate was doing.

Peter and Iron Man were not far behind, looking in curiosity. They didn't know the woman, but it would be sad if she died.

Thankfully, as Edward handed her to Mr Fantastic, he said "She is only unconscious, she seems to have spent her reserves. I will let you handle her."

Mr Fantastic nodded in thanks, alongside the other other two. As for Edward, he joined Peter and asked "You okay?"

Peter nodded "A little burnt, I was caught by surprise Sir."

Edward hummed, and a click as Iron Man opened his visor, revealing Tony Stark. The later said "Did a child design your suit?"

Edward scoffed "I won't take advice from a tin can."

"A tin can that shoots lasers."

"A magical child suit that can morph with a thought."

"Okay, both our suits are cool. His sucks though." Stark pointed at Peter, who looked shocked.

Edward nodded "Yeah, it offers no protection and barely hides his identity."

Peter looked at his teacher and one of his idols with a betrayed face. He liked his suit, was it that bad?

But as the three were talking and the two men of science were striking an unlikely friendship, Edward suddenly turned his head toward the unconscious Invisible Girl.

He quickly approached and said "Give her to me."

The three surrounding her looked at Edward in shock as Mr Fantastic said "Excuse me?"

Edward pointed at the unconscious woman and questioned them "You don't understand anything about her powers, do you? Because I do. Without my help, she will take days to wake up, and will be weakened for a long while."

Johnny was about to say something, but Reed stopped him by grabbing his shoulder and replied himself "We aren't going to leave her to you. You can come back with us to Baxter Building if your help really is so… necessary."

Edward fell silent, and after a couple of seconds he opened a portal as he said "Alright, let's go." He didn't wait for their answer as he walked through the portal. Reed, Johnny and Ben looked at each other in suspicion, but as they looked at the unconscious Susan, whose face was of a pale, sickly white, and had trails of drying blood flowing from her orifices, they carried Susan in the portal.

As the portal closed down, Peter and Tony were left alone. As it was getting awkward, Tony patted Peter's shoulder and said "It was nice meeting you kid, bye."

And with that, he took off in the sky. As for Peter, he swung through the city, feeling lonely…

He didn't go back home, obviously, and went for Edward's lab instead. Once there, he healed his wounds with what he could grab before putting on civilian clothes. The burns hurt quite a lot, but his constitution allowed him to recover from such wounds faster, and they probably wouldn't leave any scars.

He hoped they wouldn't.

Meanwhile, Doom had teleported himself and the rest of the villains, safe for Super Skrull, back to Latveria. He wanted to beat up his 'teammates' for being useless, but the only one still awake was an android devoid of thought.

So, as a petty revenge, he decided to destroy Dragon Man's restricting program, giving it back it's original mind and relieving it of any power Diablo had over it.

It was only a petty revenge against Diablo, but he also hoped that somehow it would do more damage to the Fantastic Four without it's idiotic master controlling it.

Finally, Super Skrull had returned to his spaceship, and had already left Earth as he was coming back to the Skrull Empire to warn them of a new powerful foe, as well as to analyse his power for their next fight.