Chapter 14

"Heads up!" Mark shouted while crashing onto the street. Nolan landed beside him and pulled him away just in time to avoid an oncoming car.

"That was a whole family you almost killed, and if not, grievously injured." Nolan reproached, giving him a sharp slap to the head. "Fail again, and you will be punished." With those words, he flew high into the sky, continuing to observe the team from above.

Mark rubbed the back of his head, feeling the sting from that slap. He muttered to himself, "Yeah, thanks for the encouragement, Dad." Straightening up, he scanned the area, trying to spot any remaining threats.

Meanwhile, Eve and Dupli-Kate were dealing with a group of armed robbers who had taken hostages in a nearby building. Using her powers, Eve created a barrier to protect the hostages while Dupli-Kate multiplied, overwhelming the robbers with sheer numbers.

Robot and Monster Girl were handling another situation a few blocks away, where a group of armored criminals were causing chaos. Robot hacked their armors, making them virtually useless and Monster Girl quickly opened their armor like a can of tunas.

From his vantage point, Nolan observed the team, noting their progress and areas where they still needed improvement. Despite his harsh demeanor, he couldn't deny that they were becoming more cohesive as a unit.

After ensuring the immediate threats were neutralized, he descended back to the ground, addressing the team. "Good work, but don't get complacent. There's always room for improvement."

Eve nodded, catching her breath. "We know, Omni-Man. We're doing our best to keep up."

Dupli-Kate, still panting from the effort, added, "Yeah, we aren't exactly jumping on a flower field."

He nodded in satisfaction."That's what I like to hear. Now, let's head back. We need to review today's mission and analyze what we can do better."

Multiple explosions in the distance stopped them in their tracks. Nolan narrowed his eyes as he looked in the general direction. "Stay alert," he commanded.

The team tensed, immediately shifting into a defensive formation. "What do you think it is?" Eve asked, her voice a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"Trouble," Nolan replied curtly. "Stay together and follow my lead."

With that, he took off, flying swiftly towards the source of the explosions. The team followed closely behind, their previous exhaustion forgotten now that a new threat appeared. As they approached the area, the smoke and fire became more apparent, and the sounds of chaos grew louder.

Nolan landed first, scanning his surroundings. A portal was where aliens continued to pour from. The rest landed soon after and Mark looked with wide eyes. "They are—"

Nolan silenced him with a look while Eve kicked him in the foot. "They are invading; keep the civilians safe and push them back from where they came from!" He shouted a command, pushing aside his inner confusion as to why the flaxans appeared so soon.

The team sprang into action, each member assuming their roles with practiced precision. Eve immediately slammed both hands on the ground, making it rise to protect to cover the people's escape, guiding them away from the chaos and into safer areas. Dupli-Kate multiplied, her duplicates attracting the attention of the flaxans.

Mark, fists clenched, nodded. "Got it. Let's send them packing."

Nolan shot like a comet into the heart of the alien horde, his form a blur as he carved through their ranks with terrifying ease. The Flaxans scrambled, their weapons snapping up in unison as they unleashed a storm of firepower. But the barrage did little more than cloud his vision. Given his past speed feats, it was obvious to everyone watching that this was a show for intimidation.

When the smoke cleared, Nolan stood there, brushing himself off. His suit was singed in a few places, but otherwise, he looked as unbothered as ever. He glanced around, his voice calm but carrying an edge of authority. "Time to choose. Are you coming with me or not?" He wasn't talking to anyone in particular, but Mark got the message.

Before anyone could respond, Nolan flexed his arms and then threw them wide. Mark's eyes went as wide as dinner plates. "Get down!" he shouted, diving for cover. The rest of the team followed suit, barely making it in time as a deafening *clap* ripped through the air. The shockwave shattered every window in the vicinity and sucked the oxygen out of the area, creating a vacuum that hurled the Flaxans back toward their portal. Some were torn apart mid-air, while others—lucky, if you could call it that—landed with broken limbs, disappearing into the swirling void from which they'd come.

His cape fluttered wildly in the wind as he stayed in the air, surveying the aftermath of the battle. Buildings lay in ruins, smoke curling into the sky, but he couldn't help but feel a grim sense of relief. Sure, there was property damage—and yes, maybe a few civilians hadn't made it—but it could've been so much worse. If the invasion had gone according to plan, the losses would've been catastrophic. 

With a small nod of satisfaction, he descended gracefully, landing in front of the swirling portal. For a moment, he glanced back at his team, some looked confused but others realized what he was doing. No words were needed—just a shared understanding. Then, without hesitation, he leaped into the portal, the glowing rift swallowing him whole.

Mark hesitated for a moment, his eyes locking onto Eve's. His voice was quiet, almost regretful, but there was a resolve in it that couldn't be shaken. "I'm sorry, but you're just a human." Before she could even process his words, he lunged forward, gripping the front of her shirt.

Eve's eyes widened in shock. "Mark, what are you—?" Her voice cut off as he hurled her backward with a force that sent her flying through the air, away from him, away from the portal his father had just disappeared into.

Mark clenched his fists, his chest tightening with guilt as the world around him began to warp and blur. He wanted to explain, to tell her everything—why he had to do this, why she couldn't follow him, why he had to face this alone. But there was no time. 'I'm such an idiot,' he thought. 'I thought I had more time to figure this out. My lifespan… it's not like hers. I can handle growing a beard and ditching school to stop a war. But I'll do it alone. No reason to drag her into this.'

The portal sealed shut behind him with a final and he found himself standing in a city that looked like something out of a sci-fi nightmare. Towering structures of alien design loomed overhead, bathed in the crimson light of a red sun. The ground was littered with bodies—soldiers, civilians, it was hard to tell. The war had clearly already begun.

Nolan, drenched in blood and casually floating in the air with a tank slung over his shoulder like it weighed nothing, glanced back at him. "I take it Eve didn't have it in her," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Before Mark could even open his mouth to respond, a laser blast struck Nolan square in the face. He didn't even flinch. Instead, he hurled the tank at a nearby watchtower, reducing it to a smoldering pile of rubble.

Nolan brushed a bit of debris off his shoulder. "I almost feel sorry for you," he said, his smile sharp and humorless. "If the girl had come, she might've kept your naive sense of morality in check. But now?" His eyes glinted with something cold. "We'll have to do this the hard way. Either they learn to speak our language… or they die."

Mark clenched his fists, his breath shallow as he took in the horror around him. The city was in ruins, the air thick with smoke and the acrid stench of burning flesh. He couldn't believe what he was seeing—what his father had done.

"This isn't war," Mark muttered, his voice shaking. "This is a massacre."

Nolan tilted his head, amused. "And? Do you think they wouldn't do the same if given the chance? These creatures are weak. If they can't defend their own world, they don't deserve to keep it." He gestured around them, his cape billowing in the wind. "Look at them, Mark. They threw everything they had at me, and I barely noticed. You think I'm the monster? I'm just nature at work."

Mark's stomach twisted. He had seen his father kill before, but this was different. This wasn't about protecting Earth or stopping a threat. This was him enjoying it.

"You're wrong," Mark said, his jaw tightening. "Strength isn't about tearing people down just because you can. It's about protecting those who can't fight back."

Nolan sighed, rubbing his temples like he was dealing with a petulant child. "I really hoped you'd grow out of this phase. But I suppose I should've expected it—you are still young." He locked eyes with Mark, his expression hardening. "Fine. If you won't learn the easy way, I'll teach you the way I was taught."

Mark barely had time to react before his father shot toward him at full speed, fist raised. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he launched himself upward, barely dodging in time. The shockwave from Nolan's punch shattered the ground where he had just been standing, sending a violent tremor through the crumbling city.

Mark's heart pounded in his chest. 'This is bad.'

Nolan's expression was cold, unimpressed. "We've been through this before, Mark. I'll beat you as many times as it takes for you to drop those naive, hypocritical ideals of yours." Before Mark could even react, Nolan's hand shot out, gripping his arm with an iron hold. "I'm a writer. I *know* more about these things than you ever will."

Mark gritted his teeth, swinging his free fist with all his might into Nolan's stomach. The impact sent a shockwave of air rippling around them, but Nolan barely flinched. "Look at you," Nolan sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Still just as weak compared to me. And you want to lecture me about strength? Let me show you what real strength looks like."

Mark's head snapped back as Nolan's fist connected with his face. The world spun, and then everything went black. Nolan crossed his arms, watching dispassionately as Mark's body crashed through one of the few buildings still standing. The force of the impact ground any unfortunate Flaxans still lingering in the open into the street, painting the rubble-strewn ground a gruesome red. With a shake of his head, Nolan leaped after him, landing at Mark's side with a heavy thud.

A few seconds later, Mark groaned, his ears ringing painfully as he stirred awake. "Did I…" He winced, massaging his face and squeezing his eyes shut. "Did I just black out?" His voice was shaky, barely above a whisper, as he tried to piece together what had just happened.

"I showed you what strength really looks like," Nolan said, his voice cold and unwavering. "Only in stories filled with idealism do words and the 'power of friendship' magically fix everything." He glared down at Mark, his expression a mix of disappointment and disgust. "This is the real world, you stupid child. These aliens attacked our world unprovoked. They forfeited their right to be treated as equals the moment they decided to tear families apart. It's our job to make sure no one else suffers because of creatures like them."

Nolan's hand extended toward Mark, his silhouette framed ominously by the red sun behind him, casting his face into shadow. "I suppose this is on me," he admitted, his tone softening just slightly. "I should've shown you the other side of hero work—not just the idealistic scenarios. Sometimes, to build something greater, you have to break what's standing in the way." 

Mark pushed himself up, his limbs aching from the impact. His father's words hammered into his skull, each syllable carrying the weight of his disillusionment. 'This isn't a lesson. This is brainwashing.'

"You don't get it," Mark rasped, shaking his head. "Strength isn't about who hits the hardest. It's about standing up even when the odds are against you." He wiped the blood from his lip, breathing heavily as he met Nolan's gaze. "You think you're making things better by destroying them, but all you're doing is proving you're no better than the people you claim to be protecting us from."

Nolan's expression twitched—annoyance? Disappointment? It was hard to tell. "You still don't understand," he muttered. "Fine. Let's see if you'll still be wasting your words with that rubbish when you're struggling to breathe."

Before Mark could react, Nolan was on him, his fist slamming into Mark's gut with enough force to crater the ground beneath them. Mark gagged, the air forced from his lungs in an instant. His vision blurred, but he forced himself to stay conscious, to fight. He swung wildly, catching his father's jaw—

Nothing.

Nolan didn't even flinch.

With a sigh, Nolan grabbed Mark by the collar and lifted him effortlessly. "If you're too weak to finish what you start, then stay out of my way."

Mark's vision swam, the edges darkening again. But through the pain, one thought rang clear: 'If I give up now, he wins.'

Mark gritted his teeth and spat, "Then I guess I'll just have to get stronger."

Nolan paused, considering Mark's words for a moment before turning to him with a look of deep disappointment. "And then what?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You'll kill me? To make sure I can never torment 'innocent' beings like the poor creatures of this dimension?" He scoffed, his tone mocking. "How exactly is that any different from what I'm doing?"

He cocked his fist back, his expression hardening as he loomed over Mark. "You know, if I truly were the monster you say I am, I'd kill you on the spot for spouting that nonsense. For threatening Earth's future with your naive, idealistic views." His voice wavered slightly, a flicker of something softer breaking through his stern facade. "But I can't bring myself to do that." 

The tension in the air was palpable, Nolan's internal conflict evident in the way his fist trembled ever so slightly. For all his strength, for all his conviction, there was still something holding him back—something that kept him from crossing that final line. 

Mark, still gasping for breath, forced a smirk. "Guess that means there's still a part of you that isn't completely lost." He wiped the blood from his mouth, forcing himself to sit up despite the crushing weight of exhaustion. "You want to act like you're above me, like you've got everything figured out—but if that were true, you wouldn't hesitate."

Nolan's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening into a white-knuckled fist. "You think this is hesitation?" His voice was low, dangerous. "This is me giving you one last chance to see reason."

Mark chuckled, though it hurt to do so. "You keep saying that. Like if you punch me hard enough, I'll magically start agreeing with you." His gaze hardened, a fire burning behind his tired eyes. "But that's not how this works, Dad. I don't want to be like you."

For a brief moment, something flickered in Nolan's gaze—uncertainty, regret, maybe even something close to fear. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"Tch." He turned away, his cape billowing behind him as he stared out over the ruined Flaxan city. "Fine. Stay weak. Stay blind." His voice lacked its usual venom, as if he was trying to convince himself just as much as Mark. "But one day, you'll see. And when that day comes…" He glanced over his shoulder, eyes cold. "You'll realize that I was right."

And with that, he launched into the sky, leaving Mark kneeling in the rubble, staring after him.