Chapter 22: Cecil can't do shit

ANDDDD WE BACKKKK. School started last week so I've been slogging through this chapter but we are getting closer to the end guys. Isn't that exciting! Anyways, once we finish season 1 for this fanfic then I will move over to my other books for a little bit, getting a few chapters out for each book before starting on the next part of this story. Enjoy the chapter 🙂

"God has a plan."

Lucifer: "Yes, but why does everyone think it's a good plan?" -Lucifer series on Netflix

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The Mauler Twins, grunting with effort, worked feverishly in their underground laboratory. Sparks flew as they connected the final wires to the body of The Immortal, a being who had seen more centuries than most civilizations. His body lay on the table, lifeless yet brimming with potential energy, awaiting the spark of resurrection.

With a final twist of a dial, the machine hummed to life, sending a surge of electricity through The Immortal's body. His chest convulsed, and his eyes shot open, glowing with a fierce light. The Immortal broke free of the restraints, his strength and rage returning with a vengeance.

"RAHHHHHHHH" he roared, his voice echoing through the lab. "Where is Omni-Man? And that other monster? They're going to pay for what they've done!"

The Mauler Twins backed away, hands raised in a gesture of surrender. "He's out there, tearing the world apart. We thought you might want to stop him."

Without another word, The Immortal launched himself into the sky, the roof of the lab exploding as he shot through it, leaving the Mauler Twins to cower in his wake.

XXXX

The Earth was on the brink of annihilation as Beerus continued his assault on the planet. His power is unmatched, and one by one, the major cities and powers of Earth fell before him. Skyscrapers crumble, and entire military installations are reduced to ashes as Beerus unleashed his devastating energy blasts, effortlessly tearing through the planet's defenses.

In the Global Defense Agency (GDA) headquarters, Cecil Stedman watches in horror and anger as the destruction unfolds on multiple screens. His face is etched with desperation, yet his mind races, calculating the next move.

"Dammit," Cecil mutters under his breath, slamming his fist on the console. "We need something—anything—to slow him down."

Donald, his trusted aide, stands nearby, his expression equally grim. "We've deployed everything we have, sir. Nothing's working. Atlas is… unstoppable."

Cecil shakes his head. "We can't give up. There has to be a way to buy more time."

Suddenly, an alert flashes on the screen—Omni-Man has engaged with Mark. Cecil's eyes widen, and he taps into the feed, watching as the battle between father and son unfolds in the skies over a ruined city.

XXXX

Mark Grayson, known as Invincible, struggles to keep up with his father's brutal assault. Nolan, Omni-Man, moves with blinding speed and overwhelming force, his punches sending shockwaves through the air. Mark barely manages to dodge, countering with strikes of his own, but it's clear he's outmatched.

"Mark," Nolan growls between blows, "you have to understand! This is bigger than you, bigger than Earth. You need to see the truth!"

"The truth?" Mark retorts, his voice strained as he blocks a devastating punch that sends him crashing through a building. "The truth is that you're destroying everything I care about!"

Nolan lands beside his son in the rubble, his expression a mix of frustration and something bordering on regret. "You don't understand, son. Earth is insignificant in the grand scheme. We're Viltrumites—we bring order to the universe. But if you keep fighting me, you'll die with these humans."

Mark rises from the debris, bloodied but defiant. "Then I'll die fighting for what's right. I won't let you or Beerus destroy my home!"

Nolan's eyes harden, and he lunges at Mark with renewed ferocity. The two collide in a flurry of punches and energy blasts, their battle tearing through the remains of the city as civilians flee in terror.

XXXX

Back at the GDA headquarters, Cecil watches the carnage with a heavy heart. "This can't go on," he mutters. "If Mark falls… we're done."

Donald steps forward, a grim resolve in his voice. "Sir, there's one more option. It's risky, but… we could try the Kaiju serum again. Boost one of our remaining agents."

Cecil turns to Donald, considering the option. "It nearly killed the last agent we tried it on. But… we don't have a choice, do we?"

Donald shakes his head. "No, sir. We don't."

Cecil exhales slowly, then nods. "Do it. Prep the serum. And… get me in touch with the Guardians. We're going to need every last one of them."

As Donald rushes to make preparations, Cecil stares at the screen, watching Beerus lay waste to another city. His mind races with the weight of the decisions he's had to make, knowing that each one could mean the difference between survival and total extinction.

XXXX

Meanwhile, Beerus stands amidst the ruins of what was once New York City, surveying his handiwork with cold satisfaction. The few remaining military forces attempt a final, desperate assault, but their weapons are useless against the god-like being.

"Is this all your world has to offer?" Beerus muses aloud, his voice carrying over the desolate landscape. "Pathetic."

He raises his hand, preparing to deliver another devastating blow, when suddenly, a barrage of energy blasts strikes him from behind. Beerus barely flinches, turning to see a squadron of GDA fighter jets approaching, firing everything they have in a futile attempt to slow him down.

"You humans never learn," Beerus says with a smirk, and with a look from his eyes, the jets are engulfed in flames, their wreckage falling from the sky like burning comets.

Just as he was about to continue his rampage, he feels a faint shockwave from the other side of the planet. Turning his gaze towards the horizon, he locks onto the source—Omni-Man and Invincible, their battle escalating as they unleash their full strength against one another.

"Interesting," Beerus murmurs, his curiosity piqued. "Perhaps I should pay them a visit."

XXXX

As Beerus takes to the skies, Cecil receives the latest intel from his operatives. "Sir," one of them reports, "Atlas is moving towards Omni-Man and Invincible. They're drawing him in."

Cecil narrows his eyes. "Good. Let them wear each other down. If we're lucky, they might just kill each other."

But deep down, Cecil knows that this is only a temporary reprieve. Beerus and Nolan are the most powerful beings on the planet and unless they find a way to stop him, Earth's fate is all but sealed.

As the scene cuts back to the ongoing battle between Nolan and Mark, it becomes clear that the final confrontation is approaching—a clash of titans that will determine the future of the planet and everyone on it.

XXXX

The ground beneath Mark and Nolan trembled as their battle reached a fever pitch, each blow sending shockwaves that reverberated through the devastated city. Mark, bruised and bleeding, stood firm against his father, every strike a testament to his unwavering resolve to defend the world he cherished.

Nolan, his expression torn between frustration and anger, met Mark's ferocity with calculated precision. "You're wasting your life, Mark! This planet isn't worth the blood you're spilling for it!"

Mark, his voice hoarse with emotion, spat back, "It's worth everything to me!"

As their clash raged on, the sky darkened ominously, and a new presence descended upon the battlefield. Beerus appeared, his aura crackling with divine energy, a smirk playing on his lips as he observed the two Viltrumites locked in combat.

"Well, well, well," Beerus drawled, his tone dripping with condescension. "If it isn't my half-breed 'cousin.' You two certainly know how to put on a show."

Nolan, recognizing the voice, turned sharply, his fists clenching in anger. "Beerus," he snarled, eyes narrowing dangerously. "Stay out of this. It's not your fight."

Beerus floated casually above them, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp with amusement. "And miss out on all the fun? I don't think so. Besides, I'm curious to see just how far you're willing to go to prove your point, Nolan."

Seizing the moment of distraction, Mark launched himself at Nolan, landing a powerful punch that sent his father crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact. Panting, Mark turned to Beerus, his breath ragged but his resolve unshaken. "I don't care who you are," Mark declared, his voice steady despite the pain. "I'm going to stop both of you."

Beerus's smile widened, a dark gleam in his eyes. "Bold words for someone so… outmatched. Let's see if you can back them up."

Without hesitation, Mark charged at Beerus, pouring all his remaining strength into a desperate attack. But before he could land a blow, Beerus moved with lightning speed, casually backhanding Mark with such force that he was sent hurtling into the ground, carving a deep trench through the rubble.

Beerus hovered above, looking down at Mark with a mixture of amusement and disdain. "Is that all you've got? You're going to have to do better than that if you want to stand a chance. Or I shall deem you unworthy of your heritage and kill you here and now."

Mark struggled to rise, his body aching from the impact, but the fire in his eyes never dimmed. He knew he was outmatched, but he refused to give up. This was his world, his home, and he would fight for it until his last breath.

Nolan, watching his son's futile struggle, felt a flicker of something deep within—pride, perhaps, or regret. But he quickly buried it, hardening his heart as he prepared to rejoin the "fight." He knew what needed to be done, and he couldn't afford to waver, not now.

"So, what's it going to be, Mark?" Beerus taunted, his voice dripping with condescension. "Will you keep fighting, even when you know it's hopeless? Or shall I free you of all worldly concerns."

(AN: IDK why but this line gave me chills when I wrote it)

Mark wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes blazing with unwavering determination. "I'll never stop fighting," he declared, his voice steady and resolute. "Not for you, not for him, not for anyone."

Beerus's smirk deepened, his eyes glowing. "Then let's see how much more you can take."

In an instant, Beerus vanished, reappearing before Mark with blinding speed. Mark barely had time to react before Beerus's fist slammed into his stomach, the sheer force of the blow reverberating through his entire body. The impact was immediate and devastating, driving the air from Mark's lungs and sending shockwaves rippling through the ground beneath them.

Before Mark could recover, Beerus followed up with a searing beam of energy from his eyes, striking Mark in the chest with unrelenting precision. The beam blasted Mark backward, scorching his skin and searing through his uniform. Mark doubled over in agony, gasping for air as the intense heat and pain threatened to overwhelm him.

Yet, despite the crushing force of the attack, Mark refused to fall. His knees buckled, but he forced himself to remain upright, his body trembling with the effort. The defiance in his eyes burned brighter than ever, his resolve unbroken even in the face of such overwhelming power.

Nolan, watching the exchange from a short distance, felt a conflicted mix of emotions. Despite his firm belief in the Viltrumite way, seeing his son's relentless courage in the face of overwhelming odds stirred something deep within him. But there was no room for hesitation; he had to stay focused.

Mark, gritting his teeth, managed to counter with a desperate punch aimed at Beerus's face. But Beerus caught his fist with ease, twisting Mark's arm behind his back and driving him into the ground with crushing force. The ground shattered beneath them, debris flying in all directions as Mark's body impacted the ground with a sickening thud.

"Pathetic," Beerus sneered, stepping back to allow Mark to struggle to his feet once more. "Is this really the best you can do? How disappointing."

Despite the excruciating pain coursing through his body, Mark slowly pushed himself up, his eyes never leaving Beerus's. "I'm… not… done," he wheezed, forcing himself to stand tall. "I'll… keep fighting… no matter what."

Nolan, feeling an unfamiliar pang of guilt, hovered above the battlefield, his fists clenched. He knew that intervening would only prolong Mark's suffering, but seeing his son's unyielding spirit forced him to reconsider his next move.

"Mark," Nolan finally called out, his voice carrying over the chaos. "You need to stop this. You can't win. There's no shame in surrendering to a force greater than yourself."

But Mark shook his head, defiance burning in his eyes. "No… I won't… give up… on this world… on the people I love."

Beerus, growing tired of the back-and-forth, raised his hand, energy crackling around his eyes as he prepared to deliver a final, devastating blow. "Enough of this nonsense. It's time I put an end to your pitiful resistance."

Mark braced himself, knowing he couldn't survive another attack of that magnitude. But just as Beerus was about to unleash his power, a sudden punch between them, forced Beerus to fly back.

Nolan, his eyes blazing with fury, had intervened at the last second, his own rage palpable around him as he faced Beerus. "If you want to end my son, Beerus," Nolan growled, "you'll have to go through me first."

Beerus tilted his head, intrigued. "Interesting. Very well, Nolan. Let's see if you can back up those words."

The battle between father and son had now transformed into a three-way struggle, with Mark barely holding on as Nolan and Beerus clashed with titanic force. The ground shook, the sky darkened, and the very air seemed to tremble as the three titans fought for the fate of Earth.

XXXX

Cecil, watching the carnage from the GDA headquarters, knew that the outcome of this battle would determine the future of the planet. As the screens flickered with images of the ongoing fight, Cecil could only hope that somehow, against all odds, Mark would find a way to prevail.