Earth loomed in the spacecraft's cracked viewport, a fragile blue marble against the void. The Teen Team's ship limped through the upper atmosphere, its hull scorched from the dreadnought's destruction. Mark Grayson sat in the cockpit, his Invincible suit torn, blood crusted on his lip. The image of Nolan standing defiant as the dreadnought collapsed burned in his mind. His father had chosen Viltrum—or had he? The uncertainty gnawed at Mark, but there was no time to grieve. Alarms blared, signaling incoming threats.
"They're not done," Eve said, her voice strained as she reinforced the ship's failing shields with her pink energy constructs. Her suit was frayed, her face etched with exhaustion.
Robot's drone, barely functional, projected a flickering scan. "Multiple Viltrumite signatures approaching. Their fleet has bypassed our defenses. They're targeting Chicago."
Mark's heart sank. "They're going for the city. For Mom."
Rexplode, bandaging a burned arm, growled. "Let's blow 'em up! I've got one last detonator!"
Dupli-Kate, down to a single clone, shook her head. "We're outgunned. That fleet's bigger than the hub and dreadnought combined."
Monster Girl, back in human form and limping, leaned against a console. "We stopped their core, their dreadnought. They're desperate. We can use that."
Saitama, munching on a Viltrumite ration bar he'd salvaged, yawned. "Desperate's good. Makes 'em sloppy. Ready to punch a fleet?"
Mark turned, his voice sharp. "This isn't a game, Saitama. They're hitting my home. People are gonna die."
Saitama's eyes met his, steady but not dismissive. "I know, kid. That's why we're not losing."
Mark nodded, drawing strength from Saitama's unshakable calm. "Robot, get us to Chicago. Everyone, brace for a fight."
The ship dove, reentry flames licking its hull. Below, Chicago was a warzone. Viltrumite ships—sleek, predatory—swarmed the skyline, their weapons carving through buildings. Civilians fled, sirens wailed, and Cecil's defense forces—jets, drones, and superheroes—fought a losing battle. The sky burned red, smoke choking the air.
The Teen Team's ship landed hard on a shattered rooftop, its engines sputtering. Mark leapt out, scanning the chaos. A Viltrumite ship hovered over the Grayson house, its weapons charging. His stomach twisted.
"Mom," he whispered, then rocketed toward it.
Saitama followed, a yellow blur, while the Teen Team spread out to engage ground forces. Eve's constructs deflected a Viltrumite's sonic scream, saving a group of civilians. Rexplode's last detonator took out a patrol ship, the explosion lighting the street. Dupli-Kate's clone distracted a squad, buying Monster Girl time to transform and charge.
Mark reached the Grayson house, crashing through the Viltrumite ship's hull. Inside, soldiers turned, startled. He didn't hesitate, his fists a flurry of rage. One went down, then another, their armor cracking under his blows. Saitama appeared, flicking a third into the sky, then yawned. "These guys are repeats."
The ship's core sparked, and Mark smashed it, sending the vessel plummeting into Lake Michigan. He flew to the house, heart pounding, and found Debbie in the basement, unharmed but shaken.
"Mark!" she cried, hugging him. "I knew you'd come."
"I'm here, Mom," he said, voice breaking. "But it's not over."
Saitama leaned in the doorway, holding a looted Viltrumite protein bar. "Nice place. Fridge still empty?"
Debbie glared. "Not the time, Saitama."
He grinned. "Fair."
A sonic boom shook the house. Outside, Thragg landed in the street, Anissa at his side, their armor bloodied but intact. Behind them, the Viltrumite fleet descended, ships blotting out the sky. Thragg's voice boomed. "Invincible! Face me, or your city burns!"
Mark kissed Debbie's forehead. "Stay here."
She grabbed his arm. "Don't you dare die."
"I won't," he promised, hoping it was true.
He and Saitama stepped outside, facing Thragg and Anissa. The Teen Team regrouped, battered but defiant. Cecil's forces rallied, their drones and jets forming a defensive line. The air crackled with tension, the battle poised to decide Earth's fate.
"You're outmatched," Thragg said, scars glinting. "Viltrum's might is eternal."
Mark clenched his fists. "Earth's not yours to take."
Saitama cracked his knuckles. "Also, your fleet's ugly. Needs more color."
Anissa sneered. "Your mockery ends here, anomaly."
The fight erupted, a cataclysm of fists and fire. Thragg charged Saitama, their clash leveling a city block. Each of Thragg's punches shook the ground, but Saitama blocked them, his face bored. "Still slow," he muttered, flicking Thragg into a skyscraper, which collapsed in a cloud of dust.
Mark faced Anissa, her speed overwhelming. She landed a punch that cracked his ribs, but he countered, his training kicking in. Patience. Find the moment. He ducked her sonic scream, grabbed her arm, and hurled her into a Viltrumite ship, denting its hull. She roared, charging back, but Eve's construct tripped her, giving Mark a chance to land an uppercut.
The Teen Team fought with everything they had. Eve's shields protected civilians, her energy draining fast. Rexplode's improvised bombs—made from scavenged Viltrumite tech—disabled a ship, but he took a hit, collapsing. Dupli-Kate's last clone fell, leaving her vulnerable. Monster Girl, in beast form, grappled a Viltrumite, her strength fading.
Cecil's voice crackled through Mark's comm. "We're holding the line, but their numbers are too much. You need to end this, Mark!"
Mark panted, blood dripping from his nose. "Trying!"
A shadow loomed—Thragg, back from the rubble, his eyes blazing. He grabbed Saitama, hurling him through three buildings. Saitama landed, unharmed but annoyed, his ration bar crushed.
"That's it," Saitama said, voice low. "No more holding back."
He moved—a yellow streak—and punched Thragg. The shockwave shattered windows across Chicago, sending Thragg crashing through a Viltrumite flagship. The ship exploded, debris raining into the lake. The fleet hesitated, stunned by the display.
Anissa seized the moment, tackling Mark. "You're nothing without him!" she snarled, pinning him. Her fist raised, ready to end it.
A blur of red and white intervened—Nolan, his Omni-Man armor scarred, slamming Anissa off Mark. He stood between them, breathing hard.
"Dad?" Mark gasped, staggering to his feet.
Nolan's voice was rough. "I… made a mistake, Mark. I won't lose you too."
Anissa roared, lunging at Nolan, but Saitama appeared, tapping her. She crumpled, out cold. Thragg staggered from the flagship's wreckage, bloodied but unbowed. "Traitor!" he bellowed at Nolan.
Nolan faced Thragg, fists clenched. "I'm done with Viltrum's lies."
Mark stood beside his father, heart pounding. "Together?"
Nolan nodded. "Together."
The final clash was brutal. Mark and Nolan fought Thragg, their combined strength pushing him back. Mark's punches, honed by Saitama's training, cracked Thragg's armor. Nolan's experience guided their strategy, countering Thragg's rage. Saitama joined, his punches precise but devastating, each one shaking the battlefield.
Eve rallied the Teen Team, their efforts turning the tide. Robot hacked a Viltrumite ship, crashing it into another. Monster Girl's roars inspired Cecil's forces, who downed a third ship. Rexplode, back on his feet, grinned. "Boom, baby!"
Thragg, battered, unleashed a sonic scream that leveled a street. Saitama sighed, shoving a protein bar in Thragg's mouth. "Quiet."
He punched, a single, unrestrained blow. Thragg rocketed into the sky, vanishing beyond the atmosphere. The Viltrumite fleet, leaderless and crippled, began to retreat, their ships limping into space.
Silence fell, broken by the crackle of fires and distant sirens. Mark collapsed to his knees, exhausted. Nolan knelt beside him, a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Mark. For everything."
Mark's eyes burned, but he nodded. "You came back. That's enough."
Saitama dusted off his tracksuit, picking up a fallen ration bar. "Not bad, kid. You didn't scream this time."
Eve laughed, helping Monster Girl stand. "He's learning."
Cecil's voice came through the comm. "You did it. Viltrum's retreating. Earth's safe—for now."
Mark looked at the devastated city, then at Nolan, Saitama, and the team. They'd won, but the cost was steep. Buildings were rubble, lives lost, and Viltrum's shadow lingered.
Nolan stood, his face grim. "They'll regroup. This isn't over."
Mark rose, resolve hardening. "Then we'll be ready."
Saitama grinned, tossing Mark a ration bar. "Next time, we bring snacks."
The team limped back to the Grayson house, Chicago smoldering behind them. Debbie ran out, hugging Mark, tears in her eyes. She paused, seeing Nolan, her expression a mix of pain and hope.
Saitama leaned against a lamppost, watching the reunion. "Family stuff's messy. Anyone got pudding?"
Mark smiled, the weight of the day easing. They'd faced Viltrum and won. For now, that was enough.
But in orbit, a cloaked Viltrumite scout ship watched, its commander's voice cold. "The boy's stronger. The traitor's turned. The anomaly remains. We need a new plan."
The stars burned, and Earth braced for the next fight.
End of Chapter 14