Mark emerged from the swirling portal into a world of harsh, oppressive heat. The sky above glowed dimly with the red light of a sun that began to sap his Kryptonian abilities. For now, the solar batteries in his Invincible suit kept him fully powered, but he knew they wouldn't last forever.
He surveyed the sprawling alien city before him. Towering structures of metal and glass stretched toward the crimson sky, and Flaxan soldiers moved in precise battalions. This was their home turf, but Mark was strong enough that it didn't matter.
Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself. This wasn't just a battle—it was a mission to cripple an entire society. He reached for the collar of his suit, stripping it off piece by piece until he stood exposed to the red sun's rays. His body tensed as the energy drain intensified, but that was the point. He needed to grow stronger without relying on the yellow sun's radiation. He had to strengthen his Viltrumite side, preparing for future battles in places where red suns dominated. He needed to be ready for the real threats: Battle Beast, Thragg, and the Viltrumite Empire.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX*Mark Pov*
I launched myself off the ground, heading straight for the tallest structure I could see. It looked like a palace—a good enough place to start. As I flew, Flaxan soldiers opened fire, their energy weapons lighting up the air around me. I dodged easily, feeling the thrill of combat building in my chest.
When I landed on the roof, the entire building trembled beneath the impact. Soldiers scrambled to respond, their shouts echoing in an alien language. They charged at me with weapons drawn, and I grinned. Perfect.
The first soldier swung at me with a blade glowing blue-hot. I caught his wrist mid-swing and twisted, the sickening crack confirming my grip's strength. "Impressive tech," I said, tossing him into a group of his comrades. "But you have no idea who you're dealing with."
Each punch sent shockwaves through the air, their exosuits shattering under my fists. My movements felt heavier than they did on Earth; the red sun was taking its toll. But I pushed through it. Every strike, every dodge, was a reminder: this wasn't just a fight—it was training.
The toll of the red sun became undeniable as days turned into weeks. I felt it every time I moved—a slight lag in my punches, the weight in my limbs. But something wasn't adding up. It wasn't draining me as fast as I expected.
One night, sitting amidst the ruins of a Flaxan command center, I flexed my fingers, feeling the tension in my muscles. "Why am I still this strong?" I muttered aloud. "By now, I should be at mid-season-one Mark levels of strength and speed—the guy who struggled to stop an asteroid."
Then it hit me: the Codex. The knowledge it had implanted in me rushed back—the way my Kryptonian and Viltrumite genes interacted, the adaptability of my hybrid physiology. My Viltrumite genes were compensating, having adapted to my previous levels of strength and speed under the yellow sun, and reinforcing my Viltrumite strength. Even under this red sun, I was holding on to my powers longer than a regular Kryptonian ever could.
I chuckled, leaning back against a crumbling wall. "I'm not just getting stronger—I'm evolving. That's… awesome."
*POV end*
By the end of the fifth week, the drain of the red sun stopped affecting Mark entirely and left him about as strong as Anissa when she came to Earth. The Flaxan population had been reduced to a desperate few. Their once-thriving civilization was in ruins, its infrastructure shattered, and its people near-extinct. But they weren't finished yet.
The last remaining military leader, driven mad by grief and rage, made one final attempt to stop Mark. Strapping himself with a makeshift bomb of Flaxan energy cores, the leader charged at him, screaming incoherently. Mark didn't flinch. As the leader lunged, Mark grabbed him mid-air and hurled him skyward. The explosion erupted harmlessly above, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.
Mark stood in the ashes of their civilization, his chest heaving. 'It's done', he thought. 'They'll never come back to Earth again and I can finally use this dimension as my personal, Fortress of Solitude'.
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Author's Notes:
Just letting you guys know I will be starting a P*treon where you guys will have early access to chapters.