He woke up full of life, with the innocence of a child. His name was Alex Grayson, son of Nolan Grayson—better known to the world as Omni-Man—a Viltrumite warrior living on Earth. Today was his and Mark's thirteenth birthday, a day of celebration. But somewhere in the back of his mind, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that this year was different. That something was about to change.
Flashback – Two Years Ago
Their father had called them both into the living room. It wasn't unusual for him to sit down and have serious talks, but something about this moment felt… heavier. Alex and Mark, both eleven years old, sat across from him, their mother watching silently nearby.
Nolan folded his hands together, his gaze calm yet unreadable.
"Okay, boys, you may have noticed by now that I'm not like normal dads. I've avoided the subject for too many years, and your mother and I have decided that it's time you knew the truth. We think you're both old enough for me to tell you where I come from."
Alex and Mark leaned in, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Billions of miles from here, out in deep space, is the planet Viltrum, a cool blue oasis alone in a solar system much like our own. I was born on this planet.
Its people are not completely unlike humans, although they—and I—have abilities in addition to what humans have. We can fly, move at super speed, and possess great strength by human standards."
As Nolan spoke, Alex listened intently, absorbing every word. He didn't know why, but something about this revelation stirred something deep within him.
Viltrum, a utopian world of strength and unity. A society so advanced that they no longer faced war, illness, or suffering. But they hadn't become complacent. Instead, the Viltrumites had taken it upon themselves to spread their advancements to lesser-developed planets. The World Betterment Committee was formed with one mission: to locate planets in crucial stages of development, protect them from threats, and guide them toward a brighter future.
Nolan's story continued, detailing his role in the expansion. He had been a scout, tasked with discovering new worlds worthy of the Viltrumites' guidance. That was how he found Earth. Unlike the other planets he had studied, something about this world fascinated him—the people, their ambition, their resilience. But when the committee denied his request to add Earth to their betterment program, he offered an alternative: he would relocate here himself.
"I was warned that Earth's remote location might mean I'd never return home, but I didn't care," Nolan admitted. "No amount of research could have prepared me for what I would experience upon my arrival."
His expression softened. "Then, I met your mother. The rest, as they say, is history."
Nolan let the words settle before his expression became serious again.
"But there's more," he continued. "You're both getting older now, and things are going to start changing for you soon. Your voices will deepen, you'll start growing hair in new places, and you'll begin seeing girls in a new light. But more importantly… there's a good chance you're both going to develop powers."
Mark stiffened. Alex leaned forward, his heartbeat quickening.
"Super-strength, super-speed, flight—the whole bit," Nolan explained. "All the abilities I have."
Alex's eyes widened in awe. Superpowers. The very idea sent a rush of excitement through him.
"WOW! Does that mean I can lift entire buildings on my own?" he asked, his mind racing with possibilities.
Mark, sitting beside him, was quieter in his reaction. "Wait… I'm going to be able to fly?" His voice was hushed, still digesting the revelation.
Nolan chuckled. "That depends. Not every Viltrumite hybrid awakens their powers at the same time. Some start early, some later. It'll happen when your bodies are ready."
Back to the Present – The 13th Birthday
Alex sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his reflection in the mirror. The memory of his father's words still echoed in his mind. Maybe this is the year.
Today was a big day. The house was filled with decorations, gifts stacked near the living room, and the smell of his mother's cooking drifted through the air. Friends and family were coming over later, but Alex barely paid attention to the festivities.
Something about this day felt… off.
As he went downstairs, Mark was already at the table stuffing his face with breakfast, his usual carefree attitude in full effect.
"Happy Birthday, Alex!" Debbie greeted with a warm smile as she placed a plate of pancakes in front of him.
"Thanks, Mom," he replied, forcing a smile.
The morning passed in a blur of cake, laughter, and presents. Friends from school arrived, their parents chatting in the background while Mark and Alex enjoyed the attention. But Alex felt like he was moving through the day on autopilot. That strange feeling of anticipation wouldn't leave him.
And then… it happened.
That night, long after the guests had left and the house had settled into silence, Alex lay in bed staring at the ceiling. His heart was beating strangely fast, his body tingling with an unfamiliar energy.
Suddenly, his vision blurred. A flash of light filled his mind, and for the second time in his life, reality seemed to twist.
Memories came flooding back.
Wait… what?
Alex's breath caught in his throat as images flashed before his eyes. Scenes he had never lived, moments he had never experienced—yet they were as vivid as if they had always been part of him.
He saw himself in another life, in another world.
A world where superheroes weren't real… but they were fiction.
Marvel. He remembered Marvel. The movies, the comics, the stories of heroes like Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and Spider-Man.
And Taskmaster.
That name burned in his mind, clearer than all the others.
Then… Invincible.
His chest tightened as he saw it—the Invincible comic, the very world he lived in now. He remembered flipping through the pages, watching the animated series, seeing the rise and fall of Omni-Man. The blood, the betrayals, the war.
And suddenly, he knew.
This wasn't just some strange dream. He had been reborn in this world. In this version of reality, he wasn't just Alex Grayson. He was someone who had knowledge no one else did. He knew what was coming.
The fight with the Guardians. Nolan's betrayal. The Viltrumite Empire.
A cold sweat covered his skin as the weight of this realization pressed down on him.
Then, just as suddenly, the vision shifted.
He wasn't in his room anymore.
A glowing arcade machine stood before him, its neon lights flickering in an empty void. It was old, yet impossibly advanced, as if it existed beyond time itself.
A single coin rested in his palm.
Instinctively, he inserted it into the slot. The screen whirred to life, displaying a spinning wheel covered in countless names and symbols. His body moved on its own as he reached for the lever and pulled.
The wheel spun. Faster and faster. His heartbeat matched its rhythm. Then—
Click.
The wheel stopped. The name glowed brightly in golden letters.
TASKMASTER.
A rush of information flooded his mind. Techniques, battle instincts, muscle memory—he could see every move, feel every attack, as if he had lived through a thousand battles before. But unlike the original Taskmaster… there were no weaknesses.
His path was now set.
He had knowledge of the future. He had the perfect combat ability. And he had Viltrumite blood running through his veins.
He clenched his fists.
No one can know.
This world was dangerous. He wasn't going to sit back and let things play out the way they did in the comics.