Nighman

Chapter 19

The fierce clash between Supreme and Omni-Man had left scars on the landscape, deep craters and torn earth marking every place their fists had struck. But as their fight waged on, down below, another battle had begun to unfold in the school courtyard.

Eve was struggling to stand after her initial bout with Mark, bruised but determined. Cerulean, her teammate, crouched beside her, his eyes scanning the skies as he watched Supreme and Omni-Man trading blows. The sheer scale of the battle above had captivated both him and Eve. Yet, they knew their focus couldn’t stray for long.

Mark hovered above them, his eyes burning with a fervor they’d never seen before. Clad in his new Viltrumite uniform, the symbol of his heritage, he seemed almost unrecognizable—a darker, more ruthless version of the friend they once knew.

“Cerulean, Eve,” he called down, his voice laced with a cold authority. “You should’ve taken my offer. I gave you the chance to join me. Together, we could be unstoppable.”

Eve struggled to her feet, defiance flashing in her eyes. “Mark, this isn’t you. You’re not a conqueror—you’re our friend. We fought side by side. You were a hero. Think about what you’re doing.”

Mark’s eyes flickered, a hint of the old him fighting through. But he shook it off, hardening his gaze. “That was a weakness. Father helped me see that. We’re Viltrumites, Eve. This world could be so much more. But it needs to be ruled, guided, controlled.”

Cerulean stepped forward, his jaw set with grim determination. “If you really believe that, then I don’t know you anymore, Mark. And I can’t let you keep doing this.”

Without waiting for a response, Cerulean shot forward, moving faster than Mark anticipated. He landed a punch squarely on Mark’s jaw, sending him stumbling back. But Mark recovered quickly, a gleam of fury in his eyes. He matched Cerulean’s speed and strength, and within seconds, they were trading punches with brutal force.

Eve summoned her powers, focusing her energy to reinforce Cerulean’s attack. With a surge of will, she created a shimmering barrier around Cerulean, enhancing his durability and amplifying his strikes. Mark was visibly shaken by the sudden teamwork, and for a moment, he seemed overwhelmed. But he dug deep, channeling the full power of his Viltrumite strength.

“You two can’t stop me!” Mark roared, his voice carrying across the courtyard. He lunged forward, shattering Eve’s barrier with a single, powerful blow. Cerulean was flung back by the impact, skidding across the ground but quickly righting himself, breathing heavily.

Mark’s face twisted with frustration, a hint of desperation in his eyes. “Why are you making me do this? Why can’t you just see the world the way I do?”

Cerulean rose, bruised but unbowed. “Because we see the world the way it should be—a place where people are free. A place where we protect others, not control them.”

As he spoke, Eve stood beside him, her powers flaring to life once more, creating intricate patterns of energy around her. She reached out, intertwining her energy with Cerulean’s, boosting both their abilities. Together, they faced Mark, their expressions resolute.

Mark hesitated, a glimmer of doubt crossing his face. But he clenched his fists, burying the uncertainty. “Fine. If you won’t join me… then you’re my enemies.”

The three of them clashed again, their powers illuminating the courtyard in bursts of color and force. Mark fought with unrestrained power, his Viltrumite strength dominating the fight. But Eve and Cerulean’s teamwork was relentless; they pushed him to his limits, finding openings, adapting to his attacks, refusing to give up.