"You worthless insect!"
"You dare invade the holy homeworld of the Flaxan Empire?!"
"Once we wipe you out, we'll march to your planet, exterminate your pathetic species, and strip every last resource from your world to fuel our glorious empire!"
The Flaxan soldiers froze. Their rifles weren't leaving so much as a scorch mark on Eden's skin. Panic set in—until their commander shoved one of his men aside, yanked the rifle from his hands, and unloaded round after round at Eden. Sparks flew uselessly across his chest as the commander puffed up, swinging his fists in mock challenge.
"Who gave you the guts to set foot on Earth?!"
"Who gave you the guts to insult me?!"
Eden's eyes narrowed, a dangerous edge glinting inside them.
And then he moved.
To the Flaxans, it was like lightning. One second their commander was sneering, the next, Eden was standing right in front of him.
"No—!"
The commander, his body swollen with genetic augmentations, didn't even have time to blink. A fist the size of his head rocketed forward, filling his vision. He tried to react, but against that kind of power, there was nothing to do but watch death close in.
For one fleeting instant, he wished he were just a regular Flaxan. At least then, he wouldn't have to face this terror head-on.
"BOOM!"
Eden's punch burst the commander's skull like an overripe melon, painting the ground in red.
Eden stood over the body, chest heaving. He'd wanted nothing more than an ordinary life. A boring, human life. But no—invaders had come knocking. And now this bastard had taunted him? He wasn't holding back anymore.
"The commander's down?!"
"We're screwed!"
"He's too strong—like a god!"
The Flaxan ranks broke, their confidence crumbling the second their leader's corpse hit the dirt.
"No worries," Eden said, eyes burning crimson. "You'll be seeing him again real soon."
Twin beams of heat vision roared out of his skull, slicing through the alien army like a scythe through wheat. Screams echoed as thousands were reduced to ash in the blink of an eye.
"Counterattack! COUNTERATTACK!!"
They tried. God, they tried. Elite squads, secret weapons, even a so-called "Godslayer Program." But it was laughable. Their weapons tickled. Their strategies collapsed. Every attempt was swallowed up in Eden's storm of speed and fury.
"If this is your best," Eden said coldly, breaking the sound barrier with a single rush, shockwaves ripping cities apart behind him, "then you're finished."
The hybrid son of Krypton and Viltrum unleashed hell. His fists cratered the landscape. His heat vision burned oceans dry. Flaxan Planet, once radiant, dimmed into a husk within days.
On Earth? Only a few minutes had passed.
Deep underground, in the last Flaxan stronghold.
"Are… are we gonna be okay?" A small, caterpillar-like child whimpered.
"Of course," said an elder, his antennae twitching with false pride. "Our army is the strongest in the galaxy. They'll slaughter the invader and march on his homeworld. Just like always."
"BOOOOM!"
The ceiling split apart, dust raining down as something punched straight through from the surface. Soldiers guarding the young clutched their rifles, throats dry.
They already knew the truth. Communications with the surface had gone silent a day ago.
"Let's… go check."
They crept forward. Smoke choked the air. Then—
ZRRRK!
Twin beams of scarlet heat vision cut through the gloom, vaporizing them on the spot.
"It's him!"
"He's here! That means the army's gone!"
"No—no, impossible!"
The survivors huddled, terror bubbling up. They'd seen those red beams too many times. They always meant the same thing: another massacre.
"FWOOSH."
Wind tore the dust away, revealing Eden's silhouette. His eyes glowed faintly as he addressed them—in flawless Flaxan tongue.
"This is your last base, isn't it?"
The elder who'd boasted just moments ago collapsed to his knees, groveling. "Please! Please spare us! We know we were wrong! We'll never touch your planet again, I swear!"
Eden's voice was ice. "Beg all you want. It won't change a damn thing." His heat vision cut through the old one, leaving nothing but smoldering slag.
"Mercy! Please! We'll never invade again!" another soldier shrieked.
"You're not sorry," Eden growled. "You're just scared to die. Don't play innocent now." Another beam. Another corpse.
"Why should we be the ones to die?!" a Flaxan cried, desperation twisting into rage.
Eden's hand shot out, slapping him into paste. "If you don't die, then my people do. That's the choice you made."
"We're innocent!" another screamed. "What you're doing is no different from us!"
"Innocent? You're invaders. But the difference?" Eden's eyes lit up once more. "I don't need to explain myself to you. You're not worth it."
The chamber bathed in scarlet fire. Screams ended one by one until silence reclaimed the ruins.
High above, the system watched, thoughtful.
Now I see why OBA chose Eden Kent. This guy isn't righteous. He's terrifying.
In Eden's eyes, the Flaxans weren't people. They were pests. Ants. Fire ants to be stomped out.
And stomp he did.
...
BZZZT!
Eden swept the Flaxan Planet with his X-Ray Vision one last time. Not a single green bug left alive. Good. He snagged the control device from the alien's gear and fired up their stolen portal, stepping back through to Earth.
Earth.
"He's not here either!"
"Nothing on this side!"
Time moved differently between dimensions. While Eden had spent days wiping out the Flaxans, only minutes had passed back home. The Teen Team and William were still tearing through rubble, desperate to find him.
"What are you guys looking for?"
A familiar voice called out. Eden crawled out from under the café counter, dusting himself off. "I must've blacked out down there. No clue what happened outside. Those green bastards—did you beat them?"
"Eden!"
William practically collapsed with relief. "You're alive. God, I thought I lost you forever."
The others froze, exchanging looks.
"Hold up." Rex's jaw tightened. "So this guy was hiding under the damn counter the whole time while we wasted half an hour? Do you know how valuable my time is?"
"Correction," Robot said flatly, "your time is not valuable. At headquarters you either sleep or play video games."
"Hey! Don't call me out like that!" Rex flushed, then shrugged it off.
Eve tilted her head, eyes narrowing at Eden. "You're sure you were down there the whole time? I scanned the place. No trace of you."
"Of course." Eden kept a straight face.
"…Your hair looks longer," she said slowly, stepping closer. Her gaze locked on his head.
"Must be your imagination." Eden smirked. "Also—since when are we so close that you notice my split ends? Or is this just your pick-up line for guys, Atom Eve?" He arched a brow at her.
"Eve, what the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Rex snapped. His voice cracked as his insecurities boiled over. "What's going on between you two? Were you cheating on me this whole time?!"
"What? No! Rex, it's not like that!" Eve stammered, thrown by his sudden outburst.
"I don't want excuses! Just tell me—when did you start lying to me? Or were you never serious from the start?!"
"You're unbelievable," Eve shot back, her voice shaking with fury. "You're such an asshole, Rex."
Eden rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the rescue, 'heroes,' but we've got other things to do." He pulled William up from the ground and started walking.
"Guess I should get a haircut anyway," Eden muttered. His fingers brushed through strands already grown long from the warped flow of time on Flaxan Planet. Better trim them before Mom noticed.
Evening.
Home.
His mom—Omni-Man—was waiting in the living room with his dad, Superman.
"You cut your hair, Eden?" she asked, handing him a mug of warm milk. "New clothes, too. And you showered?" Her sharp eyes scanned every detail.
"…What?" Eden froze. His heart hammered. Shit. Did she notice something? Did I slip up?
"You've been staying out later. Paying more attention to how you look…" A smile spread across her face.
Eden's throat went dry. "I—uh—"
"So." Her eyes twinkled. "When do we get to meet her?"
"…Meet who?"
She gave him the classic mom look. "Don't play dumb. Your father and I aren't strict about dating. You're handsome, it's natural. Just… be responsible." She pressed something into his palm.
"…Oh, hell no." Eden glanced down at the box of condoms and nearly choked. Still, better she thought he had a girlfriend than suspect he was out flattening alien worlds.
Family drama was the last thing he wanted. He'd rather fight Flaxans for another week straight than get caught in a parental crossfire.
I've sacrificed too much already for this family, Eden thought bitterly, gulping down the milk. He clung to the comfort of an ordinary dinner, pretending for one fragile moment that life was normal.
Please. No villains showing up at school tomorrow. No surprise visits from Mom. Just one peaceful day. I'm begging you.
Ten p.m. Sharp bedtime. Eden clasped his hands, whispering a quick prayer.
Doesn't matter if it's DC's God or Marvel's OAA. Whoever answers first, that's my guy. I don't worship useless gods.
He pulled up the system screen for a casual check. His eyes widened.
"Eighty?! My villain charisma is at EIGHTY?!"
"System! Get your ass out here! Why the hell is this number climbing? I've been doing nothing but saving Earth!" His voice cracked in fury. "I'm one spandex suit away from being a full-on superhero. Explain this shit right now!"
[…]
Silence.
The system said nothing.
'You beg me, I still wouldn't spare you.'
Yeah. Not exactly hero talk.