The world was still broken from the last clash.

  Dust still drifted through the sky above the crater where Invincible had fallen. Now he stood again — bruised but breathing — alongside the unlikeliest of allies.

  Sonic the Hedgehog. Tails. Knuckles. Amy. Shadow watching from the edge.

  And then…

  He landed.

  The force of his arrival shook the battlefield with a quiet, crushing weight.

  Omni-Man.

  Cape rippling. Eyes locked. Expression unreadable.

  “So… these are your new friends, Mark?”

  ?

  FLASHBACK – Years Ago

  The sky above was calm back then.

  Mark floated beside his father in the clouds, unsure of himself, but trying to smile through the nerves.

  “Focus,” Nolan said calmly. “You have to feel it. Not just fly — own the sky.”

  Mark dipped slightly, faltering in the air.

  Nolan caught him. Held him steady.

  “You’re a Viltrumite. We don’t fall.”

  ?

  Back in the present, Mark stood rigid, his fists clenched.

  “Nolan…” he muttered. “Dad…”

  Omni-Man didn’t flinch.

  “You’ve forgotten who you are, Mark. I see it in your stance. In your hesitation.”

  Mark took a shaky breath.

  “I haven’t forgotten anything. I just made a choice.”

  ?

  Sonic stepped in front of Mark, arms crossed, cocky smirk ready.

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  “Alright, tough guy. I don’t know who you are, but if you’re trying to hurt our friend—”

  “He’s not your friend,” Omni-Man interrupted coldly.

  Knuckles cracked his fists.

  “Tch. Looks like we’ve got another ‘dad of the year’ here.”

  Tails looked to Mark. “Is this really… your father?”

  Mark nodded once, eyes narrowed.

  Omni-Man’s gaze scanned each of them.

  “You interfere in my family’s discipline, you suffer the consequences.”

  ?

  THE CLASH – Omni-Man vs Sonic’s Team

  It happened fast.

  Too fast.

  One moment, Nolan stood still — the next, he blitzed.

  Sonic barely dodged, the shockwave shredding the air behind him. Tails flew up high, deploying a flurry of drones. Amy swung her hammer — but Nolan caught it mid-air and hurled her aside with brute force.

  Knuckles roared and leapt at him, fists blazing.

  Boom!

  The clash cracked the earth beneath them. Nolan parried Knuckles’ punch, drove his elbow into the echidna’s ribs, and sent him flying backward.

  Tails’ drones fired, but Omni-Man tore through them effortlessly.

  Sonic looped back and struck with a spin-dash, finally making contact — sending Nolan sliding back a few feet.

  For a second… silence.

  Then Omni-Man cracked his neck.

  “Impressive. But pointless.”

  ?

  MARK INTERVENES

  “Stop!” Mark shouted, stepping between Nolan and the others. “You’re not proving anything!”

  Nolan turned his eyes toward his son.

  “You’re siding with these… animals?”

  “They protected me,” Mark shot back. “They didn’t even know me — but they helped me. That’s what heroes do.”

  Omni-Man stared at him, unmoved.

  “…You’re weak.”

  Mark’s fists trembled. “No. I’m human.”

  ?

  Shadow suddenly stepped forward from the sidelines.

  “You talk too much.”

  Omni-Man’s gaze shifted. “And you are?”

  Shadow vanished — only to reappear behind Nolan mid-strike.

  Nolan turned just in time — their blows clashed mid-air, sending out a shockwave that flattened everything nearby.

  Sonic’s eyes widened. “Whoa. That was… clean.”

  But Nolan didn’t look phased.

  He wiped blood from his lip.

  “You think you’re fast?” he growled.

  ?

  THE TENSION RISES

  The battlefield was shredded.

  Mark was panting, fists clenched, trying to hold himself together.

  Sonic and the crew were regrouping, now fully understanding just how dangerous this man was.

  And then—

  The air changed.

  A hum. A slow, vibrating, unnatural tone spread through the area.

  Everyone turned.

  Something was approaching.

  ?

  THE REVEAL – A New Monster Steps In

  The sky flickered.

  The ground cracked.

  And from a swirling black rift stepped a tall figure — green skin, dark eyes, and a slow, satisfied grin.

  Perfect Cell.

  “Now this…” Cell said, eyeing everyone with delight, “looks fun.”

  Omni-Man stared at the new arrival, unmoving.

  Mark’s voice dropped.

  “…What is that thing?”

  Cell’s smile widened.

  “I think it’s time I introduced myself.”

  ?

  TO BE CONTINUED…