Invincible: Krypton's Legacy

Over the past week, Mark Grayson had started solidifying his influence in the city. Taking over Machine Head's business wasn't just about money or power—it was about building something better, something sustainable for the people who lived there. He used Machine Head's resources strategically, funding his Fluid Fabric clothing business while also making changes to the city itself.

Mark didn't waste time. He began by dismantling the most harmful aspects of Machine Head's operations—starting with drug trafficking and illegal arms dealing. Flying over the city with crates of confiscated weapons, he dumped them in a deserted area before unleashing his heat vision, reducing them to nothing more than molten slag. The drugs, he handled differently. With a flick of his wrist and a spark of magic, he transmuted the dangerous substances into harmless plants, ensuring they could never harm anyone again.

The newfound funds from Machine Head's empire didn't sit idle. Mark poured money into local food kitchens, orphanages, and even Amber's community center, which she had told him about. He knew that real change required uplifting communities, not just tearing down the bad. While he had no official clientele for his business yet, he had plans. His fluid fabric was a revolutionary product—customizable clothing with properties like minor regeneration, resistance to temperature changes, bulletproofing, and shock negation from high impacts. Before moving onto the public, his company would sell these to law enforcement, firefighters, doctors, and private security firms. Also, he wouldn't just sell this to the USA but worldwide so as not to give one country too much power.

Mark wasn't worried about anyone reverse-engineering the technology. The fabric's creation was a blend of Flaxan technology and Kryptonian intellect, far beyond anything Earth could replicate. He also had plenty of hidden failsafes that would always integrate into all his fluid fabric creations. To ensure quality control, he built specialized machines that would process raw fluid fabric into custom designs as per client specifications. He didn't want people around the raw fluid fabric in case of corporate spies or villains taking some and using it for potential evil so he left all the work to robots and machines he built himself in his Dimension of Solitude.

Though the GDA was an obvious potential customer, Mark decided to shelve the idea for now. 'Let them keep spying on me', he thought. 'They're not getting my tech unless I decide they're ready for it'.

Despite his growing responsibilities, Mark made time for his personal life. He fought crime with Eve, their teamwork improving with each outing. Their playful banter on patrols often ended with them laughing as they cleaned up after yet another supervillain. 

He hung out with his friends, William and Amber, too. With Amber, their time together was mostly intimate, punctuated by casual outings. Though Mark enjoyed her company, he couldn't shake the looming thought that he will eventually need to discuss their relationship. But, honestly he was scared not to mention the fact that he also needed to talk to Eve about the growing sexual tension between them.

Mark had noticed that often times he would find Eve and Amber talking together as if they had become best friends. At times, he would walk up to them and their conversation would die down in front of him with Eve often taking quick glances at him. He knew he could eavesdrop with his super-hearing but he wanted to give people their privacy so he often turned down his super-hearing. Even on their patrols, Eve would make explicit comments or find reasons to get close or touch him, all of which he didn't mind.

One evening, Mark decided to visit Amanda, aka Monster Girl, at her home. She had been celebrating her return to adulthood and invited Mark over for drinks. Though he technically wasn't old enough to drink by Earth's standards, he was by Flaxan standards, but Mark shrugged it off. "Alcohol doesn't affect me anyway," he told her with a small smile, his physiology immune to poisons and toxins.

Amanda noticed his somber tone. "I guess being an alien means you can't drink, huh?"

Mark nodded slightly. This was one of the things he imagined while stuck in the hospital during his past life. Going out with friends, having a good time while drinking. Before he could respond, Amanda climbed onto his lap, her face inches from his. "Well, if you can't enjoy a drink, maybe you can enjoy… something else." She kissed him, and one thing led to another.

XXXXX

After spending time with Amanda, Mark returned home. Debbie and Nolan were lounging on the couch in the living room. Using his x-ray vision, Mark noted the GDA agents stationed in the house across the street. Their surveillance annoyed him, but he let it slide as long as they didn't bug his room.

"How was your day, sweetie?" Debbie asked as Mark grabbed food from the fridge.

"It's been fine," he replied casually. "Just dealing with my new multi-million dollar company."

The silence that followed was palpable. Nolan and Debbie exchanged shocked glances before turning back to Mark.

"What do you mean… multi-million dollar company?" Debbie asked, her voice laced with confusion.

Mark chuckled, pulling out a plate of leftovers. "Oh, yeah. So, there was this villain I arrested awhile ago who wanted my help to take down his boss. The guy was rich and running illegal operations, so after I stopped him, I took control of his assets and handed him off to the GDA. I've been using the money to fund a textile business and improve the city."

Debbie blinked, trying to process what she'd just heard. Eventually, she walked over and kissed Mark on the cheek. "Good job, honey. But you'd better not be full of empty promises like other rich business owners. And you still have to finish high school and college."

Mark scratched the back of his head. 'Do I really need college, though? I mean, I've got a long-term job now,' he thought.

Debbie crossed her arms and squinted her eyes at him. "College isn't just about the degree. It's about the experiences you'll miss if you don't go," she said as if she had read his thoughts.

Mark looked as if he was caught red-handed. "Sure, mom," he sheepishly replied.

Nolan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. "While it's good that you're thinking about the future, you shouldn't lose sight of your responsibilities. Running a company takes time—time you should be using to protect Earth."

Mark leaned against the counter, his tone steady. "It won't take much time, Dad. I've got superspeed and machines doing most of the work."

Before Nolan could argue, Debbie stepped in. "Mark's been doing fine so far. His grades haven't slipped, and he's managing everything. But," she added, narrowing her eyes at Mark, "if you fall behind in school or struggle to balance everything, the company goes."

"Fair enough," Mark replied, grabbing his plate.

Nolan, however, wasn't done. "Do you even know how to run a business? While, Viltrumites can read fast it doesn't necessarily mean we can understand everything we are reading."

Mark considered his options. He didn't want to have keep lying about his Kryptonian powers, but he also didn't want to reveal reincarnation and his past life. Taking a breath, he waved his hand, casting a spell that sealed the room.

The GDA agents across the street scrambled to recover the visual and audio feed. But, Cecil, who had just teleported in to check on the situation, quickly deduced it was Mark's magic. "Let's wait it out," he told the agents. "Rushing in now would be a mistake."

Inside the sealed room, Mark turned to his parents. "I didn't want to say this in front of Cecil before, but I actually picked up more than magic in the Flaxan dimension."

Debbie and Nolan exchanged worried glances.

Mark continued, "I found a device there called The Codex—something that changed me. My body started absorbing solar radiation, giving me powers beyond my Viltrumite abilities. Boosting my strength and speed, enhanced intelligence, heat vision, and x-ray vision. I didn't know what it was while there since it turns out I can't absorb red sunlight. But, when I came back and especially when I went to space I could feel myself stronger and the powers coming in."

"Are you even still a Viltrumite?" Nolan snapped, his voice low but brimming with tension. His eyes bored into Mark like he was trying to decipher what his son had become. "Do you even understand what this means? What you're saying?"

Mark didn't flinch under his father's glare. He knew this reaction was coming. "Yes, I'm still a Viltrumite," Mark replied evenly. "That hasn't changed. My biology hasn't been replaced—just enhanced. Solar radiation supercharges my cells. I'm still me. I just have a few extra abilities now."

Nolan's jaw clenched, and for a moment, his fists tightened at his sides. His mind raced. Viltrumites didn't need enhancements. They were already the strongest species in the universe. Yet here was his son, casually claiming he'd become something more. 'Can I make Mark loyal to the cause?' Nolan wondered. 'Or has this… enhancement pulled him further away from ever being a proper viltrumite'?

Debbie, still processing, glanced nervously between the two of them. "Should I… should I schedule a doctor's appointment? Or… I don't know, a lab test or something?"

Mark chuckled, breaking the tension slightly. "No, Mom. I'm fine. There are no side effects. Honestly, I'm probably the healthiest I've ever been."

Debbie narrowed her eyes at him, skeptical. "You're sure?"

Mark nodded. "Positive. If anything, I feel stronger every day. And trust me, I've had plenty of time to check myself out. Besides, this makes me stronger. And you of all people should know strength is what matters," he said looking at his dad.

The words hit Nolan hard, and for a moment, his composure cracked. He quickly masked it with a neutral expression, but internally, he was wrestling with a storm of conflicting, potentially treasonous thoughts. His son was already powerful, but now… with these enhancements? He didn't know whether to be proud or terrified. Could Mark be strong enough to face Thragg one day? 'What if he refuses to help the empire? Would anyone be able to beat him?'

Debbie's voice broke through the silence, soft and full of concern. "Well… as long as you're okay, Mark, that's what matters. But please, if anything changes, you let me know, alright?"

Mark smiled at her. "Of course, Mom. I promise."

He grabbed his plate and started heading upstairs after taking down his barrier, leaving Debbie and Nolan alone in the living room. Nolan remained seated, his thoughts racing as he stared at the spot where Mark had been standing. Debbie glanced at him, her concern shifting from their son to her husband.

"You're quiet," she noted, cautiously.

Nolan didn't respond immediately. When he finally did, his voice was low. "Just thinking how much our boy has grown."

Debbie hugged him. "Yeah, eventually he's going to be leaving the nest and starting his own family."

Nolan just hugged her back taking in her warmth and for the first time in a while he stopped thinking about the mission and just focused on her presence. 

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Author's Notes:

Be sure to check out my p*tr-eon where you get early access to my chapter and you'll be able to talk to me as I'm writing the story. You'll be giving me ideas I can incorporate into the story or feedback as I am a new writer so their make be plot points or mistakes that I haven't thought about. My p*tr-eon name is Bahgoat25.