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Chapter 34 - Relationship

In the desolate expanse of his Dimension of Solitude, Mark stood amidst the barren wasteland, the silence around him profound. Angstrom Levy was placed back into a deep coma within his cell, monitored vigilantly by the ever-watchful Invinci-bots. Mark came to this wasteland in order to test the new ability gained from Levy.

Mark hadn't brought himself out here just for the quiet. He was here to test the new power he'd taken from Levy. And even now, he could feel it thrumming beneath his skin—foreign but not unfamiliar.

The gene transfer hadn't just changed his biology—it had changed his perception. Somehow, the moment he absorbed Angstrom's dimensional abilities, the knowledge came with it. It wasn't like learning a new language. It was more like suddenly remembering one he didn't know he knew. He could now sense the structure of the multiverse, feel its subtle shifts. When he opened a portal, he instinctively received essentially, a snapshot of the dimension he was about to step into—a mental overview of the planet he'll land on, its key features, and how it differed from his own dimension. He can even do this better than Levy could due to his enhanced brain.

Still, there were rules. Limitations. He couldn't hop around within the same dimension using Levy's portals. They were purely interdimensional. And every portal always opened in the same spatial location—so if he opened one on Earth, he'd arrive at the equivalent location in that dimension. Kind of rigid, but honestly? That was fine. All he really needed was access to other fictional universes. Everything else—traveling within a dimension—he could handle with his body or his using his own portal magic. 

Mark's teleportation and portal magic operated differently from Levy's portal abilities. Because, while he could teleport within a single dimension, crossing into different dimensions required Levy's abilities. This distinction stemmed from the nature of his powers. Unlocking the Kryptonian Magi gene from the codex had granted Mark access to magical energy, or mana—a constant force permeating the universe. His body absorbed and stored this mana, with his capacity increasing as he aged. His portal magic, a fundamental application of dimensional magic, was basic and not limited to the Kryptonian-magi. Lots of mystics from different corners of the DC universe used portal magic, even the Homo-magi could do so.

Kryptonian magic was a realm apart, seldom utilized by Mark except for healing purposes. His ability to heal his father, Nolan, and Allen, was actually a manifestation of Kryptonian magic. Historically, Krypton harbored a group of mystics in a secluded valley known as the Valley of Juru. This valley radiated concentrated magical energy, granting those exposed to the energy for a long time the capability to learn magic. These individuals diverged from Krypton's focus on science and immersed themselves in magical studies, eventually identifying as the Kryptonian-Magi. They categorized their practices into four elemental disciplines: Air, Water, Fire, and Earth. A practitioner's classification depends on their affinity and mastery over these elements, with some adept in multiple disciplines.​

Thanks to the Codex, Mark had the genetic potential to wield all four. But he knew his strengths were strongest in the Air element—likely because it was the one he had practiced the most.

As an Air Magi, Mark possessed abilities such as healing—the skill he used to heal Nolan and Allen—purification, air manipulation, and object creation. Fire Magi, in addition to healing, could restore a Kryptonian's powers, manipulate fire, and dispel magical spells. Water Magi had healing capabilities, could possess individuals, exert mind control, induce temporal stasis, manipulate water in its various forms, and transfer essences or emotional qualities. Earth Magi, while lacking the ability to heal others, could self-heal, produce, and transform into sunstones and other materials, manipulate earth, and craft weapons and armor.

It was a lot. A whole other world of abilities inside him, waiting to be explored.

But for now, he focused on his dimensional abilities. Mark started opening small rifts, peering through the swirling green portals. At first, all he saw were different versions of the Flaxan homeworld. That made sense—he was still in their dimension. Across the multiverse, their world probably occupied similar spatial coordinates. So he decided to portal back to Earth.

With the use of his magic, Mark disappeared from the wasteland and reappeared on the rooftop of his company headquarters. Mark's use of magic to travel between the Flaxan dimension and Earth is only possible due to his familiarity with both. At first, he just used the device he built to travel between the two but after spending time in both he was used to the dimensional signature of both allowing him to travel there. It also helped with both being in the same multiverse.

Standing beneath the open sky, he activated Levy's powers again and opened a portal—this time to alternate Earths. That's when things got interesting.

One portal showed a version of canon Invincible standing beside Omni-Man, ruling over a conquered Earth. Another showed canon Invincible bloodied and defiant, stopping Nolan's attempted takeover. There were even stranger ones: realities where he—the reincarnated Mark—became a tyrant. Intriguingly, these counterparts possessed Kryptonian abilities suggesting they had the codex, but seemed unable to acquire Levy's powers, possibly due to the absence of a Levy with powers in their universes or the differing circumstances of their universe.

Observing these alternate selves was a profound experience. Some versions of him lacked empathy, wielding their powers selfishly, while others dedicated themselves to the betterment of the universe. There were also those who prioritized personal relationships, choosing not to interfere with worldly affairs, with some even seeking ways to relinquish or seldom use their powers.

One particular vision stood out.

A version of himself who, alongside the immortal Eve, stood together at the end of time, witnessing the universe's rebirth. No words were spoken. Just the weight of eternity shared between two people who chose each other. This introspection prompted Mark to reflect on his own path, he wasn't sure what his future would hold but he'll continue to live in the present and have a nice future like the one he saw.

Eventually, Mark opened another portal—one that led far beyond anything related to his own universe. And what he saw next made him grin like a kid.

Mark saw a red-and-blue-clad web-slinger battling a man with mechanical tentacles attached to his back, exchanging quips amidst the chaos. A surge of excitement coursed through Mark as he recognized the scene. Memories flooded back of reading Spider-Man comics and watching "The Spectacular Spider-Man." Spider-Man had always been among his top heroes, alongside The Flash and Superman, embodying an unyielding will to persevere despite life's adversities.

Mark leaned forward, eyes wide. "No way...."

It brought back everything—memories of lying in a hospital bed in his old life, reading comics, watching Spectacular Spider-Man, wishing he could be like Peter Parker. Not because of the powers, but because of the heart. The way he kept going, no matter how many times he was knocked down by life. That kind of strength would always mean more to Mark than super speed or flight. He remembered in the show when Spider-Man was trapped under a large machine and could have just given up when he was tired but he pushed through just to save Gwen Stacy.

Seeing him now, alive and moving, was surreal.

'The multiverse really is endless,' he thought. And now, it was his to explore.

He made a mental note: find a good world for Angstrom. Something quiet, peaceful. Somewhere the guy could start over without being a threat. After all, Mark didn't hate him. He just couldn't let him keep that kind of power.

XXXX

The weeks that followed were packed. Mark balanced school, company work, and hero stuff with Eve like a pro. His time in the Flaxan dimension, combined with his super speed, gave him all the hours in the day he needed. Eve took the lead on community outreach, building food programs, coordinating disaster response efforts. And their company? It was thriving.

Then graduation day arrived.

Mark, Eve, Amber, and William all stood in the crowd, caps on, waiting to be called. Mark had always been a good student, even before his powers. But with his heightened intellect, senior year had been a breeze. Still, it was an accomplishment—one he was proud of.

After the ceremony, he spotted his parents in the crowd and made his way over.

Debbie pulled him into a hug the second she saw him. "You did it," she said, beaming. "I'm so proud of you."

"Careful," Nolan said with a smirk. "Don't hurt our baby boy."

Debbie rolled her eyes. "He's literally indestructible."

Nolan grinned. "I meant the second baby."

Mark blinked. "Wait—what?"

Debbie hesitated, then laughed. "Surprise. I'm pregnant. About three and a half weeks."

Mark's jaw dropped. "Seriously?"

She nodded. "And if it's a boy, we're naming him Oliver. After my dad. Olivia if it's a girl."

Mark chuckled. It was another sign of how far things had diverged from the original timeline. In the comics, he had a Thraxan half-brother. But here? He was getting a human-Viltrumite sibling. 

Before the moment could settle, Nolan's GDA communicator buzzed. He answered with a sigh. Cecil's voice came through, crackling.

"Doc Seismic's broken out again. You're up."

"On it," Nolan replied with a huff, already floating into the air. "I'll drop Debbie off first."

They flew off, leaving Mark to meet up with his friends. William left with his parents, Amber had plans to celebrate with her family on the weekend, and Eve… well, she didn't talk to her family much anymore.

So it ended up being just the three of them—Mark, Eve, and Amber—heading back to his place.

Amber had never seen where Mark and Eve lived, and she was curious. Once they arrived, they let loose, throwing a low-key celebration for themselves. Karaoke, snacks, and laughter filled the air of Mark's theater room. At one point, Mark took the mic and started singing Love by Keyshia Cole.

And he nailed it.

Both girls stared, wide-eyed, caught off guard by how good he was.

"Okay," Amber said as he finished. "Why didn't I know you could SING?"

"Seriously," Eve added, smiling. "That was amazing."

Mark shrugged, blushing a little. "I dunno. I never really tried before."

Amber smiled, then threw a look Eve's way. "What do you say? Hot tub?"

Eve hesitated for a second, then nodded, a bit shy. "Yeah… sounds nice."

Mark, oblivious to the silent exchange between the girls, led them to the guest room to grab swimsuits. A few minutes later, he was the first one in the tub, enjoying the calm. The heat didn't bother him—but the atmosphere, the peacefulness—that was something he could get used to.

When Amber and Eve entered the room, he looked up—and smiled.

They were both stunning.

Eve wore a pink tube top suit that complimented her perfectly, and Amber's violet one-piece gave her a graceful presence.

Mark feeling a sense of calm just looked at both girls. "You guys both look amazing."

Amber and Eve smiled at that before dipping themselves into the hot tub on either side of Mark. The air was warm, the water soothing, and for a few moments, none of them said anything enjoying the surrounding company.

Amber and Eve look at each other across Mark's chest realizing that now was the time.

*Flashback*

Amber and Eve had already decided to meet up with each other after Mark ended up joining them on their college tour and told them about how he and the other viltrumites would have to focus on repopulating the empire on Earth. They ended up meeting at Amber's house when her family weren't home.

Amber, taking in a breath, started off the discussion. "I don't know if you know this but I've been sleeping with Mark".

This threw Eve for a loop and she didn't respond immediately, and Amber hurried to explain, "It wasn't some casual fling. I mean, it started that way because… well, we didn't think a relationship made sense, you know? His lifespan, his powers, his responsibilities—he tried to push me away. Said it wouldn't be fair to me."

"And you didn't agree?"

Amber gave a dry smile. "At first, I did. I told myself I could handle it. That I could just be someone in his life for now. That even if he outlived me, even if we weren't together, I'd still matter to him." She looked down at her hands. "But I was lying to myself."

Eve's expression softened.

"The more time we spent together—the way he talked to me, how he looked at me like I was his anchor to a normal life—it changed how I felt. I fell for him, Eve. Hard."

Amber looked up, her eyes clearer now. "And I don't want to give that up. Even if I do die before him. Even if he has to move on one day. I want to be part of his life while I can. I want…" She hesitated. "I want to give him something lasting. A child. Someone who'll live on, even if I don't."

The words hung in the air like thunderclouds. Eve felt her throat tighten.

"Are you serious?" she asked gently.

Amber met her gaze without flinching. "Yeah. I am. And I know what that means. I know I'll probably have to share him—because this isn't just about us. It's about his people. His future. And I'm okay with that."

There was silence again, but this time it felt heavier, more intimate. The truth had been laid bare between them.

Amber tilted her head. "What about you, Eve? How do you feel about him?"

Eve looked down, fiddling with the hem of her shirt, her heart thudding in her chest. "I… I love him."

Amber didn't react—just waited, listening.

"It's not just admiration or a crush," Eve continued, her voice shaking a little. "It's the way he's always treated me like an equal. The way he believes in me. He's been this light in my life, even when everything else felt dark. With my parents, with Rex, with everything going on in the world… he's just always there. Solid. Real."

Amber gave her a small smile, but there was still one more question hanging between them.

"Do you love him enough to share him?"

Eve looked up at her, hesitantly—but not angry. Just thoughtful.

She thought of Rex. Of how he'd cheated, how he'd lied. How he'd promised monogamy and broken it without a thought.

"Rex hurt me because he pretended I was the only one," Eve said. "He said I was everything to him while he was sneaking around behind my back."

Amber nodded, quietly understanding.

"But with Mark," Eve went on, "I'd know from the beginning what I was getting into. He's honest. He doesn't hide his intentions. He's already said he's not sure what the future holds, but he'd never lie about it."

She looked away for a moment, then back at Amber.

"So yeah. I'd rather be part of something honest with Mark than lie to myself in a relationship built on promises someone's not going to keep."

Amber's smile grew, bittersweet but warm.

"Then I guess… we're doing this together."

Eve laughed softly, shaking her head. "This has got to be the weirdest heart-to-heart I've ever had."

Amber smirked. "Yeah, but at least we're not fighting over him like some bad reality show."

Eve raised an eyebrow. "Not yet."

They both burst into laughter then—an honest, relieved kind of laughter that came from two girls who had just stepped over a cliff together and found solid ground on the other side.

No drama. No cruelty. Just truth.

*Flashback end*

Mark sat in silence for a long moment, staring down at the rippling water. Amber and Eve had just told them about their conversation. He felt his chest tighten—not in panic, but something more powerful. Gratitude. Awe. Love.

He looked at Amber first. "You bring peace into my life. A sense of normalcy, even when everything around me is chaos. Just doing the little things with you—grabbing food, watching movies, walking through a park—it reminds me that I'm still human. And that means more to me than I can explain."

Then he turned to Eve. "And you… you've always been right there, even when things got crazy. You've supported my decisions, challenged me when I needed it, and stood by me through things most people would run from. I don't think I'd be half the person I am today without you in my corner."

His voice dipped just slightly, the weight of the moment settling into the steam.

"I love both of you. And I know this won't always be easy… but if you're both sure—if this is what you want—then I want to be with you. I want us."

For a heartbeat, no one said anything. Then Amber's eyes shimmered as she reached for his hand. Eve followed a breath later, sliding hers into his other. They squeezed in unison.

"Yes," Amber whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

"Yes," Eve echoed, a tear slipping down her cheek.

Mark leaned in and kissed Amber first—gentle, meaningful—before turning to Eve, pressing his forehead to hers for a moment before brushing a kiss to her lips. It wasn't rushed. It wasn't messy or wild. It was honest.

Breaking away from the kiss, Mark stood up and lifted both girls with each arm taking them back to his room and laying them down on his bed. Both looked incredibly sexy and he'll take both of them right now.

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.

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Author's Notes:

Sorry, the chapter took so long. I lost a chapter I was going to post on my p*tr-eon and I always try to post for both the p*tr-eon and WebNovel at the same time so I delayed the Webnovel post.

XXX

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 Bah_Goat. 

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