The training arena fell into a heavy silence as Mark landed across from Todd.
The other heroes watched intently from the observation decks, some still recovering from their own evaluations.
Robot stood off to the side, monitoring vitals on his tablet.
Todd rolled his shoulders lightly.
His suit was only slightly torn from the previous spars, and the few minor bruises he had received were already fading.
He looked at Mark, young, determined, with his black cape fluttering slightly and nodded.
“Whenever you’re ready,” Todd said calmly.
Mark didn’t hesitate.
BOOM!!
He launched forward like a cannonball, throwing a powerful right hook.
Todd blocked it, but the force vibrated strongly through his arm.
The impact was heavier than he expected.
Mark followed up with a flurry of punches, each one carrying surprising power for how early he was in his development.
One punch slipped through and connected solidly with Todd’s jaw, snapping his head back and splitting his lip.
Blood filled Todd’s mouth, and a sharp sting radiated through his face.
‘He’s not holding back at all,’ Todd thought, a thrill running through him.
‘Good.
This is what I wanted to see.’
Todd countered with a Texas Smash, the shockwave sending Mark flying back across the arena.
Mark recovered mid-air with impressive agility, flipping gracefully and charging again.
He grabbed Todd by the shoulders and slammed him into the reinforced floor.
Mark punched down repeatedly, each blow landing with increasing force.
Todd felt every hit, heavy, jarring impacts that bruised his ribs and face.
Pain flared with each strike, but it only excited him more.
‘This is what I wanted.
A real fight.’
Todd pushed him off with a burst of strength, flying upward and firing a concentrated heat vision beam.
Mark dodged most of it, but one beam grazed his shoulder, burning through his suit and drawing a grunt of pain as flesh sizzled.
The two clashed in the air, trading blows that shook the entire facility.
Mark’s strength was genuinely impressive for how new he was to his powers.
He landed several heavy hits, a punch to Todd’s stomach that made him exhale sharply and feel the air leave his lungs, a knee to the side that left a deep bruise.
Todd felt every impact, the pain sharp and invigorating.
Bruises bloomed across his body, and blood trickled from his nose and mouth.
But Todd was still stronger.
He used his superior speed and flight to maneuver, landing precise strikes.
A punch to Mark’s side made the younger hero wince visibly.
A kick to the chest sent him tumbling through the air.
Todd fired short bursts of heat vision to keep Mark on the defensive, forcing him to dodge and weave constantly.
Mark refused to back down.
He flew straight at Todd again, tackling him and driving both of them into the wall.
The reinforced alloy dented under the force.
Mark punched Todd in the face again and again, each hit landing with raw determination and drawing more blood.
Todd felt the pain, but it only fueled his focus.
He grabbed Mark’s wrist, twisted it firmly, and headbutted him hard.
Todd followed with a powerful uppercut that lifted Mark off his feet and sent him crashing into the floor.
Mark pushed himself up, breathing heavily, blood running from his nose.
He charged once more, cape billowing.
Todd met him head-on.
He caught Mark’s punch, gripped his arm, and slammed him down hard.
Then he delivered a final, controlled but powerful strike to Mark’s solar plexus.
Mark gasped, collapsing to one knee, struggling to breathe.
Todd hovered above him, breathing harder than usual, covered in bruises and cuts, blood dripping from his face.
The pain was real, but it felt good, a genuine challenge that made his blood pump.
“You’re strong, Invincible,” Todd said, voice steady despite the injuries.
“Really strong. Keep pushing yourself.”
Mark looked up, wiping blood from his mouth, a tired but determined smile on his face.
“You too… Homelander.”
The arena was silent for a moment before applause and murmurs broke out from the observation decks.
Todd landed and offered Mark a hand up.
Mark took it.
Robot approached.
“Impressive display from both of you.”
Todd nodded, feeling the bruises and cuts slowly healing.
The spar had given him exactly what he wanted, a real measure of Mark’s current strength and a thrilling test of his own limits.
He had won, but it wasn’t effortless and that was exactly how he liked it.