DC Heroes in Marvel

"Cyborg, it really is you!"

Seeing the figure before him, Killian didn't bother hiding anymore. He pulled back his hood, revealing a cold expression as he stared at the silver-clad figure hovering in front of him. 

His tone was indifferent.

"I'm curious—how did you find me so quickly?"

He spoke slowly, as though making idle conversation, but his sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, calculating the best escape route. 

Killian had no intention of fighting Anton, especially now that he had seen Cyborg.

From the numerous battles in New York, media and online analysts had already dissected cyborg's combat abilities in excruciating detail. 

Killian knew this well. He wasn't afraid of cyborg, per se, but prolonged confrontation could attract other Justice League members. That would spell certain doom for him.

"If someone want to know, you can't keep it a secret," Anton said coolly, quoting a famous saying from somewhere he heard.

Killian's intellect caught the meaning immediately.

"Besides," Anton added, cutting off any retort, "your biggest mistake wasn't just your actions—it was underestimating Batman."

Boom!

Before Killian could respond, Anton made his move. Energy blasts gathered in his palms, crackling with power, before streaking through the air like bolts of lightning, aimed straight at Killian.

The civilians in the vicinity had already learned from experience. The moment cyborg arrived, they knew what to do: run. 

With nearly a year of crises behind them, New Yorkers had developed an instinctual response to danger. They fled to a safe distance, only to watch the spectacle unfold from afar.

Of course, in a large-scale disaster like an alien invasion, even running might not help. For those living in the suburbs, there was no escape from the chaos.

But here? Run first. Watch later.

Boom!

Killian moved at the last moment, his body reacting instinctively. With a powerful leap, he dodged the incoming energy blast.

The ground where he had stood moments ago was obliterated, leaving behind a smoking crater. Shards of stone scattered like shrapnel, and a cloud of dust rose into the air.

Killian didn't retaliate. Instead, he dashed toward the escape route he had mapped out earlier. Fighting Anton to the death was still not part of his plan.

However, Anton was faster than he had anticipated.

Mid-flight, cyborg launched a barrage of energy shells, bombarding killian and forcing him to take evasive action. 

Though the attacks didn't land a direct hit, they disrupted his escape attempts, further frustrating him.

The relentless pursuit enraged Killian. He gritted his teeth, his frustration boiling over into anger as he realized escape was futile.

Cyborg wasn't just fast—his brain, enhanced to quantum computer levels, allowed him to track every camera and sensor in the area. There was no blind spot Killian could exploit, no place to hide.

Escape was impossible.

With a deep scowl, Killian made his decision. If he couldn't flee, he would fight.

Turning sharply, Killian's body began to radiate intense heat. His clothes were incinerated in an instant, burned away by the fiery energy surging from within him.

With a tremendous leap, he launched himself seven or eight meters into the air. His fists glowed red-hot, the heat distorting the air around him as he aimed for Anton.

Boom!

The collision was fierce. Killian's all-out attack clashed with Anton's advanced systems, sparks and energy rippling outward.

But Anton had already anticipated the move.

In a seamless motion, cyborg adjusted his position, bypassing Killian's fiery assault with calculated precision.

Anton was ready. He waited calmly for the inevitable blow.

As Killian turned, intending to counterattack, he was met by a terrifying sonic shell that detonated point-blank. 

The resulting shockwave sent him hurtling backward, his body smashing through the side of a building like a rag doll.

Crash! Crash!

The impact destroyed an entire wall, and broken bricks rained down, burying Killian under a mound of rubble.

"Hiss—"

"Cyborg is too strong!"

"As expected of my idol!"

Farther away, the spectators who had stayed to watch cheered loudly.

To be fair, this kind of crisis wasn't enough to faze New Yorkers anymore. Over the past year, they had grown accustomed to world-ending events. Their collective resilience had been tempered by countless battles.

Besides, heroes like Batman and others always showed up just in time to save the day. Casualties had been remarkably low compared to the property damage, and that consistent pattern had built a strange sense of security among the people.

In fact, many believed these constant threats had birthed an era of superheroes, leaving them feeling safer than ever. It was this unwavering faith in their heroes that emboldened them to stay and watch the action unfold.

Beneath the rubble, Killian stirred.

"Son of a bitch!"

With a burst of strength, he unleashed a surge of superheated energy. The bricks covering him melted instantly, turning into molten sludge. The ground beneath him shimmered with heat, faintly glowing red, as if it might melt, too.

"This is the Extremis Virus?"

Anton observed Killian calmly, intrigued by the display.

To be honest, while the Extremis Virus didn't have the highest ceiling in terms of potential, its lower limit was certainly impressive. It was, without a doubt, an interesting piece of technology.

In the right hands, it could easily be the military's dream for creating super soldiers—if its stability issues were solved.

Anton silently acknowledged Killian's mastery of the virus. However, he wasn't impressed. To him, Killian was just another ambitious individual punching far above his weight.

"Extremis is a good technology," Anton said, his tone cold and dismissive. "But your abilities can't support your ambitions."

Killian's eyes burned with rage as he glared at Anton. The words stung, his dignity trampled yet again.

"What I want to do is none of your concern!" he snapped.

The flush of his overheated skin made his fury even more vivid, his body resembling a human furnace. With a roar, Killian launched himself at Anton, fists blazing like molten steel.

Boom!

Anton countered effortlessly, his thrusters firing behind him to meet Killian head-on. This time, he gave the Extremis-enhanced man a chance to strike.

Boom!

Killian's fist slammed into Anton's chest plate. But to his horror, the attack did nothing. His hands, burning hot enough to melt steel, left only a faint scorch mark on Anton's armor.

"This…this can't be!"

Killian's eyes widened in disbelief. For a moment, only one thought echoed in his mind: "How is this possible?"

Before he could process it, Anton retaliated.

Boom!

An energy blast from Anton's hand smashed Killian into the ground, grinding him into the pavement. The impact created a deep crater, cracks spider-webbing outward from the center.

Killian's chest was caved in by the force of the blow, but thanks to the rapid regenerative properties of the Extremis Virus, he wasn't dead—just gravely injured.

He began to rise, his body already healing, but Anton closed the distance in an instant.

With a single step, Anton pressed his armored boot onto Killian's head, pinning him to the ground.

"I think…" Anton said, his voice low and cutting.

Killian, full of hate and madness, glared up at him from beneath the boot.

"Now, I'm qualified to evaluate you."

…

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