Mark could feel the pain thrumming through his body as he knelt on the ground. He could see Eve miles away after getting thrown by Conqueror. The other Viltrumite was laughing as he wiped the dirt and blood from his fist.

“Shame she didn’t last longer.” Conqueror stretched and flew into the air again above Mark. “She was a pretty one.”

Mark felt his heartbeat pounding through his body. "Shut up." Mark coughed. His arm and leg were both broken, and he was already out of steam. Blood, other peoples, his own, Conqueror’s, stained what was left of his clothes. Even from where they were in the hills of California, he could hear the wailings of alarms and screams from the destruction their fight had left behind.

He had to win. Somehow. Mark grit his teeth and stood, which just triggered Conqueror again. The older Viltrumite flew at Mark, slamming him again. Mark flew backwards, bracing for the ground. Which never came.

Someone was holding onto him, arms hooked around his body to stop his plummet.