Chapter 80: 80

| Illinois - July 29 Joseph hovered in the air, his Nova suit glinting under the morning sun as he watched Captain Atom crack his knuckles. They stood in a desolate, rocky terrain miles away from Chicago—a battlefield chosen to contain the destruction their fight was bound to cause. Captain Atom said he had come to check in on Joseph. But Joseph knew he was really just itching for a fight on his level. Attending the meetings between the Justice League, the U.N., and the Thanagarians about building a planetary force field in case Gordanians attacked Earth had gotten boring for him. "Let's see if you've improved," Captain Atom said, a knowing smirk on his face. Joseph's eyes flickered with anticipation. He'd been training hard, refining his control over his anti-gravity field, fighting AI Nova's avatar in Dream State everyday. This was his chance to prove it. Without a word, he launched forward, closing the gap in an instant. His fist shot toward Captain Atom's face, but the seasoned hero sidestepped with inhuman speed, avoiding the strike effortlessly. "Still fast as ever," Joseph muttered. He twisted midair, using his anti-gravity field to reorient himself, and sent a powerful left hook at Captain Atom's ribs. This time, Atom caught his wrist with ease. "Your form's better," Captain Atom admitted. "But you're still not fast enough." Before Joseph could react, Captain Atom twisted his grip and flipped him over, slamming him hard into the ground. Dust and debris shot into the air. "Try harder." Joseph gritted his teeth. With a burst of Nova force, he lifted himself off the ground. He shot forward again, twisting his momentum mid-flight to whip his leg around in a kick aimed at Captain Atom's side. Captain Atom took the hit without flinching, barely sliding back. "Better. But still not enough." Before Joseph could react, Captain Atom flicked his wrist and sent a concentrated energy blast toward him. Joseph barely had time to react. He crossed his arms and flared his anti-gravity field, compressing it around himself to dampen the impact. The blast still sent him flying back, crashing through a jagged rock formation. He grunted, shaking off the pain. "Did you find out what happens when you take in too much energy?" Captain Atom asked. Joseph smirked. "I don't think I have a limit." He launched himself forward again, this time maneuvering erratically, weaving through the air with bursts of anti-gravity adjustments. He closed the gap and swung an elbow at Captain Atom's chest. The older hero caught it, but Joseph immediately kicked off a gravity-repelling force from his feet, launching them both skyward. They continued clashing in the air, their blows producing shock-waves. Joseph ducked under a punch, countering with a precise knee strike to Captain Atom's ribs, sending him back. He followed up with a spinning kick, enhancing his speed by expanding his anti-gravity field at the moment of impact. Captain Atom recovered instantly, weaving around the attack and landing a brutal uppercut that sent Joseph reeling. Joseph steadied himself and suddenly expanded his anti-gravity field outward in a sharp pulse, forcing Captain Atom to slide back against the sudden shift in force. "Let's see you break out of this." Captain Atom's eyes narrowed. He focused his quantum energy, creating his own opposing force against the altered gravity field. Within seconds, he shattered Joseph's hold and retaliated with a barrage of energy blasts. Joseph zigzagged through the air, barely dodging. One bolt clipped his shoulder, sending pain coursing through his body. Gritting his teeth, he retaliated with golden Nova Force blasts, colliding against Captain Atom's attacks. The sky lit up with their energy war. Then, in a blur, a powerful quantum beam hit Joseph dead center. He braced for impact, his body instinctively absorbing as much of the energy as possible, but the sheer force still sent him plummeting toward the earth. A crater formed where he landed, smoke and dust rising into the air. Captain Atom descended cautiously, arms folded. "You good?" Joseph didn't answer immediately. Then, with a sharp inhale, he shot a concentrated Nova bolt straight at Captain Atom. The impact sent Atom flying back through the air, flipping several times before steadying himself. Captain Atom arched a brow. "Nice shot. But now... I get serious." Joseph's Nova Sense flared. He could feel the energy building inside Captain Atom—a vast, immeasurable well of quantum power gathering in his core. Joseph narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists, pulling in every ounce of energy he had absorbed into his own body. Golden light crackled around him, radiating out like a sun. "Alright then," he muttered. "Let's see who's got more firepower." Their energies surged, colliding in a massive explosion of golden Nova Force against radiant yellow quantum energy. The sky split apart with the sheer intensity of their clash. Shockwaves rippled outward, leveling rock formations, tearing through the earth below. Joseph gritted his teeth, pushing with everything he had, but Captain Atom's power was overwhelming. His golden blast began to falter, his body straining under the sheer pressure. And then, Captain Atom's energy overpowered his own. The golden light shattered, and a colossal quantum wave engulfed Joseph, sending him hurtling downward. The force of impact buried him deep into the earth, rock and debris collapsing around him. Captain Atom hovered above the smoking crater, arms crossed. "You alright?" A muffled groan came from below. Then, weakly, Joseph's voice. "Yeah... I'll just rest here for a bit." Captain Atom chuckled. "You did better this time."