As it turned out, being a superhero wasn't as great or as easy as I had imagined back on my home planet, where there weren't so many catastrophes.
Over these two weeks of training with Fate, Bruce had practically been using me to plug holes all over the planet. Every three to four hours, there was a call from him or the Watchtower, directing me to fly somewhere or do something. Save, stop, or clean up. Never in my life had I had to literally halt a war in the Middle Eastern countries. Politics didn't concern the heroes of this world much when Batman gave the order to stop the bloodshed on the border with Bialya—a nation located in the Middle East, north of Iran and Saudi Arabia. I asked if it wouldn't cause a political scandal. Bruce assured me that as long as there were people killing each other, there would be heroes to stop them and explain that they needed to live in peace. Especially on a planet under attack by cosmic invaders.
The Justice League seemed deeply frustrated that they were fighting an enemy from space, trying to save everyone on this planet, while people on that same planet were killing each other instead of the common foe. So, when I met Captain Atom, Nathaniel and I together stopped a massacre between two sides. I wasn't interested in what had happened to those people or why they were killing each other, looking so similar and speaking the same language. I was more preoccupied with Atom. Nathaniel, a former soldier by his own account, didn't draw his power from atoms, as most in the League thought. Near him, I tried to control my heightened abilities to avoid draining or killing the man. As it turned out, after an experiment, he no longer had a physical body—he was essentially just energy contained within a suit made of special material. The suit itself was sturdy enough, but from my own senses, I understood that his entire body was the energy of an atomic bomb explosion, and it would take only a small effort for me to breach the suit's integrity. A powerful enough superhero, but to me, he was essentially just a battery. I had to heavily restrain my powers when we met in tents during those two days of rest. He kept to short remarks, and the military discipline in him was still strong, even though he had become a superhero.
After we finished bringing peace to the lands of deserts and sands, Atom stayed to be thanked, while I flew off to the next mission.
Living like this for about two weeks and training for two or three hours with Fate on spells and control, I realized that this whole superhero life wasn't for me. Sacrificing my time for the entire world—my desire to do so had dwindled, or rather, vanished completely. After paying my debt to my homeland and seeing what such service entailed, you realize that the world doesn't distinguish between one person dying or a hundred for the sake of peace. You understand that all this self-sacrifice is only for mentally unwell people, like Bruce.
Pushing thoughts of supers aside, I heard Kent's footsteps.
"Tough day, Kain?" Placing a hand on my shoulder, he teleported me. In a flash, we were in a room at a table full of food and various drinks. Too bad I couldn't do that.
"Something like that. Stopped a five-point tsunami off the coast of Japan. Swallowed enough saltwater for a lifetime."
"Oh, I feel you, my friend. I once had to swim off the coast of…"
Dinner passed with conversation, and we parted ways. I headed down the endless corridor of the magical skyscraper to the training hall, trying to regulate my strength, while Kent left, putting on his helmet, to attend to some of his Order business.
Over these two weeks, starting from the day they unlocked my energy, I had been learning to control it. It turned out that the passive effect on my body was such that I could rival the strongest heroes on Earth, but that was still weak compared to active use. Channeling energy into my fist, I could cause claps and explosions with my actions, and every step I took was accompanied by tremors all around. In the first days, I had to constantly stay airborne, though according to Fate, the protections in his building were such that I could let loose without holding back. But I didn't enjoy such pastimes when all your power was a double-edged sword, and I tried my hardest to regain my former control. Absolute control appealed to me more than raw might.
By the end of the first week, I managed to return to a normal state while actively using my energy, so as not to destroy everything around me. It was a week full of torment, when every laser glance triggered a wide attack that I could only pull off once. Now, having activated my energy and learned to control it, I'd rid myself of that problem. The second week was filled with meditations.
I had thought the spell would involve a ritual with candles, a pentagram, and a goat. It turned out to be far less simple than I'd imagined. Kent was an excellent mage, but his explanations were somehow unclear to me personally.
"Feel it all: the strings of the universe, the energy of fate, and the air of the world"—to me, it sounded like some charlatan's pitch from a forty-year-old woman claiming to cure my cancer. Thankfully, when the helmet seemed fed up with its wearer fussing over me, it suggested I take a pencil and try to infuse it with my energy. Skeptically nodding, I agreed to do as Nabu said. It turned out the helmet had far more experience in teaching, and the first pencil crumbled to dust under my energy. That's how I learned I could now destroy all matter with my energy, simply by overloading it. A bad discovery for a hero, as Kent said, but a great one for me, not a hero. A fine weapon, leaving no trace.
So, moving from a pencil to an apple, I tried to infuse a sheet of paper with energy. How I went from an apple to a sheet, only Nabu knows.
---
"Focus, try to fit all the symbols in your mind." Kent's voice was more distracting than helpful, but there was no time to say so.
Almost… almost… almost…
Slipping with the energy again, I simply dispersed it into the air. Damn it.
Slamming my palm on the training room floor, I caused a tremor. Kent, after five seconds, calmed everything around and surveyed the wrecked hall, full of sawdust from wooden dummies.
"Well, it took me three tries, so don't worry, Kain." I shot him a skeptical look and snorted.
For three days, trying to activate the spell, I'd gotten nowhere. My radiation energy was too heavy for the world, and producing effects like Kent's, with golden light streaming from his hands, wasn't working. Not even geometric shapes from energy—I couldn't even extend it more than five centimeters from my body. Now I was struggling with having too much energy, and it was hard to control, slipping along the strings of existence.
According to Kent, this spell didn't move you between worlds in the literal sense. The caster using this magic simply jumped along a string, as if up or down. That's how they pulled me from the nearest world, and I ended up in theirs. But to move me to a prepared spot in the Tower for surprises, they had to work hard, since anything could happen, and I might've turned out to be some evil god or demon. By description, the spell, written by the mage on a plain sheet of paper, moved you to the same spot in universes where the caster was. The sheet also had signs of unclear meaning to me, which you had to keep in mind and infuse with energy. That last step was where I was struggling.
"One more time. I'll definitely get it now." Nodding to Kent to be ready to pull me back, I began.
One, two… About thirty symbols. Each was different, each unique. Some resembled strange living creatures, others letters. They were united only by one thing—white color. Not the bright white of my enemies from my homeworld, but a faded one. As if on their last breath, they absorbed my energy one by one but didn't change their brightness. Only the last, shaped like a crescent, flared brightly purple, like my energy, flashing and draining half my reserves. It was like an inner sensation, not exact numbers. As if my consciousness briefly shut off, and I felt something different beneath me. Uh… how did I…?
Opening my eyes, I was on a skyscraper, sitting on small pebbles and gravel that filled rooftops. A dark sky full of stars, and the moon. The atmosphere was the same, and the people I heard and sensed were the same. Was this another world?
Standing and looking over the railing, I saw the city—same New York, same timeline, though I wasn't entirely sure. At first, I didn't notice differences, but then I saw some flags and, in microseconds, recalled where I'd seen them. That symbol was on my superhero suit, the only symbol worn by the sole survivor of a dead planet besides me. In the center, a bold "S" in a strict, aggressive style, framed by red and gold, with sharp black lines radiating from the center on a black background. Odd, I didn't know Superman would become president and want to change the U.S. flag to that, I thought with irony. Hearing a whistle from the wind torn by a fast body, I was hit at high speed, thrown through the railing, breaking everything around with my body, and slammed into a building a hundred meters away, crashing through walls. If I'd wanted, I could've dodged, but I didn't. I was curious who it was. I didn't feel pain or notice damage—too weak for me.
"A kid?" asked Kal-El, and it was him, hovering before me. He looked through the hole my body had made, in a suit that resembled armor with outlines on his temples like a crown. Interesting. This version was also much older than the one in the previous world. So, not the same time, not the same events.
"Weak, very weak, Kal-El." Moving my jaw, I smirked. A piece of the building was under my hand, and grabbing it, I stood with a stone in my hands against the Kryptonian. Interesting.
"Who are you? Another of Batman's tricks? Another clone? Why can't I see your body…?"
"Go to hell." Flipping him off, I was engulfed in golden light. I'd calculated correctly, and again, half my energy was drained. The few seconds we talked were enough for Kent to pull me back using my own reserves. Luckily, Earth always had plenty of radiation, and I only staggered but stayed on my feet, absorbing everything around.
"How was it? See anything interesting?" Kent smirked, seeing I was a bit roughed up. My clothes were slightly dusty from the soft building, and regeneration healed a bruise on my jaw in seconds.
"Saw something intriguing. Maybe again?" I asked a sour-faced Kent, tossing the stone from another world. The experiment was a success, and the discovery was thrilling. I wondered what else I'd see. A world with no heroes? Or one where all heroes were villains, and villains were heroes? The multiverse was so bizarre.
---
Chewing my thirteenth beef burger with three extra patties, Allen raised a questioning eyebrow. I sat relaxed, waiting for mine.
"Seriously, Tyrant Superman?" The diner on Route 66 was famous not only for its hot dishes but also for its burgers, served with cola and fries. Tasty, greasy, and filling. Especially for a speedster who burns calories like a furnace. Around us sat various tourists and passersby. Everything was noisy, and only our corner, a bit farther from everyone, was an oasis of calm in this ocean of noise.
"I wouldn't say 'Tyrant.'" I clarified. "More like 'World President.'" I made air quotes, showing how seriously I took this Superman. Still, analyzing the entire city in seconds and seeing all of Kal-El's politics was a good sign that ruling required skill, and tyrannical force wouldn't achieve anything worthwhile.
"Wonder what happened to Clark in that world to make him act like that. Still, hitting you, a kid, at that speed—he could've just splattered you on that roof. Very strange."
"I think he knew I wasn't just a kid. And maybe there were plenty of reasons for his behavior." I shrugged. "For example, tell me, does our Superman have a girlfriend or wife?"
"Fiancée," Barry clarified. "He and Lois recently decided to get married after years of dating. Sometimes, like me, he's slow with stuff like that."
"Ha." I smiled. "True enough. How long would I have waited for you here if I hadn't found you on Brazil's coast myself?"
"Hey, Mr. Perfect, there was an emergency," he said, taking a huge bite of his burger and barely chewing it. I gave him a skeptical look.
"Yeah, sure, saving one critter was worth your effort."
"Hey, not a critter. The last of its species."
"I'm the last of my species too." I smirked. "But no one's rushing to save me. Fine." I waved at a choking Allen. "Forget it. But remember one thing: Lois might be the key."
"Key?" he asked, confused. He didn't get my hint.
"If something happens to her," I twirled my finger in the air, "Kal might lose it. And if she's pregnant… you get it."
"Ohhh." He nodded, realizing it was possible in this world. Everything was possible here. Knowing some people's stories, I didn't rule out it happening for real. "Got it, you're right. I'll tell Bruce to keep a closer eye on her. Alright, that's grown-up stuff." I rolled my eyes at that. "So, what other worlds did you see?"
"Well, look." I started counting on my fingers. "The first was a world where I landed in the middle of insane cosmic chaos. Earth was torn apart, its pieces floating in space. Luckily, I can survive in space. I didn't see any people or living beings in the debris, and all of our solar system's space was dead."
"Creepy," Barry shivered. "Did you figure out why?"
"No." I shook my head. "The next world was one where every hero wasn't what they seemed. Superman wasn't a symbol of hope but his anti-version, full of tyranny and cruelty. Wonder Woman wasn't just a warrior but a bloodthirsty goddess ruling through fear. Even your version was some bandit and junkie."
"Me?" He pointed at himself. "No way…"
"Yup, and Batman wasn't Batman but some owl. This League of Villains, calling themselves the Crime Syndicate, ruled the world. Luckily, they didn't notice me, and I helped the good guys a bit."
"How'd it go?" he asked, intrigued. I didn't tell the truth about how I burned that Owlman, Bruce's opposite. Dying from a laser piercing your head and frying your brains from hundreds of kilometers away was a surprise even for someone like him. His paranoia couldn't save him from my attack, and the severed head of the local black Lantern, who suddenly showed up, probably shocked all the villains in that world for a while. Maybe they thought they'd killed each other? Whatever. I hid the interesting ring in the city's skyscrapers.
Traveling between worlds was strange and never systematic. I was jumping through parallels of this reality, spending more or less energy with no logical explanation for the costs, and I still couldn't reach my own reality. It worried me a bit, but Fate reassured me I'd need time to master the spell's nuances.
Later, I'd figure it out.
"Yeah." I waved my hand. "A bit here, a bit there. Distracted the villains at speed, and the heroes seemed to change something. I got pulled back before it ended."
"Got it," Barry drawled. "Anything more interesting?"
"Well, in one world, Superman was a Red, and in another, a total zombie. I stopped jumping after that—magical and solar disinfection after the zombie planet took forever…"
"Hold up," Barry waved his hands. "Clark a communist?!"
"What's so surprising? Worlds vary. That shocks you more than a zombie world?"
"Yeah, I've been to different worlds once—zombies are old news," he waved dismissively, whispering, "Superman a communist…"
Barry's typical American world was shattered. Alright, time to eat. They'd brought it. The triple cheeseburger landed heavily in my hands, and I opened my mouth. Oh, this was gonna be a flavor explosion. Chomp…
But then, in my ear, and Barry's, Batman's voice sounded.
"Superboy, Flash. Emergency, general assembly at the Tower. Move out."
"Ugh." Sighing that I couldn't savor my food, I ate the burger at speed. Exiting the mode where everything froze, I drank my cola. Tasty, but not as good as eating at human speed.
"Let's go, gotta get there fast. Last time it was this big was when they summoned you," Barry frowned, pulled out his wallet, left money for the food, and we quickly headed down the road to the forest so I could shed my clothes and Barry could change into his suit.
"Maybe give me that ring?" I asked, holding my clothes.
"Order one from Bruce, he'll make it. I'll pass him the blueprints," he waved.
"Oh, thanks, great weaver," I made a prayer gesture, and Barry rolled his eyes.
"Come on, comedian, let's go."
Blurring at high speed, he ran to the nearest point for a Boom Tube. Alright, shielding my clothes, I flew after him. What was so interesting that Bruce was calling all the supers? Finally, an Apokolips attack?
---
The morgue was cold and lifeless. The dim lamps flickered, creating a grim atmosphere. Ultraman stood by one of the tables, his strong hands clenched into fists, his face hidden in shadow—those who didn't know him would struggle to recognize him. His suit, as always, gleaming and pristine, contrasted with the surrounding gloom. Beside him stood Superwoman—her gaze deep, her body, though typically strong, now seemed broken by the horror they'd both endured. They stood before tables holding the bodies of their allies—Owlman and Green Lantern John Stewart. At first glance, they seemed lifeless, but something in their positions, the way they lay, screamed that death hadn't come naturally. John's severed head and Owlman's fried brains. Ultraman couldn't comprehend how it happened. He'd witnessed countless deaths, seen heroes and villains fall, but the deaths of these two were different. Too… quiet. He stepped toward John Stewart's table, his shadow falling on the mutilated face of the Green Lantern. There were no visible wounds, but something inside, likely some dark force, something hidden he couldn't pinpoint. His eyes lacked the usual blaze of justice that often burned in them during battle. It was an empty, detached sight. As if he hadn't even realized how he died. Too fast, too sudden.
"What happened?" Superwoman asked, her voice full of worry and uncertainty. She looked at Ultraman, searching his face for the slightest answer. He always had a plan, always an idea to win. But now? He had nothing to say.
"We don't know," he replied, his voice restrained, but laced with confusion and anger. "They were killed, at the same time, but not in the usual way. Owlman was paranoid—his strategies for his safety couldn't just vanish like that. And John… John was strong, but… how could this happen?"
Superwoman gently touched Owlman's body, her fingers gliding over his chest. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed something odd. Barely visible cracks, as if someone or something had broken him from within. But how? What could cause such pain?
"This isn't natural death. This… magic? Or something else?" she said, squinting.
Ultraman only shook his head, his face darkening. He scanned the room, as if expecting someone to step from the shadows and explain everything. But the morgue was empty. Just them, two rulers, and two bodies.
"I don't know," he replied, nervously examining the corpses. "This isn't something that could come from ordinary opposition… It's much worse. I feel something more dangerous is behind this."
Superwoman stepped back from the table, her gaze sweeping the room for clues. She knew it couldn't just be—murders of two such powerful beings wouldn't go without a trace. If this was an attack, it had to be from someone powerful, someone who could bypass all their defenses.
"Maybe betrayal?" she said finally, her voice growing firmer. "Someone from within?"
Ultraman frowned. The thought had crossed his mind, but he didn't want to believe it. Betrayal was too painful, too familiar. Even he, on this world's wrong side of the law, knew some heroes had everything needed to betray their own.
"Too much for betrayal. Something else is here. Too… invisible. I don't want to believe anyone could get that close. We can't be that vulnerable. We need to figure out what happened."
He approached John Stewart's table, leaned in, and studied his face closely. Then his gaze shifted to the doorway, and his eyes narrowed. Suddenly, a wave of unease pierced his mind.
"We have to investigate this ourselves," he said, resolve returning to his voice. "Wherever they were killed, there's something hidden here, and we need to find it."
Superwoman nodded, understanding they faced a task unlike any before. They both knew that in a world full of unyielding heroes and mysterious forces, the deaths of such people weren't mere chance. It was a signal, a sign of something far more terrifying. Heroes didn't act like this.
And now they had to figure out what it was.
---