Chapter 16: The Growing Rivalry and the New Threat
Starling City, bless its perpetually endangered heart, couldn't go five minutes without a new crisis. This time, it was a minor metahuman, a guy who could manipulate shadows, making him less "terrifying villain" and more "really annoying stage magician." "Seriously? Shadows? What's next, a villain who can control lint? This is getting ridiculous."
The Arrowcave was, as usual, a hub of controlled chaos. Oliver was brooding, Diggle was stoic, and Felicity was a whirlwind of typing. But now, there was a new, equally brilliant, and equally optimistic presence: Ray Palmer. And he was, much to Oliver's chagrin, bonding with Adam.
"So, a shadow-bender, huh?" Ray mused, peering at the blurry surveillance footage. "Fascinating. Theoretically, if we could disrupt the light particles around him, we could render his powers useless. Perhaps a high-frequency light emitter?"
"Or, you know, just turn on the lights," Adam quipped, earning a snort from Felicity. "But if we're going for 'over-engineered solution,' I like your style, Palmer. Always thinking big. Unlike some people, who prefer to just punch things until they stop moving." He glanced pointedly at Oliver.
Oliver, who had been listening with a deepening frown, finally spoke. "Adam, Ray, this isn't a competition."
"Oh, but it is, Oliver. It's a competition of wits! A battle of brains! A clash of the titans of tech!" Adam declared, pulling out his Pen of Creation. "And I think I have a winning strategy. Something non-lethal, highly effective, and just a little bit humiliating for our shadowy friend."
[PEN OF CREATION USED. COST: 10 NON-PLP (SIMPLE SCHEMATIC).]
"Ten LP for a trap? That's a steal! Especially if it involves a giant net. Everyone loves a good net."
He quickly sketched a schematic on a tablet, showing a series of strategically placed, high-powered spotlights and a spring-loaded net. It was simple, elegant, and utterly ridiculous. "Behold! The 'Shadow Snare 5000'! It's designed to disorient our shadowy friend with light, then ensnare him in a highly durable, yet surprisingly comfortable, net. Think of it as a very aggressive hug."
Ray's eyes lit up. "Brilliant! The light would scatter his shadow constructs, and the net would prevent his escape! It's so simple, yet so effective!"
"Simple, yet effective. That's my motto, Palmer," Adam said, winking. "Unlike Oliver's motto, which I believe is 'Punch first, ask questions later, then brood about it for three hours'."
Oliver just sighed, running a hand over his face. He was clearly annoyed, but he couldn't deny the ingenuity of the plan.
Oliver (POV): He was getting tired of Adam's constant jokes and his bizarre "tech." And now Ray Palmer was in on it. It was like they were deliberately trying to drive him insane. But the plan... the plan was actually good. Annoyingly good. He hated it.
Later, during the confrontation with the shadow metahuman, the "Shadow Snare 5000" worked perfectly. The spotlights, strategically placed by Diggle, flared, disorienting the villain. Then, with a loud THWACK, the net sprung, ensnaring him in a tangle of ropes. He thrashed, but the net held firm.
"See? Told you! Effective!" Adam yelled over the comms, watching the scene unfold on Felicity's monitor. "He's like a very angry, very confused fish in a very large, very comfortable net!"
Oliver, after securing the metahuman, looked up at the camera, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. He still didn't understand how Adam came up with these things, but he couldn't deny the results.
[MISSION COMPLETE: MINOR METAHUMAN THREAT. REWARD: 100 NON-PLP.]
[SIDE MISSION COMPLETE: RIVALRY ENHANCEMENT. REWARD: 50 NON-PLP.]
"One hundred LP for catching a glorified shadow puppet, and fifty for annoying Oliver? This System truly understands my life goals. I'm basically a professional annoyance, and I'm getting paid for it. Best job ever."
Back in the Arrowcave, Ray was practically buzzing with excitement. "Adam, that was incredible! The design for the net, the light synchronization... it was flawless!"
"Just a little something I cooked up in my spare time, Ray," Adam said, shrugging. "You know, when I'm not busy saving the world, one sarcastic comment at a time. We should totally collaborate more. Imagine the chaos we could unleash. We could build a giant robot that tells bad jokes!"
Ray's eyes gleamed. "A giant robot that tells bad jokes! Adam, you're a genius!"
Oliver, who had just walked in, heard the last part and visibly winced. Adam just grinned. The rivalry was strong, the alliances were forming, and the Arrowverse was about to get a whole lot more entertaining.
System Status After Chapter: Non-PLP: 755. PLP: 4.
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