"Long time no see, Oliver."
Adrian turned to face Green Arrow, his tone steady but edged with cold recognition.
"Yes, long time no see," Oliver replied.
Green Arrow's expression was tight, conflicted. Black Canary, standing beside him, glanced between the two with confusion. Oliver knew Homelander.
Adrian studied him for a moment before speaking again.
"It seems your time on Purgatory Island changed you. At least you stopped acting like an annoying playboy."
Oliver exhaled lightly, keeping his distance.
"Thanks for the concern. Life there wasn't easy, but it changed me."
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"Are you here to take my life?"
Oliver immediately shook his head.
"No. That's not why we're here. We're here to save people."
His voice was controlled now. Captain Atom's death had forced him to recalibrate everything. This was not a fight he could afford to rush.
Adrian's eyes narrowed faintly.
"But not everyone here agrees with that."
A faint red glow built in Adrian's eyes.
Oliver's stance tightened.
"That's not something I control. But if you want a fight, I will finish it."
He raised his bow, aiming directly at Adrian.
Adrian looked at him calmly.
"Bows won't help you."
"They help enough," Oliver replied, pulling the string taut. "Enough to make me feel like I still have control."
In the next instant, Oliver's vision blurred.
A sharp impact struck his chest, sending him flying backward. He hit the ground hard, dust exploding around him.
Nightwing and Deathstroke moved immediately after.
They attacked from both sides.
Deathstroke swung his staff at high speed, aiming for Adrian's flank. Adrian caught it effortlessly with one hand.
A sharp crack echoed as the staff snapped in his grip.
Before Deathstroke could react, Adrian reversed the weapon and struck him across the head. The impact sent him crashing backward, his body collapsing under the force.
Nightwing followed up instantly, her staff cutting through the air with precision. She aimed for Adrian's arm.
Adrian didn't even turn fully.
He struck once.
Nightwing was launched away, slamming into the ground with brutal force.
Oliver struggled back to his feet, blood on his lips. He drew another arrow.
It was blocked before it could even reach Adrian.
Adrian moved forward in an instant and struck him again, sending him crashing down once more.
Black Canary snapped.
She charged.
Even knowing the difference in strength, she kicked Adrian from behind with everything she had.
Adrian didn't turn.
He simply waved his hand.
The force alone sent her flying backward, her body crashing into the ground as if she had been hit by a moving vehicle.
Oliver coughed violently, pain flooding his body. His ribs were broken, his breathing uneven, his vision unstable.
Still, he forced himself forward.
He crawled, dragging his body through the dirt until his hand touched his bow again.
"The longest recorded arrow shot is twelve hundred twenty two meters," he muttered to himself.
Then, more firmly.
"But I can go further."
He pulled himself upright with difficulty, gripping the bow.
"With enough force and speed, an arrow can break through anything."
His grip tightened.
"But can it hurt someone like him?"
He already knew the answer.
"No."
He released the arrow anyway.
It flew fast, but not toward Adrian.
Instead, it struck a structural support behind him.
A large water tank, previously drained, lost its balance and began to fall.
Oliver's eyes lit up faintly.
Adrian looked up, then stepped aside without urgency.
The tank crashed down harmlessly.
Before Oliver could react further, Adrian was in front of him again.
He grabbed him by the collar and lifted him slightly.
"You really thought that would work?"
Oliver didn't respond.
Adrian threw him down hard.
Oliver hit the ground, pain surging through his entire body.
Heat gathered in Adrian's eyes.
A lethal glow built.
"Wait."
A voice cut through the tension.
Adrian paused.
Wonder Woman had returned.
Diana stood unsteady but firm, her armor damaged, her breathing heavy.
"Don't do it yet," she said.
Adrian turned slightly.
"Didn't I tell you to recover in the hospital?"
"I don't stay out of fights," she replied simply.
She stepped closer.
"This one is still useful. We can use him to track the people behind all this. He's not acting alone."
Her gaze shifted to Oliver.
"He should come with us."
Adrian frowned slightly.
"You didn't think like this before."
Diana met his eyes.
"People change. And if it helps you, I'm willing to change."
Her tone softened slightly.
"I'm not human like you. I'm Amazonian. Change is part of what I am."
She grabbed Oliver by the collar and lifted him.
"The rest is on you, Kyle. It won't be easy keeping metahumans contained."
She began restraining the others, preparing to leave.
Adrian watched her for a moment.
Something felt off.
Not wrong, but different.
He stepped forward.
"I want to give you something."
Diana raised a brow.
"What is it?"
Adrian answered.
"Fire."
Her eyes widened slightly.
Before she could react, heat vision erupted from his eyes.
Flames engulfed her.
Wonder Woman staggered back immediately, shock and pain breaking through her composure.
"Ah!"
She fell to her knees, rolling across the ground in an attempt to extinguish the fire.
The flames began to fade as she moved, but her expression was shaken.
Nightwing, Black Canary, and Deathstroke froze in disbelief.
Mera, now recovered enough to stand, stared in confusion at Adrian.
Wonder Woman finally managed to suppress the flames, breathing heavily.
She looked up at him.
Adrian stood still, expression unreadable.
"It seems your disguise didn't work," he said calmly.
His eyes locked onto her.
"General Swanwick."
A pause.
"Or should I say, Martian Manhunter."
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