Amy immediately moved to Clark's side when she saw his condition.
"Clark, are you alright?"
She crouched down quickly, grabbing him by the arm and trying to lift him up.
But Clark's injuries were too severe, and even with her enhanced strength, it was difficult for her to support his weight.
After struggling for a moment, she managed to get him onto her shoulders, breathing heavily from the effort.
Adrian stood nearby and watched the scene unfold before him. His gaze narrowed slightly.
"Who are you?"
"You can call me Alicia," she replied.
Despite standing in front of Adrian, whose presence was overwhelming, Alicia showed no fear. Instead, she met his eyes with firm resolve.
"I won't let you hurt Clark again."
Adrian raised a brow, clearly noting the unusual speed she had just displayed. It was far beyond normal human ability, and even among metahumans, it stood out.
"What is your relationship with Clark?"
"I'm his friend. No matter what happens, I won't let you harm him."
Alicia steadied herself, forcing strength into her voice as she faced him.
"I just heard you two are brothers. Why are you fighting like enemies instead of standing together?"
"You ask too many questions," Adrian said flatly.
Without another word, he reached out toward her.
Alicia reacted instantly. Her body blurred as she activated her speed, attempting to evade.
She was confident she could avoid him.
But the moment she moved, something felt wrong. Time itself seemed to stretch and slow around her. Her enhanced perception only made it worse, as she watched Adrian's hand continue forward with absolute certainty.
Before she could fully process it, Adrian had already closed the distance.
He grabbed her collar.
Alicia's eyes widened.
The next instant, he slammed her into the ground.
A loud impact echoed as dust scattered across the floor.
Pain surged through her body as disbelief took over her expression.
The speed she trusted had been completely meaningless.
Clark forced himself up despite his injuries, seeing Alicia fall.
"You're not going to hurt her!"
He rushed forward, but Adrian intercepted him effortlessly.
Grabbing Clark's arms, Adrian drove an elbow into his chest.
The impact sent a shock through Clark's body as he was launched backward.
He crashed into the ground hard enough to shake the surrounding area.
"You…"
Clark struggled to breathe, glaring up at him. "Don't involve innocent people in this. Don't hurt Alicia."
"You're the one who dragged them into it," Adrian replied coldly as he approached.
"I can feel it," he continued. "A power similar to yours exists inside her. Something that should have been part of you."
Clark's expression tightened.
"I don't know what you did, but I know your pattern. You always involve people who should never be part of this."
"Peter, Alicia, even our father. Your carelessness always leaves destruction behind."
At the mention of Jonathan Kent, Clark's face darkened with pain and anger.
"Don't talk about him!"
Clark roared and lunged forward again, despite his condition.
But Adrian met him mid charge with a single strike.
"You hate hearing the truth," Adrian said as Clark was knocked back again. "Because you don't want to accept what you've done."
Clark lay on the ground, struggling to breathe.
"You still don't understand what your power means," Adrian continued. "Or what responsibility actually is."
He stepped closer, eyes cold.
"If you never become what you are meant to be, you will never surpass me."
He raised his hand, energy building as if he intended to end it.
"Adrian, stop!"
Chloe's voice cut through the tension.
She ran toward them, breathing heavily.
"He's your brother!"
"He's not acting like one," Adrian replied without turning.
"And you're not acting like his brother either," Chloe shot back.
"I know you," she said firmly. "If you truly wanted him dead, you wouldn't waste time talking."
"I always talk before finishing things," Adrian replied coldly. "It's not personal."
"That's not true," Chloe said.
"I already called Martha," she added.
At that name, Adrian's expression shifted slightly.
His gaze sharpened, and in a flash he grabbed Chloe by the neck, lifting her off the ground.
"You like interfering, Chloe?"
Chloe struggled to breathe.
"I just didn't want you to lose control…"
"Lose control?" Adrian repeated.
His grip loosened slightly.
"I'm perfectly aware of what I'm doing."
Then he released her, tossing her a short distance away with controlled force.
Chloe hit the ground but quickly recovered, coughing.
Adrian turned back toward Clark, but paused.
A sudden shift in the air interrupted everything.
Above them, a white spatial rift opened.
It expanded rapidly, pulling in multiple figures at once.
Nightwing, Deathstroke, and Black Canary were the first to be drawn into it.
"Everyone, get out!" Green Arrow shouted.
Before anyone could react further, the portal expanded again.
Clark and Alicia were also pulled in despite their resistance.
In seconds, the entire group was swallowed by the rift.
Adrian moved instantly, attempting to approach it, but Green Arrow fired an arrow directly at him to interrupt his movement.
Adrian glanced at him, then back at the fading portal.
A single step brought him in front of Green Arrow.
A strike followed immediately.
Green Arrow was sent crashing backward, blood spilling as he struggled to remain conscious.
His hand trembled as he tried to reach for another arrow.
Adrian kicked him again, stopping any further resistance.
Then he turned his attention back toward the vanished portal.
"…Cyborg's work again," he muttered.
Meanwhile, the group reappeared in a distant, unfamiliar location.
The environment was quiet, unfamiliar, and empty.
No one had expected this destination.
Nightwing looked around first.
"This isn't where we were supposed to go."
Black Canary immediately turned around.
"I'm going back for Oliver."
"No," Nightwing said firmly. "We can't go back right now."
"He stayed behind for us," Deathstroke added quietly.
Black Canary's hands trembled.
"Why him…"
Her voice broke slightly. "Why did he have to be the one left behind?"
No one answered.
Clark lay unconscious nearby, Alicia beside him, both barely stable after the transfer.
The silence that followed was heavy.
Back at the battlefield, Green Arrow lay on the ground, barely conscious.
"I should feel pain…" he whispered internally. "But I don't."
His vision faded.
"I'm sorry, Laurel…"
His thoughts slowed.
"I wish we had more time."
Then everything went dark.
Adrian stood alone as the aftermath settled.
He turned slightly as Lois approached, helping Chloe up.
Lois stared at him in anger.
"You're a monster, Adrian."
"Oh?" he replied. "Just realizing that now?"
He looked at Chloe briefly, then away.
"I've never claimed to be anything else."
Mera approached next, followed by Killer Frost.
"All captured metahumans have been secured," Mera said. "Except Black Canary."
"Noted," Adrian replied.
Lois tried to speak again, but Chloe stopped her.
"Don't," Chloe said softly.
"He's still…" she hesitated. "He's still dealing with it in his own way."
Lois frowned. "That doesn't excuse anything he's done."
"I know," Chloe said.
But she looked toward Adrian as he walked away.
"He cares more than he admits."
Lois scoffed.
"That's hard to believe."
Smallville, Kent Farm.
Adrian sat in the living room, staring at the clock.
3:00 AM.
He didn't sleep.
He was waiting.
The door finally opened quietly.
Rachel stepped inside carefully, trying not to make noise.
She froze immediately when she heard his voice.
"Rachel."
She turned slowly, anxiety visible on her face.
She already knew why he was waiting.
She had interfered earlier, cutting communication and covering their movements during the conflict.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I know I messed up."
"Wrong," Adrian replied calmly.
Rachel blinked. "What?"
"I didn't ask what you did wrong," he said. "I asked what you think was wrong."
Rachel lowered her head slightly.
"I interfered. I tried to help you."
Adrian leaned back slightly, expression unreadable in the dim light.
"I'm not angry about that," he said.
Rachel looked up, confused.
"I don't think you did anything wrong at all."