Chapter 27: Shadows and Titans
Ethan Cross adjusted his stance, standing at the edge of a Metropolis skyscraper, feeling the hum of the city beneath his feet. The skyline was so different from Gotham's—cleaner, brighter, yet carrying its own kind of danger. If Gotham was the city of shadows, Metropolis was the city of gods, and right now, he was standing in the middle of it, unsure where he fit in.
His meeting with Lex Luthor had left him with more questions than answers. He had agreed to help the billionaire, but he wasn't foolish enough to believe it would be that simple. Luthor didn't offer assistance without an agenda. Ethan had played the part of the naive player before, and he wasn't about to do it again.
A gust of wind signaled movement.
"You don't belong here."
Ethan smirked before turning. Hovering a few feet away, the symbol of Metropolis itself—Superman. The Kryptonian floated effortlessly, his red cape billowing in the wind, blue eyes locked onto Ethan with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine. There was no malice in his expression, but Ethan could feel the weight of his scrutiny.
"Yeah? Funny, I was just starting to like it here," Ethan said casually, crossing his arms.
Superman narrowed his eyes slightly. "I don't know what you are. But I know you were in Gotham, and now you're here, meeting with Lex Luthor."
Ethan let out a short laugh. "Oh great, the Bat's been talking about me."
Superman didn't respond immediately, his gaze piercing. "What does Luthor want from you?"
Ethan shrugged. "Answers. Same as me. I don't exactly know what I am either."
Superman's expression softened slightly, but the suspicion remained. "Luthor isn't the type to help people unless he can control them. Whatever he promised you, he'll find a way to use you."
Ethan sighed. "Yeah, I got that. But I don't have a whole lot of other options right now."
Superman hovered closer, just enough that Ethan could feel the sheer presence of him. "You always have options. If you need help, real help, the Justice League can—"
A sudden explosion ripped through the air, cutting Superman off. Both of them snapped their heads toward the source—a massive fireball erupting from one of LexCorp's research facilities.
Superman was already moving before Ethan could react, shooting toward the scene in a blur of red and blue. Ethan hesitated for only a second before leaping off the building, activating his fusion ability mid-air. His boots morphed, shifting into an advanced exo-frame that absorbed the impact as he landed hard on the pavement below. Then, he sprinted toward the chaos.
The streets were in turmoil. Security personnel scrambled, and a deep crater marked the center of the explosion. Smoke poured into the sky, and civilians were running in all directions.
Ethan barely had time to process the scene before something emerged from the wreckage. A massive figure, its body crackling with energy, stepped forward. Seven feet tall, armored in dark plating, with eyes that burned an eerie green.
"Subject escaped containment," one of the security guards yelled into a comm. "We need backup now!"
Ethan cursed under his breath. "What the hell did Luthor have locked up in there?"
Superman landed in front of the creature, his stance firm. "Stand down," he commanded.
The creature's response was immediate. A blast of concussive energy shot from its palm, striking Superman dead center. The Man of Steel barely flinched, but the force of the blast was enough to send shockwaves through the area, shattering windows and tossing vehicles like toys.
Ethan didn't wait. Instinct took over as he reached into his pocket, pulling out two pieces of scrap metal he had snagged from the wreckage. His ability activated—blue light flickering between his fingers as the two materials fused, morphing into something new.
A compact energy gauntlet formed around his right hand.
"Let's see what you can do," he muttered, before charging into the fight.
**To be continued...**