As they looked up at Superman, I couldn't help but feel a surge of shock and disbelief. Batman had just called him in, and I wondered if I shouldn't have held him back. My instincts told me I was ready to beat him, but I knew he'd do something crazy if pushed too far.
"Well, you're not Supergirl, but you'll do," Banshee sneered before I quickly stopped her.
"Trust me, you don't want to fight him. Let me handle this. You guys deal with the Bat-family," I said, floating upward to meet Superman eye to eye.
"I'm giving you one chance here, son. You don't understand what you're doing, and I don't want to hurt you," he said kindly, but firmly.
"Appreciate the concern, but I won't back down. If we're going to fight, it should be somewhere remote. I don't want anyone claiming I held back against Superman," I responded, my voice steady.
Superman raised an eyebrow. "For a villain, you seem to care a lot about civilians."
"Killing doesn't make me a bad person. I only go after those who deserve it. The Joker did atrocious things and escaped justice because of his insanity. People like him, who commit evil repeatedly, need to be put down permanently before they hurt anyone else," I declared, my words echoing across the battlefield. Below, the Bat-family was beginning to realize the truth—Joker's monstrous acts, from paralyzing police chief's daughter to impersonating Batman and killing the mayor's wife. Yet, they just kept him locked up, as if the system wasn't broken.
"That doesn't give you the right to kill," Superman said, his tone resolute.
"Respectfully, Superman, I respect what you do. Honestly, I do. But solving all these problems might be simpler if you just eliminated your worst villains. I'm talking about dangerous maniacs willing to sacrifice anything to survive. How many times has Luther tried to kill you and gotten away because of his wealth?" I asked tiredly.
He looked at me, contemplating. "Valid points, but that doesn't change that you're a criminal. Surrender now, or face the consequences."
"Already guessing my answer? Come on then," I challenged. He appeared in front of me and threw a punch, hitting my gut and sending me flying backward. I recovered quickly, unleashing a burst of power—going full throttle with Gearshift and Rewind—reversing the damage.
I decided not to hold back, knowing Superman could handle it.
We clashed in the air, fist meeting fist, sending shockwaves across the city. The force was immense—each punch creating a tremor that shook the ground below. Despite his strength, I was struggling to even scratch him, his energy seemingly endless under the yellow sun.
This fight was brutal and relentless, only 30 minutes in but feeling much longer.
I activated high-spec, trying to analyze how to defeat him. Drawing from my powers, I reached out, placing my hand on Superman's forehead.
"Now, your power is mine," I whispered, draining his solar energy.
He screamed in pain as his strength ebbed away. Just as I thought I had the upper hand, an explosion erupted, separating us. Superman fell to the ground, dazed, as Batman and his two sidekicks helped him to his feet.
My team was battered, some bleeding and exhausted—but none of us was willing to quit. If I didn't lead, they wouldn't stand a chance.
"Take Superman and leave. We've done enough," I ordered. They nodded reluctantly, knowing I was right.
Once they sped away in the Batmobile, I powered down, feeling the strain of Rewind and One for All. As I collapsed, Bane caught me.
"We've got your boss," he said grimly.
"We should probably get out of the city for a while," I admitted, aware that beating Superman would draw the League's attention soon enough.
They agreed, and we retreated to our safe house. My team was watching the news, worried, while I was carried inside.
"Is he okay?" Ivy asked anxiously.
"He's fine—just tired from fighting Superman," Banshee replied.
"Honestly, I'm not sure I beat him. I tried to drain his powers, but I don't know if it worked," I admitted, exhaustion overtaking me as they helped me rest.
Later, I noticed a notification on my phone. I checked it and saw my new powers—my eyes widened.
Name: Ivan Bevic
Age: 18
Title: Avatar of the Gray
[Powers /Abilities]
- Super strength, super speed, flight, invulnerability, laser eyes, freeze breath, X-ray vision, super hearing, regeneration, immortality, enhanced durability.
[Quirks]
- One For All: A legendary and immensely powerful quirk that significantly amplifies physical strength, speed, and durability. It can also enhance other quirks and transfer energy to others through proper training. Note: Untrained users risk severe injury or death due to the overwhelming force generated.
- All for One: An ability-based quirk that allows the user to steal other people's quirks by pressing all five fingers on their face or body. The stolen quirks are integrated into the user's abilities and can only be activated consciously.
- Black Whip: Summons multiple dark, tentacle-like constructs made of black energy that can extend, contract, and move at the user's command. The strength and flexibility of these constructs depend directly on the user's current power level.
- Smokescreen: Releases a dense, purple vapor that greatly obscures vision and scent, making it useful for stealth, quick escapes, or deception during combat.
- Danger Sense: An intuitive and precognitive ability that detects imminent threats or attacks early, allowing the user to react swiftly and defend themselves effectively.
- Float: Grants the ability to levitate with precise control, facilitating smooth movement in mid-air, advantageous for both combat maneuvers and navigation.
- Fi-jin: Stores kinetic energy within specific body parts and releases it to significantly enhance the force of strikes or strengthen defensive maneuvers.
- Gearshift: Functions as a speed regulator for the user or objects, featuring four distinct settings—First Gear, Second Gear, Third Gear, and Top Gear—offering tactical flexibility and situational adaptation.
- High Spec: Grants superhuman intelligence, vastly improving cognitive functions, problem-solving skills, and strategic thinking.
- Rewind: Allows the user to rewind time on a person or object, reverting them to a previous state. With proper training, it can be used on a specific part of the body.
- New Order: Enables the user to establish three personal or reality-based rules. To create a new rule, the user must dissipate one of the existing rules.
- Overhaul: Gives the ability to change solid matter by touching it with all five fingers, effectively transforming or restructuring materials at a fundamental level.
At first, I was elated, but fatigue crept in as my body adjusted to the overwhelming powers, and I slipped into sleep.