Gotchard in DC Ch 25

The holy flames, infused with the power of the Sununicorn, burned through the demon's hide. A piercing shriek tore through the air as the purifying energy assaulted its dark essence.

Isaac stomped on the demon, who writhed in agony from the intense heat, and then sprang toward another demon.

He shot forward, the solar flares on his shoulders flaring. With his palm open, Isaac slammed his hand onto the demon's forehead. The holy energy surged from his palm into the demon's body. The demon was quickly consumed by the solar energy.

Another demon saw an opening and lunged at Isaac, hoping to catch him off guard. Isaac, having trained with Dick, saw the attack coming. He released his hold on the first demon and stood, pivoting into a spinning kick. His leg struck the demon's head, sending it flying. The kick burst with holy energy, searing the demon's flesh.

Dick fought another demon, but found himself outmatched. The demon's brute strength and unnatural resilience pushed him to his limit. Dick, relying on agility and evasion, could barely hold his own.

Seeing Dick in trouble, Isaac darted toward them.

Dick, anticipating his arrival, dodged to the side, creating an opening. Isaac shot forward, delivering a devastating kick. The demon reeled backward, disoriented, and was quickly struck by Nightwing.

The remaining demons realized the threat Isaac posed and charged at him.

"Isaac, look out!" Rachel yelled, worried that he would be overwhelmed by the demons' assault.

Isaac, unflinching, gripped the levers on the Gotchardriver, preparing his finishing move. His body radiated power.

[Sununicorn Fever!]

Isaac erupted with solar energy. His figure disappeared.

He moved like a shooting star. Each strike ignited his targets with purifying fire. He punched and kicked with incredible speed. To Nightwing, it looked as though a series of afterimages.

One by one, the demons fell. They writhed on the floor, consumed by flames. When the last demon hit the ground, Isaac stood beside Rachel.

"These guys are seriously tough! By the way, I've always wondered how your belt has its own sound effects? It sounds pretty cool, but it's a little weird. You're not gonna start bringing backup dancers the next time you show up, are you?"

After putting away his escrima sticks, Dick walked toward Isaac and Rachel. Isaac was switching from Sununicorn Form back to Steamhopper.

Hearing the sound effects with built-in reverb, Dick couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. He hesitated for a moment before complaining.

"What, are you jealous? When I get better at this, I'll make one for you, too. Rachel, are you okay?"

Isaac, now comfortable enough to joke with Dick, retorted before turning to Rachel, who had dropped her energy shield.

"Hold on... what's going on?"

Rachel didn't react. She stared blankly at something. Isaac followed her gaze, and his pupils constricted.

The demons he'd hit were shrinking. Their fangs, claws, and horns retracted, and their skin faded. They were now people in shorts.

"They don't have anything weird about them, and they're not dead. They're just weak."

Dick examined them, took out test tubes, and collected samples. He stood and said, "Could it be they were human and twisted into those demon forms? Maybe your purifying fire dispelled whatever turned them."

Hearing Dick's opinion, Isaac frowned and thought. "Things are getting complicated. Let's get out of here. We were too loud, and we probably attracted the attention of the hotel staff and people around here."

Dick felt a headache coming. This situation was a mess.

But they couldn't talk about it. They needed to leave, or someone might see them.

The ex-demons weren't dead, but they were naked and weak, which would cause problems.

To avoid trouble, they needed to leave fast. After they were gone, Isaac could have Smaphone call the cops, or the hotel staff might.

Meanwhile, miles away in Washington, D.C., within the sprawling complex of Cadmus Labs, what appeared as a pre-arranged accident was in progress.

Experiment Subject 13, clad in a stark white lab coat emblazoned with a stylized S-shield, shattered his restraints. Guided by a storm of fragmented memories, he navigated the labyrinthine corridors, eluding scientists and security personnel. He eventually burst free from the facility.

Driven by instinct, he journeyed westward. The destination was not Kent Farm in Smallville, Kansas, but rather a desolate stretch of highway outside of Metropolis.

He stood by the side of the road, the neon lights of a distant diner casting long shadows. In his hand, he clutched a stolen nametag, ripped from a discarded lab coat. The name "Conner" was etched into its surface.

He whispered the name, testing its weight on his tongue. Conner. Is that who I am? The sound was alien, yet it resonated with something deep within him.

He glanced up at the night sky, a vast canvas speckled with distant stars. Who am I supposed to be? The questions swirled within him, a vortex of uncertainty and nascent hope.

After a moment of contemplation, Conner turned toward the distant glow of Metropolis. Maybe answers lie there. He took a step, then another, his pace quickening as he moved toward the city lights. With each stride, his resolve strengthened. He would find his purpose, define his own identity. Conner Kent was about to begin his journey.

Under the cloak of night, the silence in the sedan is broken by the hum of tires on asphalt. Dick pilots the car. Rachel sits quietly in the back, and Isaac, restless in the passenger seat, is eager to formulate a plan.

"So, what now? Those demon-twisted humans definitely torched the monastery. The sulfur smell is a dead giveaway." Isaac turns to Dick.

Dick glances in the rearview mirror at Rachel, then back at the road. "First, we head back to National City. I grabbed some samples from the ex-demons. We need to know what we're dealing with before we make another move."

"Right. The monastery is toast, but we need to look at it again. Though, two heroes storming back into town isn't exactly subtle."

Isaac nods. "It's not like we can waltz back in there. It would be ideal to check it out during the day. But those demon-twisted humans will be on the lookout."

"Already on it," Dick says. "I've got someone taking a look."

"Nice. Classic hero move—always three steps ahead." Isaac shakes his head. "I guess Batman taught you a thing or two about covering your tracks."

As the three drove on, Conner arrived at the Kent Farm. The lights of the cottage spill onto the yard. He stops at the gate, then hesitantly walks up the path and knocks.

The door swings open, revealing Martha Kent. Her eyes widen, and she tilts her head slightly. "Young man, can I help you?" Her voice is soft and kind. "You remind me of someone..."

The yellow light cast a cozy glow, highlighting the simple comforts of the Kent living room. For Conner, clad in the hand-me-down black tee and jeans, it felt like a haven. He sat between Martha and Jonathan Kent. He was sipping milk, and a weird sense of peace settled over him.

"Honey, can you tell us where you came from?" Martha asked gently, watching him. She saw a glimmer of Clark in his features.

Conner paused, the glass halfway to his lips. He slowly lowered it, the silence stretching. "...I broke out of Cadmus Labs. They...made me. I don't know who I am."

"What they did doesn't define you, son," Jonathan says, his voice firm.

Martha reaches out, gently taking Conner's hand. "That's right. You are yourself, and that's what matters."

Before she could say another word, the roar of engines ripped through the quiet night.

Conner shot up, peering out the window. Black armored vehicles were spread across the yard. Armed figures piled out, moving fast.

"They're here." Conner's voice was low, but hard. He recognized the emblem on the vehicles—Cadmus.

"Don't worry, son. We'll protect you," Jonathan said, standing. Martha stood beside him, her expression firm.

"No. They're after me. I can't drag you into this." Conner’s gaze softened as he looked at the two elderly people in front of him, shook his head gently, whispered a sentence, and then turned to walk towards the door.

Outside, the Commander saw Conner step out. He didn't speak, just flicked his wrist. The soldiers raised their weapons, and a hail of bullets tore through the air.

The bullets slammed into Conner, ripping his new clothes, but did nothing to his body. His stress response kicked in, ready to explode, but he caught himself, remembering Martha and Jonathan behind him. He needed to protect them.

The gunfire stopped as the Cadmus soldiers reloaded. Conner, waiting for this chance, exploded forward.

He had no training, no fighting experience, but his speed and strength were overwhelming. He hit them like a freight train, bodies flying, weapons clattering. It was over in seconds. All the soldiers lay groaning on the ground, except for the Commander.

The Commander, face tight with fury, glared at Conner. He pulled a weird gun from his side, aimed, and fired. A beam of red energy hurtled toward Conner.

A blue blur slammed into Conner, shoving him aside. The beam struck the figure, who stood firm, blocking the attack.

"Su-Superman!" The Commander's voice was a choked gasp. He looked at the tall figure in the blue nanotech suit, the red and gold 'S' gleaming on his chest, the red cape fluttering. His face went white, and he stumbled backward.

Superman frowned, his eyes cold. "This ends here."