Devourer of Heaven clicked his tongue, seemingly regretful. "But the Star Scepter in her hand ended up in your possession, Adrian. I had no choice but to involve you. We are not enemies, are we? The only one who hated you was that girl—and I've already sent her to hell. We could establish a truce, or go our separate ways without interfering in each other's plans."
Adrian's eyes narrowed. Devourer of Heaven's words carried a false sincerity that stirred no respect in him.
"I've never been fond of negotiating with someone trying to use me," he said, a crimson Heat Vision flaring from his eyes.
Bang!
The beam struck empty air. Devourer of Heaven had already shifted his form, dodging effortlessly.
Adrian activated his superspeed, appearing where the enemy had landed, and struck out with a fist, cold and unhesitating.
Puff!
His fist passed through smoke. Devourer of Heaven's body dissipated like mist into nothingness.
"Did he run?" Adrian muttered, frowning as the aura in the air began to fade.
Clark looked at the black mist that remained, his expression grave. "What was that?"
Chloe, still pale from her nightmare, approached cautiously. "A demon… said to have come from Shadow Land," Adrian answered, scanning the unconscious students on the floor.
"He manipulates minds. What you saw wasn't real. He projected the darkness within you. If your heart remains true, if you don't surrender to fear or deny yourself, he cannot control you. But doubt and shaken belief… that's when he gains the advantage."
Lana's eyes widened, recalling her illusion of Aunt Neil, condemning her. Was that truly her aunt's inner resentment, or just the demon's projection?
Police sirens wailed in the distance. Adrian's vision pierced the walls, noting the approaching cars. "Let's leave before they arrive," he said.
Clark turned to Lana and Chloe. "We have to go—sorry."
With a flick of super speed, Adrian and Clark vanished from the tutoring classroom.
Lana and Chloe exchanged worried glances. Steeling herself, Lana approached the podium. The decapitated body of Dikes shocked her; a scream escaped. Chloe rushed to her side, gasping at the gruesome scene.
Back at the farm, Clark watched the storm-darkened sky, faint rumbles echoing in the distance. "Adrian… did we go too far?"
Adrian, leaning against the barn, turned to him. "What are you talking about?"
Clark's gaze was heavy. "Courtney once mentioned the Justice Society fell apart over Bruce Gordon, the first host of Devourer of Heaven. He was innocent. The Society voted… and they hesitated. We… we killed Dikes without a vote. Are we like the Injustice Society, testing our limits?"
"Not you, Clark. Me. I killed him, not you." Adrian's voice was flat, yet not without weight.
"Do you know the trolley problem?" he suddenly asked.
Clark blinked. "What?"
"A trolley speeds toward ten people tied to the tracks. You can divert it to save them, but you'll kill one person. What would you choose?"
Clark hesitated, unsure. "I… I don't know."
Adrian's eyes were sharp. "Some pull the lever, sacrificing one to save many. Some let it run, becoming part of the destruction. Some see humanity as the trolley itself, unable to stop its self-destruction. And some… are the ones tied to the tracks, numb and helpless."
He paused, locking eyes with Clark. "You, Clark, can't ever be certain how to act. You measure the world not by one life or ten, but by the lives you cannot abandon. I know your choice: you would save the ten without abandoning the one."
Clark's heart tightened. He remembered a future scene: a gravely ill alien girl, a fan of Superman, waiting for death. He could save the universe at the cost of her life—but he did nothing, sitting by her bedside for a full day and night.
Adrian's voice cut through his thoughts. "Dikes' death wasn't your doing, Clark. It was mine. Your part was trust—choosing to trust me."
A pause, then Adrian continued, "If trusting me burdens you, feel uneasy… then follow your conscience. I won't dictate your path."
With that, he turned, disappearing into the barn's shadows.
Clark watched him go, understanding dawning. Guilt and gloom lifted. "If I feel uneasy, even with trust, I need to speak up. Suppression only deepens doubt." He followed Adrian's steps, determination brightening his eyes.
Inside the barn, Courtney, lying on her bed, had overheard everything. Her thoughts raced: killing the host without hesitation… Bruce Gordon, Devourer of Heaven's first host, had been innocent. The Justice Society had a line—heroes and villains. Now she saw that line blurred.
Tossing and turning, questions swirled in her mind. Are "bad" and "evil" truly distinct?
Finally, she rose quietly, stepping from the warmth of her bed. She donned her boots and slipped outside. The farm lay under a pitch-black sky, moonlight faintly guiding her steps.
Suddenly, a sound near the cow shed froze her. A thief? Alert, she grabbed a stick and approached.
Inside, only two cows remained. A dark figure bent over one, milking carefully.
Adrian.
He worked with methodical precision, the fresh milk glistening in the iron bucket. Unaware of her presence, he finally straightened, sniffing the milk with a complex expression.
Spotting Courtney, he raised an eyebrow. "Courtney, what are you doing here?"
"Uh…" She hesitated, pointing to the bucket. "Preparing breakfast?"
"No." Adrian shook his head, expression serious. "This cow is uncomfortable. I'm milking her to ease her stress."