The sky above Smallville was a rolling, oppressive void. Thunder grumbled faintly, and though it was noon, the heavens were entirely black. A somber, heavy aura pressed down on the town, suffocating and unnatural.
Adrian turned sharply as a shadow slithered through the darkness, solidifying into a human figure before him.
Devourer of Heaven had arrived.
"You've prepared well to appear before me," Adrian said, lips curling into a sneer. "Perfect timing. I was about to look for you anyway—it saves me the trouble."
"Adrian Kent, you faltered—just for a moment," the entity hissed, eyes flickering red. "Everything I've done, everything I've threatened, harmed, or corrupted—your family, your friends—was meant to awaken the darkness within you. Just a trace was enough. And now, you have been chosen to embrace it."
With a flicker, Devourer of Heaven became black smoke and passed through Adrian's chest.
Wonder Woman reacted, swinging her Vulcan Sword in a roar, but she was too late. Devourer of Heaven had entered Adrian.
Adrian's body tensed, a muffled groan escaping as black energy surged from within. The aura surrounding him was unlike anything Wonder Woman had ever seen. Winds whipped violently around him, cutting through the air. The barn shook with the force of his presence.
Elsewhere, Pat battled Bruce Gordon, Devourer of Heaven's former master, in a hallucination. Panting, he whispered, "I regret leaving the Justice Society unchecked, but dwelling on the past won't save anyone now." He surged forward, touching Bruce—whose body instantly turned to dust.
Upstairs, Courtney faced Henry King's illusion. Steeling herself, she clenched her fist. "I know you're not real, and I regret not saving you, but I understand now. The world isn't black and white. Adrian's actions weren't wrong, and you weren't right."
Her fist connected with Henry's cheek in a loud thud. He vanished in a puff of smoke. Courtney stared at her own hand in disbelief. Could she really shatter Devourer of Heaven's illusions with sheer force?
The floor trembled violently. Courtney gripped the railing and looked down.
Clark, Wonder Woman, Courtney, and Pat stared in horror. Adrian floated mid-air, wreathed in black light.
Bang!
He slammed to the ground, rising slowly, expressionless. Crimson eyes glowed, the left half of his face blackened. He grasped the Star Scepter, crimson intensifying, and stood fully upright, aura spreading like wildfire.
"I control darkness and light! I will unite this world!" His voice was hoarse, echoing like demonic whispers. Arms outstretched, he laughed, unsettling and vast.
Pat staggered back in terror. Adrian's body, possessed by Devourer of Heaven, was a vessel no one could stop. Destruction would be effortless.
Clark was frozen. Adrian, unyielding, the one person he believed could never fall… now seemed overtaken.
Bang!
The barn doors burst open. Lex Luthor stepped in, eyes wide at Adrian's altered form.
"What happened? Why does he look like that?" Lex demanded, rushing to Clark.
"He's possessed! Devourer of Heaven wants to destroy the world!" Pat said. "We are outmatched!"
"Then what do we do?" Lex asked, urgency in his voice.
"Kill the host, or force Devourer out. But the latter is nearly impossible!" Pat replied.
"No! Killing him is not an option!" Clark shouted. "I won't harm Adrian. I'll use the Star Scepter to stop this!"
Before he could act, Adrian moved with terrifying speed, seizing Clark by the neck. Bang! Clark slammed into the second-floor staircase, splintering it.
Lex's jaw dropped—how could a human move this fast?
Adrian then struck Lex, sending him crashing to the ground. Heat Vision shot from his eyes, blasting Wonder Woman from the barn in a single strike.
Gripping the Star Scepter, Adrian laughed coldly. "You think you can match me? The Scepter is a conduit of creation itself. Only I can wield it. This body… is magnificent. I will be omnipotent!"
A golden beam shot from the Scepter, striking Pat and sending him flying.
"Pat!" Courtney yelled, eyes burning. She grabbed the Star Scepter from Adrian's hand. "Not one, but two of us!"
Light erupted from both their hands as they struggled for control. Heat Vision from Adrian shot toward Courtney, deflected by Clark's sudden super-speed as he seized Adrian from behind.
"Hold him!" Wonder Woman roared, slamming Adrian to the ground. Clark and Courtney pressed down on him, restraining his arms and neck.
Eric… no, Adrian's body roared in fury, crimson eyes blazing, struggling against their combined strength.
Lightning flashed outside. Shadows poured from the sky, creeping over Smallville. Lex staggered, seizing the Star Scepter. "Clark, you must stop him! If Adrian's body falls, the town, the world… everything is lost!"
Courtney and Diana protested, holding Adrian down. "He's your brother, you can't do this!"
Clark clenched his jaw, resolve hardening. "Adrian is my family. I will not give up on him, even if the world stands against us!" He pressed his hand to Adrian, channeling the Scepter.
Bang!
An invisible force threw everyone back. Adrian moved with blinding speed, snatching the Scepter from Courtney and flinging Lex aside.
"Only one chance, and you've squandered it!" Devourer of Heaven laughed—until something shifted.
Adrian's consciousness surged within his body, squeezing the entity out. Pain tore through Devourer of Heaven as his essence was ripped from Adrian's vessel.
Bang!
He hit the ground. Adrian seized him by the neck, the Star Scepter piercing his heart. Cold eyes met those of the defeated entity.
"You thought you could control me? From the classroom to the police station riot, I knew your goal—destabilize me, make me doubt, instill fear. Always, it was me. Not the Scepter!"
Adrian stood, calm and unbothered, a faint smirk on his lips. "Your little trick was anticipated. You never controlled anything."
The darkness evaporated. Adrian, omnipotent yet still himself.
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