The Superior Spiderman in Young Justice

High above the Earth, two figures streaked through the sky like twin comets—one clad in red and blue, a living symbol of hope, the other in black, a reflection of potential yet untapped. Superman led the way, his movements effortless, while Superboy trailed slightly behind, his expression tense with concentration.

As they approached Metropolis, Superman glanced sideways at his younger counterpart, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You're getting better," he noted. "Your flight's smoother now. Less like you're forcing it, more like it's second nature."

Superboy exhaled sharply, adjusting his posture mid-air. "Still feels weird," he admitted. "Like I'm balancing on an invisible thread. And I can't maintain altitude for too long without overthinking it."

Superman nodded, his cape rippling in the wind. "It'll come with time. I went through the same thing when I was younger—though I had the advantage of growing into my powers gradually." He gave Superboy a knowing look. "You, on the other hand, are figuring everything out at an accelerated rate. How's the tactile telekinesis?"

Superboy clenched his fists, a faint ripple of energy flickering over his skin before dissipating. "Stronger. More controlled. I can manipulate objects with more force now instead of just brute strength."

"Good," Superman said approvingly. "And heat vision?"

Superboy hesitated. "Still... inconsistent." He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "It's like I have to be angry for it to really work. Otherwise, I just get a headache."

Superman chuckled. "You'll find your own trigger. It doesn't always have to come from rage. Try focusing on something else—determination, willpower. Power isn't just about force; it's about control."

Superboy scoffed but nodded. He respected Superman's wisdom, but it was frustrating to feel like he was still behind. "Yeah, yeah. Easier said than done."

Superman smiled. "You're already making progress, and that's what matters." His expression turned more serious as he looked ahead. "And considering everything that's happening, you'll need all the strength you can muster."

Superboy followed his gaze, his stomach tightening as Metropolis came into view. "Something's wrong, isn't it?"

Superman's jaw tightened. "I don't know yet," he admitted. "But I have a feeling we're about to find out."

As they soared above Metropolis, the city's familiar skyline stretched beneath them—glimmering towers of steel and glass reflecting the afternoon sun. But something was wrong.

A sudden gust of wind whipped around them, unnatural in its force. Superboy narrowed his eyes as he noticed dark clouds churning above the city, spiraling unnaturally in a concentrated vortex. Lightning crackled within, but instead of the usual white-blue streaks of electricity, the flashes were an eerie, unnatural crimson.

Superman's expression hardened. "That's not a natural storm." His voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed his concern.

Superboy frowned. "No kidding. I don't think I've ever seen a storm form that fast." He shielded his eyes as another arc of red lightning shot downward.

Then, the first flash of crimson lightning lanced across the sky, illuminating the swirling chaos above. But it wasn't alone. Beneath the storm, something even more unnatural took shape.

Then it happened.

A massive burst of energy exploded from the center of the storm, and a pillar of pure, blue-hot fire mixed with blinding red lightning shot down from the vortex above. It was unlike anything either Kryptonian had ever encountered—an unnatural fusion of electricity and heat, a force of nature more deadly than any thunderstrike.

Superman's eyes widened as the first pulse of energy slammed into him. His body absorbed the initial shock, but it wasn't enough. The electric fire seared through his muscles and bones, twisting his insides. The sheer heat burned through his invulnerable skin. He grunted, fighting against the force, but the lightning lashed out with a life of its own, crackling over his form with an intensity he hadn't experienced before.

Superboy, caught off guard by the ferocity of the attack, screamed as the blue-hot fire seared into his body, burning through his flesh as though he were no more than a matchstick. The red lightning coursed through his veins, seizing his muscles with such brutal force that he could barely keep himself afloat. The pain was unbearable, but he fought to stay conscious, struggling to stabilize himself.

Then, just as quickly as it had come, the strike ceased. The air was thick with smoke, and the remains of the destructive bolt crackled faintly in the atmosphere. The sky was still, but the storm's eye continued to churn above them, its ominous presence not yet fully revealed.

Superboy panted heavily, steam rising from his scorched skin. His suit was singed, and his body trembled from the residual pain. "What the hell was that?!" he gasped.

Superman's jaw tightened as his eyes scanned the sky. His chest heaved with each breath, the residual energy from the storm still coursing through his body, making him feel heavy and disoriented. "I don't know," he muttered under his breath, his tone grim. "But it's not over yet."

Ahead of them, the storm's core pulsed ominously. From its swirling depths, a massive metallic structure began to emerge, gleaming with dark power. Its surface was adorned with shifting, cryptic symbols—each one glowing as though alive. The structure descended slowly, its presence oppressive, like a massive, predatory eye that loomed over the city.

A chilling, mechanical voice cut through the air, cold and emotionless:

"ANALYZE: SUPERMAN."

The words resonated with an unnatural finality. Both Superman and Superboy's eyes widened as they heard the voice through their super hearing. The message was clear: they were being studied, observed with a precision far beyond anything they had encountered before.

Before they could react, the storm erupted with a deafening roar. With a burst of speed faster than either of them could follow, the android materialized before Superman. The impact was catastrophic.

The android slammed into Superman with brutal force, sending the Kryptonian hurtling to the ground at a velocity that defied reason. Superman's body collided with the earth, creating an explosion of debris and shockwaves that shattered windows in the nearby buildings. The ground cracked open, a massive crater forming where the impact had struck, sending dust and rubble into the air.

Superboy's heart sank as he watched the destruction unfold. The air was filled with the echoes of tearing metal, crumbling concrete, and the horrific sound of buildings beginning to collapse. He barely had time to react before the shockwave reached him, forcing him to brace against the onslaught.

But the devastation was far more than just structural. The nearby buildings, which had once housed families, workers, and children, now groaned and splintered. The collapse of their support beams was immediate—devastating. The people trapped inside, caught in the full brunt of the destruction, had no chance. Their deaths were instant.

On the streets below, the aftermath was equally harrowing. Cars that had been parked along the curb or caught in the traffic jam were flung into the air, tossed aside like toys. Some were crushed beneath the weight of collapsing structures; others exploded on impact, the sound of metal crumpling and glass shattering deafening. Pedestrians, once going about their day, now found themselves in the path of destruction. The shockwave sent people flying through the air, crashing into lampposts or being pinned beneath the wreckage of cars and debris.

Superboy's stomach churned as he heard the cries, the screams of terror, and the crushing silence that followed. The carnage was far more than just the immediate blast radius; it was a city in chaos, with no chance for escape. The death toll was mounting faster than he could comprehend, far greater than anything he had witnessed in his young life. People who had been living their day-to-day lives were now reduced to nothing in the blink of an eye.

Tears stung Superboy's eyes as the reality of what was happening sank in. The familiar sounds of Metropolis—its bustling streets, the honking of car horns, the voices of families—were replaced by the distant wail of sirens, the screams of those trapped, and the deafening rumble of crumbling concrete.

The ground beneath them trembled again, as the shockwaves continued to ripple outward. Superboy gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus, to push the overwhelming emotions aside. There was no time for mourning—not when lives were still at risk. But the image of the destruction, the lives lost in an instant, burned into his mind like a nightmare.

Superman, still buried deep in the crater, slowly regained his senses. The shock of the impact had left him dazed, his body still absorbing the lingering effects of the android's relentless attack. As his hearing sharpened, the sound of innocent screams reached him—people trapped beneath rubble, the broken cries of Metropolis's citizens, their lives torn apart in the wake of this chaos. His eyes fluttered open, the pain in his chest sharp, but he pushed through it.

But before he could make a move, the android's foot slammed into his chest with a sickening force, burying him even deeper into the earth. The shockwave from the blow sent debris flying in all directions, and the ground buckled beneath the combined force of the strike and the android's weight.

Superman's scream—raw and filled with anguish—echoed through the chaos, the sound swallowed up by the destruction. He gritted his teeth, fighting against the overwhelming pressure, his body struggling to maintain its composure under the android's relentless assault.

With a burst of determination, Superman unleashed his heat vision, the beams of concentrated energy roaring from his eyes, slicing through the air. The searing light cut through the debris and rubble, aiming to burn through the android. But the android responded instantly. A brilliant red laser, a perfect replica of Superman's heat vision, fired from the android's eyes with a precision that spoke to the terrifying level of its calculations. The two beams met in the center, crashing against each other in a violent, blinding explosion of heat.

For a moment, the collision of their forces held steady, the air around them warping from the intensity of the energy. The heat radiated outward, causing the crater to glow a bright, molten orange as the ground began to burn beneath them. The destructive power of their conflict was staggering, but the android's mind—calculating and cold—remained a step ahead.

As the beams began to wane, the android's movements were almost imperceptible, its brain working faster than any human or Kryptonian could comprehend. It calculated Superman's own strength and speed, adapting its response. The android's right fist clenched, and with a burst of fire and electricity crackling around its arm, it focused the energies into its enhanced strength. The result was a devastating force, a culmination of all its replicated power, even stronger than Superman's own might.

The android reared back and slammed its fist into Superman's chest with an explosive force, sending shockwaves that reverberated through the air, splitting the earth around them. The impact was so immense that the ground beneath Superman's body buckled, collapsing further into the crater. The blast radius expanded as buildings around them groaned under the pressure, some of their support beams now buckling in the wake of the shock.

Superman's body was pushed deeper into the ground, his body feeling like it was being torn apart by the sheer power of the blow. The heat and energy from the android's attack was so intense that the very soil around him began to smolder, creating a burning halo around the impact site.

The devastation was now unimaginable. The blast from the android's strike had left the area in complete ruin, not only destroying buildings but furthering the loss of life in the surrounding area. The air felt thick, laden with the acrid scent of smoke and burned earth. Superboy, still trying to regain his bearings, saw the aftermath of the blast—a crater so deep it seemed to swallow the very essence of Metropolis. The damage had gone beyond even the android's original calculations. The destruction was not just physical; it was a blow to the heart of the city itself.

Superman lay motionless, his body struggling to remain intact, his chest heaving with every strained breath. The android stood over him, a silent observer to the devastation it had wrought, its expression cold and calculating, as if evaluating the destruction it had caused with clinical detachment.

A moment later, the ground trembled once more.

Superboy, his eyes alight with fury, roared with a primal intensity. His fists clenched as he surged toward the android, propelled by a burst of speed that left behind a trail of sonic booms in his wake. His body was wrapped in an aura of shimmering solar energy, a manifestation of raw power drawn directly from his Kryptonian heritage—amplified and refined by the unique enhancements he'd received.

This new, volatile energy wasn't merely Kryptonian. It had been altered, transformed by the combined genius of Superior Spider-Man, whose technological influence had unlocked abilities within Superboy that were previously dormant. The fusion of Kryptonian physiology with advanced tech had unleashed something new—something deadly. His powers, now refined through an intricate blend of science and sun-derived strength, hummed with intensity, the very air around him vibrating with energy.

Superboy's aura intensified further as his energy levels skyrocketed. He was more than just a Kryptonian now; he was a force of nature, empowered by technology and alien biology in equal measure. His eyes blazed with newfound potential as he closed the distance to the android.

The destructive power radiating from Superboy was undeniable, the very air around him crackling with the intensity of his solar aura. The heat emanating from his body shimmered, warping the air as he closed in on the android. Every move he took felt like a thunderclap, the sheer force of his energy rippling outward.

As his fist coiled back, the solar aura gathered around it, condensing into a concentrated burst of power that threatened to shatter the very air. His body surged with the amalgamation of Kryptonian strength and cutting-edge technology, a raw force that had never before been realized. With a primal roar, he released the full extent of his newfound power, slamming his fist into the android with all the force he could muster.

But the android stood unfazed.

Its metallic head tilted slightly, as if studying him, an eerie calm in its voice. "Fascinating power you possess," it mused, its tone dripping with cold calculation. "But too bad... I've already analyzed it."

In an instant, the android mirrored Superboy's energy, pulling from the same solar aura. Its body surged with newfound power, glowing with an identical intensity. The android's fist, crackling with the same blazing energy, shot forward like a meteor. With a speed and precision born of ruthless calculation, it collided with Superboy's face.

The impact was catastrophic.

Superboy's body was hurled backward, the force of the blow sending him careening through the air. His scream was drowned out by the deafening crash of his body hitting the ground, the earth beneath him shattering under the pressure. Blood erupted from his nose and mouth as his skin and flesh were torn apart by the devastating blow. The pain was unbearable—his body seemed to be on fire, every nerve alight with the agony of the attack.

Superboy's face, once flawless, was now a grotesque mask of destruction. His skin was burned, his features disfigured by the brutal power of the android's assault. Every nerve screamed in agony, and yet, through the haze of pain, his survival instincts kicked in. His body, battered and torn, trembled as he forced himself to rise. He coughed up blood, the metallic taste in his mouth mingling with the remnants of his rapidly failing strength. He could barely keep his eyes open, but the will to fight—however faint—still burned inside him.

"AAAAAGGGGHHH!!!" Superboy screamed, his voice raw with pain and fury.

Despite the near-unbearable agony, his body surged forward, fueled by desperation and sheer determination. His movements were frantic but powerful, a last-ditch effort to strike back, to protect the city, to protect his father—Superman.

The android's cold, calculating gaze tracked his every move. In an instant, it adapted, its enhanced intellect and analysis processing the attack before Superboy had even fully committed to it. With a calculated grace that mirrored Superman's own precision, the android intercepted the oncoming assault, its inhumanly strong arm lashing out and seizing Superboy's wrist mid-flight.

The force of the grip was enough to make Superboy's bones creak under the pressure, his blood rushing to his head as the android twisted his arm with an almost surgical efficiency. Before Superboy could even react, the android, now drawing upon the combined strength and speed of Superman, slammed him into the already battered, unconscious body of the Kryptonian hero.

The impact was catastrophic.

The earth beneath them shook as Superboy's body collided with Superman's, the two heroes adding to the destruction already caused by the android's earlier assault. The sound of crushing stone and splintering metal reverberated through the air as the crater widened further, the ground cracking open like a wound. Superboy's body was a broken, battered mess, and the impact only served to intensify the damage. His already injured form was driven deeper into the crater, the sharp edges of rocks and debris further lacerating his flesh, tearing through his suit.

The heat of the surrounding destruction, coupled with the shock from the impact, threatened to knock Superboy out entirely. He could barely move, his body almost unrecognizable as it lay crushed beneath Superman. His vision blurred, blood continued to seep from the gashes across his face, and his breath came in ragged, painful gasps. The agony was overwhelming.

But still, through the haze of pain and destruction, Superboy's mind clung to the one thing that kept him going: his duty. His body was broken, but his spirit... his spirit remained unyielding. Even in his unconscious state, Superman's presence beside him was a reminder of what they fought for.

The android, meanwhile, stood over them, watching with cold, emotionless eyes as the remnants of the two heroes lay shattered before it. It calculated, assessed, and waited for its next move. To it, they were nothing more than obstacles to be removed.

A/N

[PowerStone]