Broken(DC)

POV: Lex Luthor

They were far too cautious. I had thought everything would go much smoother. Brian, Elizabeth's son it seemed to me that she placed all her hopes on him. Even though he spoke very little, she instinctively sought his approval for every proposal. It was as though he was the one truly in charge, with her acting as an assistant, much like the aides of department heads.

This meant I needed to change my approach: instead of trying to persuade Ms. Olsen, I should focus on negotiating with him.

How much simpler things would be if I could just hire them and pay for their research. But I realized immediately that they would never agree to such a deal. Their knowledge of cancer treatment held no interest for me, beyond the marginal benefit it could bring to my public image if I chose to run for president. What I truly wanted from them was the secret of how they managed to control human cells.

I had conducted countless experiments, yet none had yielded successful results. I pored over their work, reviewed every line repeatedly, and could confidently say this: whoever wrote it had deliberately concealed certain critical details, often veering into generalizations. But even through their obfuscation, I glimpsed the essence. I saw the revealed mystery of the human body. I had to discover how they had done it.

Humanity now faced a greater threat than ever before. Just a few years ago, we thought of ourselves as the kings of Earth, the pinnacle of evolution. But the reality was far more tragic. We were nothing but insignificant insects in an endless universe.

Superman he was a riddle I could not solve. I refused to believe that a human could become such a being. Yet outwardly, he was no different from us. His mannerisms suggested he had been born and raised among us. However, I was certain the human body could not achieve such power. I was well-versed in the world's many scientific experiments, both public and covert, and not a single one had advanced to such an extent. Strength like his could not simply materialize from thin air with the wave of a hand.

It was then that I realized: visitors from space had begun to infiltrate our world, and we were utterly unprepared to face them. I made a decision. I would prepare humanity. I would become its savior and lead our species into a great future. To create a better version of us, a future hidden within the very fabric of our nature. What if we could engineer a trigger within ourselves one that, according to evolutionary principles, could adapt the body to external challenges? Metahumans that was the code name for this project.

For now, those were just empty words backed by millions of dollars poured into a void. But right before me lay the key to success, and I would claim it by any means necessary.

Crossing my arms beneath my chin, I gazed out at Metropolis. This world would soon witness a true hero.

End POV

Metropolis appeared to me as a vibrant city brimming with thousands of people. No matter where I looked, a constant stream of individuals moved about at all hours. Skyscrapers dominated the city's core, their towering frames almost completely obscuring the sunlight as it filtered down to the streets below.

Perhaps it's time to step outside and explore the world I have yet to see or understand. My old friend has surely visited every city on the planet by now. It would be fascinating to hear about his travels. Their family phone line has finally ceased to be perpetually unavailable, though I still haven't managed to reach him. He's likely tied up with countless problems. Once I'm done here, I'll return to Gotham and make sure to visit him. It's been far too long since I last heard Alfred's remarkable voice. He was not just a good man he was a brilliant one.

Elizabeth and I had discussed Lex Luthor extensively and concluded that his influence and support were exactly what we needed to advance our product. The next day, we met at his main office, located near the very top of his skyscraper.

"I'm glad you've made this decision. Our collaboration will benefit humanity," said Lex Luthor, his tone smooth and confident.

"Undoubtedly," Elizabeth affirmed, extending her hand to shake his.

"We have a deal. All that's left are the formalities the paperwork," he said.

"Wait, what about the profit share?" Elizabeth inquired.

"I'll take a modest ten percent. The rest is yours. I'm not interested in claiming the funds that could aid future research. I've already sent you the details of the remaining terms," Luthor explained.

Elizabeth couldn't hide her surprise at his offer. Just ten percent that was incredibly generous, especially given the considerable resources he was offering. It wasn't even certain that his share would cover his expenses. But if that's what he wanted, why not? I gave her a supportive glance, silently backing her decision.

"We agree to these terms," Elizabeth stated.

"Excellent. Our deal calls for a celebration. What's your preference: Asian cuisine, French, Italian? It's difficult for me to choose a restaurant without knowing your tastes," Luthor said, his smile effortlessly charming.

"We're not particularly picky; we'll trust your judgment," Elizabeth replied. Though I knew she would prefer any restaurant meal over mine, despite the fact that I was an excellent cook.

"I assure you, you won't be disappointed. I have a French chef in mind he's exceptional," Luthor remarked.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Suddenly, a sharp sense of danger seized me. My gaze darted around, searching for the source. In an instant, the sunlight was blocked, and a foreboding shadow engulfed the sky. Like an octopus, three massive tendrils extended downward, sharp as the tips of spears. Moments later, a beam of light coalesced and struck the ground with a deafening force.

[image]

Enormous pillars of dirt and dust shot into the air as I watched the surge of energy tear through the ground, consuming everything in its path. The skyscraper was only a few hundred meters from the massive ship.

"Run! Now!" I shouted.

"Oh my God, what is that?" Elizabeth cried out in panic. But something felt off Luthor remained unnervingly calm, his gaze fixed on the chaos as if he had anticipated this.

"An alien invasion," he said coolly. "They've declared war on us." He turned swiftly and started toward the door. "Quick, to the roof. There's a helicopter we can reach a safe location."

"What about all the other people?" Elizabeth asked. Her voice was trembling. I already knew that many would die. But I couldn't allow myself to stay on the sidelines not if I wanted to make amends, to protect these people, to atone for the harm I'd caused.

"Go, Mom," I said, turning to her. "Find a safe place to hide. Luthor, I hope your claim that we're friends isn't hollow, and that whatever you learn here remains a secret."

Luthor's lips curved in a barely perceptible smirk before his expression hardened again.

"Of course," he replied. "If you can stop this, I'll owe you a great deal. Come, Elizabeth," he said, ushering her toward the door.

Soon, they were gone, leaving the office empty. There was no more time to hesitate. Resolve burned within me, stronger than the flames that flickered in my vision.

The outer layer of my clothing burned away, incinerated by the fire that surrounded me it had always been too cumbersome. Beneath it, I revealed a tight and durable suit, designed for this purpose. Without wasting another second, I smashed through the window and leapt into the air. There was no time to descend via the stairs. A pity I couldn't fly.

Using streams of fire to slow my descent, I crashed into the ground below, leaving a small crater in my wake. Flames obscured my face entirely, rendering me unrecognizable to anyone watching. As I climbed out of the crater, I felt my bones realigning, knitting back together at a rapid pace. The pain was excruciating, but I forced myself to move.

I sprinted toward the beam that was destroying the city, the ground trembling beneath my feet. Around me, terrified people scrambled for safety, their cries blending with the deafening roar of destruction. The beam was relentless, annihilating everything in its path. Thousands of lives were being extinguished in mere seconds.

Reaching the zone of devastation, I focused all the fire coursing through my body into my hands. The air around me grew hotter as I prepared to unleash every ounce of my power.

The torrent of flames that erupted from my hands surged toward the alien ship with devastating force but never reached it. Instead, the fire collided with some kind of invisible barrier. Despite its overwhelming power, my attack dissipated harmlessly against the shield. Before I could react, a sudden, violent pull surged through the air. The fire I had unleashed was abruptly severed and drawn toward the beam's source. The force was so intense that it began to drag me along with it.

Suddenly, several pods shot out from the alien craft and hurtled toward me. They landed with tremendous impact, releasing two figures clad in sleek, armored suits. Transparent helmets revealed faces disturbingly human in appearance, though their actions proved otherwise. No ordinary human could descend from such heights and move at such blinding speeds.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of the creatures slammed into me with the force of a speeding projectile. The attack was so swift that I barely registered it before I was flung aside like a ragdoll. My body shattered in several places as I tumbled through the air, finally crashing into a vehicle. Pain erupted everywhere. My entire frame was broken ribs, arms, legs. Blood gushed from my mouth, and the flames that had enveloped me flickered and died. I struggled for breath, my collapsed chest refusing to expand.

But then, my regeneration took over. Bones snapped back into place with sickening cracks, my mangled flesh knit itself back together, and my punctured lungs reinflated. With a deep gasp of fresh air, my flames reignited, burning brighter and hotter than ever before. I could feel it now my fire could reach an even more intense heat.

The air around me grew blistering. Water began to boil as nearby fire hydrants exploded, releasing scalding steam into the air. With a roar, a wave of fire surged from my hands, hurtling toward one of the creatures. The inferno struck with such force that it threw the figure off its feet, melting parts of its armor. No one could withstand the searing heat of my flames.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But its companion was relentless. The second figure struck me with lightning-fast blows, leaving no chance to dodge or counter. Each hit fractured my body anew until, with horrifying precision, it drove its hand straight through my chest. My head snapped back, my vision blurring as I glimpsed fighter jets overhead. They were desperately trying to destroy the alien ship, but their attacks vanished uselessly against its energy barrier. Meanwhile, the beam continued to obliterate the city, its destruction unrelenting.

The next moment, everything spun. I felt myself hit the ground, my body crumpling under the force. One of the creatures, its armor melted and battered, stood over me, its hand outstretched and hovering above my neck. Blood dripped from its fingers, while the other figure still held my impaled body upright.

Before I could muster another thought, the creature's hand sliced through my neck. My world went dark.

End POV

An unidentified object approached Earth's orbit and transmitted a chilling ultimatum: surrender one of their citizens, or the planet would be destroyed. Earth's military forces, realizing the alien threat was beyond their reach and understanding, began a desperate search for Superman. But before they could find him, Superman surrendered himself willingly.

General Zod, the alien leader, met with humanity and captured Superman, seeking the Codex a key to reviving Kryptonian civilization. Without the Codex, no new Kryptonian life could be created. Onboard their ship, Superman, weakened by the Kryptonian atmosphere, found himself powerless against Zod's forces.

However, the Kryptonians underestimated Earth's Yellow Sun. Upon returning to Earth's atmosphere, Superman regained his strength and broke free, defeating Zod in a fierce confrontation. Humiliated by the loss, Zod unleashed his backup plan terraforming Earth to transform it into a new Krypton, effectively eradicating all life on the planet.

Two massive World Engines were deployed on opposite sides of the globe one in Metropolis and the other deep in the ocean. Zod began the process in Metropolis, knowing Kal-El (Superman) had lived there. While Superman raced to destroy the ocean generator, Earth's military launched an attack on the Kryptonian mothership. But their weapons proved useless. Conventional arsenals failed, leaving humanity helpless as the alien beam continued to obliterate the city.

Amidst the chaos, a fiery figure emerged. Encased in flames, the creature initially appeared to be another alien, but its actions suggested otherwise. It unleashed torrents of fire against the Kryptonians, causing a brief flicker of hope among the desperate humans. Could this be the savior they needed?

But hope quickly turned to despair. The fiery creature fell, its head severed and lifeless on the ground.

The destructive beam halted suddenly, leaving a haunting silence over the battlefield. Exhausted and hopeless, the few survivors scrambled to escape what they believed to be the end.

The fallen figure, Baryn Forman, lay motionless. Then, astonishingly, its body began to regenerate. Jagged, bone-like armor grew over its once-human skin, and deep wounds sealed themselves at an unnatural speed. The body reached out, grasped its severed head, and reattached it with a sickening snap.

"Doomsday," muttered one of the remaining Kryptonians in their native tongue. Fear filled its voice as it recognized the monstrosity rising before it.

Rage and fire blazed in the creature's eyes.

POV Baryn Forman's 

Pain. Agonizing pain coursed through me as my consciousness returned. Then I noticed something strange my hands had transformed into claw-like appendages, and my body radiated an overwhelming, unstoppable force.

"Doomsday," one of the aliens repeated. Though I didn't understand the language, I recognized the meaning a harbinger of destruction. A fitting name. I am their doomsday.

I moved faster than ever before, my figure a blur. Within moments, I struck one of the aliens, tearing them apart with a single blow. Their companion barely had time to react before meeting the same fate.

Now for the ship. Leaping with unimaginable force, I shot toward the Kryptonian vessel, piercing it cleanly.

Inside, I found dozens of beings humanoid in appearance, eerily similar to us. For a moment, I hesitated. But then they fired at me, shouting in their alien tongue and scrambling to flee.

No. These were not people. These were invaders, murderers who had slaughtered countless innocents. There was no room for mercy, no time for second thoughts.

Flames surged in my hands, and I unleashed a fiery wave through the corridors of the ship. The fire spread rapidly, consuming everything and everyone within. The smell of burning metal and flesh filled the air as the invaders' screams faded into silence.

Their ship was now a tomb of ash and flame.

Unexpectedly, the ship jolted violently. A sudden gravitational force appeared out of nowhere, pulling me toward its source. My silhouette blurred as though thousands of blades were trying to tear me apart. My body resisted the onslaught, fighting against the invisible force. The entire ship began collapsing into a single point, resembling a black hole. It likely was one a void consuming everything that came near it. I had no desire to test whether I could survive inside it. Pushing off with all my might, I managed to leap out of the danger zone, landing only a few dozen meters away.

Crashing into the ground, I felt the pull dragging me back. Digging my claws into the earth, I tried to anchor myself, but the force grew stronger. With another superhuman leap, I shattered the ground beneath me and propelled myself further away. Moments later, the black hole reached its collapse, imploding in on itself and leaving a massive crater several kilometers wide. What remained was a city reduced to ruins.

How many lives had been lost? Who could have created a weapon resembling a black hole? Was this the aliens' last-ditch effort to destroy me and themselves? Or was this humanity's doing?

I would figure it out later. For now, my attention was drawn to a fluttering red cape amidst the desolation. Superman. I recognized him immediately. He seemed to know what was happening. Too much about him resembled the aliens his speed, his strength. Yet my focus shifted to another figure standing nearby: an alien, gazing grimly at the ashes of his ship.

"Look," he said, extending a hand filled with ash. "We could have built a new Krypton on this wretched place, but you chose them over us. I exist solely to protect Krypton; it is the only purpose for which I was born. Every act of mine, no matter how cruel, was for the good of my people. And now, I have no people. My soul that is what you have taken from me." His voice was filled with despair as he knelt, staring at the remnants of his ship and crew. But in his eyes, anger began to smolder. Suddenly, he lunged at Superman, striking him and sending him flying several meters.

"I will make these pathetic humans you chose over us suffer. I will take all of them from you," he snarled.

"You're a monster, and I will stop you," Superman declared, taking to the skies and charging at him. Their clash created a shockwave that scattered the dust across the ruins.