NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11: Chapter Eleven: The Metropolis Encounter
(AUTHOR'S NOTE THANK YOU CoachPipe FOR THE POWER STONE)
Kaito stood amidst the towering skyscrapers of Metropolis, his keen eyes locked on the distant scene of chaos. Above him, the skies roared as Superman and General Zod clashed, their battle shaking the very foundation of the city. Civilians screamed and scattered, seeking refuge from the destruction.
High above, Zod was gaining the upper hand. His fists landed blow after devastating blow on Superman, sending him careening into a building. The Man of Steel struggled to rise, his strength faltering under Zod's relentless assault.
Kaito watched in silence, weighing his options. He had no particular loyalty to Superman, nor any strong grudge against Zod. But the thrill of a challenge and the chance to test his newly forged Inverted Spear of Heaven were too enticing to ignore.
Intervention
As Zod raised his fist for another crushing blow, Kaito teleported behind him. In a single fluid motion, he thrust the Inverted Spear of Heaven into Zod's back. The weapon glowed ominously, its power activating upon contact. Zod roared in fury as the spear nullified his Kryptonian abilities, rendering him vulnerable for the first time in his life.
Superman, bewildered by the sudden turn of events, staggered to his feet. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice a mix of awe and suspicion.
Kaito didn't answer. He pulled the spear free and leaped back, his next move already planned.
The Battle
Zod, now enraged and powerless, lunged at Kaito, only to be met with the force of Kaito's Air Whip. Psychic energy shaped into glowing, crackling whips extended from Kaito's hands, lashing out at Zod with precision and ferocity. The whips sliced through the air, their range stretching up to 60 meters, each strike sending shockwaves through the battlefield.
Kaito's movements were deliberate, his psychic prowess evident in every strike. With a flick of his wrist, the Dragon Blade materialized in his hand. Using his powers, he sharpened the blade to an impossibly fine edge. Even the hardest substances—steel, rock, and Kryptonian alloys—were effortlessly sliced apart under its edge.
Zod, unrelenting despite his disadvantage, grabbed a chunk of debris and hurled it at Kaito. With a swift swipe of the Dragon Blade, the projectile was reduced to harmless fragments.
Psychic Onslaught
Kaito's eyes glowed faintly as he activated his Chlorokinesis. Tendrils of living plants erupted from the ground, wrapping around Zod's limbs and holding him in place. Before Zod could break free, Kaito unleashed Pyrokinesis, igniting the tendrils in brilliant, searing flames.
As Zod screamed in agony, Kaito raised his hands, summoning black orbs—miniature black holes that radiated an intense gravitational pull. The orbs floated ominously around him, drawing debris, vehicles, and loose rubble into their swirling vortexes. Zod struggled against the gravitational force, but the orbs pressed closer, their energy threatening to crush him.
Superman, now fully recovered, stood in shock. "You're going to kill him!" he shouted, his voice a plea.
Kaito glanced at Superman, his expression cold. "Justice doesn't always come cleanly," he replied. "But fine." With a wave of his hand, the black holes dissipated, leaving only silence and Zod's laboured breathing.
The Esper Army
As Superman secured Zod, Kaito turned his focus inward. Channeling his psychic energy manipulation, he unleashed a powerful, radiant aura. From the ground around him, glowing silhouettes began to emerge—an army of Espers, each a manifestation of Kaito's boundless psychic energy.
The Espers were diverse in form, each one bearing unique abilities and strengths, but all under Kaito's command. They stood silently, a testament to Kaito's immense power.
Superman, uneasy, approached cautiously. "What are you planning?"
Kaito dismissed his Espers with a flick of his hand, the glowing forms dissolving into the ether. "Planning? Nothing. Just reminding the world that gods walk among men."
He turned, his black coat billowing as he began to walk away. "The next time we meet, Kryptonian, pray that I'm on your side."
Superman watched as Kaito vanished into thin air, leaving behind a city shaken to its core and a hero questioning what kind of ally—or enemy—had just intervened.