Chapter 55: Azu On Thin Ice

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David looked at the chaos unfolding before him, and at the armed guards pointing their weapons in his direction.

In an instant, David moved to the closest guard, his hand flashing forward like lightning, gripping the man's face and lifting him. Under everyone's gaze, the guard's body withered, aging rapidly as his life force drained away, leaving him as frail as a man in his nineties. Feeling the surge of energy, David tossed the guard's lifeless body aside.

A loud crash followed as the chandelier shattered from the impact, scattering glass across the opulent hall.

Having been overtaken by an alien parasite, David now wielded superhuman strength and speed, quickly dispatching the armed men surrounding him.

Upstairs, Peter, hearing the disturbance, rushed to the main floor, arriving just in time to see David's brutal attack on the guards.

As the guards lay defeated, David turned away from the frightened crowd and walked toward Lionel on the second floor.

Lionel hadn't expected his men to fall so quickly, stunned into disbelief. Before he could react, David was standing right in front of him.

"Mr. Luthor, we could work together," David said, a raspy undertone to his voice. "Why fight each other?"

"What?" Lionel stared, not understanding David's intentions.

"This planet is being ruined by humanity. Humans are parasites, draining Earth's life force. Only we can save this world." David's voice took on an eerie fervor. "Submit to me, Lionel Luthor. With your resources, we could reshape this planet."

Lionel took a step back, repulsed. "You're a parasitic monster!" he retorted.

Just as he finished, a dark figure appeared behind him.

Boom!

In a flash, David was hit hard and thrown backward, crashing through walls as dust and debris filled the air.

Everyone froze, stunned by the unexpected scene. Peter, watching from downstairs, was also taken aback. Someone had beaten him to it!

He caught a glimpse of the figure: a tall, powerful Black man.

Could it be the Martian Manhunter who visited a few days earlier?

Just as Peter wondered if this was indeed the Martian Manhunter, the figure—J'onn J'onzz—seized David's head and shot upward, bursting through the ceiling and into the sky.

As they ascended, J'onn's form shifted, his skin turning green, reverting to his true Martian appearance.

With a thud, the Martian Manhunter landed near a power plant, hurling David to the ground.

Watching as David slowly got back to his feet, J'onn's gaze hardened. "This world doesn't welcome parasites. You shouldn't be here."

David's eyes gleamed with a strange purple light. "Why not? This planet is in danger. We were chosen to save it!"

He lunged at J'onn, fist raised, the force of his attack creating a shockwave.

J'onn blocked but was knocked back, spiraling through the air. He hadn't anticipated David's power to be this overwhelming.

Initially, he'd intended to attend the party as his human guise, John Jones. But seeing the parasite's true form, he'd thought he could quickly subdue it.

Apparently, it wouldn't be that simple.

Had the parasite absorbed something to make it stronger?

Exhaling, J'onn surged forward, landing a fierce punch on David.

Boom!

David crashed to the ground, carving a trench into the earth, lying unconscious.

"Still within control, despite the change," J'onn muttered, reaching to restrain David.

Suddenly, David moved, grabbing J'onn's fist. J'onn felt his life force rapidly draining.

"Ugh!" J'onn gasped, collapsing to his knees.

Just as he felt himself slipping away, a loud impact resounded. David was slammed away by a powerful force.

J'onn tumbled to the ground, gasping for breath, struggling to get up.

Peter stepped forward, having knocked David away, and looked down at the Martian Manhunter. "Are you alright, Martian?"

Recognizing Peter, J'onn—suppressing his shock—replied, "Not exactly. He's infected by a parasite; don't let him touch you!"

Peter's face grew serious. "What exactly is this parasite?"

"It's... from another world," J'onn panted. "The host grows stronger by absorbing life force from humans or animals."

J'onn's breaths were heavy. "He just took some of my powers; he's even stronger now."

David's form began mutating, his skin shedding, revealing a purple, wrinkled, twisted body, his mouth lined with sharp fangs.

Peter glanced up at the grotesque creature hovering above. "You're right. Getting juiced up from you made him a bigger problem."

He labeled the Martian in his mind as a "dangerous ally."

Empowered by J'onn's abilities, David lunged toward Peter.

Peter tensed, muscles coiling as he grabbed a nearby streetlight, swinging it like a club at David.

Clang!

David blocked it effortlessly, then grabbed the lamp post and hurled Peter back.

Back at Podrick's Farm, Azu looked up, alert.

"Did you hear that?" he asked Clark.

"What?" Clark blinked, puzzled.

They were playing a board game, with Clark deep in thought, trying to turn around a losing streak.

"Dad..." Azu murmured, sensing a shift, a profound unease washing over him, as if he were treading on thin ice, with the abyss just beneath.

"Why hasn't Dad come back yet?"

Azu's worry grew as he stared out the window, anxiety etched on his face.

The rain started, a misty haze spreading as thunder rumbled far off, echoing like an alarm in his heart.

Clark said, "Godfather said he was visiting Mr. Luthor."

"I... I need to go see him," Azu decided, quickly putting on his shoes.

Clark followed, asking, "Azu, what's wrong?"

Azu's eyes were tense, unsteady. "I... don't know how to describe it, but... it's like I lost my sense of safety. Only Dad gives me that feeling... like he can always catch me if I fall. And now... it's gone. I have to find him."