Chapter 3

Clash of Titans

Kade was perched on the edge of a rooftop, looking out over the city. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the streets. It had been a week since his unintentional debut as "Superboy," and he had finally started to accept his newfound notoriety. He'd even had a few pleasant conversations with Spider-Man about the pressures of being a hero, which helped ease his frustration.

As he scanned the skyline, a sudden commotion caught his attention. The alarm from a nearby bank echoed through the streets, followed by the unmistakable sound of crashing metal. Kade's eyes narrowed, and he launched himself towards the disturbance.

He landed in front of the bank just in time to see the massive form of Juggernaut, his red armor gleaming in the fading light, striding out of the building with a sack of money slung over his shoulder. The sheer size and presence of the villain were intimidating, but Kade wasn't about to back down.

"Hey, big guy! What's the rush?" Kade called out, standing firm.

Juggernaut turned to face him, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, if it isn't the city's newest hero. You're just in time to get flattened."

Kade clenched his fists. (This guy looks tough, but I've got to stop him.) "I'm giving you one chance to put that money down and walk away."

Juggernaut laughed, his voice booming. "You're funny, kid. But I don't take orders from anyone."

With that, Juggernaut charged. The ground shook with each of his steps, and Kade braced himself. (I've never faced anyone this big before. Let's see what he's got.)

Kade moved swiftly, dodging Juggernaut's initial strike and landing a powerful punch to his side. Juggernaut grunted, more annoyed than hurt, and swung his massive fist towards Kade. The blow connected, sending Kade skidding across the pavement.

"Not bad," Kade muttered, rubbing his jaw. (That actually hurt. This guy's no joke.)

Juggernaut didn't give him time to recover. He charged again, aiming to trample Kade underfoot. Kade darted to the side, delivering a series of rapid punches to Juggernaut's midsection. The blows staggered the behemoth but didn't bring him down.

"You're fast, I'll give you that," Juggernaut growled, swinging wildly. "But you can't hurt me!"

Kade dodged another swing, focusing on staying one step ahead. (He's right. I need a new strategy.) "Why rob a bank, Juggernaut? Need a new hobby?"

Juggernaut roared in anger, his eyes blazing. "I don't need a reason to crush you!"

Kade smirked, trying to keep his cool. "Alright, but don't say I didn't give you a chance."

He flew upwards, gaining altitude, then dove down, slamming into Juggernaut with incredible force. The impact created a shockwave, cracking the pavement beneath them. Juggernaut stumbled, clearly affected, but still standing.

"Nice try," Juggernaut snarled, grabbing a nearby car and hurling it at Kade.

Kade caught the car mid-air, setting it down gently. "You know, throwing cars isn't very nice. Think of the insurance rates!"

Juggernaut's patience was wearing thin. He charged again, his fists like wrecking balls. Kade met him head-on this time, their clash sending sparks flying. The two traded blows, each hit from Juggernaut sending a jolt of pain through Kade's body.

(He's stronger than anyone I've faced before.) Kade thought, feeling a twinge of fear for the first time. (I can't let him win.)

Kade focused, tapping into the full extent of his strength. He unleashed a flurry of punches, faster and harder than before, each one pushing Juggernaut back. Finally, with a mighty uppercut, he sent Juggernaut flying into the air. The villain crashed down, creating a crater in the street.

Juggernaut lay still, groaning in pain. Kade hovered above him, catching his breath. "Stay down this time, okay? You're making me late for dinner."

Police sirens wailed in the distance, and Kade knew his job was done. He landed next to Juggernaut, who was struggling to get up.

"You're tough, kid," Juggernaut admitted grudgingly. "But this isn't over."

Kade smiled wearily. "I'll be ready when it is."

He turned to leave, the crowd that had gathered around cheering and clapping. Phones were out, recording every moment. Kade waved briefly, then took off into the sky, disappearing from sight.

---

Later that night, Kade was relaxing on a rooftop, watching the city lights twinkle below. His body still ached from the fight, but he felt a sense of satisfaction. (I did good today. Maybe this hero thing isn't so bad after all.)

As he lay back, he heard a familiar voice. "Well, look who's getting all the headlines now."

Kade turned to see Spider-Man swinging onto the roof, landing with his usual grace. "Spidey. What brings you here?"

Spider-Man sat next to him, his eyes twinkling behind the mask. "Just thought I'd check in on the new kid. I saw your little tussle with Juggernaut. Impressive."

Kade shrugged, wincing slightly. "Thanks. He was tougher than I expected."

"You held your own," Spider-Man said, patting Kade on the back. "Not many can say that."

Kade smiled. "Appreciate it. Just wish they'd stop calling me 'Superboy'."

Spider-Man laughed. "Well, you're 17, and the pants don't help. But hey, you're making a name for yourself. That's what counts."

Kade sighed, shaking his head. "I'm a man, not a boy."

Spider-Man chuckled, standing up. "Whatever you say, 'Superman'. Just keep up the good work. The city needs more heroes like you."

Kade watched as Spider-Man swung away, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. (Maybe this is what I was meant to do. Maybe I can be a hero after all.)

With that thought, he closed his eyes, letting the city's hum lull him to sleep. For the first time in a long while, Kade felt at peace.

Time skip

Kade was perched on the edge of a rooftop, looking out over the city. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the streets. It had been a week since his unintentional debut as "Superboy," and he had finally started to accept his newfound notoriety. He'd even had a few pleasant conversations with Spider-Man about the pressures of being a hero, which helped ease his frustration.

As he scanned the skyline, a sudden commotion caught his attention. The alarm from a nearby bank echoed through the streets, followed by the unmistakable sound of crashing metal. Kade's eyes narrowed, and he launched himself towards the disturbance.

He landed in front of the bank just in time to see the massive form of Juggernaut, his red armor gleaming in the fading light, striding out of the building with a sack of money slung over his shoulder. The sheer size and presence of the villain were intimidating, but Kade wasn't about to back down.

"Hey, big guy! What's the rush?" Kade called out, standing firm.

Juggernaut turned to face him, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, if it isn't the city's newest hero. You're just in time to get flattened."

Kade clenched his fists. (This guy looks tough, but I've got to stop him.) "I'm giving you one chance to put that money down and walk away."

Juggernaut laughed, his voice booming. "You're funny, kid. But I don't take orders from anyone."

With that, Juggernaut charged. The ground shook with each of his steps, and Kade braced himself. (I've never faced anyone this big before. Let's see what he's got.)

Kade moved swiftly, dodging Juggernaut's initial strike and landing a powerful punch to his side. Juggernaut grunted, more annoyed than hurt, and swung his massive fist towards Kade. The blow connected, sending Kade skidding across the pavement.

"Not bad," Kade muttered, rubbing his jaw. (That actually hurt. This guy's no joke.)

Juggernaut didn't give him time to recover. He charged again, aiming to trample Kade underfoot. Kade darted to the side, delivering a series of rapid punches to Juggernaut's midsection. The blows staggered the behemoth but didn't bring him down.

"You're fast, I'll give you that," Juggernaut growled, swinging wildly. "But you can't hurt me!"

Kade dodged another swing, focusing on staying one step ahead. (He's right. I need a new strategy.) "Why rob a bank, Juggernaut? Need a new hobby?"

Juggernaut roared in anger, his eyes blazing. "I don't need a reason to crush you!"

Kade smirked, trying to keep his cool. "Alright, but don't say I didn't give you a chance."

He flew upwards, gaining altitude, then dove down, slamming into Juggernaut with incredible force. The impact created a shockwave, cracking the pavement beneath them. Juggernaut stumbled, clearly affected, but still standing.

"Nice try," Juggernaut snarled, grabbing a nearby car and hurling it at Kade.

Kade caught the car mid-air, setting it down gently. "You know, throwing cars isn't very nice. Think of the insurance rates!"

Juggernaut's patience was wearing thin. He charged again, his fists like wrecking balls. Kade met him head-on this time, their clash sending sparks flying. The two traded blows, each hit from Juggernaut sending a jolt of pain through Kade's body.

(He's stronger than anyone I've faced before.) Kade thought, feeling a twinge of fear for the first time. (I can't let him win.)

Kade focused, tapping into the full extent of his strength. He unleashed a flurry of punches, faster and harder than before, each one pushing Juggernaut back. Finally, with a mighty uppercut, he sent Juggernaut flying into the air. The villain crashed down, creating a crater in the street.

Juggernaut lay still, groaning in pain. Kade hovered above him, catching his breath. "Stay down this time, okay? You're making me late for dinner."

Police sirens wailed in the distance, and Kade knew his job was done. He landed next to Juggernaut, who was struggling to get up.

"You're tough, kid," Juggernaut admitted grudgingly. "But this isn't over."

Kade smiled wearily. "I'll be ready when it is."

He turned to leave, the crowd that had gathered around cheering and clapping. Phones were out, recording every moment. Kade waved briefly, then took off into the sky, disappearing from sight.

---

Later that night, Kade was relaxing on a rooftop, watching the city lights twinkle below. His body still ached from the fight, but he felt a sense of satisfaction. (I did good today. Maybe this hero thing isn't so bad after all.)

As he lay back, he heard a familiar voice. "Well, look who's getting all the headlines now."

Kade turned to see Spider-Man swinging onto the roof, landing with his usual grace. "Spidey. What brings you here?"

Spider-Man sat next to him, his eyes twinkling behind the mask. "Just thought I'd check in on the new kid. I saw your little tussle with Juggernaut. Impressive."

Kade shrugged, wincing slightly. "Thanks. He was tougher than I expected."

"You held your own," Spider-Man said, patting Kade on the back. "Not many can say that."

Kade smiled. "Appreciate it. Just wish they'd stop calling me 'Superboy'."

Spider-Man laughed. "Well, you're 17, and the pants don't help. But hey, you're making a name for yourself. That's what counts."

Kade sighed, shaking his head. "I'm a man, not a boy."

Spider-Man chuckled, standing up. "Whatever you say, 'Superman'. Just keep up the good work. The city needs more heroes like you."

Kade watched as Spider-Man swung away, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. (Maybe this is what I was meant to do. Maybe I can be a hero after all.)

With that thought, he closed his eyes, letting the city's hum lull him to sleep. For the first time in a long while, Kade felt at peace.