The Kryptonian and the Soldier
Meanwhile, in another universe.
"I wonder if the others are missing me," murmured Owen as he drove down the lonely road.
Wanda, sitting behind him with her legs crossed, opened her eyes for a brief moment to look at him before closing them again. She seemed focused, trying to train her true power now that she finally understood what she really was.
"If you bring a dimensional demon along, I'm leaving you on the side of the road," said Owen calmly, glancing at the rearview mirror.
"Can you be quiet? I'm trying to find a way to get us back home," Wanda replied irritably, not opening her eyes. "And you know you can't say his name."
"Remember, those memories of yours are the ones you stole from me," Owen shot back, clearly annoyed.
Before Wanda could answer, Owen slammed on the brakes. She had to use her powers to avoid being thrown forward.
She was about to complain, but stopped when she saw Owen's serious expression as he stared upward through the windshield.
She followed his gaze.
There, floating in the sky, was a woman of striking beauty, wearing a red and blue outfit that resembled that of a warrior. And she wasn't wrong—standing before them was an actual Amazon.
At her side, a man with an "S" emblazoned on his chest, wearing the same colors and a cape that fluttered in the wind.
"Great… the bat sold us out," Owen muttered with resignation, opening the car door and stepping out casually.
Wanda hesitated for a moment, frowning. Nervous but with no choice, she also got out.
"You know, appearing out of nowhere while floating above everyone gives off serious dictator or god vibes. I thought that was against your philosophy," Owen commented with composure, looking at the strongest man in the world and the strongest woman in the world.
Well, the strongest among humans, anyway. Because beyond that category, there were far worse beings. But in earthly terms, they were the top.
Both frowned before descending to the ground. It wasn't just Owen's calm demeanor that unsettled them—it was his complete lack of fear. No one ever looked at them that way. Not even their admirers. Their very presence inspired respect… and a hint of fear.
But this man was completely relaxed. As if he had known them for years.
"You're the one who killed the Joker, right? We need you to come with us," Diana said firmly, not taking her eyes off Owen.
"And they sent the two heavyweights just for that? What an honor," he replied coolly.
"No. You came to us," clarified Superman. His tone wasn't hostile, but it carried curiosity.
Owen glanced to the side. In the nearby desert, he saw destroyed remains—most likely the work of the two heroes.
Then he remembered the map and realized he was closer to Metropolis than he thought. Even though he'd tried to avoid the city, it seemed he had arrived just as they finished a battle.
"Ah… my bad. Guess I'll change routes," he said, turning around.
"Stop," Diana ordered, frowning, clearly ready to fight.
"I just killed someone who spent his life killing others. If he had stayed alive, more people would've died. You should know that better than anyone," Owen replied calmly, meeting their eyes. Then he smirked. "Or are you upset because I killed your bat's toxic boyfriend?"
Superman stepped in before Diana could react.
"Just come with us. We only have a few questions. If you're clean, we'll help you get where you need to go."
"Hmm… fine," Owen said, nodding slowly. "After all, we're not villains."
Superman sighed, lowering his shoulders slightly.
"But I don't like being caught that easily," Owen added with a dangerous grin. Then he turned to Wanda. "Didn't you want to awaken more of your power? Here's your chance."
Wanda looked at him as if he had completely lost his mind.
Then, a red flash lit up the air. Owen moved at incredible speed toward Superman.
The Kryptonian was caught off guard by the sudden attack but could still track him perfectly. He raised his hand to block the punch, catching Owen's fist mid-strike.
However, his brow furrowed as an intense red aura surged through Owen's body, rising from his feet to his arm. Suddenly, the strength behind the blow increased so drastically that Superman couldn't stop it.
The impact sent him flying, crashing into the ground far away.
"My power evolved thanks to Wanda's magic… magic," Owen murmured, glancing at his own fist with a hint of surprise.
"This is going to be much more interesting than I thought."
Truth be told, from the very start he only wanted to test himself, knowing he would probably lose. But part of him wanted to see just how far he could go.
The dust raised by Superman's fall began to swirl. A chill ran down Owen's spine.
He ducked just in time. Superman appeared behind him, trying to grab him by surprise, but Owen's reflexes—nearly perfect—allowed him to dodge by mere centimeters.
He slammed both palms against the ground. His power expanded outward, shattering the terrain and making everything around him tremble. Superman immediately lifted off the ground, while Diana leapt back, uncoiling her lasso.
Wanda took advantage of the fragments of earth Owen had raised and hurled them at Diana with a flick of her hand.
The Amazon dropped her lasso and began smashing the flying chunks of rock with her fists, one after another, reducing them to dust.
Wanda glared furiously at Owen. This was all his fault for dragging her into this mess.
Meanwhile, Owen bent his knees and launched himself into the sky, propelling upward with explosions from the soles of his feet. His body moved fast—almost lightning fast.
Superman could keep track of him with his eyes, but he could tell that this magical energy was distorting the usual rules of physical strength.
The hero flew toward him, appearing right in front of his face in the blink of an eye. He threw a direct punch, intending to knock him out in one blow.
Owen, still midair, struck to the side, deflecting the hit. With a twist, he grabbed Superman's arm, and as his hands glowed red, he locked the joint in a perfect hold, using the motion to hurl Superman straight toward the ground.
The impact hit like a bomb. A cloud of dust rose instantly.
A second later, Owen was blasted out of the crater, crashing into the caravan. The vehicle crumpled under the force of the collision.
"Ouch…" he groaned, feeling the pain shoot down his back.
Superman appeared in front of him in a flash and threw another punch. Owen ducked just in time and countered with an uppercut to the jaw, sending him flying again.
Then he glanced at the hole torn through the caravan's metal by the Kryptonian's fist.
"If one of those hits me head-on, I'm done for," he muttered seriously.
Superman stood up as if nothing had happened. He had only a few scratches on his face, but Owen noticed something in his expression—excitement.
He was actually enjoying the fight.
Although Owen was slower and weaker, his reflexes and control over his body were flawless. Every move was executed with surgical precision, the result of years of training.
Superman, on the other hand, rarely had to fight seriously. His power alone was usually enough to crush any threat. But now, for the first time in a long while, someone was forcing him to move strategically.
The Man of Steel allowed himself a faint smile. Owen did the same.
In the distance, Wanda floated in the air, hurling pieces of the terrain toward Diana, who destroyed them with ease as she advanced. Each blow brought the Amazon closer.
"If you don't awaken your magic properly, you'll be defeated!" Owen shouted, not taking his eyes off Superman.
And even knowing he would lose, he smiled.
Because in that moment, as his body grew stronger with every exchange of blows, he felt truly alive again.
Reaching Superman's level was impossible right now.
But lasting a few minutes against him…
That, for Owen, was already more than enough.