The combined energy of Heat Vision and the Star Scepter tore through Dikes' body, rapidly dissolving the black tumor-like substance enveloping him.
"Ah!"
Dikes screamed, his face twisting in agony as black bubbles ruptured across his skin. His entire body convulsed, grotesquely transforming under the onslaught. If Pat was right that destroying the host was the only way to end the threat, Adrian wasted no time. Even if the enemy was merely a history and art teacher, he would not hesitate.
"Ugh!"
Dikes' face contorted in pain as blood and black tumor-like matter gushed from his wounds, an unbearable sight.
"Clark, I'm Dikes! Don't do this! I'm your teacher!" Dikes gasped, pleading through the pain.
Clark hesitated, his Heat Vision flickering. Adrian's eyes burned with urgency.
"Don't listen to him, Clark! Keep your power up. Don't let his words sway you!"
Clark took a deep breath and steadied himself, forcing his Heat Vision to surge with renewed intensity. A searing beam struck Dikes, carving a gaping wound in his chest. The energy continued upward, severing his neck in a final strike.
"Thump!"
Dikes' head rolled to the floor, eyes wide in disbelief. Adrian approached, examining the head coldly.
"Think you've won? Adrian Kent, no. You've only delayed your judgment. And you've forgotten something very important," the head hissed.
Adrian frowned. "Is that so? You're finished now." He stomped down, crushing it with a single blow.
"Adrian Kent, you've forgotten something," a strange voice interrupted from behind.
Adrian and Clark turned. A girl stood there, holding a black diamond between her fingers. She raised it to her right eye, studying them like a predator observing prey. Her left face was normal, but the right side was grayish-black, decayed, as if masked by rot. Her eyes burned with a black, fiery light.
"You made a critical mistake. The black diamond wasn't destroyed. It's still in my hand. And Dikes wasn't the host. I am."
She fixed her gaze on Adrian. "Dikes was only controlled by me through the crystal. You thought Devourer of Heaven was free—but it's always been sealed. I just used the crystal to channel its power."
Clark looked anxiously at Lana and Chloe, still shaken from the illusions.
"Who are you?" Adrian demanded.
The girl brought the black diamond closer. "Cindy Burman. I just transferred here. You don't know me, but I know you. You killed Dragon King, and I inherited the Injustice Society. I've come for revenge, Adrian Kent, and Clark Kent."
Hatred flickered across Cindy's face. "I learned of the entity in the crystal. It grants me power. I could control minds, manipulate fear—you saw it in the missing soldier, in Clark's nightmares. All part of our plan. Devourer of Heaven never left the crystal. I was the host, and I used it to draw you out. You thought you were striking a free entity—you weren't."
Adrian's eyes flashed crimson. "Think I'll let you walk away?"
Zap!
Heat Vision shot toward Cindy. The black diamond erupted with shadowy energy, dissolving the beam instantly. Cindy held the crystal steady before her eyes, channeling the power of Devourer of Heaven to block Adrian's attack.
Adrian closed distance in a blur of super speed, punching at her. The force met the black crystal, nullified by Devourer of Heaven's power. He swung the Star Scepter next, sending a focused beam at her. The crystal resisted, creating a violent shockwave.
Boom!
The black crystal shattered into fragments, falling across the classroom. The explosion knocked students unconscious, shattered windows, and sent shards of glass scattering. Only Lana and Chloe remained unharmed, shielded by Clark.
The sky darkened, black clouds thickening as Devourer of Heaven emerged, freed from the crystal. He sniffed the air, eyes opening to scan Adrian and the others. Cindy, realizing the truth, clenched her teeth. All her plans had been a manipulation.
"You used me!" Cindy yelled, charging with a knife at Devourer of Heaven.
He caught her wrist effortlessly, the knife cutting her arm as she struggled.
"We didn't betray each other. It was a precise plan," he said, his orange-red eyes gleaming. "You used me, I'm using you."
He threw her to the ground, leaving her gasping in pain. She tried to rise, demanding repayment for her help.
"I owe you nothing," Devourer of Heaven said coldly, tossing a fragment of the black crystal at her feet. It instantly became a sticky black sludge.
Tentacles surged from the sludge, wrapping around her limbs and pulling her down.
"No! Help me!" she screamed, struggling as the black mire consumed her. Adrian watched with an indifferent glare. Clark, Lana, and Chloe tried to intervene, but Devourer of Heaven blocked their path.
The last of Cindy vanished into the black sludge, leaving only silence.
Adrian looked at Devourer of Heaven standing before him. "So, your plan succeeded. You used her, and you used me, to finally step into this world."
"Not used," Devourer of Heaven said, shaking his head. "Just a precise plan. It just so happened that you were here. My original target was Stargirl, but I didn't expect—"
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