Lightning V Superman

The Joke

The ruins of Abyss's dimension lay quiet, the aftermath of the battle still lingering in the heavy, oppressive air. The ground beneath them was scarred, the sky still swirling with dark clouds as if reflecting the turmoil that had just unfolded. The group, now gathered together, were all catching their breath, trying to process the enormity of what had just transpired.

Abyss floated over to Lightning, her expression more serious than usual, her ethereal form hovering just inches above the ground. She studied him for a moment, as if weighing her words, before finally speaking.

"Lightning," she began, her voice tinged with concern, "You're going to need to avoid tapping into the chaos forms for a while"

"Why?" Lightning yawns from the ground he's sitting on all cool.

"you've ascended to Chaos 3 three times in a single day twice on your own and once during the Luna transformation. Your body's at its limit. If you try to utilize that form again anytime soon... well, your body might give up on you."

Lightning frowned, his eyes narrowing. "And why is that, Abyss? I've pushed myself before, so what's different now?"

Abyss let out a soft sigh, almost as if she found his question both expected and exhausting. "Your body's like a conduit for chaos, Lightning. Every time you tap into the higher forms of Chaos, you're pushing it to channel more energy than it's naturally capable of handling. Chaos 3 isn't just a power boost; it's a complete reconfiguration of your physical and spiritual essence. The more you push it, the more strain you place on yourself, and right now, that strain is at its breaking point."

Yuuna, who had been listening intently, spoke up. "So, you're saying if he ascends to version 3 again, it could kill him?"

Abyss nodded solemnly. "Or worse. It could destroy his essence, leaving nothing behind but chaos. His body, his mind... everything would unravel."

Lightning clenched his fists, visibly frustrated but understanding the gravity of the situation. He turned his gaze towards the unconscious Superman lying a few feet away. "What about him?" he asked, his tone softening just slightly.

Abyss's eyes flickered as she shifted her focus to Superman. "Mentally, he's scarred. Vulnerable. He descended into darkness—a place he's never truly been. That will leave a lasting impression on someone like him, a being of light and hope. He should recover physically, but if he's forced into any morally conflicting situations too soon, the residual darkness could resurface."

Lightning sighed, running a hand through his long, black hair. "Great... just what we need. More complications."

"I suppose a push to the light could help him right this second." Abyss said.

Lightning got up and turned to leave, but was stopped by Supergirl's approach. "Lightning, can we talk privately?" she asked, her voice softer than before, almost pleading.

He didn't look at her, his expression hardening. "Now's not the time, Kara," he replied flatly, brushing past her without another word. His mind was elsewhere, focused on more pressing matters.

Supergirl looked taken aback, hurt flashing across her face before she composed herself. She watched him walk away, feeling a sense of rejection she hadn't anticipated.

Lightning made his way over to Harley, who was sitting up, rubbing the chin where she'd taken Supergirl's punch. "You good, Harls?" he asked, his tone more gentle now.

Harley gave him a lopsided grin, wincing slightly as she touched the bruise. "Good as I'll ever be Sparky. Blondie packs a mean punch, but nothing I can't handle."

Lightning offered her a small smile, his eyes softening. "Glad to hear it." He glanced over at Dreamer, who was standing nearby, her gaze still wary but relieved. "You okay, Nia?"