(Sorry for the late update y'all, things have been busy for me lately. I'm probably gonna take some time after this is uploaded to catch up on others' stories.)

gemm1mt: Probably shouldn't included that, don't know what the hell I was thinking.

Chapter 14: Something Peculiar

(Metropolis, a few days later)

Superman is flying through his beloved city. Waving and smiling to/at the people who cheered his name on the streets below him. He suddenly heard a terrible cacophony of sounds. The kryptonian surged through the air to the origin of the sounds. Suddenly a truck flew towards him. Superman dodged to the side and caught the vehicle with his right hand. Gently he lowered it to the ground then flew to where he believed the truck came from, since several people ran away screaming from the area. As he carefully landed on a sidewalk he saw a man in a long coat and hat on had his back turned to him.

"Excuse me. Sir? Are you ok? What was the cause of-" Superman started to say.

"Hello, Superman." The man interrupted him as he turned around, tearing off a false face revealing a metal head and opened the coat revealing kryptonite tightly locked in a metal container yet partly exposed.

"Metallo!" Superman half gasped, half grunted.

"Correct. Rah!" The metallic supervillain chuckled then growled as he threw a punch.

The blow landed, Metallo's fist slamming into the hero's chest sending him flying back and smashing into a car. Superman groaned from the hit and the radiating effects of the kryptonite. But something else was going on.

"Ugh, you're…you're stronger than normal, Metallo." Superman groaned, struggling to get up.

"Well, let's say I've been blessed." Metallo chuckled, throwing off his coat and hat then punched his right metallic hand into his left metallic palm.

"You won't win." Superman grunted, back on his feet.

"We'll see about that." Metallo chuckled then jogged forward.

Superman flew forward, throwing a punch. Metallo caught it with his right hand then jabbed with his left hand. The blow hit the kryptonian's chest, knocking him backwards and reeling off the car this time. The people gasped and screamed, some running away while others recorded the sight.

"Everyone! Run! Go! Get out of here!" Superman cried out, to which the people did except for one man who lingered watching the event.

Superman raced forward, slamming his right fist into Metallo's face, sending the villain smashing into a wall. Metallo grunted as he pulled himself out of the cracks in the building. Superman started to walked towards him.

"Ok…let's try THIS THEN!" Metallo grunted the snarled as a beam of energy surged towards Superman which originated from the kryptonite in his chest.

Superman had raced forward as soon as Metallo blasted the energy, which slammed into the kryptonian. The hero cried out in pain as he was forced back and clattering to the ground. Superman groaned in pain, barely able to pick himself off the ground. Metallo walked over to him, standing over him.

"H-How?" Superman groaned in pain.

"Call it a…gift from god." Metallo chuckled.

The kryptonite in his chest began shining again, Superman realizing it was going to be another beam. To his shock and confusion, the energy started building up to be a larger blast. Around the kryptonite, the hero thought he was small red flames dance around the mineral. His eyes widened in shock and fear.

"Good riddance you damn bast-" Metallo started to say until he was suddenly sent flying into and through a building.

"Kal! Are you ok?!" A feminine voice gasped.

Superman groaned as he looked up to she his cousin, Supergirl kneeling beside him.

"Kara? You…You have to get out of here…Metallo…something." Superman groaned.

"I'm not leaving you, little cousin. Besides, did you think I came alone?" Supergirl replied.

The Man of Steel turned to see Chaos Chimera standing in the street.

"Him?" Superman gasped yet growled.

"We were the first to respond, there weren't many in the Watchtower at the time. We got the alert as soon as social media started spreading your fight." Supergirl replied.

"Great." Superman groaned.

Metallo grunted in irritation as he climbed through the hole in wall. The ninja rushed forward, as did Metallo. Chaos Chimera lunged forward, his right fight instantly slamming into the villain's face. Metallo growled as he dropped to the ground, but quickly swung back with his right fist. Chaos Chimera caught the blow with his right hand then swiftly jabbed Metallo's face with his left. Metallo skidded across the ground after the blow landed.

"Get him out of here. I'll take care of Metallo!" Chaos Chimera grunted, not taking his eyes off the metallic villain.

"No, we can't go…Chimera…will kill him." Superman groaned.

The two turned to see Chaos Chimera dodged a punch from Metallo then swiftly threw one in return, the blow sweetly hitting the villain's metal jaw. The metallic villain stumbled back a bit, but quickly threw another punch. The ninja pushed the attack aside with his left hand then swiftly thrust a Tiger Claw Strike towards Metallo's face. The blow sent him stumbled back.

"You'll pay for that, you animal." Metallo snarled, regaining his balance then rushed forward, his hands morphing into long metallic spikes.

Chaos Chimera's claws extruded from his gauntlets. He blocked the strike from one then parried the strike from another. The ninja pushed aside one spike then thrust forward with his other claws towards the villain's kryptonite heart. However, he heard a whooshing sound to his side. He suddenly found himself slammed against the car Metallo bashed Superman into. His sight soon found the reason way: Supergirl pinning him to the car with a furious look on her face.

"Enough! How could possibly believe that was the right thing to do! You were going to kill him!" Supergirl growled, blue eyes sending daggers at the ninja.

Chaos Chimera growled softly in response. Out of the corner of one of his eyes he thought he saw a man watching the event. But something else caught his attention.

"My cousin has been fighting for what's right on this planet for years! We are supposed to inspire hope in the people. To kill is to betray that goal, it makes us no better than those who seek to destroy that dream. You are no better than the monster-" Supergirl snarled, not realizing her grip was weaker as she started to feel slightly dizzy.

"Get back!" Chaos Chimera cried out, pushing Supergirl to the right.

"You sick bastar-*Gasps*" Supergirl hissed then stopped when she tuned to glare at the ninja, her hands instantly covering her mouth in surprise once seeing the ninja.

Chaos Chimera is clutching Metallo's right arm, the spike having impaled him, the forearm seemingly glowing with a dim red light. The spike was dripping with the shapeshifter's blood on both sides. The ninja tried to reach for the villain and tried to move closer, his body slowly moving towards the villain, but the spike held him almost in place. His furious eyes glared at Metallo.

"Damn you!" Metallo grunted in frustration.

His other spike morphed back into a hand, which motioned to grab Chaos Chimera's shoulder. Supergirl flew forward, and fists forward. But the aura of the kryptonite instantly slowed her speed and she groaned in pain. Metallo's left hand quickly snatched her throat, his grip tightening. Supergirl grunted in surprise and pain, her hands trying to pry his hand away.

"No…kill me…not her." Chaos Chimera gasped, his voice pleading.

"Oh, I think I'll take both of…huh?" Metallo scoffed, but grunted in confusion when he thought he heard something.

His gaze moved upwards and his glowing, metallic eyes brighten in surprise. A fierce, feminine war cry split the air as its owner fell down towards Metallo. The villain found himself on the ground after a powerful, vicious punch. Both of his arms were no longer locked onto or in his foes, but free from them. His right spike turned back into a hand. He looked up to see Wonder Woman standing before him, fists clenched and teeth bared. Behind her he saw Chaos Chimera trying to help Supergirl off the ground, Superman hurrying over to see his cousin.

"You coward!" Wonder Woman snarled, picking up Metallo around his throat and lifted him in the air.

"Bitch!" Metallo snarled, punching her.

"Ah!" Wonder Woman grunted in pain, but her grip still held.

She snarled as she smashed her fist into his chest then across his face. Her eyes caught a glimpse of red flames dancing around one of his fists like a spectral aura for a moment or two. Metallo threw another fist forward, but she caught the fist. Metallo growled and tried to apply more force to his fist, and the weight behind it increased. Wonder Woman pushed his fist aside then swiftly threw another punch and quickly turned and grabbed his face then smashed him back to the ground. She quickly tied him up with her lasso. The metallic villain struggled for a bit trying to free himself, but he eventually submitted. Wonder Woman grunted as she scoffed at him. Then out of the corner of her eye she saw a man from a distance. He was tall, with short blonde hair, blue eyes, and a smug smirk across his face. The amazon eyes lit with surprise and she was about to say something.

"Diana!" A voice called from behind her.

She turned to see Superman motioning for her to come over towards him, Supergirl, and Chaos Chimera. Supergirl's throat was very red with definite marks as her hands rubbed them. Chaos Chimera's right hand was over where the villain's spike had impaled him, the gauntlet painted in the dark color of his blood. He was standing, but he was unsure in his footing. Wonder Woman turned back around and the man was gone. She then hurried towards the others.

(The Watchtower, a few hours later)

The League and team had gathered at the behest of Wonder Woman.

"I felt a sinister power about Metallo, something I haven't felt in…" Wonder Woman recounted, her voice a mix of emotions.

"Just because Metallo was supporting a new system doesn't mean it's cause for too much concern. We have larger problems, Diana." Batman grunted, his voice emotionless.

"No, this wasn't something technological advancement, Batman. This seemed…mystical." Wonder Woman scoffed, unamused by Batman's comment.

"Magic? Despite your obvious alarm with Metallo, your worries don't necessarily conclude magic is involved." Batman replied.

"Chaos Chimera's wound isn't healing as quickly as normal. When he took a bullet for you in Gotham, you explained the wound healed quickly. Metallo's attack caused more lasting damage." Wonder Woman grunted, arms crossing, further enforcing her displeasure.

"Metallo's strength…it seemed greater than usual, I don't understand why…but I felt something off about it." Superman added.

"Enough, we can't put forth anything useful to something like this. The threat of Apokolips is the issue we must deal with now. Metallo is locked away, secure in Metropolis." The Caped Crusader stated, standing up and eyes narrowed in further seriousness.

"Believe what you will, Batman. This stinks of something I wished I'd never sense again. I must return to Themyscira. I must consult with my people; I feel something terrible on the horizon. I will return as soon as I can." Wonder Woman said.

"We need you here. In order to maintain stability here, every League member needs to be within communication range." Batman ordered.

"I understand; I know this is a bad time. But this is important. Now, I'll contact you as soon as possible." Wonder Woman grunted in response then walked away.

Batman's eyes narrowed in annoyance as she walked away.

(Former Mt. Justice, several minutes later)

Wonder Woman had decided to take a few moments to compose herself in a secluded location, gather her thoughts.

"Dear Hera, I feel something truly terrible nearing." Wonder Woman sighed.

There was rustling in the woods beside her, and she turned to see Chaos Chimera walking towards her, holding his bandaged chest.

"Drew! You should be resting!" Wonder Woman scolded.

"I just wished to see you off." Chaos Chimera grunted in reply.

She sighed then smiled. The amazon putting a calming hand on his shoulder.

"You're sweet, Drew. Now, go back to the Watchtower and rest." Wonder Woman chuckled, a warm smile on her face.

The ninja blushed under his mask, but nodded.

"Stay…safe." Chaos Chimera stammered nervously.

"I will." Wonder Woman chuckled.

The shapeshifter nodded and walked off back through the woods. Wonder Woman sighed then flew into the air. A moment later the man from earlier suddenly appeared from the woods.

"Ah, Diana. It's a pity things will come to such an end soon. I will see you soon…sister." The man chuckled sinisterly then disappeared in a burning flame, leaving no trace of his presence.

From another tree line, Chaos Chimera watched. He had sensed something peculiar, though he wasn't sure what it was. His eyes narrowed with anger at where the unknown man had stood.

'I have to warn her.' The ninja grunted in his mind.

To be continued…

(Again, sorry for the late update.)