Well, that hurt.
Finally emerging out of the half-ton of fallen debris, Captain Marvel grabbed on to a hanging piece of rebar for support as he gingerly pulled himself back up.
Lurching forwards with a brief stagger in his step, he wiped the remaining dust off his shoulders and quickly scanned the area for any signs of the monstrous metahuman.
"Aww man," he complained under his breath, his annoyance at being bested quickly dwarfed by a growing sense of dread as his eyes trailed up to the quite visible hole in the ceiling where the Parasite had made his exit.
Before he could give any more thought to his current predicament, the sound of metal shifting from his right captivated his attention.
Flexing his muscles, the beleaguered yet determined Superman started to press the broken chunks of machinery off him.
"Superman!" Rushing over to his aid, Batson quickly assisted in lifting the remaining debris off the Man of Steel.
After tossing the last remaining metallic chunk, Marvel offered his hand to the still slightly groggy hero..
Accepting it, the Kryptonian rose back up to his feet, briefly leaning on the wizard's champion for support.
"Well, that could've gone better," he admitted, wincing slightly as he sorely felt the back of his neck.
"So uh, what now?"
Before answering, Superman's trained ears picked up on some noise emanating from outside the facility.
"General Eiling and his men have opened fire on the Parasite. It won't hold him for long, but it gives us enough time to strategize," he informed the young hero.
Biting his lip nervously, Captain Marvel reluctantly confessed, "No offense Superman, but strategy is kinda Batman's thing. But, I'm all ears if you-"
Placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder, Superman gave him an encouraging smile, "It's your city, Captain. Your call."
Slightly blushing, Billy Batson briefly turned away from the Kryptonian's assuring glance, retreating into the confines of his mind.
"Wisdom of Solomon, don't let me down now," he thought to himself anxiously, racking his head until it finally came to him.
Looking back at Superman, a mental light bulb now lit up his youthful features.
"Okay, so I may have a few ideas."
"OPEN FIRE NOW!"
Despite at least two dozen assault weapons all going off at the same time, General Wade Eiling's authoritative voice stood out as he directed his men.
As soon as the Parasite emerged from the roof of the S.T.A.R. Labs facility carrying the briefcase, he was immediately met with a heavy wave of machine gunfire and other weaponry designed specially for metahuman threats.
Military troops and Fawcett City police alike all took up various positions on the front lawns, their assault weapons trained directly at the monstrous target hovering over them.
Standing fearlessly in front of an army Humvee, he held a megaphone in one hand and a pair of binoculars in the other.
Initially attempting to maneuver around the lead volleys, the Parasite was forced to a stop as the concentrated gunfire closed in on his chest.
Within seconds, bullets and other energetic projectiles pierced his torso, with a few stray rounds even managing to graze his face.
Naturally, possessing the bulletproof durability of Superman protected him from any real damage, but the volleys of bullets swarming all around him certainly proved to be a sizable enough distraction.
Taking cover next to the armored vehicle hood, he barked to a nearby soldier, "Private Reid, get the Boot up and running now! I want that purple raisin taken down, now!"
Nodding in affirmation, the blonde marine retrieved a futuristic projectile launcher from inside the truck and took aim next to the General.
"On my command…" Watching the Parasite still struggling to break free of the collective assault through his binoculars, Eiling held up a steadying hand as Private David Reid flipped a switch to charge up the weapon.
"Wait for it…"
Sensing a brief lull in the gunfire, Eiling suddenly shouted out, "NOW, Private! Fire at will!"
Having acquired his target, Reid squeezed the trigger, firing off an electric blur of metal that shot upwards towards the supervillain.
"Now, you're just annoying m-aarrghh!" Parasite started to yell at them, only to be cut off as a giant metal hook suddenly clamped around his midsection.
Upon making contact, thousands of electric volts surged through his monstrous frame, shocking him to the point of uttering unintelligible grunts.
At Eiling's command, the rest of the troops momentarily ceased fire as he continued writhing in the air, the anti-metahuman device evidently doing its job of neutralizing its wearer.
With the electrical discharges continuing to arc around his torso, the supervillain's struggles began to noticeably die down.
"Thank you, Ted Kord," Wade Eiling muttered to himself, observing the handiwork of Kord Industries' best play out in spectacular fashion.
Smirking confidently, Eiling stood up from his cover and patted Reid on the shoulder.
"That's some mighty fine shooting there, private. When we get back to HQ, I'll put in a good word for you. Maybe get you a promotion or-" Before he could finish his congratulatory statement, the soldier's eyes suddenly widened in surprise.
Pointing at the sky, he stammered out, "Uh sir, I think you should take a look up."
Turning back towards the metahuman with a skeptical scoff, Eiling pressed the binocular lens against his eyes.
Still visibly in pain, the Parasite's eyes quickly morphed to green, prompting the rest of his body to begin shifting its density.
Though the process is much slower than usual due to the electrical discharges hampering his focus, the supervillain ultimately was able to phase himself right through the metal device.
Plummeting harmlessly back down to Earth, the Boot continued to emit its electrical discharge as the Parasite, now freed, bore his vengeful glare down upon the soldiers.
"That…. was…. unpleasant," he snarled, his eyes now burning with fiery vengeance.
Lowering his binoculars to reveal an uncharacteristically horrified expression on the usually stoic military man, General Wade Eiling barely had time to tackle the frozen private to the ground as the Parasite unleashed his heat vision.
A tidal wave of crimson energy erupted from the monstrous being, instantly slicing right through many of the armored vehicles and just barely missing the soldiers beside them.
"Fall back! Retreat!" The general yelled, scrambling for cover as Parasite continued destroying countless vehicles and equipment.
Eiling's men frantically followed in their leader's footsteps, melding into a fear-stricken mass of humanity desperate to avoid his deadly rays.
His lips curling into a sadistic grin, the Parasite began to concentrate his destructive glare on the retreating general, his crimson beam inching ever closer to his fleeing form.
"Hey!"
Jolted out of his malevolent glee, the metahuman turned around towards the general direction of the voice.
In its place, however, was none other than Captain Marvel.
"How about you pick on someone your own size?" he declared confidently, his cape lightly dancing in the wind as he fearlessly stared down the villain.
Where there initially was anger, there was now only amusement in the eyes of the Parasite.
"That's what I love about you hero types. Always coming back for more," he sneered, his eyes reverting back to the Martian shade of green.
Raising his free arm, he closed his fist and brought it close to his chest, simultaneously pulling the young hero towards him using his acquired telekinesis.
As his body was manipulated and moved towards the awaiting Parasite, Batson only feigned a surprised expression with the Parasite's predatory grin growing nearer.
"That's it. Come to Daddy!" he smiled deviously, completely oblivious to a second figure coming up on him from behind.
"Aarrgghh!" Superman's heat vision suddenly struck his unprotected spine, forcing a pained yelp to escape his lips as he momentarily lost his concentration.
Now freed of the Parasite's telekinetic control, Batson continued to soar forwards on his already generated momentum until he was finally upon him.
Summoning the strength of Zeus, Captain Marvel delivered a thunderous uppercut right underneath the Parasite's unsuspecting chin, launching him up even higher in the air.
As the monstrous being's body started to arch back down, Batson followed up by grabbing hold of his ankle and spinning him around in the air at hurricane speed.
Transforming into a crimson blur as he whirled the supervillain around him, Marvel finally released his ankle sending the Parasite hurtling away.
Both heroes looked on as the supervillain crashed down on a nearby rooftop, skidding across the concrete with the briefcase slipping free of his grasp in the process.
Rolling over on his stomach upon impact, he let out a frustrated growl before slowly dragging himself towards the briefcase.
Crawling on his elbows and knees, he reached out for the case handle only to recoil back in pain as a well-timed blast of Superman's crimson beams singed the back of his hand.
His eyes returning back to normal, the Man of Steel confidently hovered above the still down supervillain, Captain Marvel flanking him on his right.
"It's over, Raymond. Your cell at Bell Reve awaits," he told the seething supervillain firmly.
Laughing to himself mirthlessly, the Parasite examined his hand before shooting back, "Only if you can catch me."
And on that note, he suddenly opened his mouth, unleashing a supersonic cry that sent both Superman and Captain Marvel careening backwards.
Taking advantage, he sprang back up to his feet and once again took to the air, leaving the briefcase behind.
Righting himself in mid-air, Superman grabbed onto Batson's golden sash to steady the young hero before following his monstrous adversary deeper into Fawcett City.
"Man, I hate it when he does that," Marvel remarked irritably, still rubbing his ears as he joined the Kryptonian in his pursuit.
Nearby buildings and warehouses became little more than towering blurs as the boy-hero tore through the air, his determined glare focused solely on stopping the supervillain once and for all.
Flying at a speed comparable to a passenger jet, the Parasite almost effortlessly navigated through the industrial maze as he sought to lose his heroic pursuers.
Turning around a corner, he chanced a quick glance backwards only to snarl angrily with both the Man of Steel and the world's mightiest mortal slowly but surely gaining on his rear.
Craning his neck to the side, his eyes flooded crimson once again as he shot off another burst of heat-vision, aimed not at them, but rather a nearby billboard advertising Fawcett City's local radio station, WHIZ Radio.
His twin beams managed to slice through the single metallic pole keeping the rectangular board upright.
Both heroes came to an immediate halt as the billboard toppled over, falling off the building housing it and unto the streets below.
"I've got this. Go after Jerkface," Batson urged the Man of Steel, not waiting for his answer before swooping down towards the ground level.
Reluctantly, Superman resumed his pursuit as the falling billboard built up momentum.
Shooting past the rectangular structure, he first located the various people who were currently in the shadow of the billboard's inevitable landing.
Acting without a split second of hesitation, Captain Marvel became a frantic blur as he scooped up every man, woman, and child currently on the crosswalk.
Depositing them safely on the other side of the block, he lastly handed a puppy to its confused owner and watched as the billboard crashed on the now empty road.
Turning to the growing crowd of spectators gathering around him, Batson gave them a friendly salute before taking off into the air once again.
Maneuvering through a half-finished construction site, the ever determined Superman remained in hot pursuit of the Parasite.
Blazing through the air at his top speeds, the hero narrowed his eyes intently as he gained ever so closer to finally catching the malicious metahuman.
Unable to lose the Man of Steel no matter how many sharp turns and sudden detours he took, the supervillain desperately fired off another blast of heat-vision at the hero.
Shifting to the right to dodge the crimson blast, Superman returned the favor with a blast of his own.
Just barely grazing the supervillain's shoulder, it was at least enough to slightly slow him down mid-flight.
Whirling around in an infuriated fit, he retaliated with a more emotionally-charged crimson blast, one that forced the Kryptonian to dive downwards n order to fully evade its deadly radius.
Turning back around, the Parasite's seething expression quickly turned to shock as he rapidly closed in on Captain Marvel's grinning figure.
Hovering in the air with his arms crossed, Billy Batson cocked a confident smirk before cocking his fist and, timing his moment just right, catching the accelerating villain with a massive clothesline right to the jaw.
Using his own momentum against him, the surprise attack sent the now dazed Parasite plummeting back down with his limbs flailing about wildly.
A visibly impressed Superman came to a stop next to the Fawcett City hero, pausing only to ask, "How'd you get here so first?"
Shrugging, Billy told him simply, "I took the subway."
Unable to right himself mid-fall, the Parasite found himself swallowing a facefull of concrete as he crash landed on Beck Street.
Forming a sizable crater as his monstrous body impacted the striped road, he painfully writhed around as cars all around him came to a screeching halt.
Eventually crawling out of the crater with his pants torn and visible annoyance written all over his face, the supervillain staggered to a nearby lamppost as now terrified passerby scattered from his presence.
Ignoring an SUV just barely coming short of bumping into him from behind, he glowered up angrily as both League members landed on the intersection facing him.
"This ends, now," Superman declared, assuming an offensive stance.
Chuckling, the Parasite pushed himself off the metallic pole and cracked his neck eagerly.
"I couldn't agree more," he replied through gritted teeth, suddenly turning back to the SUV.
The inhabitants inside, a family of 2 kids with the mother driving, screamed out in both surprise and horror as the metahuman grabbed hold of the car's hood.
Lifting it off the ground as if it was a mere toy, he hefted its weight briefly in both forearms before chucking the vehicle towards them.
Eyes widening in realization, Superman launched himself up into the air and caught the vehicle with his bare hands.
Smiling evilly as the Man of Steel took the bait, the Parasite fired off his heat-vision yet again, this time aimed at the car's very flammable engine.
His vision obscured by the children staring at him through the darkened car windows, Superman was completely oblivious to the crimson beam hurtling towards the family.
But not Billy Batson.
Flying up directly in front of the car hood, Captain Marvel blocked the destructive glare with his golden gauntlets.
Taking the full brunt of the blast into his forearms, Batson grinded his teeth together as the Parasite intensified the beam.
Pushing forward away from the vehicle, he took a calming breath before taking the fight to the villain.
Launching himself at the metahuman with his forearms still blocking his heat vision, the magical champion built up momentum and upon returning to the ground, connected with a stinging right directly to his jaw.
Cutting off his heat-vision, he delivered another swift left cross across his other cheek, before lacing both fingers together and swinging a Herculean-esque clubbing blow underneath his chin.
Knocking him back against a parked car, Marvel rushed forward with another punch.
Snarling irritably, Parasite caught the fist with his open palm and retaliated with a savage headbutt directly to his temple.
Reeling back, Batson now found himself seeing double as the Parasite reared back and delivered another blow snapping his head backwards.
Stumbling against a street light, he struggled to push through his daze as the metahuman stalked towards him menacingly.
His lips parting in a feral roar, he lunged at the reeling hero with both arms outstretched towards his exposed neck.
Billy's vision clearing just in time, he caught both hands just before they closed in around his flesh.
Utilizing every ounce of his monstrous, Kryptonian-enhanced physique, Parasite's eyes were illuminated with perverse glee as he felt Marvel's muscles beginning to buckle against his.
"You feel that, kid? That's the collective power of Superman, Martian Manhunter, and every single heavy hitter in the Justice League coursing through my veins," he gloated triumphantly, his eyes alternating between green and red for emphasis.
"What power, that you possess, gives you the delusion that you're even in my league?" he snarled, relishing Marvel's straining grimace as he leaned in for the kill.
As if to answer his question, a sudden gust of wind slammed into his sides, knocking him off his feet and into the air.
Having just put down the family SUV and escorted the inhabitants outside, Superman unleashed a powerful force wind derived from his superhuman esophagus to save his teammate just in time.
Catapulted into the intersection, Parasite collided hard against a now abandoned sports car, breaking through its polished windows and slumping into the driver's seat.
Taking a sigh of relief with the parasitic foe out of sight, at least for now, Captain Marvel pulled himself back up as Superman bitterly observed the writhing supervillain.
"All that power, and he still doesn't know when to shut up," he remarked dryly, turning back to the young hero.
"How many times do you think we have to keep punching him, sir?" Batson asked grimly.
"Much as I hate to admit it, he's right. He's got all my powers, my strengths, my-" Stopping himself mid-sentence, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
"My weaknesses," he revealed to the bewildered Billy Batson, who arched a quizzical eyebrow.
"You mean, like Kryptonite?"
"No, I mean like-" Before Superman could finish his thought, the sports car suddenly slammed into him, just barely missing Captain Marvel.
Disappearing against the flying metallic mass, Superman crashed backfirst through a nearby store window, frightening the employees currently hiding inside.
Batson instinctively took a step towards his teammate, before ultimately returning back to the task at hand.
Walking forward, the Parasite wore a wicked grin from ear to ear.
"Sorry, I couldn't help but overhear…" Gesturing at his ears, he continued mocking the wizard's champion, "So, big boy blue told you my big secret, huh? Not that it'll do you any good. There's nothing even resembling that stupid green rock in this town. I've checked. And by the time I'm done with you, you won't even be conscious enough to use any of the other 'heroes' weaknesses against me."
A flicker of uncertainty played across Billy Batson's face, one that the Parasite surely would've noticed, but just as quickly as it emerged, an epiphany suddenly dawned on him.
"But you don't know my weakness," he thought to himself.
Quickly figuring out a new plan, Captain Marvel stood his ground with the villain nearly upon him.
"Any last words?" he further taunted the hero, cracking his knuckles eagerly.
"Yeah…." Crossing his arms, Billy put on his best smug face. "I bet you couldn't even handle my powers. I'm like, ten times more powerful than Superman."
"Is that so?" he smirked bemusedly, a twinkle of curiosity in his now emerald eyes.
Scoffing, Billy bragged further, "Superman wishes he could be me. I'm like the 'secret weapon' of the whole Justice League, and everyone knows it. All except you, I guess."
Pausing just feet away, the seed of curiosity had blossomed into something much more for the villain as he licked his lips hungrily.
"I usually like to savor my last meal, but for you kid, I think I'll skip straight to desserts," he grinned wickedly.
Using his telepathy once again, the Parasite levitated Captain Marvel off the ground, and with a mere flick of his wrist, brought him towards him.
Offering no resistance, Billy Batson secretly crossed his fingers as the air caressing his neck was quickly replaced by the Parasite's cold hand.
Seizing him by the throat just like how he had done to Superman, the supervillain wasted no time draining the young hero.
Within seconds, he could already feel his body weakening as the Parasite began leeching off his mythic energies.
The same tidal wave of weakness and sudden fatigue that had nearly melted the Man of Steel was now washing over him, and the supervillain was reaping all of the benefits.
Letting out a satisfied sigh, his eyes bulged like saucers as he felt Captain Marvel's strength and stamina flow through him, empowering him at an almost unprecedented level.
"So much….power," he breathed out, completely in awe as he felt the collective essence of the Greek pantheon surge through him.
Looking up at the increasingly weakened hero, he frantically demanded, "What's your secret, kid? Who gave you this much power? Tell me now!"
Fighting through the immense grogginess just enough to stare the now unhinged Parasite directly in the eye, Batson told him, "Say...the magic word."
"What word? TELL ME NOW!" the metahuman practically screamed at him, his voice booming with a fierce yet fanatic desperation.
Managing to crack a grin, Billy Batson uttered simply, "Shazam!"
At that exact second, Batson summoned whatever strength he still had left to break free of the Parasite's hold.
He barely had time to throw himself to the ground before the heavens opened up, releasing the mythical lightning bolt down on whoever summoned it.
But instead, it struck the unsuspecting Parasite, swallowing his body whole in a blinding flash of white light as the young hero watched on.
Screaming out as the pure energy washed over him from head to toe, he remained paralyzed until the lightning finally dissipated into the air a split second later.
Warily clambering up to his feet, Billy braced himself for his plan backfiring as the smoke cleared.
Squinting his eyes, he remained vigilant until the Parasite stumbled towards him.
His entire body was visibly twitching from the lightning surge, his now widened eyes blinking uncontrollably as he struggled to even remain standing.
Each leg teetered in front of the other, with electric sparks now running up and down his various white protrusions.
No longer sporting his signature smug look, he instead looked at Captain Marvel with a petrified, almost fearful glint in his eyes.
What was just a second in the eyes of everyone else, now felt like an eternity for the supervillain.
"So...much….power," he breathed out shakily, unable to even string together complete sentences as he felt the full effect of the transformative bolt.
Before he could say or do anything else, Captain Marvel felled him with one final, emphatic right cross.
Crumpling down face first in an unconscious heap, the malicious metahuman finally laid defeated at the feet of the world's mightiest mortal.
"Told you," he grinned heroically, triumphantly staring down the pacified Parasite as the sounds of police sirens grew nearer.