"Noceda, you got mail!" A camp counselor shouted across the cabin, interrupting Vee's daydreaming. She quickly snapped out of her thoughts and rushed to grab the envelope with her—technically Luz's—name on it. It had been only a short time since Vee had taken Luz's place in the Human Realm after she came to the Boiling Isles. The young basilisk did feel guilty about having to steal Luz's identity and lying to everyone about who she was. But the alternative was to continue living in fear on the Isles, being hunted by the Emperor's Coven like an animal.

"Thank you," Vee said to the counselor as she took the letter. Once the counselor had left, she carefully opened the envelope from her… Luz's mother, Camila.

"Hola, mi querida hija," Vee read, roughly translating to "Hello, my dear daughter," in her mind. She needed to work on her Spanish to keep up this charade. Fortunately, the rest of the letter was in English, oddly similar to the common language of the Demon Realm. Some languages are just widespread, even across worlds.

"I hope you are doing well and staying safe. I greatly appreciate all the letters you've sent me; they mean the world. I can't wait for you to come home. While at camp, I saw someone you would like. His name is John, and he is a kind man who keeps me company. I hope you give him a chance when you return.

Te amo,

Mamá"

"Whatcha got there, Luz?" Vee jumped as Masha suddenly appeared beside her, peering over her shoulder at the letter from her mother.

"Just a letter from my mom," Vee replied with a smile, folding it up carefully. "She told me about someone she's been spending time with while I've been at camp. His name is John, and she seems happy to have him around."

"Oh, man," Masha said.

"What's 'oh, man,' for?" Vee asked, curious about Masha's reaction.

"It's just that your mom is seeing a guy while you're at camp," Masha explained, giving Vee a sympathetic look. "I hope you're okay with it."

"Why wouldn't I be okay with it? I want my mom to be happy, and if John makes her happy, then I'm happy for her," Vee replied confidently.

"That… is surprisingly mature of you," Masha said, impressed by Vee's response.

"Well, everyone deserves to find happiness again," Vee said with a smile.

"Hey, Masha. Hey, Luz." A third voice interrupted. The friends turned to see Jimmy approaching them with a friendly smile. "What are you guys talking about?" he asked, joining the conversation.

"Just discussing some of Luz's family stuff," Masha replied. "What's up?"

"Noelle's brother sent her a copy of "Cosmic Frontier II: The Revenge of Zhan" and invited Oscar and me to join," Jimmy said excitedly. "You guys want to come too?"

"A classic sci-fi movie with friends; there better be popcorn involved," Masha said with a grin.

"Oscar's got that taken care of, and I have a VHS player ready to go," Jimmy said. "We'll sneak out of the cabins and watch it in the rec room later tonight."

"What if we get caught?" Vee whispered.

"That won't happen; you have a Jimmy Olsen guarantee," Jimmy replied confidently. "Trust me, we'll be fine."

"Then we'll see you tonight," Vee fist-bumped Jimmy and Masha before returning to their cabins. If there was something to come out of Vee moving from one world to another and rebuilding her life, it was the strong friendships she had formed with Jimmy, Masha, and others.

"What if he gets hurt? What if the kids are mean to him? My parental instincts are freaking out, man!" Luz worriedly expressed to Eda and Raine.

"Your parental instincts are freaking out?" Raine quizzically responded. "Mine are about as freaked out as yours."

"You're both a bunch of worrywarts," Eda teased, rolling her eyes. "King's fine. Look at him go."

The Whispers family was at the Slayground with King, where he was playing with several other kids his age. Today was peaceful; the weather was perfect for outdoor play, and there were no signs of supervillain attacks or alien invasions. This could be considered—by Boiling Isles standards—a peaceful day.

Luz, Eda, and Raine watched as King tried to climb up the slide from the wrong side. It was adorable how determined he was. "Aw. I wonder what cute little game he's playing," Luz mused, a smile on her face.

"Stand back, cretins," King runted as he reached the top of the slide, striking a triumphant pose. "Yes! Yes! I am the ruler of this slayground!"

Eda chuckled, shaking her head. "He may be small, but he's got a big personality."

"You can say that again," Raine agreed, laughing.

"This is a throne worthy of a tyrant!" King exclaimed, spreading his arms wide.

"Long live the king!" Luz added, joining in on the fun.

"Bow to me, you snotty underlings. Bow!" King commanded two kids who were playing nearby.

"Okay!" They both said. One does a handstand while the other does a backbend.

"Yes, appease your master," King rubbed his hands together, reveling in his newfound power.

"This isn't for standing," another kid approached King from behind, snot dripping from his nose. "It's for sliding. You try." He shoves him.

"NO!" King cried as he slid down the slide, his arms flailing as he lost control. He then gets up and runs to his parents. "Eda! Raine! Help, that monster took my throne." He pointed at the kid, who innocently waved at him. "I want you to go over there and blow him up. Kaboom!"

"Kaboom!" The kid mimicked.

"Yeah, no, I'm not using Owlber to blow up five-year-olds," Eda said firmly as she unscrewed him from her staff. "He's got better things to do. Like this…" She proceeds to pet him.

Hoot!

Owlbert nuzzled her hand affectionately, his eyes gleaming with contentment. "See, Owlbert is a good boy."

King then looked to Raine. "Can I borrow Fiddlesticks, then?"

"No, you can't use her either," Raine chuckled. "Fiddlesticks is not a weapon; she's a friend." They patted the little fox affectionately, causing her to wag her tail happily.

"Agh! If only Dell were here," King muttered.

"Dell wouldn't use his powers to scare them, either," Luz added, shaking her head. "By the way, I wonder what's keeping him. He should've been back with those not-dogs by now."

"Maybe he got distracted by something along the way," Raine suggested. "You know, a job for Superboy."

"Fine. Don't help. Revenge will taste all the sweeter if they fall by my hand alone." King clenched his fists in determination, his eyes flashing fiercely. "I'll show them what happens when they mess with the King of—"

"Tag, you're it!" The same little kid shoved King and ran off laughing.

"Oh, man. Here we go. King's squeak of rage." Eda braced herself for the impending tantrum.

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

King let out a high-pitched squeal that echoed through the park, causing nearby birds to take flight while he flailed around in frustration. He got up and chased after the kid, still squealing.

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

"He is like a little teakettle," Eda snorted as she watched King try to catch the elusive child. Today was just a peaceful day on the Boiling Isles.

KABOOOOM! KABOOOOM!

Scout Commander Turpin and his squad were pinned down by enemy fire and deafening explosions. In the south of Bonesborough, the town suddenly came under attack by the newest costumed criminal to have come from Titan-knows-where, the Jack O'Lantern.

"Hehehahaha! What's the matter? Can't handle a little fire?" Jack O'Lantern cackled as he hurled flaming pumpkins at the terrified civilians. "Well, there's more where that came from!"

"Steve, take some scouts and focus on protecting the civilians. I'll lead the rest of the squad in taking down Jack O'Lantern," Turpin commanded.

"You got it, sir!" Steve quickly gathered a group of scouts and rushed to protect the civilians.

Turpin and the rest of the squad prepared to confront Jack O'Lantern head-on, their spells ready. Jack O'Lantern's outfit consisted of a blue coat over a green tunic and purple pants, making him stand out. His face was a grotesque combination of pumpkin and witch features, with glowing eyes that seemed to burn with an otherworldly fire.

"Listen up, freak, we've got you surrounded," Turpin shouted confidently. "Don't pull any tricks; we won't have to take you down the hard way."

The Jack O'Lantern let out a sinister laugh. "Oh, but there are plenty of tricks. Like how I'm gonna make you all disappear!" He pointed his weapon, an orange glowing lantern, at them.

BWOOOOSH!

A stream of fire shot out to engulf the scouts. They wouldn't be able to put a shield spell up in time! Suddenly, a red and blue blur appeared out of nowhere, and a cold wind shot out, extinguishing the flames before they could reach the scouts. It was Superboy! "Hey, commander. Need a hand?"

"Superboy!" Jack O'Lantern growled. "I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid. I know when to cut my losses." He held his flickering lantern up high. "But here's a parting gift for you all!" With a maniacal laugh, Jack O'Lantern fired flaming pumpkins in every direction, especially at the civilians.

Superboy sprang into action, encircling the area and quickly using his frozen breath to turn the flaming pumpkins into harmless ice. Once the last pumpkins were frozen, Superboy flew up to Jack O'Lantern and snatched his lantern away. "I'm guessing your powers come from this?" Superboy asked, crushing it in his hand. "Without it, you're just a guy in a costume." Jack O'Lantern's eyes widened in shock as he realized he was powerless. He tried to run away, but Superboy grabbed him and swiftly handed him to the authorities. "You won't be causing any more trouble today."

"Cuff him, men," Turpin ordered as Jack O'Lantern struggled against his restraints.

"I know what you're gonna say, commander," Superboy began. "I should've minded my own business and let the scouts handle it."

"Officially, yes," Turpin replied sternly. "But unofficially, I'm glad you intervened. Just remember, you're still considered a vigilante in the eyes of the law. So be careful out there."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're starting to warm up to me, commander," Superboy said with a smile.

Turpin chuckled slightly before his expression turned serious again. "Don't push your luck, kid. Just keep doing what you're doing, but remember to stay within the boundaries of the law. One more thing: We'll need that lantern, or what's left of it, for evidence."

Superboy nodded, handing over the lantern. "Understood, Commander." With that, he was up, up, and away, flying off into the distance. Despite what Emperor Belos may think of him, Turpin knew a hero when he saw one.

"Thank you," Dell thanked the not-dog vendor, handing him the money for the bag of street food. The scent of sizzling meat filled the air as Dell looked for an alley to slip into, away from the crowded street. He left to get some not-dogs for him, King, Luz, Mom, and Baba, but no vendors were near the Slayground. So, he used his superspeed to run to the nearest vendor, which was miles away. Not to mention, he got sidetracked by Jack O'Lantern. Now, he needed to get back without drawing attention. "I probably didn't think this through," he muttered.

"Hey, Dell," Loisse's voice caught his attention. He looked over to see her and a girl her age dressed in green waving at him as they approached. "Didn't think I'd see you here?"

"Is this the guy you were telling me about, Loisse?" The other girl asked, giving Dell a curious look.

"Yes, Jeanne, this is Dell," Loisse replied.

"You didn't tell me he was so handsome," Jeanne added, making Dell blush slightly.

"Oh, uh, thank you," Dell stammered, slightly flustered by the unexpected compliment. "Nice to meet you…"

"Jeanne Loring," she introduced herself.

"Nice to meet you, Jeanne. I'm Dell Whispers," Dell said, extending his hand for a friendly shake. "Wait, I think you already knew who I was."

"Handsome and funny, you hit the jackpot, Loisse," Jeanne teased, causing Loisse to roll her eyes playfully.

"Grabbing some not-dogs for your family?" Loisse asked, pointing at the bag.

"Oh, no, these are for me," Dell lied, hoping to distract attention from the fact that he was far from where his family was.

"You're gonna eat all those not-dogs?" Loisse asked, seemingly not convinced.

Dell chuckled nervously, trying to think of a quick excuse. "I'm just hungry today," he replied sheepishly, hoping his lie would hold up under further questioning.

"Right…" Loisse said skeptically, eyeing Dell suspiciously.

"I know you're getting your job back tomorrow, but you can turn off your journalist mode for one day, can't you?" Jeanne interjected, coming to Dell's defense. "Let him enjoy his not-dogs in peace."

"Wait, your suspension ends tomorrow?" Dell asked. "Congrats. Having an honest journalist back in the newsroom."

"But I doubt Mr. Porter will let me tackle anything controversial so I don't get in trouble again," Loisse replied, shrugging.

"Well, you never know until you try," Dell said encouragingly, soon followed by him getting hit by a ball. "Ouch!" It didn't hurt, but he had to keep up appearances. And he dropped the bag of not-dogs on the ground, too.

"Sorry, Mister!" One from a group of kids playing nearby called out.

Dell waved them off with a smile and gently kicked the ball back to them. "No harm done, just be careful next time." Dell knelt to pick up his food.

"I'll help you get that," an unfamiliar voice said as a young man with long brown hair and a gray long coat approached them. He knelt at Dell's level. His eyes met Dell's. "You're a hard person to find, Superboy." Dell felt a chill run down his spine as he heard the voice. "Here you go." The man handed Dell his not-dogs and walked away.

"Dell, are you okay?" Loisse asked, noticing the sudden change in Dell's demeanor.

Dell looked at her, his mind racing with questions about the mysterious man who seemed to know about him. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine," he lied. "I'm just gonna find someplace to eat now. Bye." Dell quickly walked away. He saw the look of worry in Loisse's eyes. He knew she knew he was hiding something, but he couldn't risk involving her in whatever was happening.

"Over here, Superboy," the same voice called out as the man sat on a bench, pretending to read a paper.

Dell hesitated, unsure of what to do next. The man's knowing smile sent a chill down his spine, but he knew he had to confront him to get some answers. Dell sat next to him. "Who are you?" He assumed that if he could hear the man's thoughts, he could hear his own.

"My name is William Hayes," William smirked. "But I prefer to be called Harm. I must admit, your mental fortitude is impressive. No wonder you could hide from the psychic spells of the Emperor's oracles for so long."

"You're not working for the Emperor, then?" Dell could breathe a bit easier.

Harm chuckled. "No, I'm not working for the Emperor. I have a different agenda."

"What do you want from me?"

"Your life."

"What?"

"Perhaps that was too dramatic. I'm here as a messenger."

"A messenger?" Dell raised an eyebrow, trying to keep his composure.

Harm nodded. "That's right, I've come here to warn you. I'm afraid your life is going to end tonight."

Dell blinked as he processed the ominous warning. "End tonight?"

"Do you think I'm lying to you?" Harm reached into the not-dog bag and pulled one out. "Hey there, kid." Harm spoke, addressing a little girl who was playing nearby. The little girl looked up with wide eyes. "What's your name?"

"Lila," the girl answered.

"Would you like a not-dog?" Harm asked, offering her one with a smile. Lila hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take it. "Children are so innocent and trusting. It would be so easy for someone to do THIS!" Harm squeezed the girl's throat.

"NO!" Dell shouted, standing up. Only to find the girl was unharmed.

"Thank you, mister," the girl said, returning to her friends.

Harm chuckled and turned to Dell. It was a psychic image of what could have been. "Your reaction was exactly what I expected. Quite entertaining, wouldn't you agree?" Dell glared at Harm, his fists clenched in anger. "To think I could kill everyone here before you even drop that disguise. Unless you don't mind exposing the secret you've worked so hard to keep hidden."

Dell knew he had to keep his cool and not let Harm provoke him any further. "Why do you want to kill me?"

"Because your very existence causes me great irritation. I can't stand the thought of you walking around, a god pretending to be something lesser. It's insulting." Harm stood up and walked away. "I would take this time to get your affairs in order, Superboy."

Dell stayed seated, taking a deep breath to calm himself before deciding on his next move. He couldn't let Harm's threats get to him. Whatever he had planned could endanger himself and those around him. He had to keep a level head or risk making a rash decision that could have dire consequences.

"Dell's back! Hoot! Hoot!" Hooty announced as Dell walked into the Owl House. He flew back after learning that his family had left the Slayground abruptly.

"I'm sorry," Dell said. "I lost track of the time and—"

"Here, I got you your elixir," Baba told Mom, handing her the flask of yellow potion used to keep her curse at bay. Wait, was her curse flaring up again?

"Thank you, Rainstorm," Mom said, swallowing the elixir quickly. "Yuck!" From her body language, the elixir's effects were almost immediate, the pain in her joints easing up.

"Do you need me to stay home and care for you?" Luz asked. "I could put King in a little doctor's outfit." Everyone looked at King.

"What?" King said, looking confused.

"No one wants to see that," Mom replied.

"I do," Luz responded.

"Look, I know how to care for myself," Mom said.

Baba scoffed, "You always say that, but we all know you're terrible at following doctor's orders."

Mom rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I've had this curse longer than I've had you kids; I'll be fine."

"I've been meaning to ask, how'd you get it?" King asked, genuinely curious.

"I don't know," Mom shrugged.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Luz questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Somebody gave it to me as a kid," Mom explained. "I never found out who or why. Though I did have a penchant for pissing people off back then, so it could've been anyone." Mom chuckled, remembering her rebellious youth. "But I don't care about that now. I've learned to live with it. I'm fine, all right?" Dell, Luz, and King looked at each other and nodded. "Good."

SLAM!

The door opened with a loud bang. "Visitors! Hoot!" Hooty shouted excitedly as Willow and Gus walked into the Owl House.

"Friends!" Luz exclaimed, rushing over to greet them with a smile.

"Great, Tweedledum and Twerpledee are here," Mom muttered.

"Be nice, dear," Baba said, gently nudging Mom.

"Hey, Luz," Willow said, returning the smile.

"Dell, are you excited?" Gus asked, looking at Dell with anticipation.

"Absolutely," Dell replied. "Uh, what are we excited for again?"

"Did you forget? You, me, Willow, and Luz made plans to go to the grudgby game between Hexside and Glandus High."

"That's today? I completely forgot about that." Dell said sheepishly.

"Well, it's a good thing we reminded you then," Willow said with a laugh.

"Yeah, Willow and I barely see you outside of school anymore," Gus added. "I miss hanging with my best pal."

"So do I," Dell whispered, feeling a pang of guilt for not keeping in touch with his friends as much as he should have. "I'm looking forward to today now."

"I can't wait to show off some Hexside Pride!" Luz exclaimed, raising her fist in the air. "To think that Glandus, whoever they are, would dare face us. Hexside's gonna wreck their side! No, wait, that's stupid. I got it! Hexside is the best side in the west side!" Luz then looked at her hoodie. "Is it weird that I'm not wearing anything Hexside-related today?"

"Um, it's weirder that you're wearing Glandus colors," Willow pointed out, holding a flyer to show that Luz's clothes matched the rival school's colors. "Luckily, we got some stuff from the lost and found box to help you blend in." Willow handed Luz a Hexside sweater and a pair of pom-poms.

"Oh my gosh, I love this! Thanks, Willow!" Luz exclaimed, leaving the room to get changed. She returned a few minutes later wearing the Hexside gear with a big smile. "Go, Hexside!" She jumps and does a split, only to wince as a crack is heard, and Luz's face turns into a grimace of pain. "Well, I never did that before."

Dell and Willow helped Luz and checked to ensure she wasn't seriously injured. "Maybe stick to just cheering from the stands for now," Dell suggested.

"Let's go, or we're gonna be late," Gus urged, looking at the clock.

Luz nodded, still wincing slightly from the split attempt but determined to make it to the game on time. "Yeah, let's do this!" She quickly looked over at Mom. "Unless you need me and Dell to stay—"

"No. Go! Go have fun at sports." Mom ordered both of them, pointing at the open door.

"Just make sure to get rest," Dell told Mom as they headed out the door. Yeah, something fun today will take Dell's mind off his worries.

Within his cell in the Conformatorium, Bloodsport did push-ups. It was the only thing he could do to keep himself from going insane from the monotony of his imprisonment. Superboy and that nosey brat from St. Epiderm. They were the reason that Bloodsport was locked up in the first place and the source of his burning desire for revenge. If he ever gets out of here, he swore to himself that he would make them pay for what they did. Bloodsport's muscles ached from the repetitive motion. He stopped to catch his breath.

"What do you think's gonna happen with this guy?" The guard to the right asked his colleague, nodding towards Bloodsport. "Rumor's going around that the emperor is secretly petrifying certain prisoners. Wouldn't be surprised if this one ends up as a statue in the palace courtyard."

"Who knows," the other guard replied with a shrug. "I heard he's got some serious beef with Superboy."

"Is he the metal man?"

"No, that's Reactron," the other guard clarified. "He's locked up somewhere else."

"Do you believe what the Emperor's Coven is saying about Superboy, though?" The first guard asked. "I think he's a hero."

"I don't know, man," the second guard responded. "I try not to get involved in that stuff. Besides, you don't know what's true and what's not these days."

"Yeah, you're right," the first guard agreed.

CLANG! CLANG! Schlick! "Aagh!" CLANG!

Sounds of metal clashing echoed down the hallway, causing both guards to tense up. "What was that?" the first guard whispered, eyes wide.

"I don't know," the second guard replied, hand tightening around his weapon.

"No! NO!" Schlick! Schlick! CLANG! CLANG! Schlick! "Aagh!" CLANG!

Suddenly, the door was sliced open, revealing a figure in a coat covered in blood and wielding a sword.

"By order of the Emperor's Coven, drop your weapon and surrender," the first guard stammered, stepping back.

The figure raised the sword menacingly. As he advanced towards the guards, he smirked and said, "It would be unwise to stand in my way."

The guards looked at each other, stood their ground, and began to trace spell circles.

Schlick! Schlick!

But before they could complete them, the man, with speed and precision more remarkable than they had ever seen, struck them down with his sword. Blood sprayed across the room as the guards fell to the ground, lifeless. Some splattered onto his face, which he licked off with a grin of satisfaction.

Still, in his cell, Bloodsport backed up against the wall, his heart pounding with fear as he realized the extent of the man's power. "You're the one called Bloodsport, yes?" The man asked, his voice cold and menacing. Bloodsport nodded, unable to speak.

"Good," the man said with a smirk. "I am Harm, and I've come making you an offer you shouldn't refuse."

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Harm's sword sliced through the bars of the cell, creating a hole just big enough for Bloodsport to slip through. "What exactly do you want from me?" Bloodsport asked.

"I come offering you revenge against the one who put you here, Superboy," Harm said with a gleam in his eye. "A gift, how you can finally take your vengeance." Harm extended a hand, offering Bloodsport a small canister with a glowing platinum substance. "This crystal has been refined into an inhalable powder that will give you the strength to defeat Superboy. Its effects will not last forever, so use it wisely." Bloodsport hesitated, eyeing the cylinder warily before finally reaching out to take it from Harm's hand. "Consider this a token of my goodwill."

The East London Museum of Historical Artifacts was robbed last night. Inspectors and the local police are investigating the crime scene. John Constantine and Jason Blood entered the building.

"Oi, who're the two o' ya suppose t' be?" A copper asked, eyeing them suspiciously.

Constantine flashed his special agent's badge—in reality, a poker card disguised by a simple illusion spell—and replied, "We're 'ere t' assis' wit' da investigation."

Blood added, "We have a particular set of skills that may prove useful in solving this case."

"Looks real enough," the copper said, stepping aside to let them through.

"Sense anythin' ou' o' da ordinary, Blood?" Constantine asked

"Barely," Jason responded, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of magical disturbance. "There are faint traces of magic within the artifacts, but hardly enough to be worth stealing. Whatever was taken must have been extremely valuable or significant in some other way."

"We ain't gonna ge' anywhere wit' jus' guesswork," Constantine said, looking around the room for any clues that may have been overlooked. He walked over to an officer and asked him, "Who can I speak t' abou' wot was taken?"

The officer directed Constantine and Blood to the museum curator, a balding man with wire-rimmed glasses perched on the edge of his nose. "I'd speak with him," the officer explained.

Constantine nodded and approached him with Blood. "We're wit' special investigations," Constantine lied. "Wot can ya tell us abou' de missin' artifact?"

The curator's eyes widened in surprise. "You don't already know?"

"We jus' go' 'ere."

The curator quickly composed himself. "Yes, of course. Ahem. The artifact that was taken was the legendary Sword of Beowulf. It is a priceless piece of history, said to have magical properties. Its theft has caused quite a stir in the archaeological community."

"Thank you," Blood said as he and Constantine exchanged a knowing glance. "We will do our best to recover it." With that, they turned and left the curator.

"Blood, ya know da legen' of Beowulf and 'is sword?" Constantine asked as they walked away.

"Know it? I lived it. I was there when Beowulf fought Grendel and used the blade to slay Echidna herself," Blood replied with an almost nostalgic grin before it once more became a grimace. "Once the blade bathed in her blood, it was said to have absorbed her power, making it one of the most formidable weapons. A weapon can only be wielded by one whose heart is pure."

"So, it's rubbish t' our li'l thief?" Constantine asked, raising an eyebrow. "Unless 'e plans on usin' it fo' a paperweigh', 'ow can 'e 'ope t' wield it?"

"You misunderstand, John," Blood said, shaking his head. "The blade can only be wielded by one whose heart is pure, but that does not necessarily mean good." Blood's eyes gleamed with a dangerous intensity as he spoke. "If it has fallen into the wrong hands, as I fear it has, then we face a grave danger."

Dell, Luz, Willow, and Gus sat in the bleachers, cheering with their fellow Hexside classmates as the grudgby match—or what was left of it—came to a dramatic conclusion. They all missed at least the first half of the game due to a series of mishaps.

First, they missed their ship waiting for them at Hexside. Then, Luz decided to "borrow" Owlbert from Mom to fly them to the game. This led to Luz crashing and hurting him. Lastly, they had to deal with an angry Bat Queen, who took it upon herself to protect Owlbert. But they were able to make peace with her, and Owlbert could forgive Luz for her reckless actions.

They eventually took a bus to the game, arriving just in time for the second half. And besides, the Hexside Banshees were crushing their opponents, so they didn't miss much of the action.

"And Boscha of the Banshees has caught the Rusty Smidge!" The announcer exclaimed over the loudspeaker, just as the Banshees' score went from a close tie to a clear lead of nine hundred ninety-nine. The whole crowd went wild.

"Wait, what just happened?" Luz exclaimed in confusion.

"Boscha just caught the Rusty Smidge!" Gus explained excitedly. "It means we automatically win! All magic sports are like this!"

"But doesn't that just invalidate everyone's efforts? If catching that thing is so important, why do anything else? There's no reason to watch any of the other players! That's such a stupid rule!"

"Yes, finally! Thank you!" Dell exclaimed in agreement. "I've been saying that for years!"

"Well, you see…" Gus began.

"No, no. They have a point," Willow interjected.

"Well, that was anticlimactic," Luz said disappointedly. "I was getting into the game, too."

Suddenly, Dell's super-hearing picked something up. It was coming fast, like a speeding fireball. It was getting closer and—

KRRRAAAAAAASH!

Something crashed into the playing field, sending dirt and debris flying everywhere. The players scattered, screaming in fear as chaos erupted around them. Dell's heart raced as he tried to understand what had just happened.

"What the heck was that?" Willow shouted, her voice trembling with fear.

"SUPERBOY!" A voice shouted from the wreckage, one Dell recognized as Bloodsport. "I know you can hear me, Superboy! Come out and fight me! Or else I'll make sure this stadium is nothing but rubble!" Dell's eyes narrowed as he realized the danger that Bloodsport posed, and he knew he had to confront him before more damage was done.

Everyone seemed too preoccupied with what was happening that they didn't notice Dell slipping away at superspeed. He changed into Superboy and flew into the stadium from outside. "I'm here, Bloodsport. How did you escape the Conformatorium?

Bloodsport turned towards Superboy, a wicked grin on his face. "Let's say I had a little help from some friends on the inside."

"Was it Luthor?" Dell asked, his fists clenched.

"No, but I plan to pay him a visit after I kill you," Bloodsport responded.

Something was different about Bloodsport, but Dell couldn't quite put his finger on it. He had no devices to enhance himself and wasn't using magic to boost his abilities. But his eyes. His eyes had a platinum glow. Suddenly, Bloodsport moved at a speed that seemed impossible for someone like him, catching Superboy off guard and knocking him into the stadium wall with a force that cracked the concrete. That speed and strength was almost comparable to that of a Kryptonian.

Bloodsport flew at Dell, who pushed himself off the wall and away from the oncoming attack. This fight wasn't about to go like last time. Superboy and Bloodsport were on even footing now. Still, for the safety of everyone here, Dell needed to come out on top. Dell threw a punch, but Bloodsport caught it.

Bloodsport smirked and twisted Dell's arm. "AGH!" Dell winced in pain. Bloodsport delivered a swift kick to Dell's ribs, sending him flying across the field before tumbling to a stop. Dell struggled to get back on his feet as Bloodsport prepared to continue his relentless assault. Once Bloodsport was close enough, Dell unleashed his heat vision at point-blank range.

"It burns!" The blast caught Bloodsport off guard and allowed Dell to turn the tables by delivering a quick uppercut, sending Bloodsport into the sky. He had to keep the fight away from innocent bystanders who might get caught in the middle.

Dell flew after Bloodsport, but the empowered poacher regained his bearings and slammed his fists like a hammer down Dell's shoulders, sending him crashing back to the ground. Dell quickly pushed himself out of the way as Bloodsport dove into the ground, sending a shockwave that caused the earth to tremble.

"That's enough!" A new voice shouted at Bloodsport as over a dozen Coven Scouts entered the stadium, their magic ready. "Cease this senseless violence now!"

"NO! Superboy is my kill, and I won't let anyone interfere!" Bloodsport growled, his eyes glowing red with rage.

Dell's eyes widened as he realized what was about to happen. "NO!" Dell tried to tackle Bloodsport, but it was too late. Bloodsport unleashed his heat vision at the scouts and civilians evacuating the bleachers.

Time slowed for Dell as he adjusted his course mid-flight, instead focusing on saving as many people as possible from the heat vision. Dell's heart raced as he darted through the chaos, pulling civilians and scouts out of harm's way with precision and speed. He had to hurry! He saved all the civilians and more than half of the scouts. He pushed himself to reach the remaining ones!

One moment, they were there; the next, they were not…

"NO!" Dell screamed, feeling the weight of his failure. He was too late. They were dead. Dell collapsed to his knees, overwhelmed with guilt and sorrow. How? How could he fail? They were counting on him. He was Superboy. He couldn't fail! He… He…

A sonic boom erupted behind Dell as Bloodsport flew at him, and Dell felt something in him snap. This ended now. Bloodsport threw a punch, but Dell moved his head with reflexes faster than what he even thought he possessed. No, that wasn't true. Dell just always held himself back from fully embracing his powers. But not anymore. He grabbed Bloodsport's hand and tossed him over his shoulder, sending him to the ground with enough force to leave a crater.

"Impossible," Bloodsport muttered as he struggled to stand up. "I should be matching your strength. But… but you have still been holding back all this time." Dell stood tall, a fierce determination in his eyes. "You will not look down on me!"

Bloodsport threw another punch, and Dell did, too. Their fists connected. Despite whatever Bloodsport did to enhance himself, Dell's raw strength was above and beyond, overpowering his opponent as every bone in Bloodsport's hand shattered upon impact. "AGH!" Bloodsport screamed in pain, falling to the ground clutching his injured hand.

But Dell didn't stop. One super-powered punch after another rained down on Bloodsport. Not even his supposed Kryptonian durability could withstand the relentless assault. Each punch was more brutal than the last, and Dell, fueled by rage, had no intention of letting up. "Stop! Stop it! Stop it, please!" Bloodsport begged, bruised and bloodied.

Dell grabbed Bloodsport by his throat and lifted him off the ground. It was because of him they were dead. People were dead. Dell pulled his fist back. That's all it would take. One punch without any hesitation. No. More. Holding. Back. Dell threw the punch!

No… This is wrong! A gust of wind whipped through the air as Dell stopped his fist from connecting with Bloodsport's face. He was merely centimeters away from ending his life. But he couldn't do it—realizing what he almost did hit Dell like a ton of bricks.

He released Bloodsport, who passed out from the shock of nearly dying at Dell's hands. Dell stood there, the gravity of the situation settling heavily on his shoulders, shaking with the weight of his actions, knowing he had come dangerously close to crossing a line he could never return from. Titan, forgive him.

"Well, that was disappointing," Harm said to himself.

Unbeknownst to everyone, even Superboy, Harm watched the fight from afar. Bloodsport did his job in attacking Superboy, yes. However, the fact that Superboy hesitated to kill even after all that destruction was a letdown. Anyone else with such power should have known better than to show mercy.

Still, Harm had gathered valuable information about how the substance he gifted Bloodsport worked. It was similar to the green rocks that weaken Superboy. Still, instead, they give anyone exposed to them a temporary boost in strength, speed, durability, etc. In short, they temporarily become like Superboy.

This little test has shown that Superboy's power is more significant than he thought. Faust must be alerted of the revelation that Superboy had been holding back his true strength. It was a surprise to Harm himself. It made him realize that they would need to be more cautious in the future when dealing with such a powerful adversary. But there was one more piece of business to take care of.

"Parasite," Harm telepathically communicated to the basilisk.

"Yes?" Parasite responded, its voice echoing in Harm's mind.

"Bloodsport will be taken into custody by the Emperor's Coven soon. Make sure he doesn't speak a word about what he knows."

Harm could practically hear Parasite salivating, knowing precisely what Harm wanted to be done. "With pleasure."

The crystal refined into a powder that Harm gave Bloodsport is a version of Platinum Kryptonite, which JokerGames1999 suggested. Though, I am taking some liberties with how it works compared to the comics.

Also, when writing Harm, I took inspiration from his portrayal in the Young Justice cartoon and Legato Bluesummers from the Trigun anime.

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