I Was Never Meant for Salvation

"Jeremy."

The demon in Lana's heart was stepping toward where she hid when he suddenly stopped at the sound of a voice.

A dark figure appeared behind Jeremy.

"Who?"

Jeremy spun around nervously.

With his keen senses, he had not even noticed how the other person had appeared behind him. He could not help but feel tense.

"Y-you?"

After seeing who the shadow was, Jeremy took a fearful step back.

"You seem rather absorbed in your masterpiece."

The figure within the shadows walked toward the retreating Jeremy, one step at a time.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about!"

Jeremy swallowed and stammered.

None of the arrogance or composure he had displayed in the ballroom remained. All that showed was profound fear.

Behind the statue, Lana was completely stunned.

She had never imagined that this demon, who had viciously attacked his fellow students at the dance, would also have someone he feared.

Who was it?!

Along with her fear, she felt an intense curiosity toward the shadow in the darkness.

Step! Step!

The figure emerged from the shadows, and the familiar face made Lana cover her mouth.

That was Eric Kent?!

Clark Kent's younger brother.

Why was he here?

Why was this demon so afraid of Eric Kent?

Countless questions flashed through Lana's mind.

"Of course you understand, Jeremy. After all, you just accomplished something no one else could—turning the homecoming dance into a bloody dance. Incredible. Sometimes, reason and madness are separated by only a thin line."

Using his super vision, Eric had found Jeremy—the culprit behind the dance—before Clark did.

As he watched the cowardly yet crazed look in the other man's eyes, Eric voiced his thoughts.

"So... you came to stop me?"

Rage instantly surged through red-eyed Jeremy.

Madness overcame cowardice. He no longer wanted to run!

"When they hung me on a cross and humiliated me in every possible way, you didn't come to stop them. When they stripped me naked and painted my body, you didn't stop them. And now you want to play messenger of justice! Wipe that look off your face, bastard!"

Jeremy's eyes turned silver-white, and electricity crackled all over his body as he teleported in front of Eric.

The lightning filling his body burst free like giant serpents breaking their restraints, baring their fangs as it swept toward Eric.

Its overwhelming force made even Lana, hiding behind the statue, pale.

That terrifying lightning had knocked down Whitney and instantly turned Fleck into charred remains.

Even looking at it filled Lana with dread!

Seeing him attack Eric, she covered her mouth, already able to imagine Eric's miserable fate.

Bang!

Eric casually blocked Jeremy's punch.

Silver lightning filled the air and slammed into Eric's body, yet it could not knock him down.

Not only did it fail to knock him down, it did not seem to harm him at all.

Lana stared wide-eyed at the scene before her.

What... was this?

Could Eric be even more terrifying than this demon?

Utterly shocked, Lana began having all sorts of thoughts that even she found absurd.

Eric blocked Jeremy's attack with one hand while suddenly reaching forward with the other and grabbing his throat.

Crack!

Before Jeremy's disbelieving eyes, Eric snapped his neck.

The lightning covering his body vanished in an instant.

The demon in Lana's eyes had his neck effortlessly broken by Eric.

After dealing with Jeremy, Eric casually tossed his corpse onto the ground.

His original plan had been to learn from him how to use Kryptonite to enhance superpowers, or how a physique affected by Kryptonite could awaken superpowers.

If Jeremy had been smart enough, he might still have been useful. But Eric quickly realized there was no reason to keep such an idiot alive.

After dealing with Jeremy, Eric glanced toward the back of the statue.

Lana hurriedly covered her mouth and barely dared to breathe.

Eric had no interest in his brother's goddess. After a glance at her, he left directly.

In the dance hall, Clark, who had rushed over, stared at the scene before him in shock.

The hall's sprinkler system had fully activated. Countless sprinkler heads sprayed water over the burning flames, splashing dark-red droplets as they struck the floor.

The flowing water gradually washed away the blood on the ground.

Several students lay on the floor, their condition unknown.

Clark recognized them. They were members of the football team.

Fleck, Tommy, Ross. He even saw Lana's boyfriend, Whitney.

A few victims lying on the ground who had not yet lost consciousness let out weak groans.

Clark did not know whether they were meaningless cries of pain or calls for his help.

"How could this...?"

Filled with immense guilt and pain, Clark dropped heavily to his knees.

The spraying water fell across his face, mingling with his tears as they ran down his cheeks.

I could have saved them!

This is all my fault!

Clark lowered his head, clenched his fists against the floor, and trembled all over.

"Clark."

Just as Clark sank into overwhelming grief, a familiar voice sounded beside him.

Through the torrential "rain," Clark raised his head, his vision blurred.

Eric stood beside him, looking at him expressionlessly.

"Eric, you... you knew what happened here all along. You also knew who the killer was, didn't you?"

After thinking it over briefly, Clark understood the entire sequence of events.

"Why...? You could have stopped all of this!"

Clark stood up, his eyes bloodshot. His voice trembled, and his fury was on the verge of erupting.

"I don't think you would have believed me, Clark."

Faced with his nominal older brother's angry questioning, Eric's tone remained as flat and cold as ever.

"Because right now, you believe in power more than you believe in me. Superman's power makes you happy. It is dangerous, and it will also make you regress into relying on power rather than skill, training, and wisdom, tempting you to lose your judgment."

"Prejudice, stubbornness, being blinded by what is right before you—Clark, these are the mistakes you made. If you want to choose your own righteous path, then you must see clearly the price those mistakes will bring!"

"And you've done nothing wrong?" Clark glared at Eric, fire burning in his eyes.

"Because we are different people! You are light, and I am darkness. You are love and order, and I am violence and chaos! Words like saving and salvation were never meant for me. So, Clark, do not judge me by your standards, and do not expect me to become some savior who rescues others."

Eric's words remained utterly cold.

Shifting his gaze, he saw the ambulances and police cars rushing over in the distance through layers of obstructions.

After glancing at the football team members lying on the ground, Eric turned and left.

In the water-spraying hall, Clark stood silently and motionlessly.

Thanks to "Wandering Soul of the Realms" and "Reader1455147117727412224" for their tips.

Thanks to Broadsword Wenda for the monthly ticket, and to everyone for their recommendation votes.