Meteor! Dio and Lex

Lionel looked somewhat surprised, but quickly regained his elegant smile.

After all, to him, this personal inspection was nothing more than a father-son outing to take Lex out for some fun.

Naturally, he was quite pleased that Lex had shown an interest in making friends.

"Of course, but perhaps we can wait until we get to the farm."

Locke glanced at Dio, who gave him a look that said, Whatever you want.

"No problem." Locke nodded. "We can leave whenever."

"Thank you, Mr. Kent."

Little Lex gave a polite bow, then looked at Dio expectantly.

Anthony rubbed his hands together. "Then, Mr. Luthor, shall we go take a look at Locke's farm now?"

Lionel nodded. "I'm looking forward to it."

A moment later, the old Ford pickup's engine gave its familiar cough as it rumbled down the road.

Through the rearview mirror, Locke could see several black luxury sedans following at just the right distance, their windows gleaming with the distinctive sheen of bulletproof glass beneath the sunlight.

Just as I thought. Locke shook his head inwardly.

How could the head of LuthorCorp possibly travel light with only his son?

Those bodyguards had probably been tailing them ever since they left town.

He turned his gaze back to the road, but caught sight of Dio in the passenger seat absentmindedly twirling his blond hair around his fingers. Lowering his voice, Locke said, "If you don't want to play with that young master, you can just say no. As long as Dad's here, you don't need to curry favor with anyone."

"It's just playing house with a little kid." Dio gave a disdainful snort, a trace of contempt flashing through his red eyes. "How hard could it be?"

"Is that so?"

Locke couldn't help laughing. He freed one hand and ruffled his son's blond hair. "Then don't make the poor kid cry later."

"I won't!"

Dio swatted away his old man's hand and indignantly fixed his mussed-up hair.

The old Ford bounced along the country dirt road, its tires crushing through mud that had yet to dry after the rain. The splashes glittered amber beneath the sunlight.

The wheat fields on either side of the road resembled a golden sea, rolling in waves with the wind.

"We're here."

Locke parked by the edge of the field.

Lionel gracefully stepped out of the car as well and took a deep breath.

"What a... nostalgic, refreshing scent."

"Want to take a closer look?" Locke pointed toward the patchwork green-and-yellow fields in the distance. "That's corn we planted this year."

"I'm very satisfied, Mr. Locke." Lionel waved a hand, then turned to his son and said gently, "Go play with Dio, Lex."

He crouched down and straightened little Luthor's crooked bow tie, then said half-jokingly, "How about you inspect the fields in Father's place today?"

Nervously pushing up his glasses, little Lex swallowed. "Y-Yes, Father."

By then, Dio was already standing impatiently on the ridge between the fields. Seeing little Luthor dawdling, he simply strode over. "Hey, do you want to see the wheat or the corn?"

"E-Either is fine."

Little Luthor stammered, instinctively shrinking farther behind his father.

Lionel encouragingly patted his son on the shoulder. "Go on. Remember to be back before lunch."

Then he turned to Locke. "Mr. Kent, shall we discuss the specific details of the acquisition?"

Locke nodded, watching the two boys walk one after the other toward the depths of the wheat field.

Dio strode ahead with his head held high, while little Luthor followed close behind like a startled rabbit.

The sight made Locke shake his head.

It was simply hard to imagine.

"Your son has quite the personality," Lionel suddenly said, with a hint of appreciation in his tone.

Locke gave an awkward laugh. "Please forgive him. He's been like this since he was little. Stubborn as a mule."

"No, it's a good thing." Sunlight reflected off Lionel's gold-rimmed glasses, concealing his eyes. "In this day and age, only people with personality can accomplish great things."

The two walked slowly along the field ridge. Anthony tactfully fell several steps behind, leaving the farmer and the business tycoon room to talk.

In the distance, Dio's voice faintly carried over.

"This is corn, idiot. Don't tell me you don't even recognize this?"

Then came little Luthor's timid defense. "I-I've only ever seen corn after it was husked in the kitchen..."

Locke rubbed his forehead with a sigh, about to go break things up, when Lionel stopped him. "Let the children get along on their own. Lex needs to learn how to deal with different kinds of people."

The sun gradually grew scorching, and cicadas chirped endlessly in the wheat field.

Arcs of light began flashing across the sky.

Within the cornfield, sunlight filtered through the emerald leaves, casting mottled patches of light and shadow.

Lex Luthor cautiously followed behind Dio, his fingers lightly brushing the ears of corn, his eyes shining with curiosity.

"Can these... really be eaten?" he asked quietly, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Dio impatiently glanced back at him. "What else would they be for? You think they grow in the ground just to look pretty?"

Lex pushed up his slipping glasses, looking embarrassed. "I-I've only seen corn after it was husked in the kitchen."

"Tch." Dio rolled his eyes. "What kind of life do spoiled young masters like you usually live?"

Lex opened his mouth as though he wanted to explain, but in the end, he merely lowered his head and unconsciously twisted the hem of his clothes between his fingers.

Seeing that, Dio couldn't be bothered to ask any further.

This timid rich kid was even more boring than Clark.

At least that big dummy could play with him and drive a tractor.

Just then, Lex suddenly let out a terrified scream. "Dio! There—there's a person over there?!"

Dio turned around impatiently. "That's a scarecrow, idiot."

His voice abruptly stopped.

Deep within the cornfield, there really was a figure tied to a cross-shaped wooden frame.

The person's head hung low, his upper body bare, as if unconscious.

Dio's pupils contracted slightly, but he quickly recognized what it was—

It was one of the town's traditional Harvest Festival pranks.

"Don't make such a fuss. That's just a scare—"

"But Dio!" Lex's voice suddenly grew even more terrified. "Something is falling from the sky!"

"Falling?"

Dio looked up at the sky, his face instantly going blank.

Against the brilliant blue sky, dozens of crimson arcs streaked by like meteors. One of them was plunging toward their location at an astonishing speed!

"Run, Lex!" Dio grabbed little Luthor's wrist and pulled him toward the edge of the field.

"B-But that person..."

Lex turned back and pointed at the young man tied to the cross.

"That person has nothing to do with us—"

Dio, this is your Golden Spirit.

"..."

Remembering Locke's words, Dio gritted his teeth and swiftly calculated the distance and time.

If he used "The World," he might make it in time.

"Leave now!"

He released Lex's hand and pointed toward the field ridge. "Run along that path, and don't look back! I'm going to save that unlucky bastard!"

"Dio..."

Lex wanted to say something more, but the blond boy had already dashed into the depths of the cornfield like a gust of wind.

Standing where he was, little Luthor's face turned pale.

He looked at the ever-closer red trail, then in the direction Dio had disappeared. Suddenly gritting his teeth, he chased after him too!

Corn leaves lashed across his face, bringing faint stings of pain.

Dio summoned "The World," which carried him as it raced through the cornfield at full speed.

Faster.

He repeated it in his mind. Only a few steps remained between him and the bound young man.

There!

Joy flashed across Dio's face. The Stand accelerated sharply once more, finally reaching the cross.

With a single punch, "The World" shattered the ropes binding the young man, then caught his limp body.

But...

Dio still seemed to have been a little too slow.

The ground began to shake violently, and a scorching blast of air surged from behind him.

He only had time to make "The World" shield him before the shockwave hurled him away!

Yet in the final moment before his consciousness faded...

Dio vaguely saw a purple figure charging toward him, apparently shouting something.

Then the world sank into darkness.