Power... An endless flood of power...
Superman was still reveling in the return of his strength when—
"Is that your trump card? Photosynthesis?"
A mocking voice vibrated against his eardrums.
Superman stood in space, his gaze calm. Confidence had returned to his face, as though victory were already his.
"You made one fatal mistake."
Superman changed the frequency of his vocal cords, sending his voice into Homelander's ears.
"You shouldn't have followed me."
"Is that so?"
The corner of Homelander's mouth lifted. He met Superman's gaze without flinching.
"Well, I'm here now."
"Nice place," Homelander said. "Wide open. Quiet. Only one problem—there's no ground to bury you in."
At that, Superman finally turned around.
The sun blazed behind him, bathing his silhouette in gold like a god.
"You'll pay for your arrogance—"
The words caught in Superman's throat.
When his eyes truly focused on Homelander, even at full strength, he froze for an instant.
This was not the "red-and-blue knockoff" who had traded blows with him earlier.
The figure before him looked like a projection from the abyss.
Homelander's signature red-and-blue Stars and Stripes suit had turned a deep midnight black.
An energy aura unlike anything Superman had ever seen clung to his body, drawing the surrounding light inward.
Even the sun behind Superman seemed dimmer in this man's presence.
"You..." Superman opened his mouth. An instinctive, primal fear made him draw back.
"Cheap tricks!" His retreat immediately filled him with shame.
He roared, his newly restored strength sending his confidence soaring. "Change your outfit to whatever color you want! The result will be the same! Die!"
"Now that you're fully charged... let's start round two."
The next second, both figures vanished.
On the ground, in Smallville's abandoned cornfields.
Dust-laden winds still howled, but Harley Quinn seemed not to