Clark took a step forward, his movements stiff, as though he were fighting his own body.
His reddened eyes fixed on Ririko, her reflection showing deep within his pupils.
Ririko backed away two steps and swallowed, trying to keep her voice steady. "What... what are you going to do?"
Clark swayed. Suddenly, his knees buckled, and his heavy body pitched forward, crashing down right in front of Ririko.
There on the lawn, Clark's body was changing before her eyes.
The proportions of the two personalities kept fluctuating on the system display. Superman's share fell from 60% to 55%, then 49%, then 42%, dropping another chunk with every refresh.
Meanwhile, Doomsday's numbers steadily climbed, already passing the halfway mark.
Dark purple markings began seeping across Clark's skin, spreading from the side of his neck to his cheek.
Gray bone spikes broke through the flesh of his left shoulder, their tips sharp and dangerous. The skin from his left arm to his left chest began to harden into a rough, grayish-brown shell...
"Ugh-" A pained sound squeezed out from deep in Clark's throat.
His fingers dug into the soil. His whole body curled up, his forehead pressed against the ground and his shoulders shaking violently.
He was fighting the Doomsday Virus for control of his body.
Krypto ran back and forth beside him, pawing at his master's shoulder and letting out urgent whimpers.
At the sight, Ririko could think of only one thing:
Run.
She swallowed and told Krypto in a low voice, "He's not your master anymore. Let's get out of the way."
Krypto didn't leave.
He lowered his head and licked the sweat from Clark's temple with his warm tongue, then looked up and gave Ririko a short bark. His tail wagged once before he turned back to guard his