Milk_Is_My_Drug
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Chapter 19: Testing Gizmo's Toys
🕑 Added 2025-05-14 20:41:56 +0000 UTCThree months had passed in a blur of blueprints, scaffolding, and sweat. Under the banner of Shadow Corp’s construction division, Supergirl had spent her days hauling beams, welding plates, and pouring concrete faster than any machinery could. Today marked the end of the project — a collection of sturdy, clean buildings meant to house the poor and homeless, and it had been completed in record time.
The work crew gathered in the courtyard, proud and exhausted. Mr. Hally, Mammoth, Supergirl, and dozens of other workers stood side by side, their faces beaming under the midmorning sun. Supergirl’s smile was the brightest of them all — this wasn’t about heroics or capes, this was real change, and she had been part of it.
Then, the man behind it all stepped onto the scene.
Ashborn, sharp in his black suit, arrived with his ever-present assistant Rex beside him. His gait was calm, composed, and every step made the camera crews snap their shutters in rapid fire. He moved toward the red ribbon at the entrance of the building, raised the ceremonial scissors, and with his signature, effortless smile — snip — the ribbon fluttered to the ground.
Applause erupted. The workers cheered. Cameras flashed.
It was a moment of celebration.
And then chaos.
A van barreled down the street, swerving wildly before coming to a screeching halt. It spun, tires squealing, and the back doors burst open. Masked gunmen, armed to the teeth with machine guns, poured out, weapons raised. The crowd froze in terror.
Ashborn’s smile faltered only slightly as one brow rose, curious.
“On your knees!” barked the leader of the group — a tall man with a simple pistol and a commanding presence. His voice was like iron, but he didn't get to enjoy his intimidation for long.
In a flash of orange and blue, Supergirl launched herself forward, her fists faster than the eye could follow. One blow, two, three — every gunman was down before they could react. She landed, cape fluttering behind her, and stood proudly.
“This is the worst place to commit a crime,” she declared with fire in her voice.
The crowd erupted in cheers, grateful for her protection.
Then the leader rose from the ground, rubbing his jaw. “You hit as hard as your cousin,” he growled.
Supergirl blinked, still standing?
She didn’t have time to wonder. Her fists tightened.
The man grinned, grabbing his shirt and tearing it open. Beneath was not skin but metal, gleaming with artificial joints. In the center of his chest, a green rock pulsed — kryptonite.
Her eyes widened. “Metallo…”
The next punch knocked her off her feet. The one after that split her lip.
Every strike from him drained her — pain surged through her bones like venom, weakening her by the second. She tried to fight, but her limbs felt like lead.
“Supergirl!” Mammoth roared, charging like a freight train.
He collided with Metallo, knocking him off Supergirl. The villain skidded back, grunting, but was already preparing for more.
Ashborn stepped forward, gaze sharp. “Everyone, evacuate now.”
The crowd finally snapped out of their fear, his voice slicing through the panic like a blade. They began to scatter, running to safety as Rex frantically signaled to security and reached for his comm.
Ashborn moved to Supergirl, who was struggling to rise. Blood dripped from her mouth.
“Go,” he said softly. “You’re not helpful here like this.”
Supergirl wiped her face, defiant. “I’m not running.”
With a burst of speed, she lunged at Metallo again.
Ashborn sighed, brushing a speck of dust from his shoulder. “Three months of construction work, and it still hasn’t tamed that temper.”
Rex rushed beside him. “Ashborn! What do we do? We shouldn’t stay here!”
Ashborn gave him a calm glance. “Call the police, of course. And stay back, no need for unnecessary risks.”
Rex hesitated. “And you?”
Ashborn shrugged, already walking after the fight. “I’ll keep my employees safe… for now.”
Rex held Ashborn by the shoulder as he said “Absolutely not! I won’t let you walk into that.”
Ashborn looked back at him with a smile and removed the man's hand from his shoulder slowly. Ashborn said “Don’t worry, I know what I am doing. Just do as I say and call the police.”
Rex stood rooted in place, torn between duty and concern. His hand tightened on the comm as he made the call, eyes never leaving his young boss walking into danger with that same calm smile.
Ashborn walked calmly toward the heart of the chaos, eyes focused, unbothered by the destruction unfolding before him.
Metallo, relentless and powerful, struck Mammoth square in the chest with a metal fist, sending the massive man soaring through the air before crashing into a pile of debris. Meanwhile, Supergirl, floating above and visibly exhausted, hovered with trembling effort. She clutched a car above her head and hurled it with every ounce of strength she had left.
The vehicle slammed into Metallo, flattening him against the ground with a brutal crunch of metal and steel.
She dropped to one knee in midair, panting hard, her body clearly still suffering from the presence of Kryptonite. Her vision swam, but she kept her eyes on the flattened wreckage.
From within the crushed metal, the car was suddenly hurled aside like a toy. Metallo stood, body sparking and bent, but still strong. His cold, glowing eyes locked onto her. Supergirl’s jaw tightened as her gaze darted, desperately searching for another projectile.
But Metallo moved first.
His chest plates opened, revealing the glowing Kryptonite core, and with a mechanical hum, a green beam burst from it piercing through the air and slamming into Supergirl’s chest.
She let out a cry and plummeted, crashing to the ground, unmoving.
Mammoth, groaning as he pulled himself from the rubble, saw her fall. His fists clenched, and with a roar he charged forward again, but a calm voice stopped him in his tracks.
“Stop.”
Mammoth froze, confused. He turned to see Ashborn approaching with his usual unshaken smile.
Ashborn didn’t raise his voice, didn’t hurry his steps, just calmly walked through the battlefield as if it were a garden path.
“Stay near her,” he said to Mammoth. “Protect her. I’ll deal with this over-engineered tin can.”
Mammoth hesitated. Ashborn had no powers, no weapons beyond what looked like a couple of strange armguards under his sleeves, which Gizmo told him about. But that smile… it made even Mammoth believe.
Metallo noticed the newcomer and scowled. “This isn’t a place for rich idiots in suits.”
Ashborn’s smile didn’t budge. “I beg to differ,” he said, stepping closer and extending his right arm, directly toward the Kryptonite core still glowing in Metallo’s chest.
Metallo’s eyes gleamed with anger. He stepped forward and punched with full force.
Ashborn didn’t even blink.
With a smooth motion, he raised his left arm. The armguard glowed with blue light, and a small energy shield blinked to life. Metallo’s fist struck it and bounced back with a metallic crack. The force of his own attack flung him several meters backward, stumbling in shock.
When Metallo looked up again, his confusion deepened. Ashborn stood with the same smile, his right arm still outstretched, and in his hand — he now held the Kryptonite rock.
“Want it back?” Ashborn asked with amusement.
He tossed it toward Metallo.
Reflexively, Metallo reached out to catch it — and in that instant, Ashborn’s right armguard shifted, a small hatch opening and launching a pencil-sized missile.
The missile struck the Kryptonite mid-air.
BOOM!
The explosion shattered the rock into glowing fragments, sending Metallo flying even farther back.
When he stood again, the last pieces of his human disguise had melted away, leaving behind a hulking, skeletal frame of cold steel. He let out a mechanical scream. “I’LL KILL YOU!”
Ashborn remained smiling, unphased. “You’re welcome to try.”
Metallo charged, furious and fast.
Ashborn waited until the last second before launching another missile — it struck true, sending the metal giant crashing once more into the dirt.
But Metallo recovered quickly. His eyes glowed brighter now, overcharged with fury. He surged forward again, twice as fast.
This time, Ashborn didn’t lift his right arm.
Instead, he took a fighter’s stance, grounding his feet. Metallo raised his fist and brought it down with full mechanical might.
Ashborn raised his left arm again. The shield flared to life just in time. The blow was reflected once more, making Metallo stumble.
Ashborn didn’t hesitate, his right arm clicked, and a third missile launched instantly. It struck Metallo square in the chest, detonating with a powerful blast that sent him hurtling through the air, sparks flying.
Metallo groaned as he pushed himself up once more, sparks crackling from his damaged frame. His metal joints groaned, his glowing eyes seething with rage.
“I’LL DEFINITELY KILL YOU!” he screamed.
Ashborn, standing in the middle of the destruction, still bore his signature calm smile, serene, unfazed, almost amused. He didn’t flinch. Instead, he simply raised one hand and pointed casually above and behind Metallo.
“You might want to get his approval first,” he said, voice laced with dry humor.
Metallo’s rage faltered.
He turned.
Floating silently in the sky above the battlefield, arms crossed and eyes narrowed with unmistakable judgment, was Superman.
The Man of Steel hovered in grim silence, his cape billowing slightly in the breeze. His piercing gaze met Metallo’s, cold and disappointed.
Metallo's body language shifted from fury to sheer panic. No Kryptonite. No advantage. No chance.
With a blur of red and blue, Superman swooped down, and before Metallo could even react, grabbed him like he weighed nothing more than a sack of garbage. The metal villain let out a startled yell as Superman ascended into the sky, dragging him off like a helpless chicken in the talons of an eagle.
Ashborn didn’t bother to look back.
He had already turned, walking away from the chaos without concern.
He approached Mammoth, who stood beside a weak but recovering Supergirl. Her breaths were ragged, and she leaned on Mammoth for support, dazed and shocked by everything that had just transpired.
Ashborn gave a satisfied nod. “Told you I’d handle it.”
Ashborn smile widened as he continued “Remind me later to give Gizmo a raise, his toys were quite fun to play with”
His tone was light, even playful.
Then he glanced at Mammoth, expression shifting just slightly, enough to show seriousness beneath the humor.
“Take her to the hospital.”
Mammoth didn’t argue. He gently lifted Supergirl into his arms, her head lolling slightly against his shoulder. She didn’t resist. Her strength had drained, her pride bruised but her eyes followed Ashborn, still full of questions.
As Mammoth walked off with her in his arms, Ashborn turned his gaze skyward for a brief moment, watching the distant figure of Superman vanish with the screaming wreck that had been Metallo.
“Show’s over,” he muttered to himself, smile returning.
