Chapter 26: The Next Chapter Begins

Chapter 26: The Next Chapter Begins

Ethan stood on the rooftop of a Gotham skyscraper, staring into the distance as the city's lights flickered like stars beneath him. The dust had barely settled from his encounter with Lorna Kane and Taskmaster, but he knew his journey was far from over. The side story was complete—the main arc was about to begin.

A soft rustle behind him signaled Batman's presence.

"You held your own," Batman said, his voice as unreadable as ever.

Ethan exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Barely. But yeah."

Batman stepped forward, standing at the edge of the rooftop. "The people after you won't stop. You've made enemies, Ethan. Powerful ones."

Ethan turned to face him. "Then it's a good thing I don't scare easy."

Batman studied him for a long moment before handing him a small device. "A communicator. Use it if you need to. But if you cross a line, I'll take you down myself."

Ethan smirked. "Noted."

As Batman vanished into the night, Ethan took a deep breath. The city stretched out before him, but his gaze lifted beyond Gotham—toward something bigger. He had felt it for a while now. His fusion ability, his 24th chromosome—it all meant something beyond just surviving in Gotham's underworld.

It was time to leave Gotham.

---

The next morning, Ethan boarded a private jet arranged by an unknown benefactor. The message had been simple: "If you want answers, come to Metropolis."

He watched the city shrink beneath him as he soared into the sky. Gotham had been his battleground, but Metropolis? That was something else entirely.

The flight was short, but Ethan spent the entire time running through everything he knew. His fusion ability—his greatest strength and greatest mystery. Batman's words rang in his head. "You're not from here. And I don't just mean Gotham." 

Was he an anomaly? A mistake? Or was there something—or someone—who knew exactly what he was?

As the plane touched down, Ethan stepped into the bustling city. Towering skyscrapers, a stark contrast to Gotham's grim aesthetic, surrounded him. The air was cleaner, the sun brighter. But despite the inviting atmosphere, Ethan knew better than to let his guard down. 

He had barely taken five steps out of the terminal when he felt it—a presence watching him. He turned, scanning the crowd, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Still, the feeling remained. 

"Metropolis welcomes all," a voice said beside him.

Ethan turned to see a man dressed in a sharp suit, his piercing blue eyes and confident smirk setting off alarms in Ethan's mind. The man extended a hand. "Lex Luthor. I believe we have much to discuss."

Ethan's jaw tightened. "Luthor. Of course."

Luthor chuckled, unbothered by Ethan's wary tone. "I know who you are, Mr. Cross. More importantly, I know what you can do. You're an unknown element in a world of certainties, and I despise uncertainty."

Ethan crossed his arms. "Then why not get rid of me?"

Luthor's smirk grew. "Why would I dispose of something I might be able to use? Unlike Batman, I don't deal in paranoia—I deal in opportunity. And you, my friend, are a very intriguing opportunity."

Ethan resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Let me guess. You want to experiment on me, study me, maybe even turn me into some kind of superweapon?"

Luthor laughed. "Oh, please. I leave the brute-force methods to lesser minds. No, I have something much grander in mind. I know you seek answers about yourself. And I happen to have resources that go beyond even Batman's reach."

Ethan hesitated. He hated the idea of trusting Luthor, but the billionaire genius wasn't wrong—if anyone had access to information about strange anomalies, it was him.

"What's the catch?" Ethan finally asked.

Luthor's expression darkened slightly. "You help me with a small problem, and I'll give you everything you need to uncover the truth about yourself."

Ethan weighed his options. He didn't trust Luthor, but he couldn't ignore the potential leads. 

"Fine," Ethan said. "Tell me what you need."

Luthor's smirk returned. "Excellent. Welcome to Metropolis, Mr. Cross."

Overhead, the sky darkened slightly as a red-and-blue streak soared through the air. Superman.

Ethan had fought street thugs, mercenaries, and enhanced assassins. But now? Now, he was stepping into the world of gods.

**To be continued...**