Chapter 305: Superman vs. Joshua
The Monster's Awakening
The birth of a monster often means the death of many innocent people.
Joshua Allen was a devout Catholic, kind-hearted, though naturally timid. Despite his misfortunes, he always felt compelled to help those in need.
As a result, he was destitute. No matter how hard he worked, he couldn't satisfy the demands of the "friends" he had smuggled over with him from Mexico.
In reality, no one saw him as a friend. His co-workers at the delivery company considered him a "Mexican cockroach" who hadn't bathed in two months, and his "friends" treated him like an ATM.
Joshua knew this, but he never complained. He even cherished that "transactional" friendship because it was the only thing he had.
Sadly, everything changed last night.
The "friends" he had faced hardships with were dead, killed by his claws. His company was ruined. He had lost everything, left only with savage strength and an eternal, insatiable hunger.
"I killed people."
"I became a monster."
Joshua stared in horror at his hands, the scent of blood lingering on his fingertips, bringing back unwilling memories: the apartment building, the alley where the Mexicans lived, and the fishing boat.
"I killed them all... I ate them all."
Joshua's eyes were wide, flashing with unspeakable agony.
He didn't want to kill anyone. He never wanted this.
Why did this happen to me?
The distress and anger piled up in his heart, gradually dissolving into a primal greed. Joshua straightened up. The humanity in his eyes vanished, slowly replaced by a blood-red light.
He was going to eat people, devour the entire city, and become a god in this world.
"You killed the people in that building."
A sudden voice rang out behind him. Joshua whirled around, and upon seeing the iconic red cape, he grinned maniacally.
"It's you, Superman, the protector of Metropolis!"
Clark's right hand was clenched, his voice husky.
"Why did you kill those innocent people? What grievance did you have with them?"
"Humans are food, just like chickens, ducks, cows, and sheep."
Joshua dropped to all fours, his muscles bulging like a swollen purple balloon. "Who cares about the feelings of food? I'm hungry, and I need to eat people."
Bang!
The ground suddenly indented. Joshua, who had grown two meters tall, roared and charged at Clark. His speed was lightning-fast. The massive body trailed a series of afterimages, his claws tearing through the air.
Boom!
The concrete bridge pier exploded. Clark, who had leaped into the air, hardened his gaze and landed a powerful punch squarely on Joshua's left cheek.
A dull thud echoed in the air. The giant, purple-skinned monster flew straight back. After hitting the ground, his legs bent, the thigh muscles releasing tremendous power, reflecting him back like a spring.
Clark's eyes were sharp. The opponent's strength and speed far surpassed that of an ordinary human, but compared to him, there was still a monumental gap. As the monster approached, Clark swiftly turned and smashed a punch into its chest.
The force of the punch was immense, sinking half of Clark's arm into the monster's muscle. Joshua's face contorted, and he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood. His body was driven backward by the force, crashing through the bridge deck before rolling onto the roadway below.
The drivers crossing the bridge were terrified by the sudden emergence of the purple monster, wildly jerking their steering wheels. The car behind hit the one in front, creating a chain collision. In an instant, the entire bridge dissolved into chaos.
Joshua ripped the car door open, grabbed the driver by the neck, and dragged him out. A purple light emanated from his arm. A continuous stream of life energy poured out of the driver's body and into Joshua's. The dent in his chest began to heal, restoring him to normal health in the blink of an eye. The driver, however, became a desiccated corpse.
Witnessing this, the horrified crowd screamed and turned to flee. The resulting collisions intensified the already congested road, bringing traffic to a complete standstill.
After draining the driver, Joshua turned and rushed toward the other vehicles. One person could not satisfy his appetite; he needed more.
Screams rose and fell across the bridge.
Some people pulled out guns and fired, but the bullets had no effect. Drivers who realized the danger locked their doors, while many others abandoned their cars and ran.
Just then, a figure descended from the sky, blocking the monster's path.
"Superman!"
"It's Superman!"
"He's here to save us!"
The panic-stricken crowd breathed a sigh of relief and stopped running in unison.
Clark glanced back, shifted his body, grabbed the purple monster's arm, and forcefully threw it toward the hillside. Mid-flight, he adjusted his own position and followed after it like a streak of light.
Joshua had no ability to fly, only able to adjust his balance using muscle strength. Unfortunately, his opponent was faster and stronger. Clark pounded him with punch after punch, driving him out of the city and into a sparsely populated suburb.
Clark hovered in the air, staring coldly at him.
"What kind of monster are you? Where do you come from? An alien? Or another kind of creature?"
Joshua wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and slowly climbed to his feet. The deep indentations in his chest from the punches rapidly healed. Not only that, but his body began to grow taller, his muscles swelling. Upon reaching their limit, they suddenly contracted inward, the muscle fibers intertwining, shedding unnecessary bulk, becoming dense and powerful, like finely tempered steel.
"You truly live up to the legend, Superman. Such incredible life force. I feel it—if I absorb you, I will evolve into an ultimate form I never imagined."
"I will become a god!"
Clark raised an eyebrow, slightly confused. The previous assault should have nearly killed the monster, yet in the blink of an eye, it was completely recovered and even seemed stronger.
What is going on?
Joshua grinned, kicking off the ground with his legs, creating a sonic boom. He appeared abruptly in mid-air.
"Die!"
His sharp claws aimed straight for Clark's chest. Clark didn't move, reaching out to grab the monster's wrist. The tremendous force exerted on his wrist made him pause. This strength was several times greater than before.
What is this thing?
"It's no use. You can never be my match."
Joshua flipped his arm, grabbing Clark's arm, and forcefully kicked his right leg forward.
Bang!
The sole of the foot slammed squarely into Clark's chest. Clark's brow lifted slightly, and just as he was about to counterattack, a massive feeling of emptiness surged from inside his body. His expression instantly changed, his eyes flashing with deep disbelief.
"You, you actually..."
Joshua revealed his sharp teeth and smiled hideously. "Feel it, Superman."
"Your power will be mine to command. Come, contribute your life and become one with me."
"Let us ascend to godhood together."
Joshua spread his arms and forcefully embraced Clark's body.
The two embraced in a deadly hug, tumbling to the ground from the sky. Nearly infinite life energy flowed out of Superman's body, constantly pouring into Joshua's.
Joshua's body became increasingly massive and refined, while Clark's body began to shrivel. His cheeks lost their luster, wrinkles appeared and deepened, and his eyes grew dark and lifeless, filled with an aged exhaustion.
A streak of white even appeared in his hair.
🗒️NOTE:
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
Explore up to 20 chapters in advance!