"I've discovered that Doomsday is a monster created by Su Sheng and Lex Luthor using Kryptonian corpses and technology. You shouldn't forget how many Kryptonian corpses Su Sheng has at his disposal. I apologize for having to ask you this way, but you know better than anyone how strong Su Sheng is and what he's capable of. It's just underwear, worn outside—for Metropolis, for Earth, and for Martha. I believe you'll make the right choice!"
"If my mother gets hurt even a little, I won't let you go," Superman growled.
With a clenched jaw, Superman smashed the communicator on the plane and then turned his gaze towards Su Sheng.
The communicator shattered under Superman's punch, and the fighter jet malfunctioned immediately. The pilot quickly ejected from the plane.
Boom!
The jet crashed to the ground and exploded.
The parachute deployed, and the pilot began his slow descent.
But as he was about to land, Doomsday unleashed a blast of heat vision that struck the pilot.
Boom!
The pilot was incinerated instantly, turning into a charred husk as he plummeted to the ground.
"No!" Superman cried out as he rushed to where the pilot had fallen. But it was too late—the pilot was already dead. Superman cradled the lifeless body as he walked back slowly.
"What I feared has happened," Batman muttered, frowning.
"You killed him!" Superman's voice was cold as he placed the pilot's body on the ground and slowly approached Su Sheng.
"Did you think destroying his plane would kill him?" Su Sheng retorted, casting a glance at the unfortunate pilot.
"What the hell?"
Su Sheng's surprise quickly turned into amusement as he clapped his hands. "Well, well, congratulations, Superman—you've just killed the future superhero Green Lantern!"
The pilot's name was Hal Jordan. He was Carol Ferris's childhood friend and would have eventually become a Green Lantern, one of the greatest in the Green Lantern Corps. As a member of the Justice League, he would have had an immeasurable impact. But now, his journey had ended before it even began, a casualty in this cruel twist of fate.
Unexpected, indeed—more so than even General Swanwick's brainless act of coercing Superman!
"I won't let you get away with this!" Superman shouted.
The fear for his mother, Swanwick's threats, and the pilot's death had pushed Superman beyond his limits. Always composed, he now lost control, his rage drowning out Su Sheng's words about the future Green Lantern. His eyes locked onto Su Sheng as he turned to pick up the... red underwear.
"You said he would have become the Green Lantern?" Batman asked, his voice full of disbelief. "How could you know that?"
"Because I know what will happen in the future," Su Sheng explained with a chuckle. "In the future, Hal Jordan would have received a Green Lantern ring and become one of the seven core members of the Justice League, an organization you all will form. But now, thanks to today's events, you might only be known as the Big Six."
"Without me, Doomsday wouldn't have been born."
"Superman would have died!"
With that, Su Sheng flew off towards his ship, the Disciple.
Moments later, Su Sheng returned, carrying several items.
A golden lasso glowing with light, a kryptonite dagger, and a large chunk of kryptonite.
"Flash!" Su Sheng called out.
Whoosh.
The Flash appeared before him, his injuries not fully healed but not enough to hinder his movements.
"Run an errand and give this to Wonder Woman," Su Sheng said, handing the Lasso of Truth to The Flash.
The Flash hesitated but took the lasso and sped over to Diana. Meanwhile, Su Sheng handed the kryptonite dagger and the chunk of kryptonite to Batman. "Since Superman is willing to wear his underwear, I'll give you the kryptonite that was promised to the military. You decide which goes to the military and which you keep for yourself."
"Why so generous?" Batman asked, suspicious.
"I just think the color suits you," Su Sheng replied, patting Batman on the shoulder before picking up Hal Jordan's body and flying back to the Disciple.
"This bastard!" Batman muttered, piecing together Su Sheng's meaning. Though nothing had happened yet, the thought of the photograph made him extremely uncomfortable.
Onboard the Disciple, Su Sheng laid Hal Jordan's body aside and turned to watch the screen showing Superman—now in his full costume, including the red underwear.
"That's more like it, Superman!"
The red cape and blue suit were supposed to look heroic, but the addition of the red underwear gave the whole ensemble a strange, almost comical vibe. And yet, it was this oddity that made it perfect for Su Sheng.
This was how Superman should be.
It was tradition to wear the underwear outside, and traditions are meant to be preserved! Didn't Superman's power seem to double the moment he put it on?
Shame. Rage.
Superman, overwhelmed by these emotions, turned his fury into raw power, launching himself at Doomsday with a vengeance. He needed to end this battle quickly. He needed to rip off the red underwear as soon as possible. He needed to save his mother!
Superman's intense rage made even Wonder Woman and The Flash pause, fear creeping into their hearts as they witnessed his power.
"Did he... say something?" Wonder Woman asked, looking at The Flash who had brought her the Lasso of Truth.
The Flash shook his head and then noticed Batman waving at him from a distance.
"What's up?" The Flash asked as he approached.
"You're fast, right?" Batman asked.
The Flash nodded.
"Good. Help me craft this into a weapon. It's the key to defeating Doomsday!" Batman said, his voice serious.
Ahhhh!
Superman's heat vision clashed with Doomsday's. Despite Superman's smaller size, his rage made him appear even more terrifying than Doomsday. His relentless approach showed that he no longer cared about the damage he might suffer—years of suppressed power and anger were now erupting in full force.
Boom!
Superman's heat vision overpowered Doomsday's, and in an instant, he was upon the monster, hammering it with left and right punches.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each punch landed with increasing force, the heavy blows resonating like a drumbeat, each thud sinking deeper into Doomsday's skull. The sheer power of Superman's rage was palpable, making it hard for anyone watching to breathe, as though the weight of his fury pressed down on them all.