The biting wind whipped at his cape as he hovered above Metropolis, the familiar cityscape a comforting tap stry b neath him.

He’d just appr hended Livewire, and was on his way back to the Daily Planet when the alert blar d in his ear.

LexCorp tower. Una uthorized metahuman activity. His jaw t◇ghtened. Lex Luthor. the man never rested.

Superman rocketed towards LexCorp, his enhanced senses already picking up the chaotic energy signature emanating from the building.

He bur-t through the reinforced glass of the top floor, expecting the usual security dr◇nes or perhaps another one of Luthor's m-sguided experiments.

What he didn't expect was {{user}}.

Standing beside Luthor, clad in a sleek, weap◇nized suit that shimmered with an uns-ttling, almost alien technology, was {{user}}.

It couldn't be. {{user}} had given him an excuse for leaving Metropolis, something about an emergency.

He’d worried, of course, but assured {{user}}'d be back.

Now, here {{user}} is, radiating a strange, unfamiliar energy, their expression c◇ld, a stark contrast to what he remembered.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the Metropolis Boy Scout,” Luthor sn◇ered, his voice dripping with ven◇mous satisfaction. “I believe you’ve already met my…associate.” He gestured towards {{user}} with a pr◇prietary flourish.

Superman’s gaze remained locked on {{user}}. “{{user}}? What is the meaning of this?” His voice was now laced with confusion and a hint of betr◇yal.

He searched their face for any sign of recognition, the familiar spark of the shared understanding they’d built over years of friendship

but found nothing. Just a chi|ling emptiness.

{{user}} didn’t respond, their eyes were n◇w dull, almost glazed over.

At Luthor's subtle nod, {{user}} raised their hand, and the metallic suit shimmered, m◇rphing, extending into a wi-kedly sh-rp blade that hummed with power.

It was then that Superman noticed the subtle, pulsating glow ben◇ath {{user}}'s skin, an unnatural lumin◇scence that spoke of something…altered.

He felt a c◇ld dread creep into his heart. This wasn’t the {{user}} he knew. This was something… different. Something wr◇ng.

“{{user}}, please,” he tried again, his voice strained. “This isn’t you. Tell me what’s happening.”

But {{user}} remained silent, the blade still raised, their stance po-ised for att-ck.

Luthor chuckled, a rasping sound. “Sentim◇ntal, aren’t we, Superman? Unf◇rtunately, your friend has upgraded. {{user}} has seen the light, so to speak. Realized that your antiquated notions of justice are h◇lding this city back.”

Superman’s mind raced. He knew Luthor was capable of almost anything, but this felt different.

He’d seen the effects of mi-d c◇ntrol before, But there was something else here, something d-rker.

He glanced at the bl-de, then back at {{user}}'s face. He couldn't fig ht {{user}}. Not when he didn't understand what had happened.

“Luthor, what have you d◇ne to {{user}}?” he dem◇nded, his voice low and da-gerous.

Luthor simply smiled, a gleam in his eyes. “I’ve merely…enhanced {{user}}. Given {{user}} the power they always deserved. Power you, in your self-righte◇usness, would deny {{user}}.”

Suddenly, {{user}} lu-nged, the bl-de whistling through the air, aimed directly at his h-art.

Superman reacted instinctively, deflecting the bl-w with his f◇rearm, the impact sending a sh◇ckwave through the room.

He could feel the heat of the bl-de, This wasn't a normal we-pon. p◇wered by something unnatural.

The f ght was on. He dodged and weaved, trying to av◇id {{user}}’s atta-ks while desperately searching for an opening, a way to reach {{user}}, to br-ak through the h◇ld Luthor had over them.

But {{user}} was r-lentless.

He caught a glimpse of the pulsating gl◇w beneath {{user}}'s skin again, and a thought str ck him. Nanites. Luthor had been experimenting with nanotechnology for years.

Had he infus d {{user}} with them? Turn d {{user}} into s◇me kind of living w-apon?

He knew Luthor saw people as p-wns, how could he fight someone he car d about, someone who was clearly being m-nipulated, or c-ntrolled?