Arrowverse: I'm a Hero

Chapter 13: Villain of the Week & Valor's Velocity

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Objective: Demonstrate combined power usage. Sub-objective: Solidify Supergirl's trust in Adam's abilities. Primary Skill Acquisition Target: Super-Speed (Proficiency Upgrade). Emotional Triggers: Urgency, Teamwork, Shared Danger. ]

The scent of roasting falafel and exhaust fumes usually defined downtown National City, but today, it was overlaid with something far more alarming: the sharp tang of ozone and the rhythmic thump-thump-thump of heavy footsteps. Adam, enjoying a surprisingly decent coffee (a rare triumph), felt the familiar tremor of an incoming meta-human threat even before the news alerts started screaming across every public screen.

"Oh, for crying out loud," he muttered, adjusting his sunglasses. "Can't a man enjoy his artisanal beverage without a giant rock monster showing up?"

This particular "rock monster" was calling itself Magma-Man, a new meta-human who seemed to be made entirely of molten rock and bad decisions. He was currently stomping his way through the financial district, leaving a trail of smoking asphalt and terrified pedestrians. His goal, according to the panicked broadcasts, was to "melt away the corrupt financial institutions" – a noble sentiment, perhaps, but one that neglected the minor detail of innocent bystanders and property values.

Supergirl was already on the scene, engaging Magma-Man. From Adam's vantage point, a rooftop across the street, he could see the heat radiating off the villain, causing the air to shimmer. Kara was hitting him with everything she had – super-punches, freeze breath – but Magma-Man seemed largely unaffected, regenerating his molten form almost instantly.

"DEO, he's absorbing my heat vision!" Kara's voice crackled through Adam's discreet earpiece. "And my punches just seem to make him crack and then reform! He's too hot!"

"Understood, Supergirl," Alex's voice replied, a hint of strain in it. "J'onn is analyzing his composition. Adam, any 'hunches' on this walking geological disaster?"

Adam peered through his binoculars. Magma-Man wasn't just heat; he was molten rock. That meant he had a core, a source. "My 'network' suggests," Adam began, his voice calm, "that while he's absorbing heat, he might be vulnerable to something that disrupts his structural integrity at a molecular level. Think rapid cooling and rapid kinetic force. Something that would solidify him instantly, then shatter him before he can reform."

He knew exactly what he was going to do. This was it. The big reveal of his burgeoning powers, subtly integrated.

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Objective: Active Combat Participation. Sub-objective: Coordinate with Supergirl. Primary Skill Acquisition Target: Super-Speed (Proficiency Upgrade). Secondary Target: Kinetic Energy Manipulation (Proficiency Upgrade). Emotional Triggers: Urgency, Shared Danger, Teamwork. ]

Adam took a deep breath. His Flight was still wobbly, at around 12% proficiency. His Kinetic Energy Manipulation was stronger, about 20%. And his Super-Speed was getting there, hovering at 25%. This would be a test of combining them.

He launched himself off the rooftop. It wasn't the graceful arc of Supergirl, more like a rocket-powered, slightly uncontrolled dive. "Kara! I'm coming in!" he yelled into the comms, trying to sound confident as he plunged towards the street.

"Adam?! What are you doing?! It's too dangerous!" Kara yelled back, her voice tinged with alarm.

"Strategic flanking maneuver!" Adam shouted, barely course-correcting his descent. He aimed for a spot behind Magma-Man, using the slight burst of Super-Speed to cover the last few meters to the ground quickly, landing in a low crouch that probably looked more like a fall.

Magma-Man, distracted by Supergirl in front of him, didn't immediately notice Adam. Adam quickly scanned the area. An abandoned water truck, flipped on its side, was slowly leaking. Perfect.

"Kara! Aim for his head! Focus your freeze breath there! Now!" Adam commanded, channeling all his Kinetic Energy Manipulation into his hands. He felt a powerful surge, a vibrant hum. He was going to hit this guy with a very localized, very powerful, very cold punch.

As Kara unleashed a concentrated stream of freeze breath at Magma-Man's face, his head began to solidify, turning from glowing orange to brittle black. The villain roared in pain and confusion, his molten body momentarily seizing up.

"Now!" Adam screamed, and with a burst of Super-Speed that blurred him forward a few feet, he slammed his fist, empowered by a focused Kinetic Energy blast, directly into the still-molten midsection of Magma-Man.

The impact was jarring. Adam felt the searing heat even through the kinetic field, but he pushed through it. The concentrated force, combined with the sudden rapid cooling from Kara's freeze breath on the head, had an unexpected effect. Instead of just cracking and reforming, Magma-Man exploded in a shower of hardened, brittle rock fragments.

The air filled with dust and the smell of cooled magma. A crater formed where Magma-Man once stood.

Kara, who had stopped her freeze breath, stared at the scattered rock pieces, then at Adam, her jaw slightly agape. "You... you shattered him!"

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Emotion Spike Detected: Admiration/Awe (Kara Danvers). Proficiency: 80%. Her trust in your unique abilities is solidifying. You're becoming her unexpected secret weapon. Well done, you chaotic genius. ]

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Super-Speed Proficiency Upgrade: 27%. Your combined power usage in a high-stakes scenario has accelerated skill acquisition. You're almost fast enough to beat Barry to the last donut. Almost. ]

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Kinetic Energy Manipulation Proficiency Upgrade: 25%. Active and decisive use in combat has led to proficiency increase. Your punches are getting scarily effective. For a civilian. ]

Adam, panting slightly, brushed some dust off his shoulder. "Told you my 'network' had some theories. Turns out, if you freeze a molten rock monster's head and then hit his core with a very precise, very energetic punch, he goes from 'menace' to 'ornamental garden rocks' rather quickly." He managed a slightly shaky grin. "And for the record, the flight was mostly to get behind him. Very tactical."

Kara flew down, landing beside him, her expression a mix of relief and profound admiration. "Adam, you were amazing! You figured out his weakness, and then... you just went right in! And you flew!"

"Well, someone had to," Adam said, still trying to sound nonchalant, despite the slight tremor in his hands. "You were too busy being Supergirl. And besides, I've always been a fan of the dramatic entrance. And exit, in this case. Hopefully."

Alex's voice crackled through the comms, a note of impressed shock evident. "Supergirl, Adam... remarkable work. We're dispatching a clean-up crew and containment specialists. Adam, that was... unexpected. But incredibly effective. We'll need a full debriefing on your 'theories' and... your new 'athletic regimen' skills."

"Happy to oblige, Agent Danvers," Adam replied smoothly, ignoring the last part. He was getting better at deflecting.

Kara reached out, gently touching his arm, her eyes filled with a warmth that went straight to his core. "Thank you, Adam. You saved a lot of people today. You saved me."

Adam looked into her beautiful, earnest eyes. The genuine gratitude, the deep connection, the pure affection radiating from her was almost overwhelming. This wasn't just a mission anymore; it was real. He felt a profound shift within him, a warmth blossoming where his system previously showed only "affection/trust."

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: PRIMARY OBJECTIVE ACHIEVED: Kara Danvers Affection/Love: 100% (COMPLETE). Emotional Lock-on Stable and Profound. Congratulations, you've officially earned the Super-Girlfriend achievement. Now try not to get yourselves blown up. Again. ]

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Achievement Bonus Unlocked! Processing... Bonus Granted: KRYPTONIAN DATA CRYSTAL (Type: Knowledge Transfer). You now possess a portion of Kryptonian cultural, scientific, and historical knowledge. Access granted via subconscious integration. Enjoy your new cosmic library. ]

A soft, almost imperceptible hum resonated within Adam's mind, a subtle influx of data and understanding that settled deep into his subconscious. It wasn't overwhelming, more like a vast, new library had just opened its doors in his brain. Kryptonian history, alien technologies, advanced physics – it was all there, waiting to be accessed. This was far more than he'd expected from the achievement bonus. This was a game-changer.

He looked at Kara again, a deeper appreciation for her heritage now subtly filtering through his thoughts thanks to the Crystal. He had just gone from her supportive civilian boyfriend to her partner in every sense of the word. The stakes had just gotten a whole lot higher, and a whole lot more meaningful. He had truly, irrevocably, fallen in love. And he knew, with certainty, that she loved him too.

"Anytime, Kara," he said, his voice softer than he intended. "Anytime."

He knew what came next. The full emotional connection. The real conversation. He had to be ready.