Shadowflame

In the blistering heat of the Sahara Desert, Bill Weasley stood face-to-face with Teth Adam, better known to the world as Black Adam. It was the kind of moment that makes a guy wish he had stayed home with a cup of tea instead of trekking into villain central. Bill was usually a trusting guy, but Teth's slick smile gave him the kind of chills normally reserved for a Hogwarts ghost story. Beside him, Fleur was practically buzzing with anxiety, her Veela instincts pinging like a car alarm in a quiet neighborhood.

"You see, my friends," Teth said, arms wide open like he was auditioning for a TED Talk on world peace, "your group of refugees will be safe and secure here. There's nothing to fear under my watch."

"Safe? From what?" Fleur shot back, rolling her eyes like a pro. "I'm not impressed."

Just as Bill was about to congratulate Fleur on her stellar comeback, the air around them crackled like static electricity, announcing the arrival of Shazam—aka the adult version of Billy Batson, who, when not busy being a superhero, was just a regular teenage boy with a penchant for video games and pizza.

"Hold it right there!" Billy shouted, his eyes blazing with the kind of indignation usually reserved for kids who'd just found out the last slice of cake was gone. "You can't just waltz in here and play the hero. We know what you really are!"

Teth's charming facade slipped, replaced by an icy glare that could freeze a dragon in its tracks. "And what would a child like you know of the world?" he spat, his voice dripping with disdain.

As the two squared off like titans ready for a comic book showdown, two more figures burst through the clouds above. One had wings that flickered with flames, looking like a celestial being straight out of a myth. The other was a warrior woman in shiny armor, and cradled in her arms was a man who was inexplicably dressed in tweed. Seriously, who wore tweed in a desert?

"Is that—?" Fleur squinted against the glaring sun, a look of disbelief plastered across her face.

"Remus?" Bill shouted, practically pointing at the sky like a kid who had just spotted a unicorn. The scene was utterly ridiculous, and he could feel Charlie suppressing a laugh beside him, a laughter that was definitely not appropriate given the circumstances.

As the armored warrior landed, the Weasleys' jaws dropped in unison. Remus Lupin, the beloved former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, looked mortified, his face redder than a Gryffindor's scarf. Bill and Charlie exchanged mischievous glances, their minds already cooking up a lifetime of teasing.

"Remus, nice outfit!" Charlie called out, barely able to contain himself. "Tweed in a desert? Bold choice!"

But the real shocker came when the flames around the winged figure dimmed, revealing none other than Harry Potter. This was not the skinny, pale version they had mourned a year ago. No, this was a taller, more muscular Harry, radiating strength and confidence like he had just walked off a superhero movie set. His lightning bolt scar had faded, and he wore gleaming black armor with ornate gold accents that shimmered like it had been forged in a dragon's lair. A striking red gem embedded in his chest pulsed with energy, looking like it could power a small village.

"Harry!" Bill exclaimed, heart racing faster than a hippogriff on a sugar high. "Is that really you?"

"Hey, everyone!" Harry greeted with a grin that could probably outshine the sun. "Miss me?"

The air was electric, charged with shock and joy. Bill rushed forward and enveloped Harry in a hug that was equal parts relief and excitement. "You're alive! But how? We thought you—"

"Long story," Harry said, his smile radiating warmth. "But it's good to see all of you." His armor gleamed in the sunlight, and Bill couldn't help but admire the craftsmanship. If they survived today, he might need to borrow it for his next family gathering.

Teth Adam's expression darkened as he watched the reunion with growing irritation. "This changes nothing," he warned, his voice low and menacing. "You still trespass in my land."

"Not if we have anything to say about it!" Shazam countered, standing tall and looking ready for a showdown that would make even the gods raise an eyebrow. "We're not letting you push these people around!"

As tensions rose, the Weasleys and Fleur stood united, ready to confront whatever chaos lay ahead. Teth Adam might have the power of the gods, but they had something far more potent: their friendship. And if that didn't work, they could always pull out the Weasley family heirloom: the Weasley charm, which usually resulted in ridiculous hijinks.

"Let's do this!" Harry declared, flaming wings igniting back to life, which flared dramatically around his armor with a burst of fiery energy.

With hearts pounding and adrenaline surging, the group braced for the conflict, knowing that together they could face any threat. Bill felt a rush of determination. They were family, and no one was going to threaten their own. They had come too far to back down now.

---

So, picture this: it's my first day on the job as a superhero, and I'm already about to fight Black Adam. Yes, that Black Adam. The guy who's basically Superman with anger management issues. I'm standing there, trying to look cool and totally not like I'm internally screaming, while Wonder Woman and Shazam give me the "don't screw this up" look.

And me? I'm trying really, really hard not to pass out.

Black Adam's staring right at me like I'm some bug he's about to squash, which—spoiler alert—doesn't exactly help my confidence. "You should've stayed home, kid," he growls, all ominous-like. Classic villain talk. "This doesn't concern you."

Sure, because telling the villain "I got this" would be super helpful right now. Instead, I blurt out, "I'm not going anywhere, big guy."

I'm regretting those words immediately.

His response? A lightning bolt the size of a bus—no, bigger. Like, imagine Thor got mad at a building. That kind of big. It hits me square in the chest, and everything goes white. Bright, shiny, oh hey, I think I'm dead white.

I mean, it's only my first fight—couldn't we have started with something less... fatal?

But here's the thing: instead of dying, I feel… awesome. My chest tingles, but not in the "I've been electrocuted" kind of way. More like I just downed five espressos and decided to run a marathon. You see, my fancy armor has a crimson gem that absorbs magic. And, well, Black Adam? All his powers come from magic. He doesn't know it, but that lightning didn't kill me—it made me stronger.

So, while Black Adam turns around, assuming I'm nothing but crispy Harry toast, I'm standing there thinking, "Wait, did that actually just work?"

I watch him go after Wonder Woman and Shazam next, clearly moving on with his "Destroy Everyone" plan. And honestly? I'm kinda ticked off. He fried me, gave me a power boost, and didn't even stick around for the encore. Rude, right?

He throws Shazam into the dirt like he's a ragdoll and then charges at Wonder Woman. She's doing her best, but Black Adam? He's fast. Too fast. He disarms her, sends her flying, and—oh, look—he's monologuing. Because of course, every villain has to monologue when they think they're winning.

"Kahndaq will remember you as—"

Yeah, no. Not today, monologue man.

I don't even think about it—I just move. One second, I'm hovering there, fiery wings bursting from my back like I'm some kind of phoenix. The next second, I'm in front of Black Adam, and my fist is connecting with his jaw.

Fun fact: when you punch Black Adam with enough magic running through you to light up the Rock of Eternity, his jaw shatters.

He stumbles back, jaw hanging at a weird angle. I've gotta admit, the look on his face? Priceless. He's staring at me like, "Wait, I thought I killed you." Nope. Still here. Still kicking. And, oh yeah, I just shattered your jaw with one punch.

I hover in front of him, flames flickering from my wings like something out of a heavy metal album cover. "Surprise," I say, trying not to sound too smug. "You should probably stop hitting me with magic. Doesn't end well for you."

He doesn't respond—probably because, you know, I broke his jaw. But if looks could kill, I'd be six feet under right now.

Before Black Adam can figure out his next move, Wonder Woman's already back in the game. She tosses her lasso, wrapping it around him like a pro. Shazam's there too, adding some lightning of his own to the mix. Black Adam's still glaring at me, but now he's stuck in place, completely at our mercy.

I touch down next to Wonder Woman, my wings flickering out. "So," I say, feeling pretty good about myself. "That wasn't too bad, right?"

Wonder Woman gives me this tiny smile that says, "Okay, maybe you're not terrible." High praise from her, I swear. "You did well, Shadowflame."

Shazam walks over, shaking the dust out of his cape. "Nice punch, man. But next time? Go for an uppercut. Really sells the whole 'I just punched Black Adam' thing."

"Noted," I say, laughing. Inside, I'm still buzzing from the fight. I just went toe-to-toe with one of the biggest bad guys out there and came out on top. Okay, maybe I didn't do it alone, but hey—I didn't die, so I'll count that as a win.

We all stand there for a moment, watching as Black Adam struggles against the lasso, trying to break free. He still looks mad, but at least now he can't break my jaw with a single punch.

First day as a superhero? Not bad. Not bad at all.

—

Down below, the Weasleys—Bill, Charlie, Percy, Arthur, and Molly—stood shoulder to shoulder with Fleur and Remus, all of them staring up at the chaos unfolding in the sky. It was like a scene from one of those epic fantasy movies, except this time it was Harry, the boy they thought had kicked the bucket a year ago, fighting alongside some absolute powerhouse they'd never seen before. Thousands of witches, wizards, Veela, Goblins, and even a couple of dragons gawked at the aerial showdown, their jaws practically dragging on the ground.

"Look at him go!" Bill exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with disbelief. "That's Harry, isn't it?"

"Yep, that's definitely him," Remus said, a cocktail of pride and worry simmering in his chest. "But you're not going to believe what he's been through."

"Tell us!" Molly urged, her voice a mix of excitement and sheer maternal panic. "What happened to him? We thought he was gone for good!"

Remus took a deep breath, bracing himself for the avalanche of astonishment he was about to unleash. "He's been in this universe for about a year now. He arrived in the Nevada Desert, nearly kicking the bucket."

Arthur's brow furrowed, his glasses slipping down his nose. "Almost dead? How did that happen?"

"He was found by a company called LuthorCorp," Remus explained, which sounded like the name of a villainous organization straight out of a comic book. "They thought he was a Metahuman."

"Meta-what?" Charlie echoed, his expression a picture of confusion, as if someone had just handed him a riddle wrapped in a mystery.

"Metahuman," Remus clarified, feeling like he was about to teach a Potions class to a bunch of first-years. "It's a term for people in this universe who have superpowers. Some are born with them, some get them through... well, accidents. It's not magic, though—it's complicated."

"Complicated how?" Percy asked, the gears in his brain visibly turning as he tried to process the information.

"Well, LuthorCorp didn't know Harry was a wizard or that he was from another universe," Remus continued, glancing up at the epic battle above, where Harry and his new friend were holding their ground against a formidable foe. "They thought he was just another Metahuman and decided to experiment on him."

"Experiment?" Molly gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as if to prevent her heart from leaping out. "On Harry?"

"Yeah," Remus sighed, the weight of the situation heavy on his shoulders. "They spliced his DNA."

"Spliced? What do you mean?" Fleur asked, her wide eyes making her look like she was about to explode with curiosity.

"Splicing means they mixed his genetic material with that of another individual," Remus explained, trying to simplify things for his bewildered audience. "Think of it like a potion gone horribly wrong, except with DNA instead of dragon liver and powdered unicorn horn."

"DNA?" Charlie echoed, still not quite on board. "What's that?"

"It's, um, like the very essence of a living being," Remus said carefully. "Think of it as a blueprint for life, like the instructions on how to build a LEGO castle, but way more complicated."

"Still not helping," Bill interjected, scratching his head as if trying to figure out a particularly tricky spell.

"Let's just say they messed with his biology," Remus summarized, hoping that would suffice. "And the DNA they spliced with belonged to a superhero named Wonder Woman."

"Superhero?" Fleur echoed, tilting her head like a confused puppy. "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like," Remus replied, feeling more than a little flustered. "There are people in this universe with powers—flying, super strength, that sort of thing. They're often known as superheroes, and they fight for justice."

"Justice?" Arthur questioned, his brow furrowing deeper, as if he were trying to solve a particularly tricky riddle. "And this Wonder Woman—who is she?"

Remus hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the sky where Harry and Wonder Woman were restraining Black Adam, who looked like he had skipped leg day for a few too many months. "She's... a demigod. The daughter of Zeus."

"Zeus?" Molly's eyes were as wide as dinner plates. "As in, gods?"

"Yes! And no," Remus quickly amended, noticing the shocked reactions. "There are real gods in this universe. Demigods are part human, part god. Wonder Woman's abilities come from that heritage. Think of her as a superhero with divine perks."

"Blimey," Charlie said, his eyes darting back to the sky. "And you say she was carrying you earlier?"

"Yeah," Remus admitted, a hint of embarrassment creeping into his cheeks. "Bridal style, in fact. But that's not the point—they make quite the team."

"Well, that's a sight I never thought I'd see," Arthur mused, shaking his head in amazement. "And how did Harry escape this LuthorCorp?"

"Thanks to a group called the Justice League," Remus answered, preparing himself for another round of incredulous expressions. "They're like a team of superheroes who fight together for good."

"Justice League?" Charlie echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Sounds like something out of a fairy tale."

"More like a comic book, really," Remus said, giving a wry smile. "They saved Harry and helped him escape."

"Harry's a superhero now," Charlie muttered, shaking his head as if he couldn't quite wrap his mind around it. "First he's the Boy Who Lived, now he's fighting in the sky with demigods and superheroes?"

"It sounds absurd, I know," Remus said. "But if anyone can handle this crazy world, it's Harry. He always was destined for greatness."

As the battle raged on above them, the group turned their eyes skyward once more, a mix of hope and admiration swelling in their hearts. Harry had risen from the ashes, stronger than ever, and this time, he had allies that might just help him save the day—if they could stop gawking long enough to figure out how to join in!

—

As I stood there, my fists still buzzing from delivering that jaw-shattering right hook to Black Adam, I couldn't help but admire Wonder Woman as she expertly bound him up like a Christmas turkey. With Black Adam now gagged and looking thoroughly disgraced, Martian Manhunter and Flash swooped in, ready to take him to a Black Site facility. Apparently, that's superhero-speak for "a really secure place where we can keep the bad guys." Diana turned to me, a glint of satisfaction in her eye. "This should keep him from causing trouble for a while."

I nodded, still riding the adrenaline wave from the fight, but my attention was drawn away from our not-so-friendly neighborhood villain. The Zeta Tube hummed to life, and out popped Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione like they were extras in a superhero movie. The air around us suddenly crackled with the kind of awkwardness that only family reunions can provide.

Molly Weasley stood at a distance, her expression looking like a mix between a thunderstorm and a hug. I'd heard all about the epic showdown she'd had with Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny—something that had escalated from "You're being reckless!" to "You're grounded for life!" when they decided to join Remus's team. I mean, it's not every day you volunteer to go through a Veil that everyone thought could lead to certain doom. Seriously, it felt like signing up for a really bad reality show where you could get eliminated forever.

Watching her now, I could see that storm finally break. "You foolish children!" she shouted, charging toward them like a maternal tornado. "Do you have any idea how worried I've been? I thought I'd lost you all!"

Fred and George, always the charmers, raised their hands in mock surrender. "Mum, it was just a little adventure!" Fred said, trying to defuse the situation like he was defusing a bomb.

"Adventure?" Molly's voice pitched higher, the concern etched on her face. "You think this is a game? You're not invincible!"

"We wanted to find Harry!" Ron shot back, defiance burning in his eyes. "We thought we could help!"

"And we did find him!" Ginny exclaimed, waving her arms in my direction like she was trying to prove a point on a game show. "He's right here!"

Molly's gaze landed on me, and it was like a light bulb switched on. All that worry seemed to melt away, replaced by the kind of warmth that felt like being wrapped in a giant quilt. "Harry!" she cried, rushing over and pulling me into a fierce hug that nearly knocked the wind out of me. "Oh, Harry, we thought you were gone forever!"

"I'm back, Mrs. Weasley," I said, forcing a smile through the bear hug. "Did you really think I'd miss out on all this family drama?"

Tears of relief started to spill over her cheeks. "You have no idea how close I came to losing my mind worrying about you!"

At that moment, Shazam zipped into view, bouncing around like he just drank five cups of coffee. If you didn't know better, you'd swear he was just a fifteen-year-old kid stuck in a muscle suit, and somehow, acting like an adult superhero. "Hey, dude!" he shouted, grinning like he just won the lottery. "You won't believe what just happened! I totally took down some of Black Adam's henchmen back there. It was epic!"

"Glad to hear it, man," I said, unable to suppress a grin. "Did you need a little magic to pull that off?"

"More like a lot of lightning!" he exclaimed, flexing his muscles like he was auditioning for a superhero calendar. "Bam! Pow! You should've seen me!"

In that instant, the heavy emotional atmosphere lightened just a bit. Shazam's enthusiasm was contagious, cutting through the tension like a hot knife through butter.

As the Weasleys embraced, their teary reunion a testament to how far we'd all come, my mind wandered back to Black Adam. The battles were far from over, and the shadows were still lurking. But with my friends and family gathered around me, I felt ready to take on whatever came next. Together, we would confront our pasts, our fears, and whatever this crazy new world had in store for us. Because at the end of the day, we were a family, and this time, we were stronger than ever.

—

At the far end of the world, buried deep inside a top-secret ARGUS facility (seriously, this place was so classified the janitors probably thought they were cleaning bathrooms on Mars), Amanda Waller sat in her dimly lit office, eyes glued to a screen. She'd been replaying the same footage for hours. And, yeah, it was worth watching again.

On the screen, a kid—a teenager, to be exact—threw a punch that would've made Rocky Balboa reconsider his life choices. And the punch landed squarely on the jaw of none other than Black Adam. You know, the guy who could smash buildings for fun on his day off.

But here was the thing that made Waller hit the replay button over and over: right as the punch connected, the kid's wings—yep, wings—made of literal flames unfurled from his back, turning him into some kind of firebird superhero. Black Adam hit the ground like a ton of bricks while the kid hovered above him, probably thinking, Did I really just knock out the guy who wrestles gods?

Rick Flagg, who was standing behind Waller with his arms crossed, looked like someone who had been dragged to a meeting they really didn't want to be in. "So, what's the deal with the kid? They're calling him—what? Shadowflame?"

Waller didn't even glance up. "Wonder Woman and Shazam were with him."

"Yeah, I caught that," Flagg muttered, rolling his eyes. "Also caught the part where he's clearly not the bad guy. What exactly are you getting at here, Amanda?"

Waller, master of the dramatic pause, leaned back in her chair like she was about to drop a bombshell. "I'm thinking he'd be perfect for Task Force X."

Flagg blinked. Once. Twice. Then he laughed, the kind of laugh that says, I can't believe I have to say this out loud. "Task Force X? Amanda, Task Force X is for villains, not… this kid. He's working with the Justice League. You can't exactly stick a bomb in someone's neck when they've got flaming wings and are friends with Wonder Woman. What are you planning, exactly? A 'Welcome to the team, by the way, we might explode your head' cake?"

Waller didn't even flinch, just kept staring at the screen. Shadowflame, mid-punch, his wings glowing like he was some kind of fiery bird of legend. "Everyone has a price, Flagg. Even heroes."

"Oh, sure," Flagg said, his sarcasm level maxed out. "Because when you've got a literal demigoddess and a guy who says 'SHAZAM!' and summons lightning on speed-dial, what you really need is Amanda Waller making you a shady offer."

Waller paused the footage on the moment where Shadowflame's fist connected with Black Adam's face, the flames from his wings lighting up the whole scene like the Fourth of July. "Power like that doesn't just show up unnoticed. We keep tabs on him. When the time's right, we make our move."

Flagg sighed, rubbing the back of his neck like he had a tension headache that wasn't going away anytime soon. "Amanda, you're missing the point. This kid's on our side. He's not Harley Quinn swinging around a mallet. He's with the Justice League. You think Superman's going to be cool with you borrowing his new friend for your little suicide squad?"

Waller gave him a look—one of those classic Amanda Waller looks that made you feel like maybe breathing was a mistake. "Superman doesn't need to know. Neither does the League. The kid's young. Young people make mistakes. We wait for him to make one, then offer him something no one else can."

Flagg stared at her like she'd suggested they invite Godzilla to the company picnic. "This isn't some video game, Amanda. You can't just wait for him to trip up and then offer him a shady 'Press X to join Task Force X' deal. He's a hero. And if he figures out what Task Force X really is, those flaming wings of his are going to turn this place into a barbecue."

Waller's lips twitched like she was about to smile but decided she wasn't in the mood for that. "That's why we're careful. We gain his trust first. When he needs help, we'll be there. Make it so he has no choice."

Flagg shook his head, throwing his hands up in defeat. "Right. Because Amanda Waller is the definition of trustworthy."

He turned back to the screen just in time to watch Black Adam—Black Adam—drop like a sack of potatoes. Above him, Shadowflame hovered, those fiery wings still glowing, like the world's most intimidating nightlight.

"I just hope you know what you're doing," Flagg muttered to himself.

Waller didn't answer. She didn't need to. In her head, the plan was already moving along. And when Amanda Waller had a plan? It didn't matter if it was dangerous, reckless, or downright crazy. She had a way of making people believe they had no choice. Even if that someone happened to be a teenager with wings made of flames who could knock out Black Adam with one punch.

—

Meanwhile, up in the Watchtower (yes, the actual Watchtower in space), Batman sat in front of his computer, brooding like only Batman can. He was two steps ahead of Amanda Waller, which—let's be real—wasn't exactly a challenge. The woman practically had "I'm going to do something morally questionable" written on her forehead.

As soon as Shadowflame (a.k.a. Harry Potter, but Waller didn't know that yet) knocked Black Adam out cold with a punch that would make Superman jealous, Batman had one thought: Waller's going to want him. She always went for the big guns. The problem was, Batman knew the real threat wasn't Harry. It was the army of magical people—wizards, witches, dragons (because what's a magical army without a few dragons, right?)—who'd just popped into this universe like it was no big deal. If Waller got her hands on them, she'd be like a kid in a candy store. Only the candy could explode and start magical wars. No biggie.

So, what did Batman do? He hacked into every satellite in that area, of course. Deleted every single frame of footage that might give Waller even the tiniest clue about the magical newcomers. Easy. He'd done harder things before breakfast. But the real fun? That was step two.

Waller had no idea who she was messing with. Sure, she thought Shadowflame was just another Justice League rookie. But what she didn't know was that Harry—thanks to some really creepy LuthorCorp experiments—had Wonder Woman's DNA. Yep, that Wonder Woman. Which technically made Harry a Prince of Themyscira. Batman knew what you were thinking: But dudes can't even go to Themyscira! True. But rules were rules, and Harry's new title came with diplomatic immunity. Waller couldn't touch him. No blackmail. No bombs in his neck like the rest of her Suicide Squad rejects.

And Batman? Oh, he was just waiting for her to make a move. He had plans on plans on plans. He might've even cracked a smile—well, as close to a smile as Batman ever got—thinking about it.

Just then, Wonder Woman walked into the room, her gaze sharp as always. She didn't need to say a word, but of course, she did. "You're planning something."

Batman didn't bother to deny it. "Waller's going after Harry."

"Harry?" Diana's eyebrows shot up. "She's that foolish?"

"More predictable than foolish," Batman corrected. He didn't need to look at her to know she was rolling her eyes.

Diana crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. "You've hacked into ARGUS again, haven't you?"

Batman let the silence speak for itself. That was a "yes."

"Well, don't wait too long," she said, already halfway to the door. "When you're ready, we'll take her down."

And just like that, she was gone, leaving Batman to his scheming. He glanced at the screen one more time, the plan clicking into place in his head. Waller had no clue what she was walking into.

And when the Dark Knight was involved, that was never a good thing.

—

G. Gordon Godfrey was in rare form, but then again, when was he not? His voice boomed through the GBS studio like a carnival barker selling tickets to the world's most disastrous show, oozing just the right amount of smug superiority. His blindingly white teeth gleamed as he leaned toward the camera, making it feel like he was speaking directly to every single viewer. Honestly, he probably believed he was.

"Folks, I hate to say I told you so—actually, who am I kidding? I love saying it," he said, his smirk widening into something that could only be described as "punchable." "Once again, the Justice League has let some random kid with superpowers run wild. Case in point: this so-called hero they're calling 'Shadowflame.' And if you've been living under a rock, don't worry, I've got the footage right here."

The screen behind him flared to life, showing the now-viral video of Shadowflame—a teenage boy with literal bird-like wings made of flames—throwing a punch that sent Black Adam's jaw rocketing toward the stratosphere. Oh, and Wonder Woman and Shazam? Just hanging out nearby, like they were watching some kind of weird superhero training montage. Meanwhile, Shadowflame? He wasn't even breaking a sweat.

"Now, I know what you're thinking," Godfrey continued, his voice dripping with mock understanding. "You're thinking, 'Wow, incredible! A new hero who can knock out Black Adam with one punch AND has fire wings! How cool!' But let me tell you something, people—this is not 'cool.' This is terrifying."

He leaned back, crossing his arms, his face settling into that "I'm about to drop some hard truths on you" expression. "We have no idea who this kid is, where he came from, or what his deal is. All we know is that he's strong enough to take down one of the most dangerous villains on Earth with a single punch. And the Justice League? They're just letting him run around with flaming wings like it's no big deal. Typical."

The footage behind him paused on the moment Shadowflame's fist collided with Black Adam's face, and Godfrey's eyes gleamed. "Let's be clear here—this is a teenager. And those wings? Those aren't for show, folks. They're made of actual flames. Imagine that soaring above your neighborhood, or worse—flying toward it."

He let that hang in the air for a second, as though he were giving his audience a moment to absorb just how horrifying that image was supposed to be. "So who is this Shadowflame, really? Why is he chumming it up with Wonder Woman and Shazam? And what happens when he decides he's had enough of playing nice? These are the questions the Justice League doesn't want you to ask."

Godfrey leaned forward again, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "But don't worry, folks. I'm asking. I always ask the tough questions."

The screen behind him switched to a live feed of a correspondent standing on the bustling streets of Metropolis, microphone in hand. You could hear the usual background noise of cars honking and people minding their own business—until, of course, they were roped into giving their two cents on the flaming-winged teenage superhero.

"Thanks, Godfrey," the reporter said, flashing a smile that practically screamed, I'm being paid to stand here. "We've been talking to folks here in Metropolis about Shadowflame, and let's just say the reactions are... mixed."

The camera panned to a middle-aged woman clutching a shopping bag, who looked like she'd won the lottery just by getting on TV. "Oh, I think it's amazing! That boy has wings of fire! And he knocked Black Adam out cold! If he can do that, we're safer with him around!"

The reporter nodded, then moved to a businessman in a suit whose face was set in a permanent scowl. "Safer? Are you kidding me? We don't even know what this kid is capable of. He's got wings made of flames! One punch, and Black Adam goes down. What happens when he decides we are the problem? Who's keeping him in check?"

Back in the studio, Godfrey's grin widened like a predator circling its prey. "Well said, sir. Well said." He folded his hands on the desk, that same smarmy smile plastered on his face. "You heard it here, folks. The people of Metropolis are divided. Some of them are ready to crown this kid the next big thing, and others? Well, they're thinking exactly like me. Shadowflame could be just as dangerous as the villains he's supposedly fighting."

And what no one on Earth knew—least of all the poor viewers hanging on Godfrey's every word—was that while his mouth was busy slandering teenage superheroes, his mind was already working on a plan. A plan that involved a certain dark overlord who wouldn't mind hearing about a kid with godlike powers and fiery wings.

Darkseid is going to love this, Godfrey thought, his grin never wavering as he signed off. "Stay tuned, folks. I have a feeling this story is just getting started."

---

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