The Moment the World Changes: Superboy Eats the Quake Fruit
The room was silent.
Every member of the Justice League had leaned forward, waiting—no, bracing—for Damian's next move.
Damian slowly reached into his personal dimension.
A shimmer in space.
A ripple.
And then—
The Fruit Appeared.
A perfectly round, pale-white fruit,
covered in swirling spiral patterns,
stem curling like a question mark crafted by a god.
It looked earthly…
yet alien.
Beautiful…
yet threatening.
Half the League instinctively stepped back.
Flash
"…That looks like it wants to kill me."
Green Lantern
"Kid, that's not normal. Fruit doesn't look like that."
Batman
"…Explain. Now."
Damian held the fruit in both hands, voice steady.
Damian's Explanation
Damian
"This is the power I spoke of—the greatest artifact I've ever encountered.
A fruit that grants the ability to create vibrations.
Not small vibrations.
Not tremors."
He glanced around the room.
Damian
"I'm talking about world-breaking quakes."
A ripple of fear moved through the room.
Superman's brows furrowed.
Superman
"You mean like earthquakes?"
Damian shook his head.
Damian
"No.
Worse.
This power allows the user to create shockwaves through the air, the ground, even through water.
It can rupture space itself.
Tear apart ships.
Flatten mountains.
And if abused…
it could destroy enormous regions."
The heroes stared at the fruit like it was a bomb.
A god-forged bomb.
Wonder Woman stepped closer, awe in her eyes.
Wonder Woman
"And you truly believe someone could wield such power… responsibly?"
Damian didn't look at her.
Damian
"I found only one."
All eyes turned to Superboy.
Connor's eyes went wide.
Superboy
"Wait—me?
Now?
Hold on—!"
The Moment Damian Strikes
Everyone was watching the fruit.
Fascinated.
Terrified.
Damian saw his opening.
A half-second window.
A breath of distraction.
And he moved.
FLASH.
Damian grabbed Superboy by the collar and shoved the fruit directly into his mouth.
Connor's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
Superboy
"MMPH—?!"
The League shouted at once:
"DAMIAN!"
"STOP!"
"ARE YOU INSANE?!"
"DON'T—!"
But it was too late.
Instinct took over—
and Superboy bit down.
CRUNCH.
His face twisted in pure disgust.
Superboy
"OH GOD—THAT'S—THAT IS THE WORST THING I HAVE EVER TASTED—WHY DOES IT TASTE LIKE ROTTEN ASPHALT AND PAINT?!"
Damian simply stepped back.
Damian
"You only need one bite."
Superboy froze.
His body trembled.
A wave—no, a pulse—of invisible force rippled from his skin, making the lights flicker.
The Watchtower hummed.
Superman shot forward instantly, gripping his brother's shoulders.
Superman
"Connor! Focus! What's happening?!"
Superboy's breath hitched.
His pupils dilated.
And then his eyes widened in primal recognition.
Like he suddenly understood something he had never learned.
Something that had always been his.
Superboy
"…I can feel it."
The room went silent.
Connor clenched a fist—
—and the air itself cracked, like glass under pressure.
Not broken.
Not shattered.
Just a preview.
A warning.
He immediately forced himself to relax, sweat dripping down his forehead.
Superboy
"…I need to NOT do that in here."
Even Batman took a step back.
Even Wonder Woman swallowed.
Even Martian Manhunter instinctively shifted into a denser form.
The League's Reaction
Superman stared at Damian with something between shock, awe, and a father's horror.
Superman
"Damian…
you just gave my brother a power that could tear continents apart."
Damian nodded.
Damian
"Yes.
Because you all asked for honesty.
And because he earned it."
Connor looked at Damian with trembling hands.
Not fear.
But weight.
Responsibility.
Superboy
"…So this is why you studied me for months?"
Damian
"Yes.
This is the power that could change the world…
or break it."
Superboy swallowed hard.
Superboy
"…Then I'll make damn sure I never become the second option."
And for the first time,
the Justice League saw Superboy not as a clone,
not as a teenager searching for identity,
but as someone who had just been handed the power of a natural disaster—
—and didn't run.