Lionel looked a bit surprised but quickly regained his polished smile.
After all, for him, this trip was just a fun father-son outing to bring Lex along for the ride.
He was thrilled to see Lex showing interest in making friends.
"Of course, but let's wait until we get to the farm," Lionel said.
Rock glanced at Dio, who shot him a "whatever" look.
"No problem," Rock nodded. "We can head out whenever you're ready."
"Thank you, Mr. Kent," little Lex said, bowing politely before looking at Dio with eager eyes.
Anthony rubbed his hands together. "So, Mr. Luthor, want to check out Rock's farm now?"
Lionel nodded. "I'm looking forward to it."
Moments later, the old Ford pickup's engine coughed to life on the highway.
In the rearview mirror, Rock noticed a few sleek black sedans trailing at a perfect distance, their tinted windows glinting with the telltale sheen of bulletproof glass.
Figures, Rock thought, shaking his head.
The head of LuthorCorp wouldn't just roll into town with his kid and no security. Those bodyguards had probably been tailing them since they left the town limits.
Focusing back on the road, Rock caught Dio in the passenger seat, absentmindedly twirling his blond hair. Lowering his voice, he said, "If you don't wanna hang out with that rich kid, just say no. I've got your back—you don't need to kiss up to anyone."
"It's just playing pretend with a kid," Dio scoffed, a flicker of disdain in his red eyes. "How hard could it be?"
"Oh, really?"
Rock chuckled, reaching over to ruffle Dio's hair. "Just don't make the poor kid cry, alright?"
"I wouldn't!"
Dio swatted his dad's hand away, grumpily fixing his messed-up hair.
The old Ford rattled along the dirt road, its wheels kicking up splashes of amber-colored mud from the recent rain.
Golden wheat fields stretched out on both sides, rippling like an ocean in the breeze.
"We're here," Rock said, parking the truck by the field's edge.
Lionel stepped out of his car with effortless grace, taking a deep breath. "What a… nostalgic, fresh smell."
"Wanna take a closer look?" Rock pointed to a nearby field of green and yellow. "That's this year's new corn crop."
"I'm impressed, Mr. Kent," Lionel said with a wave of his hand. Then, turning to his son with a warm smile, he added, "Go have fun with Dio, Lex."
He knelt down, straightening Lex's crooked tie with a playful tone. "How about you take over for Dad today and inspect the fields?"
Nervously pushing up his glasses, Lex swallowed hard. "O-okay, Father."
Dio, already impatient, stood on the field's edge. Seeing Lex dawdle, he strode over. "Hey, you looking at wheat or corn?"
"E-either's fine," Lex stammered, instinctively shrinking behind his father.
Lionel gave his son's shoulder an encouraging pat. "Go on, be back before lunch."
Then he turned to Rock. "Mr. Kent, shall we discuss the acquisition details?"
Rock nodded, watching as the two boys headed into the wheat fields, Dio striding confidently ahead while Lex trailed behind like a skittish rabbit.
Rock shook his head at the sight. Hard to picture those two getting along.
"Your son's got quite a personality," Lionel remarked, a hint of admiration in his voice.
Rock gave a dry laugh. "Yeah, sorry about that. He's been stubborn as a mule since he was little."
"No, that's a good thing," Lionel said, his gold-rimmed glasses catching the sunlight, hiding his eyes. "In this day and age, people with personality make things happen."
The two men strolled along the field's edge, Anthony tactfully hanging back to give the farmer and the tycoon some space.
From a distance, Dio's voice carried over: "That's corn, dummy. You don't even know what it looks like?"
Then came Lex's timid reply: "I-I've only seen it peeled in the kitchen…"
Rock sighed, rubbing his forehead, ready to step in, but Lionel stopped him. "Let the kids figure it out. Lex needs to learn how to handle different kinds of people."
---
The sun grew hotter, and the wheat fields buzzed with cicadas.
Arcs of light flickered across the sky.
---
In the cornfield, sunlight filtered through the green leaves, casting dappled shadows.
Lex Luthor followed Dio cautiously, his fingers brushing a corn cob, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"You… actually eat these?" he asked softly, almost in disbelief.
Dio shot him an annoyed glance. "What else would they be for? Decoration?"
Lex adjusted his slipping glasses, embarrassed. "I-I've only seen corn in the kitchen…"
"Tch." Dio rolled his eyes. "What kind of life do you rich kids live?"
Lex opened his mouth to explain but ended up just lowering his head, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
Dio didn't bother pressing further.
This timid rich kid was even more boring than Clark, he decided. At least Clark could keep up with him, maybe even drive the tractor.
Just then, Lex let out a terrified yelp. "Dio! There—there's someone over there!"
Dio turned, exasperated. "That's a scarecrow, dummy—"
His words stopped cold.
Deep in the cornfield, there was a figure tied to a cross-shaped wooden frame.
The person's head hung low, shirtless, seemingly unconscious.
Dio's pupils narrowed, but he quickly recognized it—a prank from the town's harvest festival.
"Don't freak out, it's just a—"
"Dio!" Lex's voice spiked with panic. "Something's falling from the sky!"
"Falling?"
Dio looked up, his face going blank.
Dozens of crimson streaks sliced through the blue sky like meteors, one of them hurtling straight toward them at breakneck speed.
"Run, Lex!" Dio grabbed Lex's wrist, yanking him toward the field's edge.
"B-but that person—"
Lex glanced back at the young man tied to the cross.
"He's not our—"
[Dio, this is your golden spirit.]
Rock's words echoed in his mind. Dio gritted his teeth, quickly calculating distance and time.
If he used The World, he might make it…
"You—go now!"
He let go of Lex's hand, pointing to the path. "Run that way and don't look back! I'll save that idiot!"
"Dio…"
Lex tried to say something, but the blond boy was already tearing through the cornfield like a gust of wind.
Standing frozen, Lex's face paled.
He glanced at the approaching red streak, then at Dio's disappearing figure. Biting his lip, he suddenly sprinted after him.
Corn leaves scratched his cheeks, stinging faintly.
Dio summoned The World, letting it carry him as he raced through the field.
Faster…
He was only a few steps from the tied-up young man.
Got it!
Dio's face lit up as The World surged forward, smashing the ropes with a single punch and catching the man's limp body.
But—
He was too slow.
The ground trembled violently, a scorching blast of air roaring from behind.
Dio only had time to shield himself with The World before the shockwave sent him flying.
In the final moment before his vision blurred, he glimpsed a purple figure charging toward him, shouting something.
Then the world went dark.