DC: Becoming Supreme With Technology ( I Beat Superman)

Location: El Paso, Texas. Time: 10:00 AM

The city of El Paso hummed with its usual energy under the late morning sun. Jaime Reyes, known to the world as the Blue Beetle, sat on the roof of his favorite taquería, finishing a breakfast burrito. He looked down at the bustling streets below, feeling the mix of pride and responsibility that came with being the city's protector.

"Jaime, you should maintain focus," his scarab AI, Khaji Da, chimed in his mind.

"I am focused. On this burrito," Jaime joked, brushing crumbs from his armor. "It's my day off. Well, kinda."

"Crime does not adhere to schedules."

Jaime sighed. "You've got jokes now. Great."

Before he could enjoy his meal, Khaji Da's voice interrupted with a sharp alert. "Crime detected. Armed assault in progress, downtown El Paso. Immediate action required."

Jaime groaned. "Guess I spoke too soon about that day off." He stood, tossing the last bit of his burrito into his mouth.

With a flash of energy, his scarab-generated wings unfurled, and he shot into the sky like a rocket, leaving a streak of blue in his wake.

As Jaime approached the downtown area, the chaos below came into view. A group of armed men was attempting to rob an armored truck. Police sirens blared as officers tried to contain the situation.

"Time to work," Jaime muttered, descending rapidly.

He landed with a resounding thud in front of the robbers, his glowing armor an intimidating sight.

"Alright, fellas," Jaime said, hands on his hips. "You've got two choices: the easy way or the really painful way."

One of the robbers aimed a shotgun at him. Jaime rolled his eyes as the man fired. The pellets bounced harmlessly off his armor.

"Painful way it is," Jaime said, grinning.

In a blur of motion, Jaime disarmed the group, using his scarab's energy constructs to bind them. The situation was under control in minutes, and Jaime was about to crack a victory quip when Khaji Da issued a chilling warning.

"Dimensional anomaly detected. Multiple hostile entities inbound."

Before Jaime could process the alert, the sky above him split open with a deafening boom. A portal materialized, and through it emerged ten armored figures, each clad in scarab-like suits. Their designs were sleeker and more menacing than Jaime's, their glowing eyes radiating malice.

The leader, a towering figure with crimson armor and golden accents, stepped forward. His voice boomed, distorted yet commanding. "Blue Beetle of Earth. You are an anomaly. Join the Reach, or face annihilation."

Jaime's heart raced. "Uh, yeah, hard pass on the whole 'joining an evil alien empire' thing. Thanks, though."

The leader tilted his head. "Then you will perish."

Jaime launched himself into the air, firing energy blasts at the warriors. The first few shots found their mark, knocking two warriors back. But the remaining scarabs retaliated with brutal efficiency, unleashing a storm of energy projectiles.

Jaime darted through the barrage, countering with blasts and constructs, but the scarab warriors moved as a coordinated unit, their attacks unrelenting.

Khaji Da guided his movements, helping him evade their strikes. "Enemy tactics are highly advanced. Recommend immediate retreat."

Jaime gritted his teeth. "No way. This is my city."

He slammed into one warrior, using an energy blade to sever their weapon. Spinning mid-air, he fired a concussive blast that sent another crashing into a parked car.

Despite his efforts, the Reach warriors adapted quickly, their superior numbers overwhelming him. The leader raised his arm, issuing a command. "Activate the override."

Jaime felt a sudden jolt throughout his body. His movements became sluggish as the scarab's systems began to shut down.

"Khaji Da! What's happening?" Jaime shouted.

"Override command detected. Systems compromised. I... I am sorry, Jaime. Escape... while you... can..."

With those final words, the AI went silent, and Jaime's armor powered down, leaving only its base enhancements.

Jaime's heart sank, but he clenched his fists. "Guess it's just me now."

With only the suit's augmented strength remaining, Jaime faced the Reach warriors head-on. He dodged a strike from one attacker and countered with a punch that sent them staggering. Another charged at him, and Jaime grabbed a steel pipe from the debris, using it as a makeshift weapon to parry their blows.

He fought with raw determination, using every ounce of his strength to hold his ground. Despite being outnumbered and outmatched, Jaime refused to back down.

"Is that all you've got?" he taunted, blood dripping from his lip.

The scarab warriors responded with ruthless precision. A strike to his ribs sent him crashing into a wall. Jaime forced himself to stand, only to be hit by a blast that left him gasping for air.

The leader approached, his voice cold. "You are resilient, but futile. Your resistance ends here."

The leader struck Jaime with a devastating blow, sending him sprawling onto the ground. His vision blurred, and pain coursed through his body.

The scarab warriors turned their attention to the city, unleashing destruction upon El Paso. Buildings crumbled under their assault, fires raged, and screams filled the air.

Jaime, battered and bleeding, could only watch helplessly as his city burned. "I... I can't let this happen..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.

But his body refused to move, the toll of the battle too great. The scarab warriors left him for dead, their laughter echoing as they continued their rampage.

As Jaime lay on the ground, his thoughts turned to his family and the people of El Paso. He couldn't give up—not yet.

Man propose but God dispose, his will was strong but his body was getting weaker, his eyes dimmed, dizzy as his mind hovered between consciousness and unconsciousness. Soon, everything became dark.

Maria Kord sat in her sleek, modern office at Kord Industries, her desk piled high with documents and blueprints. The soft hum of city life filtered through the glass windows, but her attention was on the progress reports for a new project she was spearheading—a clean energy initiative meant to give back to the community her family had always strived to help.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a distant, thunderous boom. She frowned, glancing toward the window. Mushroom clouds of smoke rose on the far horizon, followed by the unmistakable glow of fires spreading through the city.

Maria's heart sank. Rushing to turn on the nearby TV, she flipped through channels until she landed on a breaking news report. The screen showed live footage of Blue Beetle—Jaime Reyes—fighting against a group of armored warriors who seemed just as technologically advanced as him, if not more so

She watched, horrified, as Jaime fought valiantly, using every ounce of strength and skill he possessed. He managed to fend off some of the attackers, but they overwhelmed him, shutting down his scarab and leaving him battered and broken.

Maria's heart raced as the camera captured Jaime's crumpled form lying amidst the wreckage. She could see the reporters speculating whether the hero was dead or alive, but Maria refused to believe the worst.

Reaching for her advanced smartwatch—a device she had spent years modifying—she activated its emergency protocol. The watch's holographic interface sprang to life as she summoned The Bug, her father's advanced flying transport vehicle.

A few minutes later, The Bug arrived, its sleek metallic frame descending into the devastated city. Maria piloted the vehicle herself, guiding it toward the location where Jaime had been left for dead. As the aircraft hovered above the destruction, she spotted Jaime's limp body lying among the rubble.

Landing The Bug, Maria leaped out and ran to his side. Kneeling next to him, she gently checked for a pulse. Relief flooded her when she found it—faint but steady.

"Thank God," she murmured, brushing debris from his face.

Surveying the devastation around them, Maria knew they had to move quickly. The scarab warriors were nowhere in sight, but she didn't trust the silence. With considerable effort, she hoisted Jaime onto her shoulder and carried him back into The Bug.