Kael's performance earned quiet respect.
Superboy nodded more often. Artemis started calling him by name instead of "hothead." Robin even invited him on solo recon.
But with respect came rivalry.
A new recruit joined: Rax, a Thanagarian/Kryptonian hybrid created through illegal fusion. Confident. Brutal. And he hated Kael on sight.
"You're a myth," Rax sneered. "I'm engineered perfection."
Kael smirked. "Then why are you sweating?"
They didn't fight… yet.
But tension brewed.