OBS Chapter 4336 Body of Steel (41)
Chapter 4336 Body of Steel (41)
Chapter 4336 Body of Steel (Forty-One)
Clark stood in the editor-in-chief's office, arms crossed, and said, "No matter what, I'm going to publish this article. If you don't agree, I'll go out on my own."
The editor-in-chief took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes vigorously, and then, as furious as a bull, charged at Clark, roaring, "The news I told you to cover, you've never covered a single one! You're taking my salary and writing your own reports. Clark Kent, do you really think I wouldn't dare fire you?!"
“I know you dare, because you’ve already fired a lot of people. But I really have to publish this article. So I suggest you reserve some space for me…”
The editor-in-chief took a deep breath, looked him in the eye, and said, "Just because you're Superman doesn't mean you're all that great! You're paid by the company, so you have to do things for the company! You write the article I want right now, or there's no point in talking!"
Clark frowned. He realized that since his public appearance, his disguise seemed to have become useless. In theory, his biofield could disrupt people's perceptions, but this disruption wasn't brainwashing, and its effect was very limited.
In the past, when he appeared to rescue people, he was usually filmed from a distance, and even some photos didn't show his face directly. This was because he moved so fast that cameras couldn't capture him, and it was difficult to get long videos. Most people didn't have a strong impression of him, which made this kind of distraction quite effective.
However, from the moment he appeared on television, with the camera pointed directly at his face, and his speech was lengthy and widely disseminated, many people remembered his appearance. And people's ability to resist interference varies; some people are simply not easily influenced by suggestion, and even if they are detected, there's nothing that can be done.
Clark has come to terms with it; so be it, he's only gotten benefits from it. At least so far, hasn't he? Most people are willing to make things easier for Superman.
"Okay, let's make a deal. I'll write the article you want, but you have to let me publish mine."
"Are you kidding me? The newspaper pays you a salary, so it's only right that you write the reports they require. And you want to negotiate with me?"
“How about this, you take a look at my report first, and then think about it. I think this stuff can at least make the Daily Planet a little popular.” Clark took out a stack of documents from his pocket and placed them on the editor-in-chief’s desk, then said, “If it really becomes popular, you don’t need to give me a bonus, you’re welcome.”
After saying that, he left the editor-in-chief's office and returned to his own. Standing in front of the coffee machine, he made coffee while gazing absently at the skyline outside the window. Bruce's words echoed in his mind.
"Humanity still has to rely on itself," Clark said softly. He hoped his report would have an effect, that it would encourage more people not to give up; that would be a good thing nonetheless.
The beeping sound signaling the coffee was finished snapped Clark back to reality. Just as he turned to leave, cup in hand, he suddenly spotted a dark shape on the horizon. At first, it was just a tiny dot, but it was approaching at an alarming speed.
Clark gasped. Could that be a missile?!
In reality, it was not much different from a missile. When the shadow flew into the city, Clark realized that it was a monster as big as a small mountain, with blackish-gray skin and spikes all over its body. It looked evil and violent.
He landed on the roof of a building, broke off the antenna, and threw it like a javelin, destroying a helicopter. It then crashed to the ground, creating a large crater in the asphalt road.
Clark took two steps back, hearing the editor-in-chief scream from the doorway: "Superman!!!"
A figure in red and blue dances between the buildings, a deep red cape like pulsating blood, and a metallic "S" logo that shines brightly in the sunlight.
Clark landed slowly, squinting as he watched the figure leaping between buildings in the distance. This monster was very strange.
He took a deep breath, raised his arms, and lunged forward, slamming his head into the monster's waist, sending it crashing off the building. But mid-air, he reversed course, delivering an elbow strike that slammed the monster to the ground. With a deafening roar, thick dust billowed from the ground.
Clark punched the monster in the cheekbone, but found it didn't budge at all; the bone was so hard it hurt your hand.
Just as he was about to throw another punch, he suddenly felt himself being grabbed and thrown out like a frisbee.
Superman slammed on the brakes mid-air, a chorus of screams erupting behind him. He turned around to see everyone inside the glass facade of the skyscraper staring at him in terror. He took a deep breath; this battle couldn't be fought in the city.
He charged forward again, this time grabbing the monster by the neck and dragging it along the road for several hundred meters. But the monster could also exert force in mid-air, and the two fought like gladiators, pushing each other forward and pulling each other back, neither willing to give in.
They collided again, and Clark looked into the monster's eyes. His pupils were an evil red, but for some reason, Clark felt that his eyes were somewhat familiar.
In that split second of distraction, he was slammed into the ground, followed by a massive fist slamming into him. "Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Three punches later, a deep crater was punched into the middle of the road. Superman lay in the center of the crater, covered in dirt and with bloodstains on his lips.
Taking advantage of the moment the monster raised its fist, he leaped out of the pit and soared into the sky, gazing down at the monster from above.
A sharp pain shot through his chest. Clark looked down and saw that his suit was torn and his skin was cut.
He looked at the monster's fist in shock, and sure enough, he saw a sphere glowing with fluorescent green light on the back of its hand.
Kryptonite?! But how is that possible?!
Clark's heart sank. Now only he and the military possessed kryptonite; this monster was likely created by the military.
Clark clenched his fists. But this time, anger did not take over his reason; he carefully considered his options.
The monster flew into the air again and charged at him. Clark nimbly dodged, trying to avoid a direct confrontation. Since the monster refused to flee the city, they would fight it in the air; at least that wouldn't destroy the buildings on the ground. As for the military planes, Clark no longer cared.
Two figures, one large and one small, clashed repeatedly in the sky. One punch after another, each more ferocious than the last, relentless.
After a while, Clark started to catch his breath. This damned monster seemed to be immune to injury and fatigue; he couldn't break through its defenses at all.
Just as he caught his breath, the monster charged again and slammed him to the ground. This time, it crashed directly onto the roof of the building, shattering the entire structure.
Clark leaped into the air, once again lifting the shattered building debris. But the monster followed closely, a crimson heat ray striking Clark as he hurtled towards the ground.
Clark let out a scream and plummeted downwards. But just before hitting the ground, he managed to regain his balance, placed the building debris on the ground, turned around, grabbed the monster by the neck, and lifted it back into the air.
A sharp burning sensation shot through his back, the pain reigniting his negative emotions, and anger surged like a tidal wave. Clark's grip on his arm tightened, but the monster's hard bones remained impenetrable.
The monster slammed into the ground again, this time landing on its back, pinning Clark beneath it. Clark kicked it away, then staggered to his feet from the crater.
People peering out of the building's windows gasped in surprise. Clark had a long, charred scar on his back, so black that his spine was visible.
"God!!!" someone screamed, "Superman can't beat it!!"
"Save him! Save him!!!"
Feeling the pain in his back, Clark's eyes grew colder. He tilted his head back slightly and touched his neck; a chain with an emerald gem had snapped. Clark looked down at the kryptonite in his hand and pursed his lips. The gem slipped from his grasp, falling among the rubble, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.
"boom!"
A sonic boom erupted instantly. No one saw his movements clearly, and when they came to their senses, Superman and the monster had both vanished.
Above the atmosphere, a red and blue figure grabbed the monster's leg and hurled it upwards. The monster was launched into space like a rocket.
Superman leaped up and stood above the Earth, coldly staring at the monster. He asked, "Who are you?"
The monster didn't reply, only roared angrily. Superman spread his arms, and the sun rushed towards him, its endless heat repairing his body and gathering power within him.
After a slight tremor, his eyes burst forth with a bright light, like a god descending to earth. After a moment's pause, "BOOM!!!"
A red laser beam, several meters thick, shot vertically out, illuminating half the Earth's sky. The sky seemed to be sliced open by a blazing red blade, and the astonishing heat caused a wave of heat to rise from the ground.
The monster, engulfed in laser light, had its spikes gradually eroded, and its skin began to melt. It opened its mouth wide, but no sound came out.
After the laser disappeared, the monster was smaller than before, burned beyond recognition. Seemingly finally frightened, it turned and flew into the depths of space. Superman didn't chase after it, but stood there watching its retreating figure.
Just now, after all the kryptonite on the monster's body was burned away, it finally revealed part of its original form. Clark recognized it; it was General Zod, whom he had seen outside the Kryptonian flagship earlier.
Clark flew back to Earth, deliberately avoiding all the reporters, found a small alley to change his clothes, and then went to look for the kryptonite he had thrown away.
The kryptonite powder injected into his body not only helped him develop some antibodies but also granted him a completely new ability: he could vaguely sense the presence of kryptonite within a certain range. Following this sensation, he arrived at the scene of the incident and retrieved his necklace before the police arrived.
He had just stepped out of that street when he heard a familiar voice. He ran in that direction and, sure enough, saw Louise with a camera around her neck, talking to a policeman.
Clark walked in the direction Louise was facing and waved to her. Louise saw him, but still calmly said goodbye to the police and quietly ran over to him.
"Oh my god, are you alright?" Louise rushed into Clark's arms, gave him a hug, and said, "I heard you were hurt..."
“It’s alright,” Clark said gently. “It’s all better now.”
“Now that’s all right, what about before?” Louise looked at him with great concern. “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t get hurt?”
“This opponent was a bit tough. But it’s all over now.” Clark hugged her and gently stroked her hair.
After a moment of tenderness, he remembered his business. He said, "Do you know which direction this monster originally came from?"
“I didn’t see it with my own eyes. But the sound of fighter jets came from the east and then flew directly south,” Louise pointed in a direction.
Clark nodded, already understanding the situation. There was a military base to the south, and this monster really did come from a military base; otherwise, they wouldn't have responded so quickly, and their target wouldn't have been so clear.
"What is that monster? How did it come to be?"
Clark had a suspicion, but he shook his head. Just then, Louise's phone rang. She answered and said, "Yes, I'm on my way to the crime scene... What? How could this be... Okay, I understand."
She put away her phone, looked at Clark with a serious expression, and said, "According to our informant, the military is preparing to classify the monster as an alien invader. At the same time, they're going to reveal your identity to divert public attention."
(End of this chapter)