(~˘▾˘)~~(˘▾˘~)
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"I'm home."
In the early hours of the morning, as the sky began to brighten, David slowed down and floated above the town. He looked at the lights of his family's house and could see his parents preparing a warm breakfast through the windows.
A faint smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.
Whether it was on Paradise Island or in the underwater city of Atlantis, the grand and majestic palaces couldn't provide him with true relaxation and comfort.
Although he was just a quasi-college student in the human world, with the power he now possessed, he could easily build a palace akin to the Tower of Babel on Earth if he wanted to.
But that wouldn't bring him any happiness because there were no family members among the cold stone columns.
David was about to descend.
"The intelligent life is locked on. David Kent from Earth, you possess a strong will to overcome fear. Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps."
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a green light streaked in from behind, hovering in front of him, and a mechanical voice spoke.
'Is this... a Green Lantern Ring?'
Looking at the green-glowing ring in front of him and the Lantern symbol on it, David raised an eyebrow.
The Lantern Ring arced and spontaneously slipped onto his finger.
He had no excitement about being chosen by the Lantern Ring and obtaining the most powerful weapon in the universe. Instead, he looked at the ring on his finger with a hint of curiosity.
"Has a Green Lantern died near Earth?"
David turned his gaze toward the stars and happened to see another streak of green light quickly heading towards Metropolis, and frowned slightly.
When a member of the Green Lantern Corps dies, the Lantern Ring initiates a program to select the nearest being with a strong will as the new Green Lantern.
"Two Lantern Rings?"
Each unclaimed Lantern Ring streaking across the sky represented the passing of a Green Lantern.
The Lantern Ring was known as the most powerful weapon in the universe, and although its power varied depending on the strength of the bearer's will, having a Lantern Ring meant possessing formidable abilities.
'From the current situation, it seems that more than two Green Lanterns have died near Earth. Something unusual is happening.'
However, according to the plot, shouldn't the first place where the Lantern Ring had gone to Hal Jordan, who was in the Coast City?
'Has there ever been a Green Lantern in Metropolis?'
David gazed deeply at the city awakened by the sunlight, and the Metropolis characters who had been chosen by the Green Lantern Ring in the comics quickly flashed through his mind.
A familiar figure, draped in a red cape and standing tall with hands on hips, flashed in his mind.
'Clark?' He raised an eyebrow.
...
"Save me, someone, please save me."
On the rooftop of a six-story building, a tall crane was broken, forming an inverted L-shape. The operator was frightened, crying out for help, clinging to the railing, swaying precariously in the high altitude in the sky.
"Live report from Metropolis Center.
An unexplained crane collapse has left construction workers trapped inside, their lives hanging in the balance. Bystanders are all calling out one name."
The well-dressed TV host faced the camera for the live report.
"That is — Superman!"
"Jimmy, focus a bit, Superman is about to arrive."
Lois Lane rushed to the scene with her reporter assistant as soon as she heard about the construction accident. Seeing the rescue air cushions set up below the construction workers, she had no reason to worry, and excitement crossed her face.
"No problem."
With red hair and freckles covering his face, Jimmy smiled and took a couple of pictures of the terrified construction workers before Superman was rescued, planning to compare them with the photos taken after the rescue for publication.
"He's here!"
"Is it a bird? Or a plane?"
A blue and red figure streaked through the skyscrapers, leaping so high that a little girl holding a balloon by the roadside asked innocently with doubt.
"No, it's Superman."
Her mother corrected her gently with a warm smile.
Since the arrival of Superman, this prosperous city has become much safer. Despite being once targeted by the military of this country, Superman's enthusiasm for stopping crime and helping citizens had thankfully not waned.
Click! Click!
A mournful sound of steel emanated from the broken crane, and it finally snapped completely.
"No! Help!"
The acrophobic construction worker screamed, thinking he was about to be crushed into a pulp as the massive form fell.
Suddenly, the crane moved.
He widened his eyes, and everyone's gaze followed.
In the golden morning light cast by the rising sun, a tall and strong figure symbolizing hope grabbed the broken metal arm and slowly moved it.
Below the operator was no longer the dizzying heights of the skyscraper but a few centimeters of rooftop.
"Sir, I can't hold onto this thing forever. Could you please go down?"
After some time had passed and his vision had slightly recovered, Clark looked at the construction worker who was staring dumbfounded at him and chuckled helplessly.
"I'm sorry, Superman.
I've never seen you up close like this before. I'm too excited."
The slow-moving operator instantly transformed from a victim into a fan. He sheepishly let go and jumped to the ground, taking a step forward with an excited look, as if he were about to ask Superman for an autograph.
"No problem.
I hope this minor incident in the early morning doesn't disrupt your beautiful day."
Gently lowering the broken crane, Clark's face displayed a sunny smile.
Though at times, the enthusiasm of some Metropolis citizens made him feel like a hot celebrity and idol, which he wasn't quite used to, but that was also a part of his hope.
'Lead by example, inspire people through actions, and encourage more people so that more 'supermen' can emerge in this city.'
Bang!
"You finally showed up, Superman!"
Out of nowhere, a punch sent Clark flying, crashing into the bent metal arm of the crane. His face felt as if it had been hit by an intercontinental missile, and he actually felt a slight pain. He furrowed his brow.
A middle-aged man with green-glowing eyes and mouth, wearing a fierce expression, appeared at the rooftop entrance at an unknown time, radiating intense radiation from his hands.
"Watch out, Superman!"
The people below saw this and exclaimed in shock.
"It's a person with superpowers, and he's attacking Superman!"
"What does he want with Superman?!"
Under the dazzling green light, Clark felt a piercing sensation all over his body, and he staggered to his feet, his face slightly pale, staring intensely at the aggressor.
'The light of the meteor... appearing on a person.'
The onlookers had never seen Superman like this before, and they anxiously covered their mouths.
"Superman is hurt. What's going on? Who is he? How can he be stronger than Superman?"
Jimmy couldn't believe it.
"Could he be Superman's alien cousin like the Purple Light Man last time?"
Lois Lane frowned, showing a strong and composed demeanor, recalling some military rumors she had heard from her father.
'A... green light man?'
Bang!
"What's the matter? Not used to fighting someone stronger than you?"
The man's face was filled with hatred as he leaped in front of Superman, landing a punch that sent him flying once again. He taunted as he spoke,
"I found signs of violent sabotage on the crane earlier. It was you luring me here. Who are you?"
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Clark looked at the man with a solemn expression.
It seemed like the man didn't know that meteorite was his weakness and believed it was just his own super strength. But Clark couldn't recall any past enmity with this person.
"You don't know who I am? You ruined my marriage, threw me out of my house, and kidnapped my wife. You really don't know who I am?"
The man's voice was reeking of alcohol, and he was rude and fierce, filled with anger as he fiercely launched punches that caused Clark to continually retreat while blocking.
"Wait a minute, I remember now. You're Clay Ramsey. What happened to you?"
Struggling to fend off the attacks, Clark finally remembered who the man in front of him was. A half-month ago, he had seen him as a destitute and alcoholic painter, and he clearly didn't have any such abilities.
He had clearly wished for all meteorites to disappear.
"God gave me the power to seek revenge on you. You took away my family, my wife!"
Ramsey laughed maniacally and landed another punch, sending Clark flying.
It was during a time when he had no money to buy alcohol and had to find odd jobs that he accidentally spilled a fluorescent paint can into his mouth while working at a wealthy family's villa. Somehow, he gained a massive fortune, and it him his current abilities.
Clark's back hit the wall, leaving spiderweb-like cracks. He grimaced and shouted angrily,
"Take away your wife? You mean the wife who suffered years of your alcohol-fueled domestic violence, who was angry but too afraid to speak up?"
"You are a coward who only vents his anger on women. I transferred her to a women's shelter, so don't think about disturbing her life again."
Clark lunged forward, aiming to subdue this man.
Although the man had somehow acquired a powerful physique and the ability to emit meteorite radiation, his radiation couldn't match that of a small piece of pure meteorite. Clark still had the strength to deal with him.
Whoosh!
Just then, a green-glowing Lantern Ring flew in at high speed.
Seeing the familiar green light, it looked like a ring made of green meteorite.
Weakened Clark swiftly moved aside, not wanting that thing to come near him. But to his surprise, the ring changed direction and came quickly back at him.
He urgently grabbed a piece of broken wood from the nearby debris and swung it like a cricket bat, knocking the ring away.
The ring soared into the sky, traveling several kilometers in the blink of an eye before it was securely caught by a figure flying towards it.
Buzz!
Before Clark could catch his breath, a beam of green light, as thick as a water bucket, shot towards him. It hit him like being struck by a large truck, sending him flying and crashing through a wall, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.
In the ruined wreckage of the collapsed billboard, Ramsey stood up looking disheveled, staring at his severely injured enemy and laughing proudly.
"How does it feel, you son of a bitch? Didn't see that coming, did you?"
"Next, it's going to hurt a lot."
Ramsey gathered green energy in his hands, ready to cross the building and deliver another close-range strike to the weakened and injured Clark.
"What did you just say?"
A shadow cast down from above, enveloping him like the icy wind that blows from an ancient and unforgiving glacier. An icy voice as cold as the wind from an unmelted iceberg reached his ears.
Ramsey looked up, and saw a figure standing in mid-air, looking down upon him with an expression of indifference.
For some inexplicable reason, he suddenly felt a rush of panic and fear, like a small, helpless animal being stalked by a prehistoric predator. In his shock and anger, he fired another energy blast from his hands.
"Do you think this ridiculous attack will work on me?"
The energy blast struck David but seemed as harmless as disco lights on a dance floor. Expressionless, David raised his hand.
With immense power, Ramsey's body was lifted uncontrollably, his limbs straightened out as if he were a powerless lab rat on an operating table.
"Help! I'm about to be torn apart!"
With his body almost being ripped apart by the horrifying force, experiencing excruciating pain, Ramsey shouted in terror.
"Let... let me go!"
"Scum like you must have never cared about the beauty of space above your head."
David knew from the moment he saw Ramsey what kind of person he was—rude, brutal, and foolish, like a dog that only knew how to eat and sleep and barked fiercely at those weaker than himself.
"Before you die, I'll make sure you get a taste of it."
David raised his hand.
Ramsey was like a projectile launched into space; a piece of junk thrown out by Earth's gravity field. In the blink of an eye, he was tens of thousands of meters above, gasping for breath as the acceleration continued.
"Uh… uh..."
His lungs felt like they were being tightly squeezed by a giant hand, and he experienced the excruciating pain of suffocation. His eyes widened in fear as he saw the brilliant and expanding sun.
Eventually, he entered the silent and icy void of space. The immense strength of his body made him acutely aware of the pain of plummeting blood pressure and boiling bodily fluids. Finally, after a few agonizing seconds, an extreme cold enveloped him.
Ramsey's contorted face, twisted in agony, froze in place, becoming a lifeless ice sculpture floating in space.
"Da... Purple Light Man, where did you send him?"
Seeing his brother appear, Clark stood up while clutching his aching chest. He looked at his flying brother with a shocked expression and began to call out his brother's name, but halfway through, he changed his address.
Although he had regained some of his vision, he still couldn't use his X-ray vision or see as far as before.
"A peaceful heaven."
"Alright..."
Clark hesitated to speak, gradually getting used to his brother's style, especially after hearing Ramsey's vulgar language involving their mother. He wasn't particularly surprised by the man's fate.
"How did you manage to fly? My ribs feel like they've been broken."
His chest still throbbed with pain, and Clark struggled to walk closer to his brother to have a conversation, as even walking felt difficult.
"Ramsey's energy radiation, while not as strong, it seems to penetrate deep into my flesh and cells, like a stubborn stain."
He looked at the sun for a while, but it didn't relieve the injury.
David controlled gravity, and the Green Lantern Ring floated over slowly.
"This should help you."
David manipulated gravity, and the Green Lantern Ring floated slowly toward Clark.
Seeing the familiar green light, Clark felt an instinctual fear, but he reassured himself that his brother wouldn't harm him. Hesitantly, he reached out to accept it.
"Intelligent life identified. Clark Kent from Earth, you possess a strong will to overcome fear. Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps."
Coming closer to the chosen successor, the ring finally began to deliver the novice entry speech that was used to notify the successors.
"It's speaking?
What... what is this?"
The ring automatically slid onto his finger, and Clark panicked somewhat and looked at David in shock.
"It's proof of membership in the Corps."
Seeing that it was indeed Clark who had been chosen by another ring, David looked into the distance, and no longer resisted the power of the ring, allowing a green energy shield to envelop him and float away.
'It seems the ring's previous owner isn't dead yet. Is the selection process initiated when they're near death?'
"Corps member?"
Clark noticed that David wasn't resisting the power, seemingly allowing it to take him wherever it wanted, so he followed suit. But unlike David, who seemed to know what was about to happen, he was filled with questions he wanted to ask his brother.
"Residual lethal radiation targeting your race detected within your body has been neutralized."
A surge of green energy passed through his body, making Clark feel light and refreshed, and then examined the ring.
"Although I don't know what this is, it seems pretty good."
The two were carried away by the green energy force, flying rapidly toward the horizon, leaving behind a series of overwhelming plot twists and changes for the onlookers who were left in a daze, unsure of what was happening.
"Cough... The chosen ones have arrived."
At the dock in the early morning, the chilly sea breeze blew through.
By the seaside, a damaged escape pod, the weak and dying Abin Sur looked up at the sky. He was feeling somewhat fortunate that after landing on this backward planet, he had managed to hold on until the chosen ones were brought here.
Two young figures landed on the beach, but things seemed to be different from what he had expected.
The ring transmitted a message, and Abin Sur's expression changed slightly. He glanced at Clark and then at David.
"An alive Kryptonian and... an equally powerful life form of a race unheard of in the universe?"
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(~˘▾˘)~Don't forget to send your power-stones!~(˘▾˘~)