[THIRD PERSON POV]
A blur streaked across the ocean, moving at incredible velocities. The sound of rushing air grew louder by the second, as the wind was torn apart and air pressure increased exponentially. The air around the blur was compressed to the point of becoming almost solid.
As the speed increased, the waves below were crushed by the sheer force of the blur's velocity. Suddenly, the speed spiked dramatically, and a sound akin to thunder crackled through the air. Sonic booms erupted from the sea, shooting upwards towards the blue sky.
Below, the ocean's surface rippled and churned, as if struck by an invisible force. A trail of steaming white foam was left in its wake, a sight to the blur's incredible speed.
Clark Kent, the blur, grinned from ear to ear as he flew at supersonic speeds. The air around him was compressed to the point of being almost solid, and the sound of explosions echoed through the air once more, shattering the sound barrier yet again.
By Clark's side, a small, silver sphere with a glowing blue robotic eye flew at the same breakneck speed. The eye pulsed softly as it kept pace with Clark, effortlessly matching his velocity.
"THIS IS AWESOME, RIGHT, AEGIS?!" Clark yelled, his voice almost lost in the din of the sonic booms.
"Kal-El, I think it's time to head back home," Aegis replied calmly in its robotic tone. "Your parents will be waking up soon." Clark's eyes snapped open, and he shouted, "OH, YEAH!"
He quickly banked hard to the left, disappearing into another sonic boom. He tore through the sky at incredible speeds, Smallville his destination.
"I HOPE I'M NOT LATE! TURBO, LET'S GO!" Clark whooped, grinning from ear to ear. But as he flew, he felt a sudden pang of concern - something was missing. He glanced down and saw his glasses plummeting towards the sea. Without hesitation, he blurred into motion, stretching out a hand to grab them.
His fingers closed around the glasses just centimeters above the waves, and he let out a sigh of relief. "Phew, that was close!" he exclaimed, slipping his glasses back onto his face.
Clark turned to Aegis and asked, "So, does that still work?"
"Indeed," Aegis replied nonchalantly. Clark let out a sigh of relief and said, "Well, having an invisible dome that lets me fly without being spotted is definitely useful. At least I can fly without worrying, right? It works by manipulating light, sound waves, and electronic signals, doesn't it?"
Aegis began to explain, "More specifically, the dome is an advanced energy field generated by quantum cloaking technology. It's an imperceptible dome that completely envelops the person or object it protects. Its surface is made up of a dynamic lattice of energetic particles that manipulate light, sound waves, and electronic signals. This mesh acts as an intelligent filter, constantly adapting to the environment to ensure perfect camouflage."
Clark nodded, but Aegis continued, "Its main function is to deflect and absorb any form of detection. In terms of light, the dome refracts at precise angles so that, from any angle, the space appears empty or indistinguishable from the natural environment. For electronic devices, it emits a specific interference that blocks signals like infrared, radar, and digital cameras, making them unable to register or locate the object inside the dome. Even sound waves are scattered and muffled, creating absolute silence in the covered area."
Clark interrupted, "Okay, okay, I get it..."
"Although I can only use it a few times a day, or else my energy will be completely drained," Aegis said casually while flying alongside Clark. "So, I'd recommend using it during training sessions or when you need to travel to a distant location without being detected."
Clark nodded again, and Aegis continued, "I'd advise you to use it sparingly, unless absolutely necessary."
Clark looked in one direction and suddenly vanished in a blur, the air compressing around him as he flew away. Another sonic boom echoed through the air as he streaked across the sky, heading straight for home.
As Clark flew, he decided to push his speed to the limit. The air around him compressed even further, vibrating with the force of his velocity. Suddenly, he vanished into the sky, leaving behind a trail of sonic booms that marked a significant increase in speed.
He soared through the air for a short while, covering vast distances in a matter of seconds. He flew over the entire state of Arkansas and soon found himself above Kansas, gliding over a dense forest.
As he flew, Clark took in his surroundings, but suddenly he came to a halt in mid-air. He sniffed the air, and his eyes widened in surprise. "I can smell something from up here... now I have super smell?" Clark said, a grin spreading across his face. But his smile quickly turned to a grimace as the smell hit him like a tidal wave. He covered his nose with his hands and muttered, "What the hell is that smell?!"
The odor that assaulted Clark's senses was unlike anything he had ever encountered. It was a potent mix of blood, gasoline, something burnt, and a hint of rot. The smell was so overpowering that Clark's eyes began to water.
"What kind of disgusting thing could possibly create a smell like that?!" Clark exclaimed, his voice filled with disgust.
"It seems that the smell is potent enough to stun even a Kryptonian," Aegis said, floating next to Clark. "A peculiar and strange odor, indeed." Aegis then drifted away from Clark and entered the forest, prompting Clark to sigh and descend to the forest floor. He floated in the air for a few seconds before touching down, and then walked alongside Aegis to investigate the source of the smell.
As they walked through the forest, Aegis began to speak. "It appears that the robot you fought has created a bigger problem, a rather problematic one. You said it exploded when you defeated it, didn't you?"
Clark nodded, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Yes, but I was searching online and couldn't find any news of the explosion. I looked for a while, but there were no reports, photos, or videos of the explosion on the internet. It's as if the explosion never happened or no one noticed it."
Aegis offered an explanation. "The reason people didn't perceive the explosion is because of an advanced concealment dome. This dome isn't a physical barrier, but an energy field that manipulates light, sound, and shock waves, making any event within it completely invisible and inaudible to the outside. It was deployed at the moment of the detonation. According to my sensors, its activation was likely programmed as a containment system to prevent the explosion from being detected by human eyes or electronic surveillance systems. However, it's strange that if the robot had wanted to kill you, it wouldn't have activated the dome. It seems that there was an error in its system, and it was activated accidentally, probably due to a strong attack on its internal systems."
Aegis continued to explain, "The dome works by distorting the light of the explosion, as well as the sound and shock waves. Any effects that would normally radiate outward, such as the shock wave or flash of light, are contained and dissipated within its field. This means that for anyone outside the dome, it's as if the explosion never happened."
Aegis paused, then added, "However, you were within the area covered by the dome due to an accident in the combat and defense robot system. Within this field, events occur naturally, without any noticeable alterations. I was able to observe the explosion in all its intensity: the blinding flash, the sudden expansion of fire and energy, and the thunderous rumble of sound. This is because the dome doesn't affect what happens inside it, only how it's perceived from the outside."
"So, I just got lucky?" Clark asked, his eyebrow furrowed in concern. Aegis replied, "Indeed, you were fortunate. If the dome hadn't appeared, Kansas would likely be in trouble. The human government would probably investigate the state, and that would be a problem for you. They would likely search the entire state for clues about the massive explosion in the sky."
Clark nodded thoughtfully, then added, "Although... I don't think the dome would hide the damage to the trees and other signs of the explosion." Aegis responded casually, "No, that's unlikely."
Clark let out a sigh and continued walking through the forest, with Aegis floating alongside him. As they walked, the trees grew closer together, and the underbrush thicker. After a while, they came to a small river, and Clark approached the water's edge. "The smell is coming from here," he said, his nose wrinkling in distaste.
Aegis floated forward, his robotic eyes scanning the area. "I'm not detecting any problems around here," he said.
Clark nodded and crouched down to investigate, his eyes scanning the area. As he looked around, he spotted a bear sitting with its back to him, only a few feet away. Clark's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he didn't feel any fear, just a spark of curiosity. The bear seemed to be sitting calmly, but as soon as Clark looked at it, the disgusting smell hit him again, full force. He covered his nose with his hand and muttered, "That smell again... wait a minute."
Clark stood up, his eyes fixed on the bear. "Hey, Aegis, take a look at that bear," he said, his voice low and cautious.
"That bear seems peculiar," Aegis said, floating closer to the bear. "Its blood doesn't appear to be circulating, but it's... alive." Clark's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, what do you mean its blood isn't circulating? Is it dead?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion.
Aegis replied, "Although... something else circulates through its body, something similar to blood." Clark's curiosity was piqued, and he walked closer to the bear, covering his nose to block out the smell.
As they approached the bear, a strange sound caught Clark's attention. Aegis floated in front of the bear and said, "Oh... this is... troublesome."
Clark walked over to stand beside Aegis, still covering his nose. When he saw the front of the bear, his eyes opened wide in shock. At first glance, the bear seemed normal, but upon closer inspection, it became clear that it had no eyes - its sockets were completely empty.
"Why doesn't the bear have eyes?" Clark asked, his face a picture of surprise. Aegis replied, "In fact, it does have eyes."
Suddenly, the bear moved, and a dark blue light emitted from its empty sockets. The bear stood up and let out a loud roar, causing the ground to tremble and the nearby trees to shake.
"Ah... I don't think a bear can roar that loud," Clark said, staring at the bear in surprise. The bear was definitely abnormal.
Aegis explained, "It seems that it was genetically modified. Inside its body, there's no blood circulating - it's a huge amount of nanomachines. Although it's strange, this shouldn't be possible, Kal-El. When the robot exploded, did you notice if something had plummeted to the ground in the area where you were?"
Clark scratched his head, thinking back. "Ah... well... I don't think so?"
Aegis stared at Clark and said, "So this is a problem. It seems that Kryptonian nanomachines were inside the robot and came out of the main body."
Clark's eyes widened as he remembered something. "Ah... that's why the robot could change shape... were they nanomachines?"
Aegis nodded. "Indeed, it seems that the robot was partially made of nanomachines, and the nanomachines were ejected from the robot in the explosion. The problem is this: Kryptonian nanomachines are a form of advanced biotechnology designed to directly interact with the biology of living beings. These tiny machines, smaller than a cell, are designed to infiltrate an organism and act as agents of improvement and evolution."
Just then, the bear jumped towards Clark, who dodged the attack with ease. The bear turned around and ran towards Clark again, and Clark sighed, moving his hands to stop the bear in its tracks. The bear roared and tried to move, but Clark's strength was far superior.
Clark grabbed the bear's hands with his own and threw it into a nearby tree. The bear crashed into the tree in a flash and went through it, breaking the tree into pieces. The bear fell to the ground, and Clark looked on with some regret.
"Ohh... will the bear be okay?" Clark asked, concerned. "I think I should have restrained myself a little more."
Aegis reassured him, "Don't worry about that. When these nanomachines enter a body, they integrate with the host's cells at a molecular level. Their main function is to improve the physiology of the living being, optimizing physical strength, resistance, speed, and regenerative capacity. In addition, these nanomachines have a self-learning system. They constantly analyze the environment, record errors or damage suffered, and adapt the body to prevent future vulnerabilities."
Clark's eyes widened as he realized the implications. "Okay, that does sound dangerous," he said, his voice laced with less concern.
"Okay, how do we get rid of the nanomachines?" Clark asked, looking for a solution from Aegis.
"I have a plan," Aegis replied, his robotic eyes fixed on Clark. "Put me inside the bear. I'll go through its mouth. I might be able to gather more information."
Clark raised an eyebrow, but then nodded. "Okay... I think it's a good plan. Yeah, let's do it."
As Clark prepared to put Aegis inside the bear, the bear suddenly began to stir. It got up, and Clark was about to react when something unexpected happened. A wound on the bear's body began to bleed, but instead of blood, a strange red and blue substance emerged. The substance began to move and re-enter the wound, and to Clark's amazement, the wound started to regenerate and heal before his very eyes.
"Wow, that was impressive," Clark said, a smile spreading across his face. He was clearly amazed by the bear's rapid healing abilities.
Suddenly, the bear sprang into action, moving with a speed and agility that caught Clark off guard. It shot towards Clark, who smiled and prepared for impact. The bear crashed into Clark, and he felt like he had collided with a mountain. But Clark didn't hesitate, grabbing the bear's head and using his other hand to open its mouth.
"Okay, come in," Clark said quickly to Aegis. Aegis didn't hesitate for a second, entering the bear's mouth with ease. Clark released his grip on the bear and took a few steps back, and the effect was immediate.
The bear stopped moving, frozen in place like a statue. Then, it suddenly fell to the ground and began to convulse, its body shaking violently as saliva poured out of its mouth. A few seconds later, the bear stopped moving altogether.
Clark felt the disgusting smell from before finally dissipate.
Curious, Clark approached the bear and opened its mouth with his hands. A small silver sphere floated out of the bear's mouth, and Aegis hovered in the air beside Clark.
"So, did you absorb the nanomachines or something?" Clark asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Aegis didn't respond at first, but then his blue robotic eye shone a little brighter.
"Indeed, I was able to absorb it," Aegis said casually, "and it seems to have given me a small energy boost, a minor improvement." Aegis floated beside Clark.
"It seems like this will be more troublesome than we thought," Aegis said, his words sending a chill down Clark's spine. "The nanomachines seem to be scattered in various places..." Clark's eyes widened as he realized the trouble that was brewing, and a bad feeling began to creep over him.
--
In the distance, near the area where Clark and the Kryptonian robot had clashed and the robot had exploded, a small squirrel was making its way calmly through the trees. The squirrel began to descend the tree and scurry along the ground, dodging branches and searching for something to eat.
As the little squirrel ran across the forest floor, it suddenly stopped and looked around, its beady eyes scanning the surroundings. It gazed in one direction, a few meters ahead, and was met with a pair of piercing blue eyes that seemed to glow in the dark. The eyes belonged to a being that was staring intently at the squirrel.
Without warning, the being with blue eyes shot towards the squirrel, its movements was really fast. The squirrel, startled, turned around and ran for its life, but it was too late. The being quickly caught up to the squirrel and devoured it in a matter of seconds. The creature that had attacked the squirrel was a dog, but it looked unlike any ordinary dog. Its fur was falling out, and its body was scarred and battered. But what was most striking was its eyes - they were a bright, glowing blue, like two small lights shining in the dark.
After devouring the squirrel whole, the dog's body began to undergo a strange transformation. It started to growl and a small, pulsing blue vein emerged from its neck, slowly making its way down its back. The dog's teeth were clenched in a snarl, and it let out a continuous roar, as if it were experiencing unbearable pain. Its body seemed to be contorting and shifting, as if it were being reshaped from the inside out.