High above, Circe watched from her hidden vantage point, her eyes wide with disbelief. She had expected Kal-El to be strong—she had sensed that much from the moment he set foot on Themyscira—but this? This display of godlike power? It was beyond anything she had anticipated. The Manticore, the Hydra, the Minotaur—three legendary beasts, all dispatched with terrifying ease. And his speed... The boy was moving at speeds that rivaled the gods themselves.
For the first time in centuries, Circe felt a flicker of uncertainty, followed quickly by a rush of excitement. This child—this Kal-El—was unlike any mortal she had encountered before. He wasn't simply a powerful warrior; he was something far greater. And she wanted to see just how far he could be pushed.
"Interesting," Circe murmured, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "You're full of surprises, Kal-El. But let's see what you're truly capable of."
With a wave of her hand, Circe channeled her magic, her fingertips glowing with a dark, swirling energy. The forest obeyed her command, the trees and vines twisting and growing, reshaping themselves into a labyrinthine maze designed to trap and confuse Clark. She wanted to see more—how would he handle this? How far could he go?
---
Down below, Clark felt the weight of urgency pressing down on him as he dashed through the twisting labyrinth of the mystical forest. Normally, with his Mach 40 speed, the distance from the heart of the forest to where Diana and the Amazons stood would have been nothing—mere seconds. In any other situation, Clark would have crossed that distance in the blink of an eye. But this wasn't just any forest. This was a mystical forest, a dimension unto itself, where space and time didn't obey normal laws.
Clark had felt it the moment he entered. What should have been a short sprint felt impossibly long. The paths stretched out before him endlessly, bending, twisting, shifting beneath his feet as though the forest itself was alive, trying to keep him trapped inside its ever-changing maze. He realized that the distance was being expanded—thousands of times more than what his eyes could perceive. The further he ran, the more the forest seemed to stretch, warping the space around him.
To anyone else, these obstacles would have meant certain failure. Amazonian warriors who had ventured into this forest in the past were often trapped for days, even weeks, before emerging—if they ever did. The senior Amazons, including Philippus, had fully expected Clark to be gone for at least 3 to 5 days, fighting his way through the labyrinth and facing the perils within. They had underestimated the trial's true danger, expecting him to return after an extended struggle with the forest and the Gorgonaeus.
But for Clark, traveling at such speed, distances that should have taken days seemed to compress. He was outrunning the very magic that sought to keep him lost. The paths continued to shift, but they weren't fast enough to contain him. Clark was adapting, dodging the obstacles, tearing through the magical barriers as the forest tried to keep up with his movements.
Still, the sheer nature of the forest—a dimension of constantly shifting space—slowed him. It wasn't just the physical distance. The fabric of reality in the forest itself was altered by the magic of the place, stretching his journey far beyond what it should have been. With each step, the path would expand again, making the destination feel just out of reach.
Clark pushed harder, moving faster than he had ever dared in this world. He could feel the labyrinth fighting back, twisting around him, but he wasn't giving up. Diana's voice echoed in his mind, reminding him why he had to get there—why he had to break free of the forest's trap.
"SS," Clark thought, his focus split between his racing mind and the physical exertion of maintaining his speed. "I should've been there by now. What's happening?"
[The mystical forest is warping the space around you, expanding the distance by over 1,000 times what it appears,] SS replied, its voice calm and precise.
[Additionally, Circe's magic is constantly reshaping the paths to disorient you. Normally, it would take days to escape the forest, but with your speed, you're compressing the time. Even so, the manipulation of space is a significant obstacle.]
Clark gritted his teeth, the air whipping past him as he dodged another barrier of trees that had twisted in front of him. "But how much longer can I keep this up?"
[Given your current speed and the rapidly shifting environment, I estimate that you should reach the edge of the forest within the next few minutes. But beware—Circe's magic is intensifying. She's aware of your speed and is likely adjusting the forest's structure to slow you further.]
Clark's heart pounded in his chest, the sounds of the Gorgonaeus roaring from the distance urging him on. He couldn't afford to slow down. If Circe was intensifying the magic, then the danger to Diana and the others was growing by the second. His maximum speed was barely keeping him ahead of the forest's shifting traps.
'I need to break free, now,' he thought, pushing his body even harder.
The pressure in the air around him increased, the vines and trees closing in, but Clark was too fast. He was tearing through the forest, breaking the very fabric of the labyrinth with every step. The ground beneath him cracked as his super-speed tore apart the forest floor, sending shockwaves through the earth.
---
High above, Circe could feel her spell weakening. She had crafted the labyrinth to be inescapable, a test for even the mightiest of warriors. And yet, this boy was defying every expectation. His power was greater than she had anticipated, his speed godlike. The very magic she wielded was struggling to keep up with him.
"Impossible," Circe whispered, watching the scene unfold with a mixture of awe and disbelief. She had twisted the space around him, expanded the distance, but he was "outrunning" magic itself. With every second, Kal-El was breaking the rules of the very dimension she had created.
The labyrinth groaned in protest as Clark smashed through another wall of trees, his heat vision slicing through obstacles as they tried to rise in front of him. His mind was focused, locked onto his destination, and even the twisting space around him couldn't stop him now.
The roar of the Gorgonaeus was louder now, almost deafening. He was close—closer than he had been since the trial began.
Clark pushed one final time, every muscle in his body burning with effort. The space around him twisted again, the ground rippling like water, but Clark was faster. Much faster.
With a final burst of speed, Clark broke through the last barrier of the mystical forest, the air rushing past him as he exploded into the clearing at the edge. The trees behind him shuddered, the remnants of Circe's labyrinth crumbling as he left the twisted dimension behind.
---
Last Night
Before the day of the trial began, Queen Hippolyta had felt an unsettling presence stirring within the winds of Themyscira. It wasn't unusual for trials to evoke nerves, but this was different. A mother's instinct perhaps, or the deep, ingrained wisdom of her years on the throne. Either way, it drove her to seek guidance, and so she had traveled to the Temple of Apollo, the god of prophecy, to receive counsel.
The temple was a sacred place, hidden deep within the groves of the island. Bathed in golden light, it was here that the voices of the gods sometimes whispered their warnings. As Hippolyta stood before the altar, the flames flickering in the brazier, she felt the familiar chill of the Oracle's presence settle over her.
The vision had come in a rush—a flash of dark shadows, a vague silhouette of a monstrous figure moving through the forest, and her Amazons battling with everything they had. She had seen Philippus standing at the front lines, a fierce light in her eyes, her shield raised as she led the Amazons against the shadow. And then, she had seen Diana.
Her daughter had been in the heart of the chaos, fighting bravely, but the vision had grown clouded and indistinct as a massive, serpentine figure loomed over her. The details of the monster were lost in the haze of the vision, but the feeling it left in Hippolyta's heart was unmistakable—Diana was in danger. The kind of danger that could not be ignored.
When the vision ended, Hippolyta knew she had to act, though she had received little clarity on the nature of the threat. She had summoned Philippus and quietly instructed her to be ready for the unexpected. Though she did not want to alarm the other Amazons or cast doubt on Kal-El's trial, she had made it clear that precautions should be taken. A trial involving the mystical forest was never predictable, and she trusted Philippus to handle any unforeseen threats.
---
Now, on the battlefield at the edge of the forest, the reality of the situation had fully come to bear.
The Gorgonaeus, a creature of nightmare proportions, had emerged from the shadows of the forest with terrifying speed. Though no one had expected this specific monster, the Amazons were prepared, their training and discipline taking over as they formed their defensive line.
The Gorgonaeus was massive—its serpentine body coiled and undulated like a living tidal wave, and its eyes gleamed with the deadly power to petrify anyone who met its gaze.
Philippus had reacted immediately, barking orders with the calm authority of a seasoned warrior. The Amazons shifted into a tight formation, shields raised and spears at the ready. They moved as one, a unit forged in the fires of countless battles. Diana stood beside Philippus, her sword gleaming in the sunlight, her heart steady despite the fear gnawing at the edges of her mind.
The Gorgonaeus struck without hesitation, its tail whipping through the air with deadly precision, its fanged jaws snapping as it lunged at the warriors.
Philippus led the charge, her shield deflecting the creature's first strike, but the force of the blow sent her staggering back. The ground beneath them shook as the Gorgonaeus roared, its massive wings unfurling as it prepared for another attack.
"Hold your positions!" Philippus shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Do not look into its eyes! We fight as one!"
The Amazons obeyed without hesitation, their spears jabbing at the creature's flanks, their shields raised to protect themselves from its deadly gaze. Philippus moved like lightning, her spear finding purchase in the monster's thick hide, but the Gorgonaeus was relentless. It twisted and coiled, its massive form making it impossible to pin down, and every time it struck, it sent shockwaves through the ranks of the Amazons.
Diana fought valiantly, her sword flashing as she darted in and out of the battle, landing strikes against the creature's body. But for every blow she landed, the Gorgonaeus retaliated with twice the force. It was fast—faster than she had anticipated—and its sheer size made it almost impossible to avoid.
The battle was taking its toll.
The longer the fight dragged on, the more injuries mounted. Several Amazons had already been knocked back, their shields dented, their bodies battered by the Gorgonaeus's relentless attacks. Blood stained the ground beneath their feet, and though they continued to fight with bravery and discipline, it was clear that the situation was growing dire.
Philippus gritted her teeth, her shield raised as she deflected another strike from the creature's tail. She had seen battles like this before—battles where every second brought them closer to losing someone. And though the Amazons had not suffered a casualty yet, it was only a matter of time. The Gorgonaeus was too strong, too fast, and the injuries were mounting. If this went on much longer, there would be losses.
Diana, though unyielding, was beginning to tire. Her arms throbbed from the relentless onslaught, and though she remained composed, the intensity of the battle was bearing down on her. She glanced over at Philippus, who was still holding the front line with an unshakable resolve. The general had taken several heavy blows but continued to fight with a ferocity that inspired every Amazon on the field.
But then, in the chaos, the Gorgonaeus shifted its attention.
Its golden eyes flickered toward Diana, as though it had singled her out. Its serpentine body coiled, its wings flapping as it let out a bone-chilling screech.
Before anyone could react, the creature lunged forward, its massive tail wrapping around Diana with lightning speed. She gasped, struggling against the grip, but the creature's hold was too strong. In one swift motion, the Gorgonaeus lifted her into the air, its wings spreading wide as it began to rise, carrying her far above the battlefield, out of the reach of the Amazons below.
"Diana!" Philippus shouted, her heart racing as she watched the princess being lifted into the sky.
The Amazons threw their spears, their weapons sailing toward the creature, but it was too late. The Gorgonaeus was too high, and Diana's desperate struggles did nothing to loosen its grip. The creature let out a triumphant roar, its gaze turning toward the sky as it prepared to retreat into the safety of the forest, where it would finish its prey.
For a moment, time seemed to slow.
Diana felt the wind rushing past her, the ground far below. Despite the danger, she remained calm. She had been trained for this, taught to confront fear directly. But as she glanced down at the battlefield, the gravity of the situation closed in on her. The Gorgonaeus had her, and there was nothing anyone could do.
But then—suddenly, without warning—there was a blur of movement in the sky.
In the span of a heartbeat, Clark appeared, his body streaking through the air with impossible speed. His eyes locked onto Diana, and before the Gorgonaeus could react, Clark was there—flying—grabbing Diana from the creature's grasp with a speed and precision that left everyone stunned.
His control over the flight ability had improved compared to when he started learning since last year, but he rarely used it in front of others. But now, in this moment of desperation, instinct had taken over. He couldn't let Diana fall.
The creature let out a furious screech, its wings flapping wildly as it tried to maintain control. But Clark didn't give it the chance. With Diana secure in his arms, he flew downward, cutting through the air with blinding speed. He landed on the ground with a soft thud, setting Diana down safely beside him.
The battlefield was silent.
The Amazons, their eyes wide with disbelief, stared at Clark in shock. None of them had known that he could fly. And now, here he stood, his body still humming with energy, having just saved Diana from the clutches of a monster that had nearly claimed her life.
Diana, her breath coming in short gasps, looked up at Clark with wide eyes. "You… you flew," she whispered, her voice filled with awe.
Clark gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Yeah," he said softly. "I guess I did."
But there was no time to celebrate. The Gorgonaeus was still out there, and it wasn't done yet. Its furious roars echoed across the battlefield as it regrouped, its eyes glowing with malevolent rage.
Clark turned to face the monster, his fists clenched, his heart steady.
The battle wasn't over yet.
---