Kara left Oa Star after confirming the situation with the Parallax monster. If the Parallax monster still posed a threat to her or her family, Kara would have no hesitation in destroying it.
At least one more decisive blow would ensure the creature wouldn't dare return.
However, it seemed the threat had subsided. With that realization, Kara felt relief and decided it was time to return to Earth.
She hadn't expected to be delayed for five years during her departure. During this time, Kara had been tirelessly analyzing the structures and compositions of the sun, right down to its particles.
The dangerous radiations, lethal to humans, were a potent source of power for her.
Solar flares, in particular, were immensely beneficial. Even the smallest solar flare equaled the explosion of tens of billions of hydrogen bombs. Large flares were almost unimaginable in their scale of destruction.
For Kara, however, they were an unparalleled source of strength, amplifying her abilities in ways that would take hundreds of years of Earth's sunlight to achieve.
Moreover, she had ventured into the sun's core, where the power was magnified a thousandfold.
These five years of exposure were equivalent to Kara bathing in Earth's sunlight for tens of thousands of years.
When Kara finally returned to Earth, it was late at night. She had chosen the timing deliberately to avoid unnecessary attention from the Green Lantern Corps or the distraction of others.
As she walked toward her childhood home, Kara glanced at the rings on her fingers—each a relic of the emotional spectrum.
"These rings are cumbersome," she muttered, frowning at how they dominated her fingers. Their bulky design was inconvenient and far too conspicuous for her liking.
"It would be better if they were strings," Kara thought.
With a simple application of her reality-altering powers, the ten rings transformed into strings, each retaining the original color of its respective emotional spectrum.
The strings were far less intrusive and much more aesthetically pleasing. Kara tested her grip, finding it more comfortable.
By then, she had landed in front of her family home.
"Woof, woof!"
A dog's excited barks echoed through the yard. The door burst open as Krypto darted out, circling Kara in joy.
"Krypto, what's going on?"
Martha emerged from the house, concerned, but froze when she saw the figure standing in the yard.
Golden hair cascaded down Kara's back, framing her sharp features. Her red cape billowed in the wind, and her radiant presence exuded strength and beauty.
"Mom, I'm home," Kara greeted with a warm smile, gently nudging Krypto aside before stepping forward to hug her adoptive mother.
Martha embraced her tightly, though she couldn't resist scolding: "You've been gone for five years, young lady. You're lucky I'm happy to see you."
Krypto wagged his tail, unbothered, content to lie by Kara's feet.
Hearing the commotion, Jonathan came to the door. He glanced at Kara but turned back inside with a soft huff.
Kara chuckled, understanding that her father was still upset about her prolonged absence.
"Have you eaten yet? Let me fix you something," Martha offered as she hurried to the kitchen.
Kara wanted to protest but hesitated. She had missed her mother's cooking and found herself longing for a taste of home.
Carrying Krypto in her arms, Kara followed her mother into the house.
Jonathan, who had been pretending to watch television, stole glances at his daughter. As she sat down on the sofa, Krypto on her lap, Kara tilted her head and smiled at him.
Jonathan huffed again. "First you, and now Clark. Both of you seem determined to leave this house behind."
Kara sighed, recognizing the root of his frustration.
She was thirty-five now but still looked like she was barely out of her teens. Her Kryptonian physiology had preserved her youth, and her powers had only grown stronger. She could rival the mightiest beings in the universe, yet she was still his little girl.
Clark, now twenty-five, had recently graduated from college and decided to follow in Kara's footsteps by traveling the world. Kara had supported his decision wholeheartedly, but it was clear Jonathan was unhappy with both his children venturing away.
Martha poked her head out of the kitchen, scolding her husband: "Don't start, Jonathan. She just got home. And weren't you the one encouraging Clark to explore the world?"
Kara smiled softly, grateful for her mother's defense but acutely aware of the lingering tension.
When Martha returned to the kitchen, Jonathan turned off the TV and addressed Kara.
"What have you been up to all these years?" he asked. "You called us a few times, but I always felt like you were farther away than just distance. It felt like we might lose you forever."
Kara paused, unsure how to answer.
After a moment, she gently stroked Krypto's fur, organizing her thoughts.
"I've been searching for something," she began carefully, looking up to meet Jonathan's gaze. "A way to save Krypton—or perhaps even bring it back."
Jonathan's expression softened, though his concern deepened.
"Do you mean to say…"
Kara nodded. "If I proceed, I might be able to resurrect the Kryptonian people, including my biological parents—and Clark's biological family as well. But it's a choice I don't take lightly."
Jonathan remained silent, processing her words, while Martha stood in the kitchen doorway, her face a mix of worry and pride.
Kara's journey was far from over, and the choices ahead were bound to reshape the universe itself.