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Azu paced anxiously back and forth, murmuring to himself, "I can do this, because I'm the son of Peter Podrick. If I set my mind to it, I can accomplish anything."
He stopped, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. "Just remember what that first flight felt like. Let go of fear. Dad needs me now—I can do this."
But closing his eyes didn't silence his doubts; fear surged within him like a massive tidal wave crashing over his heart. Every part of his body felt the powerful jolt of nerves, overwhelming his senses.
Boom!
Frustrated and on edge, Azu punched the ground.
Nearby, the Martian Manhunter took a deep breath and addressed him, "Believe me, John, if you want to save your father, you have to find calm within yourself. I saw your potential from our first encounter."
"You don't understand me at all!" Azu replied, his tone volatile. "Not one bit!"
Struggling to sit up, the Martian Manhunter responded, "I understand you because I have this gift too, John."
"This isn't a gift," Azu muttered bitterly, hating his own helplessness.
"It is a gift," Martian Manhunter continued, trying to guide Azu. "Sometimes, to gain something, you must first let go. Strength and wisdom are born of courage. If you fear loss, then consider everything lost already. The only thing left is courage. Go on, John—fly!"
Hearing this, something inside Azu stirred.
Courage?
He repeated the word to himself and suddenly felt his lungs expand, like a balloon filling with oxygen. His breathing became strong, rhythmic, and cold, lifting dust and debris around him.
He could try again.
With newfound confidence, Azu took a deep breath, set his feet, and prepared to launch.
The next second, he sprang into the sky.
Boom!
A thunderous crack filled the air as Azu broke through the sound barrier, soaring upward. Wind roared past, and the dark clouds seemed to grow closer.
Awe filled Azu as he climbed higher, the sounds of turbulent air like the heart of a tornado or the river's depths. Ignoring the thrill, he accelerated, breaking through the clouds at his limit.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The deafening cracks echoed as he pierced the sky. Meanwhile, Peter, held by the Parasite, was dragged upward at breakneck speed, breaking through the clouds. Despite his pain and exhaustion from having his energy drained, Peter swung a fist at his captor.
The Parasite grabbed his fist, sneering, "Dad, I'm stronger than ever now. I can devour anything."
"Oh yeah? Try this, you fool!"
Peter opened his fist, revealing a ring-sized piece of Kryptonite in his palm.
The Parasite recoiled, shocked at the sight of the Kryptonite, knowing its effects on Clark's powers. "You!" he gasped, realizing Peter had kept it with him all along.
Peter, unaware of the Parasite's thoughts, might have laughed if he knew. I just keep this as a collectible, not for you, son.
Boom!
With a punch powered by Kryptonite, Peter hit the Parasite in the jaw. Both clung to each other to avoid falling as the Parasite, disoriented by the Kryptonite, heard a ringing in his ears and his vision darkened.
"How's Dad's punch taste?" Peter taunted, catching the Parasite off guard and hitting him again.
Enraged, the Parasite retaliated, grabbing Peter and hurling him earthward. Unable to fly, Peter plummeted.
High above, Azu spotted his father falling.
"Dad!" Azu became a blazing comet as he dove, forming a U-turn to intercept his father's descent.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Azu pushed past the sound barrier, a red-hot shockwave forming in front of him. The pressure pounded his eardrums, and despite his invulnerability, he could feel the atmospheric force closing in on him.
Just then, Peter was bracing himself for impact when he heard a sudden boom and saw a blur streaking toward him.
Boom!
Azu flew up and grabbed Peter, holding him tight. The impact was so intense that even Peter felt as if his bones might shatter.
"Dad, I got you!" Azu shouted, thrilled as they began descending together.
Peter, surprised, forgot his pain and looked in astonishment. His son had learned to fly!
"You did it, John," he murmured, suppressing a cough as he fought back the urge to vomit. If I were an ordinary person, I'd have been broken in half by that "rescue," he thought, both amused and touched.
This kid had overcome his fears for him—something Peter had never achieved in all their past training sessions.
"How did you conquer your fear, John?" Peter asked.
"No, Dad. I didn't. My courage just became greater than my fear."
...
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