Kaius was lying down when he heard the name and froze for a moment.
"Who? Say it again?"
Lana seemed startled by Kaius's reaction. Her voice softened as she repeated, slightly confused:
"Clark Kent, the kid from the Kent Farm. His father is Jonathan Kent. He used to play centerback for the Smallville High football team."
Kent Farm… Clark Kent… Meteor shower, ten years ago...
Although years had passed and he had grown up in this world, many memories from his past life were now blurry.
But some things remained vivid—like his love for superheroes.
And one more thing: Clark Kent.
That's Superman!
A bold idea suddenly struck Kaius.
"Wait… Wait a minute. Could it be? Have I transmigrated into the DC Universe?"
"Smallville… Isn't that the town where Superman grew up?"
No wonder he hadn't noticed before. In China, Smallville was transliterated into something like "Smowell." Who could have guessed this small, inconspicuous town without a famous name was Superman's hometown?
Not to mention, Superman without his iconic red cape and outside underwear would be hard to recognize.
"Look! What's flying in the sky? Is it a bird? A plane? No, it's Superman!"
This familiar joke popped into Kaius's head. How ironic that someone like Superman, the so-called "freak" of the town, quietly lived next door, unnoticed. An alien from Krypton—destined to become a legendary superhero.
As Kaius's expression darkened in thought, Lana grew concerned and asked,
"Kaius, are you okay? Why did your face change when you heard Clark's name?"
"Oh, it's nothing," Kaius quickly recovered and chuckled. "I just remembered—his mother's name is Martha!"
Lana frowned, confused. "But… I didn't even mention his mom?"
Kaius realized his slip and laughed awkwardly. "Ah, my bad. Don't mind me!"
Of course, he couldn't tell Lana he was referencing a scene from Batman v Superman. That infamous line—"Martha"—had brought two heroes to an unlikely truce.
He waved dismissively. "Anyway, let's not dwell on the details. Take me to him."
Lana hesitated briefly but eventually shrugged off her doubts and led Kaius back to the school building. They headed to Class 2A. Inside the empty classroom sat a single student.
Kaius immediately noticed the boy. He looked about sixteen, with jet-black hair. Though not fully grown, his broad shoulders hinted at incredible strength.
Sensing their presence, the boy turned toward them.
"Hi, Clark," Lana greeted, smiling.
But Clark's face turned pale the moment Lana approached him.
"Hi, Lana..." he muttered weakly.
Clark secretly admired Lana, but for some reason, he always felt physically weak near her.
Kaius glanced at the necklace around Lana's neck—a green gem glowing faintly as she neared Clark.
Kryptonite!
It all made sense now.
Lana, unaware of the effect, muttered, "Why do you always look so uncomfortable when you see me?"
This was why she had asked Kaius to accompany her—to understand Clark's odd behavior.
Unbeknownst to Lana, the necklace she wore was made of the same meteorite fragments from the storm that had taken her parents ten years ago. To honor their memory, she had crafted it into jewelry, not knowing it was harming Clark.
Kaius stepped in, subtly pulling Lana back, away from Clark. As the necklace's glow dimmed, Clark's complexion improved.
"Hello, Clark," Kaius greeted warmly. "I'm Kaius Rogers." He added inwardly, Nice to meet you, Kal-El.
"Hi, I'm Clark Kent," the boy responded, his tone polite but cautious.
This was Kaius's first conversation with the future Superman.
In Kaius's memories, young Clark loved football. In Smallville, football wasn't just a sport—it was a tradition. Every generation prided itself on joining the team. Naturally, someone like Clark, growing up in this environment, also loved the game.
But Clark wasn't an ordinary boy. By the age of six, he could lift cars. He had to hide his powers carefully, avoiding activities like football, where his strength could harm others.
This secrecy left him lonely and confused during his teenage years. He didn't know where he came from or where he was going.
And yet, heroes are forged in such moments of doubt.
Kaius suppressed his excitement and said, "The football team's seniors are graduating soon. We're recruiting new players, and I wanted to invite you to join."
Clark shook his head. "Sorry, my father doesn't allow me to join the football team."
Jonathan Kent had his reasons. On the one hand, he didn't want Clark to reveal his superhuman abilities. On the other hand, he was concerned for the safety of others. American football is a physically demanding sport, and for someone to face Clark in a tackle would be like slamming into a steel wall.
The result? Broken bones, at best.
But Kaius wasn't ready to give up. This was his chance—a crucial first step to building a connection with Clark.
Superman!
The thought sent a wave of excitement through Kaius. What would it mean to be friends with the Superman?
Who would dare mess with him? "Go ahead, ask me if my brother is Superman!"
Moreover, Kaius had the Friendship System, which allowed him to unlock a character card when his friendship level with someone reached a certain point. If he could make Clark his friend, he'd gain the Little Superman card.
Even though Clark hadn't grown into the Superman everyone knew, his current abilities would surely make him a purple hero card—a powerful ally!
Determined, Kaius cleared his throat and spoke again.
"Clark, I'm not asking for your father's permission. I understand you probably have your reasons, but hear me out. Let me ask you something: what kind of person do you want to be? Forget the rules for a moment—what do you truly enjoy? What's in your heart?"
Clark flinched slightly, the words hitting close to home.
His adoptive father, Jonathan Kent, was a righteous and strict man. While his rules were meant to protect Clark, they often felt suffocating—especially for a teenager grappling with his identity. Clark wanted to push back but couldn't.
"I… I want to fit in," Clark said softly, turning his head away. "But I can't. I'm too different."
He knew the risks. One mistake, and someone could get hurt.
Kaius stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Clark's shoulder. The moment his hand landed, he was stunned. What is this? Lead-filled muscles?
Clearing his throat, he said, "Clark, sometimes you have to give yourself—and others—a chance. Try. You'll see that things aren't as hard as you think. You might even surprise yourself."
The words, though simple, struck a chord. Clark's shoulders trembled slightly, and a spark of hope lit in his eyes.
"Do you think I can really do that?" he asked hesitantly, looking at Kaius and Lana.
Kaius gave him a firm nod. "How about this? At 2 p.m., I'll go with you to the training session. Just give it a shot. After today, you can decide whether you want to join."
Clark hesitated, but finally nodded with determination. "Alright. I'll go to practice this afternoon, but I need to talk to my dad first. Don't worry—I'll convince him."
His confidence wavered slightly toward the end, but it didn't matter. Kaius now had a reason to keep interacting with Clark without seeming too eager.
After grabbing a few books, Clark said goodbye and left. As soon as he was gone, Kaius opened the Friendship System. Sure enough, a new figure appeared in the interface—it was Clark Kent's profile.
The system displayed Clark's current friendship level at 50% (Neutral). Once it reached Friendly, the figure would transform into an exclusive character card.
And the color of that card?
Purple!
A purple hero card!
As Kaius grinned at his success, Lana's voice broke through his thoughts.
"Kaius, I didn't think you'd actually convince Clark. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much."
Kaius straightened up confidently. "Well, what can I say? I'm just that charismatic."
Lana giggled, her laughter light and infectious. "You're so full of yourself! Alright then, how should I reward you?"
Before Kaius could respond, Lana leaned forward, settling herself on his lap. Her soft body pressed against his, and her delicate hands rested on his chest. Her breath was warm against his neck, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance.