Clark stood in the editor's office, arms crossed, looking at the editor and saying, "No matter what, I must publish this report. If you disagree, I'll go out and do it myself."
The editor took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes forcefully, and then, as furious as a bull, charged in front of Clark, roaring, "The news I've asked you to watch over, you've never managed to catch! You take my salary and write your own reports. Clark Kent, do you really think I don't dare fire you?!"
"I know you dare because you've already fired many people. But this report, I really have to publish it. So I suggest you leave me a page..."
The editor took a deep breath, looked into his eyes and said, "Just because you're Superman, you think you're great?! Taking the company's money means you must work for the company! You better write the report I want now, or don't even discuss it!"
Clark furrowed his brow. He realized that ever since he appeared publicly, his identity disguise seemed pointless. In theory, his biological field should be able to disrupt human perception, but this disruption is not brainwashing, and the effect is very limited.
In the past, when he appeared to save people, it was usually from a distance, and even if there were photos, they were not frontal shots. Because he's too fast, cameras can't catch him, and it's hard to have long videos. Most people haven't formed a deep impression of him, so the interference effect works well.
However, ever since he appeared on TV, with cameras directly facing his front, and the speech time being long and widely circulated, many people remembered his appearance. People's resistance to interference varies from person to person, and some people are not easily suggested, so being discovered is unavoidable.
Clark has come to terms with it; real-name system is just real-name system. At least for now, the benefits he gained from it are advantages, aren't they? Most people are willing to open convenient doors for Superman.
"Alright, let's make a deal. I'll write the report you want, but you have to let me publish my report."
"Are you mistaken? The newspaper pays you a salary, so writing reports that the newspaper demands is only right. You still want to negotiate with me?"
"How about this, you take a look at my report first, and then consider it. I think these contents could at least make The Daily Planet a bit hot." Clark took out a pile of documents from his pocket, placed them on the editor's desk, and continued, "If it really gets hot, you don't have to give me a bonus, no need to thank me."
After speaking, he walked out of the editor's office and returned to his own office. Standing in front of the coffee machine, he brewed coffee while absentmindedly looking out at the skyline. His mind echoed with Bruce's words.
"Human race still needs to rely on humans themselves," Clark whispered. Hopefully, his report can have a positive effect, encouraging more people not to give up; it's ultimately a good thing.
The coffee completion alert sounded, bringing Clark back to reality. Just as he turned to leave with the coffee cup, he suddenly saw a black silhouette on the skyline. At first, it was just a black dot, but it closed in at a shocking speed.
Clark gasped, could this be a missile?!
In fact, it wasn't much different from a missile. When the silhouette flew into the city, Clark could see that it was a giant monster like a small mountain, with black-gray skin and covered in spikes, looking evil and violent.
It landed on the rooftop of a building, broke off the antenna, and threw it out like a spear, directly destroying a helicopter. Then it crashed to the ground, creating a big pit on the asphalt road.
Clark backed up two steps in place, hearing the editor's scream at the door: "Superman!!!!!!!!!"
The red and blue figure flew between buildings, with a deep red cape like pulsing blood, the metallic gleam of the "S" emblem dazzling in the sunlight.
Clark slowly descended, squinting as he looked at the figure jumping between buildings in the distance. This monster was extremely strange.
He took a deep breath, raised his arms, and suddenly charged forward, hitting the monster's waist, knocking it off the building. But in mid-air, he shifted direction, elbowing the monster toward the ground. With a "boom," dense smoke and dust rose from the ground.
Clark punched the monster's cheekbone but found it remained unmoved, the bone was as hard as iron.
Just as he was about to punch again, he suddenly felt himself grabbed and then thrown like a frisbee.
Superman made a sharp stop in the air, hearing a commotion behind him. As he turned his head, everyone inside the building's glass wall was watching him with fright. He took a deep breath, realizing this battle couldn't be fought inside the city.
He charged forward once more, gripping the monster around its neck, dragging it along the road for several hundred meters. Yet the other side could exert force even in the air, the two fought in mid-air like a gladiatorial contest, one pushing forward, the other pulling back, neither willing to yield.
Colliding again, Clark looked into the monster's eyes. Its pupils were an evil red, yet for some reason, Clark felt that its eyes looked familiar.
In an instant of distraction, he was smashed into the ground, followed by huge fists pounding his body. "Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Three consecutive punches, creating a deep pit in the middle of the road. Superman lay in the pit, face gray and dusty, with blood stains at the corner of his mouth.
Taking advantage as the monster raised its fist momentarily, he flew out from the pit, high above, staring down at the monster.
Pain emanated from his chest, as he looked down, seeing his battlesuit damaged, his skin even scraped.
Shocked, he looked at the monster's fist, and sure enough, saw a glowing green sphere on its backhand.
Kryptonite?! But how is this possible?!
Clark's heart began to sink. Right now, only he and the military hold Kryptonite; this monster must have been created by the military.
Clark clenched his fist. But this time, anger did not cloud his rationality; he carefully thought through strategies.
The monster flew into the air again, charging toward him, Clark nimbly avoiding conflict with it. Since it refused to run outside the city, they'd have to fight in the sky, at least not destroying buildings on the ground. As for the military's planes, Clark didn't want to bother anymore.
Large and small, the two figures continuously collided in the sky. Punch after punch, even more fierce, tireless.
After a while, Clark started to breathe heavily. This damn monster seemed neither to be hurt nor tired, he could not break through its defense at all.
During his pause for breath, the monster charged at him again, brutally slamming him to the ground. This time, it directly crashed onto the top of a building, the entire structure collapsing.
Clark suddenly flew up, once again lifting the fragments of the shattered building. But the monster followed closely, a scarlet heat beam striking Clark as he flew towards the ground.
Clark let out a painful cry, plummeting downwards. But just before he hit the ground, he barely stabilized his figure, placed the building debris on the ground, and rushed back, locking the monster's neck and dragging it back into the sky.
The intense burning sensation from behind triggered the negative emotions deep within him again, anger surging like a tide. The strength in Clark's arms grew stronger, but the monster's hard bones couldn't be broken no matter what.
The monster returned to slam into the ground, this time landing on its back, pressing Clark underneath. Clark kicked it away with his legs, staggering to stand up from the crater.
People looking out from the building windows gasped as they saw the long, charred wound on Clark's back, so deep that his spine was visible.
"God!!!" someone screamed, "Superman can't defeat it!!"
"Save him! Save him!!!"
Feeling the pain from his back, Clark's gaze grew colder. He slightly raised his head, reaching for his neck, tearing off a chain with a green gemstone. Clark looked down at the Kryptonite in his hand, pressing his lips together. The gemstone slipped from his hand, falling among the rubble and flickering with a dazzling luster in the sunlight.
"Boom!"
The sonic boom sounded instantly. No one saw his movement clearly; by the time they realized, Superman and the monster were both gone.
Above the atmosphere, a red-and-blue figure grabbed the monster's leg, tossing it upwards. The monster flew like a rocket, directly into space.
Superman leaped into the air, standing above Earth, staring coldly at the monster. He asked, "Who are you?"
The monster did not reply, only roaring furiously. Superman stretched out his arms, the Sun approached him, its endless heat repairing his body and accumulating strength inside him.
After a slight tremor, his eyes emitted a bright light, akin to the gods descending upon the world. After a pause, "Boom!!!!"
A red laser, several meters thick, shot out vertically, brightening half of Earth's sky. The sky seemed to be cut open by a scorching red blade, the tremendous heat causing a heat wave to rise from the Earth's surface.
The spikes on the monster within the laser were being eroded little by little, its skin beginning to melt. It opened its mouth wide but couldn't make a sound.
After the laser disappeared, the monster's figure shrank a circle from before, burned beyond recognition. It seemed finally afraid, turning to fly into the depths of the cosmos. Superman did not chase, standing still, watching its silhouette disappear.
Just now, after burning away all the Kryptonite components on the monster, part of its original form finally appeared. Clark recognized it; it was the General Zod he had seen previously outside the Krypton Main Ship.
Clark flew back to Earth, purposely evading all reporters, found a small alley to change clothes, then went to find the Kryptonite he had discarded.
The Kryptonite powder injected into his body not only established immunity but also brought him a new ability. Within a certain range, he could vaguely sense the presence of Kryptonite. Following this sensation, he arrived at the scene and retrieved his necklace before the police arrived.
Just as he walked out of that street, he heard a familiar voice. He ran towards it, and indeed saw Lois, with a camera around her neck, talking to the police.
Clark walked in Lois's direction, waving at her. Lois saw him but still calmly said goodbye to the police and quietly ran over to him.
"Heavens, are you okay?" Lois rushed into Clark's arms, gave him a hug, then said, "I heard you were hurt…"
"I'm fine," Clark said softly, "I'm all better now."
"Fine now, what about before?" Lois looked at him with great concern and said, "Didn't you say you couldn't get hurt?"
"This opponent is a bit troublesome. But everything's okay now." Clark hugged her, gently stroking her hair.
After a moment of tenderness, he remembered the matter at hand. He said, "Do you know which direction this monster initially came from?"
"I didn't see it myself. But the sound of the fighter jet was from the east, then flew directly towards the south." Lois pointed to a direction.
Clark nodded, having an idea. There is a military base to the south; this monster must have escaped from a military base. Otherwise, they couldn't respond so fast, nor aim so precisely.
"What's with that monster? Where did it come from?"
Clark had his guesses but still shook his head. Just then, Lois's phone rang. After answering, she said, "Yes, I'm heading to the crime scene now… What? How could… Okay, I understand."
She put away the phone, her face serious, looked at Clark and said, "My source says the military plans to classify the monster as an alien invader. Meanwhile, they will reveal your identity to shift the public's focus."