With Brainiac eliminated, the biggest threat hanging over Smallville vanished.
The Kryptonian crisis was—at least for now—over.
Peace returned to the small town.
And since Lex Luthor had captured nearly all remaining meteor mutants, even the occasional mutant-related chaos disappeared entirely.
These days, Alex spent his time wandering around Smallville, checking in on Lex's laboratory to monitor progress, and occasionally exchanging notes with Clark Kent on developing superpowers.
Even though Clark now knew Alex wasn't Kryptonian, their powers overlapped too much.
Alex's insight remained invaluable.
Their relationship had changed drastically.
Originally, they clashed repeatedly over Alex's harsh treatment of meteor mutants.
But after Brainiac, after the Kryptonian invaders, their bond was no longer hostile—it had grown into something like camaraderie.
---
"Homelander, why can't I fly yet?"
Clark sat casually on Alex's couch, genuinely seeking guidance.
In the past, he had never cared.
His current abilities were already absurd—super strength, invulnerability, super-speed, heat vision, regeneration…
Compared to ordinary humans, he was a god.
Compared to meteor mutants, he was the final boss.
He had no ambition to grow stronger.
But after the appearance of Ussa and the other Kryptonians…
Clark was shaken.
He had realized the truth:
He was still too weak.
Especially the inability to fly—it had become a glaring, dangerous flaw.
Alex handed him a cold drink and sat down.
> "Didn't Jor-El give you any advice?"
Clark sighed.
> "According to him, it's psychological.
He said I can't fly because the time isn't right.
So his advice was… to 'let it happen naturally.'"
Alex blinked.
> "…That's it?"
So much for Kryptonian wisdom.
The advice was correct but useless—basically saying nothing.
And ironically, Alex himself had no better answer.
> "Clark, truthfully… my case is the same."
"One day I just… started flying."
"No training, no practice. It just happened."
Clark stared.
> "Are you kidding me?"
Alex shrugged.
> "Look, I can't teach you how to fly.
But I can let you experience what flying feels like.
Maybe that will help."
Clark brightened immediately.
> "I'm ready whenever you are."
---
Flight Demonstration
At the doorway, Alex lifted a hand—telekinesis wrapped around Clark.
BOOM!
A sonic boom cracked through the sky as the two vanished.
Twenty minutes later, they touched down again.
Clark was still buzzing with excitement.
> "So that's what flight feels like!"
Even in such a short time, he had gained a sense for it—Alex's demonstration had helped far more than Jor-El's philosophical riddles.
Alex opened his mouth to continue—
But suddenly his expression sharpened.
A warning echoed in his ears through super-hearing:
> "Alert! Intruders detected!"
"The base has been compromised!"
Alex stood up instantly.
> "Clark, excuse me for a moment."
No hesitation—he vanished.
Lex Luthor's secret kryptonite research base had been breached.
Clark listened as well—his own super-hearing picked it up.
He considered helping… but after a moment of thought, he turned and left.
Alex might be ruthless, but he wasn't harming innocents.
Clark chose to trust him.
---
Meanwhile, outside the hidden base near Smallville
Alex arrived—silent as a ghost.
And his super-hearing picked up a conversation inside:
> "Oliver, the base is clear. Your turn."
> "Good job, Barry.
I knew asking for your help was the right call.
None of us could've cleared this place in under a minute."
Alex froze for a beat.
Oliver.
Barry.
Green Arrow.
The Flash.
Those two?
What were the Central City speedster and Star City vigilante doing all the way in Smallville?
His phone buzzed.
Lex Luthor calling, obviously panicking about the intrusion.
Alex ignored it.
He strolled into the base.
All personnel lay unconscious on the ground—neat, orderly, and very clearly blitzed before they even realized what hit them.
Classic Flash.
Alex lifted his gaze.
> "Flash.
Green Arrow."
"Who gave you two the guts to break into my base?"
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