Although Clark had lived on Earth for several years now, his body was still in the process of adapting to his new environment. His Kryptonian physiology was gradually learning to process the solar radiation and atmospheric conditions that would eventually grant him incredible abilities, but for now, his development remained incomplete.
Currently, Clark simply possessed better physical capabilities than other children his age—enhanced strength, speed, and coordination that made him exceptional but not yet superhuman. He wasn't invulnerable to weapons or fire, and his bones, while sturdy, were still fundamentally human in their limitations.
However, Marcus could sense that Clark's adaptation was approaching a critical threshold. The boy's cellular structure was beginning to show signs of the dramatic changes that would transform him from an enhanced human into something far more extraordinary.
"When I come back next time," Marcus thought to himself, observing Clark's eager movements, "his Kryptonian heritage will probably be impossible to hide."
The adaptation process was reaching its final stage. Soon, Clark would undergo a transformation that would fundamentally alter his relationship with the world around him. Marcus found himself both excited and slightly concerned about what that would mean for the boy's future.
Looking at Clark, who was practically vibrating with enthusiasm to learn more techniques, Marcus couldn't help but smile. This child who called him godfather would one day become something approaching a god on Earth—a protector whose power would be matched only by his compassion.
"Things have changed so much from what I remember," Marcus mused silently. "Whether it's Clark or Bruce, they're following completely different paths than the ones I expected. I really look forward to seeing what kind of Justice League emerges from these changes."
The future was unwritten now, full of possibilities that excited him more than any predetermined destiny ever could.
"Come on, Clark," Marcus said, leading the boy out of the barn. "Let me show you what you're working toward."
Standing in the open area behind the barn, Marcus positioned himself in the familiar stance of the Crushing Punch technique. Clark watched with rapt attention as his godfather drew back his fist, energy gathering around his arm in a way that made the air itself seem to shimmer.
Marcus released the punch toward empty space, and instantly a tremendous gust of wind erupted from the point of impact. The force was so powerful that it kicked up clouds of dust and sent loose debris swirling in all directions. Several chickens squawked in alarm and fled to safer distances.
"Clark, this is what you want to achieve, right?" Marcus asked, brushing dust from his clothes.
"Yes!" Clark's eyes were wide with amazement, and he nodded so vigorously that his hair bounced. "Can I really hit such a powerful punch someday?"
Marcus reached out and gently ruffled Clark's hair, his expression warm and encouraging. "Don't worry, you'll definitely be able to do it in the future. In fact, you'll eventually hit punches that are much stronger than this one."
The promise filled Clark with such excitement that he could barely contain himself. He began shadowboxing enthusiastically, throwing practice punches at the air while making whooshing sound effects with his mouth.
"I'm going to be so strong!" Clark declared, his movements becoming more animated. "I'll protect everyone just like you do!"
After burning off some of his excess energy with an impromptu training session, Clark's stomach reminded him that there was still barbecue waiting at the grill. He raced back toward the house, leaving Marcus to follow at a more leisurely pace.
While Clark busied himself with the remaining food, Jonathan approached Marcus carrying two cold beers. His expression was serious, like a man finally ready to solve a mystery that had been bothering him for years.
"Marcus, I need to ask you something," Jonathan said, offering one of the beers. "Can you tell me the secret to your barbecue technique? No matter what I try, I can't replicate that special flavor your meat always has."
"Special flavor?" Marcus accepted the beer with a puzzled expression. "I just grill meat the normal way. If my barbecue tastes good—tender and juicy—I can understand that. But what's this about a special flavor? I honestly don't know what you're talking about."
To prove his point, Marcus picked up a piece of Jonathan's barbecue from the plate and chewed it thoughtfully. "This tastes exactly like what I would make. I don't notice any difference."
"No, no, you're wrong," Jonathan insisted, shaking his head emphatically. "I remember the first time I ate your barbecue—there was this incredible aroma, unlike anything I'd ever tasted before. It was... I don't know how to describe it, but it was amazing."
Marcus raised an eyebrow, trying to recall that first barbecue session. "Could it be because I marinated the meat that time? If there was any difference, it was probably that I added some spices and let the meat soak for a while before grilling."
"But I marinate my meat too!" Jonathan protested. "I've been using a recipe I learned from a grillmaster Why doesn't mine taste the same as yours?"
Now Marcus was genuinely confused. If they were both following similar processes, the results should be comparable. "Show me exactly how you marinate the meat."
Jonathan led him to a large metal basin where several pieces of beef were soaking. Marcus took one look at the setup and immediately understood the problem.
"Jonathan... this is what you call marinating?"
The basin was filled with what looked more like bloody water than marinade. The beef was essentially just sitting in its own juices with a few scattered spices floating on the surface.
"So this is your idea of proper marination?" Marcus asked, trying to keep the amusement out of his voice.
"Of course!" Jonathan replied confidently. "I learned this technique from that grillmaster I mentioned. But I have to admit, I didn't understand some parts of his recipe. He kept using terms like 'the right amount' and 'a little bit'—what's that supposed to mean?"
Marcus couldn't help but press his palm to his forehead. The fact that Jonathan had managed to produce even edible barbecue using this method was actually quite impressive. His natural cooking instincts had somehow compensated for a fundamentally flawed technique.
"You know what? You actually have remarkable talent to make decent barbecue despite not understanding the recipe at all," Marcus said. "Bring me that recipe, and I'll help. I guarantee your barbecue will improve dramatically."
A few minutes later, Jonathan was holding a revised recipe with clear, specific measurements and instructions. Gone were the vague terms that had confused him for so long, replaced with exact quantities and timing that anyone could follow.
"Oh! So that's what I was doing wrong!" Jonathan exclaimed, studying the new instructions. "No wonder I could never get it right!"
Excited to test his newfound knowledge, Jonathan immediately began preparing a fresh batch of marinade. This time, instead of the bloody mess he'd been creating, each piece of beef was evenly coated with a properly balanced mixture of spices and seasonings.
"Remember to remove the larger spice pieces before grilling," Marcus advised, patting Jonathan on the shoulder. "Otherwise the flavor will be too intense."
"Got it," Jonathan nodded, carefully following the new instructions.
Marcus settled down next to Clark, who was still working his way through the previous batch of barbecue with determined enthusiasm. As Jonathan began grilling the properly marinated meat, an incredible aroma began to fill the air—rich, complex, and absolutely mouthwatering.
Clark immediately looked up from his plate, drawn by the scent. "That smells amazing! Dad, I want some of that!"
"Just wait until your dad finishes grilling it," Marcus said with a smile. "Then we can all eat together."
Jonathan was practically glowing with satisfaction as he tended the grill. "This is it! This is exactly the smell I remembered from your barbecue. I can't believe it took me this long to figure out something so simple."
Clark sat patiently beside Jonathan, though his eyes remained fixed on the sizzling meat and a small trail of drool had begun forming at the corner of his mouth again.
Watching the interaction between father and son, Marcus felt a deep sense of satisfaction. This was exactly why Clark would grow up to become Earth's greatest protector. The love, patience, and moral guidance he received from Jonathan and Martha were shaping him into someone who would use his incredible future powers in service of others rather than for personal gain.
"This is completely different from someone like Homelander," Marcus reflected. While both individuals would possess similar abilities, their upbringings were creating fundamentally different people. Clark was learning empathy, humility, and genuine care for others, while Homelander had been raised in a corporate laboratory, treated more like a product than a person.
The contrast would be stark when both reached their full potential. Clark would see himself as humanity's protector and ally, while Homelander viewed humans as inferior beings who existed to serve his ego.
"Speaking of future challenges," Marcus mused, "I wonder how things will play out when General Zod eventually arrives on Earth. Will he still be Clark's equal in combat, or will the Crushing Punch techniques give Clark a significant advantage?"
The thought intrigued him. In his memories of the original timeline, Zod had been a formidable opponent precisely because he possessed the same basic abilities as Clark but with superior training and combat experience. However, this version of Clark was learning fighting techniques that the original never had access to.
"It'll be interesting to see whether Zod ends up as Clark's rival or if he gets completely overwhelmed by techniques he's never encountered before," Marcus thought with anticipation.
The future was full of possibilities, and Marcus found himself genuinely excited to see how these changes would ripple outward to affect the entire world.
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