"Should we go?" Clark hesitated at the Sentry's suggestion. In the past, he would have had no qualms about confronting an organization like Vought International to hold them accountable for their schemes.
However, the situation had changed. The Avengers no longer had the authority to act as enforcers, and public opinion was squarely against them. Even with ample evidence and justification, any action Clark took against Vought would inevitably be spun by the media and exploited by Vought's PR machine.
Clark didn't care about Vought itself, but he did care about how ordinary people viewed him. He wanted to avoid situations where saving lives would result in ridicule or accusations.
"What's this? Are you just going to let them off the hook?" The Sentry was surprised at Clark's hesitation. "Let me be blunt. Even if you leave them alone, they won't stop targeting us."
"After the Avengers stepped back, Vought monopolized the superhero market and made a fortune. They've also gained complete control over the narrative."
"But when I broke away from Vought, everything changed. My presence meant Vought was no longer the sole superhero entity. And because I keep a lower profile compared to the Homelander and his antics, I inherited a lot of the Avengers' original fanbase. That put Vought on edge."
"Then you showed up, complicating things even further. Your connection to the Avengers causes some people to dislike you, but you weren't part of the team during the Ultron incident. So, when you returned, your fans stayed loyal to you."
"This has left the Seven in an even worse position. Their popularity was already waning, and now we've become a threat to Vought's bottom line. Of course they're going to try to take us out."
The Sentry's insight into Vought's strategies was clear evidence that he had studied the corporation extensively.
Clark frowned as he absorbed the Sentry's words. Before he could respond, his attention was drawn to something else. Turning his head sharply toward the horizon, he focused on a distant point. The Sentry noticed his reaction and followed suit.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
In an instant, both Clark and the Sentry vanished, heading toward the same destination—a tumultuous stretch of ocean where massive waves threatened a cargo ship. In the distance, tornadoes churned, endangering several other vessels.
The scene was apocalyptic. The ships, caught in this natural catastrophe, were helpless. Passengers and crew scrambled in panic, realizing their odds of survival were slim.
Unlike the earlier crisis involving superhuman experiments, this disaster had no obvious perpetrator. But it posed an even greater challenge because it was purely natural—or so it seemed. Earth's increasing resilience to damage had made superhuman battles less destructive, but natural disasters, fueled by the planet's intensified energy cycles, had become more ferocious.
In normal circumstances, large ships like these could weather such storms. Yet now they were as fragile as toy boats, their propulsion systems seemingly paralyzed, leaving them at the mercy of the waves.
Fortunately, Clark and the Sentry arrived swiftly, their speed ensuring they wasted no time. Displaying feats of superhuman strength, each of them lifted a massive ship out of the treacherous waters and transported it to calmer seas. They returned for the other vessels, repeating the process until every ship was safely relocated.
"Superman! He's back!"
"And the Sentry too! That ship over there was saved by him!"
"I always thought they were similar. Who knew they'd team up?"
"They saved us. I thought we were done for!"
"That storm was scarier than the time the cosmic titan tried to consume Earth!"
"At least the cosmic titan was far away. This time, we were in the middle of it!"
Onboard the rescued ships, passengers and crew expressed their gratitude and relief. Without Clark and the Sentry's intervention, no one would have survived.
As for the Seven? No one even considered them a viable hope. The Seven rarely operated beyond American shores, and even if they had been nearby, they lacked the power to handle such a situation.
Years ago, Homelander had attempted to save a crashing plane. His inability to protect the passengers due to his lack of a bioelectric force field had resulted in catastrophic failure. The plane crashed, killing everyone aboard. The incident had sparked outrage online, with comparisons drawn to Clark's past successes in saving aircraft.
Now, as people watched Clark and the Sentry in action, many couldn't help but compare them to Homelander. The difference was stark, and Homelander's reputation paled in comparison.
"By the way," the Sentry said as he set down the last ship, his gaze fixed on the ocean. "This storm might have been natural, but something's off down below."
Clark nodded in agreement, his expression grave. "Where are the Atlanteans? This isn't their territory, but a disturbance this big should've drawn their attention."
For the Atlanteans, such a calamity was dangerous even underwater. But while they might have avoided direct involvement, it was strange that none of them were observing from a distance. It felt as if this region was off-limits to them, raising Clark's suspicions.
"Let's go take a look. Maybe we'll find something," Clark suggested.
Though both had enhanced vision, the depths below were obscured. They could sense faint, unusual energy waves emanating from beneath the surface, but the exact source remained unclear.
"Dive!"
With a synchronized splash, Clark and the Sentry plunged into the ocean. Water resistance was no obstacle, and they reached the seabed in moments. The murky depths did little to hinder their exploration.
"There's definitely some kind of energy disturbance down here," the Sentry remarked telepathically. "Can you see anything clearly?"
Clark shook his head. "Not exactly. The storm above wasn't caused by energy, but the disturbance here is too coincidental to ignore."
"I'd bet my life they're connected. It's too much of a coincidence for this energy source to be right below the storm," the Sentry said confidently.
Clark didn't disagree. With a deep breath, he used his bioelectric field to generate powerful underwater currents, displacing sediment and revealing the seabed below.
"Look!" Clark pointed to an ancient stone slab now visible in the clearing. "This slab... I can't see through it. The energy disturbance might be coming from here."
"Should we lift it?" The Sentry didn't wait for an answer. He moved to grab the slab but was shocked when his first attempt failed.
"What the…?" he muttered. It was unthinkable for him to struggle with something as trivial as a stone slab. Even mountains were nothing compared to his strength.
Realizing the significance, the Sentry redoubled his efforts. With a determined push, the slab began to shift, groaning under the strain.
As the slab lifted, a surge of energy erupted from beneath it. The release was akin to opening a long-sealed door, revealing the true source of the disturbance.
"Buzz!"
A brilliant light and an intense energy wave spread out. However, Clark's bioelectric field contained the release, preventing it from exacerbating the storm above or causing harm to nearby vessels.
When the light faded, what remained was a translucent barrier lying flat on the seabed. It resembled an ancient door, radiating faint energy.
"What now?" the Sentry asked. "Do we go in?"
Clark studied the barrier carefully. "We have no idea what's on the other side. Without spatial teleportation abilities, it could be dangerous."
He paused, his tone cautious. "This disturbance might indicate something has changed. Let's wait here and monitor it. If nothing happens, we'll call in Robert for assistance."
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