Sela made it to Metropolis by the end of the month. If Gotham was a dark alley, Metropolis was a showroom—all glass, steel, and people who looked way too happy to be there.
She didn't care about the sights. She was here for the "Big Guy." If Batman was the smartest fighter she'd met, the man in the red and blue was supposedly the strongest. And after weeks of punching rocks in the desert, Sela wanted to see how she measured up against a real wall.
She didn't do anything subtle. She found a rooftop with a clear view of the Daily Planet and let her Ki flare. She didn't hide it this time; she pushed it outward until a pillar of white light shot into the sky, rattling the windows of the surrounding offices.
"Hey! Blue guy!" she yelled. "I know you're listening! Come out and play!"
A streak of red and blue broke the sound barrier, landing softly on the roof. Superman looked more concerned than threatened. He took in the mahogany hair and the brown tail flicking behind her.
"That's a lot of noise," Superman said, his voice calm. "Are you in trouble, or just looking for attention?"
Sela smirked, her feet planted firm. "I'm looking for a fight. I heard you're the one to beat."
Superman gave a small, patronizing smile. "I don't fight kids. Why don't you power down, and we can find your parents?"
Sela's eyes narrowed. He was looking at her like a lost toddler. "I'm not a kid."
She disappeared.
She reappeared in his space, her movement a blur of efficiency. She didn't waste time—she threw a straight, heavy kick aimed right at his ribs.
Superman didn't dodge. He expected her to bounce off him.
BOOM.
The impact sounded like a cannon shot. Superman wasn't just nudged; he was sent hurtling backward, blasting through a brick chimney before tumbling into the open air over the street.
Sela didn't wait. She ignited her Ki and gave chase, catching up to him mid-air while he was still regaining his balance. She spun, using the momentum of her flight to hammer a double-fisted strike into his chest.
The blow sent Superman soaring out toward the city limits. Sela followed, a white streak in the sky. As they cleared the last of the Metropolis suburbs and reached the open fields, she surged ahead, banked hard, and met him with a rising knee to the jaw.
The collision sent him spiraling down into an empty pasture, carving a long trench in the dirt.
Sela touched down at the edge of the crater, her chest heaving and a wild grin on her face. Her tail thrashed with excitement.
Superman sat up, shaking his head. His cape was dusty, and for the first time, he looked genuinely stunned. He looked at the teenage girl standing over him, realizing he'd drastically miscalculated.
"Still think I'm looking for my parents?" Sela teased, her hands glowing with a low hum of energy.
Superman stood up slowly, brushing the dirt off his chest. His expression was serious now. "Point taken. You're not a kid."