"Even though I'm confused about where I come from… this is definitely my home."
Clark stood silently for a moment after hearing Victor's teasing. When he finally spoke, his voice carried a seriousness that was rare for him.
"I'm certain of it, Victor," he said quietly. "You, Mom, and Dad—you're my family."
"That will never change."
For most of his life, Clark had taken many things for granted. But after almost losing everything in a single day, he suddenly understood something important.
Some things in life had to be protected at all costs.
Family.
Home.
The quiet moments that seemed ordinary until they were gone.
"Thanks for today, brother," Clark added sincerely.
Victor looked away slightly.
Clark was usually shy when expressing his emotions, so hearing him speak so directly felt strangely awkward.
"Don't think a few nice words will stop me from telling Mom what you've been doing with that telescope all day," Victor said flatly.
Clark froze.
"That telescope was built to help humanity observe the vast universe," Victor continued. "Not so people can spy on their crush and collect romantic fantasy material."
"Victor, that's not what I was doing!"
Clark immediately tried to explain himself.
"I see," Victor replied casually.
But the tone made it clear he didn't believe a word.
Clark opened his mouth again, but Victor had already turned and walked toward the stairs.
Victor tossed a completely unconvincing sentence over his shoulder.
"Sure. I believe you."
[Anxiety from Clark +7]
[Embarrassment +4]
Today had been far from ordinary.
Between Clark discovering the truth about his origin and the emotional turmoil that followed, the entire Kent family had experienced dramatic emotional swings. Victor had quietly gained a surprising amount of emotional energy during the process.
[Template Fusion Progress: 81% → 83%]
The system's progress bar advanced slightly.
The higher the fusion percentage climbed, the harder it became to increase further. But every small improvement now granted a much greater boost in strength than earlier levels.
…
The next morning, a cool breeze swept through Smallville High School.
Students filled the campus walkways.
Sneakers tapped against the pavement as groups hurried between classes. Girls whispered and laughed shyly while boys bragged loudly to their friends.
The atmosphere felt different from usual.
Excitement buzzed everywhere.
Tonight was the Spring Dance.
"You didn't ride the school bus with Victor today," Pete said curiously as he walked beside Clark.
"What happened?"
"I had something to take care of," Clark replied.
"I saved someone recently, and he gave me a gift. But I couldn't accept it."
"So I returned it this morning."
Clark had followed his father's advice without complaint. Earlier that day he had visited Lex Luthor at the Luthor mansion and politely returned the pickup truck.
"What kind of gift?" Pete asked eagerly.
Before Clark could answer—
"That necklace was very important to me."
A soft voice interrupted.
Clark turned.
Lana stood nearby with a troubled expression.
Next to her, Whitney's nose was covered with a bandage. His forehead was bruised and swollen, but he was still trying to comfort Lana while explaining something nervously.
"What happened to Whitney's face?" Pete asked.
Clark glanced awkwardly at Victor, who stood nearby looking completely calm.
"Maybe he fell while drunk," Clark suggested vaguely.
Lana looked down sadly.
"That necklace was carved from a meteorite," she said quietly. "My parents died during the meteor shower when I was a child."
"My aunt gave it to me so I could remember them."
"But now it's gone."
Whitney quickly stepped in.
"There was a drunk guy causing trouble at the bar last night," he said.
"We fought with him. After the fight, we realized the necklace had disappeared."
Whitney grabbed Lana's hand earnestly.
"I promise I'll get it back."
Clark's super hearing allowed him to hear every word of their conversation.
His brow tightened slightly.
Whitney was lying.
After hearing Lana talk about the necklace's meaning again, Clark hesitated.
He clenched his teeth.
Then he turned toward Victor with a pleading look.
Victor immediately guessed what Clark wanted to say.
"You're too kind, Clark," Victor said helplessly.
Without waiting for Clark to speak, Victor turned and walked away.
Although the Thanos template's hearing ability was far weaker than a Kryptonian's, this distance was more than enough for Victor to hear the earlier conversation.
Clark clearly didn't want to lose the chance to talk freely with the girl he liked.
Yet he still planned to return the necklace.
Even though returning it might repair the rift between Lana and Whitney.
It might even help Whitney regain Lana's trust.
Victor shook his head.
"He's kind to a fault."
"And that's exactly why he becomes Superman."
…
As evening approached, Clark continued pestering Victor about the necklace.
Victor responded half-heartedly.
Why should he willingly return kryptonite?
Besides, every time Clark begged, the system quietly recorded more emotional points.
Eventually, the Spring Dance began.
Chloe hadn't received an invitation from a dance partner, so she reluctantly formed a pair with Pete to avoid embarrassment.
Clark and Victor didn't care about dancing.
Inside the brightly lit gymnasium, music filled the air as elegantly dressed couples swayed across the polished floor.
The dance floor glowed under colorful lights.
Young men and women smiled shyly at each other while moving slowly to the rhythm.
Near the long snack table, Victor casually picked up a dessert and took a bite.
"Look over there," he said.
Victor pointed his fork toward the center of the dance floor.
"The girl of your dreams is dancing with another guy."
Clark looked up.
In the middle of the room, Lana and Whitney were dancing together.
Whitney's hand rested on Lana's waist while they moved gracefully beneath the lights.
They were the most eye-catching couple in the room.
Victor chuckled softly.
"Even so… you still want to give the necklace back?"
Clark stared at them.
His chest tightened with a sour feeling, like biting into a lemon.
Even though Lana was still upset earlier, she hadn't rejected Whitney's invitation. After Whitney's explanation, she seemed to believe his story.
Under the admiring gazes of everyone around them, the two of them looked into each other's eyes as they danced.
Clark felt invisible.
The girl he liked had dressed up for the dance.
But not for him.
He was just another quiet figure standing at the edge of the room.
"That necklace belongs to Lana," Clark said quietly.
Victor glanced at him.
Clark's voice carried clear disappointment.
Victor sighed slightly.
He decided not to twist the knife any deeper.
"Fine," Victor said.
"I'll give it to you tomorrow."
"You won't get a chance anyway," he added casually. "Lana isn't right for you."
Clark's face lit up with relief.
But then he frowned.
"Why would you say that?"
Before Victor could answer—
The fire alarm above the gymnasium suddenly activated.
Water burst from the sprinkler system.
It poured down like heavy rain.
"Ah!"
"Where did all this water come from?!"
"The fire alarm went off! Where's the fire?"
Students screamed as chaos erupted across the dance floor.
Within seconds, everyone in the gym was soaked.
Perfect makeup dissolved.
Hair styles collapsed.
Expensive dresses and suits clung awkwardly to drenched bodies.
Victor stared at the ruined snack in his hand.
Then he looked down at his soaked clothes.
His expression darkened instantly.
"Was that an accident?" Clark asked.
He scanned the room quickly.
There was no fire.
Not even smoke.
"Maybe the alarm malfunctioned," Clark muttered.
Or someone had triggered the system from outside.
Bang!
The gymnasium doors suddenly slammed open.
Footsteps echoed through the silent room.
Crackle.
"God has said that everyone is born with original sin."
The entire gym fell quiet.
A thin figure walked through the doorway wearing a hood.
When he raised his head, his cold face was revealed.
Bright arcs of electricity danced across his hand like silver snakes.
The sharp smell of burning ozone filled the air.
"My target tonight isn't all of you," the man said calmly.
The students stared at him in horror.
Jerome paused.
Then his expression twisted slightly.
"But…"
His hand slammed down onto the wet gym floor.
Electricity exploded outward through the water.
"I don't mind washing away your sins in advance!"
....
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