Watching the two figures soar into the sky, even the slowest observer finally understood.
The man beside Lois was the "compatriot" the aliens had spoken of.
However, due to the glasses Clark wore, neither the naked eye nor any recording equipment could clearly identify him as Clark Kent.
As a result, a nationwide warrant was issued across America for Lois Lane, and every capable government agency began searching for her.
---
"Clark, what do we do now?" Lois asked anxiously.
"First, I must fight them," Clark replied calmly.
"That is unavoidable."
Holding Lois as he hovered in midair, Clark gazed at the massive fleet clearly visible in the sky. Intense battle intent burned in his eyes.
"You're planning to face an entire fleet by yourself?" Lois exclaimed.
"Are you serious?!"
"No," Clark said reassuringly.
"I'm not foolish enough to take them on alone."
"Don't forget—we still have allies."
"You mean Lucas and the others?" Lois asked in confusion.
"Yes," Clark replied firmly.
"They're all members of the Guardians."
"The Guardians?" Lois frowned. "What's that?"
"An organization Lucas founded to protect Earth," Clark explained.
"Kara, Lucas, Deadshot, and Tony are all part of it."
"Tony… you mean Iron Man, Tony Stark?" Lois asked in disbelief.
"That's right. Come on—we're going to Lucas's place."
With that, Clark carried Lois toward Lucas's home.
---
Not long after.
Inside the living room, it was already filled with people.
Clark looked around, deeply moved.
"Thank you all—for being willing to risk your lives to help me."
"Clark, this isn't just about you," Tony said from the couch.
"This concerns every person on Earth."
Tony continued, "I've also brought in a few reinforcements. We don't know how strong those aliens are, but I believe they can still help."
"You're right," Captain America said solemnly.
"We can't tolerate aliens threatening Earth and demanding that we hand you over."
At that moment, Kara cleared her throat.
"First, I sincerely thank all of you for coming to help Clark," she said calmly.
"But believe me—based on your current capabilities, you are likely no match for them."
Tony and Steve frowned.
Kara sighed and turned to Clark.
"Clark, if you don't want them walking straight into their deaths, you should let them clearly understand the gap in power."
Clark nodded slowly and stood up.
"Kara's right. Everyone—let's go outside."
Though reluctant, Tony, Steve, and the others followed.
---
Outside, two black SUVs pulled up.
Nick Fury stepped out first, followed closely by Hawkeye and Black Widow.
"I figured as much," Fury said helplessly.
"No wonder I couldn't reach any of you—you're all here."
"Aliens are threatening Earth," Tony snapped back.
"And you haven't done anything. Of course we had to act."
"They possess technology far beyond Earth's," Fury replied grimly.
"If we don't plan properly, we'll be crushed instantly."
"Enough," Captain America interrupted.
"Our enemy is the aliens—not each other."
He turned to Clark.
"You said you wanted to show us your strength?"
Clark nodded and, after a brief pause, lifted off straight from the ground.
In the blink of an eye, he accelerated to dozens of Mach speeds and vanished from sight, becoming a tiny dot in the sky.
Moments later, he reversed course and returned—sonic booms trailing behind him.
Everyone watching was left speechless.
After landing smoothly with the help of his bio-field, Clark considered how best to demonstrate his power.
"I've got an idea."
He walked over to Fury's two SUVs and casually grabbed them with one hand.
"Those are reinforced," Fury began.
"They weigh at least twice as much as—"
Before he could finish, Clark had already lifted both SUVs effortlessly.
After setting them down, Clark's eyes flared red.
Twin beams of heat vision shot out, instantly melting two holes through the SUVs' thick metal doors.
Then, as the heat vision faded, Clark took a deep breath and exhaled sharply.
A blast of icy breath swept over the vehicles.
In less than two seconds, the glowing-hot metal froze solid, covered in frost and ice.
"Motherfucker" Fury muttered.
"I didn't mind the demonstration," he added dryly,
"but did you really have to use my cars?"
"Sorry," Clark said apologetically.
"You can send the repair bill to Lucas."
He then turned to everyone present.
"What I just showed you is only part of my power. Those aliens are my people."
"If you believe you can handle that—and are still willing—then come with me."
Tony and Steve fell silent.
Protecting Earth mattered—but charging head-on against enemies like that could easily mean suicide.
"Do you know their weaknesses?" Tony suddenly asked.
Clark shook his head.
"If they're like me," he said quietly,
"then I don't know what my own weakness would be either."
The group fell into heavy silence.
If those aliens were as powerful as Clark, this battle would be unimaginably difficult.
"May I say something?" Nick Fury asked.
"Go ahead," Clark replied.
"Right now, we lack clear intelligence on the enemy," Fury said seriously.
"So our first priority is to clearly assess our own combat strength."
He looked directly at Clark.
"Mr. Clark—how many fighters on your level do we have?"
Clark scanned the group.
"If I'm not mistaken," he said slowly,
"only Kara."
"Good," Fury nodded.
"That gives us two top-tier combatants."
"Then comes the second tier," he continued.
"You mean us?" Tony asked, pointing at himself.
"No," Fury shook his head.
"I mean Bruce Banner."
_____
T/N:
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