In a forgotten frontier town in Canada, Clark Kent had quietly taken root among the locals. He kept to himself, moving through life like a shadow that never quite belonged. A worn peaked cap sat low on his head, and a faded plaid shirt blended perfectly with the rough surroundings. Even so, the brim couldn't fully hide the powerful frame beneath. Tall, broad-shouldered, and unmistakably strong, Clark stood out no matter how much he tried not to.
For years he had wandered across the world, drifting from place to place in search of answers. Every town was another stop on a long road toward understanding who he truly was. The question had followed him since childhood, growing heavier the older he became.
He still remembered the words his adoptive father had once told him. Humanity, his father had warned, was not ready to accept the existence of a god walking among ordinary men. Those words had shaped Clark's entire life.
Because of that warning, Clark never stayed anywhere too long. Just when people began to notice something unusual about him, he would disappear and start over somewhere new. A different town, a different job, a different identity—anything to keep the truth hidden.
But everything had changed a few days ago.
When the Chitauri invaded Earth, Clark had watched the news with clenched fists and a heart full of conflict. For the first time in his life, he had truly felt the urge to reveal himself to the world. Maybe humanity was finally ready. Maybe it was time to stop hiding.
Unfortunately, the invasion ended almost as quickly as it began. By the time Clark considered flying to help, the battle had already been resolved.
"Alien invasion…" Clark muttered quietly.
He lifted the glass in front of him and stared into the amber liquid. A faint, almost hopeful smile crossed his lips as he whispered to himself.
"Maybe the world can accept my existence after all."
Clark was sitting alone in a dimly lit pub, nursing his drink in silence. The atmosphere was calm, but he had long since noticed something strange. Someone had been watching him.
This wasn't a coincidence.
It had been happening for three days now.
Clark's brow slowly furrowed as he casually glanced around the room. The men who had been observing him looked ordinary at first glance, but his instincts told him otherwise. Their posture, their alert eyes, the way they spoke in low voices—it all suggested they were far from normal townspeople.
Yet Clark couldn't figure out why they were interested in him.
Suddenly the men stood up at the same time. Their movement was so coordinated it immediately caught Clark's attention. One of them walked toward the bar owner and pulled out some sort of identification from inside his coat.
The tavern owner, who was usually loud and difficult to intimidate, went pale the moment he saw the badge. Without arguing or asking questions, he hurried into the back room and locked the door behind him.
Clark remained seated at the bar.
There was no fear in his eyes as he calmly lifted his drink and took another sip. His expression was relaxed, though inside he was quietly observing every detail of the situation.
Then something unexpected happened.
The men who had clearly come with authority simply left the tavern.
Clark blinked in confusion as he watched them walk out.
"They weren't here for me?" he murmured quietly.
The pub soon became completely silent. With the other customers gone and the owner hiding in the back, Clark was the only person left inside.
The empty room felt strangely tense.
What exactly was their purpose?
Boom!
A sudden thunderous crash echoed from outside.
Clark's expression changed instantly. His senses were far beyond those of an ordinary human, and they immediately told him something incredible had just happened.
Someone had fallen from the sky.
Clark slowly turned his head toward the entrance.
The door to the tavern creaked open.
A tall, imposing figure stepped inside.
The moment Clark saw him, his throat tightened.
The man walking in was powerful—easily as tall and broad as Clark himself—but what truly shocked him was the invisible pressure surrounding him. It was overwhelming, like standing before a massive storm that could erupt at any moment.
Clark swallowed hard.
How was this possible?
Since the day he was born, Clark had never truly known fear. There had never been a person capable of making him feel threatened.
Until now.
"You…" Clark began cautiously.
His entire body had instinctively tensed. It was suddenly obvious that the strange agents earlier had only been clearing the area for this man's arrival.
The newcomer barely looked at him.
Yun Chen walked calmly to the bar counter, sat down, and opened a bottle of beer as if he owned the place.
"Clark Kent," he said casually.
Clark's eyes narrowed.
"You know me?" he asked through clenched teeth.
"More accurately," Yun Chen replied calmly, "Kal-El."
Clark froze.
"I know more than just your name," Yun Chen continued, taking a slow sip of beer. "I know your parents. I know where you came from. I know everything about you."
Those words struck Clark like lightning.
For years he had searched the world for clues about his origins. Every lead had ended in frustration, every answer just out of reach.
And now, suddenly, a stranger sitting beside him seemed to know everything.
"You're from Krypton," Yun Chen said calmly. "It was once a magnificent interstellar empire, a civilization with a glorious history that stretched across the stars. Unfortunately, time and arrogance brought that empire to its end."
"Krypton exploded."
"Your father, Jor-El, was one of the greatest scientists of that world. When the catastrophe came, he sent you away in a small spacecraft so you could escape the planet's destruction."
"That's why you were born here on Earth."
Clark's breathing grew heavier with every word.
His mind felt like it was spinning.
"Then… my parents…" Clark asked, his voice trembling slightly. "Where are they now?"
"They died," Yun Chen said bluntly.
"In the destruction of Krypton, very few survived. You were fortunate. If you want someone to thank for that, thank your parents."
Clark's shoulders slowly sagged.
Deep down he had always suspected the truth, but hearing it spoken aloud still hurt more than he expected. For a long moment he sat there in silence, struggling to steady his emotions.
Finally he looked up again.
"Why did Krypton disappear?" Clark asked quietly. "Was there really no way anyone could escape?"
"The situation was complicated," Yun Chen replied.
"Many Kryptonians knew the planet was dying. Your father and General Zod were among those who discovered the truth first. Their paths, however, were very different."
He leaned back slightly as he spoke, his voice calm and almost academic.
"On Krypton, every citizen's destiny was determined at birth by the central genetic codex. Some were created to be soldiers. Others were designed to be scientists or leaders. Zod was born a general and a ruler, so when he realized Krypton was doomed, he chose rebellion."
"Your father was different. As a scientist, he searched for the root cause of the problem. His research revealed the greatest flaw of Kryptonian civilization—the central codex itself."
"The ruling council refused to change anything. They were conservative, complacent, and unwilling to abandon their ancient system. Because of that arrogance, Krypton marched straight toward its destruction."
Clark sat quietly, listening to the story with wide eyes.
Yun Chen had just described an entire civilization that Clark had never truly known. The history, the politics, the tragedy—it was overwhelming.
"So you were incredibly fortunate," Yun Chen continued. "Your parents loved you enough to break thousands of years of Kryptonian tradition. You were the first naturally born child Krypton had seen in ages."
"They wanted you to choose your own path in life. You could become a general, a scientist… or simply an ordinary reporter."
Clark's eyes turned red.
For the first time, he could truly feel the depth of his parents' love.
But Yun Chen's tone suddenly shifted.
"However," he continued calmly, "they also entrusted you with Krypton's greatest treasure."
Clark looked up sharply.
"The Central Codex."
Yun Chen took another drink before continuing, as if discussing something completely mundane.
"That's the real reason I came here today. I'm here to retrieve the gift your parents left behind and take the Codex from your body."
Clark's face instantly turned pale.
"You're mistaken," he said quickly. "I don't have anything like that. I don't carry any treasure."
Yun Chen simply smiled and shook his head.
"You've been carrying it your entire life," he said. "Your parents embedded the Codex into every cell of your body. It was an extraordinary idea, even by Kryptonian standards."
Clark was stunned.
"I've already consulted my scientists," Yun Chen continued calmly. "Removing it won't kill you. If anything, you should be grateful—you'll walk away with your life."
Clark suddenly slammed his hands on the bar and stood up.
His face had turned cold.
"I refuse," he said firmly. "You just told me that Codex is what doomed Krypton in the first place. If that's true, I can't give it to you."
Yun Chen laughed softly.
"You're right," he admitted. "The Codex locked every Kryptonian into a predetermined destiny. It was a flawed system."
He slowly set his drink down.
"But the Kryptonian Empire must rise again. And to rebuild it, we need the Codex."
His gaze finally met Clark's.
The pressure in the room instantly grew heavier.
"So I'll ask you one last time," Yun Chen said calmly. "As the emperor of the empire—do you really intend to refuse?"
....
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