The instant Clark shot into the sky, Bruce clearly noticed the surrounding rubble slowly beginning to float upward as well.
It was not until Clark had completely disappeared into the sky that the suspended debris lost its support and crashed back onto the ground.
More importantly, when Clark launched himself upward this time, the armor on his body did not release any energy.
So, watching Clark hover high above while carefully adapting to his newly awakened abilities, Bruce pursed his lips before revealing a faint smile.
"It seems you've found the form you were always meant to have, Clark."
Just as Bruce finished speaking, Clark suddenly began falling from the sky.
The next moment...
Thud!
Clark crashed heavily in front of Bruce.
He tapped his chest, and the suit immediately returned to its nano-state. The armor retracted into his chest and transformed into a badge roughly half the size of a palm.
Then, Clark solemnly placed the badge into Bruce's hand.
Holding the armor badge, Bruce frowned.
"Clark, even though you have learned how to fly, you still need this armor."
"This suit can protect you from kryptonite energy if you encounter it in the future."
"I know."
Facing Bruce's advice, Clark nodded.
"Of course I know I need the armor. Not only because of kryptonite, but because this suit represents who we are."
"It's our uniform."
"However, this universe does not have kryptonite."
"So, if this armor is given to a qualified S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Los Angeles will gain another rescue force."
"Even if it only allows us to save dozens or hundreds more people, this armor will have more value there than on me, Bruce."
"I'll leave the decision to you."
"I need to familiarize myself with my new abilities. I can't think of a better way to train than emergency rescue."
"And flying alone is far from enough."
"If I want to completely stop this disaster, I need to do much more."
After saying that, Clark bent his legs slightly.
Then he launched himself into the sky once again.
Watching Clark disappear into the clouds, Bruce narrowed his eyes slightly and sighed.
"That guy's speed really is faster than the armor."
"The son of Krypton truly is blessed."
"But..."
Bruce paused.
"The stronger Clark becomes, the greater the possibility that other Kryptonians somewhere in the universe could become a threat to Earth."
"Fortunately, that bastard Axel may not care about saving people, but he cares even less about letting someone invade and rule his territory."
"Axel won't interfere with disasters like fires, but if some unknown Kryptonians come here and try to take control..."
"He wouldn't just sit back and watch, would he?"
While muttering to himself, Bruce quickly contacted the Los Angeles S.H.I.E.L.D. branch.
Within minutes, Clark's armor was equipped onto a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, allowing them to begin more efficient rescue operations.
Meanwhile, Clark himself flew across the sky toward the nearest ocean.
Hovering above the surface of the sea, Clark stared at the endless water below while encouraging himself.
"Come on, Clark."
"You have the potential."
"You just need to unlock it."
"We need a massive block of ice, one large enough to cover Los Angeles with several dozen centimeters of water."
"Only something like that can stop the fire quickly."
"I am Superman."
"I should be capable of anything."
"The Superman in the comics never completely loses against any enemy."
"So now..."
"It's time for me to defeat this fire."
Clark inhaled deeply.
His chest expanded as he gathered as much air as possible.
Then he released it.
A freezing hurricane erupted from his mouth, instantly carving a three-meter-wide trench into the ocean surface.
But in the next moment, seawater rushed back into the empty space.
No ice appeared.
"Damn it..."
"Not like this."
"But what am I supposed to do?"
"This isn't a calculation problem."
"I don't even understand how my freezing breath works."
Clark closed his eyes in frustration.
Then he inhaled again.
As he slowly drew in air, he opened his eyes.
At that moment, his eyes shone like the sun.
And somehow...
The sun above this world seemed to react.
A sudden ripple of energy passed through it, like a solar storm erupting.
Clark sensed the change and looked upward in surprise.
He stared at the sun, then suddenly smiled.
After puffing out his cheeks, he released the breath he had gathered.
"Even though I never looked toward you before..."
"Even though I am an outsider from another world..."
"You are still willing to shine your light on me."
"Thank you for supporting me, sun of another world."
After speaking, Clark inhaled again.
Then he exhaled.
This time, there was no hesitation.
No ritual.
Only instinct.
A violent white mist erupted from his mouth.
The freezing breath instantly covered an enormous section of the ocean, turning it into an unimaginably large field of ice.
After finishing his breath, Clark resumed normal breathing and stared at the frozen ocean before him.
"The sun of another world is willing to shine on me."
"So naturally, I should do everything I can to protect the people here."
"I'm glad I was only one step away."
Clark clenched his fist.
Then he raised it before his eyes.
Looking at the veins on his hand, he encouraged himself.
"Clark, you have the strength."
"You can lift it."
With that, Clark dove into the ocean like an arrow.
Moving underwater felt completely different from flying through the sky, but he quickly adapted.
Swimming was much easier than learning flight.
However, the difficult part came next.
When Clark reached the center beneath the massive ice field and attempted to lift it, his body sank directly into the ice.
A moment later, he burst back out and hovered in the seawater.
Looking at the ice beneath him, Clark fell silent.
"The comics say I possess bio-field energy."
"The same energy that allows me to fly."
"So I should be able to use that energy to overcome physical limitations."
"Breaking physical rules..."
"Like the Speed Force."
"Saving people itself is an act of breaking rules."
"If I don't have the power to overcome limits, how can I change the fate of others?"
"No matter what..."
"I have to do it."
Clark reached forward again.
His hand sank into the ice.
He continued testing, feeling the connection between himself and the frozen surface.
And just as he began to understand something...
A figure suddenly rushed through the ocean toward him.
The unexpected arrival distracted Clark.
Before he could stabilize his position, he fell back into the ice with a splash.
At the same time, a man wearing a green battle skirt and no shirt stood on the ice, glaring furiously at him.
Clark emerged from the ice with confusion.
Who was this person?
Where had he come from?
The man pointed toward the ocean before swimming away.
Clark followed.
Although he needed to return the ice to Los Angeles immediately, he understood that ignoring this unexpected person would make it difficult to leave.
Half a minute later...
Swoosh!
Two figures shot from the ocean and landed on the frozen surface.
The first man slid across the ice after landing barefoot.
Clark landed steadily.
Only then did he notice the strange objects attached to the man's ankles.
Small wings.
The man frowned.
"Who are you?"
"Did you create this glacier?"
"I was almost frozen inside it, and two of my men are trapped within."
"Who sent you?"
"Was it Wakanda?"
"Or are you working for my useless brother?"
"Or are you an Inhuman?"
The man pulled the trident from his back and pointed it at Clark's chest.
Clark stared at him.
"Are you... Namor the Sub-Mariner?"
"And who are you, Inhuman?"
Namor asked coldly.
He prepared himself for battle.
He did not believe this was an accident.
Recently, his kingdom had been dealing with increasing conflicts.
Human pollution had contaminated the ocean, and his people were divided between those demanding war and those seeking peace.
His half-brother strongly supported war against humanity.
Namor himself considered war a possibility, but as king, he had to think beyond emotion.
The current situation, however, looked like the perfect opportunity for the war faction.
If humanity had attacked him first, then war would become inevitable.
Therefore, in Namor's eyes, Clark was an enemy.
Clark raised his hands.
"King Namor, my name is Clark Kent."
"I truly have no intention of harming you."
"I only recently awakened my abilities."
"There is a massive fire in Los Angeles, and I need a large amount of water to stop it."
"I didn't know you and your men were beneath the ocean here."
"I apologize. I'll release them immediately."
"Hmph."
"Foolish excuse."
Namor attacked before Clark could finish.
In Namor's eyes, even someone capable of freezing the ocean was not his equal.
He was the ruler of the sea.
He charged forward and stabbed his trident toward Clark's chest.
However...
The result was completely different from what he expected.
Clark did not move.
The trident struck his body.
Clang!
A metallic sound echoed.
Namor staggered backward, nearly losing his grip on the weapon.
Clark sighed.
"Alright."
"I admit I caused this situation first, so I understand why you're angry."
"But I really don't have time to stay here."
"I need to return to Los Angeles."
Clark moved.
The ice beneath his feet shattered instantly.
A series of sonic booms erupted as he appeared before Namor.
Then he pressed Namor's head into the ice.
Thud!
A heavy punch struck Namor's face.
The attack left Namor completely stunned.
When he looked up again, his expression was filled with disbelief.
"Wait!"
Namor tried to speak.
But Clark had no time.
Thud!
Thud!
Another two punches landed.
With only three attacks from a farmer from Kansas, Namor completely lost consciousness.
Clark picked him up and threw him back into the ocean.
Then he rescued Namor's two frozen subordinates and their sea mounts.
Afterward, Clark returned his attention to the iceberg.
Without interference, his control over his bio-field improved rapidly.
In only two minutes, the surrounding ocean began surging violently.
The iceberg slowly rose from the sea.
However, Clark was still far from his future peak.
Although he had already awakened many abilities, his physical foundation was not strong enough.
Moving the iceberg was possible.
Carrying the entire iceberg through the sky was not.
Even with all his strength, Clark could not achieve it yet.
Therefore, he used his heat vision to divide the iceberg into several smaller sections.
This time, he successfully carried the pieces into the sky.
Then he flew toward Los Angeles.