The sky stretched overhead like a sheet of blue velvet.
Bright sunlight poured down across the campus while the gentle spring breeze stirred the branches of blooming cherry trees. Petals drifted through the air like pink snowflakes, falling slowly across the school grounds.
Students walked between the buildings with books in their hands.
Some chatted in small groups. Others hurried toward their classes while laughing and talking about last night's chaos.
Victor walked through the campus with Clark and their friends.
Clark, however, clearly had something on his mind.
Every few seconds he glanced sideways at Victor, worry written across his face.
To Clark, being the older brother meant responsibility.
Just like parents feared their children might fall into bad influences, Clark believed it was his duty to keep Victor from drifting down the wrong path.
Especially now that he knew Victor possessed power far beyond ordinary people.
Clark had spent the entire night thinking about it.
How could he guide Victor back from what he saw as the edge of darkness?
Turning someone into a vegetable without hesitation…
That wasn't normal.
Clark believed that kind of behavior meant Victor's morality was already beginning to slip.
He felt as though his brother was standing on the edge of a cliff.
One more step forward and Victor might begin placing himself above everyone else.
Watching Clark struggle to find the right moment to deliver a life lesson, Victor felt oddly speechless.
[Worry from Clark +6, +5, +7…]
The emotional points continued to appear steadily.
Ever since last night, Clark's contribution rate had increased dramatically.
It seemed he had been thinking about Victor constantly.
"If this continues," Victor thought calmly, "the template integration might complete soon."
Unexpected gains were always welcome.
Victor's mood improved slightly.
"I wonder what the next template will be," he mused silently.
Would it be weaker than the Thanos template?
Equal?
Or perhaps something even stronger?
They entered the main school building.
"They're all staring at us," Pete whispered suddenly.
Students lining the hallway kept glancing at their group with curious and surprised expressions.
Pete puffed out his chest slightly.
"Have people finally realized that being short doesn't reduce my charm?"
"Give it a rest, Pete," Chloe said without even looking up from the newspaper she was reading.
She glanced around the hallway briefly.
"They're clearly looking at Clark and Victor."
She paused thoughtfully.
"Mostly Victor."
Even Chloe didn't understand why.
Victor didn't have super hearing like Clark.
But his heightened senses easily caught the whispers passing through the hallway.
As the residents of this tiny town liked to say—
Smallville wasn't much bigger than a bottle cap.
News traveled fast.
For example, rumors were already spreading that several star members of the high school football team had tried to bully someone in a bar.
And ended up getting beaten instead.
Clark sighed helplessly.
He had heard the rumors too.
Apparently the story now went like this:
The older brother had been pushed down and bullied.
Then the younger brother appeared and effortlessly knocked several football players to the floor.
"Looks like Lana's coming over," Pete said suddenly.
He nudged Clark with his elbow.
"Quick, stop making that face that says 'Why am I so irresistible?'"
Clark blinked.
Was it that obvious?
At the end of the hallway, Lana walked toward them.
Her long black hair flowed softly over her shoulders, and her usual gentle beauty carried a faint sadness today.
Clark straightened his posture immediately.
"Clark…" Lana said quietly as she approached.
Her voice sounded slightly hoarse, as if she had been crying.
"I'm really sorry."
Clark froze.
"I didn't know Whitney would do something so childish just because I talked with you."
When rumors began spreading around school, Lana had immediately confronted Whitney for an explanation.
But Whitney, feeling humiliated and defensive, had admitted everything.
He even accused Lana of treating Clark differently.
In his anger, he had gone looking for Clark to pick a fight.
"I'm really okay," Clark said quickly.
"Please don't blame Whitney."
"I can't accept being lied to," Lana replied softly.
Her eyes turned red again.
"He started trouble with you and even lost the necklace I gave him."
Her voice dropped as she continued.
"But he claimed someone else started the fight at the bar."
Lana shook her head slowly.
"I think… I need to rethink my relationship with Whitney."
Clark panicked slightly.
Seeing Lana upset made him completely helpless.
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, trying desperately to comfort her.
"Well… I did see Whitney at the bar," Clark said.
"Maybe he was drunk and just acted irrationally."
Victor nearly sighed out loud.
Clark, do you even hear yourself?
Excusing your romantic rival just to make your crush feel better?
Victor shook his head silently.
Even without kryptonite, Clark's current personality would never win over the cheerleader.
"Victor," Clark whispered suddenly.
He gave Victor a subtle look.
It was clearly a signal.
Victor understood immediately.
Yesterday Clark had asked him to bring Lana's meteorite necklace.
Returning it might cheer her up.
"Victor… I'm sorry," Lana said suddenly.
She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at him sincerely.
"Whitney dragged you into trouble because of me."
"It's nothing," Victor replied calmly.
He reached into his pocket and took out the necklace.
"This belongs to you," he said as he handed it over.
"Clark found it that day and asked me to hold onto it."
Clark actually wanted to return the necklace personally.
But he knew what would happen if he pulled out the meteorite necklace himself.
He would collapse onto the floor instantly and embarrass himself again.
So Victor had been chosen as the delivery service.
"My necklace!"
Lana's eyes lit up with surprise.
Her tear-streaked face finally broke into a bright smile.
"Thank you, Victor… and Clark."
However, she had misunderstood something.
If Clark had found the necklace, why didn't he return it himself?
Lana assumed Victor had intentionally helped create an opportunity for Clark.
She glanced at Victor quietly.
Unlike most boys at school, he didn't stare at her.
After handing over the necklace, he calmly looked away, leaving space for her to talk with Clark.
For some reason, Lana found herself stealing another glance at him.
Like Clark, Victor didn't participate in sports.
He was often seen sitting alone on campus reading books.
He was tall but didn't have the bulky muscles of athletes.
Yet somehow he had defeated Whitney and several football players.
Clark noticed something.
He looked at Lana.
Then at Victor.
A strange feeling crept into his chest.
Why did this situation suddenly make him uneasy?
Footsteps echoed from the corner of the hallway.
"Lana!"
Whitney's voice rang out urgently.
His expression looked tense and regretful.
He had clearly realized he had gone too far and now wanted to chase after Lana to apologize.
"Victor, Clark, I need to go," Lana said quickly.
She greeted Chloe and Pete before hurrying away.
Whitney rushed after her.
As he passed Victor, an awkward expression flashed across his face.
Embarrassment and resentment mixed in his eyes.
Then he continued chasing Lana.
Victor didn't pay him any attention.
At the corner of the staircase nearby, someone had been watching the entire scene silently.
The figure stood partially hidden in the shadows.
Their gaze moved slowly between Victor and Clark.
The cold, unmoving stare resembled the eyes of a predatory insect.
....
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