Superman Is Dead

Rustle, rustle.

The sound of footsteps cracking the frost rang out in the silent space. Mandarin walked up to Venom and slowly bent down to pick her up.

"What is this thing? Some kind of parasite that can grant its host tremendous power?"

Mandarin carefully examined the Venom in his hand. He keenly sensed that the parasite wanted to attach itself to him.

The blue ring instantly lit up. A cold light flashed, and Venom's originally soft body instantly became incredibly hard. A moment later, she was encased in a layer of crystal-clear ice.

"Although it isn't a demon's head, it's still a fine collectible."

"Give Venom back to me."

Kino had appeared in Mandarin's path at some point. His body trembled from the cold, and every shudder sent a shower of tiny ice crystals falling from him.

If Venom hadn't injected him with a Healing Factor beforehand, he would have frozen to death in this icy wasteland long ago.

"A mutant?" Mandarin looked at the wounds on his body, which had already healed.

"Your ability can't defeat me. It will only make you suffer more."

"What the hell does that have to do with you?"

Kino cursed furiously and charged at Mandarin without hesitation.

"Ridiculous."

Mandarin's ring fired a dazzling beam of white light. Like a sharp sword, it pierced straight through Kino's heart.

Kino's body jerked violently, then he staggered and collapsed to the ground.

"Fearless, reckless, ignorant."

Mandarin shook his head in disappointment and prepared to walk past him.

A frozen hand tightly clutched Mandarin's shoe. The fingers were already so stiff they could barely bend.

"Didn't your mother teach you not to take other people's things?"

"Why? Wouldn't it be better to lie still and play dead?" Mandarin asked coldly as he looked down. There wasn't the slightest trace of pity in his eyes.

"Are you very disappointed? Do you keep running into opponents who can't satisfy you?" Kino lay prone on the ground, answering a different question.

"So what if I am?"

"Then how about I find you an opponent worthy of your time?"

"Who?"

"God of Man."

The moment he finished speaking, Kino vanished from the spot with Mandarin, without the slightest warning. Only a patch of deep blue remained in the center of the yellow desert.

Lux Bar

Two figures abruptly appeared in the lobby. It was daytime, and the bar was empty, with only the owner and a waitress inside.

The bar was decorated in a distinctly retro style. The wooden tables and chairs bore the marks of time, while the old photographs hanging on the walls seemed to tell stories of the past.

The bar owner raised an eyebrow when he saw the figures appear out of nowhere. He lifted a hand to stop the woman who wanted to approach them.

"I really underestimated you. Spatial Movement." Mandarin looked at the changed surroundings, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes. This kind of ability was indeed rare.

Everything around them was completely different from before. The dim lighting and worn-out decorations gave him a sense of novelty.

Kino stood up. After leaving the low-temperature environment, the horrifying hole in his chest began to slowly heal.

"So where is this God of Man you mentioned? Those two ordinary humans over there?"

Mandarin glanced at the bar owner and the waitress, his eyes filled with disdain.

"Of course not. Boss, sorry for the trouble, but I need to borrow your place for a fight. I'll pay to have it rebuilt afterward."

Kino actually relaxed after arriving in this world.

"No problem."

The bar owner smiled faintly. His smile was filled with the charm of a mature man, and his deep, magnetic voice sounded especially clear in the quiet bar.

"Clark, I have information about the last city of Krypton. Come save me!"

Kino shouted loudly, his voice echoing through the empty bar.

Afterward, Kino waited in silence.

One second passed. That was normal; it took time for information to be received.

Three seconds passed. Clark should be on his way.

Five seconds passed, and Kino could no longer remain calm. His brows drew together tightly as unease began to well up inside him.

What the hell is going on? At Superman's speed, there's no way he wouldn't come after hearing this.

Could Superman in this world not have appeared yet?

Mandarin's gaze grew colder and colder, as if it could freeze the air around them.

"Is this the Clark you're looking for?"

The bar owner handed over a newspaper. Kino took it and immediately felt darkness swim before his eyes.

Superman Dies Saving the World, Entire City Mourns.

The date was from a year ago.

"Holy crap, how did I end up at this point in time?"

Kino couldn't help cursing. His expression was filled with despair and helplessness.

If he had arrived a little earlier or later, he could have called Superman over. But he had ended up stuck at this awkward point in between.

"Sigh, God of Man is dead. Is this what they call fate? Fate is a bitch. It always throws an uppercut at you when you least expect it."

Kino sighed dejectedly. He truly had no options left. Venom was in the other party's hands, his ability to cross worlds was on cooldown, and Superman was dead. He really had no way out.

"Hahaha, well said. Fate is controlled by God, so God is a bitch too. Is there anything I can help you with, Kino?"

The bar owner nodded in strong agreement.

"Go find Bruce Wayne and tell him what happened here. Sorry for bringing trouble to your world."

Kino had no idea that he had never told the man his name.

"What about you?"

"I don't think I'll be able to leave. And I probably won't be able to compensate you for your bar either."

Seeing that the two ordinary humans continued to ignore him,

"Looks like you can't call that God of Man over. In that case, use your life to compensate me."

Mandarin raised his fist. This time, he wouldn't hold back. His eyes were filled with murderous intent.

"Boss, take your employee and run. I can hold him off for a little while at most."

Kino charged straight at him. Since he was going to die either way, he might as well punch the man.

Mandarin's ring lit up like a camera flash, instantly illuminating the dim bar. The intense light made it almost impossible to keep one's eyes open.

Kino closed his eyes and aimed at the spot he remembered, then punched with all his strength. He only realized what had happened when his fist met solid resistance.

I hit him?

I'm not dead?

He opened his eyes. Mandarin still showed no reaction—not even the slightest movement.

Kino's fist had slammed into Mandarin's face, distorting it. Yet when he pulled his hand back, the damage showed no sign of healing.

"Time Stop?"