Superman vs. S.H.I.E.L.D.

Outside, Black Widow and Hill exchanged bewildered looks.

"What is this supposed to mean? He just admitted it? This is way too ridiculous!"

"He's so calm... Could Entity X have some trump card we don't know about?" Agent Melinda couldn't help saying as she watched everything unfold in real time over video.

Hill's expression was stern. "Whatever the case, now that everything's out in the open, we need to be even more careful."

"I don't know if you noticed," Black Widow said, startling them with her words. "But he seemed to look right at us earlier! Almost like he knew we were lying in ambush nearby!"

Inside, Stark and Rogers, who were connected through a shared call over their miniature earpieces, both froze and looked at Aeo, sitting on the sofa.

Nick Fury's expression darkened. "All right, then. Do you consider us enemies, our extraterrestrial guest?"

"Calm down! Gentlemen, please, calm down!" Bruce anxiously tried to soothe both sides. "I don't know where you got your information. Zod may indeed be an alien visitor from somewhere unknown to us, but..."

"He's under my supervision (protection)!"

Bruce's sharp gaze swept over Iron Man, who was trying to approach his case, and Captain America, who had picked up his shield.

"In my home, you need to show a certain amount of respect for your host—for me. I said, put down your weapons!"

"..."

Rogers, Nick Fury, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers outside all fell silent.

Tony Stark's expression was grave. "No, Bruce, you don't understand. The person in front of you... this 'person' you call a guest is incredibly dangerous. He's powerful..."

"No, you're wrong, Tony." Bruce shook his head. He glanced at the boy, who had remained seated on the sofa, calm and composed, his gaze cold. "I understand our guest's power and danger better than any of you..."

"But I also know that if we want to make an enemy, we'll get one!" Bruce said earnestly.

Aeo's expression shifted.

"Listen, Captain Rogers, Director Fury, and everyone from S.H.I.E.L.D. who might be outside..." Bruce glanced at him, then calmly tried to reason with the others. "This boy's abilities may indeed be a little too dangerous, but until he poses a real threat to us or the Federation, we shouldn't push a potential ally into becoming an enemy. As we've said, enemies are a choice we make!"

"Especially when he's so powerful! Tony, Captain Rogers." Bruce looked at Iron Man and Captain America sincerely. "You're no match for him. Don't let this get out of hand!"

Whatever the two of them felt hearing that, Nick Fury wasn't so easily swayed. "But in our Federation, a power like this must be treated with caution! Listen, I don't care where you came from or what you're doing here. But as long as you remain on Earth, you must accept our supervision and restrictions. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise what? You'll arrest me? Dissect me?"

"No, Zod, listen..." Bruce grew anxious. He had no idea what Nick and the others were planning. He was only hoping to get both sides to talk peacefully, maybe even form an alliance. At the very least, he hoped they wouldn't become enemies...

"We won't..."

But Aeo had no desire to listen any longer. Their relationship had instantly plummeted to the breaking point after Nick Fury's declaration, which came close to a threat of war. As soon as the King of Spies made his threat, the S.H.I.E.L.D. forces led by Black Widow and the others outside swiftly moved to surround the manor! And to Aeo's disappointment, Tony Stark had put on his famous armor, while Steven Rogers had tensely raised his shield.

"Will you never learn to show respect and awe toward life from beyond your world, toward powerful alien species?" Aeo's eyes glinted dangerously. He was getting annoyed, too.

"Hey, maybe everyone could calm down a little? Yes, I mean you, Mr. Alien... Or should I say, kid? You look... well, not that old." Wasn't this just so typical of Iron Man? While everyone else was on edge, he still had time to crack jokes.

"Kid?" Aeo smiled. More than disappointment, he felt helpless and impatient with humanity's tendency to control everything it didn't understand. "This kid can put all of you on the ground!" he said in a chilling tone.

"Let's see you try!" With his armor on, Stark was always brimming with confidence.

The scene fell briefly silent. Nick and the others' expressions changed. "No..."

Bang!

Before Iron Man could even react, the suddenly surging Son of Krypton punched him and sent him flying. The tremendous force sent him straight out of Wayne Manor. If not for his steel armor and Aeo holding back, Iron Man would likely have been a corpse by now.

"What the..." Stark stared in shock as countless red warning lights came on before him.

"Warning! Warning!" J.A.R.V.I.S. warned him. "The armor has suffered an unprecedented impact. Defensive capabilities weakened. Power systems damaged..."

"..."

Shock and reaction came together. The others were stunned for a moment by the boy's sudden attack, but since negotiations had already failed, Steven Rogers couldn't hold back either. "Listen, we're not..." Captain America swung his shield at him.

"Clang." Aeo calmly caught the Star-Spangled Shield with one hand.

"..."

"Attack, attack!" Nick Fury shouted into the radio in his hand as he opened fire.

"Bang, bang, bang." The bullets had no effect on the boy at all. Nick and Captain America stared in shock.

"No!" Bruce's eyes were wide with anguish. "This is my home... Watch out!" Batman rolled over and covered Old Butler, who had been frozen in place by the events.

"Alfred, get out of here! It's not safe!" No sooner had he spoken than an RPG came flying in from the other side.

Boom!

Smoke and flames instantly filled the entire space.

"Your choice!"

A cold voice rang out. Before Captain America could react, a figure rushed over with incredible speed and punched Rogers, who had dodged the RPG by moving to one side, hard enough to send him flying.

"Captain, are you all right?"

"Stark, are you okay?"

The S.H.I.E.L.D. communications system was suddenly filled with anxious, fearful shouts.

"Attack! Open fire!" Agent Hill ordered.

"Cough, cough." Captain America, who had been knocked into a corner, coughed softly and climbed to his feet. Hearing the gunfire and explosions all around him, his expression changed. "No! Everyone, cease fire! You're no match for him..."

But it was too late.

Aeo had been pushed past his limit. "...Since you've chosen to be enemies, then..." As everyone watched in shock, he rose into the air.

"No!"

Boom!

.