Secret 3 (Revised)

After Aeo had absorbed energy radiation for about half a minute, the head of the Research Lab had his assistant stop the machine.

"That's enough. Little Zod has reached the maximum amount of solar radiation someone his age can absorb." The Fortier researcher smiled. "Little Zod, you can familiarize yourself with this power."

Letting out a breath, Aeo showed no major outward changes, but the instruments in the Research Lab clearly displayed the tremendous energy within his body. Aeo slightly sensed the powerful strength inside himself and, somewhat nervously, took a step forward. Bang! The sheer force of his step made the metal floor of the lab sink slightly! Though it quickly recovered, the researchers and General Zod all frowned. It was not because they feared he would damage the equipment, but because they were astonished by how poor his control over his body was.

"The strength of the Fortier Empire needs no further explanation, but..."

Zod paused thoughtfully, then entered the laboratory in full military uniform—the kind worn by the general and Jor-El in Steel Body. "Every powerful Fortier warrior is required to diligently train their senses and strength from the moment they are born! Because we are indeed guaranteed great power from birth, but!"

Zod shouted, "Having great power alone does not make one a qualified warrior!"

At that moment, Zod truly deserved his reputation as the strongest among millions of Kryptonian warriors. Not only was his presence intimidating, but even his gaze carried immense aggression. When it fell upon Aeo's face, it stung like fire.

Aeo said nothing. It was true. Though over the past five years, he had relied on his mature soul to appear more outstanding and composed than ordinary people in certain respects, he had inevitably also inherited the narrow-mindedness of his previous life—as well as the arrogance and complacency born from being lavishly praised for his intelligence in both lives. He had never considered why the instructors in military classes demanded that he carefully train his senses. I'm already ridiculously strong. Why waste so much time on such pointless things? If I don't like someone, I can just punch them!

Those narrow notions from his previous life had also limited Aeo's horizons. He had thought that as long as Krypton did not perish, he could simply find time to bask in the sun and dominate everyone. Yet, as Zod had said, what was the use of great power if he could not hit anyone—or could not even control his own strength?

"My son, your father knows you've always looked down on training..." Zod sighed. "But I will show you with facts that, with the same strength, I can crush you with ease!"

Zod beckoned to his son with a half-smile. "Come, my good son. Let's head to the training grounds and have a match. Then you'll understand just how vast the gap is between a warrior and a civilian with nothing but strength!"

Training Ground No. 33, Military Training Center.

Zod stood face-to-face with his dark-faced son on the training ground. Smiling, he said, "Come, son. I'll show you how Fortier warriors fight!"

Aeo's expression grew even uglier. On the way here, let alone controlling his body as naturally as his own limbs, he had not even been able to walk without constantly smashing holes into the floor. He had thoroughly humiliated himself. In a fit of pique, he stomped his foot and charged straight at General Zod with his immense strength.

But before he could throw a punch at General Zod, Zod had already sidestepped his crooked approach and chopped his five-year-old son across the right shoulder with a hand strike.

Bang! The tremendous force made the metal training floor tremble slightly.

Tsk, General, that's too shameless, isn't it? We know you're teaching your son a lesson, but you actually fought back against an attack from a five-year-old child? How thick-skinned can you be? Several lab-coated researchers watching nearby, along with the father and son's personal terminals, could not help lowering their heads in a humanlike manner, looking as though they were struggling not to laugh.

Aeo was equally humiliated. Though the blow had not injured him, being knocked to the ground by his own father in front of everyone was still incredibly embarrassing. "How could you fight back?" For once, he acted like a spoiled child.

Zod suppressed a smile. "All right, son." He blinked. "Then let's change the rules. As long as you hit me, I lose!"

Aeo: "..."

Between being knocked over and acting spoiled, Aeo decisively chose the latter. Thus, "It's a deal, Father!" Bracing himself against the floor, Aeo climbed to his feet. After a brief pause, he charged at Zod again.

The two were actually extremely fast—at least compared to ordinary Earthlings. Aeo threw a hook, followed with a knee strike, and even resorted to the dirty tactic of grabbing Zod around the waist, yet he could not so much as touch a corner of General Zod's clothing. Every time he was about to land an attack, Zod relied on his nimble movements and superb combat experience to evade all of Aeo's strikes by the narrowest margin, all while continuing to needle him.

"Yes, like that! My son, your fists need to be faster and more accurate!"

"Oh dear, you were a little too slow again. My apologies—perhaps I shouldn't have dodged quite so quickly..."

"What's wrong, son? Don't tell me you're already out of strength? You may only be five, but I'm using the same amount of power as you. Your punches are only as powerful as mine, and I'm no faster than you are!"

Relying on his greater familiarity with his body and power, Zod once again dodged past his son's fist as if he were toying with him.

Aeo: "..."

"Well, son? Do you understand the difference between a warrior and a civilian now?" General Zod teased.

After gritting his teeth and attacking for a while longer, Aeo finally gave up. Panting, he shouted, "I'm done! When I go back, I'll definitely train my senses properly! You don't need to keep putting me down!"

Only then did General Zod stop moving in satisfaction and walk over. "That's more like it... Hmph, I knew you'd try that!"

Aeo, who had been about to launch a sneak attack, was sent flying by the Red Heat Vision that suddenly shot from General Zod's eyes!

"You cheated!" Aeo climbed to his feet, ignoring the fiery pain where the beam had struck him, and protested with a mixture of sincerity and pretense. "Father! Didn't we agree you would use the same power as me? Why can you use Red Heat Vision?"

Zod was breathing slightly heavily as well. Clearly, that sudden move had taken a certain toll on him. But in response to his son's question, General Zod still walked over, briefly checked Aeo's injuries, and only then said, "My son, the ways power can be used are endlessly varied. Do not let rigid thinking limit you! Who says we must strengthen power, endurance, and recovery all at once? Who says I cannot use Heat Vision alone while enhancing my other abilities less? Even a five-year-old Fortier can release heat vision, so long as he knows how to use it..."

Aeo was dumbfounded. "..."