Smallville Superman saw that Ian had only defended without attacking and had emerged completely unscathed. His emotions churned as well, astonished by the child's strength.
"I think I'm qualified to be your teammate, Captain."
Ian spoke directly, without any politeness.
Smallville Superman asked no further questions. His gaze rested on Ian's face for a moment before withdrawing, as though he had made a mark in his mind. He turned toward the Monitor, then back again, as if one stage had already been completed and there was no need to wrap it up with words or seek further confirmation.
The wind continued to sweep across the open fields, stirring the grass along the lawn's edge and the faint traces left on the land by the recent battle. The ground remained quiet, and the distant horizon retained its steady outline, as though the field itself had grown accustomed to disturbances of this magnitude.
"It's hard to imagine what kind of universe could forge a body like yours." Smallville Superman's gaze returned to Ian, carrying the look of someone readjusting his focus. His body remained in the same posture as before, but it now held less of the tentative refinement from the start of the test and more of the steadiness of someone who had completed an initial assessment.
He asked no more questions and merely maintained that gaze, as if waiting for Ian to arrange the next step. Ian met his eyes, then turned and descended to the ground.
The cracks across the field were slowly shrinking back, like a surface repairing itself. Following the texture of the earth, they gradually closed together and returned to a state closer to normal.
"All right. Now that you've introduced yourselves, it's time to get to work." The Monitor gave them little time to catch