The Most Stubborn One Was Me

"Ugh."

Clark opened his eyes.

In the dust-shrouded ruins, unbearable pain wracked his entire body.

Looking down, he discovered that his lower body was buried beneath the rubble, with only his head and shoulders exposed.

The most luxurious hall of Luthor Manor had become a heap of ruins, lying silently beside him.

"What... happened just now?"

Clark shook his head, trying to clear his mind.

He had been fighting Owlman when the crazed guards tackled him to the ground, followed by an explosion detonating beside him.

Then several rockets had blanketed the entire hall, bombing it until it collapsed completely.

Who had done it?

The police?

No!

It couldn't have been the police.

He had never heard of police using rockets to bombard criminals.

Lex's people?

That was impossible too. Lex didn't seem like the kind of person who would do something so insane.

"Whew."

Letting out a forceful breath, Clark set aside his questions for the moment and prepared to get up first.

But the moment he tried to move, he realized something was wrong.

His entire body was weak, utterly devoid of strength, exactly like when he was under the effects of green meteorites.

"How could this be? There are meteorites here?"

Clark was shocked, then his heart filled with anxiety and panic.

He could already see Owlman outside Luthor Manor, standing before several corpses—mercenaries—and walking toward him.

He was weakened now. If they found him, he would definitely meet a terrible end.

He used all his strength to shift the stones pinning him down, trying to free himself from the broken ruins.

But after the rocket barrage, and with the meteorites weakening him, he was far too feeble to move even a fraction of the debris.

Just as Clark anxiously tried to save himself, Owlman arrived before him.

The assassins holding Talons had their faces hidden behind owl masks. No expressions could be seen, only killing intent so intense it was nearly tangible.

They raised their weapons and stabbed them toward Clark without hesitation.

Clark was completely despairing.

Bzzzt!

Suddenly!

A red beam tore through the air like a meteor, striking the claw-like blade in Owlman's hand and instantly melting it.

"?"

Owlman held the melted weapon, still too stunned to react. The next second, the red beam surged with energy and slammed into his body.

Owlman's heart was pierced, and he immediately collapsed dead.

A pair of crimson eyes emerged from the darkness, appearing in the sight of the owl assassins.

Like a bird of prey watching them in the night, it sent chills through their bodies.

"E-Eric!"

Clark was shocked at the figure emerging from the darkness.

He never could have imagined that Eric would appear here.

After all, he had said such hurtful things to him before. A bottomless chasm had formed between them.

Based on what he knew of Eric, even if Eric had known what was happening here, he surely would not have cared about him.

Yet now, Eric had appeared when he was in danger. Clark suddenly realized that he did not understand his younger brother at all.

So he was the one who had been full of prejudice and stubbornness!

He had blamed Eric for never opening his heart to him, for never telling him everything and making him guess like it was a riddle. But hadn't he also been prejudiced and unfair by forcing Eric to live the way he wanted?

As Clark reflected, countless tangled emotions filled his heart.

Standing in the pitch-black night, Eric knew nothing of Clark's inner thoughts.

The plan had reached its final stage. Naturally, it was time for him to step in.

Bzzzt!

Heat Vision shot toward the second owl assassin, splitting him in half down the middle.

Blood sprayed out with a whoosh.

Even the battle-hardened owl assassins felt a chill run through their bodies at such cruel, bloody methods.

"This guy... he's Homelander!"

Hidden in the darkness, exuding an eerie and powerful aura, with terrifying orange-red eyes—these traits matched Homelander, an enemy listed by the Council, perfectly.

Once they confirmed Homelander's appearance, the owl assassins exchanged looks and immediately scattered, charging rapidly toward Eric.

Bzzzt!

Heat Vision struck the foremost assassin first, blasting into his chest and punching straight through his body with overwhelming force.

Boom!

Eric threw another punch, launching an owl assassin who had leaped down to slash at him into the air. Without moving his feet, he raised an arm to block an incoming assassin, then drove a straight punch into him, sending him directly into the rubble with an earth-shaking explosion.

Whoosh!

An assassin controlling a Talon blade with a rope took advantage of Eric's punch to fling out the rope, binding Eric's arm.

But before he could pull, Eric yanked the rope and dragged him over, gripping his neck with his right hand as his crimson eyes stared straight at him.

Then a massive impact rang out. Seeing Eric's right hand "restrained," the remaining owl assassins all rushed forward, grabbing Eric's arms and legs in an attempt to pin him down.

Crack!

Eric did not hesitate. He snapped the neck of the assassin in his right hand, then swung his arms and legs.

With a boom, the air exploded, and an invisible shockwave rippled outward.

The owl assassins restraining him were instantly flung away.

Amid deafening blasts, the thrown owl assassins crashed heavily into the ruins of the manor.

Then came Heat Vision, scorching the air. The moment the assassins hit the ground, their bodies were pierced through.

The Owl Council's Talons, grim reapers who casually harvested lives, were slaughtered by Eric in an extremely short time.

Clark stared wide-eyed at Eric's bloody methods, only coming back to his senses when Eric walked up to him.

"You don't look too good, Clark."

Eric looked at Clark, whose lower half was buried in the rubble. "The buildings of Luthor Manor contain meteorite materials. I imagine being pinned beneath this stuff doesn't feel very good."

Clark instantly understood why he had become so weak.

"But... Eric, why aren't you affected by the meteorites?"

Clark was puzzled as to why Eric remained unaffected.

"If I weren't affected by the meteorites, I would have dealt with those owls in an instant."

Eric turned his head, his expression cold as he looked at the bait he had deliberately left behind—a survivor who had staggered to his feet and was preparing to flee.

Thanks to "Reader1455147117727412224," "Sleepy Little Demon," and "Was Heshan Scared Faint Again Today?" for the rewards.

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