The transformation rising from the deepest reaches of his genes left Solomon dazed, as though the space and gravity around him had warped in his perception.
He stood frozen for a full ten-odd seconds before he barely managed to suppress the discomfort.
To Clark, however, Solomon's dazed expression was clearly the result of exposure to the kryptonite they had just uncovered.
"Solomon, are you all right?"
Clark had only just recovered from his weakness, and he looked at Solomon with some concern.
After all, that deadly green stone had been held right in Solomon's hand, much closer to him.
Solomon took a deep breath and shook his head. His Super Brain was rapidly adapting to and mastering this body that had undergone a qualitative transformation.
"I'm fine. I just lost energy too quickly. I'll be all right after a moment."
Solomon discreetly put the kryptonite back into his storage space and went along with Clark's words.
"What about you? How do you feel?"
Clark climbed off the grass with a wry smile, brushed the dirt off himself, and said, still shaken:
"I'm fine now. But that kryptonite... it really is terrifying. For that one instant, I honestly thought I was going to die. I couldn't muster even the slightest strength to fight back."
"That's normal."
Solomon divided his attention between inspecting the attribute panel on his retina and instructing Clark in a calm voice.
"It's precisely because this stuff is so deadly that I had to make you face reality in advance. If you ever encounter a stone giving off this eerie green glow, don't hesitate. Either use your super speed to run without looking back, or blast it into powder with your Heat Vision from outside its radiation range."
Just as Solomon casually answered Clark, his gaze abruptly sharpened,