Countdown

Lex looked down at Z, and found that the scrawny 'kid' had actually grown much taller recently. It was not just his improved cultivation that affected his height, or the fact that many months had passed. The extreme stress he had been under caused his body to constantly push itself to evolve.

He was nearing six feet (1.8 meters) and his frame was filling out, although his face still retained his youthfulness. Looking at Lex, Z seemed hesitant with slumped shoulders, but within his eyes Lex could see a deep fierceness that seemed even more aggressive than Luthors.

Clearly, everyone of them had grown in their own ways during this time. What relieved Lex, however, was that the stress of war did not distort his personality. The fact that he could still behave so 'timidly' in front of Lex spoke of how he had clung to his original personality.

Yet as happy as Lex was to see his store manager once again, this was really not the time to catch up and reminisce.