Chapter 27 (edited)
Over the past year, even though Kara and Bruce were classmates, their interactions remained sparse. While they attended some of the same club activities, Kara's life was consumed by an unrelenting drive. She rushed from one activity to another, not out of a desire to be mysterious but due to her overwhelming schedule. Alongside her required courses, she took nearly every elective and open class she could manage, her time fully devoted to absorbing knowledge.
It wasn't until later, during her involvement with the university's journalism club, that Kara learned why Bruce had suddenly left school. Perry White, the club's advisor, brought up a recent news story during a meeting. A hearing in Gotham City had been making headlines, as a man imprisoned for the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne—Bruce's parents—was requesting bail after fourteen years.
Despite the gravity of the story, Kara set down the news article with little fanfare. She glanced at Perry and said coolly, "You don't expect me to get involved, do you? Or maybe you think I should call Bruce to console him? Sorry to disappoint, but I don't even have his phone number."
She understood the weight of what had happened to Bruce, why his eyes carried a quiet sadness and why he had left Gotham for Metropolis University. Yet, Kara didn't let herself dwell on it. That was Bruce's battle to fight, and Kara had her own challenges. Her priority was to maximize every moment, taking in knowledge and training that might one day make a difference.
Kara's insatiable pursuit of skills extended beyond academics. Her prowess in martial arts had quickly become unparalleled. Within a year, she achieved the highest ranks in both Taekwondo and Karate, earning tenth-degree black belts in both disciplines. She even demonstrated feats that astonished seasoned professionals, from overpowering a master with a single strike to performing demonstrations that defied normal human limitations.
While Kara didn't display overt superhuman strength, her abilities far surpassed the average. Eventually, she joined the university's Kung Fu club, honing techniques inspired by martial arts films and sparring with club members to keep improving. Although she knew such activities were not ideal substitutes for training with true masters, Kara couldn't afford to leave her studies behind and embark on a global journey. Not yet.
As time went on, her friendships with Jennifer and Dani began to fade into the background. The demands of Kara's path made her increasingly distant. She poured herself into studies across every field—astronomy, biology, physics, engineering, law, criminology, theology, history, and more. By her third year, she was deeply immersed in research, even exploring topics like the effects of solar radiation on Kryptonians and the properties of Kryptonite. The latter fascinated her. Could Kryptonians ever overcome Kryptonite's lethal effects? She intended to find out.
Her relentless pursuit of knowledge left little room for personal connections. By her final semester, she had stopped visiting home entirely, prompting Jennifer and Dani to deliver her living expenses directly to her. When graduation approached, Kara had amassed far more credits than necessary and passed her exams effortlessly. Despite opportunities to stay for further studies, she left Metropolis University immediately after graduation, disappearing from campus life without looking back.
Kara's departure wasn't merely an escape. For the next three years, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery and relentless training. She sent occasional updates to Jonathan, Martha, and Clark—brief messages about her whereabouts, whether she was exploring the South Pole, climbing Mount Everest, or studying martial arts in far-off countries. Her wanderings even brought her to Gotham City, where she encountered Bruce again. Their reunion was brief, marked by shared insights and mutual respect, but they soon parted ways.
During her travels, Kara mastered nearly every martial art known to humanity. From Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Krav Maga to traditional Chinese disciplines like Wing Chun and Shaolin Kung Fu, she absorbed it all. Her proficiency wasn't just theoretical; she fought alongside seasoned warriors, refined her techniques, and became a true master of combat.
Some might consider Kara's achievements impossible, but she knew her Kryptonian heritage gave her an advantage. While she remained cautious not to reveal her full strength, her natural abilities allowed her to push human limits, achieving feats most could only dream of.
By the time Kara turned twenty-four, she had transformed into someone nearly unrecognizable from the reserved, bookish student she once was. She now wore glasses, not for poor eyesight but as a deliberate disguise—an early preparation for a future identity. Combined with subtle changes in her posture, mannerisms, and the use of psychological suggestion, her appearance became unremarkable to those who knew her as "Kara." She learned this tactic from studying Clark's eventual strategy as Superman, ensuring that when the time came, she, too, could move seamlessly between her identities.
Though many in Smallville and beyond speculated that Kara had lost herself in her obsessive quest for knowledge, she remained undeterred. She knew her purpose, and nothing would stop her from preparing for the challenges ahead. The world was vast and unpredictable, and Kara intended to be ready for anything.