The Limited-Time Boyfriend

Russell wondered if it was just his imagination, but after he finished speaking, he felt like the atmosphere in the living room suddenly became tense, and the temperature dropped several degrees. 

Looking at Diana and Kara, both of them wearing shocked expressions on their faces, Russell couldn't help but swallow hard.

Just as he was contemplating whether he should say something to ease the tension, Diana, who was sitting next to him, suddenly stood up.

After standing up, Diana loomed over Russell.

Then, without looking back, she headed towards the bedroom.

Seeing Diana walking towards the bedroom, Russell knew exactly what she intended to do.

As expected, just as he anticipated, Diana returned to the living room holding the Lasso of Truth and the Sword of Hephaestus.

In her right hand, Diana held the Sword of Hephaestus, which had probably slain countless foes, while her left hand held the unbreakable Lasso of Truth, which compelled its victim to tell the truth.

With the Sword of Hephaestus and the Lasso of Truth in hand, Diana's gaze briefly shifted between the two objects, seemingly contemplating whether she should first strike Russell a few times with the sword and then use the Lasso of Truth to extract the truth, or vice versa.

"Darling, let's talk it out. There's no need for this," Russell cautiously said.

Even though he currently possessed considerable power and could even spar with Kara, Diana was not Kara.

Diana's demigod nature might not be as unreasonable as Kara's Kryptonian physiology, but if they were to engage in a real fight, Diana would easily defeat Kara.

The combat skills and extensive combat experience she gained on Themyscira were no joke.

After hearing Russell's words, Diana first gave him a disapproving look and then sat back down next to him.

Under Kara's watchful eyes, Diana placed the Lasso of Truth around Russell's right wrist.

The unassuming Lasso of Truth suddenly gleamed with a golden light when it was secured around Russell's wrist.

"After being ensnared by the Lasso of Truth, you can only speak the truth. Tell me, what is the condition to activate your new ability, and what kind of new ability did you activate?" Diana asked seriously, while Kara observed Russell's every expression with her large, innocent eyes.

When Diana finished speaking, Russell had a strong urge to reveal all the truths to her.

However, this impulse was extinguished like a flame doused in cold water just as it emerged.

Russell once again experienced that ice-cold feeling that instantly dissipated all his impulses, like ice water poured over his head.

The system, which usually had little presence, once again nullified the effect of the Lasso of Truth, compelling him to tell the truth.

"The condition to activate it is...to become Kara's boyfriend. Once the condition is met, I gain the same physiology as Kara."

Russell slightly modified his wording, describing the Kryptonian Heritage as physiology.

Having superhuman physiology sounded more reasonable than having Kryptonian Heritage. At least, for super-powered individuals, awakening a new superhuman physiology wasn't particularly strange.

But heritage was a different matter altogether.

It was something innate, and even though superpowers weren't very scientific, changing a person's heritage without reason was impossible.

"Is what you're saying true?" Diana asked again.

"Of course! You've put the Lasso of Truth on my wrist. How could I tell a lie?"

Russell replied seriously.

While he didn't know how the system was currently nullifying the effects of the Lasso of Truth, he was silently grateful to it.

The system, despite its usual aloofness, proved reliable in crucial moments.

This was the second time the system had nullified the effects of the Lasso of Truth. Barring any surprises, Diana probably wouldn't use the Lasso to test him again in the future.

Unless the system could come up with an even more absurd activation condition than becoming Kara's boyfriend.

Diana remained silent, looking at Russell's wrist where the now seemingly ordinary Lasso of Truth rested.

After pondering for a few seconds, she removed the Lasso of Truth.

Once removed from Russell's wrist, the Lasso of Truth immediately returned to its ordinary appearance.

After stowing away the Lasso of Truth, Diana turned to Kara and slowly said, "He needs to become your boyfriend to activate a new ability. What do you think?"

Upon hearing Diana's words, Kara didn't immediately respond.

However, her delicate face immediately blushed.

Although she didn't answer, her current rosy cheeks made Diana guess what Kara was thinking.

"You, step outside for a moment," Diana instructed Russell.

"What?"

"Just go outside, but don't go next door. Head downstairs directly!"

Diana said with utmost seriousness.

Although Russell didn't know what Diana was thinking at the moment, he was sure of one thing: he should obey Diana's words without question.

He nodded and didn't hesitate. He immediately got up.

He had no intention of taking the elevator to leave. Instead, he went out to the balcony outside the living room and shot out white tendrils toward the opposite building.

The next moment, he disappeared into the night.

After reaching the opposite building using the tendrils, he sat on the edge of the rooftop and sighed helplessly.

After spending more than half an hour on the rooftop in the night breeze, he received a call from Diana.

Five or six seconds later, he returned to the living room.

Diana and Kara were both sitting in their original positions, and there were no signs of a physical confrontation in the living room. Their expressions were calm.

Upon returning to his seat next to Diana, before he could say anything, Diana spoke up, "Kara and I have discussed it. Since there's a possibility of your abilities evolving again, we shouldn't waste this opportunity."

Upon hearing this, Russell's face filled with disbelief.

While Diana had never minded him eating fast food outside or even maintaining a super-friendship with Gwen, she had never agreed to Gwen becoming his second girlfriend.

Two-timing?

That term flashed through Russell's mind.

Although he didn't say anything now, Diana could easily guess what he was thinking from his expression.

"Don't overthink it. This is just a temporary measure," Diana said.

"Kara doesn't want you to miss the chance for your abilities to evolve, so she agrees to be your girlfriend for a while."

"When your abilities have completed their evolution, she will break up with you. So, don't think too much about it."

Diana calmly arranged the matter as though she were assigning a task.

Once Kara had left, Diana didn't say anything more. She got up and headed to the bedroom, intending to put the Sword of Hephaestus and the Lasso of Truth back in the cabinet.

However, as soon as she took a few steps, Russell hugged her from behind.

"I'm sorry!"

Russell said sincerely.

"You don't need to apologize to me. As I said before, I will support you as long as I can."

Diana turned around and tossed the Sword of Hephaestus and the Lasso of Truth aside. She embraced Russell, running her hands through his hair.

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