Chapter 58: A God Among Men

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"Mr. Jones, are you alright?"

Clark finally arrived at the scene. He looked around at the destruction—the ground appearing as if it had been struck by artillery—and his eyes widened in shock.

Ten minutes earlier, he and Azu had gone to the Luthor estate. After learning there had been an incident, they separated to search for Peter. By the time Clark arrived, all he saw was the aftermath of a fierce battle.

Clark quickly helped the Martian Manhunter up from the ground. "Mr. Jones, what happened? Where are the Godfather and John?"

The Martian Manhunter clutched his chest, wincing as he pointed toward the sky. "They're up there!"

Clark was struck as if by lightning, feeling a surge of dread. "Did God take both the Godfather and John?"

"No," Martian Manhunter replied with mild frustration. "They're fighting the Parasite up there. I didn't say they went to heaven."

Clark let out a sigh of relief, scratching his head in frustration. "Too bad I can't fly."

The Martian Manhunter didn't notice Clark's frustration. Looking up at the sky, he frowned and said, "The Parasite absorbed my life force and has now grown incredibly strong. Even if you and your father team up, it won't be an easy battle."

Clark asked anxiously, "What should we do, then?"

"There's only one way—to find energy that he can't absorb."

The Martian Manhunter, visibly weakened, spoke in broken phrases. "Here… this power plant is a nuclear station. It's temporarily shut down, but the nuclear reactor is still running. Have you heard of Chernobyl, Clark?"

Clark nodded. "The Godfather told me about it once. It was a tragedy where many Soviet workers sacrificed their lives."

"Yes, it was an issue caused by the reactor."

The Martian Manhunter, still clutching his chest, said, "The reactor releases fast neutrons that bombard uranium-238 to produce plutonium-239. If the Parasite absorbs the nuclear energy from plutonium-239, it could push his body to the limit. Given the amount of energy he's absorbed already, he's likely close to reaching that limit."

Clark looked at the Martian Manhunter in shock. "Are you suggesting using the material inside the reactor against him? Wouldn't that cause a disaster like Chernobyl?"

"No, it won't."

The Martian Manhunter gazed at the power plant. "But… someone needs to enter the reactor and retrieve the plutonium-239. Are you willing to do it, Clark?"

The Martian Manhunter knew Kryptonians wouldn't be affected by nuclear radiation, but Clark didn't. He only knew that the workers at Chernobyl suffered greatly from radiation exposure.

Clark's mind raced as he faced a difficult decision. "I… I don't know."

He took a step back, eyes filled with fear and uncertainty.

"I understand, Clark," the Martian Manhunter said sympathetically. "Making a choice like this requires a lot of courage."

He took a deep breath, sitting on the ground to regain his strength, preparing himself to retrieve the plutonium-239.

"Mr. Jones."

Clark, who had been wrestling with his thoughts, suddenly looked at the Martian Manhunter and asked, "If I die, will I be one of the 144,000 seats?"

"What?"

Clark looked at him with hope. "Godfather once said that many people died on God's green earth, but he only prepared 144,000 seats for them. If… if I die, will I be one of them?"

"No, you won't die, child."

The Martian Manhunter stared at Clark, shocked, guessing what Clark was contemplating.

Clark exhaled, feeling his fear of death fade after making his decision. "If it can save the Godfather and Azu, I'm willing."

He continued, "Godfather told me that when we make a choice, whether it's right or wrong, we always lose something. I understand, Mr. Jones. Tell me how to retrieve the plutonium-239."

"You… you'd sacrifice yourself for your family, Clark?"

"Yes, I would."

Though frightened, Clark suppressed his fear. "This is the price Godfather spoke of, isn't it?"

The Martian Manhunter was deeply moved, looking at Clark in silent awe. A Kryptonian willing to sacrifice himself for Earthlings?

Power, divinity, humanity, compassion, and sacrifice…

Perhaps God is absent, but Clark, could you be the god among men?

Remembering the Martian Manhunter's instructions, Clark rushed toward the reactor at top speed.

Soon, he followed the steps outlined to retrieve two glowing stones from within the reactor.

The moment he touched them, an indescribable sensation spread throughout his body.

Clark, expecting to die, felt his determination harden, knowing the fight wasn't over yet. He fought back tears and quickly left the power plant with the plutonium-239.

Boom!

As he exited, he saw a welcome sight: Azu landing with Peter in his arms. But in the next moment, his smile faded.

The Parasite had also descended, ready to attack Peter and Azu.

Clark glanced at the plutonium-239 in his hands and instinctively shouted, "Hey!"

The Parasite turned, seeing Clark standing there with his hands behind his back.

Peter was surprised to see Clark at the scene. "Clark, why are you here?"

"Because I want to protect you, Godfather."

Clark took a deep breath, a look of determination on his young face. "Parasite, come here. If you want to hurt my family, you'll have to go through me first."

Angered by the provocation, the Parasite roared and charged toward him, sending tremors through the ground with each step.

As the monstrous figure loomed closer, Clark steadied himself. At the moment the Parasite grabbed for him, he brought his hands forward.

The Parasite seized Clark's hands, gripping the plutonium-239.

Instead of absorbing Clark's life force, he absorbed the energy from the plutonium-239.

A massive release of energy, combined with radiation strong enough to tear a normal body apart, erupted between them, with arcs of purple lightning sparking around them.

Blinding light poured out from where they touched, as if it could drown out the night itself.

With wind and lightning raging around him, Clark looked up through the pain, watching the Parasite scream in agony.

"I'm… sorry!"