Flight 

  In ancient times, the sky was something humans feared, and some even believed that disasters descending from the sky were the wrath of omnipotent deities punishing them for their inadvertent sacrilege.

As humanity gradually entered the modern world, the ignorance of the past began to fade, and a group of people started yearning for the inaccessible sky.

From the Montgolfier brothers' hot air balloon to the Wright brothers' airplane, and then to supersonic fighter jets, rockets... Human exploration of the sky continued to evolve, eventually extending into space.

At this moment, Jero was hovering in the stratosphere, approximately forty kilometers above sea level, alongside Superman.

The more complex conditions above ground didn't affect the functioning of the Ultraman Armor. Jero looked down at the Earth's surface, where countless lights formed a breathtakingly beautiful picture.

Jero couldn't take his eyes off the masterpiece of lights created by the multitude of people below.

"Cough, cough."

Superman coughed a couple of times, using his own bio-field to envelop himself and Jero, ensuring that his voice reached Jero's ears.

The bio-field was an intangible extension of most living organisms, an inherent part of their physical makeup. Jero's awakened Ultraman Psi abilities could also be seen as a specialized bio-field.

After absorbing sunlight for decades, Superman had become incredibly powerful, and his extended bio-field allowed him to catch falling airplanes, preventing them from being split in half when caught mid-air.

Superman calmly looked at Jero and asked, "After this period of heroic deeds, do you have any different thoughts now? Would you like to share them with me?"

Jero gazed at the ground below, then back at Superman. His mind was filled with the experiences he had accumulated during this time, and he finally replied to Superman.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?" Superman wasn't surprised at all. He smiled gently and said, "Perhaps you haven't figured it out yet. When I first discovered my abilities, I was also confused. I even had lives lost because of me, and at that time, my heart was filled with sorrow. I even wondered if those lives would have been spared if I hadn't come to this planet."

Superman's words made Jero recall that, initially, he had wanted to understand his origins and become an aircraft designer who could fly in the sky and even explore outer space in the vehicles he designed. As for protecting the world? Jero didn't feel it was something he had to consider at the moment.

However, now Jero was indeed starting to think about more things unintentionally, at least to contribute to his peaceful days to the best of his abilities.

"I..." Jero paused, then Superman preemptively asked him another question.

"Were you scared or excited at the beginning?"

"Fear? Excitement?" Jero pondered for a moment and then responded seriously, "Of course, there was. The first time I wore the armor to fight crime, I was afraid of getting hurt or causing a disaster inadvertently."

Superman nodded in understanding and continued, "Not long ago, you could frolic and play with classmates like any other teenager, but suddenly, you discovered you had miraculous powers and started living an unimaginable life. You can stand above the stratosphere, withstand tank shells with your armor, penetrate aircraft carriers with your weaponry, and your speed surpasses even supersonic jets. With all this power, what are your thoughts?"

Jero had never considered himself a hero; he was merely a mysterious traveler with an unknown origin. However, thanks to Superman's words, Jero began to reflect on what he could do from his perspective.

Should he use his power to cause chaos, or should he become a superhero? Jero still hadn't made up his mind.

"I... don't have a clear idea," Jero looked at Superman and replied honestly. "But I want to find out. I don't want to numbly use this power; I want to discover my purpose."

Jero was still young, not even eighteen yet, with one more week to go. He had to comply with anti-addiction measures for video games, and he was supposed to enjoy the prime of his youth, even among ordinary humans.

At his age, he should be searching for his path in life. Superman was more than willing to help his younger brother find his purpose, just as someone had once helped him.

"Very well, Jero," Superman acknowledged with a smile. "Can I help you find your purpose, Ultraman?"

"I would be glad to!" Jero replied.

"Then, let's take a trip to the Arctic," Superman suggested. "I'll help you test the extent of your powers and bring you some gifts."

"Sure," Jero was happy to accompany Superman, and now the two of them even began bantering.

"But I'm not as strong as you say," Jero added. "You know very well just how powerful my abilities really are."

"Hahaha, everyone has their weaker moments. I had my fair share in the past."

Meanwhile, at the Star Labs branch in Metropolis, a man wrapped in a coat had just left the laboratory's entrance. As he walked into the darkness, occasionally coughing, he slowly made his way to a dark alley where he had an appointment with a certain gang.

"I've come as agreed!" he shouted into the darkness, suppressing the pain coursing through his body.

...

In the darkness, no one responded to him. Feeling a sense of disappointment, he was about to call out again when a baseball bat swung towards the back of his head.

The man fell in the alley, and several thugs wearing skull t-shirts appeared. They lifted him and carried him to a location in Metropolis's sewer system.

Due to Superman's immense power, most of Metropolis's criminals were either hiding in the sewer system or concentrating in a few areas.

The man was semi-conscious, feeling like he was bound to something. Slowly, he opened his eyes, and the pain in the back of his head persisted.

The man surveyed his surroundings. Apart from the overhead light fixture, there was no other decoration. He attempted to move but realized he was tied to a plastic chair.

Just as he was about to shout, a figure emerged from the darkness. A middle-aged Caucasian man with graying temples walked forward, accompanied by an enchanting woman and a scientist in a white lab coat. The man in charge politely introduced himself:

"Dr. Albert Michaels, I apologize for the rudeness of my subordinates. My name is Simon Pons, and I am here to help you."

(End of this chapter)

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