I am your Father, Kal-El

(~˘▾˘)~~(˘▾˘~)

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"Mother's raspberry pie is always delicious."

In the afternoon, after saving the Earth, David and Clark returned home and devoured a big meal, Clark expressed satisfaction and gave a thumbs-up.

"Eat slowly."

The two grown-up children had just safely returned after saving a city. Martha had a smile on her lips and a sense of relief in her heart.

Jonathan stood by with a cup of tea, his mouth unable to hide a smile either.

He was proud of the two sons he had raised; his sons were heroes who defended the city by repelling alien monsters.

"Mom and Dad, take these two rings."

After the battle with Parallax, which consumed much of their energy, they finally recovered with a hearty meal at home. David lay back, patted his stomach, and remembered something, and placed two green lantern rings on the table.

"Are these your two alien police rings?"

"No, these are different rings..."

He briefly explained the situation.

Regarding their sons being manipulated and having stolen over a dozen rings from those hypocritical Guardians of the Universe, the couple exchanged a glance, unsure of what to say.

Both of them ran a farm, which meant dealing with different kinds of people, and they knew that sometimes 'officials' did not necessarily represent justice and the right side.

A recent example was the United States military, which wanted to kidnap their eldest son for experiments.

"David, if you took their rings, won't they come looking for trouble?"

Jonathan sat up straight, his brow slightly furrowed.

Things that involved something like the entire universe had to make people worry, especially whether they would implicate the whole Earth.

"They won't dare to start a war easily. 

Those guardians have already compromised."

David reassured his parents not to worry about this matter, they just needed to learn how to use the rings for self-defense.

After dinner, in the small courtyard.

Watching their parents use the lantern rings to create a tractor, a lawnmower, a watering can, and scissors through the power of will, they played and had fun in the novelty, enjoying themselves as if they were children who hadn't had a chance to go to an amusement park in a long time.

"These rings are so magical, like a universal toolbox."

Jonathan marveled at the rings David had brought back while using the lantern ring to create various types of wrenches and screwdrivers.

"Whatever you need, you can make it in a snap. No need to rummage through the attic; it's so convenient."

"Yeah, if only this ring could be used casually."

Martha looked regretful as she carried an energy-made pesticide sprayer, treating the fruit trees in the orchard on the farm.

"This year, the farm will definitely save a lot of expenses."

"Mom and Dad, these are weapons for your self-defense."

David scratched his head, looking somewhat dazed.

One of the most powerful weapons in the universe, used by the Green Lantern Corps to maintain cosmic order, had been turned into something like this.

In reality, it was mainly because the couple had kind personalities, with no intention of harming anyone. They had no understanding of firearms and weapons, and the power of will with unlimited potential they harnessed manifested as various tools.

'But it's okay. The power of the Green Lantern rings can easily lift a hundred tons and enable rapid flight. 

With these two capabilities, even if Mom and Dad don't know how to create weapons with the Green Lantern rings, it's enough.'

He thought to himself.

Clark seemed troubled and pulled David aside.

"David, you mentioned last time that you had encountered a historically ancient and highly advanced underwater nation - the legendary lost Atlantis?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

David looked at Clark, who seemed hesitant to ask something and signaled him to go ahead.

"My people and the Green Lantern Corps don't have a good relationship. The information in the lantern rings about Krypton is limited. 

Does Atlantis have more information regarding this aspect?"

Finally learning about the place in the starry sky he had often gazed at and discovering about his own race, Clark couldn't wait to learn more.

He could only turn to his younger brother for help.

How could those little blue things have disclosed detailed information about the powerful enemy that had once made them retreat in embarrassment?

"In the history of Atlantis, it is recorded that many years ago, a spaceship from the stars landed in the North Pole."

David looked at Clark, who was somewhat anxious and excited and said thoughtfully.

"The style of the spaceship is very similar to that of the Kryptonian Empire's advanced exploration vessels."

At its peak, Krypton had nearly colonized the entire known universe. Planets were being discovered and conquered constantly. Eventually, however, they retracted their vast dominion because the Kryptonian High Council became afraid. 

Even an ordinary civilian exposed to a yellow sun could resist the advanced technology that Krypton had developed over countless years. If this continued, the foundation of their rule would likely be shaken. This, coupled with the vigilance and hostility of the Green Lantern Corps and other cosmic forces towards Krypton, led to their retreat.

"They chickened out and brought their tentacles back to Krypton, forbidding their people from venturing out and basking in the light of a yellow sun. Abandoned Kryptonian exploration spaceships like the one in the Arctic, there are probably countless of them in the universe."

"Kryptonian spaceship in the Arctic? Really!"

Clark's eyes lit up, and he asked with a hopeful tone, not expecting to receive news related to Krypton from his brother.

"David, are you sure you remembered it correctly?"

"Do you think I would forget something like the presence of an alien spacecraft on Earth?"

David responded with a question and a smile.

"I understand; I'm just too excited," Clark said, barely containing his urge to fly to the North Pole immediately.

David remembered from the plot that if the Kryptonian exploration ship in the Arctic were to activate, it would send a signal that Zod would detect, leading him to Earth.

'The son of Krypton has to embark on the journey to find his true identity.'

He couldn't stop Clark from reuniting with the late Jor-El.

'Even if that isn't truly Jor-El but an artificial intelligence with a replicated personality and wisdom.'

Having grown up with Clark since childhood, he understood the loneliness, confusion, and even the pain that Clark had experienced in coming to terms with his special identity.

'But Jor-El can provide Clark with answers to all his questions, help him discover his lineage, and his mission, and make him no longer be confused so he can face the whole world without doubts.'

David's eyes flashed.

As for Zod and his troops, they were just a few Kryptonians. While powerful, they didn't make him feel intimidated. 

In terms of combat abilities, the only thing Kryptonians had over him was speed, but in the face of his gravitational field, they must first be able to run!

'And Zod and his group of Kryptonian soldiers are also a source of emotional points.'

From the newspapers, David had also seen his fresh nickname.

The Beyonder? In another universe, the Beyonder represented nearly invincible power.

He had a long way to go to reach it.

"I wonder if continuously merging templates in the future will grant me the power of the Beyonder."

...

Jonathan and Martha spent several days familiarizing themselves with the use of the Green Lantern rings. They couldn't help but marvel at the convenience of the rings once more. 

However, when they returned to their ordinary farm life, they didn't feel out of place at all because that was the familiar life they had lived for decades.

People always have a nostalgia for familiar lives and environments.

After continuing to fight crime in the city for a few days, Clark couldn't resist flying to the Arctic.

David rested at home for two days and then returned to Atlantis.

"These few rings, select a group of scientists to study them. I need a stable way to recharge them."

Deep beneath the ocean's surface, inside the palace of Atlantis, David sat on the long-vacant throne and summoned Mera.

Several Green Lantern rings floated towards her.

"By the way, something feels different about you?"

Even though it had only been a few days, for some reason, seeing Mera again gave off a different vibe. Despite the fatigue evident on her face, it seemed like she had experienced a lot, making her appear more mature and sharper, almost like a true statesperson who could balance the situation.

"After difficult choices, people often grow."

During these days, Mera had almost launched a purge on Atlantis. 

She had to personally order the imprisonment of some of her people in the deep-sea dungeons, all for the sake of maintaining the rule of someone who had conquered her own people.

"Growth is a good thing, isn't it?"

David didn't seem to hear the other meaning in that sentence, smiling as he asked.

Before returning to the palace, he learned about the situation in Atlantis and was very satisfied with what Mera had done. 

It wasn't to maintain his own rule, but because she had decisively and forcefully suppressed a group of people, like blocking a river, the downstream flow might have diminished, but further downstream, it had become even more turbulent.

The resentment against David in Atlantis had become even more severe, and he had provided a good source of emotional points.

'Of course, it's not yet time for the drama of boiling resentment and overthrowing a tyrant.'

After all, since becoming the King of the Seven Seas, David had done nothing different except for having multiple people of Atlantis who suspected him of not being an Atlantean. Furthermore, he planned to continue this way in the future.

"Is that... the Green Lantern Corps' Lantern Ring?"

Mera was surprised and looked up.

"How do you have it, and three of them!"

"You actually recognize it?" David raised an eyebrow.

"The ancestors of Atlantis once fought off an invasion from alien invaders alongside a Green Lantern."

That's right, he had forgotten about this part of history. When eight-year-old Darkseid led his army to Earth, the Old Gods, along with the Amazons, humans, and Atlantis, united to repel him. 

A Green Lantern had participated in the battle, although Darkseid had killed him.

"The Lantern Rings of Green Lanterns automatically fly away after the death of a member, choosing the next Green Lantern. You forcibly intercepted the Green Lantern Corps' Lantern Rings, which is very dangerous."

Mera warned.

"The Green Lantern Corps divides the universe into 3,600 sectors and has maintained peace throughout the universe for billions of years. Their power is beyond your imagination."

After speaking, she seemed to regret it a bit, her eyes flashing slightly.

If she hadn't reminded him, would the Green Lantern Corps come after this guy?

Although for the time being, it seemed that David being the king was better for Atlantis than Orm being the king.

"Atlantis is really isolated from the world."

David felt somewhat disappointed.

A space monster entering Earth had caused a huge stir in the entire human world. 

But Atlantis had not even been aware of it, otherwise, it wouldn't have been difficult for them to recognize him.

If they had witnessed him saving the land, they would likely have been more suspicious of his identity.

Mera was a bit puzzled by David's words. Had something big happened in the outside world that she wasn't aware of? 

Otherwise, why would he say that?

At the same time, she began to realize.

"Three ownerless power rings represent the deaths of three Green Lanterns who maintain peace in the universe. 

What happened on the surface?"

"You don't need to worry about those Guardians of the Universe who are afraid of trouble. You just need to coordinate and deploy Atlantis' scientists to study the power rings."

Ignoring Mera's question, David issued his command.

While the power rings had a lot of energy, it would be best to have the technology to recharge them if possible.

The Emotional Spectrum is one of the origins of the universe, omnipresent in the cosmos. It's just that there aren't as many Lantern entities as there are emotions.

'Allowing Atlantis to study the power rings is not like asking apes to study electric lamps...'

Even though the technology controlled by those blue midgets could be considered the pinnacle of the universe, one should not underestimate Earth.

'Atlantis has possessed the technology of unlimited energy for thousands of years, and their level of technology is quite impressive. With open access to the power rings for research, even allowing for destructive disassembly, reverse engineering, and research, there is a high probability of success.'

In fact, in the comics, Batman used his Earth technology to infiltrate Hal Jordan's power ring, monitoring his communications with other Green Lanterns without him knowing.

'Afraid of trouble?'

Mera widened her eyes. Was this term really used to describe those rumored Guardians of the Universe who had been active for billions of years and had established the Green Lantern Corps to maintain universal peace?

The amount of information hidden behind those few words was mind-boggling.

'Without having contact, he wouldn't know that those Guardians of the Universe are afraid of trouble…'

"I... I understand."

She lowered her head, her voice somewhat hoarse.

At this moment, Mera felt like she was walking on thin ice. She must not let her people start a rebellion. This man who had effortlessly conquered Atlantis might be even stronger than anyone imagined.

Thinking back to David's statement about leaving for a while, and then suddenly returning a few days later, confirmed her suspicions.

'He was indeed fishing.'

Mera's face turned pale as if she were on the brink of an abyss.

Leaving for a few days had allowed her people to relax their vigilance, revealing dissent, and then suddenly coming back to catch evidence and cleanse Atlantis.

Fortunately, she had detected it in advance this time and had reluctantly locked up those among her people who had shown signs of rebellion.

'This man must be very disappointed that he didn't get a chance to cleanse Atlantis.'

She stole a glance at the man on the throne, clenching her fist secretly.

David was completely unaware of Mera's psychological activities as he looked outside the palace and stroked his chin.

'At this time, I wonder if Clark has started the spaceship and met his deceased father.'

...

[System startup, diagnostics completed, running normally, guidance image authorized...]

The Arctic, thousands of meters below the ice.

Inside a massive spaceship frozen in the ice for millennia.

In the control room, Clark swallowed hard, taking off the necklace around his neck. His hand trembled slightly as he held the black seal-like object, took a deep breath, and inserted it into a matching slot.

A series of mechanical female voices started up.

A middle-aged man dressed in a black nobleman's robe, exuding a calm and wise demeanor, as if a scholar or a scientist, emerged from outside the control room and walked ahead slowly. He looked at Clark with a melancholic gaze and was stunned.

"You've grown up, Kal. If only Lara could see this."

"Who are you?"

"I am your father, Kal-El."

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(~˘▾˘)~Don't forget to send your power-stones!~(˘▾˘~)