Chapter 27 (edited)

From this day on, Kara officially became a student of Metropolitan University, and Bruce also became her classmate.

When Jennifer found out, she asked Kara seriously if she liked Bruce.

Kara made it clear to Jennifer that she really didn't like Bruce.

"Well, if it's Batman's identity, I wouldn't mind collecting a Batarang, a Batmobile, or a motorcycle," Kara mused to herself. "It would be even better if he just gifted me the Batmobile outright."

Only then did Jennifer feel relieved. She even started going to Kara's classroom more often, claiming she was there to see Kara, though her real intention was something else entirely.

However, Jennifer soon discovered that Bruce didn't seem to have any interest in her. In fact, he didn't show much interest in Kara either. He greeted her politely whenever they crossed paths, but that was the extent of their interaction.

"Maybe he already likes someone else?" Dani speculated once during lunch.

Kara didn't care about these speculations. Instead, she was engrossed in reading elective books, particularly one on astronomy that she couldn't put down.

The book discussed fixed stars, including the sun, which intrigued Kara because it related to the source of her Kryptonian powers.

The book not only covered the sun but also speculated about fixed stars beyond the solar system, yet still within the Milky Way.

It estimated that the Milky Way contained hundreds of billions of fixed stars. Among them, the sun was neither the most massive nor the brightest. For instance, Eta Carinae was described as being more than four million times brighter than the sun. Similarly, the Peony Star in the Peony Nebula was noted for being over three million times brighter than the sun.

Kara began to wonder: If Superman's power comes from the sun's rays, would brighter stars significantly amplify that power?

After all, moonlight, which is merely reflected sunlight, did not seem to enhance her strength. On the contrary, Superman's power would often diminish during the night.

Kara noted that while her physical strength seemed unlimited under direct sunlight, it became more constrained under the moonlight.

She also made a mental note to avoid regions exposed to red sun radiation in the future—if she ever had the opportunity to travel to outer space.

"Speaking of which, I'm heading to a club activity this afternoon. What about you two? Want to come along?" Kara asked as she put away her book after lunch with Dani and Jennifer.

"Don't you have classes in the afternoon?" Dani asked, surprised.

Jennifer added, "It's not Friday or the weekend. How come you're free?"

Kara shrugged. "I've already completed all my first-year courses. My professor gave me permission to focus on other interests, so I've been exploring astronomy. I'm also applying for some clubs, like the news club."

Both Dani and Jennifer stared at her, dumbfounded.

Thanks to her super learning abilities, Kara had no trouble with rote memorization. Whether she could apply her knowledge in practice would depend on her performance in the future.

After saying goodbye to her friends, Kara went to her new club activity: the news club.

Kara joined the news club because she noticed that the current team leader, Perry White, was a well-known figure at the university.

If her memory served her correctly, Perry White would eventually become the editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet, the very same paper Clark Kent would one day join. Establishing a good relationship with him early on seemed like a smart move.

In addition to the news club, Kara joined Taekwondo and Karate clubs. She found these fighting styles intriguing and thought they might complement her natural abilities.

Taekwondo, for instance, originated from Tangshou, which had roots in martial arts from the Tang Dynasty. Over time, Tangshou evolved into karate, incorporating various techniques such as striking, grappling, and joint locks.

Although Kara found many of the moves taught in these clubs too showy for practical use, her superhuman strength and speed made even basic moves devastatingly effective.

Her kicks, for example, were swift, precise, and powerful enough to shatter boards and bricks with ease.

Once, Bruce observed her training and couldn't resist challenging her to a sparring match.

Though Bruce had also joined these clubs and was progressing rapidly, Kara's superhuman abilities gave her a distinct advantage. The match ended with Kara landing a flying kick that knocked Bruce down instantly.

Kara also investigated a so-called "Kung Fu club" but quickly concluded it wasn't worth her time.

Despite her busy schedule, Kara's life at university was proceeding smoothly. Her beauty and intelligence quickly made her a popular figure on campus.

However, an odd rumor began to circulate: anyone who confessed their feelings to Kara—especially troublemakers—would mysteriously suffer a string of bad luck.

This reputation earned Kara the nickname "Demonic Woman," which deterred most from approaching her.

Time flew by, and a year passed in the blink of an eye.

One day, Bruce suddenly disappeared from campus without a word.

If he truly was Batman, Kara could understand his departure.

After all, Batman was known to be a genius, mastering a wide range of disciplines, from criminology and law to engineering and computer science. At just twenty-one, Bruce had already earned degrees in several fields.

Perhaps his absence marked a period of intense self-study and preparation for his future as the Dark Knight.

Although Batman hadn't officially debuted yet, Kara knew his time was coming.