Chapter 10 (edited)

It was the drunk who fired first; otherwise, Kara would have simply given him a harsh lesson and let him go.

Kara was seething with anger. At the moment, she could endure the attack thanks to her indestructible defense, but what if it had been someone else? This man had a gun—and he didn't hesitate to fire.

She gripped the drunk's hair tightly with her left hand, forcing him to lift his head. Even the pain from his injured arm couldn't compare to the agony she inflicted on him.

With her right hand raised, fingers straightened like a blade, Kara prepared to strike. Her strength and speed were immense, and such a blow would hit with the force of a lethal weapon.

"Kara?"

Jennifer's voice cut through the tension, her tone trembling with fear. "You're not really going to kill him, are you?"

Kara froze.

Jennifer stepped closer, her eyes wide with anxiety. "Please, don't. You're stronger than this. If you do this, there's no turning back."

Many people knew Kara was not an ordinary girl; her strength was exceptional. She had displayed it more than once, earning her the nickname Supergirl. Although it wasn't public knowledge, her abilities went far beyond raw strength.

Hearing Jennifer's plea, Kara exhaled heavily, her gaze softening momentarily. But her voice was steady as she asked, "If I weren't here today, Jennifer, what would've happened to you?"

Jennifer blinked, startled. Her mind conjured a terrifying image of what might have unfolded if she had faced these men alone.

Kara continued, her voice hardening, "You saw it yourself. He didn't hesitate to pull the trigger. If I hadn't been here, it would've been you who got shot. And what if it wasn't us but Dani instead? Could you face her after something happened? Or even a stranger—someone else who might fall victim to him later? Can you live with that?"

Jennifer was at a loss for words, her heart pounding.

Kara stepped on the fallen gun, crushing it beneath her boot. "Sometimes, killing a dangerous person saves countless lives."

Jennifer's voice wavered as she asked, "But… killing him? How can that be the only answer?"

"You don't get it yet," Kara replied, her tone grave. "It's about stopping the cycle. If Batman had killed the Joker the first time, think of how many innocent lives could've been saved."

Jennifer frowned. "Batman? Joker? Who are they?"

Kara blinked, realizing her slip. This world hadn't seen the rise of superheroes like the ones she grew up admiring. "It's… never mind."

Taking a step back, Jennifer shook her head. "Kara, I'm begging you. Let this go."

Kara's gaze turned cold again. "I can't. He's a threat. And I won't risk him hurting someone I care about—or anyone else." She grabbed the man by the collar and dragged him away.

"Kara, wait!"

But Kara didn't stop. Her silhouette disappeared into the shadows, leaving Jennifer standing helplessly in the street.

In a remote alley, Kara tossed the drunk man against a stack of trash bins.

He coughed and sneered, "You won't kill me. Pretty girls like you don't do that. You're too soft."

Kara crossed her arms. "That's what you're betting on?"

The drunk smirked. "If you kill me, you'll go to prison. Your family, your friends—they'll all suffer. Is that what you want?"

Kara shrugged nonchalantly. "You're right. If I were an ordinary person, that'd be a real problem."

The man's grin widened, but it faded as Kara's eyes began glowing a fiery red.

Before he could react, twin beams of heat vision seared through his skull. His body slumped to the ground, lifeless.

Kara turned away, her voice calm. "I hate the way you looked at me."

Adjusting her jacket, she muttered to herself, "Laser weaponry doesn't exist yet—not on this planet. No one will trace this back to me. Just a tragic case of vigilante justice, probably by someone dressed as a bat."

She disappeared into the night, leaving no evidence behind.