The Cost of Protection

Several passengers stood beside him, all equally astonished.

He blinked, and several more passengers appeared as if out of thin air, having been brought from the bus by Superman to this location.

Then, in the blink of an eye, several more appeared.

…In just a few seconds, Superman had already relocated all the passengers from the bus.

They exchanged glances, feeling a dizzying discomfort from the rapid movement, and a few passengers began to cover their stomachs and vomit.

Soon, a loud explosion echoed from afar.

The bus's engine had indeed exploded under the intense heat. The booming sound was like a bomb being dropped, and the flames, thick with black smoke, instantly engulfed most of the bus. Had Superman not saved them moments ago, they would have all been consumed by the flames at that very moment.

Customers and employees from the taco shop rushed outside to see what was happening, but Soren remained calmly seated under the sunshade, shielding his eyes with his hand as he watched Clark extinguish the bus fire from a distance.

Clark was moving a large chunk of ice that had been frozen by his icy breath from a nearby lake, then using his heat vision to melt the ice into water, continuously dousing the raging fire.

Only after confirming that the fire from the bus had been completely extinguished did he return to the front of the taco shop.

He flashed into the crowd, and people instinctively parted to create a space for him.

"Is everyone alright? Is anyone injured?" Clark surveyed the crowd and asked.

The people looked at him anxiously and hesitantly shook their heads.

Facing Superman, many of them noticed the stark differences in his appearance and uniform compared to before. It was only at this moment that they truly felt how apparent the changes discussed in the news and reports about Superman had become.

—He really did seem different.

Whether it was his aura or his expression, he was completely unlike the sunny, radiant Superman they remembered.

This version of Superman carried an indescribable strength in his every movement, making people feel uneasy, reluctant to approach him easily.

Some exchanged glances with their companions and awkwardly attempted to thank Superman, while others looked at him with resistance, asking, "Superman, did you really order them to kill your opponents?"

Soren was startled.

He lowered his arms and stared directly at the man who had asked the question.

The man had dark skin, a black mustache, and sharp eyes.

Clark turned his gaze toward him, remaining silent for a moment.

The expression on the face of the god among men was neutral; he seemed to be weighing something before finally saying, "...If you're referring to what happened yesterday in Manhattan, then no, I did not."

Another man gathered his courage to ask, "Does that mean you've done so in the past?"

The short man's question sent shockwaves through the crowd.

…This was the thing they feared to voice the most, yet it was also what they most wanted to express deep down. But who among them dared to confront such a powerful alien like Superman directly?

The short man glanced at the people next to him before looking back at Superman. "Those news reports didn't just come out of nowhere, right? Even I've had some terrifying dreams… I saw you slaughtering Earthlings…"

Clark remained silent.

A woman asked the short man, "I've heard about that seminar. Are they saying all of it is true?"

"Who knows? Maybe it's all true—" the short man shrugged.

"He just saved all of your lives."

Soren, who had somehow made his way into the crowd, spoke up unexpectedly.

He glared intensely at the short man, his hands trembling with anger.

"And you're questioning him about some baseless rumors?"

A few passengers flinched at his words. The short man shut his mouth, turning his head away with a displeased expression, weakly retorting, "This is news that everyone has been discussing recently…"

Soren felt a heaviness in his chest and asked, "Weren't you the ones who initially viewed him as a hero of humanity? Didn't you elevate him to the status of Earth's protector? You helped put him on a pedestal, and now you're starting to criticize him based on a few rumors, even forgetting that he just saved all of you."

Clark lowered his gaze to the angry Soren and intervened, "It's fine, I don't mind—"

"But I do care," Soren shot a glance at him before turning back to the crowd. "How much has Superman given to humanity over the years? He has long protected this Earth, yet now you question his motives just because he's not from Earth, even forming that ridiculous organization to defame him!"

"So many people around the world are reporting the same dream; doesn't that warrant our vigilance?" the tall, thin Black man countered.

Everyone in the crowd nodded in agreement. "Just because of one dream, you all throw away everything he's done to help humanity?" Soren retorted.

The tall man chuckled and said, "Who can guarantee that Superman won't one day turn against us? Can you guarantee that—"

"Enough."

Clark said, his voice low and firm.

This gray-haired Superman had an extraordinary presence; when he spoke a single word, it was as if a mountain cast a shadow, instantly silencing everyone.

A heavy silence fell over the crowd.

Clark looked at the crowd, calming Soren with his gaze, his expression serious. "Regarding the events in Manhattan, I will provide you with an explanation; I have sworn with my life that every second I live, I will protect this planet until I reach the end of my life."

The crowd surrounded him but cleared a large space around him. He stood alone in the center, like a god who had survived the twilight of the gods, awaiting the world to restart.

The heavy red cape draped down his back from around his neck.

His gaze finally settled on Soren. "...I will use every part of my life, every second, to make amends to all of you."