CHAPTER 40

Under the influence of the soundproofing magic, Clark, although unable to hear what Max had just said, received clear feedback from his bio-field indicating that a humanoid creature was approaching them.

The soundproofing magic Max used on himself rendered him completely devoid of sound, not even a heartbeat.

Noticing the abnormality, Clark raised an eyebrow; this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

He turned his head to look at the approaching man in green clothes and subconsciously activated his X-ray vision, thoroughly examining the other party from head to toe.

'He has a heartbeat, and from the looks of it, it's strong and powerful. His bone density is very high, and his internal organs are all functioning normally. He's a healthy person! But why is he making no sound? Strange?'

He glanced around again and found that other people were also noticing this fellow, which meant it wasn't his hallucination. He focused his super-hearing on Max but still heard no sound.

Being stared at by a frowning Superman like this, Max felt all the hairs on his body stand on end in an instant.

It was a sense of crisis honed from martial arts training: there was fatal danger nearby!

Electric Current Propulsion activated defensively, and the amount of electricity in his blood surged wildly. This series of reactions from Max appeared quite peculiar to Clark, who had his X-ray vision active.

He saw that the person's heart had, in an instant, accelerated its beat, and electric current had begun to spread throughout his entire body! The hairs all over his body had stood on end after the current spread.

"A superpowered individual?! Could he have sensed me looking at him?"

Clark muttered under his breath. He had encountered quite a few superpowered individuals over the years; as long as they didn't cause trouble, he couldn't be bothered with them.

Max pretended not to see Clark. After passing him, he quickened his pace and jogged away.

The moment Electric Current Propulsion activated, Superman, in Max's eyes, was a humanoid super-energy cluster. That blindingly dazzling light indicated that his body was filled with Power!

Not only that, but within Max's "Heart Network" perception, centered on Clark, there was an invisible field of unknown size, enveloping the surroundings.

Everything in this vicinity, under the enhancement of this bio-field, was many times harder than normal, even the air. Max felt a slight resistance as he walked.

Terrifying to this extent!

As Max passed by Clark, he felt all his senses screaming a warning: Go! Dangerous! Fucking run!

Photographer Jimmy, seeing Clark constantly looking to the side, asked, "Clark, what's wrong? Is there something over there?"

"It's nothing, just saw an interesting person."

Lois looked over curiously: "Oh? Where is that person?"

"It's fine, he's already gone. Let's continue the interview."

…………

After getting out of Superman's line of sight, Max's wildly beating heart began to slowly calm down, and the needle-prick-like sense of crisis gradually faded.

Max breathed a sigh of relief.

"So fucking terrifying. So that's Superman's awakened bio-field! I feel as helpless as a little chick in front of him."

"Damn it! This is the power stored from basking in the sun for over twenty years! Such enviable power!"

Instantly, a strong fighting spirit erupted in his eyes. His heart began to race again, and the amount of electricity in his body rose somewhat.

..."Haha, I've gotten a bit stronger after having a goal! This is what makes it interesting. I need to find a time to fight him!"

Electric Current Propulsion, it seems, still needs combat to improve more quickly!

With his trusty Omnitrix, Max believed he wouldn't lose... probably...

Speaking of which, Superman probably wouldn't kill him with one punch, right... Thinking about how I once transformed into the unkillable Brother Eggbert, the watch should save me!

"I hope the trusty watch can be a bit more reliable in a life-or-death crisis!"

………………

LexCorp Tower, first floor, display area.

"Hey buddy, be careful, that machine is very important. Remember to handle it with care! Don't just stand there, you two go over and help."

Max Harvey, seeing the renovation progress was too slow, tried to rally them:

"Everyone, everyone, I need this venue by tomorrow morning. Please hurry up a bit! Drinks are on me at the bar tonight!"

"Okay boss, no problem boss!" ×53

The crowd's enthusiasm was ignited.

Lex Luthor stood to one side without leaving. He even gave on-site directions from time to time. Some machines, he needed to install personally.

They were currently modifying the open-air speech stage in this area. Many green-glowing high-tech weapons had already been installed beneath the stage, and then special lead plates were used as flooring.

Ever since Lex Luthor discovered that Superman lost his strength in the presence of green stones, he had begun to study these lovely little stones.

With his Chief Technical Officer, Max Harvey, and his own incredibly intelligent brain, he finally managed to utilize these stones to create terrifying weapons. Terrifying for Superman, that is.

The Kryptonite energy gun, a weapon capable of extracting the radiation energy from Kryptonite and firing it.

This energy might not have a very strong effect on the human body, at most causing a photon skin rejuvenation effect. But for Superman, this weapon was a super-weapon capable of instantly making him lose his combat ability.

And then there was the Freeze Gun! A super weapon that could instantly freeze Superman!

This was a weapon personally designed by Lex! Capable of being used to control Superman's actions.

He had installed all these things in the speech stage.

Lex Luthor, outwardly calm, had a very active inner monologue: Superman, that bird, people who like to be heroes are the easiest to fool! This stage has been prepared for you.

………………

After leaving Superman, he returned to the "Tomb of the Living Dead," wanting to grasp that sense of crisis and desperately train his body.

He had now seen the current "chosen one," the god among men, Superman.

Knowing the terrifying gap between himself and the other, training his body was a matter of utmost urgency. Get stronger, strive to get stronger.

In his "Tomb of the Living Dead" in the different dimension, he didn't need to worry about injuring passersby while training at full power, so his training was rather unrestrained!

"Ha! Lightning Rushing Thunder Fist! Ho! Electric Light Cutting Wind Leg! Ha... Rushing Thunder Fist! Ho... Cutting Wind Leg!..."

The open space in front of the "Tomb of the Living Dead" base had already been ravaged by his power, with no piece of ground left intact. It was covered in charcoal and gouges!

"Hoo hoo...! For now, I don't demand to fight Superman head-on. At the very least, I need a body that can withstand one punch from him! Electric Current Propulsion, get moving!"

...Crackle! Crackle! Zzzzzzzzz!

Violent high-voltage current burst forth from his body. Under the shaping of his vast spiritual power, Lightning Armor began to form!

At this moment, Max's entire body was enveloped in electric current, making him look like a little golden man!

This thin outer layer of golden current was flowing at high speed, integrating offense and defense, and capable of enhancing his movement speed in all directions!

"Haha, this move, let's call it Lightning Armor! Fucking, Five Hundred Thousand Volt Lightning Armor!"

He slammed a fist onto the ground. The entire flow of his body's current surged towards his fist, blasting another ten-meter-deep crater into the already exposed bedrock.

Max waved his hand, magic power surged, restoring the place to its original state, and simultaneously dispelled the Lightning Armor.

The clothes he had made from leaves had already been zapped into charred ash. As soon as the armor dispersed, he was naked again.

"Damn, the new ability is pretty good, it's just very hard on clothes!"

He plucked a few more leaves and conjured an identical set of clothes to wear.

"Hungry. Going out to eat."

………………

Restaurant row.

Max, having come out of the "Tomb of the Living Dead," first went to eat a tomahawk steak, and then went for a seafood feast.

It was probably due to his recent breakthrough; he would eat and then get hungry, get hungry and then eat. After making a round of eating...

He finally entered a very crowded fried chicken shop and, under the shocked expressions of everyone present, began to eat fried chicken and pizza.

That exaggerated appetite attracted quite a few onlookers.

"97, 98, 99, 100! WOW! Holy crap! He's already eaten his 100th chicken leg! Our shop's new Big Stomach King is born! Let's cheer for him!"

"WOW......" ×N

The owner of the fried chicken shop seized the opportunity to ride the wave of popularity, heating up the atmosphere in the shop!

After Max agreed, he took a photo of Max and hung the photo in the number one spot on the Big Stomach King leaderboard.

After finishing all the food on the table, Max drank a full glass of happy water. His body finally no longer felt any hunger.

He was just about to get up and leave when the curly-haired owner of the fried chicken shop hurriedly stopped him, putting an arm around his shoulder and pulling him aside.

"Bro, you were truly amazing! We're having a Big Stomach King competition here in three days. I wonder if you'd be interested in participating!"

Max was more curious about what there was to eat:

"Big Stomach King competition? What kind of food will there be?"

"Hot dogs, hamburgers, fried chicken... everything my shop sells will be there that day! As long as you win first place, you can get a stack of free meal vouchers! Usable at all the fried chicken shops under my banner!"

The owner wore a confident expression.

Max nodded: "Okay, I'll be there at that time!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, he left the fried chicken shop.

"Shit, he eats so much junk food and his figure is still so good. How does he train?" a pot-bellied waiter muttered enviously.

Another equally overweight waiter interjected, "This kind of eating without getting fat is a talent; you can't learn it. Let's get back to work."

………………

The next morning, LexCorp issued a public announcement.

They would hold a press conference at noon to criticize yesterday's "Yellow Flash," as well as the Superman who flies in the sky!

The publicity was very widespread; basically, all the citizens of Metropolis knew about this matter!

...Idle citizens, after finishing lunch, strolled over to the speech stage set up by LexCorp.

LexCorp's boss, Lex Luthor, was standing on the speech stage. Below the stage, it was already packed with news reporters!

"OK, it's about time. Esteemed citizens, let's not waste any more words."

"Next, I will reveal the true face of yesterday's 'Yellow Flash.' I hope you don't get too excited!"

After Lex Luthor finished speaking, he pressed a button on the remote control in his hand. The large screen behind him immediately lit up, and a clear image of the Yellow Bird dashing was displayed on the big screen.

"Holy crap, what the hell is this thing? A bird?"

"Could it be a mutated ostrich? Why is it triangular? It's so ugly."

...

There were many discussions around, but one voice was particularly distinct.

"That's it! Fuck, that's what saved me! I'm going to kill that damn bird!"

It was that unlucky fellow who had jumped off a building but didn't die—Zguy Jordan.

His heart having turned to ash, love turned into hate, and he came to hate his savior! That super-fast bird!

The citizens of Metropolis were just like that; anyone who saved them would inexplicably be hated. Superman said he was already used to it.

Of course, there was no lack of sane people who would express gratitude to the... bird that saved them:

"Yes, that's it! I want to thank it for saving me! For saving my whole family!"

Of course, sounds of gratitude were not what Lex Luthor wanted to hear.

He tilted his head slightly towards the backstage personnel, giving them a look. Immediately, three security guards rushed up and took away the person who was thanking the Yellow Bird.

Next, what Lex Luthor needed was the public's sentiments laden with hatred.

"You've all seen it. That super-fast creature might not even be human. It's clearly... a bird!"

"And that Superman flying in the sky, he's clearly not a normal person either. He makes us feel threatened, let alone a bird that isn't even human? They should all be captured."

"Especially that bird! Who can guarantee that bird's beak won't poke out your brain?"

"Therefore, I, Lex Luthor, will showcase my new weapon here!"

Lois Lane, below the stage, was already red hot with anger. Just yesterday, she had reported on Superman, saying that Superman represented hope and peace, doing good deeds in Metropolis! Yet, in Lex's mouth, Superman was a threat, an enemy!

She ignored the attempts of the management personnel to stop her and directly rushed up, wanting to confront Lex Luthor face to face!

Clark Kent, seeing that trouble was about to start here, deftly took a step back and blended into the crowd.

After squeezing out of the crowd, he ran into the nearest revolving door and went to change his clothes.

Lois Lane said angrily:

"Mr. Luthor, please retract your slander against Superman! When he was diligently saving people, what were you doing?"

"You can't consider him a threat just because he's stronger than you! He is helping people. Your statement is unfair to Superman!"

Lex Luthor chuckled:

"Hahaha, fair? I am very grateful to you, Ms. Lane. You have revealed Superman's truest side to us. This includes surveillance, eavesdropping, and destruction of public property."

"Super vision, super hearing, super strength! Any of these superpowers, to us ordinary people, isn't that also a form of unfairness?"

Lois retorted:

"But he can control it! My report stated that he spent many years learning to control these superpowers!"

Lex Luthor laughed even more happily:

"Yes, yes, you have revealed to me again that his superpowers can be uncontrollable!"

"These abilities are not something he was born mastering. He needs practice, just like driving a car! However, you cannot deny that even people who have learned to drive can have traffic accidents! Can you guarantee that his abilities will not go out of control in the future? Can you?"

"No! Just like you cannot control a car that's out of control!"

The crowd below felt that what Lex Luthor said was very reasonable! Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone can afford the cost of those mistakes!

Just as Lex Luthor was feeling smug...

A voice came from the sky:

"Alright, Lex Luthor. I'm here. If you have any questions, you can ask me. There's no need to trouble that lady."

Red cape, red shorts, stylishly slicked-back hair, and an S-shaped curl of bangs—Superman had arrived!