However—
With every beating he took, Clark was studying Fiora's movements.
His super brain was finally kicking into gear, doing what it was meant to do!
Gradually—
Clark began picking up some of Fiora's combat techniques. From being completely on the defensive, taking hit after hit, he was now starting to find chances to strike back.
Fiora noticed this too, and her brow furrowed.
In her memory, every Kryptonian was like her—their lives mapped out from birth.
Born into a military family? You'd become a soldier.
Born into a scientist's family? You'd grow up to be a scientist.
Fiora had never known the era of natural births, nor had she ever encountered a Kryptonian like Clark, born naturally.
So—
This situation was beyond her understanding.
If he came from a scientist's family, shouldn't he have a scientist's genes?
How could he learn her fighting techniques so quickly?
That was a trait exclusive to warrior genes!
Even among Kryptonian warriors with those genes, none had ever learned this fast!
The calm on Fiora's face began to crack.
Especially when Clark landed two punches to her face, nearly knocking her to the ground.
Fiora snapped—completely enraged!
Fueled by fury, her combat prowess spiked momentarily.
Clark was reduced to a punching bag once more, sent flying by Fiora's fists and kicks. Finally, a brutal kick launched him hundreds of meters away, crashing into a gas station. With a BOOM, the station exploded, swallowing Clark in a sea of flames.
Inside the blazing gas station—
Clark climbed to his feet, shaking his slightly dazed head.
He stepped out of the fire, unscathed—the flames couldn't touch him, repelled by his bio-force field. Even his vibrant cape remained pristine and dazzling!
Emerging from the inferno, Clark was ready to turn the tables—until he looked up and saw a beam of heat vision streak down from the sky, slamming Fiora into the ground below!
A figure landed swiftly after.
Clad in white-and-gold Kryptonian armor, a white cape billowing in the wind, he wasn't particularly tall—yet he seemed impossibly imposing.
Clark almost shouted "Azuma!" but caught himself. Eagle Sauce soldiers were watching nearby, and satellites had this area locked down.
Calling out Azuma's name would blow his cover!
As for—
Wouldn't they be recognized with their faces fully exposed?
Not really.
Their bio-force fields could subtly alter their facial features.
To everyone else, Clark didn't look like his true self.
The glasses? Just a running gag!
"X!"
Unable to use Azuma's name, Clark recalled how Azuma had insisted on swapping the "S" on his armor for an "X" during its design. So, he shouted that instead.
Azuma glanced back.
"Saw you getting your ass kicked," he said with a grin.
Clark: "…"
What about the part where I landed two punches on her?
You only saw me getting beat up, huh?
Clark was speechless—some friend this guy was.
He stepped forward, peering into the bottomless pit below.
"Is she dead?" Clark asked.
His heart softened a bit; these were his people, after all.
"Not yet, but she's coming up fast," Azuma replied.
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, Fiora erupted from the ground.
"You again!"
Fiora glared at Azuma, her face twisted with rage.
This bastard had blindsided her back at the farm earlier.
She'd let it slide, rushing off to support General Zod instead.
But now this guy was back, haunting her like a ghost!
Did he really think she was some pushover?
Roaring with fury, Fiora charged—
Only to be blasted back by another burst of Azuma's heat vision!
"They haven't even learned heat vision yet!" Clark exclaimed, shocked.
Then he caught Azuma looking at him like he was an idiot.
Clark's face flushed with embarrassment.
Oh, right!
Their visors were still on—how could they use heat vision?
I'm such an idiot! A total moron!!
If he'd used it earlier, he wouldn't have taken such a beating.
"Go check on Aunt Martha at the farm. I'll handle this woman," Azuma said.
With a bang, he shot off, catching up to the airborne Fiora in a blink.
One punch!
BOOM! Fiora's body slammed into the ground.
Azuma followed, raining fists down on her face.
Fiora was dazed.
With her armor's visor shattered, a flood of sounds invaded her mind, leaving her unable to fight back.
Azuma wasn't about to lecture her on "martial honor" or some nonsense.
His goal was clear: take out every last one of these Kryptonians!
After all—
What use was there in keeping them around?
Grabbing Fiora by the throat, Azuma dragged her deep underground.
She struggled in agony.
Moments later—
Crack!
Azuma snapped her neck.
Without sunlight to heal her, Fiora couldn't recover from such a fatal blow. As Azuma tightened his grip, the light in her eyes slowly faded.
Until it was gone completely.
Seeing she was dead, Azuma stopped.
He glanced at Fiora's unblinking, lifeless face, shook his head, and closed her eyes. Then, grabbing her corpse, he flew back to the surface.
Meanwhile—
Clark had returned to Kent Farm, where he found not only his mother but also Lois, who'd flown in earlier.
Relieved to see them both safe, Clark rushed over and hugged them tightly.
"You're both okay—that's all that matters!" he said.
--- Translator Note ---
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