Bab 207: Clark's Outbreak
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Just as Wonder Woman predicted, the fight took a turn. Initially, Clark exploited his aerial advantage, always maintaining a one-on-one situation. However, General Zod wasn't blind. He realized this and adapted his tactics.
When Clark attacked him again, Zod took a calculated risk. He absorbed a punch from Clark, then grabbed his arm, creating an opening for Faora and the other warrior to join the assault.
Despite his immense strength, Clark was outnumbered. Two fists couldn't fend off four, let alone six. Under Zod's relentless barrage, Clark was forced to defend, his body visibly taking a beating. With a mighty roar, Clark launched a desperate counterattack. He spun rapidly, throwing Zod, Faora, and the warrior who held his arm off balance.
As the speed peaked, he violently shook his body, flinging all three Kryptonians away. They landed hard but regrouped quickly. Clark, panting heavily, hovered in mid-air for a moment. He looked down at them and spoke, "It seems defeating you in this state is impossible. Then..."
His voice trailed off, leaving a chilling implication.
A look of dread washed over General Zod and his companions. They feared Clark was about to unleash the power of the ancient gods, a power that would guarantee their defeat. But their apprehension turned to confusion as they witnessed Clark's next move.
He reached for a thin red cord around his neck and pulled out a pendant hidden beneath his clothes. A strange metal ring holding an unusual green stone was attached to the pendant.
The moment they saw the green stone, shock registered on the Kryptonians' faces.
"The green magic stone! Why do you possess such a dangerous thing?" General Zod exclaimed.
General Zod's eyes narrowed at the sight of the green stone. It was Kryptonite, the bane of their existence! This seemingly harmless rock emitted a particular radiation that could cripple and even kill Kryptonians.
It was a staple in Kryptonian prisons designed to subdue their most dangerous criminals. What truly perplexed Zod and his comrades was why Clark would wear such a thing. Despite its presence, Clark displayed incredible strength. Could it be a sign of his god-like powers awakening?
"Green rock!" Clark echoed, momentarily surprised.
"We call it Kryptonite on Earth. You likely understand that it's our Kryptonian weakness. We instinctively avoid it. However, my adoptive father had a different perspective on weaknesses."
He explained his father's view: Kryptonite's power was the antithesis of a Kryptonian's. Like fire and ice, they were opposing forces. According to an ancient Earth philosophy called Yin and Yang – where opposites coexist – his father believed Clark could learn to adapt to this opposing force, turning a weakness into a strength.
This concept was entirely foreign to Zod and his companions.
"Since I was young," Clark continued,
"I wore a device emitting a red light, sapping my strength. I got used to it, then switched to this green Kryptonite. It's been over a decade. I'm accustomed to it, but it still weakens me, keeping me at about half power."
A sudden realization dawned on them all – Clark had been fighting them at half-strength! His true power was beyond imagination. Exhausted from fighting three-on-one, Clark couldn't believe he'd only used half his strength. Imagine the power he had left! The realization stunned them all.
Unfazed, Clark pressed a hidden button on the Kryptonite pendant. A metal ring unfolded, forming a sphere that encased the Kryptonite and blocked its radiation. He pocketed it with a satisfied crack of his neck.
"Much better," he declared.
"Round two!"
In a blur, Clark vanished. He reappeared beside the towering Kryptonian warrior, a mighty punch accompanied by a yell of "Moo time!" landing squarely on the warrior's chest. The warrior flew back with a scream. He didn't leave a crater-like before, but the damage ran deeper.
Unlike the previous blunt force attacks, Clark's fist now carried a strange, shocking power that ripped through the warrior's defenses, injuring his organs. It wasn't agonizing pain but a debilitating nausea and weakness, an overwhelming urge to succumb.
General Zod and Faora reacted instantly. Clark smirked, dodging their two-pronged attack. He snatched their ankles with lightning reflexes, spun them around with surprising force, and slammed them into the ground, creating two sizable craters.
But Zod and Faora weren't pushovers. Enduring the pain, they kicked out simultaneously, aiming for Clark's head. Caught off guard, he had to release them and retreat.
General Zod charged, a whirlwind of fury. Clark held his ground, absorbing their blows with a deep breath before stabilizing himself. He grabbed their wrists, a powerful yank bringing them together. A swift kick sent them tumbling end over end, rolling dozens of meters before finally resting.
General Zod, fueled by rage, launched himself at Clark. Clark, ever calm, held his ground, absorbing the blows with a deep breath. He braced himself, then reached out and grabbed both Zod and Faora by the wrists. With a powerful yank, he slammed them together, sending them sprawling across the ground in a tangled mess. They tumbled dozens of meters before finally coming to a rest.
The dust settled as Zod and Faora pushed themselves up, their faces grim. They exchanged a resolute glance, a silent vow to fight on no matter the cost. They had to buy time and allow their people to escape to safety at Shaw's farm.
Clark, despite displaying his newfound strength, felt conflicted. He'd shown mercy, but Zod and Faora remained relentless, driven by a desperate loyalty. He had to continue this fight, a frustrating dance where his blows landed with one-sided force.
The tall Kryptonian warrior watched from the sidelines, his internal injuries rendering him a helpless spectator. The once-mighty warrior could barely stand, let alone fight.
Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows, Wonder Woman watched the battle unfold. Witnessing Clark's true power, her jaw clenched. So, he'd held back against her? Was it a show of dominance or a calculated move for a future encounter? Regardless, the revelation fueled a silent fire within her. With his hidden depths, this 'brat' would pay for his arrogance.
The fight raged on.
General Zod and Faora, battered but unbroken, rose again and again after each brutal blow. Impressed by their unwavering resolve, even Clark attempted to reason with them, urging them to surrender. But his pleas fell on deaf ears.
Finally, left with no other option, Clark resorted to a pressure point strike. He targeted specific points on Zod's body with a series of precise movements, effectively disabling him. Seeing her leader fall, Faora's resolve crumbled. With a choked sob, she collapsed beside him.
Exhaustion settled on Clark as General Zod and Faora finally crumpled. "It's over," he declared, relief lacing his voice.
"You've lost. Now leave Earth with your people."
A chilling laugh escaped General Zod's lips. "Lost? Not quite, Superman. I knew from the outset you were the superior opponent. Unleashing the full power within you would render us powerless. Yet, I attacked anyway. Why, you ask?"
Curiosity flickered in Clark's eyes. "What are you talking about, Zod? Don't tell me you have another trick up your sleeve. Do enlighten me."
A twisted grin contorted Zod's face. "Before initiating this conflict, I dispatched a message to our waiting clansmen in deep space. Two warriors have already been sent – by now, they've likely landed the ship at your farm."
Clark's blood ran cold. He instantly understood. "You sent someone to Earth to capture someone I care about? Blackmail, is it?"
Zod offered a blunt confirmation. "Precisely. This fight served as a distraction. It's too late for you to return now. You have a choice, Superman: cooperate, and I'll keep my word - I'll assist you as promised. Refuse, and I will kill your people."
Zod's gaze held a chilling intensity. He'd long prepared for this moment, sacrificing his life if necessary. Sanity had abandoned him; achieving his goal was all that mattered.
But Clark's reaction defied Zod's expectations. An unsettling expression washed over his face, a flicker of pity replacing the expected panic.
"For those two Kryptonian warriors at the farm," he said, his voice tinged with a strange amusement,
"I can only offer... condolences. Hopefully, they'll be fortunate enough to meet a swift end. A painless death is preferable, wouldn't you agree?"
Clark then strolled to the side and settled on the ground, gazing into the distance with unsettling calmness as if awaiting the unfolding drama.
This unexpected turn left Zod speechless. "Aren't you concerned for the people at the farm?" he stammered.
A sly grin spread across Clark's face.
Worried? Not a chance. Henry and Abigail are gone. There's a powerful witch at the farm now, and what was that dog's name again... Simba? His strength has grown considerably over the years. With those two, I wouldn't bet against them.
The memory of Tina's outburst sent shivers down Clark's spine. The seemingly meek woman transformed into a terrifying force. A lesson learned, he thought: never underestimate a mother, especially not one fueled by rage.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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