章 6: Chapter 4: Convincing Jonathan

The sun had barely risen when Clark met Jonathan in the barn. The early morning light filtered through the wooden slats, casting long shadows over the worn floor. Clark knew his father well enough to understand that this conversation wasn't going to be easy. Jonathan was already skeptical of Ray, and now, after the latest development, things had gotten even more complicated.

Clark had told Jonathan about his decision to join the football team. Jonathan had listened, but his expression said it all. He wasn't thrilled. Now they were standing in the barn, the air heavy with unspoken tension.

"Dad," Clark began, glancing around nervously, "I know you're worried, but football could be a good thing for me. It's a chance to be part of something normal, to fit in. Besides, I can control my powers better now."

Jonathan folded his arms, leaning against one of the support beams. "Clark, it's not about fitting in. It's about what could happen if you lose control. You're not like the other boys out there. One wrong move and you could hurt someone. You could even expose yourself."

Clark sighed, knowing his father's concern was genuine but still feeling the sting of being held back. "But I won't lose control. I've been practicing, and I know my limits."

Jonathan shook his head. "Limits? What if someone pushes you too hard? Or worse, what if you're forced into a situation where you can't hold back? It's too risky."

Clark was about to protest when Ray's voice echoed softly in his mind, as if he'd been listening to the entire conversation—which, of course, he had.

"Clark," Ray's voice was calm, thoughtful. "I have an idea. Perhaps a demonstration of control might convince your father."

Clark tilted his head slightly, pretending to stretch to avoid suspicion. What kind of demonstration? he thought.

Ray's voice returned, this time with more energy. "I can create a quest for you. A test of precision, skill, and control. If you can complete it, it will show your father that you can handle yourself—even in unpredictable situations."

Clark's brow furrowed, curiosity getting the better of him. "What kind of quest?" he whispered, so low that Jonathan didn't hear.

A familiar blue box materialized in Clark's field of vision, the edges glowing faintly as Ray presented the quest details:

Quest Name: Takeshi's Castle

Description:

Build or use a complex obstacle course with 21 different levels/areas. Complete all 21 areas without damaging the course.

Reward: 21,000 EP

Clark's eyes widened at the sight of the reward. Twenty-one thousand energy points? That was more than he'd ever seen before. He could feel his pulse quicken as he read the details, imagining what he could do with that many points. But then reality hit him.

"Where am I supposed to get an obstacle course like that?" Clark muttered under his breath, his gaze shifting to the ground. Jonathan, still leaning against the post, looked at him quizzically but didn't press the issue.

Ray's response was immediate. "You can buy the materials from the system shop temporarily. Each level costs 5,000 EP, and it comes fully equipped. You'll just need to set it up."

Clark almost choked. "Wait, what?" His voice was louder than he intended, and Jonathan looked at him in concern.

"Something wrong, son?" Jonathan asked, his voice cautious.

Clark shook his head quickly, forcing a smile. "No, just,

just thinking out loud," he muttered, hoping Jonathan would drop it.

But internally, Clark was reeling. He glanced at the blue box again. 5,000 EP per level? He quickly did the math in his head. "Ray," he whispered, "are you seriously telling me I have to spend 5,000 EP to buy materials for each level, just to win 1,000 EP per level? That's... insane!"

Ray's voice returned, sounding amused but earnest. "I know, Clark. But this isn't about the points; it's about proving something to your father. Besides, you could also... ask Lex. He might be interested in setting up a Smallville version of 'Takeshi's Castle'. I'm sure he'd find the idea of a competitive obstacle course fascinating, especially if it could involve some local sponsorship."

Clark groaned internally. Lex was his friend, but the idea of convincing him to build a whole obstacle course seemed ridiculous. Still, it wasn't the worst suggestion Ray had ever given. "I'll think about it," Clark muttered, not entirely convinced.

Just as Ray was about to continue, he added something that made Clark pause. "By the way, I've leveled up since yesterday. I'm now at System Level 3, which unlocks temporary items for special quests like this one. In theory, I could even create a quest where you'd have to use magic if you wanted to explore those abilities."

Clark blinked in surprise, his thoughts spinning. Magic? He wasn't sure he was ready to deal with that kind of power, especially when he could barely keep a handle on his existing abilities. But before he could think further, Jonathan's voice broke into his thoughts again.

"Clark, if you're not ready to talk about this, that's fine. But I hope you understand why I'm worried." Jonathan's voice was steady, but there was a depth of care beneath it that made Clark feel guilty for even considering sneaking around behind his back.

He took a deep breath, focusing on his father. "I do, Dad. I really do. I'm not saying I'm ready to go out and crush people on the field, but I just want a chance to prove to you that I've got it under control." Clark hesitated. "Maybe I could show you, instead of just telling you."

Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "Show me?"

Clark's heart raced as he considered the quest Ray had proposed. Maybe he didn't need to go through all 21 levels. Maybe just a demonstration of control would suffice. "Yeah. Let me show you that I can handle myself in an unpredictable situation. No accidents, no destruction."

A Few Days Later: The Football Game

It was the day of the football game, and the excitement at Smallville High was palpable. Students filled the bleachers, parents sat eagerly with their cameras ready, and the cheerleaders rallied the crowd. The smell of hot dogs and popcorn wafted through the air as Clark made his way to the locker room, the weight of the upcoming game pressing down on him.

Jonathan had been less than thrilled about Clark's decision to join the football team, but after their talk, he'd softened enough to at least come and watch. He even brought Ray's crystal with him, as requested. Clark wasn't entirely sure why Ray had wanted to tag along, but it seemed harmless enough.

As the game was about to begin, Jonathan stood among the parents, keeping a watchful eye on the field. Martha, seated beside him, glanced around. "Where's Clark?" she asked, her brow furrowed.

Jonathan scanned the field, noticing that Clark wasn't anywhere near the starting lineup. He frowned. "That's odd."

His concern deepened as he made his way through the crowd, eventually heading toward the locker rooms. It was there, in a dimly lit hallway, that he found something he hadn't expected.

Clark wasn't gearing up for the game. He was locked in a confrontation with Coach Walt Arnold—who, to Jonathan's horror, was engulfed in flames.

Clark struggled to contain the enraged coach, his hands moving carefully, trying not to hurt him. But Coach Arnold's fire abilities, which had spiraled out of control, threatened to burn everything around them.

Ray's voice chimed in Clark's ear, steady but urgent. "Clark, knock him out. You can't reason with him right now."

Clark hesitated for only a second before following Ray's advice. A swift but gentle strike to the side of Coach Arnold's neck, and the man slumped unconscious into Clark's arms.

"Now get him to safety," Ray instructed.

Clark quickly carried the unconscious coach into a nearby empty classroom, laying him down on the floor. As he stepped back, catching his breath, Ray's blue textbox appeared in front of him:

Mission Complete: 1,000 EP earned

A life was saved. However, this individual has a negative karma value. No additional EP awarded.

Clark read the message, feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and guilt. He hadn't expected to feel this conflicted about saving someone, even if that person had been on the verge of burning down the school.

"Ray," Clark whispered, wiping the sweat from his brow, "what now?"

Ray's voice was cool and collected. "Now, you're going to want to place my crystal on the coach."

Clark frowned. "Why?"

Another blue box appeared before him:

Extract Pyrokinesis Power?

Clark's eyes widened. "You can extract powers?"

Ray's tone was serious. "Not all powers. But Coach Arnold's abilities are temporary, derived from an external source. If you place my crystal on him, I can neutralize his power and extract the essence of pyrokinesis for future use."

Clark hesitated for a moment but quickly realized it was the best course of action. Gently, he placed Ray's crystal on Coach Arnold's chest. The crystal glowed for a moment, and then, as if absorbing the energy, it pulsed and the flames around the coach dissipated.

"It's done," Ray said quietly. "His powers are gone. And now, the system shop has a new category: Pyrokinesis Level 1."

Clark raised an eyebrow. "So, I can buy fire-related powers now?"

Ray chuckled. "Not quite. But you can now purchase items and materials that use fire elements. Think fireworks, flares, maybe even a portable flamethrower."

Clark couldn't help but smile at the absurdity. "A portable flamethrower? Really?"