Hancock, at this moment, encountered such human-made disasters. When both law enforcement officers and superheroes were affected by these unfortunate events, the police struggled to respond to many sudden situations. Consequently, a few criminals hatched a plan to rob a bank, even collaborating with a discontented security guard on the inside to pull off an inside job.
Unexpectedly, this inside-outside operation went smoothly, catching many off guard. But just then, Hancock burst onto the scene...
"Boom!"
When the robbers shut the bank doors, restricting the hostages and starting to empty the vault, Hancock crashed through the bank's wall, shattering the thick barrier as he barged into the hall.
Truth be told, Hancock hadn't planned it this way. He saw the bank robbery and intended to stop it, but he hadn't figured out how to proceed. Due to his poor control over his flying speed and angle, he accidentally smashed into the bank's hall.
Not only were the robbers bewildered, but Hancock himself was also at a loss, staring at the armed criminals, unsure of what to say.
"Uh... hello?" In the awkward silence that filled the hall, Hancock hesitated before waving at the robbers, saying, "I'm here to stop you. Could you just surrender so we don't have to fight?"
"Rat-tat-tat-tat!" Before Hancock finished his sentence, the robbers snapped out of their shock and opened fire on him.
Regardless of who Hancock was or why he spoke so strangely, the fact that he crashed through the wall was witnessed by everyone. Clearly, Hancock had superpowers, and facing such a terrifyingly powerful individual, the robbers chose to trust their guns.
Surrendering was not an option for these robbers; having come this far, they had to go all the way. Otherwise, why attempt the heist in the first place?
"Damn!" Seeing the barrage of bullets coming his way, Hancock, still unclear about his superpowers, instinctively avoided the shots. Respecting his basic survival instincts, he dodged instead of taking the bullets head-on.
Unfortunately, Hancock's evasive maneuvers meant trouble for others.
Given Hancock's dramatic entrance, the crowd outside assumed a superhero had arrived to save the day. Curious onlookers peeked through the shattered wall, only to see the spray of bullets...
If Hancock had been a seasoned superhero, or if he had better control over his powers, he wouldn't have allowed innocent people to get shot. But Hancock, still reveling in his successful dodge, didn't notice that many outside were hit by stray bullets due to his actions.
Ordinary people, seeing bullets, had no time or ability to dodge. They were doomed to be hit the moment the bullets were fired, especially in a crowded area where they couldn't move away quickly...
"Ah!"
"Help!"
"Someone's dead!"
"Is anyone going to save us?"
Panic-stricken cries filled the air, making Hancock turn around. Seeing the injured innocents, anger surged within him. Hancock realized that even with superhuman powers, some problems were impossible to solve, like reviving the dead.
Hancock finally understood why Clark had been so impatient when he blocked him. Every second wasted could mean the loss of an innocent life.
"Swish!" In the next moment, Hancock vanished, reappearing before the robbers as they frantically reloaded. Furious, Hancock's punches landed on them with deadly force.
"Wham!"
"Wham!"
"Wham!"
Blood mist filled the bank hall as Hancock's immense strength left the robbers in pieces. None of them survived intact, their bodies shattered beyond recognition...
"Ugh!"
"Ugh!"
For the innocent hostages, the scene was too gruesome to bear. Almost everyone vomited, including Hancock himself, the perpetrator of the bloodshed.
"Killing is so easy, yet so hard to stomach..." Hancock sighed, looking at the blood-soaked hall. He glanced at the innocent victims outside, vowing, "Next time, I'll make sure not to harm any innocent people."
"Swish!" With that thought, Hancock took off through the bank's ceiling, sending debris flying. The falling rubble injured several unlucky bystanders.
"Who is he? Never seen him before..."
"He doesn't look like Superman, nor does he have that divine aura..."
"He's not fit to be compared to Superman. Superman wouldn't cause such collateral damage..."
"Exactly, he slaughtered those robbers and made such a mess. He even threw up himself!"
"Don't badmouth him. He did save us..."
"Why not? If he hadn't intervened, Superman might have saved us! And even if Superman didn't show up, the robbers might have just taken the money and left without causing so much harm!"
"He didn't mean to..."
"Those shot are probably dead. The debris didn't hit you, did it?"
Clearly, the beneficiaries and victims of Hancock's intervention had mixed feelings, with many expressing dissatisfaction.
If it weren't for Clark, the renowned Superman, even Hancock's mistakes wouldn't have drawn such criticism. But with the Avengers and Superman setting high standards, most superheroes managed their rescues without causing casualties. In contrast, Hancock, a newcomer still figuring out his powers, performed poorly...
Hancock was unaware of the mixed reactions from those he saved. He was still grappling with the psychological weight of having killed. Originally, he intended to save more people...
But after leaving the bank, the images of him killing the robbers and the innocent victims replayed in his mind, making him increasingly uncomfortable.
"Maybe I should find a deserted place and master my powers first. If I make another mistake, more innocent people might die, and I can't handle that..." Hancock decided to retreat and refine his abilities before continuing his rescue efforts.
"Swish!" Hancock disappeared, reappearing in a forest, beginning his self-training.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, a bearded man led a young boy, his face soft yet tense.
"Brandon, what's wrong? Aren't you happy hunting with me? Are you still thinking about what happened?" The bearded man, seeing the boy's cold expression, sighed and gently asked.
"No, Kyle, let's hunt." Brandon looked at Kyle and responded indifferently.
Though Brandon was just a child, his words made Kyle's heart skip. Gripping his rifle for reassurance, Kyle nodded, "Alright, help Dad find some game..."
"Okay." Brandon walked ahead, seemingly unaware of Kyle's shifting gaze.
Kyle's eyes were full of hesitation. He recalled his time with Brandon...
Brandon, like Clark, Kara, and Robert, was an alien child. Found and raised by Kyle and his wife, Brandon initially led an unremarkable life, much like Clark's childhood.
But when his powers awakened, Brandon's path diverged drastically from Clark's. Learning of his alien origin and superpowers, Brandon developed a sinister interest in a girl named Catherine. One night, he snuck into her house to show off his abilities.
Catherine, fearful and uninterested in Brandon, used her mother's prohibition as an excuse. In retaliation, Brandon sought out her mother, injuring her with an exploding light bulb and brutally killing her...
Brandon's all-night absence raised Kyle's suspicions. Confronting Brandon, Kyle suspected him of murdering Catherine's mother, given his demonstrated powers.
But Brandon, instead of answering, angrily shoved Kyle through the door. Luckily, Kyle was tough enough to avoid serious injury...
This incident convinced Kyle of Brandon's guilt. After some deliberation, Kyle resolved to stop Brandon from threatening anyone else, even if it meant killing him.
Kyle lured Brandon here under the guise of hunting, watching him with conflicted emotions. As he recalled their moments together, he made his decision and fired his rifle...
"Bang!" The bullet whizzed toward Brandon's head. Just then, a figure appeared between Brandon and the bullet, catching it mid-air.
It was Hancock, furious, glaring at Kyle...
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