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Superman stood with his cape gently swaying in the warm breeze, his expression thoughtful but weary. Kara stood beside him, brushing a strand of blonde hair from her face, glancing between the two men.
"Tell me something," Arthur said, voice steady, eyes still fixed on the man of steel. "Is there anyone else out there that we should know about? Someone like H'El?"
Superman's lips twitched into a faint, almost nostalgic smile. He turned his gaze toward Arthur, the light of the sun catching his eyes. "No," he said softly. "Unless my father kept more secrets from me."
Arthur exhaled through his nose, half a chuckle, half a sigh. "Yeah, that would be a nightmare." His tone dropped, turning thoughtful as he stared at the gentle roll of the waves. "Oh, right…"
He blinked once, as if recalling something unpleasant. "When H'El tore through the Phantom Zone, he didn't go out alone. He ripped that place apart from the inside. I could feel it. He unleashed several other beings alongside him."
He turned toward them, his expression sharpening. "Nothing appeared here, right?"
Kara shook her head, frowning slightly. "Nope. Nothing appeared here. The skies have been clear."
Superman crossed his arms. "I only managed to find you both because of your fight," he said. "Whatever came through… it didn't land on Earth."
Arthur's brows furrowed. "That's weird," he murmured. "But if they're not here, I guess it's not our problem...at least, not yet."
Superman looked at him, the faintest crease forming between his brows. "More escapees from the Phantom Zone is never something to take lightly."
Arthur's lips curved faintly, and from his inventory, a faint glow appeared in his palm. He extended it toward Clark. "Then you better keep this close."
Superman's eyes widened a bit as he recognized the object. "The Phantom Zone projector? So Bruce took that and he gave it to you.."
Arthur nodded. "Yeah. It belongs to you. Was kinda useless against H'El since he could just tear through that place like it was paper. Interesting dimension though," he added with a wry grin. "But I'd rather not go back there."
Superman actually laughed a short, genuine sound that cracked through the tension. "Can't say I blame you."
Kara smiled, shaking her head. "Only you could say something like that, Arthur."
Arthur tilted his head with a faint smirk. "Yeah, that's probably true."
The humor faded a little, replaced by that sharp, calculating look again. "A side note," he said quietly, stepping closer to them. "Both you and I know someone released Zod and his soldiers. They're not like H'El. They couldn't just rip through the Phantom Zone on their own."
The air around them seemed to still.
Arthur's voice hardened. "Someone made it possible. Someone wanted them out. I don't know who, but it's clear enough it's someone who doesn't like you, Clark."
Superman's jaw tightened, his expression shadowed now. Kara's eyes flickered between them, concern flashing across her face.
"Are you sure," she said carefully, "that it didn't just… happen? The Phantom Zone is unstable enough as it is."
Arthur turned his head slightly toward her, his expression calm but his tone certain. "Nothing happens randomly, Kara. Not in our line of work."
Superman didn't respond for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly. "I'll keep that in mind."
A faint crackle came from the communicator in his ear. He pressed a hand to it, exhaling. "Yeah, Bruce. It's been dealt with." He looked at Arthur and Kara again, his expression softening just a little. "Good work, you two take care now."
Arthur gave a small nod. Kara smiled faintly.
Clark floated a few feet into the air, cape billowing. "Let's hope we don't get another H'El anytime soon."
Arthur looked up, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Hope's good," he said. "But I'll take preparation over hope any day."
Superman smiled faintly at that, then rose higher into the sky. "Take care of eachother."
In a blur of red and blue, Superman shot off into the horizon, leaving the sky shimmering in his wake.
Arthur watched him go, the wind tugging at his cloak. "You think he is okay?" he asked quietly.
Kara folded her arms, looking up after her cousin. "He might not show it… but what happened bothered him deeply."
****
The waves rolled in slow and steady, washing over the sand with a soft hiss like the world was finally exhaling after the chaos H'El and Zod had unleashed on it.
Arthur and Kara sat on the quiet stretch of beach for a while, far from the parts of Hawaii where people were still recovering from panic. The breeze was warm. The ocean glowed. For once, things weren't exploding.
Kara hugged her knees for a moment, watching the tide pull away before softly asking, "Arthur… about Zod."
Arthur's eyes flicked toward her, then back to the sea. "What about him?"
"You already dealt with him," she said, tone calm but curious. "But what surprises me… is how Kal didn't ask you anything about it."
Arthur didn't answer right away. He watched a wave break, the foam sliding over the sand before vanishing again.
"He understands," Arthur finally said. "There's no stopping people like Zod with normal means. We weren't dealing with random thugs or purse-snatchers he stops in Metropolis. This was… different. A serious situation."
Kara nodded slowly, letting his words settle. She leaned her head lightly against his shoulder, her hair brushing his jaw. "He did say something like that to me," she murmured. "About not being able to go all out. Not like you do. Even when the situation requires it."
Arthur let out a quiet breath not a laugh, not a sigh. Something in between.
"Maybe that's a good thing," he said. "This world needs someone like Clark a man who holds back even when he knows he could reshape continents. Someone who thinks twice. Someone who wants peace enough to limit himself."
He turned his head slightly so he could see her better. His voice lowered, deepened.
"I could never be him. And he could never be me."
Kara lifted her head just a little, listening.
"Clark stands in the sunlight," Arthur continued. "He embodies hope because he refuses to step into the dark. People look at him and see the future they wish they had, someone they look up to."
His eyes narrowed, glowing faintly violet as the ocean breeze swept past.
"And me… I command the shadows. I walk in the places where hope isn't a thing at all. I remind monsters what death looks like." His voice softened, but it remained sharp. "This world needs him to lead them forward… and sometimes, it needs someone like me to make sure it deals with those who cannot be reasoned with."
Kara stared at him, stunned not by the words, but the quiet seriousness behind them. A flush warmed her cheeks before she could stop it.
"When…" she said, a small laugh escaping her. "When did you get this… philosophical?"
Arthur glanced at her, lips twitching. "Are you saying I was a dumbass before?"
"Maybe," she teased, nudging his arm with hers.
He smirked, and she leaned closer, looping an arm around him in a half-hug that lingered more than she meant it to.
"At least it's over," she breathed, resting her head against him again.
Arthur's gaze locked on the horizon, the deep violet in his eyes glowing sharper reflecting something far away, something he sensed but couldn't yet name.
"For now," he murmured.
The waves rolled in again, peaceful.
His gaze drifting for a moment as the familiar sensation pulsed behind his eyes
A flicker.
A ripple.
The System's sound slid into his mind :
[Access Granted]
You can now Proceed in the Legacy Shadow Legion Dungeon.
Recommended : Preparation is Required.
'Preparation?' Arthur froze.
A slow, genuine smile began stretching across his lips.
Wider.
And wider.
'System, are you saying Bellion is strong like that?'
Kara squinted at him noticing the smile.
"…Okay, what's with the grin?" She asked eyebrow raised. "No offense, Arthur, but you don't smile like that unless you're about to do something reckless. Or stupid. Or both."
Arthur blinked, quickly trying and failing to tone it down.
His grin remained.
"I'm just…" He exhaled, struggling to keep his voice steady. "I'm excited about something."
"Excited," she repeated flatly. "Your face is basically saying I just found a new way to get myself killed, can't wait."
Arthur met her eyes for a moment.
He didn't answer. Not with words.
Kara added, her expression softening.
"Wait a minute… I'm not wrong, am I ?"
/-\
If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Solo leveling in Westeros.
&
If you wish to read more or simply support me than check out my patreon at
"https://www.patreon.com/FrenzyAren"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want