---
In the boundless silence of space, where starlight shimmered like distant embers and Earth hung like a blue jewel below, a sound suddenly broke the stillness.
"Ding! Evolution complete. Kryptonian bloodline successfully fused…"
A calm, mechanical voice echoed in Lin Feng's mind, cutting through the fog of his deep, weeks-long slumber.
"Congratulations to the host for completing all novice tasks. The Evolution System is now entering official binding mode…"
Deep within the orbit above Earth, Lin Feng's eyes snapped open with sudden clarity. For a brief moment, a red glint sparked behind his pupils—as though something ancient and powerful had awakened within him.
"Binding in progress… 1%… 15%… 37%… 59%… 98%… 100%..."
"Binding complete. Welcome, Host. The Evolution System is now at your service. This system is exclusively designed to enhance and evolve Kryptonian bloodlines."
"You are now on the path to becoming the strongest Superman in existence."
The voice disappeared as quickly as it came, but its final words lingered in the vacuum of space—and in Lin Feng's heart.
He floated for a moment longer in the stillness, taking it all in.
Then, slowly, he extended a hand, forming a fist.
A surge of energy raced through his body. His senses sharpened. Strength filled every fiber of his being. It felt like electricity in his veins, like he was no longer just made of flesh and blood—but of something else. Something impossibly powerful.
"So this… this is the power of the Man of Steel," Lin Feng murmured, his voice filled with wonder.
He could feel it on a cellular level—an atomic revolution coursing through every nerve. The dormant Kryptonian bloodline had awakened, and the sun's golden rays had completed its work. He wasn't just stronger—he was reborn.
"System, open the personal panel," he commanded, still floating above Earth, his tone calm but purposeful.
A translucent digital screen shimmered into view in front of him, visible only to his eyes.
---
EVOLUTION SYSTEM INTERFACE — HOST: LIN FENG
Reputation Points: 10
(Reputation Points can be exchanged for abilities, items, or upgrades in the System Store)
Primary Ability: Superman - Man of Steel (Upgradeable)
Current Tasks: None
System Store Access Level: 1
---
The interface was sleek, minimal, and easy to navigate. Lin Feng's gaze paused on one detail in particular—"Upgradeable" flashed beside his Superman ability.
"System," he asked curiously, "what does 'upgradeable' mean in this context?"
"Excellent question," the system responded instantly, its tone as neutral and informative as always. "The host's primary ability—Superman: Man of Steel—can be upgraded by consuming Reputation Points. The host may also exchange points for enhanced Superman templates, such as 'Silver Age Superman' or other advanced variants."
"The current system store offers a selection of abilities and equipment appropriate for Store Level 1. As the host accrues more Reputation Points, the store will unlock higher levels with more powerful items and templates."
"Level 2 requires a cumulative reputation total of 50 million points."
Lin Feng's eyebrows raised slightly. "Fifty million, huh? Guess I won't be unlocking Silver Superman anytime soon…"
He opened the system store and browsed the list of available items. Most of them were… underwhelming.
Superman's glasses. A replica of Aquaman's trident. Tony Stark's first arc reactor, listed as "scrap-tech."
Then he paused, his brow furrowing.
"…Wait. What's this?"
Among the listings was an item simply labeled: Black briefs (authentic). Another? Black Widow's original lingerie – Verified.
Each item cost only 10 Reputation Points.
Lin Feng stared at the screen in silent judgment for a moment.
"System," he muttered flatly, "you're poisonous."
He glanced back up at his reputation total: 10 points.
"…Just enough to buy one," he realized, immediately regretting knowing that fact.
Shaking his head to clear the distractions, he turned serious again. "System, how do I earn more Reputation Points?"
"There are three primary channels," the system answered. "One, by completing missions issued by the system. Two, by solving crises and disasters as Superman—the greater the scale of the incident and the impact of your intervention, the higher the reward. Three, through positive public perception. Gratitude, admiration, and belief in the host by the global population will generate Reputation Points passively over time."
Lin Feng snapped his fingers. "So basically… be a superhero. Get famous. Collect gratitude."
"In simpler terms," the system confirmed.
He nodded thoughtfully. "It's like building a brand—just with superpowers."
Memories of the movies he'd watched flashed through his mind—images of Superman soaring through Metropolis skies, saving planes, catching buses, and standing tall as the public built statues in his honor.
"If I intervene in the MCU timeline, save people, and stop disasters… I could farm reputation points like leeks," he smirked.
As the ideas swirled in his head, the system chimed again.
"Ding! Plot mission detected: Assist Tony Stark in defeating Obadiah Stane."
---
Mission Name: "Iron Vengeance"
Objective: Help Tony Stark defeat Obadiah Stane
Reward: 1,000,000 Reputation Points + Black Superman Suit
Time Limit: 3 hours
---
Lin Feng's eyes lit up. "One million points? That's… a huge jump!"
The system added, "The host's transformation process took three months due to your originally human physiology. It was necessary to ensure a safe and complete activation of the Kryptonian bloodline."
"Three months…" Lin Feng murmured. "Felt like a nap."
No time to waste.
He activated his new Kryptonian super-vision, focusing it toward Earth. The planet swelled rapidly in his vision until it became a detailed globe. His eyes swept across continents, zeroing in on a particular corner of California—the location of Stark Industries.
Down below, chaos was unfolding.
Tony Stark—suited in his newly minted Mark III Iron Man armor—was locked in brutal combat with Obadiah Stane, who was piloting a hulking, unstable version of the Iron Monger suit. Sparks flew, repulsors blazed, and metal groaned with every impact.
Lin Feng narrowed his gaze. "Let's give Tony a hand."
Without hesitation, he dove toward Earth.
Wind screamed around him. Atmosphere burned red at the edges of his flight path. His speed was staggering.
---
On the ground, Tony staggered back, panting heavily. His suit was dented, scorched, and failing.
"Jarvis… status report…"
"Sir, 7% energy remains. Reactor is unstable. Offensive capabilities compromised."
A rocket struck his right arm, sending him crashing through a wall and into the pavement.
"Impact system offline. Weapons offline. Multiple internal injuries detected," Jarvis intoned.
"Yeah, I can tell," Tony groaned, dragging himself upright. "You got any miracles in that server of yours?"
"Perhaps, sir," Jarvis said calmly. "I recommend looking up."
Tony frowned. "Look up?"
His mask display highlighted a fast-descending object, glowing red-hot as it tore through the atmosphere.
Obadiah followed his gaze upward. "What the hell is that?"
Then—
BOOM!
A crater exploded into the asphalt between the two men, sending concrete and smoke blasting outward.
Dust filled the air. In the heart of the crater, a figure knelt in a three-point landing pose, surrounded by rubble and glowing embers.
Tony blinked. "Lin…? Is that you?"
There was a cough from the center of the smoke.
"Hey Tony," Lin Feng's voice said casually.
A gust of wind blew the dust away, revealing him standing tall and completely unharmed. His hair fluttered in the breeze, and his eyes glowed faintly with latent power.
Tony stared.
"Wha—what the hell? Did you fall from orbit?!"
Lin Feng raised a hand quickly, laughing awkwardly. "No, no. Not a fall. More like… a controlled flight. Just… kind of fast."
He glanced down at the crater he'd made. "Okay, yeah, first landing could've gone smoother. But I was going for dramatic."
Tony pointed at the hole. "You call that dramatic? That's practically an extinction event!"
"Trust me," Lin said, brushing some debris off his shoulder, "next time I'll stick the landing."
Tony shook his head, then looked him over again.
"You're definitely not human anymore…"
Lin Feng grinned. "I'm still from Earth, Tony. Just… solar-powered now."
The moment of levity passed as Obadiah began charging again in his mech suit.
Lin Feng's expression hardened.
"Now step back, Tony," he said, flexing his fingers.
"I haven't even started yet."
---
To be continued…