Rage burned in Clark's chest as he slowly clenched his fists. He glared at Colin and growled, "You shouldn't have done that!!"
Colin smirked. "Sorry, but I'm just an ordinary man with Superman's powers. I can choose to save someone—or not save someone who makes me unhappy. Tell me, Clark, has that bleeding heart of yours ever actually done you any good?"
Clark said nothing, his eyes darkening. Because of his kindness, people felt free to insult him, to throw things at him. It hurt, of course, but he endured it—after all, wasn't that part of freedom of speech?
But no one dared say a word against Colin. Not in public, not even online. Negative news about him was rare, almost nonexistent. The whole world was afraid of angering him.
Clark was painfully aware of that disparity. To him, that wasn't respect—it was oppression. Colin's overwhelming strength silenced people through fear.
And Clark despised that. At the very least, he prided himself on being more magnanimous.
"Wrong is wrong," Clark said firmly. His justice was unwavering.
Colin chuckled darkly. "Then tell me, if someone curses me in their heart—wishing I'd die, even wishing you'd die too—is that right or wrong?"
"It's wrong," Clark admitted, "but he didn't say it aloud."
"But I knew, didn't I?" Colin tilted his head, smiling faintly. "He made me unhappy. So I chose not to save him. Tell me, Clark—was that wrong?"
If it were Clark, he would have saved the man regardless. But Colin was not him. Colin did have the right to choose. In that sense, he hadn't been wrong.
However—Clark's eyes hardened—Colin had been wrong to stop him from saving the man.
"You shouldn't have stopped me," Clark said coldly. "If you hadn't interfered, that man wouldn't have been torn apart by wolves!"
"Heh… you flew right into my heat vision beam. I didn't stop you," Colin replied casually.
"You—!!!" Clark's anger erupted. The sheer audacity of Colin's words was infuriating. It was obvious he had interfered, yet he twisted the truth so shamelessly.
Clark shot forward like lightning. Colin needed to be taught a lesson.
"In such a rush already?" Colin tossed the microphone aside and charged forward too.
Both moved at blinding speed—their collision thundered through the air.
BOOOOM!
The deafening blast made the spectators cover their ears. Even from afar, the raw force of their clash filled people with fear. Once again, humanity was reminded of the impossible gulf between themselves and beings like these.
"Is that all you've got?" Colin taunted, gripping Clark's hands tightly. Despite Clark's incredible strength, he was still no match for him.
"Power should be used to protect others!" Clark shouted, then slammed his forehead forward in a headbutt.
Colin laughed. "Exactly! And I use mine to protect my good mood. So why are you so angry about that?"
CRACK!
Their heads collided with a bone-shaking impact, sending both men flying backward.
Colin stabilized himself midair instantly, a crimson aura flickering around him. The shockwave from their clash swept across the ground, forcing onlookers to crouch against the gale.
Clark glared at him, incredulous. "Protecting your good mood? That's your excuse?!"
"If the Earth itself made you unhappy," he shouted, "would you destroy the whole planet too?!"
"You're mistaken," Colin said, his tone suddenly colder. "The Earth doesn't upset me. Only the humans living on it do."
He clenched his fist slowly, his eyes burning with feral excitement. "If this is all you've got, then prepare to suffer."
His eyes gleamed with savage delight as he launched forward, throwing a punch that split the air.
Clark crossed his arms in front of him to block—
BOOM!
The impact was overwhelming. The ground caved in, shattering in all directions. Clark's body was driven deep into the earth, leaving a massive crater.
Such power… Clark could barely move. The force behind that punch had been unstoppable.
"You daydreaming?" Colin's voice echoed suddenly.
Clark looked up just in time to see a sweeping kick coming his way.
He raised his arm to block—but even so, the blow sent him flying again.
Before he could regain balance, Colin appeared beneath him, striking upward with terrifying strength.
That blow launched Clark beyond the atmosphere—out into space.
Down below, Bruce Wayne watched in silence. Both Colin and Clark possessed power that could erase the world. If he ever faced either of them head-on, his odds of survival would be zero.
To oppose Colin would be suicide. Even the thought of killing him could be dangerous. Bruce realized he would have to bury that idea deep within his mind—conceal it completely—lest Colin somehow sense it.
Up in orbit, Clark's body crashed through a drifting meteor, shattering it to dust.
He groaned, touching his ribs—several were broken. Colin was truly terrifying.
"Hurts, doesn't it?" Colin's voice suddenly echoed inside his mind.
What!?
Clark's eyes widened, but before he could react, Colin appeared again and sent him hurtling through space with another crushing punch.
From that point on, it was no longer a battle—just Colin's one-sided domination.
Earth.
Lois Lane watched the livestream in horror. The entire world was watching. Clark—her Clark—was being brutalized.
He was Superman, yet even he couldn't stand against Colin.
"Clark…" Lois whispered, her heart trembling. "God… please, please protect him…"
"Here."
A voice spoke behind her.
THUD. Something heavy hit the floor.
Lois turned—and froze. Colin stood there, smiling faintly.
"It's been a while since I had a workout like that," he said lightly.
Lois's gaze dropped to the object he had thrown. Her breath caught.
It was Clark—battered, bloodied, barely conscious.
"Oh no…!"
Lois rushed to his side, tears welling in her eyes as she cradled him.
"Relax," Colin said casually, turning away. "He'll be fine after a day's rest."
Then, without another word, he left.
Lois held Clark tightly, her tears falling uncontrollably. "How could he do this…" she whispered.
Clark weakly opened his eyes. "Lois… I attacked first," he murmured.
He finally understood. Colin wasn't someone to be reasoned with. As long as no one provoked him, he wouldn't destroy everything.