Chapter 47: Clark's Lost Powers
Drip, drip.
Dark clouds covered the sky, and heavy rain poured down, turning the farm's grassy fields into mud.
Jonathan, Martha, and David sat in the warm house, sipping hot tea.
The large raindrops pattered against the window, making a crisp sound.
"Why hasn't Clark come back yet?"
Martha, holding a mug of steaming black tea, glanced outside with a puzzled expression.
"I saw Chloe call him away," David said, taking a sip of his tea.
"He's probably helping Chloe with proofreading," Jonathan said, worried about his eldest son's safety.
"It's just a heavy rain, not a flood. Clark will be fine," he added with a smile.
Bang!
Suddenly, a weak hand slapped against the door.
A tall figure opened the door, his tattered clothes soaked and covered in mud. A few strands of his drenched hair clung to his face as he stumbled and fell into the house, looking utterly defeated.
Crack!
A brilliant flash of lightning outside illuminated Clark's pale face as he fell to the ground, a few streaks of blood visible on his cheek.
"Clark, what happened to you?"
Jonathan and Martha were startled. They had never seen their son in such a state and rushed forward to help their eldest son up.
Martha touched her son's head, finding it burning hot. She looked astonished.
"My goodness, why is your forehead so hot?"
"Are you alright?"
David's expression changed, his brow furrowed as he quickly took the heavy Clark from his parents.
Clark looking so disheveled reminded him of only one possibility: encountering Kryptonite.
"Did you and Lana shelter from the rain and Whitney saw you?"
"No... no."
Soaked and weak, Clark was helped to a chair by his brother. He weakly looked up at David, his eyes filled with panic.
"David, my... my powers are gone!"
The family stared at each other in shock.
"What do you mean?" David was taken aback.
He didn't quite understand Clark's words. Had Superman's powers ever disappeared before?
Even though it was raining outside, the sun wasn't red, which was what would drain a Kryptonian's strength.
"I don't understand either. I was struck by lightning before coming home, and then my powers vanished."
Clark looked at his burned hands. Suddenly, a drop of blood fell onto his hand. He touched his nose; he was bleeding from his nose. His vision darkened, and he slumped onto the table.
"Clark?"
David was about to ask if Clark had accidentally inhaled Kryptonite dust, which could also temporarily disable his powers.
Clark had fainted.
"David, we need to take your brother to the hospital."
A panicked Martha wanted to drive to the hospital immediately, but Jonathan grabbed her arm.
"Wait a moment, Martha."
If they went to the hospital and doctors detected something, it would undoubtedly cause trouble. He didn't want to lose the son he had raised with such care.
"Perhaps this is normal for Clark. Let's wait and see."
Clark wasn't from Earth. No one knew if he would go through any special phases during his development. Maybe this was like a bear hibernating in winter or a butterfly larva forming a chrysalis.
"No need, Mom," David said. He listened to Clark's heartbeat, his brow furrowed.
"Clark's heartbeat is strong and steady. He must have fainted from overexertion and a fever."
"Two doses of medicine and some rest should do the trick."
"Really?"
Martha looked at her serious younger son with doubt.
Clark's body was normal in some ways, excessively strong compared to ordinary people, but very abnormal when compared to Kryptonians.
However, for the time being, there was definitely no danger to his life.
"I'll take him upstairs first."
David's eyes flickered with confusion about what had happened to Clark. He and his father, Jonathan, carried Clark upstairs.
...
A heavy rainstorm arrived. Avery, with his golden hair and tattered clothes, was running home.
Suddenly, his speed inexplicably surged. He shot across the ground like a runaway plane, breaking the sound barrier, shattering raindrops, and crashing violently into a large tree that several people could encircle.
Boom!
Like a rocket-propelled grenade impact, the tree exploded, sending wood chips flying.
Avery pulled himself out of the tree, looking at his unharmed body in shock.
"What's going on? Why am I not hurt at all?"
Even a speeding truck that hit a tree like this should have had its front end dented.
But he was completely fine.
"And that speed from before?"
"I'm like an Angel Warrior from a comic book!"
Disbelieving, Avery was shocked and ecstatic at the miraculous scene before him!
This kind of power?!
Angel Warrior was a comic book that had been serialized for over a decade, becoming incredibly popular and accompanying many children through their childhood. It told the story of a superhero, Angel Warrior, who possessed speed beyond sound and immense physical strength.
He tentatively swung a fist again.
Boom!
The air exploded like a compressed, boiling pressure cooker, and the sonic boom echoed for miles, its sound even drowning out the thunder in the sky.
Suddenly, within a few meters, the raindrops and accumulated water on the ground were violently cleared away. Visible shockwaves of air blasted outwards. The area tens of meters ahead was like it had been swept by a typhoon, instantly shattering tree after tree, forming a fan-shaped area that looked like it had been hit by missiles.
After a few seconds of stunned silence, a laugh, which seemed to have become wild after being suppressed for a long time, rang out in the rain. Avery clutched his forehead, tilting his head back and roaring with laughter, a single eye revealing endless rebellion and defiance.
With this power, what in the world could stop him?
"I can do whatever I want!"
The strap of his schoolbag snapped when it hit the roadside tree, and the bag fell to the ground, spilling its books and homework everywhere.
In the past, he would have frantically picked them up to avoid being scolded by his parents when he got home.
But now...
Avery's lips curled into a look of deep disdain.
With god-like power now, did he still need to go to school?
His parents, especially his rigid father, couldn't control him anymore!
He took a step, preparing to leave.
A meteorite fell out of his schoolbag. It was fist-sized and emitted a green light as if sensing something.
As Avery walked past his schoolbag, his legs suddenly felt weak, and he fell to the ground, experiencing a burning pain on his skin.
"My power is gone again?"
Lying in the mud and water, he looked weakly at the strangely glowing meteorite, his face pale, a mixture of shock and doubt.
"What is this thing?"
...
The next morning, the rain had stopped and the sky was clear. Bright sunlight streamed into the house.
On the warm and comfortable bed.
With a cold compress on his forehead, Clark opened his eyes, feeling much better.
His parents and younger brother were gathered around his bed.
He threw off the covers and sat up.
"Clark, how are you?" Clark felt a surge of warmth in his heart as he looked at his parents' concerned inquiry and smiled.
"I'm fine."
Clark's gaze then shifted to his brother. Although his brother stood there without speaking, his brow was furrowed, and his eyes held concern and a questioning look.
"What exactly happened to you?"
Not only David, but the couple also wanted to know why their eldest son had become like this.
"Yesterday, after school..."
Holding his forehead, Clark recalled. It should have something to do with lightning.
"Dam bridge, Avery, saving someone, struck by lightning, green lightning?"
After hearing his story, the couple exchanged glances, unable to make sense of it.
"It really was the meteorite."
David shook his head.
Did the lightning react with the Kryptonite, causing Clark to experience an effect similar to inhaling Kryptonite powder?
-----------
Machine Translation by: https:// randomtranslator.com/
Read 777+ original & fanfic translations in English, Español, Português, Deutsch, Français, or Русский at: https:// randomtranslator.com/
Join our Discord: https:// discord.gg/NSWvfN7vua
-----------