NOVEL NEXT 289. Finally Reunited!
Jason saw Damian, while Kara sensed a strange power, drawing her gaze toward Superman on the opposite side. As for Alex, his eyes locked onto Constantine, who was walking at the back.
Everyone exchanged glances, filled with complexity and depth. It was like staring into the distant stars—elusive yet colliding with intense emotion at the points where their gazes met. There was a mutual feeling they all understood—an indescribable mix of surprise, confusion, anxiety, and even a bit of anger.
Jason Todd, in particular, had a deep connection with Damian. Back when he was Robin, Jason had always taken care of the biological son Batman had brought home.
Though Jason held some resentment towards Batman for leaving him behind and then going off to have a child, he genuinely believed that the only person who could inherit Batman's legacy was Damian. But now, looking at his younger brother, who had retreated into the mountains after a single defeat and disappeared for two years, all Jason felt was profound disappointment.
His hand trembled slightly before clenching into a fist. Narrowing his eyes, a dangerous glint flashed within them.
"Damian."
At this moment, Damian was dressed in Eastern-style armor, and with his handsome appearance, he almost gave off the aura of a young general.
Damian was equally shocked to see Jason. After all, news of Jason being killed by a Parademon had spread widely, much like the massacre of the Green Arrow family. Though Damian didn't know how Jason had survived, seeing him in front of him brought genuine happiness. However, under Jason's gaze, Damian could feel the disappointment and anger radiating from him.
". . . Jason."
Damian's eyes shifted slightly as he responded softly.
". . . Dick entrusted the Titans to you, Bruce gave Gotham to you, and now even the League of Assassins is in your hands. Is this how you repay them?"
Jason gritted his teeth subtly, barely restraining his anger. In his mind, this was their family business, and he didn't want to give outsiders a chance to laugh at them.
Although Jason was trying hard to suppress his emotions, the slight trembling of his eyes and the sarcastic tone in his words gave him away. Everyone could sense Jason's turbulent mood. Meanwhile, Kara's emotions were even stronger than Jason's. She acted first, walking directly toward Clark.
Her sudden movement quickly drew everyone's attention. By now, they all knew the connection between Kara and Superman. Even those unaware of her background could guess from her Kryptonian-style suit. Previously, no one knew Kara's true identity. Even Barbara hadn't told Lois about her, so one could only imagine how shocked Clark was when he saw Kara.
Though Clark's body was weak and frail due to the effects of liquid kryptonite, his Kryptonian genes were still intact. Like the Spider-Men from different universes, he instantly recognized the Kryptonian bloodline within Kara.
"You… you are…?"
Clark's green pupils shrank, his clenched fists and trembling body revealing the turmoil within him. Though he had never seen Kara before, he had learned about her existence during his time at the Fortress of Solitude. He vaguely remembered that he had an older cousin from Krypton.
Kara silently approached Clark, the only sound in the room was her footsteps. No one dared breathe too loudly, for fear of disrupting the atmosphere between them. Of everyone present, Alex undoubtedly felt this moment the most deeply. He had spent the most time with Kara and understood her better than anyone.
Kara had talked to Alex many times about what she would say when she finally met her cousin. Back then, they fantasized about all sorts of wonderful scenarios, discussing different potential conversations.
But now, in this very moment...
As Kara stood in front of her cousin from another universe, she suddenly realized that none of the words she had imagined could come out. She continued walking toward Clark, never speaking. Despite the slight discomfort from the kryptonite radiation, she slowly raised her head.
Looking at her cousin, whose appearance was now far older than hers, at his white hair and the signs of hardship etched across his face, Kara's eyes filled with a complex expression.
Clark's throat moved, and he was now certain of her identity. A wave of overwhelming joy filled his heart, and his eyes heated up, almost bringing him to tears.
No one could truly understand the pain and loneliness he had endured as the only Kryptonian on Earth. Nor could anyone know the suffering he faced after his devastating defeat. Now, seeing the young Kara, Clark found himself choked up.
"It… it's really you..."
Clark raised his hand slightly, intending to touch the woman in front of him. He felt as though this moment was too unreal, fearing it might all just be a dream. But in the next instant—
Smack!
A crisp slap rang out.
The sting of real pain and the tense atmosphere landed squarely on Clark's face. The sound of the slap, combined with Kara's sudden action, startled everyone present. They didn't understand. This was supposed to be a heartwarming reunion between cousins—how did things take such a sudden, sharp turn? Even Alex couldn't help but frown slightly.
Clark's head tilted to the side, his gaze dazed as it wandered, stunned by the slap. Then Kara's voice, filled with restrained tears and anger, echoed in his ears.
"You've disappointed me, Kal!"
Kara looked at Clark with a complex expression and called him by his Kryptonian name.
"You've forgotten the teachings of our ancestors! How could you start a war and allow your 'home' to be engulfed in flames?"
As Kara scolded Clark, the stunned expressions of those around them softened a bit. Even Kate and Barbara, whose bodies had been tense, slowly relaxed.
Watching this scene, Alex pondered for a moment and then nodded approvingly. He hadn't understood why Kara acted so suddenly, but he quickly grasped the key reason behind her actions.
Clark, due to his flawed plans and leadership, had caused the destruction of the Justice League, directly leading to Earth's downfall and occupation. Now, the surviving heroes harbored deep resentment toward him.
Some, like Barbara, wouldn't actively confront Clark, but their behavior showed they were deliberately distancing themselves from him. Aside from Lois, there was no one left on Earth who still considered Clark a friend. Kara's slap served as a form of justice for these people.
As Clark's cousin from another universe, she provided an explanation on their behalf.
After all, not everyone was like Constantine, who vented his frustrations by drunkenly beating Clark. Most people were sensitive and fragile—they wouldn't harm Clark, but they also wouldn't maintain any relationship with him. However, Alex believed that after this slap, their attitudes toward Clark might soften a bit.
It wouldn't restore things to how they once were, but at the very least, they wouldn't be complete strangers who ignored each other for the rest of their lives. For Alex, this was a good outcome. After all, he intended to bring all these people to the Wasteland Universe, and he hoped they could unite instead of remaining guarded toward each other.
Kara's ability to recognize and act on this moment so effectively showed just how much she had grown. However, not many people understood the deeper meaning behind Kara's actions. The others remained silent, quietly observing what would happen next. Soon, the atmosphere began to grow heavier.
Lady Shiva noticed this as well. She was the first to speak, breaking the cold tension.
"Ahem… I think they need some time to talk. I'll lead the rest of you inside."
The others, except Kara, turned to Alex, waiting for his response. With a slight nod of approval from Alex, everyone followed Lady Shiva into the fortress. They knew that what was about to happen was not something they could be involved in.
The assassins, too, quietly slipped away one by one, returning to their posts. Outside the large gates, only Jason and Damian, Kara and Clark, and Constantine and Alex remained.
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290. The Instigator.
291. The Rock of Eternity.
292. "Accept Our Power"
293. Becoming a Demon!
294. The Fading Star.