Chapter 88: Superman's Speech
Guntraus was one of the countless invasion machines built by Brainiac.
It was born for destruction, its sole purpose to eliminate all resistance on a target planet for its creator. It was only dispatched when encountering a somewhat decent opponent, and thus its physical strength and equipment were both exceptionally refined.
But among Brainiac's Legion, Guntraus's artificial intelligence was not particularly bright in comparison. Perhaps Old Bu had positioned it as an iron beast that existed for destruction, requiring only ferocity, not a sharp mind.
So Guntraus spent a long time with its not-so-bright brain without being able to figure out just why this giant of light, currently pummeling it with fists and feet that glowed with golden light…
…seemed to carry the aura of its master?
It probably never would have dreamed that the boundless energy Orin Vale was furiously pouring outward with his fists and feet, as if it cost nothing, had largely been a gift from its very own master.
So the current situation was akin to its master first feeding the opponent kills and experience until they were fully geared, then bailing and sending it up to be the next to feed.
Other supports might at least say, "You've been enhanced, now go get 'em." But Old Bu's support play was on another level of bizarre; he essentially injected the opponent with steroids and told his teammate to go die. The teammate went in, saw the opponent's body sparking with lightning and special effects, and looked back in a daze, only to find that his own backline had long since fled.
This was precisely the situation Guntraus now faced. Old Bu's robotic avatar was destroyed, his true self had pulled the plug, and his spaceship had been hijacked. Of the entire force, it was the only one left to tank the pressure, getting pummeled by a flurry of classic Ultraman fists until its parts and circuits flew everywhere.
It was having a really tough time.
An uppercut trailing golden radiance nearly cracked the robot's already dented cheek, followed by a side kick that sent it sliding backward. Guntraus staggered back, the internal damage alarm blaring. The report was comprehensive, showing a sea of red from head to toe. It was nearly impossible to find a single undamaged part; it was as if it already had one foot in the scrap metal recycling station.
But Guntraus hadn't given up yet. It felt it could still be salvaged.
The robot spread its arms, activating all its remaining weapons at once, and locked onto the giant before it, preparing for a final, desperate struggle.
However, before it could even raise its arms, they were clamped down firmly from the left and right.
Two Kryptonians.
Superman and Supergirl each held on tightly to one of its arms, which were thicker than their two bodies combined. Their ten fingers dug into the machine's armor like steel.
Then, a blazing light shot from both their eyes simultaneously as their heat vision erupted. The red-hot rays cut through the machine arm's sturdy alien armor like a blade, while the two Kryptonians pulled with terrifying, mountain-splitting arm strength.
With a tremendous boom, the cutting of the heat vision combined with the godlike power of the two Kryptonians, and both arms were torn off with a dull, metallic shriek!
Their small statures, like ants compared to Guntraus, erupting with such terrifying super-strength, created a visual impact from the stark contrast that struck the very soul.
The citizens of Metropolis couldn't help but cheer.
The light is most brilliant after the clouds part; hope shines brightest after despair. At this moment, Metropolis was experiencing just such a dramatic turn.
Superman and Supergirl, each holding one of the severed arms, swung them with super-strength, creating two arcs that roiled with shockwaves.
A direct hit to the face!
Guntraus's head was deformed even more severely, and its internal main processor began to show signs of a program malfunction. Having its own arms torn off and used to slap its own face was probably the most miserable fate imaginable.
"Archive... collect... destroy..."
Its neck joint twisted stiffly, its malfunctioning AI beginning to speak incoherently.
"Mission... destroy... execute..."
The robot's eyes flickered twice. When it looked up, all it could see through its glitching sensor was the red and silver giant standing before it, its hands already crossed in the shape of a cross.
A tide of blue electric arcs and energy roiled in his hands.
Sensor error... unable to monitor energy data. But it didn't need data. It knew it was done for.
"Archiving... Mission Destruction... failure..."
The robot blinked twice, its tone sinking, becoming somewhat sorrowful.
"I was supposed to retire next year..."
Specium Ray!
With a full energy level, even the special effects of the Specium Ray were more magnificent than usual. A dazzling beauty, an azure impact, like an energy-based blade, it flew over the rooftops. The very air in its path seemed to be devoured by the void as it washed over Guntraus's body.
Like a scorching meteor streaking through the streets, Guntraus's indestructible shell shattered almost instantly upon contact. Fissures spread rapidly from the point of impact, and the azure radiance quickly filled every crack like spreading vines. The metal shell emitted a piercing crackle as the massive body began to rupture.
The metal was crushed by the formidable power. A sound like breaking bones came from within the cracks, and the entire massive, complex structure began to collapse like a line of dominoes. A huge shockwave sent metal fragments flying in all directions like millions of tiny shards. The shattered parts scattered amidst the Specium's brilliance as the devastating disintegration expanded from the center until the entire machine was reduced to countless fragments.
The explosion of a giant machine over a hundred meters tall wasn't a sight you see every day. Even in a big-budget blockbuster, one might not witness such a shocking scene.
And at this very moment, the citizens of Metropolis were witnessing it with their own eyes—a scene so outrageous it would seem unrealistic even for a dream.
To be able to fire an energy weapon of such power with bare hands…
Such a creature… surely it must be a god, right?
The smoke gradually dissipated, and the red and silver giant slowly lowered his arms. The light of the setting sun outlined his tall silhouette, making it look dreamlike.
At this moment, even the most resolute atheist couldn't help but waver.
An urge to worship and offer a prayer even began to well up from the bottom of their hearts.
"It's all right now."
Superman flew down, landing before the crowd.
"The crisis is over… hmm."
He glanced around, looking at the tattered streets and widespread ruins left in the wake of the alien assault.
"...Okay, it seems it's not completely over. We still have to rebuild our home... But it's okay, we'll work together. We can build it back better. Just wait a moment..."
With that, Superman became a blur and shot off with a *whoosh*, leaving the crowd to look at each other, at a loss.
But just a moment later, he returned with another *whoosh*, reappearing in an instant with a hurricane in his wake.
"I just spent a moment learning most of the architectural knowledge in the Metropolis library. Let's build our home back better than before. Who wants to join me?"
The citizens: "?"
You just learned what?
Wait, how long has it been? Ten seconds?
From novice to expert, becoming an architectural master in ten seconds?
Isn't that just too much?
Seeing everyone just staring with wide, shocked eyes, with no one raising a hand to join, Superman seemed a little dejected.
"Doesn't anyone want to join me?"
The onlookers continued to exchange glances.
Then, a man in a suit boldly spoke up, "What do you want from us, Superman?"
"What?" Superman was taken aback.
"You're an alien too, right? Who sent you?"
"No one sent me," Superman said, shaking his head.
Someone else asked, "Why?"
Once someone started, people quickly began to ask questions one after another.
"'Ultraman,' are you two from the same place?"
"What do you want from us?"
Superman scratched his head. "No, we're not from the same place. I don't know him that well either... I don't want anything, I'm just doing what I can... No, we don't have any ulterior motives..."
He quickly realized that answering these questions one by one would be endless, so he waved his hands.
"Everyone, listen to me."
Saying this, he soared into the air, his cape fluttering in the wind like a blaze of fire.
The crowd looked up at him and, as expected, fell silent, waiting with reverent faces for him to speak.
"I don't want anything, and I believe 'Ultraman' is the same," Superman said. "I grew up on Earth, just like a normal person. This world protected me, and I am deeply grateful for that."
"When I saw Ultraman stepping forward in the media and online, I felt inspired. It made me realize I could use my own gifts to do something, too—things that are within my power."
He paused, revealing his unique, 'Superman-style,' incredibly infectious, sunny smile.
"At that moment, I felt that this must be what he wanted to tell us, and it's also what I hope to convey to more people through my own actions."
"I hope everyone can stop looking for a savior in life. There is no great savior. I'm not one, Ultraman isn't one, and it's certainly not some self-important entrepreneurs and politicians."
"You are. All of you. You are the masters of your own lives, and you all have the potential to create miracles."
"We have our gifts, and you all have yours. Even the most seemingly insignificant talent can make someone else's life better. I hope you can all use them to show the world the spirit of Metropolis."
After speaking, Superman paused and thought hard for a while, as if he couldn't squeeze out any more new words.
"Um... that's pretty much what I wanted to say. I think this is definitely what Ultraman hoped to express as well. So now..."
He smiled and extended his hand once more.
"We still have a lot of buildings to rebuild. Does anyone want to join me?"
The citizens began to smile.
As if contagious, the smiles spread from one face to another, and even the sky seemed to grow clearer.
"I do!"
"Me!"
"And me!"
"..."
Having long since reverted from his transformation, Orin Vale watched this scene from afar after listening to the speech and couldn't help but nod slightly.
Although he didn't have Superman's talent for public speaking.
But yes, that's right.
*That's exactly what I wanted to express,* he thought to himself.
(end of chapter)