[Third Person Pov]
Lala was holding Clark tightly with her super strength while repeatedly smooching him all over his face without restraint.
"Okay, okay—Lala mmh, Lala stop, mmhmm, Lala!!" Clark shouted between kisses as he finally had to pry her away from his face with both hands.
"Hehehe." Lala rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, her cheeks slightly red from embarrassment. "Sorry, I was just really happy to see you."
Nearby, Cranis was down on one knee clutching the bleeding stump where his arm used to be. His breathing was ragged, growls escaping through clenched teeth while his face twisted with pure frenzy and hatred.
"Ultraman—!!"
Clark barely had time to react before he tossed Lala safely aside. The ceiling suddenly exploded inward as Ultraman forced his way down through the structure like a missile.
The moment he crashed in, both super-men immediately shot through the floor beneath them. Concrete and steel crumbled apart under the pressure of their strength as the entire building violently shook around them.
"Kill him!! Don't hold back!!" Cranis roared down toward the massive hole left in the floor. Veins bulged from his neck as he screamed at the top of his lungs, "Do you hear me!? Don't hold back and kill him!!"
Superman and Ultraman blasted out of the building and into the empty streets outside. Ultraman had a brutal grip on Clark as he dragged him across the city, carving a massive trench through the asphalt with Superman's body. Entire chunks of pavement exploded upward behind them.
The skies had already turned dark by now. The moons slowly circulated the planet overhead, their eerie light casting long shadows across the city.
Ultraman's fists came crashing down one after another over Superman's face with enough force to crack the street beneath them. Despite that, Clark only grinned through the barrage.
"You call those punches?" Clark mocked while taking another hit directly to the jaw. "Come on, 'Ultraman,' even my grandmother hits harder than that… I'm not kidding, she actually does."
Ultraman's expression twitched with irritation as he swung again, but Clark finally caught his fist with one hand. Then he grabbed the other just as easily.
Clark pushed upward with almost casual power, lifting Ultraman off him before floating into the air. In one motion he tackled Ultraman downward and launched him away with a violent shove that sent him flying through the street like he had down with him.
Back in the city, the people who had grown anxious after not hearing from Superman for so long suddenly reignited with hope the moment they saw him rise back into the air.
"Look! It's Superman!"
"It's not over yet!"
"There's still hope after all!"
"We have to cheer him on!"
"SU-PER-MAN! SU-PER-MAN!!" one man shouted. The chant quickly spread to two people, then five, then dozens more until entire crowds were screaming his name together throughout the streets.
Clark grabbed Ultraman by the leg before he could stabilize himself and hurled him high into the air. Ultraman's body tumbled violently past skyscrapers before being launched completely out of the city.
Clark floated upward afterward and noticed even more civilians stepping out from their homes just to cheer for him. He smirked and gave the crowd a casual two-finger salute before blasting into the skies after Ultraman.
Far above the city, Ultraman finally steadied himself and immediately charged straight toward the approaching Superman.
The two collided forearm-first with a thunderous clash that exploded the air between them. A massive shockwave rippled outward in every direction as they struggled against each other midair. Their muscles trembled from the pressure while the surrounding clouds split apart around them.
Clark grinned excitedly. "It's time for round two!"
Ultraman said nothing. His face remained completely stoic as his eyes suddenly flared bright red.
Both powerhouses instantly launched themselves backward to create distance before unleashing searing beams of heat vision directly at one another. Their eye beams collided in the center and formed a massive sphere of unstable heat between them while they circled through the air at incredible speed.
The burning sphere finally detonated.
A massive heat wave burst outward across the sky, igniting the air itself and briefly setting both of their hair on fire.
"Let's pick up the pace!" Clark exclaimed, clearly enjoying himself now that he finally had an opponent capable of matching him blow for blow.
The two exploded into motion at super speed, becoming streaks of red and white light tearing through the sky. Every collision between their fists created violent shockwaves that burst through the atmosphere like explosions.
Neither of them stayed in one place for longer than a second. Their battle constantly shifted across the planet at speeds rivaling fighter jets. One moment they were exchanging punches over a barren desert, the next they were crashing through the skies above a colorful rainforest before suddenly continuing over an open ocean.
From the moon stations orbiting the planet, observers could only stare in disbelief as red and white streaks of light zigzagged around the world in a chaotic, swerving pattern.
Ultraman unleashed a massive snowstorm from his frost breath, freezing Clark's entire body beneath a thick crystallized shell of ice in seconds. Frost rapidly spread over his suit and cape until he looked like a giant frozen statue suspended in the air.
Then Clark's body suddenly flared with heat.
Energy surged through his suit, the temperature around him skyrocketing until cracks spread throughout the ice casing. A second later the entire thing shattered apart violently, chunks of frozen crystal exploding outward while steam rolled heavily off Clark's shoulders and chest.
"You call that cold?!" Clark shouted as he wiped frost from his face. "I'll show you personally what cold really looks like!"
Clark blasted forward instantly and grabbed Ultraman directly by the face. The force behind his acceleration created an explosion of snow and air beneath them as he dragged Ultraman across a massive distance in only seconds.
They slammed into the side of a gigantic ice cap. Clark continued flying without slowing down, grinding Ultraman's face violently along the frozen mountainside while entire sections of ice shattered apart behind them.
Ultraman roared in fury, more of his actual personality finally showing through the stoic façade. He grabbed Clark's arm tightly and violently flung him straight into the mountainside.
BOOM!
Clark embedded deep into the icy wall, cracks spreading outward around his body like a spiderweb.
Ultraman immediately started building momentum. He moved in and out at super speed, repeatedly smashing his fists into Clark before darting away and striking again from another angle. Every punch drove Clark deeper into the mountain wall while chunks of ice and rock exploded around them.
Clark suddenly grabbed the edges of the crater he was embedded in and launched both feet forward in a powerful dropkick.
The blow struck Ultraman square in the chest and sent him skipping across the frozen landscape like a stone across water. Massive trails of snow erupted behind him with every impact.
Clark exploded forward in a burst of white energy.
As he flew, he pulled back his fist and flames ignited around his knuckles from the sheer heat and friction gathering around the punch.
Then he uppercutted Ultraman directly under the jaw.
Rings of pressure exploded outward around Ultraman's body as the attack launched him violently upward toward the atmosphere.
"Kal-El," Sol called out in exasperation inside Clark's mind, "I understand that you're having fun, but we're supposed to be saving him. Or have you forgotten?"
"Oops," Clark muttered sheepishly. Then he quickly cleared his throat and straightened up before speaking in a more confident tone. "Of course not. I was just tenderizing him, that's all. To make the process easier."
"Mmhmm," Sol hummed, clearly not believing a single word.
"Whatever," Clark muttered under his breath as he crouched slightly before launching himself upward with explosive force.
High above the planet, Ultraman slammed directly against the protective atmospheric barrier surrounding the world. A massive ripple of glowing light billowed outward across the barrier from the impact while Ultraman groaned painfully.
He barely started peeling himself away from the barrier before noticing Superman rapidly approaching him.
Ultraman attempted to strike first, but Clark easily overpowered him. He grabbed him and slammed him back against the barrier hard enough to create another massive ripple of light.
"Ora! Ora! Ora!!" Superman shouted as his fists began repeatedly driving upward into Ultraman's solar plexus. The speed of his punches became so absurd that it looked like Clark had dozens of arms striking at once.
"Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora!!" Superman's fists moved like a gatling gun, each impact exploding with enough force to sound like shotgun blasts across the atmosphere. The friction from the speed of his punches started burning against his own knuckles, smoke and heat rising from his hands while the barrier behind Ultraman flashed bright red under the overwhelming pressure.
Ultraman's suit across his abdomen was partially destroyed, burned away from the sheer heat of Superman's punches. Even with his immense durability, dark bruises and burns started forming across his stomach.
Clark finally pulled back one last punch.
This time his entire forearm became enveloped in a blazing field of spiritual energy that distorted the surrounding space from sheer power.
"SPIT! IT! OUT!!" Clark roared as he drove his fist straight into Ultraman's gut.
Ultraman's eyes widened as blood exploded from his mouth as the atmospheric barrier behind him failed completely.
The structure shattered apart like brittle glass.
Alarms immediately started blaring throughout the port stations stationed on the moons, but the workers and guards barely paid attention. They could only stare in disbelief at the battle unfolding before them.
The entire atmosphere parted behind Ultraman from the sheer force of Clark's punch as both men blasted out into space.
(A/N: Check comment section, not the paragraph comments)
Then the remaining force finally released fully and launched Ultraman away into the void like a rocket disappearing into darkness.
Clark stared at his smoke-covered fist with surprise.
"Seriously?" he asked. "I don't know what's more surprising, the fact that he didn't spit it out or the fact that after all that he's still conscious."
"I don't think it's that he didn't fall unconscious," Sol theorized quietly. "I think he can't."
Clark's expression slowly shifted with realization. "I see… the device isn't letting him." He let out a heavy sigh. "How annoying."
Ultraman was still tumbling through the void of space, spinning uncontrollably as he passed through a dense asteroid field.
He smashed through asteroid after asteroid, each collision exploding massive chunks of rock into debris while slowly bleeding away his momentum little by little. Smaller asteroids shattered instantly upon impact, while larger ones cracked apart from the force of his body crashing through them.
Finally, Ultraman slammed into one of the largest asteroids in the field.
The impact sent enormous cracks webbing across the entire surface of the asteroid while Ultraman remained embedded in the rock for a moment.
He coughed violently and clutched his stomach, but the motion only caused him to cough up even more blood. Crimson droplets floated weightlessly upward through the empty vacuum of space.
Slowly, Ultraman pulled himself free and crouched atop the asteroid. Every muscle in his body visibly tensed as power and pressure steadily built around him with every passing second. The surrounding debris began trembling from the sheer force radiating off him.
From far away, Clark watched carefully and immediately understood what Ultraman was about to do.
Clark mirrored him. His own muscles tightened beneath his suit as the material compressed against the contours of his body. Energy started crackling around him while the space nearby distorted slightly from the pressure.
Then both men exploded forward simultaneously with cataclysmic force.
They accelerated so quickly that no camera or eye on the planet below could properly follow their movement. Two streaks of red and white tore through space directly toward one another.
As they closed the distance, the pressure generated by their opposing momentum became so overwhelming that the very fabric of space visibly began twisting around them. The stars themselves appeared to swirl and bend unnaturally from the distortion.
Then they collided.
The instant their fists met, a massive burst of warped energy erupted outward. For a brief moment, the illusion of a black hole surrounded by a glowing golden ring materialized around the two strongmen.
A sharp cry escaped both of them as the backlash detonated between their bodies.
The clash blasted both fighters away violently. However, because space itself had been twisted from the collision, their trajectories unexpectedly reversed.
Ultraman was suddenly hurled back toward the planet at terrifying speed while Clark was launched deep into the void of space instead, completely switching their positions.
Ultraman's body ignited upon reentry.
Flames engulfed him as he tore through the atmosphere like a living meteor. The people below immediately started screaming and running away from the projected impact zone. Streets cleared almost instantly as panic spread through the area.
Then suddenly, a red-and-white blur shot upward into the sky.
Krypto the Superdog intercepted Ultraman before he could crash into the city. The superdog effortlessly caught him midair and slowed his descent before lowering him safely toward the ground.
The civilians stared for a second in disbelief before immediately bursting into applause and cheers.
"Worry not! I'm very good at playing fetch!" Krypto proudly declared while lowering Ultraman onto the ground by his cape.
Far above them, Superman finally came soaring back toward the planet at incredible speed. His descent created a massive gust of wind as he flew directly toward where Ultraman now lay surrounded by civilians and Krypto.
Ultraman growled weakly, his eyes flaring red again as he attempted to force himself back to his feet.
Krypto immediately planted a paw against his chest and shoved him back down. "Stay down," Krypto warned firmly. "You already lost. There's no need to fight any longer."
Clark landed nearby and immediately started vibrating his hand at super speed. The air around his arm blurred violently as he raised it before suddenly plunging his hand downward toward Ultraman's stomach like a spear.
Ultraman roared in pain while the surrounding civilians gasped in shock and horror.
For a split second, many thought Superman had just killed him.
Then Clark slowly withdrew his hand.
In his palm was a small glowing orb pulsing with unstable energy. Without hesitation, Clark crushed it in his grip, reducing the object into fine dust that scattered into the air.
The pressure surrounding Ultraman's body immediately faded. Ultraman coughed heavily before finally speaking his first actual words since the battle began.
"Thank you…" he whispered weakly before his eyes rolled back and he fell unconscious.
Clark's expression softened slightly. He bent down, picked Ultraman up, and hoisted him over his shoulders. "Don't thank me," Clark said calmly. "Thank your brother. He's the one who was worried about you."
Clark slowly began levitating off the ground with Krypto floating beside him proudly.
Below them, the crowd completely erupted into celebration. People shouted Superman's name at the top of their lungs while others whistled, clapped, and cheered wildly.
"SUPERMAN!!"
"DON'T FORGET ABOUT HIS SUPER DOG!!"
"You saved him! They saved us!"
Clark chuckled quietly at their enthusiasm before shooting off through the skies toward the others waiting for him.
Everyone from Momo to Yami stood surrounding Cranis in a wide circle, each of them glaring murderous daggers at him. The atmosphere in the ruined room felt suffocating from the sheer hostility directed toward the fallen ruler.
Despite his condition, Cranis still wore a sneer across his face at first.
Then his expression slowly dropped.
Clark walked into the room carrying Ultraman unconscious over his shoulders.
"Im-Impossible…" Cranis muttered breathlessly before his face twisted into disbelief and rage. "HOW?!" he roared.
Yami looked over towards Clark and faintly a grin started to appear on her lips as she repeated the words he had told her before. "Because he's Superman," she answered almost teasingly.
Clark's lips curled slightly into a small smile at that before he carefully lowered Ultraman onto the ground. Then he turned his attention toward an apparently empty spot near the wall.
"There," Clark said calmly. "I did as you asked."
Everyone immediately turned toward the location in confusion.
A second later, the air shimmered. Kreel slowly undid his invisibility, revealing himself standing against the wall with a heavy exhausted expression.
"Thank you…" he sighed quietly.
Momo blinked in surprise before pointing toward him. "Ah, so that's where he went!" she exclaimed.
The moment Cranis saw him, his face twisted with fury. "Y-You traitor!!" Cranis snarled viciously. "My own son!!"
He struggled violently against his restraints while spittle flew from his mouth in rage. "It was you, you bastard! You disgrace! You killed your mother and now you turn against your father—"
Clark suddenly moved. In an instant he appeared directly in front of Cranis and clamped a hand tightly over his mouth.
Clark glared down at him coldly, his eyes glowing faintly with heat vision. "I think we've all had enough out of you," Clark said quietly.
The room fell silent.
Everyone slowly turned toward Kreel and noticed him averting his gaze, his expression heavy with guilt and pain. Even now, hearing those words from his father clearly affected him.
Clark turned around and walked toward the massive opening in the wall where he had entered earlier. The sounds of cheering from outside still echoed faintly through the city.
"Are you really going to kill him?" Momo asked softly from behind him.
Clark paused briefly. "No," he answered calmly as he slowly began levitating upward through the opening. "His fate isn't for me to decide."
Everyone immediately rushed toward the edge of the opening to watch where he was going.
Outside, countless civilians filled the streets below. Many were reaching their hands upward toward Superman the moment they saw him emerge from the destroyed building.
Cranis struggled violently in Clark's grip, kicking and screaming while clutching onto Clark's wrist with his remaining hand, a muffled scream escaped him as Superman's gauntlet burned hot.
The crowd gradually quieted the closer Superman descended toward them.
Clark hovered over the streets while holding Cranis up for everyone to see. "Here," Clark announced loudly. "This is who you wanted, isn't it?"
He looked across the crowd as silence spread through the area. "He's the cause of most of your misery."
Clark released him. Cranis hit the ground hard directly at the feet of the people.
"Do with him what you see fit…" Clark said before turning away and beginning to fly off.
For a moment nobody moved.
Then voices suddenly erupted from the crowd.
"Thank you, Superman!!" Many people shouted through tears, gratitude and emotion shining clearly in their eyes as they watched him leave.
Then slowly, the crowd's attention shifted back toward Cranis.
Cranis shakily pushed himself up from the ground, panic finally starting to seep into his face as he looked around at the countless furious people surrounding him.
"Stand back!" he shouted desperately. "I am the Planetary President!!"
Nobody listened. The crowd slowly started closing in around him from every direction, hatred burning in their eyes after a short time of suffering under his rule.
"Stand back, I said!!" Cranis screamed again, his voice cracking with fear.
Hands suddenly reached toward him. People grabbed at him violently, tearing at his clothes, clawing at his skin while the furious screams of the crowd completely drowned out his own cries.
"RELEASE ME—AAAHHHH!!"
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