American comics: You're asked to fish, but you catch a Superman template?

Page 1365

"She said coldly, 'The country is currently in a state of dormancy due to a terrorist nicknamed Sonar. Statistics repeatedly show that Friday's bombings in the metropolis have killed 23 people and injured dozens. Secret intelligence advised the public to avoid crowded places and warned that bin Laden's bombs were made using sound energy such as conversation, laughter, and cell phone ringtones, all activated by the group. Bin Laden said he would launch more attacks before the United Nations convenes soon to discuss the territorial dispute over the European country of Moldova…'"

Seeing that his prank had paid off, Varadrin grinned like a child. At that moment, another senior member of the Independence Army entered the tent, unloaded a heavy magazine and a rifle onto the table, and then sat down next to Varadrin.

Varadin offered him a cigar: "Do you have one?"

"no thanks".

Varadon shrugged and lit a cigarette on the gray floor beside the sofa. "You should try it, Dhaka. These guys may be jerks, but their cigars are really good."

The man named Dhaka stared at the screen for a moment, then asked, "Your plan seems to have been very successful."

"The results are astonishing." Varadrin said confidently, "They only know how to do this. These bureaucrats are best at holding meetings and discussions. Empty talk, posturing, and empty slogans will have no effect. What we have must be taken by force. That's the only law of the world. The only way to get their attention is to show them force and hit them where it hurts."

Just as he was delivering his eloquent speech with great enthusiasm, a new recruit wearing a steel helmet suddenly rushed into the tent in a panic. He first stood at attention and gave a standard military salute, then hurriedly reported, "Sir, we may have been attacked by the enemy."

“Impossible.” Before Varadin could speak, Dhaka frowned. “The politicians of these major powers would absolutely not dare to act rashly at this time. Even if they decide to take a tough stance, it can only be after the UN meeting.”

The soldier reported, "But within minutes we received reports of enemy attacks on several nearby training camps, and all the units there are now completely silent on the communications channels. And judging from the enemy's attack trajectory, ... they're coming for us, sir."

Dark felt uneasy. He turned his gaze to Varadin, who was still staring blankly on the sofa. "Maybe they really dealt the American government a heavy blow this time. Have they finally decided to go to any lengths?"

This was the worst thing they could have foreseen. Varadin frowned, tossed his cigarette butt aside, and stood up. "We'll know who it is in a few minutes. Notify all units, highest alert level, prepare for battle."

It must be said that although these terrorists were not a regular army, their performance and discipline were quite good. Within minutes, every soldier in the entire camp was ready for battle, heavy armored tanks stood in neat rows, and heavy artillery advanced on both flanks. Don't underestimate this irregular army; if a general from any country were here for a military parade, he would undoubtedly support this heavy firepower of unknown origin.

However, although these devout warriors who shout holy war slogans every day are fearless bandits, they have never truly experienced the baptism of blood and fire on the battlefield. They inevitably feel nervous when the real enemy is about to appear, especially when they know nothing about the enemy.

Who will be the enemy? Is it an invincible elite force? Or an elite force with surgical precision?

The unknown is often the root of fear, and unfounded suspicions make the wait seem long and unbearable.

I don't know how many seconds I silently counted, but the so-called enemy finally appeared before the well-equipped troops. Unexpectedly, there were only two of them, yet they carried an unparalleled aura of power surpassing that of a thousand troops. A girl and a little boy, looking still innocent and full of youthful vigor, lay side by side at the forefront of the tank formation, their two red cloaks standing like a flag in the center of the battlefield.

But what's truly terrifying is the large "S" on their chests. Everyone on Earth knows the meaning of this symbol, and many people lose 80% of their morale just by seeing it.

For a moment, the camp fell into an eerie silence: the soldiers' low, slow breathing rose and fell, but no one spoke.

Xu Fu took two steps forward, completely ignoring the countless gun muzzles and barrels pointed at him, and said in a calm but authoritative voice: "...If I were you, I wouldn't make any foolish attempts. Now, let's save our breath and just tell me who is Zito-Varaden, so we can still get away."

His tone was calm and measured, yet powerful and resonant, his voice carrying throughout the entire area, as if every gun barrel hummed under its booming sound. The terrorists, pale-faced, exchanged bewildered glances. They weren't afraid of death; they even took pride in it. But what they feared was a battle they couldn't win, because they knew that against these two enemies, their fight was futile.

Until the commander of the formation shouted, "All units, listen up! Open fire!"

This command, like a thunderclap, awakened the souls of these bandits, instantly reminding them of their so-called doctrines and creeds. The warriors answered in unison, their voices converging and becoming even louder than before, like thunder.

Gunshots rang out, flames soared into the sky, and the flames of rifles and cannons engulfed everything, with thick black smoke stretching towards the two figures. The area within a radius of several dozen meters where Xu Fu and Kara were located was instantly enveloped in dense flames. Imagine an entire army unleashing its full power against the two of them—what a breathtaking scene that would be!

Xu Fu stood amidst the layers of fire and flying shrapnel, sighing helplessly. This was actually expected; they couldn't skip steps. He shouted, "I never imagined these terrorists would actually lay down their weapons, then everyone would pour a cup of tea and chat calmly." He spoke as if it were just a routine.

Xu Fu and Kara exchanged a glance through the smoke and flames, nodded in agreement, and then simultaneously mimicked the starting motion of athletes.

Half a second later, the roar of two air rifts mingled with the sound of artillery fire, exploding in the sky. Red and blue shadows, like two sharp knives, cut straight through the smoke screen, the resulting hurricanes carrying black smoke forward. Rows of heavily armored tanks were instantly blown sideways like Lego toys!

Chapter 1677 Terrorism

A force of over a hundred men, well-equipped, highly trained, and with unwavering resolve, fought like godlike warriors against two lone young Kryptonians behind enemy lines.

A completely unequal battle.

Everything was so monotonous and simple that it hardly qualify as a battle. The artillery protecting the Independent Army formation was destroyed by the first heat-seeing shots of the two Kryptonian brats, flames shooting into the air. The tank formation was practically useless; two dark figures, one on the left and one on the right, each following opposite routes, relentlessly charged towards the heavy armored wall. When the two figures intersected, their flight paths formed two large circles, and not a single usable tank remained in the formation.

The soldiers, who had shouted that they were willing to give their lives for a noble cause, instinctively retreated. They looked at the two figures on the opposite side of the battlefield who resembled war gods, and an emotion called fear uncontrollably took hold of their nerves. This was inevitable; it was the instinctive reaction of a living being when facing an enemy far stronger than itself.

They continued firing their rifles in vain at the seemingly invincible enemy, but each shot predictably crumbled into a deflated block of metal and bounced to the ground. Xu Fu casually grabbed the cannon barrel of the overturned tank beside him, his powerful hands squeezing the sides of the vehicle. With a flick of his wrist, the upper part of the tank turret shot into the air like a wolf's mouth.

The soldiers were stunned: Varadrin had taught them how to fight, how to withstand the armies of great powers, but he hadn't taught them how to fight such a monster. Xu Fu flew into the air, the tank turret flying from his hand, spinning and crashing into the soldiers.

As the turret slammed into the ground with unparalleled kinetic energy, the soldiers, busy firing, scrambled to their feet, dissipating into a cloud of choking smoke. Although there were no casualties (033), their formation had been broken. Xu Fu and Kara seized the opportunity, simultaneously leaping upwards, weaving through the crowd like butterflies. In the blink of an eye, half the soldiers lay dead, weapons shattered by their bare hands littering the ground.

The battle was already decided before it even began; the Moldovan soldiers had no chance of winning.

"enough!"

A loud voice echoed across the battlefield, as if someone had suddenly pressed the pause button on the boiling battlefield. All the soldiers instantly stopped moving and respectfully stepped aside to make way for Zetovaladin, who was walking out from the back of the column, a sight that drew considerable attention.

He stopped in front of the two Kryptonians floating in the air, looked at them, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

“That’s it. The great God has noticed this forgotten corner of ours,” he said sarcastically. “How flattering!”

Xu Fu ascended and landed in front of Varadin, coldly saying, "You hurt the wrong people and crossed the line you shouldn't have crossed."

Varadin snorted: "I just did what I was supposed to do, to fight for our rightful rights. This world leaves us with no other choice."

“There are always other options.” Kara lowered her head, her face filled with anger. “Twenty-three people died, including children. Is this how you achieve your goals?”

"If it weren't for this, would you be here? Facing a group of people like us, struggling to survive, hah?" Varadin answered loudly, without losing a shred of composure. It must be said, there was a reason he became the leader of the Independence Army: not everyone could remain so calm in the face of intimidation from two Kryptonians.

He gave a cold snort and continued, “No, of course not. You are the shining new stars of this world, always high and mighty, receiving media praise for rescuing a cat stuck in a tree, but you have no capacity to care about the lives of people like us. All of us gathered here watched as the land we depend on for survival was devastatingly bombarded by barbaric artillery fire, and were even driven from our homes. Where were you when our country was torn apart and split by a pack of hungry wolves in shiny fur? You are so all-powerful, why didn't you appear in our time of misfortune?”

His voice grew louder and louder, and by the end of his speech he was practically roaring. The demoralized soldiers seemed to respond to his words again, and Xu Fu saw a renewed passion in the eyes of one of the soldiers. He vaguely felt that he had already given in to this guy.

After a long pause, he said, "I sympathize with your situation. But you know, like the old Superman, I don't get involved in international disputes."

Varadon grinned: "Really? I'm asking you, New Superman, what's your position here? Is it the American government? Or are you your own person?"

“When you take innocent people hostage, it has nothing to do with politics,” Xu Fu retorted. “I cannot interfere with or judge your national affairs, but it is wrong for you to involve innocent people in your own struggle.”

"So what do you want me to do? Grab a little flag and wave it in front of the UN building?" Varadrin retorted. "New Superman, do you really think that will work? That words and appeals can be used as weapons to fight for your rights? Nonsense, that's a colossal lie told by politicians for their own benefit. If I did that, I would probably disappear from this world the next day without a sound, and people wouldn't even remember my attempt."

No, that's wrong. Xu Fu felt his statement was incorrect, but didn't know how to refute it...

Varadrin continued, "Or let's talk about something more practical, say, right now. Suppose you arrest me right now and put me in a cell, but I tell you that in 24 hours I will be free, walking freely, would you believe me?"

"why?"

Varadrin laughed and said, “That’s the problem. These major Eastern European powers vying for the land of Modova need my presence. My independence army and I play a key role at the heart of this conflict. My disappearance will cause a chain reaction, leading to consequences they don’t want to see. So eventually they will inevitably intervene and use my release as a bargaining chip.”

He paused, then flashed a victorious smile and said, "I'm sorry to have made you come all this way to New Superman, but even if I win, there's nothing you can do."

He wasn't bluffing. All superheroes, including Superman, adhere to a principle of never interfering in the politics of any country, and anything political on this planet becomes incredibly complex. If Varadrin and his independence army truly played such a crucial mediating role in the conflicts of Eastern European countries, then Xu Fu's unilateral decision to kill him should have made every politician in the world nervous.

Killing him is not just an isolated incident, but a reflection of the new Superman's attitude, which could provoke a strong reaction from around the world. If the new Superman can intervene in the Eastern European national disputes through his unilateral decision this time, who knows who he will turn his attention to next?

“Let’s go,” Kara said softly. She gently tugged at Xu Fu’s arm, but he didn’t intend to leave.

He couldn't kill the terrorists, but that doesn't mean he was powerless.

Xu Fu stepped forward, his eyes burning like red flames, and angrily threatened Varadin: "Yes, you're right, I won't kill you, but you're wrong about one thing: killing you isn't the only thing I can do. Now, you'd better go back and dismantle all those voice-activated explosive devices you made, and then behave yourself and don't get in my way. Otherwise, I'll find you next time, and no matter how many guns or tanks you make, I'll turn them all back into scrap metal in a minute. So, unless you want your separatists to abandon your so-called holy war, I strongly suggest you abandon your subsequent sabotage plans."

For the first time since Varadin's arrival, his expression subtly changed, and he could no longer remain calm. The slight shift in his expression proved that the threat had worked on him. Then, Xu Fu slowly stood up, seemingly preparing to leave. Before departing, he seemed to remember something and added, "Oh, right, you can certainly find a place to hide. But you should know that you've now attracted my attention, and I'm watching you. So, unless you can hide your troops within the base's leadership like a tortoise for 24 hours a day, you'd better behave yourself."

After saying that, Xu Fu ignored the extremely serious expression on Varadan's face and turned to leave with Kara.

However, at that moment, a thunderous roar ripped through the sky, drawing everyone's attention. Looking up, they saw a black dot composed of milky-white wisps of air plummeting rapidly towards them from the sky shrouded in the smoke of artillery fire.

A blue figure landed heavily on the ground, scorching black smoke swirling around yellow dust that rose from the center of the fall. A resolute figure in a dark blue, tight-fitting uniform descended majestically, a red cloak landing smoothly behind him. He calmly raised his head, his steel-blue eyes as sharp as knives.

There was also a bold "S" on his chest.

The air seemed to freeze; for a moment, even breathing became difficult for everyone. Kara covered her mouth with her hand, her voice trembling with disbelief, and asked, "Kara...? Superman?"

Chapter 1678 Will Superman Return?

Xu Fu had never seen the real Superman in person; he had only seen his face in countless photos and videos, not counting the movies and comic books he had read before.

Clad in a red cloak, with a resolute face and a mountain-like physique that takes your breath away, this is Superman, a legendary figure who has had the most profound impact on Metropolis and even the world.

Contrary to Xu Fu's expectations, and compared to the rumored "prodigy" whose brilliance almost blinded him, the man standing before him exuded a more aloof and cold demeanor. His serious and earnest expression was like that of a sculpted piece of wood, and his blue eyes reflected a chilling aura that could penetrate to the depths of one's soul, as if he were a celestial being, devoid of any mortal emotions.

But Kara clearly recognized him, covering her mouth in surprise: "Superman, is it really you?"

“It’s me, Kara.” He glanced sideways as he answered, seemingly confirming his identity. Xu Fu thought helplessly, perhaps he was just annoyed by the terrorists’ unforgivable actions, hence his seemingly cold and unapproachable demeanor…

But Superman disappeared for six whole years! Where did he go during that time? Why didn't even his closest friends know he was still alive, let alone the public?

Faced with this unexpected guest, Varadrin's heart was pounding. Xu Fu could see his adrenaline surging uncontrollably, betraying his forced composure and proving the deep-seated fear and tension he felt in the face of Superman.

Superman stepped forward and stood face to face with the man who was half a head shorter than Varadrin, only able to see the tip of his nose. He felt that if he continued to remain silent, he might be overwhelmed by the man's aura, so he decided to take the initiative to speak.

"Superman, huh?" he scoffed. "So you didn't die in there."

Superman stared at him coldly, without saying a word.

“So what do you want? Arrest me? Go ahead,” Varadin replied coldly. “But you know that won’t stop me from continuing to fight for a noble cause.”

"Yes, that's impossible."

When Superman uttered those few words in a voice so menacing it seemed to drip water, Xu Fu already had a vague premonition, and the next second, the premonition came true. Superman's right hand shot out like lightning, his five fingers gripping Varadin's bearded chin, lifting him off the ground, while Varadin's booted feet thrashed helplessly in the air.

The soldiers were panting, but no one dared to step forward to stop him. Kara cried out in surprise, "Karl!" But Superman ignored her, staring straight into Varadon's eyes as if trying to pierce his soul.

"The next innocent person to die will never exist," he stated clearly.

Amidst gasps of astonishment, the heat beam erupted. At such close range, even the fastest man in the world could not withstand it. Varadrin's round eyes were engulfed by the heat beam, and his head transformed into a charred skull in an instant—so brief that no one had time to react. Smoke still rose from the coal-black skull before the heat vision dissipated.

They were all stunned. Such a sight was hard for anyone to process. In an instant, the huge camp fell silent, except for the piercing wind and hundreds of indiscriminate, rapid heartbeats in the Kryptonians' ears.

The red energy in Superman's eyes disappeared, and he calmly tossed the mangled terrorist leader aside as if he were crushing an ant with his boot.

Before people could react, it had already shot into the sky with a "bang" without looking back. Smoke once again obscured the sky, and the blue figure disappeared into the clouds.

Zito Varadin is dead

Perhaps news in today's world truly is a winged creature, spreading globally in an instant, making everyone aware of the event. At least for most Americans, this is good news; once the news is confirmed, people's anxiety dissipates, and they can sleep peacefully again.