American comics: Starting with replicating Superman's talent

Chapter 161 Contract of Indenture

[Negative emotions from Deathstroke: +100. +100…]

The road surface looked as if it had been crushed by a bulldozer.

The soil is riddled with potholes of varying depths and shapes.

The fallen trees by the roadside lay crookedly, their broken branches burning with flames and billowing with foul-smelling black smoke.

Amidst the ruins, a figure stands tall, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, a stark contrast to the collapsed figure not far away.

My internal organs were burning with pain, but this pain was nothing compared to the bitterness in my heart.

Deathstroke was certain that if someone had told him five years ago that he would be coerced into making a choice by a teenager who was probably only in his early twenties, he would have laughed at that person before telling them his own name.

But reality is far more absurd than imagination.

Life or death.

This is a matter of choice.

After witnessing the boy's terrifying power and abilities firsthand, Deathstroke no longer doubted that the boy truly had the ability to eliminate him.

So, what should your choice be?

The atmosphere was frozen in silence as the middle-aged man glanced at his friend Dongqing.

Are you afraid of dying?

Actually, I wasn't that scared. Since I had decided to become a mercenary, I was already prepared to die on some mission.

But Dongqing was different. Before he decided to become a mercenary, Dongqing abandoned his high-paying job in the army and followed him without hesitation.

Grief for his mentorship, brotherly loyalty, and thinking of Holly's two children, Deathstroke stared intently at Gino, and slowly uttered two words through clenched teeth: "It is my honor to serve you."

Gino was not surprised by Deathstroke's choice.

"So."

The young man snapped his fingers, the air at his fingertips igniting, and an ancient parchment contract, constructed from heavenly magic, fell into his palm. He slowly walked towards the Deathstroke and tossed the contract at the man's feet: "Sign it."

This incredible scene once again deeply shocked Deathstroke.

The terms on the parchment are comparable to a black contract, each clause harsh and severe; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe them as a contract of servitude.

But for his friend, for the sake of brotherhood, Deathstroke, this tough man, still bit his finger and signed his name on the parchment.

A dazzling white light burst forth from the parchment, engulfing and drowning the death knell, announcing the establishment of the pact.

"Bang!"

The car door slammed shut, and the ignition, clutch, gear shift, and accelerator were smoothly completed.

As the SUV sped out of the ditch and along the rural road, Deathstroke, sitting in the passenger seat, slowly spoke: "Wintergreen, tell the employer the mission failed. Also, block our employer."

The man glanced longingly out the window at the sign that read "Welcome to the World's Creamy Corn Capital," and said in a low voice, "From today onwards, I will refuse any missions related to Smallville."

"I understand." Dongqing sighed, gripping the steering wheel and shifting into fifth gear to accelerate.

A woman who can transform into a giant wolf, and a boy who seems like a god.

It all felt like a nightmare, only urging Holly and Deathstroke to escape this absurd town as quickly as possible.

at the same time.

Two hands clasped together on an abandoned road.

"I never expected you to be in such a sorry state."

Gino joked with a laugh as he pulled the bruised and battered Clark out of the mud.

Clark gave a wry smile, rubbing his aching cheek: "I never expected to get beaten up like this..."

"To be honest," Clark paused, "it was only after I lost my powers that I realized I should have learned some fighting techniques."

"Lost your abilities?" Gino frowned slightly. "How could you suddenly lose your abilities?"

"I don't know, I just suddenly felt weak all over, as if my body had been hollowed out."

As he spoke, Clark told Gino about his ordeal and the sudden loss of control of the spaceship.

"So," Gino frowned, "that emitted light, or something else, caused you to lose your abilities."

"But that's not all bad. At least it made me realize my shortcomings." The optimistic Clark smiled.

"If you want to learn," Gino said, helping Clark toward the unconscious Kayla, "I recommend you learn Wing Chun."

Hmm, how about the Wing Chun limited edition Clark?

The thought of Clark suddenly pulling out Wing Chun during his future battle with Darkseid makes me inexplicably want to laugh.

The two walked to Kayla's side.

"She's still breathing, she's not dead." Gino glanced at Kayla; despite losing a lot of blood, the girl's heart was still beating.

"It's alright." After learning that the girl was alright, Clark's expression visibly relaxed. He was used to taking all the responsibility upon himself.

"Let's go, let's get this girl to the hospital first." Gino released Clark, bent down and picked up the unconscious Kayla.

.........

Small town hospital.

The corridor was filled with the smell of disinfectant.

Some patients wearing hospital gowns were being helped around by doctors.

Lana and Chloe were discussing the future direction of Chloe's newspaper.

"Lana, lend a hand," Clark's voice rang out.

The two women looked up.

At the corner of the corridor not far away, Gino was carrying a girl and walking towards the two of them. The nurses rushed into the emergency room with medical equipment ahead of them, followed by Clark, who had a bruised and swollen face.

"Oh my God!"

Looking at the pitiful-looking Clark, Lana's eyes immediately reddened, and tears slid down her cheeks: "What happened!?"

Despite her conflict with Clark, the girl couldn't help but worry when she saw him injured.

After taking the unconscious Kayla to the emergency room, Gino chuckled and patted Clark on the shoulder: "Of course Clark got beaten up."

"Hurry, I'll take you to the infirmary!" Lana reached out and grabbed Clark's arm, rushing towards the corner of the corridor.

After the two left, only Gino and Chloe remained.

"What a troublesome day," Gino sighed, sitting on a chair in the hallway.

"Yes, it was a long day." Chloe glanced at Gino with a strange expression, then fell silent again.

Sometimes, she really felt that there was an invisible but real "high wall" between her and the boy, just like what happened just now. Gino obviously wouldn't tell her the truth.

Silently gazing at the boy's profile, Chloe sighed softly, idly fiddling with her fingers. She felt that perhaps she should give up liking Gino.

"Gino!"

Not long after, Clark, his face wrapped in thick bandages, came running up and grabbed Gino without saying a word: "I forgot to leave... uh, something important in the jungle."

Clark looked anxious; clearly, Kayla's situation had distracted him, causing him to forget that the spaceship was still lost in the dense forest.

With that, Clark pulled Gino away from the corridor, leaving Chloe sitting helplessly in a chair.

"It's still the same as before."

The girl sighed, stood up, and decided to go downstairs to talk to Lana.

(End of this chapter)