Shadow of the Beautiful World

In the cultivation room of the Kryptonian immigration ship, the phantoms of Merlin and Jor-El are confronting each other.

Of course, it's not a confrontation at the level of strength. Facing Merlin, Joe's phantom lacks the power to resist him, and this ship can't trap Merlin. This confrontation is more of a conflict at the conceptual level.

And the source of their disputes stems from Clark Kent's mission.

Your concern for your friends is touching.

Joe's phantom said blankly:

But this is Kryptonian internal affairs, earthlings, you should not interfere.

This happened on Earth!

Merlin retorted without giving in:

The Kal-El you mentioned also has a legal identity as a human on Earth. I call him Clark, that's his name! He is a peripheral member of S.H.I.E.L.D., and he is about to join the group that defends this world. He Make your own choice to be a hero or not, rather than being pushed and forced to make a decision!

It's not your turn to tell me this!

The tone of Joe's phantom became harsh:

If you are as great as you claim to be, get out of the way and let Karl tell me his decision!

He's only 23 years old, you old man!

Merlin said without giving an inch:

All the world he lives in is his family's farm, and he travels occasionally. Before he met me, his imagined future was to inherit his father's poorly run farm and become a farmer. Faced with such a life-threatening situation choice, he does not have enough insight nor enough experience to make a correct judgment.

You didn't give him time to think at all!

Merlin pushed his glasses, he said:

Young people are always attracted to great-sounding careers. They are impulsive and not good at thinking. You want to use this to achieve your purpose and force Clark into the future you have made for him.

What about you? Earthlings.

The phantom of Joe snorted, and said:

And what do you want my Karl to do for you?

Carl carries the master key with him, and I see everything he does, and you are just using my Carl to dedicate his strength to your defense. Do you dare to admit that the friendship between you and Carl Is there no factor to take advantage of? You keep saying that you give him a choice, but in reality? Didn’t you also plan a future for him?”

At least I won't force him to do something he doesn't want to do!

Merlin said blankly:

I gave him all the options, and you should too, you wandering ghost of the past

He's a Kryptonian!

Joe's phantom said in a deep voice:

He carries the hope of Krypton, and there are things he has to do! It's not about choice and freedom, Earthman Merlin, just like there are things you have to do before your superiors give you orders, In those moments of catastrophe in your world, did they ask you if you accepted?

So Clark is happier than me.

Merlin shrugged:

I don't have a choice, but I will give him a choice.

Okay, stop arguing!

Between Merlin and Joe's phantom, Clark held out his hands to stop their quarrel. The young man stretched out his hand, and on the console flipped out from his hand, his fingers rested on the black master that was inserted into the console. On the key, he looked at the apparition of Joe, and he said:

I can't give you an answer right now, Joe

He said:

I need to think about it. Merlin is right. You need to give me time for this matter.

The scattered thinking of the people on Earth has affected you, Carl.

Joe's phantom did not stop Clark's movement, he still maintained the movement with his hands folded on his abdomen, and he said to Clark:

But since you need time, I will give you time. Carl, Kryptonians have a long lifespan. I have enough time to wait for your answer. I believe that you will eventually undertake this great mission.

In storage room 129 on this ship, there is a Kryptonian battle suit that is still in good condition, and I have made some changes to it during the time we talked.

Joe's phantom said to Clark:

Wear it, it can protect you from harm. And, seize the time to discover your potential, Carl, Joe's initial judgment was slightly wrong, the world is not as peaceful as he thought, some power in this world, It is fatal to you now.

You need to be strong enough to deal with them. You need to be strong enough to protect those you want to protect.

Thanks for the reminder, I will.

Clark reached out and pulled out the black master key. The moment the master key left the console, Joe's phantom suddenly dissipated in the beating of data sparks, and the light of the entire spaceship became dimmer, but this spaceship It didn't shut down completely.

It was probably Joe's phantom that gave Clark control over the spaceship.

The artificial intelligence left by Clark's real father gave Clark a gift. Although the spaceship lacks firepower, she can become a private castle that is private enough to belong to Clark.

When I knew you were the last Kryptonian, I guessed that you might be destined to make a career.

Merlin reached out and patted Clark on the shoulder, and he said to the 23-year-old:

But I didn't expect that there is such a heavy future on you, the recovery of a world, Clark, you will be busy in the future.

Should I accept it, you say, Merlin.

Clark bent down and sat on the steps of the cultivation room. This silent young man seemed a little dazed at this moment.

As Merlin said, no matter how wise Clark is, he is only a 23-year-old young man. In his past life, he has never experienced a scene like today.

To be honest, not everyone is lucky enough to see their own birth and the meaning behind it.

Clark, the last Kryptonian was born in the collapse of a world. He was born with all the expectations of a destroyed world. For a young man, such a burden is really too heavy.

Facing Clark's question, Merlin did not give a definite answer.

Leaning against the bulkhead of the ship, he said to Clark:

If you ask me what to do, then my answer is still the same as before. The choice in this matter is in your hands, Clark.

You can choose to continue to be an ordinary person. No one will blame you for escaping. This cannot be called escaping, because you have existed as an earthling since you were born. You have the blood of Krypton, but your soul You are a real earthling, from this point of view, you have every reason to reject all of this.

Merlin snapped his fingers and said:

Or, you can also choose to be a scumbag, associate with different girls every day, and play some ambiguous games to realize your mission of reviving Krypton. Of course, you must take protective measures and choose your target carefully. Not sure, some infectious diseases on Earth will also work on Kryptonians.

He said to Clark in a relaxed tone:

Actually, to be honest, the latter choice is not unacceptable. It is the dream of many men, and the best thing is that you have a high-sounding reason to do it, and you don't even need to have any mentality about giving up. burden.

No, I won't do that.

Clark shook his head, stroked the black key in his hand, and said:

That's not in line with my moral code. That's not what my parents taught me.

Very well, then it seems that you have made a decision.

Merlin snapped his fingers and said to Clark:

Then come with me, I have something to tell you too.

Wait, Merlin.

Clark stopped Merlin who turned to leave, and he said seriously to Merlin:

I just won't follow Joe's plan. It doesn't mean I will give up rebuilding Krypton Merlin. If possible, I may use my own way to achieve what my biological parents want me to do. After all, it is a world.

He wiped his chest, and said:

If I had any hope of saving it, I would do it.

Why are you telling me this?

Merlin asked suspiciously:

Do you think I'll stop you? No, Clark, I won't stop you from saving your hometown. As long as you're not on Earth, I won't stop you from doing anything. Remember, as long as you're not on Earth.

Um.

Clark heard what Merlin meant, and he nodded.

Okay, come with me.

Merlin stretched out his hand and inserted the key of the mysterious house behind Clark. In the hatch of the cultivation room, when the hatch was opened again, what appeared in front of them was no longer the dried up cultivation tree, but It is the warm hall of the mystery house.

Xuanlan stood at the door as always, welcoming the return of the master.

Here I have an impression.

Clark followed Merlin into the mysterious room. He looked at the slightly quaint decorations around the mysterious room. He said to Merlin:

After the last coma, I seem to have stayed here for a while.

Yes.

Merlin says:

You fell asleep in my guest room for several hours. When you were about to wake up, Lan sent you back to the Kent farm. You should say thank you to Lan. When you were unconscious, you were always She's taking care of you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Clark thanked Xuanlan very politely, and the housekeeper waved her hand, signaling that he didn't need to be so polite.

Come on, Clark, sit down.

Merlin was sitting by the burning fireplace. In the warm dancing flames, he crossed his legs and said to Clark in a relaxed posture:

I have something to tell you.

Xuan Lan stood beside Mei Lin. The housekeeper waved the handbell on her waist, and soon ghost servants brought tea and pastries to the host and guests.

You should remember, Clark, when we first met, I told you that if you wish, I will give you a chance to be a hero.

Merlin took out a document from his pocket, and he placed it on the coffee table in front of Clark. He said to the young man:

Now this opportunity has come.

I invite you to join an organization whose purpose is to preserve order on Earth.

Clark reached for the documents on the table, and Merlin explained to him:

This organization is a loose group composed of some superheroes with various abilities. It is not a standing combat force. It will only be called up when the world encounters a huge crisis.

The Avengers?

Clark looked at the code name on the document in his hand, and the young farmer raised his head, his eyes full of doubts:

this name

Don't pay attention to the terrible name, it means nothing.

Merlin waved his hand in embarrassment, and said:

You can call it the Earth Defense Forces if you want, or just a more literal 'Justice League' or something, I mean, the name doesn't mean anything, the important thing is that these heroes come together things to do.

After the Kree invasion in 1994, some sensible people realized the threat that existed in the stars.

Merlin crossed his fingers and said to Clark who was carefully looking at the document:

After realizing that the normalized ordinary army, including the highest force possessed by human civilization, could not cope with those crises, the prototype of the Avengers Alliance appeared. You should know that in that battle, it included Captain Marvel, Magneto Many people with superpowers, including Professor Charles, joined together to help the world survive the crisis, and this is the prototype of the Avengers Alliance.

Yes I know.

Clark said softly:

I was 14 and I was at a school camp, and that day I saw the blond lady soaring through the air, and when she smashed the Kree weapon with her fist, it was really cool.

Well Carol is really cool.

A trace of nostalgia flashed in Merlin's eyes, he paused, and said to Clark:

In my opinion, you may become the second her, even stronger than her. Joe's artificial intelligence also said that the potential in your body has only developed a negligible part. After systematic training, I believe , your true strength will definitely be liberated.

Of course, what we're going to talk about today is about you officially joining the Avengers.

Merlin said to Clark:

Clark Kent, as a level 9 agent and deputy director of S.H.I.E.L.D., I sincerely invite you once again to join this security organization and join us in contributing to the protection of the Earth's order.

He looked at Clark, and he said:

As far as I can see, you've got everything it takes to be a hero, and I mean, a real hero, not some clowns jumping up and down, chasing fame and fortune. Clarke, you're every young man I've ever seen The best of the bunch, I really want you to be great.

Of course, I don't need you to answer right away, Clark, my young friend, you have enough time to think and make choices.

We also have enough patience to wait for your reply.