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

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But the chief simply looked at him calmly, as if he had done something insignificant. Seeing Wally's bewildered surprise, he gave a soft snort: "You are indeed different, you are an exceptional anomaly among the masses. But all of this is meaningless. The center has awakened, and before it, everyone will perish, without exception."

"Really? But I think he might make an exception for me."

The words had barely left his mouth when the fist moved almost immediately. The chief turned his head and used his inner strength to protect his side, but the fist pierced through the darkness with brute force, hitting the chief like an anti-tank gun and sending him flying sideways out of the cylinder.

After changing into his battle robes and goggles, Xu Fu landed lightly on the ice, his red cloak hanging easily behind him.

"You've changed your mind now?"

Chapter 1735 Interpersonal Contact

The leader, who had been thrown back by the immense force, slowly stood up, and the black aura that had faded around him instantly intensified again. Xu Fu landed easily a few meters away from him, staring coldly at him with his arms crossed.

“New Superman, the Center warned me that you are different.” The Chief shook his head and said calmly, “But you still don’t belong to this planet; you are an outsider. So, in what capacity are you interfering in the internal affairs of this planet?”

"Really? I don't think it's that complicated." Xu Fu replied casually, "A group of conspirators want to destroy the world, and I'm going to stop them. It's that simple."

“This isn’t about destroying the world, it’s about destroying humanity, and it’s for the good of the world.” The chief shrugged. “But obviously you can’t see the difference, so all I can say is that this is terrible.”

He only finished speaking when his right palm was suddenly snatched from the air, and a black vortex roared towards Xu Fu's face. But Xu Fu reacted quickly: his body suddenly rose higher, dodging the sneak attack with incredible speed. The black vortex tore through the remaining red and blue hues, whistling across the sidewalk and creating a gap.

Xu Fu spun in the air, then suddenly accelerated, like a red and blue arrow, almost reaching the chieftain in an instant. But darkness was not to be outdone; two streams of black energy seemed to erupt from the ground at the chieftain's feet, striking Xu Fu's chest directly. Like a gurgling stream, they cut off his momentum, pushing him back along with his aura.

The undercurrent pulled him back onto the ice of the skating rink, and his feet touched the ground immediately. Xu Fu's shoes cracked the ice and sank deep into the water.

Xu Fu gritted his teeth and staggered forward against the current, each step cleaving through the ice, leaving deep marks and cracks in the ground. Like a stubborn bull, he forged ahead against the storm, his brightly colored cloak almost straightened, crackling behind him.

The chieftain frowned, seemingly surprised. However, Xu Fu's figure only trembled slightly. Instead of slowing down, he sprinted forward at an even faster pace. Finally, he leaped into the air, his feet off the ground, his fists clenched tightly around the flow of darkness, using his body to block it, and accelerated straight ahead.

As Xu Fu accelerated towards the spot where darkness burst forth from the chieftain's palm, the darkness erupted instantly, producing the sound of a cannonball accurately hitting its target. Xu Fu staggered back two steps, and the chieftain shattered again, rolling onto the road like a black feather. When he stood up, his black cloak was as tattered as an old rag.

Xu Fu hovered in the air again, and with a burst of energy behind him, the flying man shot out a bolt of lightning. The chief stood up, and the traffic on the street was thrown into chaos by the sudden appearance of the pedestrian. Countless cars honked sharply, brake pads screeched, tires were stuck, and several cars that couldn't avoid the collision crashed together, creating a mess. The director turned his head to the side and stretched out a hand in that direction. A faint black halo lifted a gray sedan with a smashed door into the air. The driver hurriedly jumped out of the driver's seat and slid to a stop with his arms outstretched.

"drink!"

With a soft "squeak," the chief was thrown through the air, hurtling towards Xu Fu. Xu Fu didn't dodge; he stretched out his arms, caught the car's trunk securely, and then tossed it around, turning the car towards the chief and throwing it back at him. The chief lunged from the side and opened it; a second later, the car was reduced to a pile of scrap metal at the point of impact, shards of glass and torn parts flying in all directions, the front tire embedded in the side of the building like a frisbee.

The gasoline leaking from the damaged fuel tank was ignited by sparks generated by friction, and a flame and high-temperature explosion occurred in the center of the wrecked car, causing the charred and dented car door to be ejected by the impact.

The chief shook his head, then looked up to see Xu Fu breaking through the flames and slowly walking towards him. Xu Fu stood in the flames with his arms crossed, his blue uniform seemingly glowing in the firelight.

"You are indeed extraordinary." The leader, who was at a disadvantage and completely at a loss, did not notice the slightest panic. Instead, he revealed a meaningful smile. He looked Xu Fu up and down as if admiring a unique treasure: "Even among so many extraordinary superpowered individuals, you are simply outstanding."

"Thank you for the compliment. But if you're hoping that this flattery will increase the chances of me letting you go, you'd better give up that idea as soon as possible, because it's impossible."

“No, I’m not asking you to meddle.” The chief smiled, if his rigid upturned lips could even be called a smile. “I’m inviting you to join my ranks.”

"Excuse me, I don't quite understand if you're just trying to show off your extremely lacking sense of humor?"

“Of course, you don’t understand now,” the leader chuckled softly, “but you will soon. You will become part of the Great Center, our vanguard.”

"Okay, I've heard enough. Game time is over, right?"

Xu Fu paused for a moment. He saw the chief slowly open his arms and make a strange gesture. A black aura began to emerge from his eyes, mouth, and nose, as if a black sun was hidden inside him, and he wanted to release all the black aura without reservation at that moment.

The piercing sound was like the wailing of ghosts and wolves, and dark energy erupted in all directions, seemingly tearing everything apart. Cars parked by the roadside were overturned, their rusty steel shells scattering at a visible speed. The snow on the ground was sucked away, and countless snowflakes in the air instantly turned into dust. Darkness expanded its territory recklessly, as if to devour the heavens and the earth. Xu Fu retreated a few steps away from the surging dark current 063, his cloak fluttering in the wind.

The dark storm lasted only five seconds, but when it stopped, there was almost nothing left within a radius of several meters, except for Xu Fu, who was suspended in the center of a huge hole, shrouded in a light mist.

The leader of the knights, who was responsible for everything that happened, also disappeared, as if evaporated in the center of a huge, deep pit.

Xu Fu stared at the spot where he had disappeared, pondered his words for a while, and couldn't help but frown slightly.

At that moment, Green Lantern and Flash walked over, both looking at him with an almost old-fashioned gaze. Mike even removed the bandages from his face and went over to shake hands with them: "Wow, the new Superman, I never expected to meet you. You're my idol! Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Green Lantern, that's obvious, but my real name is Mike Marcus. You can call me Mike."

He thus exposed his secret identity, leaving Xu Fu speechless with dismay.

But since he was being so honest, Xu Fu himself felt awkward if it wasn't the truth. Besides, they would be roommates for the next three years, and if things continued like this, Mike would eventually discover his identity.

Thinking of this, Xu Fu sighed slightly and took off his glasses: "Alright then, I have something to tell you."

The next second, Mike and Wally's mouths opened wide, becoming mouths big enough to fit a pineapple.

Chapter 1736 Brighter

After the brief incident at the ice rink, the Christmas spirit returned to normal. In the following days, the ghost disappeared, Mike went back to his "new part-time job," and Xu Fu took Kara to his house for Christmas.

The snow fell for several days, only stopping around Christmas. A thick blanket of snow, like a white cloak, enveloped the metropolis, piling up on every rooftop, and casting a warm yellow glow through the windows. The metropolis was already brightly lit at night, but on Christmas Eve, the lights and snow made it even brighter than usual.

The Reynolds family had started celebrating Christmas early; the Christmas tree and all the decorations had been hung up days in advance. This was the first time Xu Fu had brought someone home for Christmas since becoming a family member, and also the first time he had brought a friend home, especially a young and beautiful girl. Therefore, the Reynolds family gave this rare guest a very warm and friendly welcome, almost leaving Carla speechless.

Mrs. Reynolds prepared a Christmas hat for everyone. When Xu Fu put the red and white hat on Kara's golden head, she rubbed her head worriedly: "Hat and glasses, will I look silly?"

"Are you kidding?" Xu Fu smiled and kissed her rosy cheek. "You're absolutely gorgeous."

Mrs. Reynolds roasted a stuffed turkey and made a Christmas pie; the large table was laden with delicious food, making one's mouth water. The four of them sat around the table, the soft candlelight illuminating it and creating a festive atmosphere.

The Reynolds kept urging Carla to eat more, the two unusually agreeing that Mrs. Reynolds was a true master at making roast turkey and gingerbread. Carla tasted some and was delighted, shamelessly praising the dish as one of the most delicious dinners of her life. Mrs. Reynolds was so pleased that she even pulled her chair closer to Carla, watching the blonde with growing interest.

As the four of them clinked glasses of red wine, Mr. Reynolds suddenly invited them to share their goals and wishes for the new year before they finished their drinks. He generously let me start with myself, saying that I didn't have any particular wishes in life, except that I hoped my son would find someone he truly loved and live a happy and fulfilling life. With that, he downed a full glass of red wine in one gulp.

Carla understood his meaning, her cheeks flushed slightly, but she hesitated to speak. However, Mrs. Reynolds interjected, saying that her wish was the same as her husband's; if her son could find a suitable daughter-in-law, she would have no other demands.

However, this was just a wish she made before drinking. After drinking half of her drink, she mumbled in a weak and indistinct voice how wonderful it would be if she could lose a few pounds in the coming year. Her words were soft and muffled, only she could hear them, but they didn't escape the keen ears of the two Kryptonians. Xu Fu seemed used to it and pretended not to hear. Kara, on the other hand, laughed awkwardly, her laughter barely contained, which only made her face turn even redder.

Next was Carla. She raised her glass, looked around, and said in an unexpectedly sincere tone, "The first thing I should say is thank you. Thank you for letting me sit here and be a part of your family's Christmas."

As you may know, I lost my family, I lost everything. When I arrived on this planet, I was all alone, except for my young cousin Karl, who reminded me that I wasn't alone. When he left me too, I thought it was all over. I truly became the last lonely Kryptonian in this vast universe.

Countless times, I woke up from nightmares to find that my deepest nightmares had become reality. For a time, I was overwhelmed by loneliness and darkness, so I did what all other heroes would do: I went into hiding, preferring to live in the shadows, hiding in a forgotten corner.

She paused, looked at Xu Fu with a complex expression, and continued, "Then you appeared. You not only lit the torch of a new era for the world, but also illuminated the closed corners of my heart. You let me know that I am not the last Kryptonian, that I am not alone in the universe. Not only that, you also let me into your life, letting me feel the warmth of home again, something I never dared to hope for. I don't know how to thank you."

Xu Fu smiled gently, raised his glass, and lightly touched hers: "It's simple. Step out of the shadows, and then we'll move forward together. I believe this is the only thing Mom and Dad want us to do."

“That’s fair.” Carla smiled, tilted her head back, and downed the glass of red wine in one gulp.

Finally, it was Xu Fu's turn. He raised his glass and said, "As you know, a lot happened to me last year."

I decided to reveal myself and step into the world as the new Superman; I defeated Mongo and overthrew the alien regime that had ruled the world for six years; then came the clone Superman, and we even faced the apocalypse—the most powerful and invincible opponent I had ever faced. For me, it all happened so much, and so fast, it was like life had suddenly turned upside down.

He stared at the wine glass, seemingly lost in thought.

"...I've never been sure if I could play the role of the new Superman well. Even now, I still feel like a headless fly, flying around in the fog. Now that the real Superman is back, I can't help but ask myself, does this world still need me?" The new Superman? Am I really superfluous in this world? If I stop now, what will I do next? I can't integrate into society, can't be a part of it, and I don't seem interested in the things people pursue their whole lives: wealth and power.

I've thought about this for a long time, and the conclusion I've come to is that the question I care about is: "What do I really want? Now that I'm here in this world, what place should I occupy?"

Kara smiled slightly: "This is something you inevitably have to go through, Xu Fu, we all go through it. During (Wang Hao) Carl's growth, when I first came to Earth, we were all just as confused as you are. Now you may think that Superman's place in the world belongs to Carl, but that wasn't the case at first. Before the world acknowledged Superman's existence, he was lost for a long time, not understanding what it meant for him to belong to this world, but eventually he found what he truly needed, and now he has made up his mind."

"Carla is absolutely right. Mom and I have always believed you have a bright future. We both believe you will find the right path for yourself. You just need to know that no matter which path you choose, Mom and I will always support you."

"Thank you." Xu Fu smiled gratefully and brought the wine glass to his lips. "I guess this is my New Year's wish."

The bright moon outside the window illuminated the fluffy snow on the windowsill, making it appear white, while the warm yellow light inside the room gave the snow a golden hue, as if it were melting the snow into water.

Chapter 1737 Courtesy

Supernatural Bureau Headquarters.

On Christmas Day, most of the lights in the Super Investigations Unit's office were turned off, plunging half the large room into darkness. Even these elite agents had families; perhaps a baby was waiting for its father's return, or a wife had roasted a turkey, eagerly anticipating his arrival. Christmas was a sacred holiday, and even someone like Amanda Waller would make an exception and allow her subordinates three days to enjoy time with their families. Of course, the only rule was that they must be on standby at all times, just in case.

However, not everyone will accept this kind of treatment from their boss.

As Cisco Raymond packed his last belongings to leave, his respectable partner was still working tirelessly at his computer. He knew Helena was still busy searching for the Knights; that girl was such a tireless, meticulous machine that she wouldn't allow herself a day off, even on Christmas.

As Cisco greeted her before leaving, she merely responded with a sniff, her eyes still glued to the computer screen. Cisco hesitated for a long time, secretly thinking that after so much time together, he and this eccentric partner must barely know each other. Finally, he couldn't help but blurt out, "You know, you could... take a day or two off? Go visit relatives or something? You know their Christmas traditions, right?"

“Yes, I’m not alien 063.” Helena turned her head, unusually, and looked back at him expressionlessly. “But I still have a lot of work to do. I’ve found a lead on the leader of the Knights, and maybe soon I’ll know who he is and where he comes from. These fanatics don’t seem to be celebrating Christmas, and while you’re all rushing home, someone has to keep working.”

“Okay. Maybe I shouldn’t say this, but…” Cisco rubbed his nose: “…Where’s your family? Isn’t anyone waiting for you to come back?”

“Our family…but Christmas.”

“Who doesn’t spend Christmas at home?” Cisco feigned confusion. He thought for a moment, then asked, “So maybe… your family won’t miss Christmas because you’re not home?”

Maybe

Helena was silent for a moment, and the image of a certain old bat involuntarily surfaced in her mind. Wrinkles unconsciously appeared on that chiseled face in her memory, and black sideburns quietly crept into her silver-white hair.

Even a man as great as his father couldn't escape aging. As he grew older, his reflexes dulled, his brilliant mind rusted, until it could no longer function. Perhaps one day, his reflexes would prove too weak to dodge a stupid bullet in an alley, and he would find himself in a dark corner of Gotham City.

How many more Christmases does he have left to live?

Seeing that she didn't reply for a long time, Cisco thought he had upset her, even though she usually seemed unhappy. He sighed softly and said, "I was being nosy. If you don't mind, I have to go. See you after the holiday."

After Cisco left, Helena sat in front of the computer for a while longer. Finally, she made a decision, quickly saved and closed the current editing interface, skillfully shut down the computer, and got up from her workstation.

Cisco is right, the huntress will be back for Christmas this year too.

Wayne House in Gotham City

For six long years, the Dark Knight's Christmas had been nothing more than a gloomy metropolis covered in frost, with colorful wreaths hanging between buildings and Christmas carols echoing from house to house in the dark, filthy streets. But none of this bothered him; of the two inhabitants of Wayne Manor, one flew over the snow-covered rooftops, while the other meticulously prepared a steaming Christmas feast, watching them meet their fate in the cold.

Batman was used to it, and Alfred was no exception. So when the Batmobile hummed back into the cave after the clock struck midnight, the old butler silently shoved the tray of food back into the oven and watched his master enjoy his rest after a busy night.

However, the Dark Knight never imagined he would meet someone like this on Christmas Day.

The Batmobile rumbled past the waterfall at the cave entrance, sped through the blue-glowing circular tunnel, and braked sharply at the entrance.

Batman thought he was very familiar with the cave, but now he could hardly recognize his own territory. This place was somehow...too bright; it didn't look like a Batcave.

Red toys, colorful wreaths, and fairy lights illuminated most of the dark corners of the cave, forcing the poor pterosaurs living in darkness to give way to the light and retreat to deeper, darker corners of the cave. Almost every platform in the cave had a dark green Christmas tree, adorned with colorful lights and decorations.