Chapter 125: Return


    AN: Sorry for the dy. I caught the flustst week then got hospitalizedst week due to some problems with my throat. Apparently if it wasn''t prevented, I would have to breath through a tube on my neck. It''s all good now though.


    I''ll see if I can do another chapterter.


    That''s all. Enjoy!


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    <strong>Chapter 125: Return</strong>


    <span style="font-weight:400">Watchtower.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin and Lucas returned and exined the situation to Kal-El without hiding any details.


    <span style="font-weight:400">On the way, the two discussed that it was better to just rip the band-aid off and tell Kal-El the details without dragging their words.


    <span style="font-weight:400">As a result, Kal-El, who was surrounded by people of the same race as his and had rxed, was dumbfounded.


    <span style="font-weight:400">rk, Kara, and Karen facepalmed and sighed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Can’t they at least soften the blow or something…


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kal-El, who was still dumbfounded, had a lot of questions.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin and Lucas answered each of them patiently.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Lucas even showed him a projection of that world where the reincarnated Kal-El was happily chatting amongst friends.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Seeing that his recement was living a happy carefree life while remembering all the suffering and torment he had to go through for years made Kal-El feel angry.


    <span style="font-weight:400">How was this fair!?


    <span style="font-weight:400">That was supposed to be my life!


    <span style="font-weight:400">Why did this have to happen to me!?


    <span style="font-weight:400">All sorts of questions spiraled in his head. His breathing became hoarse and his heart beat loudly. So loud that he felt it drowned out all the noise around him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">It felt as if walls were closing in on him, suffocating him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Suddenly, he heard a soft chime.


    <span style="font-weight:400">All that anger and rage disappeared. However, it wasn’t like it was just gone like it was never there.


    <span style="font-weight:400">It was still there. He could still feel angry.


    <span style="font-weight:400">But his thoughts were now clear and the walls that started to close in on him began to crumble.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He looked up and saw Benjamin holding a bell.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin lifted his hand and ced it on his shoulder.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I know you’re angry and you have every right to be. But at times like this, you must not sight of yourself. If you do, it will only get much worse. Your life may no longer be what it was supposed to be, but think of it this way.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin smiled.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“From now on, every choice you make. Every decision. Every path. It’s all up to you to decide. You don’t have to be rk Kent like most Kal-Els in the multiverse. You don’t have to be Superman. Heck, if you want, it’s fine if you don’t be Kal-El. You can just be…well, you.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Lucas nodded.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“And you also have us. Whatever you decide to be, we’re all here for it.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kal-El was silent.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...What if I decide to end the universe?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Go ahead. But just so you know, we’ll stop you.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Superman grinned.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Because we’re also following our own path. If your path crosses ours, we’ll stop you.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Karen also added.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t get it wrong. We said we’re here to support you, but we won’t hold your hand all the way. If you want to walk your own path, then stand on your own two feet and walk. Whatever path it is, you’re responsible for the consequences of your own actions.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kal-El smiled.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He sighed and looked back at the disy showing the smiling Kal-El who had reced him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Can I…meet him?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin and Lucas exchanged looks.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The two nodded.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Sure. Don’t worry, if it bes a fight, we’ll take you away.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Lucas turned to Benjamin.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, you better note. Two System holders meeting is already a rare urrence and so far, nothing happened. But we can’t really be sure what would happen if three were to meet in the same universe. Besides, I can already feel this universe rejecting you. I’m only holding it back. Once I leave, you’ll be expelled forcefully.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...How convenient.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...Was that a 4th wall break?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...”


    <span style="font-weight:400">In any case, it was time to head back anyway.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Thinking that, Benjamin called back Gamora, Groot, and Rocket who went somewhere.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Soon, they arrived.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Seeing them, Benjamin was surprised.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Gamora now had a brace on both arms simr to Wonder Woman and a goldensso tied to her waist.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“This…?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Wonder Woman answered.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“The Lasso of Truth. Or well, a replica that Lucas made. It’s only slightly weaker than the original.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I see…”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin then turned to Rocket.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He was wearing some kind of tech on his head and was carrying a bunch of weapons.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rocket grinned.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Souvenirs from Gori City! Man, you cannot believe how high-tech it is for a city full of apes!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin looked at sh.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Did he get permission to get those or did he steal them?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Uhh, it’s fine. Grodd gave it to him.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hey! What do you take me for!? A petty thief!?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rocket shouted.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin just nced at him with half-closed eyes.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Well…aren’t you?


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin ignored him and turned to Groot.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Umm…this guy seemed to have…grown? There’s also more leaves on him now.


    <span style="font-weight:400">If the Groot before was a bald tree, he was now considered full of hair…or rather, leaves…


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I am Groot.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Beside Groot, ady with slight greenish skin and red hair smiled.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“He said it''s the result of his training. I taught him some mixtures of concoction suitable for nt growth and strengthening. Oh, Swampy also taught it how to ess the Green. I’m not sure if it will be of use back in your universe.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ivy, can you stop calling me Swampy…”


    <span style="font-weight:400">A huge green figure sighed beside them.


    <span style="font-weight:400">These must me…Poison Ivy and Swamp Thing?’


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin was surprised.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Did these three…just upgrade?


    <span style="font-weight:400">They all got some sort of power up…


    <span style="font-weight:400">Meanwhile, he…


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rocket looked at Benjamin and the various souvenir bags by his feet.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He looked at Benjamin weirdly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Did you just go to an amusement park or something?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Uhh…yeah?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I also rode a rollercoaster that sped close to the speed of light?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...Are you an idiot? Doesn’t that mean that the ride is over in a single second? Is that supposed to be fun?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...”


    <span style="font-weight:400">That seemed to be true…


    <span style="font-weight:400">Gamora looked around and nodded.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Good, you didn’t bring back any girls. My mission isplete.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin was speechless.


    <span style="font-weight:400">After a while, the group said their goodbyes and Benjamin opened a portal back to his home universe.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Gamora, Groot, and Rocket went back into the Soul Stone as well in order to prevent any idents from happening during the travel.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Just as Benjamin was about to return, Kal-El called out to him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ben.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hm?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...Thank you.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin grinned.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It’s fine. If fate wills it, we’ll meet again.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin turned as he waved goodbye.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Goodbye DC Universe!


    <span style="font-weight:400">As soon as he went through the portal, he saw a green sky and the familiar city of New York.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ah…it’s so good to be home.


    <span style="font-weight:400">…Wait, green sky?


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin looked back at the sky.


    <span style="font-weight:400">…Yep, it''s green…why is it green? Did Earth get cucked? Did it be the Hulk?


    <span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin looked back at the ‘familiar’ city of New York.


    <span style="font-weight:400">There seemed to be…green banners everywhere?


    <span style="font-weight:400">There’s also a huge metal statue where the Statue of Liberty was supposed to be.


    <span style="font-weight:400">It was a figure of a man in robes with a metal mask.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Suddenly, a huge projection appeared in the skies.


    <span style="font-weight:400">It was the image of a huge metal mask.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Citizens of New York. Your heroes have fallen. Now, prepare for Doom!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...What the fu-”