Chapter 114: Preparing to Go Ho!
Show and the Superhero Craze
The ergence of Show transford the world's news landscape.
Previously, people only occasionally heard about city vigilantes on local television, often knowing nothing about their identity, purpose, or principles.
Now, it's different. Whenever a vigilante appears in any city, they're posted the very next day in Show's Superhero Feature section.
Young people enthusiastically debate the elusive, anonymous heroes who use various abilities to fight cri. So even revere them, believing they are the future of the world.
This is understandable. In an era plagued by disasters, rampant cults, and soaring cri rates, only justice-driven superheroes can provide ordinary people with any sense of security.
"Superhero" beca a hot topic, and new heroes erged:
A fisherman rescued from a shipwreck by a muscular man riding a shark posted a photo of the man leaping from the sea. The feature section gained a hero called "Shark Rider."During a robbery at a Central City convenience store, an untraceable red flash of light rushed in. Two robbers imdiately collapsed, completely stripped naked save for their tiny underpants. Central City citizens affectionately called the lightning-fast figure "Electric Boy."A sexy woman wearing a crop top and riding a golden staff dropped off a cult leader at the police station and strolled away. When the police uploaded the woman's photo to Show, "Pole Dance Girl" instantly beca famous.
Compared to burly male superheroes, people naturally prefer hot, sexy female superheroes—it's human nature.
As ti went on, similar events increased. With Luke's intentional push, the Hero Feature beca a daily must-read for young people, one of Show's key identities.
The Batman Effect
However, the growing superhero craze also brought negative consequences.
People started imitating them, wearing crude costus to fight cri in the night. The results were terrible. Drug dealers and gangsters don't care if you're the real deal—if you show up, they open fire.
Every day, young people are injured, and serious cases result in death.
This problem is most acute in Gotham City. While heroes like Superman, Electric Boy, and Shark Rider are impossible to imitate due to their superpowers, Batman is the exception.
Professional analysis of Batman's videos concluded that he is rely an ordinary person with superior combat skills. With enough effort, anyone could potentially beco the night's hunter.
Consequently, Batman's influence and fan base soared. More and more young people aid to follow his example, leading to daily injuries and deaths among youths in Gotham.
Bruce Wayne clearly realized this. To prevent the situation from escalating, he was forced to release statents advising young people to value their lives and not imitate him. The effect was minimal; young hearts aren't easily convinced.
Unable to handle the youth directly, he had to target the source.
This is why the Wayne Group is so desperately trying to buy into Show.
Luke had a rough idea of Bruce Wayne's intentions, but he would absolutely not agree to it, even if the man's motives were good.
Show occupies a crucial position in Luke's future plans and is an essential piece of the puzzle. It cannot fall into the hands of others.
Financing is fine; control is not!
A ssage for Linda
After several busy days, the backlog of work was finally processed. It was ti to go ho.
Luke returned to his residence. While organizing his belongings, he spoke to the Kryptonian girl lounging on the sofa.
"Your current state is nothing but eating and more eating. If you keep this up, you'll beco useless."
Linda glanced over but didn't speak, scrolling through channels with the remote, unsure what to watch.
Luke walked up to her and suggested,
"Maybe you should set a life goal for yourself."
"A goal?"
The girl grimaced dismissively. "Like my cousin, wearing a cape and fighting cri? Don't make laugh. I'm Kryptonian. What do the squabbles of Earthlings have to do with ?"
"Theoretically, nothing, but don't forget, you're living on Earth now." He paused, then added, "And you're staying in my house."
"Do you want to pay rent?"
"No, I don't."
Luke took off his shirt and put on a T-shirt. "I'm a generous person. I don't care about a little money. By the way, I need to tell you sothing: I'm going ho to Coast City. I might be gone for a while. I'm trusting you with the house while I'm away."
At this, the girl imdiately beca alert.
"You're going back?"
"Yes."
"Why are you going back?"
Luke threw his hands up, exasperated. "Do I need a reason to go ho?"
The girl was speechless. He's right; you don't need a reason to go ho.
Luke went into the basent and erged wearing the Phantom Armor. He decided to fly from tropolis to Coast City tonight, experiencing the majesty of soaring through the sky while simultaneously testing the armor's performance.
Seeing Luke shoulder his backpack and prepare for launch, Linda finally couldn't sit still. She said hesitantly,
"Um, can I go back with you? If you leave, I'll be too bored alone."
"I'm afraid not. My grandfather has arranged a marriage for . If you co back with , he might get angry."
Linda's mouth dropped open. "M-marriage? How old are you? And you want to get married?"
Luke shrugged. "It's the old man's plan; I can't help it. Anyway, you stay here, protect the items in the basent, and don't let anyone steal them."
With that, he leaped into the air. Blue flas shot out from his palms and soles. Driven by the powerful thrust, he ascended directly into the sky.
"Ava!"
"Yes, Young Master!"
"Activate Artificial Intelligence Auxiliary Program!"
"Adjust Internal Structure!"
"Engage Energy Field!"
The armor began to retract, transforming into a streamlined shape for minimal drag. An invisible force field enveloped his body, greatly reducing air resistance.
"Full speed flight!"
BANG!
The air fractured with a sonic boom. The Phantom Armor beca a streak of light, rocketing through the clouds at extre velocity.
The fierce wind whistled in his ears. The familiar ground turned into specks of starlight. Luke, tearing through the clouds, couldn't help but cheer.
The feeling of flying is so unbelievably aweso!
Free and unhindered, soaring into the sky, gliding like a bird above the world—it was exhilarating.
Luke cut the power. The armor went into a freefall. Its speed increased rapidly. The surface even began to glow red—the thermal energy generated by the machine's friction with the atmosphere.
The Phantom Armor plumted from the sky like a teor.
Support on Patreon: /c/MistaQuartz
Explore up to 20 chapters in advance!
Reviews
All reviews (0)