In the quaint Kent family farmhouse in Kansas, Jonathan and Martha Kent sat alongside the Danvers couple, their expressions heavy with concern. They weren't on the secluded Savage Island where they'd been staying recently; instead, they had returned to Smallville, seeking the comfort of home.
However, that comfort was shattered as the ominous warning sent by the Eye of the Sky to the Avengers was now playing on television. Both families were now painfully aware that Robert had been declared a globally wanted fugitive by the authorities.
Even though both families knew how powerful Robert was, they couldn't help but feel anxious. Previously, Robert and the Avengers had the support of public opinion. Now, that support was gone, and they were quickly becoming the world's most hated enemies.
"Robert won't be in danger, right? His identity's been exposed, and a lot of people will be after us now," Mr. Danvers said worriedly. "Maybe we should head back to Savage Island? The environment there isn't bad, and it's much safer."
"Indeed," Jonathan Kent agreed with a sigh. "If we stay here, we'll likely attract the attention of people with bad intentions, and that would only make things harder for Robert and the others. While we came back because this is home, we don't have much of a social circle here anymore, nor any close friends. There's really no reason for us to stay."
"Yes, if our presence here puts Robert and the Avengers at risk, it's better for us to return to Savage Island," Martha added, her tone resolute.
The families had left the island mainly due to the isolation. While the advanced AI Jor-El had connected the island to the internet, it wasn't enough to compensate for the lack of human interaction. Being cut off from others—even strangers—made the families feel lonely. That was why they had returned to Smallville in the first place.
But now that remaining here posed a danger to their children, the Kent and Danvers families had no intention of staying. They didn't want to add to Robert's burdens.
"You've already heard?" Robert's voice suddenly sounded as he materialized inside the farmhouse. "Looks like this wasn't a warning—it was meant to provoke me directly."
Despite the fury and killing intent raging in Robert's heart, he hadn't acted impulsively. Instead, he prioritized his family's safety. He knew he couldn't act freely until Jonathan, Martha, and the Danvers family were secure.
Outside, Kara also appeared, joining Robert. "There are already people gathering around the farm," she said, her expression tense.
"They've been preparing this for a while," Robert replied, shaking his head with a cold smile. "Some have already taken their positions, waiting for the crowd to arrive. They're hoping to use the presence of ordinary people to pressure us into submission. Do they really think such tricks will work against me?"
"Robert, if possible, try not to shed too much blood," Jonathan said with concern, looking his son in the eyes. "Most of these people aren't evil. They're just being misled and manipulated. Please, don't harm them unnecessarily."
"I'll spare the innocent," Robert replied seriously. "But as for those who were sent here with malicious intent, especially those with extraordinary abilities, I won't show any mercy."
"We don't know much about extraordinary powers," Martha chimed in gently. "But if it's someone from the town—someone we know—please, don't hurt them if you can avoid it."
This was precisely the insidious nature of the officials' plan. Even though Jonathan and Martha were aware of the danger, they were kind-hearted people. The thought of Robert harming their neighbors—people they'd known for years—was unbearable to them.
The officials likely knew the Kent family's character very well by now. They'd probably analyzed years of data on their behavior and relationships. If the Kents or Danvers had close friends or confidants, the officials would have already tried to manipulate them.
"Don't worry, Martha. I'm not a bloodthirsty person," Robert reassured her. His voice was calm, but his eyes burned with determination. If the situation escalated, he might not harm the innocent directly—but that didn't mean he was without means to deal with them.
With a sudden whoosh, Robert disappeared from the farmhouse. Kara hesitated for a moment but chose to stay with Alex, helping to comfort and protect the family while Robert handled the situation outside.
Meanwhile, about two kilometers from the Kent farm, a man in camouflage crouched in the brush, speaking into his comms device.
"Calling command! Most of the townsfolk haven't left their homes. A small group is on their way to the Kent farm, led by our operatives. Awaiting further instructions."
"Proceed with the current plan," came the reply. "Let the townsfolk attempt to persuade the Kents first. If that fails, avoid direct action against the Kents for now. We have alternative plans in place."
"Understood," the man responded eagerly. Watching the approaching crowd, he felt a surge of excitement. He didn't know much about Robert or why this particular Avenger had drawn such attention, but the chance to participate in a mission targeting a member of the Avengers thrilled him.
"Everyone, get ready," the man ordered through his comms, preparing his team to act once the crowd reached the farm.
But before he could say another word, a soft pfft sound reached his ears. A split second later, his consciousness faded entirely.
At the same time, the nearby energy detectors began to register unusual activity. However, before anyone could react, every operative hidden in the area—whether they were trained agents or individuals with extraordinary abilities—was killed instantly. Blood soaked the ground as their lifeless bodies collapsed.
Even among the approaching crowd of Smallville residents, those leading the group—agents planted by the officials—suddenly exploded into fragments, leaving the ordinary townsfolk unharmed but covered in blood. Panic broke out as the remaining townsfolk scattered, horrified to discover that none of their familiar neighbors had died, but all the outsiders who had been subtly steering them were now gone.
For Robert, identifying the infiltrators was trivial. Even without Jarvis's assistance, he could sense the differences in their energy. Eliminating them was a task that took him less than a second.
"What the hell just happened?!" Back at the command center, chaos erupted as the operators realized that every single one of their field agents had been wiped out.
"Was it Robert? Is he retaliating already? Doesn't he care about the safety of his family? How can he act so recklessly?"
"Doesn't he fear being condemned by the entire world? How can he dare to do this?"
Before their panicked shouts could subside, Robert appeared directly in their midst. His figure materialized like a specter, his presence sending shivers down their spines.
"I'm glad you asked," Robert said, his voice cold and calm. "First, I don't fear your condemnation. Second, you won't live long enough to see how the world reacts—because the time for slaughter has arrived."
"Y-You're Robert!"
"The Saiyan!"
"You can't do this! You're defying the entire world!"
Pfft!
Pfft!
Pfft!
Before they could finish their protests, their bodies exploded one by one. Robert didn't even bother using energy attacks; his mere gaze was enough to end them. The carnage was swift and absolute—no bodies remained intact.
"You've spent so much time scheming, trying to gain control," Robert said, addressing the few who were still alive, trembling on the floor. "But it seems you didn't gather enough intelligence on me."
He stepped closer, his gaze piercing through them like a blade. "If you'd done your homework, you'd know one simple fact: I don't bother with people who don't provoke me. But for those who do? Even if they were a ruler of hell, I wouldn't hesitate to destroy them. What made you think you could withstand my wrath?"
"You—You!" They stammered, their faces pale with terror.
"Are you wondering why I haven't killed you yet?" Robert asked with a sinister smile. "It's simple. I know you're just pawns. The real masterminds are still out there. Don't worry; Jarvis has already blocked all signals from this location. No one knows what's happening here. Tell me who they are, and I'll…"
"Let us go?" one of them asked, hope flickering in their eyes.
"No," Robert replied, his smile vanishing. "I'll give you a quick death. Otherwise, you'll wish you could die."
Their hopes shattered instantly. One by one, they began screaming in agony as Robert subjected them to torment unlike anything they had ever experienced. Their cries filled the air, turning the command center into a scene straight out of hell.
Eventually, the names of their superiors were extracted, and Robert kept his word, granting them swift deaths. He even buried their remains, along with the entire command center.
In a distant, hidden chamber, a man seated in front of a monitor spoke telepathically with his superior.
"Master, the plan has failed. The Saiyan hasn't been restrained at all. In fact, as I predicted, he's begun a massacre."
"Then it's time," the voice replied, cold and crazed. "Deploy the ultimate weapon. For years, humanity has lagged behind these monsters in terms
of extraordinary abilities. But in the realm of technology, we've caught up. With Earth more resilient than ever, we no longer need to fear mutual destruction."
"Yes, Master," the man responded obediently. Ending the telepathic connection, he addressed the others in the chamber.
"I've received new intelligence," he said gravely. "The Saiyan has gone berserk, killing the command team. He'll likely come for us next. We must act immediately."
"Even though this is a remote meeting, it doesn't mean the Saiyan can't find us…"
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