Chapter 37: Despicable Earthlings
To be honest, this idea originally came from Batman.
This was one of the hundred countermeasures Batman had researched for dealing with Kryptonians. It was well-known that every Kryptonian went through an excruciatingly painful experience when their Super Senses first awakened. Because they couldn't effectively control their eyes and ears, which had no sensory limits, their nerves could easily be overloaded.
That was why Batman developed this move. He had specifically researched a certain frequency of sound waves that had a super-multiplied effect on Kryptonians, dealing ten thousand tons of mental damage through their keen hearing.
Against a well-trained Kryptonian like the later-stage Superman, who could control his Super Hearing at will, it would only cause some negative effects like headaches and discomfort. But for a newcomer, a Kryptonian not yet proficient in controlling their hearing, it could even cause them to shut down on the spot and faint.
It wasn't that Orin Vale intentionally wanted to plagiarize the Old Master's idea; it was because he found this move genuinely useful. Besides, when it came to who had the most methods for countering Kryptonians, if the Old Master claimed second, probably only a certain Baldy entrepreneur from Metropolis would dare to claim first.
In truth, just knowing the theory was useless. After all, the original work would never explain in scientific detail how to create such a sound wave weapon.
Fortunately, Orin Vale now had a living, breathing, developing Kryptonian at home to help him. Kara's Super Hearing had just awakened in the past couple of days, and she could only barely hear sounds from about a street away. It was far from the terrifying, globe-spanning hearing she would have when fully developed, so the ultrasonic waves didn't affect her much. At most, they just made her feel it was very noisy.
However, with her patient help, Orin Vale successfully found the corresponding frequency. This was his first chance to test it in actual combat.
It seemed to be working well.
Watox, as an alternative Superman, also possessed Super Hearing similar to a Kryptonian's. Caught completely off guard, the ultrasonic wave struck home and delivered a critical hit.
To the clueless onlookers, it probably looked like the two of them were on the same side, and that Orin Vale was probably some kind of high-ranking superior. Otherwise, why would the other guy use super speed to flash over just to grovel?
Watox's head was splitting, and he felt like his entire body was about to break apart.
Seriously, are the people of this planet all this despicable? Starting a fight with such dirty tricks right off the bat?
The next moment, Orin Vale's fist had already landed on his face.
The super strength of his Human Host, augmented by the battlesuit's power, resulted in a formidable punch strong enough to pierce heavy armor. He unleashed a classic hook-swing combo, a combination punch that hammered fiercely against the Strong Man's head.
A series of super high-speed combos. The combined output of the Human Host's own super arm strength and the battlesuit's power, driven by light energy, dealt double damage.
Watox, dizzy and seeing stars, staggered back two steps. The moment he regained his footing, he was met with a blinding glare. Orin Vale spread his five fingers, his palm aimed directly at Watox's face. A light energy burst, a cannon blast straight to the face.
The energy cannon's impact exploded on his face. Watox's entire body was thrown sideways, kicking up an exaggerated cloud of dust with a deafening boom.
A few seconds later, however, the battle-axe came spinning out of the dust cloud toward Orin Vale. Orin Vale sidestepped at extreme speed to dodge, but the axe still scraped against his battlesuit, creating a shower of sparks and carving a crack into it before flying back into Watox's hand like a boomerang.
The Strong Man's figure burst from the smoke screen, roaring as he brandished his axe and charged forward in a rage.
The light energy cannon had dealt damage, but it didn't seem to have seriously injured him. And to still have the strength to charge through the ultrasonic wave... one could only say his base stats were truly exceptional.
It was possible he had mastered his Super Senses to the level of Superman's proficiency—that couldn't be ruled out—but Orin Vale leaned toward a second possibility.
That Watox, as a low-spec Superman, also had senses that were far inferior to a Kryptonian's, so the effect of the sound waves was somewhat diminished.
If sound isn't very effective...
Orin Vale once again raised his palm cannon, aiming in the direction of his opponent's charge.
Seeing his move, Watox sneered inwardly.
He had just taken a blast from that weapon, so he knew what to expect. The energy blast from that exoskeleton was indeed far stronger than other human firearms and could cause him pain, but it was still bearable.
So, as long as he endured one more blast, he could use the opportunity to close the distance, tear this abominable battlesuit to fragments, and then grind the guy inside to dust to appease his hatred...
FxCK!
The next second, Watox roared in his mind.
It was completely beyond his expectations.
What shot from the battlesuit's palm this time wasn't some kind of energy bombardment, but light.
Pure light, like the sun itself, a flash so brilliant it could blind 24K titanium alloy eyes.
A flashbang!
This was only natural. Since the Old Master had developed a weapon targeting hearing, it was a given that he would have one for vision as well.
This was actually much more difficult than the hearing weapon. A Kryptonian's eyes were incredibly overpowered; not only could they see for miles and came with built-in all-map vision, but they could also freely switch between almost all known frequencies on the spectrum. Of course, a normal flashbang would have no effect on their eyes.
But this was no challenge for Batman, who had a collection of black technology from all over the universe. After in-depth research on a certain boy scout Kryptonian who wore his underwear on the outside, he actually managed to develop a Kryptonian-exclusive version. It also had a super-multiplied effect on Kryptonians who weren't proficient in controlling their Super Vision.
Replicating this part was far more difficult than the sound wave weapon; it was pure black technology.
Fortunately, having spent five thousand years in the Land of Light, Orin Vale was confident in his knowledge of optics, if not other technologies. Plus, with a developing little Kryptonian at home voluntarily acting as his test subject, he had also successfully replicated the flash specialized for Super Vision.
Just like now.
Blinded by the flash, Watox's vision instantly went black. He immediately felt dizzy and unsteady. His charging figure faltered, his knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, skidding across the surface due to inertia...
Another sliding kneel. He came to a stop, head bowed respectfully, kneeling before Orin Vale.
An encore.
Watox's vision was pitch black from the flash, his ears roared as if ten thousand excavators were running at once, and his head felt like it was on the verge of exploding.
His state of mind was much the same—a powder keg about to be lit.
What kind of unholy weapon was this?
Seriously, do all you Earthlings fight like this? Where did you get such a demonic thing to torture me with?
Do you even dare to have a proper fight?
The thrusters on Orin Vale's feet activated. He launched himself into the air with a spin, delivering a flying kick that connected with Watox's jaw. The kick, boosted by the battlesuit's propulsion, sent Watox flying sideways once again.
As Orin Vale landed with a somersault, a miniature launcher popped out from his shoulder. A missile was mounted, its ignition firing.
Specium Bullet, fire!
The small bullet shrieked through the air, trailing a thick, burning smoke screen. It scored a direct hit mid-air, exploding into brilliant fireworks in the sky, to the absolute shock of everyone present.
(end of chapter)