WebNovels

Chapter 20 - CHAPTER – 20

Tens of thousands of meters above the earth, in the thinning stratosphere,

a black shadow streaked faster than sound, leaving a pure, straight trail beneath the stars.

"Oooooooh!!!"

Henry spread his arms wide, embracing the silence and cold of near-vacuum.

Below, the city lights blended into a painting of scattered sparks.

The sense of loneliness and freedom, as if separated from the world and flying alone through space, filled him with exhilarated joy.

"This is way better than Tony's tin can!" he yelled into the comm channel, voice raw with excitement.

"No whining mechanical noises, no stuffy cockpit. Every pore feels the universe's breath. A 360-degree sunroof and infinite legroom, Jarvis, did you hear that? When we rebuild, I want an open-air helipad on the villa. That's my new way out!"

"I hear you, sir," replied Jarvis, ever steady.

"Also, I must report: your top speed has reached Mach 1.5 and is climbing. At this rate, you'll cross California and reach Nevada in exactly one minute and forty-two seconds."

"Only Mach 1.5? Still too slow." Henry scoffed.

"I thought I could chase the light. But—actually—"

Even as he flew, old scientific questions hovered in his mind.

"Jarvis, does this feel kind of strange?"

"What do you mean, sir? You're flying in armor at supersonic speeds without setting it ablaze from friction?"

"That's just composite titanium alloy, mind you! But I'm wearing armor. Here's the thing—flying this fast should make massive sonic booms and shock waves, right? Like a jet breaking the sound barrier over a city—should shatter glass, set off alarms. But look, nothing! No sound, no splash, nothing. The laws of physics aren't adding up."

Indeed, if someone flew at supersonic speeds, there would be deafening noise—a sonic boom, a visible shockwave.

Yet Henry found himself gliding across the sky as if even the air ignored him.

To test, Henry dropped altitude over a peacefully sleeping town, sweeping past glowing windows. Nothing stirred—not even a dog barked.

"See? Not even a yawn from the locals. This is weird. Maybe I've got a noise-canceling superpower? Am I some kind of eco-friendly Superman—no pollution, no fuss?"

"Sir, your hypothesis merits deeper study." Jarvis's voice, though robotic, held genuine curiosity.

"Allow me to use the highest precision sensors on your armor for analysis of the energy field around your body."

"Scan away. Just don't make me strip out here, Jarvis. This thing is a pain to put on."

Henry twisted and performed complex aerial maneuvers, reveling in his sense of freedom.

A few minutes later, there was a hint of awe in Jarvis's response:

"Scan complete, and your theory is correct in a most ingenious way."

"Oh? Maybe I have a hidden aura? That classic kingly presence that makes villains bow and beg for mercy?"

Henry joked, then shook the idea away.

"Not exactly, sir," Jarvis replied.

"Data reveals a truly unique energy field. It is neither electromagnetic nor gravitational—but seems to be a biological force interacting on a dimensional level."

A holographic projection appeared before Henry, showing a near-transparent sheath enveloping his outline.

"This field subtly interacts with the surrounding space, distorting air flow on a microscopic scale, offsetting resistance and generating buoyancy—likely the true reason you can fly."

"Crucially, this field forms a sheath around you at high speed, containing shockwaves and kinetic energy, dispersing them in ways modern science cannot yet explain."

"In short," Jarvis concluded,

"think of it as an invisible skin: perfect aerodynamic design, acting as propulsion, shock absorber, and silencer. It lets you fly supersonic with ease, as if moving through vacuum."

Henry hovered under the cold stars, quiet and thoughtful.

Gradually, the realization hit.

"Holy—Is this Superman's bio-force field?"

He remembered reading comic book lore: Superman's flight, bomb-proof toughness, and ability to soar with humans unharmed—explained by a unique force field.

Maybe he really was living the legend.

He glanced at his sleek black armor, then up at the glowing moon.

Everything felt fantastical.

Should he wear his underwear outside and rescue people for fun?

No. Definitely not his thing.

"Jarvis, quick check—can my eyes shoot heat rays? If I breathe on clouds, do I freeze them? And is my only poison a glowing green rock from my birthplace?"

Henry made silly faces at the moon and puffed into the wind—nothing happened.

"Sir, scans show no abnormal energy emissions from your eyes or breath—only standard airflow. As for allergies to rare green minerals, I can't determine a sensitivity without a sample."

"Figures." Henry sighed, disappointed.

"Just a neutered Superman. Strong, fast, and armored, but with a bio-field and no cool party tricks."

He adjusted course, flying back toward Malibu's moonlit shore.

"Well, it's neutered Superman, but better than nothing. No need for cars, fuel, or maintenance."

He smiled.

The world was getting more interesting by the day.

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