"Yes, that's why I said it was a special situation in a special historical period. No one can completely replicate it, I was just giving an example."
"Then this analogy isn't appropriate." Injustice Batman thought he had caught a flaw in Clark's words, but he was stunned by what Clark said next.
"Yes, I think I did better than them." Clark said, looking into Injustice Batman's eyes, "I help people, protect them, and make their lives better. So I can proudly stand here and say, Earth's present has my contribution."
"When you talk about part of the human race, it inevitably involves Clark Kent. You can classify racially away from humans, but you can't erase from human history."
Injustice Batman stared into Clark's eyes for a long ti. He realized this might be the only Superman among the multiverse, troubled by questions of his own existence, who had truly seen through the truth.
The human lifeti is short, but human history is long. When stretching the tiline from months, years, to hundreds, thousands of years, or even retracing back to primitive society thousands upon thousands of years ago, one can take a different perspective on their own existence. This is what is ant by "learning from history."
When a person dies, a clan goes extinct, a country is destroyed, all they had at that ti becos aningless. For future generations, their existence only ans one word—history.
History is the end of all things. Whether people of the past or present, one day they will beco history. Planets will beco history, star systems will beco history, even the cosmos will eventually beco history.
Krypton has already beco history. But in Krypton's history, there is no na of Carl Ai'er, and never will be.
What did his birth there an? What was he supposed to leave behind? Would the traces he left impact the outco? These questions ceased to exist with Krypton's destruction. Because in the coffin where conclusions are reached, there was never an inscription of that tiny infant.
On the contrary, the na of Superman is destined to be alongside human history. Arica may be destroyed, human civilization may vanish, and Earth will one day completely disappear in the vast cosmos. But as long as history remains, it will surely record the na of Clark Kent.
This is a fact that neither Kryptonians, humans, nor Clark Kent himself can alter, a known, predetermined conclusion.
The only changeable aspect is what kind of figure he will appear as in history. He can be a hero or a villain; a kind guardian or a tyrannical ruler.
But regardless of the image, it makes no difference from others in history like him. Human history has never had niche paths, both saints and tyrants are abundant.
Clark Kent's unique origin, whether he is renowned or obscure, whether his virtue is widely spread or his reputation infamous, cannot change the conclusion that he will be categorized as a certain kind of human.
He doesn't need to investigate, doesn't need to do more, or even prove anything. The outco has long been predetermined.
Sadly, too many Supern fail to see this, overly concerned with people's perceptions of him, never thinking that the "existence" he has been tirelessly searching for and the ho to accommodate this existence have long been clearly written on the last page of history books.
At this mont, Injustice Batman realized why Clark in this universe could coexist peacefully with Lex.
Because they both realized that no matter what they do, it cannot change the fact that Clark Kent's Kryptonian na will forever cling to human history like a ghost.
But Injustice Batman still spoke, "People live in the present. If you have the ability to bring suffering to humanity, who can guarantee that you won't do so?"
"You still don't understand what I'm saying." Clark looked up from his phone and said, "My relationship with humanity is already unchangeable. Even if Earth were destroyed, the aliens would still say: 'Look, that's the last Earthling, Clark Kent.'
"The destruction of Krypton led to Earth, if Earth is destroyed, I'll have to wander to the next planet. Do you think repeatedly experiencing that process is a good thing?"
Injustice Batman pressed his lips together. He clearly knew it wasn't. Being forced to integrate into a group but not being accepted was very painful, just like the example Clark had ntioned earlier.
The life in the Kansas State farm left a kind and gentle side in Clark's personality, making it impossible for him to completely fall, at least never becoming the kind of lone wolf who doesn't need anyone's concern or care about others' opinions.
He needs society, he needs people, needs to have friends, companions, or supporters. The craving for recognition is never satisfied.
Therefore, when driven to extre sadness and anger, he chose to rule the Earth instead of destroying it.
Because if Earth is gone, all of the above are also gone. He would beco that baby who was stuffed into a spaceship and hastily thrown out again, with no family or friends, alone, in endless solitude and wandering, searching for proof of his existence through past shadows, like an abandoned dog.
If Superman doesn't destroy Earth, then the fundantal conflict between Clark Kent and Lex Luther doesn't exist.
Luther's underlying logic to deal with Superman is that he feels Superman's existence threatens humanity.
If Superman protects Earth to uphold justice, Luther would feel he is a threat, because justice is a slogan, unreliable. He can be just today, and evil tomorrow. As a capitalist, Luther knows this all too well.
But if Superman is protecting Earth for his own benefit, it is more acceptable to Luther. Slogans are nothingness, benefits are reality. As long as Superman and Earth have mutual interests, then Superman is an ally of humanity.
Humans need Superman, and Superman also needs humans. Mutually needed interests form the most solid alliance, more direct and reliable than any sentintal slogan.
This ought to be the most perfect way to coexist, and seemingly not difficult to achieve. But unfortunately, the vast majority of universes fail to do so.
At its core, although one might call it a coincidence, the main reason is, expecting everyone to remain rational and sit down to talk at all tis and genuinely communicate peacefully to the end is unrealistic. Batman never entertains such idealistic assumptions.
So he was even more curious, what made this young Clark so thoroughly understand this point? And what allowed Lex Luther to have the patience to listen to his ideas?
User Comments
0 comments from readers