Chapter 22: Divulge the Plan

Damian stood tall and firm in the middle of Saitama's apartment, his usual laid-back energy replaced by a quiet determination. His blue eyes shimmered with intensity, and even the air around him felt heavier.

Saitama, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a game controller in hand, glanced up from the TV where he and King were deep in a match.

"Hmmm… what's up? You look like you're about to give a speech or ask for backup. You need help with something?"

Damian exhaled slowly, then smirked. "No help needed. Well… maybe. I might need help if I pass out… or possibly die."

That got everyone's attention.

King paused the game immediately, the controller slipping into his lap. Genos, who had been observing the match from behind, straightened with full focus.

"You about to fight a monster we don't know about?" King asked.

Damian shook his head. "No. This isn't about a monster. Not yet, anyway."

He stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. "This is about removing a weakness I've carried my entire life. Something I've never had the time—or courage—to face. Until now."

The room fell silent. Even Saitama placed his controller down.

"I trust you guys," Damian said. "So I'm going to share something important. The truth about my people… and our greatest weaknesses."

The three leaned in, sensing the gravity of the moment.

"Kryptonians—my people—are among the strongest beings in the universe. But we're not invincible. Our powers come from solar energy—specifically, from a yellow sun. The irony is, we evolved under a red star. Its name… was Rao."

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"Rao wasn't just a sun. He was our god. The light that gave us life, our culture, our ideals. Temples were built in his name. Our family crests, our heroic symbols—all of it stemmed from the worship of Rao. Every legendary Kryptonian bore his mark."

He looked at them, letting the history sink in.

"But Rao's red light didn't empower us—it restrained us. Under it, we were no more powerful than humans. Our potential stayed locked away… until we were exposed to yellow sunlight."

"So Earth's sun is the reason you're strong here," Saitama said, arms now crossed.

"Exactly," Damian nodded. "But there's something else. A far deadlier weakness."

He raised a hand, and with a soft shimmer in the air, a ten-inch lead cylinder materialized in his grasp.

"This… is Green Kryptonite."

The air seemed to thicken.

"This isn't just a weakness. It's a toxin. It disrupts our cellular absorption of solar radiation. It causes pain. Weakness. Eventually—death."

Saitama tilted his head. "So… why the hell are you holding it?"

"Because I plan to conquer it."

Genos stepped closer, scanning the object with glowing eyes. "How exactly do you plan to do that?"

Damian took a deep breath. "I'll conduct gradual exposure trials. Controlled. Monitored. I'll float at the edge of Earth's atmosphere—just beneath space—where solar radiation is at its peak. With the sun constantly recharging me, I believe my cells can adapt. Eventually… I'll become immune."

Saitama blinked. "So you're just gonna float up there and hope for the best?"

Damian's eyes flicked to the Kryptonite container. "I'm not just any Kryptonian. When I left my world, I carried more than my name—I carried the Codex. The complete genetic archive of Krypton."

He paused, then continued with more weight in his voice.

"But it wasn't just stored with me. It was encoded into me. My entire genome was rebuilt to hold every potential evolutionary trait of my people."

"My DNA doesn't just adapt. It evolves. Rapidly. Smarter. Stronger. Faster than any Kryptonian before me. Maybe faster than any species."

The weight of that statement sank in.

"I don't plan to survive this. I plan to master it."

Genos raised a hand thoughtfully. "And if you pass out during the process? What keeps you from falling? Or drifting into deep space? Could your body even handle it without your biofield up?"

Damian smiled knowingly. "I've accounted for that. I won't go into orbit. I'll stay just within the atmosphere. At that range, my super-hearing still functions at 95% accuracy across the planet. If there's a threat, I'll hear it. And I'll respond."

King finally asked, "Okay… but what's keeping you in the air if you pass out?"

Damian's grin widened. He raised his hand.

A golden glow filled the room as the Flying Nimbus softly materialized beside him.

Saitama's eyes went wide. "IS THAT A FLOATING CLOUD?!"

King raised a hand, "Uhhhh, where did that come from and is it alive?"

"Meet the Flying Nimbus," Damian said with a light chuckle. "Semi-sentient. Loyal. And indestructible transport. If I pass out, it'll keep me suspended until I recover."

"And King, I got it from a world called Dragon Ball, while on my journey to Earth," Damian said, quick-wittedly.

Genos reached out to touch it—but the Nimbus darted back.

Saitama cackled. "Ha! Genos, it probably doesn't like cyborgs!"

King stepped up and gently placed a hand on it. The Nimbus leaned into his touch like a friendly pet. King giggled.

Damian smirked. "Makes sense. King's ability is… unique luck."

Saitama took a cautious step forward. "Alright, stay still…"

The Nimbus froze in place—as if commanded by divine authority.

Damian raised an eyebrow, muttering, "Interesting. It must sense his power… and good heart."

Saitama plopped onto the cloud—and floated.

"Oh man, this is like the comfiest beanbag in the world. You sure this isn't mine?"

Damian chuckled. "Actually, once I complete my Kryptonite trials, I planned to give it to you."

"Yessss, hehehe, maybe people will start calling me a Cloud God!" Saitama said with a serious smile. 

King looked at the cloud with longing eyes.

"And you too, King," Damian added. "The Nimbus will answer your call."

King's eyes lit up. "Yesss! I can fly too!"

Saitama scooted over. "Come on, King. There's room. Let's fly like Damian and Genos!"

Damian watched the two sit proudly on the Nimbus, unable to hide his smile.

Saitama pointed his tongue out at Genos. "Looks like I can fly now. We should see who's faster!"

Damian smiled. "Actually, Master Saitama… the Nimbus has infinite stamina. It might just outpace Genos."

Saitama's eyes sparkled. "Grocery shopping will never be the same again."

Damian laughed and then clapped his hands together.

"How about we take a break from gaming and go for a flight around the city? I don't start my Kryptonite trials until tomorrow morning."

The Nimbus hovered gently, and the two heroes sat steady, ready for lift-off.

Damian looked out the window toward the stars. Tomorrow would be grueling.

But tonight?

Tonight was for flying.

The cloud rose with a warm breeze as King and Saitama got ready to take off. King looked nervous.

"Wait… what if I fall? What if I die midair?!"

But as the Nimbus lifted higher, King noticed something… he felt locked in. Secured. Like the cloud itself was holding him.

Damian glanced at his expression. "Nimbus, do some tricks."

The cloud immediately flipped upside down.

King screamed like a child.

Saitama laughed like a maniac.

They didn't fall.

Nope—they were both still sitting on the cloud, just upside down.

Damian leaned down from midair. "You guys doing okay?"

Saitama grinned. "Yeah—but flip it back over. King might actually pass out."

King nodded furiously, his face pale.

The cloud gently flipped back.

"Alright," Damian said. "Let's fly around Z-City. Genos—try to keep up!"

Saitama threw a finger in the air. "Nimbus, let's fly!"

And as if commanded by God, wooooooosh! The Nimbus zoomed out the balcony doors, with King screaming like a banshee as they took off at near supersonic speed.

Genos activated his boosters with a boom. "That cloud is incredible. But my upgrades should be enough to keep pace!"

With a burst of air, Damian took off right behind them, smiling the whole way.

The night sky lit with golden trails and sonic echoes.

Tomorrow would bring trials.

But tonight?

They would enjoy themselves.

Unbeknownst to Damian…

As the Nimbus soared across the skies of Z-City, laughter trailing behind it, a much less cheerful conversation was taking place far across the city.

Inside a high-security Association comms room, the Director himself stood before a reinforced screen. With a deep breath, he placed a call.

Ring. Ring. Click.

"…What is it?" Tatsumaki's voice was clipped, impatient, already annoyed.

The Director didn't flinch. "Tatsumaki. I wanted to inform you directly. Starting tomorrow morning, we will be making a public announcement regarding an updated ranking list for the S-Class heroes."

She frowned. "Why are you calling me about this?"

He didn't mince words. "You've been officially moved to S-Class Rank 3."

Silence.

"…Excuse me?" Her voice dropped an octave—low, lethal.

The Director continued. "This decision was not made lightly. It was finalized in agreement between myself and Blast."

"Blast?" Tatsumaki echoed, shocked into stillness.

"Yes. After reviewing all compiled footage, battlefield reports, and data—his strength, feats, character, and most importantly, his consistency in responding to Dragon-level disasters… We've decided Sky God—Damian—will be promoted to Rank 2."

Click.

The call ended.

A beat of silence.

Then,

BOOM.

A thunderous shockwave rippled across the landscape, crumbling stone, shattering glass, and tearing freshly planted flower beds from their roots.

Tatsumaki hovered in the epicenter of what used to be her newly furnished home—now a field of smoking debris and twisted metal. Her aura crackled around her like a living storm.

"He takes my spot. My rank. And he's trying to date my sister?!"

Another psychic shockwave exploded from her, flattening the few walls still standing.

Eyes burning with fury, she reached into the rubble, pulled out her still-intact phone, and hit a contact.

Ring. Ring. Click.

"Fubuki," she snapped, not even giving her sister time to greet her.

Fubuki's voice came through, calm and concerned. "Tatsu? What's wrong? You rarely call."

Tatsumaki gritted her teeth. "Did you hear about the rankings update?"

There was a pause on the other end.

"…No," Fubuki said slowly.

"That alien jerk—Sky God—he's been promoted to Rank 2! And now I'm rank 3!" Her voice cracked with rage. "The Director called me personally. Said it was his and Blast's decision. Strength, character, and 'showing up to Dragon-level events consistently'... Blah blah blah!"

Fubuki was quiet for a moment, quietly cheering for Damian in her head—but kept her voice neutral. "Wow… that's… big news."

"Yeah," Tatsumaki hissed. "Big enough for me to level my house."

Fubuki blinked. "Wait… did you…?"

Tatsumaki floated down, looking around at the ruins of her luxurious home. Her lips tightened. "…Yes. I destroyed my home. Can I come over?"

There was a beat of genuine surprise on Fubuki's end. Her sister, the strongest S-ranked, could easily afford any luxury hotel room—or just demand one by name and have it handed to her. She could have stayed anywhere.

But she was calling her.

Fubuki straightened, heart thudding with a strange sense of pride and… connection.

"Yeah. That's no problem, Tatsu. Come over anytime."

"…Thanks."

Fubuki smiled to herself.

Meanwhile, on the other end, Tatsumaki narrowed her eyes with purpose.

"Perfect. I know Fubuki has her men tracking that hot guy's movements. I'll find out where Damian lives... and I'll teach him a lesson. Maybe I'll destroy his house. Eye for an eye."

"Ugh, why did I just call him hot.."

With that thought, the pint-sized powerhouse launched into the sky, leaving behind rubble and fury in her wake.

Somewhere high above Z-City…

Damian, standing at the edge of the Nimbus with the wind in his hair, looked out over the horizon. The stars shimmered in the distance.

He smirked to himself, whispering aloud, "We'll see what tomorrow brings."

And somewhere across the city, a certain green-haired psychic echoed the same words, her voice sharp with vengeance.

"We'll see what tomorrow brings."

To be continued…