Chapter 5: Tumultuous Arrival.

Days Before.

After the action plan was proposed, the atmosphere was charged with tension and expectation.

—Are you sure you can do this? —she asked, looking at Superman with disbelief—. It's space, don't you need air to breathe?

—Don't worry, I have everything under control —he replied with a confidence that surprised him—. I can be in the vacuum of space for extended periods.

Superman walked alongside Goku and Elizabeth, who accompanied them with a mix of curiosity and excitement; the girl lacked knowledge on this topic and wanted to know more.

Clark had moved the spaceship to the hangar of the facilities at Dr. Richards' request and was now heading towards the exit, ready to fulfill his reconnaissance mission outside the planet. Goku followed closely, while Elizabeth watched with shining eyes, eager to see how he would venture into space.

—And how is that possible? —she insisted, still unable to believe it—. Can you breathe in space, or do you have some kind of technology to help you? —she asked, putting on an expectant face.

Superman paused for a moment, turning to her with a smug smile.

—Neither one nor the other. I just hold my breath when I'm out there. I have very good lungs —he said, as if it were something ordinary.

Goku, who had been listening attentively, burst out laughing.

—That's incredible! Just holding your breath? —he exclaimed, with evident astonishment in his voice.

—Hey, you don't have to react like that —Superman told him, raising a hand in a modest gesture—. It's not like it's something special.

—Of course it is —Elizabeth interjected, with an admiring look—. I couldn't hold my breath for that long. The most I can manage is two minutes, and that's a real effort.

—Two minutes —Goku laughed—. That's a walk in the park compared to what Kal intends to do. But what if you feel unwell? Isn't there any risk?

He asked again with interest. Superman shrugged, as if concern had no place in his mind.

—I've been in much more extreme situations. Trust me, I'm ready for this —he assured, with a determined look.

Elizabeth nodded, though she still seemed somewhat uneasy.

—Just be careful, okay? Mr. El —she said, her voice soft but firm—. Don't get into trouble out there.

—Don't worry, Miss Elizabeth. I always come back —Superman replied, with a reassuring smile.

He moved a few meters away from them, who watched him expectantly. Superman took a leap and in an instant shot up into the sky, leaving a slight trail, and the loud roar of the sound barrier breaking echoed throughout the place.

Those who watched him leave saw his figure fade in an instant, except for Goku, who had extraordinary reflexes and could see him without any difficulty.

But something seemed strange to him. Goku sharpened his gaze as he felt Superman's presence leaving the planet. He noted that he had stopped; no, it seemed that he was moving very slowly despite having demonstrated exorbitant speed just moments ago.

He crossed his arms, wondering what had happened. A memory of a certain place came to his mind. He would tell the others about this when he had the chance.

---

With Superman

Clark flew through the air, propelled by exorbitant speed. His destination lay beyond the upper layer of that planet.

A few seconds after taking flight, he reached outer space, entering the dark void of the cosmos. Clark took one last breath before crossing the boundary of the atmosphere, trusting in his incredible stamina to move in the vastness of space.

As he moved away, he felt a slight change in the atmosphere, but he paid it no mind. He paused for a moment to contemplate the sky, marveling at the surreal view unfolding before him. He had seen many incredible places in his life, and it was not the first time he ventured into the vast universe. However, a feeling of distrust began to grow within him as he observed that scene.

Setting aside his unease, he fixed his gaze on the nearest planet. It was gigantic, bathed in the light of a star illuminating it, revealing brown and red tones on its surface. He recalled Goku's words, who had mentioned that he sensed strange presences in that place, as well as in other nearby planets.

Superman flew at maximum speed towards the planet with the intention of investigating and helping those who might be confused. Although it seemed close, the reality was that the distance was absurd; even with the speed at which he was moving, it felt like he wasn't getting any closer.

After nearly twenty minutes of flight, he had only covered 57% of the distance ahead of him. He couldn't help but think that moving from one planet to another could become tedious and mentally exhausting.

Minutes later, just as he was about to cross the planet's atmosphere, something stopped him in his tracks.

"Hey, Kal! Can you hear me?" a voice resonated in his thoughts, like a familiar echo.

"Goku?" Clark asked, astonished and a bit confused. The telepathic connection surprised him.

"Yes, it's me. I'm talking to you through my telepathy," Goku replied, as if wanting to clear up any doubts.

"You can use telepathy too?" Clark inquired, marveling. Goku had demonstrated so many abilities in such a short time that it seemed incredible he had something like this up his sleeve.

"Yes, I can. Although I'm not as good as others I know," Goku answered modestly, downplaying his ability.

"Not that good? You're talking to me from a very far place; that's impressive by itself," he replied, astonished and incredulous at Goku's modesty.

"It's not that great; I still haven't perfected it completely," Goku spoke a bit embarrassed. It was palpable that he was being modest.

Superman nodded, though Goku couldn't see him. With the situation clarified, he asked if Goku had any message for him.

"Yes, listen. We're right behind you. Wait for us on the planet. We'll reach you very soon. There's a lot to explain," Goku said casually, giving clear instructions.

Clark's eyes widened with intrigue at this revelation. Not even an hour had passed since he left them behind on the planet, and now they were all behind him, possibly with the ship already repaired.

Very little time had passed; it was impossible for that to happen. Determined to solve the mystery, he chose to wait on the planet's surface, just as Goku had instructed, eager to discover what had happened.

---

Minutes Later

Clark had arrived on the planet; he found himself in a rocky valley, surrounded by irregular formations that resembled dense structures. The atmosphere was different, almost palpable, and a fresh air filled his lungs. His gaze calmed as he saw his allies' ship approaching the atmosphere while exiting hyperspace.

Clark used his X-ray vision to look inside the ship's structure, curious to see his allies.

As he observed them, he noticed that some were wearing different clothes, as if they had adopted new identities on their journey. Detailing each one, he noted the expressions on their faces; a mix of determination and expectation, indicating that they had undergone significant changes in his absence. Clark felt a knot in his stomach; something had changed in them, and he needed to confirm it with them by talking.

The ship descended, its silhouette darkening the purple sky as it approached. The rear hatch slowly opened, revealing familiar figures emerging from the darkness within. Goku, Elizabeth, Rías, and Dr. Richards appeared before him, like heroes emerging from the fog.

—Incredible! So this is another planet! —exclaimed Elizabeth, her voice vibrating with fascination as she descended the platform. Her eyes sparkled like stars. —It's fantastic, don't you think, Miss Rías?

Rías, following Elizabeth, also showed amazement, though her composure was more restrained. The red-haired girl tried to hide her excitement, but the fascination with the place enveloped her.

—Yes, Elizabeth, it's totally incredible to know that we've traveled through space to reach another planet —she responded moderately, her voice a whisper amidst the wonder.

—Come on, Rías. You don't have to hold back your emotions. We're on another planet, and it's the first time for both you and Elizabeth! —Goku commented, descending with a wide smile, as if the place itself energized him. —Remember, I can sense the emotions of others, you know? —he finished, looking at the girl with a teasing expression.

Rías blushed at Goku's statement that had exposed her. Elizabeth let out a soft giggle at the girl's reaction. And Reed, who was behind them, couldn't help but smile at the interaction. It was a moment of camaraderie, a breath of fresh air amidst the uncertainty.

—I see there's a different air about all of you. It seems I've missed a lot —Clark commented, observing the dynamic between them.

—Yes, some things have happened. Another mystery among the many we will uncover —Dr. Richards replied, his eyes shining with a glimmer of excitement— it's better to explain what happened.

Superman was brought up to speed on their experiences. Reed explained that with Goku's help, they discovered that the planet had a faster temporal flow. For Clark, only minutes had passed, but for them, it had been six days since he crossed the atmosphere. Six days in which some of them were able to settle in and get along better.

During that time, the relationship between Elizabeth and Rías had evolved. They had talked openly about their concerns and the world they grew up in, and although they weren't best friends, they had forged a solid companionship.

Reed had worked tirelessly on the ship, repairing and replicating technologies that could be useful at any moment. And Goku, always energetic, took care of keeping any danger at bay and lightening the mood in tense moments.

—So that was it —Clark said, understanding what had happened while reflecting on the lost time.

—Now that we're all together and more prepared, we can move as a group. This way we can leverage our abilities to cover more ground —Reed expressed, his voice resonating with determination.

Superman nodded, beginning to mentally outline the steps to take. Several meters away, Elizabeth and Rías were exploring the place with curiosity, their eyes shining at the strangeness of the landscape.

The environment was a spectacle of colors; a mix of dark browns and bright reds danced before them. The sky, instead of blue, was a deep purple, sprinkled with celestial hues that seemed to change with every blink. A light and pleasant aroma floated in the air, as if nature itself was celebrating their arrival. Moreover, the gravity was less intense than in their world, giving them a feeling of lightness.

—All of this is completely different from what I imagined. It seems unreal —Rías commented, admiring the landscape with a mix of awe and curiosity.

—Yes, it's incredible. The colors blend perfectly —Elizabeth replied, smiling at the beauty surrounding them.

The two girls began a lively chat. They seemed like two dreamy girls talking about anything.

A bit away from them, Goku was feeling curious about the place. He looked down and picked up one of the rocks from the ground.

—Hey, but wow, this is heavy —he whispered to himself, trying to lift the rock, which was about the size of his hand.

He couldn't help but make a strange and curious face. He could feel that the gravity was softer than that on Earth. But still, it was quite heavy, even for him.

Goku closed his eyes, trying to sense the presences in the area. He hadn't done so since he arrived. He concentrated on each presence nearby; there were many, in fact.

He frowned upon noticing that some of those signals were fading. No, it was as if those presences had been crushed until extinguished, which gave him a bad feeling. A chill ran down his spine; a warrior's intuition never lies.

Clark, noticing his expression, approached, sensing that something was wrong.

—What's going on? Is something wrong? —he asked, his voice deep and concerned.

The others paid attention to Goku, who now looked serious, with a mix of worry and fear on his face.

—We have to get out of here now! —he exclaimed firmly, leaving everyone on high alert. His voice resonated like an echo, filled with urgency.

—What's happening? —Rías asked, confused by Goku's sudden urgency.

—The presences in this place are disappearing, rather, it's like… —he replied while quickly moving towards the ship, his survival instinct on high alert— we have to go! —he exclaimed desperately.

Clark, understanding that something bad was happening, used his vision to look beyond the horizon. It was then that he saw it: the landscape was beginning to distort rapidly, as if reality itself were crumbling. Clark opened his eyes at the impending danger, trying to move, but… it was already too late.

Suddenly, a great pressure made itself present; everyone felt a sudden increase in gravity, as if an invisible force were crushing them. Goku understood almost immediately what was about to happen and acted quickly.

Time seemed to stop for Superman and Goku as they tried to reach the others. Goku knew he wouldn't make it, so he raised his hands towards those in danger. In less than a second, he placed an energy barrier over the ship and over the two girls along with Dr. Richards. He knew they wouldn't be able to withstand what was about to happen; their lives depended on it.

—Raaaaaahhhhg! Damn!! —Goku shouted with effort as the gravity hit him hard, his voice resonating with the desperation of a warrior in a lost battle.

—This has to be a joke! Ahhg! —Clark exclaimed, gritting his teeth, feeling the pressure beginning to overwhelm him.

—What's happening!? —Elizabeth asked, alarmed inside the protective sphere Goku had created, her voice trembling with fear.

—What is this!?... Goku! —exclaimed Rías within the same sphere as Elizabeth.

She looked visibly scared, her eyes widening in disbelief as she comprehended the scene before her.

—Kal-El, Goku! Talk to me! —Reed shouted from inside the barrier, his voice filled with panic.

It had been an instant for them. And in less than a blink, they found themselves sheltered within one of Goku's protective barriers. The scene they beheld was unsettling. Everything around them seemed distorted, and amidst that chaos were two of their allies.

—The gravity is increasing rapidly! —Clark replied, struggling to stay upright, each word a challenge against the pressure.

Goku remained silent, lost in deep concentration. If he lost focus, gravity would crush them all along with the ship. The pressure in the environment increased every second: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400 times Earth's gravity, and showed no signs of stopping, as if the planet itself were trying to swallow them.

The ground beneath them began to crack, forming expanding craters, as if the earth itself were screaming in agony.

Goku knelt, but he knew he couldn't give up. At an imperceptible speed to the others, he was going through each of his transformations; only Superman could notice those rapid changes. The effort to protect the others was monumental, requiring all his power not to yield.

Those watching with concern saw how Goku's hair turned silver, enveloped in an aura of white, gray, and silver colors. It was an overwhelming sight, a reminder of his immense power and the sacrifice he was willing to make. But there was no time to be amazed at the gravity of the situation.

Gravity had reached a critical point, distorting the surroundings. Clark and Goku began to slowly fall towards the ground, as if the planet itself were trying to crush them. Goku, fighting not to give in, felt the pressure overcoming him.

—Mr. Goku, Mr. El! Please hold on! Don't give up! —Elizabeth shouted, distressed, her voice resonating with desperation, hoping that all of this would stop.

—Damn it, don't give up! —Dr. Richards exclaimed, bracing his hands against the barrier, his face reflecting the terror of the situation.

Reed observed the scene, horrified. He never thought something like this could happen. Guilt began to invade him; he knew they were both powerful, but seeing them on their knees reminded him that this place was different and brought unknown dangers. He tried to think of something quick to escape this problem.

Rías watched the scene with growing concern. Her eyes fixed on the strained faces of Goku and Superman, and a distressing thought crossed her mind: what if they gave up and all of them were crushed? Which made her fear grow.

Superman knelt in a massive crater created by the pressure, resisting as best he could, but he felt his strength waning. How did he not see this? He thought, feeling his negligence in not investigating it first. Every second was a battle, and the shadow of defeat began to loom over him.

"Kal!" suddenly, a familiar voice resonated in his mind, cutting through the chaos.

"Yes," he replied, seeking clarity amidst the storm.

Goku spoke to him telepathically, still kneeling and giving his all, his voice a thread of hope in the midst of desperation.

"Listen to me… to your right… I can feel several presences there," Goku said, struggling to articulate his thoughts.

"What worries you?" Clark asked, eager to understand.

"The gravity is mu... very high… but I sense they're moving at great speed towards us," Goku expressed, his concern palpable.

As Goku sensed the presences, he noticed that only some had disappeared. Under such immense gravity, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of being was strong enough to withstand it.

"Running?" Clark inquired after hearing Goku.

Clark also perceived the same predicament, and making an effort, looked back towards the horizon. What he saw only brought more problems.

—Goku! —Reed shouted to get his attention. —Talk to me!

Goku fixed his serene gaze on him and replied.

"What do you want?" he asked, trying not to faint.

—Try to send me to the ship! There's something there that can help us —Reed indicated, searching for a solution.

"That will be complicated… but I'll try," Goku responded, straining to move the sphere where Reed was.

Fortunately, he was only three meters away. With monumental effort, he managed to bring Dr. Richards closer to the spaceship.

Reed wasted no time and rushed inside, searching for what he needed. He took one of the Joipoi capsules and activated it. Several devices emerged from it. He took one of them along with a blue gem.

As he exited the ship, he watched in horror as the energy dome was about to break. Goku and Superman lay on the ground, being dangerously crushed. Dr. Richards hurriedand activated the device he had in his hand.

The artifact had a large gem in the center that began to glow intensely. A few seconds later, a dome extended across the area, creating an anti-gravity field that countered the immense pressure.

Goku felt his body stop experiencing the exorbitant pressure. A momentary relief enveloped him, and he ceased using his abilities.

—We're safe, eh… that's good —Goku said in a tired tone, before his consciousness surrendered.

He began to close his eyes, letting himself drift into unconsciousness. The last thing he could observe was the two girls approaching him with concern. Without more, he fainted.

To be continued.