Reforged in the Sun: Clark Kent Reborn SI

The air inside the vault was stifling. The tendrils of Kryptonite energy snaking across the walls pulsed erratically, like the heartbeat of something unstable. Va-Ra's silver eyes glinted in the greenish glow as he stood tall and composed, despite the chaos surrounding him. The faint hum of the vault's mechanisms filled the silence, but it was Lex's sharp voice that broke the tension.

"A weapon capable of reshaping worlds," Lex repeated, his tone a mix of fascination and disbelief. "What kind of weapon are we talking about?"

"Lex, don't," I said reflexively, throwing him a warning glance.

Va-Ra's gaze shifted to me, his expression unreadable. "You trust this human?" he asked coldly. "He reeks of ambition. He seeks power, not purpose."

Lex stiffened but didn't back down. "I'm standing right here, you know."

Va-Ra ignored him, stepping closer to me. His presence was unnerving—controlled, yet brimming with an edge of barely restrained superiority. "Kal-El, you should not have awakened me. The High Council was right to fear my work. The weapon I created—Krytos—is not meant for this world. It was forged to protect Krypton. But now, it could destroy everything."

I frowned, my mind racing. Krytos. The name stirred something in the back of my mind, like a fragment of Jor-El's teachings I hadn't fully unlocked. "What does it do?" I asked.

Va-Ra's lips pressed into a thin line. "Krytos was a planetary disruptor. It was designed to harness Kryptonite's unique energy signature and amplify it into a controlled field—a wave capable of neutralizing all hostile forces on a global scale. But the energy required to sustain it was… catastrophic."

"Catastrophic how?" Lex asked, his voice sharper now.

Va-Ra turned to him, his silver eyes narrowing. "Do you know what happens when Kryptonite energy destabilizes an atmosphere?" He didn't wait for an answer. "The planet collapses. Krypton's destruction was a tragedy. Krytos would make it deliberate."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. This wasn't just a weapon. It was a doomsday device.

I glanced at Lex, expecting the usual glint of ambition in his eyes—and it was there. But for the first time, I saw something else, too. A flicker of genuine belief. He didn't just want this technology for power. He wanted it because he believed it could change the world.

And deep down, I knew he wasn't entirely wrong.

"This technology is extraordinary," Lex said, almost to himself. "If it could be controlled—"

"It can't," I said quickly, cutting him off.

Lex turned to me, his expression calm but firm. "Clark, think about what this could mean. With the right application, we could end wars. Bring peace to the entire planet. You've seen what humanity is capable of—how far people will go to destroy one another. Krytos could stop all of that."

For a moment, I wanted to argue. To remind him of all the ways this could go wrong. But then I thought about my future knowledge—what I'd seen in Smallville and Superman & Lois. Humanity was capable of terrible things, but it was also capable of good. And if I didn't take control of Krytos, someone else eventually would.

Better the devil I know, I thought grimly.

I turned to Va-Ra, my voice steady. "You said the weapon destabilized Krypton's atmosphere. But that doesn't mean it's impossible to use safely. There must be safeguards we can put in place—something to limit its power."

Va-Ra tilted his head slightly, as though considering my words. "There are theoretical modifications that could reduce the risk," he admitted. "But the weapon's energy field is inherently unstable. Any attempt to limit its output would make it less effective."

"That's fine," I said. "If we're going to use it, it can't be perfect. It has to be something we can control."

Lex stepped forward, his expression shifting from surprise to approval. "Clark, I didn't expect you to agree with me."

"I'm not agreeing with you," I said, throwing him a sharp look. "I'm agreeing with the idea that this technology needs to be contained. If we leave it here, someone else will find it—and they won't care about safeguards."

Va-Ra studied me closely, his silver eyes gleaming. "You are your father's son," he said quietly. "Idealistic to a fault."

"Can it be done?" I asked, ignoring the jab.

Va-Ra nodded slowly. "It will take time. And it will require precise calibrations to the disruptor's core."

"Then let's get to work," I said.

The passage leading deeper into the vault was narrow and winding, the walls lined with glowing Kryptonian symbols that pulsed faintly with each step. The air grew colder as we descended, the hum of the Kryptonite field growing louder. My skin prickled as the energy began to sap my strength, making each step feel heavier.

As we reached the bottom of the passage, the walls opened into a massive chamber, its ceiling stretching high above us. At the center of the room was the core—a crystalline structure that glowed with an intense green light, tendrils of energy radiating outward in jagged patterns. The hum of the field was deafening here, and I could feel it pulling at me, sapping what strength I had left.

Lex walked beside me, his scanner out and active. "The energy readings are incredible," he said quietly. "This thing is practically alive."

"It's not alive," Va-Ra said from behind us. "But it is reactive. Kryptonite energy responds to organic presence. The closer we get to the core, the stronger it will become."

I nodded, my mind already working through the plan. Using my future knowledge, I began devising a false safeguard—a secondary fail-safe built into the core. It would appear to limit the weapon's power output, making it seem safe for use. But in reality, it would be a hidden countermeasure that only I could disable, rendering Krytos inert if it was ever turned against me.

As Va-Ra and Lex worked to stabilize the core, I discreetly activated the Kryptonian orb in my pocket, using its interface to integrate my modifications into the disruptor's programming. The process was slow, and I had to mask my actions carefully, but after several tense minutes, it was done.

"Calibrations complete," Va-Ra announced, stepping back from the core.

The crystalline structure pulsed faintly, its green glow stabilizing into a steady rhythm. The hum of the energy field faded, and for the first time since we'd entered the chamber, the air felt calm.

Lex approached the core, his expression filled with awe. "It's beautiful," he murmured.

I placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him before he got too close. "Remember why we're doing this, Lex. This isn't about power. It's about control."

Lex nodded, though I could see the flicker of ambition still burning in his eyes. "Of course."

Before we could leave the chamber, a low growl echoed through the passageway, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. I turned sharply, my fists clenching as the creatures emerged from the shadows. Their glowing eyes burned with fury, and their movements were faster, more aggressive, as if the core's activation had amplified their rage.

The largest of the creatures let out a deafening roar, charging toward me. I barely dodged its attack, slamming my shoulder into its side and knocking it off balance.

"Get to the exit!" I shouted to Lex and Va-Ra. "I'll hold them off!"

Lex hesitated, his jaw tightening. "Clark—"

"Go!"

Reluctantly, Lex turned and ran, followed closely by Va-Ra. The creatures lunged at me again, their claws slashing through the air. My movements were slower now, the Kryptonite field still sapping my strength, but I refused to back down.

This wasn't just about protecting the weapon. It was about making sure no one—Lex, Va-Ra, or anyone else—would ever misuse it.