Awakening Kryptonian Bloodline In Marvel.

A few days passed quickly.

The Stark household remained peaceful.

Malrick spent his days sunbathing and relaxing, waiting for the new college year to begin.

Tony didn't go to work as usual. Each morning, he grabbed a slice of buttered toast and headed straight to the Middle East.

According to him, the inherently evil Ten Rings would soon be wiped off the map.

And ever since his conversation with Rhodes, he hadn't been harassed by the military again.

As for Pepper, she was furious when Tony returned home one evening with a suit full of bullet holes. But, as always, she couldn't do much about it. After her anger passed, she returned to her usual rhythm—working tirelessly to keep Stark Industries running.

That was life in the Stark household: calm and steady, like the sea outside their mansion. There were occasional waves, but for the most part, it was smooth sailing.

However, for the rest of the world, the emergence of "Superman" had begun to stir the waters. Behind the scenes, tensions were rising.

---

"KNKV TV News Report."

One morning, after Malrick finished his workout and made breakfast, he returned to see the local KNKV station airing a story about Superman.

"Superman has appeared in our world. That now seems indisputable," said the female anchor, her tone serious.

"Although he hasn't reappeared in recent days, countless individuals have stepped forward, claiming to have seen him—and hoping for his return."

"What he did that night has already changed the world."

The broadcast shifted to a chaotic press conference.

On the podium stood a middle-aged Afghan man with salt-and-pepper hair and beard. Cameras flashed from every direction, but his eyes stayed fixed on the main camera with determined clarity.

"It was Superman who saved our country—our people!" he proclaimed loudly.

"I was lucky enough to photograph him that night. He fought for us!"

"He is Superman, the pillar of all things! He has no origin, no destination. No force can stand against him!"

"He is our God. Our Savior! The Father is in him, and he and the Father are one!"

Someone behind him wheeled out a screen, which lit up and played footage of Superman confronting a missile in the night sky.

"Look at him!" the man shouted. "He cast out the wolves! We are his lambs!!"

The screen faded, and the view returned to the KNKV studio.

The anchor sat upright.

"The man in the footage is Abdullah, an Afghan war correspondent. He claims to have filmed Superman's first appearance and publicly declared him the reincarnation of the Holy Spirit."

"In recent days, many others have come forward, sharing their stories of Superman's presence."

The scene switched again.

A little girl, facing a local reporter, said confidently, "Two bad guys tried to break in that night. Superman showed up and stopped them!"

Her father added, "Superman said the Ten Rings would leave us soon—and they did. Not only them, but now even the Eagle Party…"

The story cut away before he could finish.

Another boy, animated and wide-eyed, said, "He came down like a meteor! I didn't even get to make a wish, and he took out the guy threatening my sister!"

Clips followed: Afghan guards saluting a photo of Superman, an entire village gathered in front of a rice field crying out his name—"Superman!"

After five minutes of footage, the live feed returned to the studio.

"As confirmation of Superman's existence continues to mount, we must now consider what his presence means for society."

"Is he, like his comic counterpart, a noble figure—righteous, selfless, godlike?"

"Or is he a counterfeit in costume, using the title 'Superman' to inflate his own ego?"

"According to our sources, several returning soldiers were recently forced to abandon their aid efforts after encountering Superman. Is he a savior—or a dictator in disguise?"

"Joining us next is sociologist Dr. Francis Windham…"

---

Malrick rested his chin on one hand as he watched the professor on screen. The man launched into an overly academic monologue, analyzing Superman's childhood, attire, and supposed psychological state. His conclusion? Superman was a paranoid man who drank too much milk.

It was so elaborate that Malrick nearly believed it himself.

"Still watching this nonsense?" Tony said as he came downstairs.

"These shows either worship you or paint you as a menace. You'd think the media could come up with something new."

He tossed a rolled-up newspaper on the table and sat beside Malrick.

"Especially these networks—they've got their pockets lined with political cash. Of course, they want to paint you as the villain."

"And yet you still watch it like it's your favorite soap opera."

Malrick glanced at the newspaper Tony dropped.

The headline read: "Mysterious Mecha-Man Appears in the Middle East—A Poor Imitation of Superman?"

There was the issue.

Tony had spent the past several days dismantling the Ten Rings across the Middle East.

But almost none of the media reported on it.

If they did, it was a passing mention—before pivoting right back to Superman.

No wonder Tony was bitter. He wasn't exactly the type to play the hero in the shadows.

"Maybe you should just buy a news outlet and have them write articles for you," Malrick suggested. "Something like, Iron Man Returns: A Hero Protecting Civilians in the Middle East!"

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Hey, not a bad title. But you know me—I'm not in it for the spotlight. I'm just helping you out, Malrick."

Malrick smirked. "If you're so helpful, maybe toss a few Dollars at the media so they learn to tell the truth."

Tony got up and grabbed some toast.

"I could do that," he said between bites. "But do you really think it's necessary?"

"No," Malrick replied, still watching the screen. "Once I take down Hydra and show the world what I can do, the media will fall in line."

"Exactly!" Tony said, pointing at the screen. "The media only respects power—the kind that can shut them up."

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