AM I SUPERMAN?

Bruce Wayne's frustration boiled over as he fired his kryptonite rifle repeatedly, the green-tipped grenades exploding into thick clouds of glowing gas around Kaius.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

One after another, the grenades burst, enveloping Kaius in a dense haze of kryptonite smoke. Bruce emptied the rifle, pulling the trigger relentlessly until the gun clicked, signaling it was out of ammo.

Inside the cloud, Kaius stood calmly, unaffected. With only a few seconds left on his invulnerability, he inhaled deeply, drawing the kryptonite-laced smoke into his lungs. His enhanced physiology, powered by his activated abilities, began to neutralize the toxins almost instantly.

As the green mist dissipated, Kaius emerged unscathed. He smirked, his tone laced with mockery. "Is that all? Got any more? This stuff might just clear my sinuses."

Bruce's jaw tightened as he realized his weapon had failed. Furious, he tossed the rifle to the ground and charged, delivering a full-strength punch to Kaius's chest.

"Clang!"

Bruce's armored fist connected with Kaius's torso, but it was like striking solid steel. The sound echoed, and Kaius didn't so much as flinch.

"Are you done yet?" Kaius asked, grabbing Bruce by the chest plate with one hand. He tightened his grip, feeling the strength of Bruce's Kryptonian-alloy armor. Despite applying significant force, he didn't pierce it.

Without another word, Kaius pushed Bruce backward, hurling him through the air as if he weighed nothing.

Bruce landed hard, sliding more than ten meters across the wet ground. His armor absorbed most of the impact, sparing him from serious injury, but the sheer force left him momentarily winded. Slowly, he stood, resisting the urge to spit blood.

Bruce's eyes narrowed as he stared at Kaius, his mind racing. "You're not human. No human has that kind of strength!"

Kaius stepped closer, his expression calm but firm. "Your thinking is too limited, Bruce. Think about the world you live in. You've trained with the League of Assassins. You've met Ra's al Ghul, a man who has lived for over 700 years thanks to the Lazarus Pit. Does that sound human to you?"

Bruce's fists clenched, his thoughts spiraling. Kaius continued, his voice steady. "This world isn't just about aliens like Superman. It's full of gods, magic, and people who've tapped into powers beyond human understanding. Diana Prince, for example—Wonder Woman—is living proof. As for me, I'm human, Bruce. A human with powers."

Bruce exhaled heavily, his mind still racing. "Then tell me your name."

Kaius paused but then spoke plainly. "Kaius Rogers. My father was Bruce Lee, a martial artist from China. My mother, Martha Jennifer Rogers, was an American. If you don't believe me, look me up. You'll find my birth certificate, my school records from Smallville High, and even my vaccination records."

The certainty in Kaius's tone left no room for doubt. Bruce's suspicion softened, though not entirely.

"I'll check," Bruce said curtly. "I don't trust easily."

Kaius smiled faintly, sensing Bruce's lingering mistrust but choosing not to press further.

Bruce's voice hardened again. "If Superman's arrival cost you your parents, why don't you go after him? Why haven't you sought revenge?"

Kaius's demeanor shifted. He paused, his expression somber. "That's a good question, Bruce."

Bruce raised an eyebrow, waiting for the answer. Kaius's eyes met his, filled with a quiet intensity.

"The answer is simple: you."

"Me?" Bruce asked, caught off guard.

Kaius's voice was steady but carried a weight of conviction. "Bruce, would you retaliate against all of society because of the pain you've experienced? No, you wouldn't. Even though you operate in the shadows, your heart is light. You take your pain and transform it into strength—a strength you use to protect others from experiencing the same loss."

He paused, locking eyes with Bruce. "You swore to eradicate evil, to bring hope to Gotham, even if it costs you everything. That's what makes you a hero. And at this core, you, me, Superman—we're all the same."

The words lingered in the rain-soaked night. Bruce raised an eyebrow, skepticism cutting through the sincerity of Kaius's speech. "Really? Funny, I've never thought of myself as that idealistic."

Kaius smirked, a faint blush creeping up his face. "What can I say? I'm good at spotting other people's strengths. But shouldn't we be focusing on Bane right now? He's the real threat."

Bruce's voice was firm as he corrected him. "Bane isn't our enemy. He's my enemy."

Kaius folded his arms and looked Bruce over, his expression unapologetic. "With all due respect, Bruce, can you even take Bane? Even with this… impressive armor, he's still out of your league."

The comment hit a nerve. Memories of Bane slamming him into the ground flashed through Bruce's mind. His back still throbbed faintly, a painful reminder of the day's humiliation. If not for the Kryptonian-alloy armor, his spine might have been shattered.

Still, Bruce wasn't one to concede easily. "I'll find his weakness," he said through gritted teeth. "And I'll defeat him."

Kaius tilted his head, his tone pragmatic. "His weakness is obvious—the plastic tubes feeding him Venom. Rip those out, and he'll lose his strength. But even if you beat Bane, can you guarantee you'll stop the nuclear bomb?"

The words struck a deeper chord. Bruce's jaw tightened. He had been wrestling with that very question. The bomb—whether a plutonium device or his stolen super-energy reactor—posed a catastrophic threat to Gotham. If it detonated, the devastation would surpass even the destruction of Metropolis.

"How do you know about Bane's weakness?" Bruce asked cautiously.

Kaius hesitated, then shrugged nonchalantly. "I Googled it."

Bruce gave him a sharp look, but before he could press further, he reconsidered. It wasn't a stretch to believe that Kaius had access to advanced intelligence networks, perhaps even more sophisticated than his own. It would explain how he seemed so prepared.

"Fine," Bruce said, his tone reluctant. "But what's your plan for the bomb?"

Kaius stepped closer, his voice lowering with urgency. "Leave Bane to me. He challenged you to a duel, didn't he? Use that as a distraction. Keep him occupied while I locate the bomb's trigger. Once we neutralize the nuclear threat, the rest becomes manageable."

Bruce mulled over the proposal. It was a practical plan, but relying on someone else's help—especially someone he barely trusted—was not in his nature. Yet, the stakes were too high to let his pride get in the way.

Finally, Bruce nodded. A faint, strained smile crossed his face. "Alright, Kaius. We'll do it your way—for now."

---

A Fragile Alliance

The rain continued to pour as the two men shared a rare moment of understanding. While their methods and philosophies differed, their goal was the same: to save Gotham.

Kaius extended a hand. "One thing, Bruce—if we're doing this together, let's at least try not to kill each other until after we've stopped Bane."

Bruce hesitated for a moment before shaking Kaius's hand. His grip was firm, his expression serious. "Agreed. But don't think for a second that I'll stop watching you."

Kaius chuckled. "Fair enough. Let's save Gotham first."

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