The idea of swallowing all the sunlight above Paradise Island was truly a breathtaking thought.
If Ethan Drake had actually unleashed that power, the entire sky over the island would have dimmed as if an eclipse had suddenly fallen. The Amazons present could only imagine the spectacle, because in the end, none of them had the chance to witness it.
Princess Diana had already begun to gather power.
Her body crackled faintly as the divine thunder of Zeus stirred within her blood. A low rumble seemed to echo around her as the energy rose slowly through her veins, ready to burst forth. Clearly, she intended to test whether Ethan's bold claim about devouring sunlight was real.
But just as the clash was about to escalate—
"Enough, Diana."
Queen Hippolyta stepped forward and raised her hand.
Her voice carried authority that could not be ignored. The Amazon queen clearly feared that if the two continued, the situation might spiral beyond control.
The duel ended there.
"Frustrating," Diana muttered.
Although she spoke with dissatisfaction, she knew the truth in her heart. Against the man standing before her, she had almost no chance of winning.
The difference in power was obvious.
Still, the defeat only sparked more curiosity rather than discouragement.
"Are people in the outside world as strong as you?" Diana asked.
Her bright eyes shone with anticipation. Having lived her entire life on this hidden island, she had never once seen the wider world.
Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly before answering.
"I'll tell you the truth," he said calmly. "I came from the boundless starry sky, and I've never met anyone stronger than me."
"Really?"
Diana's eyes lit up immediately.
In an instant, her earlier disappointment vanished completely.
If no one in the outside world could match the man in front of her, then there was nothing to fear. Her confidence returned at once, and excitement replaced the frustration she had felt moments earlier.
But something else caught her attention even more.
He said he came from the boundless starry sky.
That single phrase ignited Diana's imagination.
"What is the outside world like?" she asked eagerly, stepping closer. "If I leave the island, will I need to worry about people being stronger than me?"
Her questions came rapidly, one after another, her curiosity impossible to hide.
"Diana…" Queen Hippolyta frowned slightly.
She had always known her daughter's deepest wish. Diana longed to see the world beyond the island's shores.
But Hippolyta also understood how dangerous that world truly was.
It was far more complicated than Diana could imagine.
Ethan spoke again, echoing the queen's concern.
"The dangers of human society are far beyond what you're imagining," he said evenly. "If you think being a god means you won't face danger, then you're mistaken."
He studied Diana for a moment before continuing.
"Someone as straightforward as you would be overwhelmed by deception the moment you leave Paradise Island."
His tone remained calm, but his words were blunt.
"And when you finally see the other side of the world," he added, "your entire understanding of it will be overturned."
Diana frowned immediately.
"Why do you sound exactly like my mother?" she said with visible annoyance.
Queen Hippolyta couldn't help smiling faintly when she heard that.
Looking at Ethan again, she suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity toward the young man. His attitude reminded her of the cautious advice every parent gave their child before stepping into the wider world.
"Yes," Hippolyta said gently. "The outside world is dangerous. Let go of those unrealistic fantasies."
She truly didn't want her precious daughter to suffer harm.
But in the next moment, Ethan completely overturned the direction of the conversation.
"Of course," he said with a slight smile, "Earth also has a beautiful side."
His voice carried a quiet conviction.
"And to protect that beauty, many people step forward and fight for it."
The queen froze for a moment.
Looking at the young man standing before her, she suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of unease. It was the same uneasy instinct many mothers felt when they saw a charming young man speaking to their daughter.
Ethan ignored the queen's wary expression and continued speaking calmly.
"For the peace of Earth, many people fight constantly," he said. "But I can tell you something with certainty."
He paused briefly.
"In the future, enemies from beyond the universe will set their sights on this planet."
Then he looked directly at Diana.
"When that day comes, will you be willing to fight?"
"Of course I will," Diana answered immediately.
Her response came straight from the heart, without the slightest hesitation.
Then she asked eagerly, "When will that happen? When will those races from beyond the universe come to invade?"
Ethan smiled faintly.
"When that day truly arrives," he said, "I'll personally take you out into the world."
The statement carried an unmistakable undertone.
"Really?" Diana exclaimed. "Then it's a promise!"
She looked delighted.
"What?"
Queen Hippolyta immediately reacted.
The Amazon queen stared at Ethan with disbelief.
"Bastard," she said flatly. "Did you come here to abduct my daughter?"
Facing someone who had once been a screen goddess admired by countless people, it would have been impossible for Ethan to remain completely unmoved.
Besides, Diana was simply too innocent.
She was like a blank sheet of paper, untouched by the complicated realities of the outside world. With only a few carefully chosen words, Ethan had already drawn her into his orbit.
Of course, none of what he said was a lie.
The threats he mentioned were very real.
The Chitauri soldiers under Thanos, the members of the Black Order, and the terrifying cosmic entity known as Galactus were all looming dangers. Even the Kree Empire already held the coordinates of Earth and had once used that knowledge to pressure Captain Marvel.
Each of those forces was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
"You don't need to get too excited," Ethan said calmly. "When that day comes, I'll take you out."
Diana's excitement faded slightly.
"How long will that take?" she asked.
Ethan shrugged.
"Maybe tomorrow," he replied. "Maybe next year. Who knows?"
Then he added one final sentence.
"My promise will take effect when that day arrives. But for now… I'm leaving."
The words carried a deeper meaning.
Moments later—
Hum.
A streak of light shot through the sky like a meteor.
It was Ethan.
His journey to Paradise Island had been an unexpected accident, but it had brought him considerable rewards.
Long ago, Ethan had already formed a temporary alliance with Captain Marvel. Their common goal was to eliminate a powerful enemy—the Kree Empire.
Now, gaining the potential support of Princess Diana was another pleasant surprise.
Beyond that, Ethan had long decided to establish a foothold on Earth.
After all, the moment he first absorbed the sun's energy as a Kryptonian, he had realized something crucial.
Earth's sun was extraordinary.
In the original film, General Zod had possessed a world engine capable of reshaping an entire planet's atmosphere. Yet despite having such technology, Zod still intended to destroy Earth completely.
Ethan had no intention of being that ruthless.
The solar system was enormous.
Even if Earth remained untouched, there were plenty of other planets where Kryptonian bases could be established.
"The sun might not turn every Kryptonian into Superman," Ethan murmured to himself as he flew, "but if it can strengthen them even a little, that's still worth it."
The thought lingered in his mind.
But his real objective on Earth was something else entirely.
He needed to locate the Kryptonian reconnaissance ship that had crashed in the South Pole ten thousand years ago.
....
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