Chapter 12: The World Meets Superman
The Decision to Step Forward
For years, Ethan Carter had lived in the shadows.
He had held back his strength, hidden his powers, and kept his true nature a secret.
But the world was changing.
Tony Stark had just revealed himself as Iron Man, proving that superheroes were no longer myths or comic book fantasies. They were real.
And that meant he couldn't hide any longer.
It was time.
Time for the world to meet Superman.
The Flight to New York
He stood in the open field behind the Carter farmhouse, taking one last look at his home.
His mother hugged him tight. "Be careful."
His father placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Go do what you were meant to do."
His brothers smirked. "Try not to break the city on your first day."
Ethan chuckled. "I'll do my best."
Then, with one deep breath, he took off.
This time, he didn't hold back.
The air roared past him as he rocketed through the sky, faster than any jet, the ground disappearing beneath him in seconds.
The feeling was exhilarating.
Not just movement—freedom.
He cut through the clouds, pushing higher, faster. For the first time, he let himself enjoy it.
And then, far below, he saw it—
New York City.
Sprawling. Towering. Alive.
He had arrived.
The Attack on Times Square
Ethan wasn't the only one making an entrance that day.
As he approached the city, something exploded.
A deep, earth-shaking BOOM thundered through Times Square as fire and smoke erupted from a massive truck. Civilians screamed as gunmen flooded the streets, automatic rifles tearing through the air.
A terrorist attack.
Right here. Right now.
And Ethan was the only one who could stop it.
He dived.
The wind howled as he shot downward like a missile, cape billowing behind him. The city streets blurred as he accelerated, faster than any human eye could follow.
And then—
He slammed into the ground.
The pavement shattered beneath him as the shockwave rippled outward, knocking the nearest gunmen off their feet.
Silence.
For one stunned second, everyone just stared.
Then, the terrorists opened fire.
The Fight for New York
Bullets tore through the air—hundreds of them.
Ethan stood his ground.
The gunfire hit his chest—then stopped. The bullets flattened against his skin, falling harmlessly to the ground.
One of the terrorists cursed. "What the hell—?!"
Ethan moved.
In a blur, he was there, grabbing the first gunman by the vest and launching him into the side of a van. Not hard enough to kill—just enough to end the fight.
Another tried to run.
Ethan flew forward, cutting off his escape. "Going somewhere?"
The man swung a knife.
Ethan caught it between two fingers.
Then, with the barest flick of his wrist, he snapped the blade in half.
The terrorist dropped what was left of the knife and ran.
Ethan turned to the rest.
Some were already backing away, realizing they were completely outmatched.
But one—the leader—pulled out a rocket launcher.
He fired.
The missile screamed toward him.
Ethan's eyes glowed.
A blast of heat vision tore through the air, meeting the missile mid-flight.
BOOM!
The explosion rocked the street, but Ethan didn't move. He stepped forward through the smoke, cape fluttering in the wind.
The leader paled. "What… what are you?"
Ethan looked him in the eye.
"I'm Superman."
Then, with one swift motion, he knocked the man unconscious.
The Aftermath
Sirens wailed in the distance. The NYPD and emergency responders were already on their way.
Ethan turned to the civilians.
They were still frozen in shock, cameras pointed at him, phones recording every second.
A reporter stepped forward. "Who… who are you?"
Ethan took a deep breath.
Then, in a voice steady and sure, he answered—
"I am Superman. And I'm here to help."
The World Reacts
The footage spread instantly.
Every news station, every social media platform—within minutes, the world knew his name.
Superman had arrived.
And across the city, inside Stark Tower, Tony Stark leaned back in his chair, watching the footage with a smirk.
"Well," he muttered. "That's new."