Marvel: Reincarnated as Superman

Firelight flickered across Daniel’s face, throwing it in and out of shadow.

Daniel’s expression shifted continuously, sometimes smoothing out, sometimes tight with complex tension. He smiled one moment and frowned the next.

Fortunately, only Nadia was beside him at this moment, and she was thoroughly immersed in the long-lost peace her people had just recovered, completely failing to notice his erratic behavior.

Otherwise, she probably would have worried whether Daniel was suffering from some sudden illness.

"I’m sorry," Daniel thought, as old regrets rose to the surface once more.

The lives lost because of him could never be reclaimed. That truth would remain, no matter how many regrets he carried. Daniel had never set out to become the kind of person who left scars wherever he went. The problem was that power had entered his life before wisdom ever had.

Unlike most people, Daniel had never needed to struggle for his strength. It had simply continued to grow, day after day, as naturally as breathing. There had been no insurmountable obstacles to overcome, no rival capable of forcing him to confront his own limits.

His abilities rivaled Superman’s, but he had never possessed Superman’s lifetime of discipline or unwavering sense of responsibility or his noble character, instead he acted like a pure buffoon akin to Shazam. At his core, he was still an ordinary young man who had stumbled into extraordinary power.

For a long time, that hadn’t seemed like a problem.

No one could truly threaten him. Weapons, disasters, even the vacuum of space meant little to him. The universe itself offered almost nothing capable of reminding him that actions carried weight.

People learned quickly to accommodate him. Friends trusted him without question, while enemies chose caution over provocation. Not because they respected him, but because challenging someone they couldn’t stop was simply irrational.

Back on Earth, his loved ones lived under layers of invisible protection. More than once, even those who opposed him found it preferable to keep them safe rather than risk pushing Daniel toward grief or rage.

Across the galaxy, it was much the same. The Kree despised him yet preferred to work from the shadows instead of confronting him openly. Even those with every reason to hate him understood that some conflicts simply weren’t worth igniting.

Without realizing it, Daniel had begun accepting all of this as normal.

Not because he believed himself superior, but because he had never been given a reason to think otherwise. Every problem eventually solved itself through overwhelming strength. Every obstacle disappeared once he pushed hard enough.

Looking back, he realized how little he had actually grown.

Though he had lived through enough years to call himself an experienced man, much of that time had passed without demanding anything from him. He had seen countless worlds and faced countless enemies, yet very few experiences had forced him to reflect on who he wanted to become.

Power had solved his problems, but it had never taught him how to carry it.

Only now did Daniel understand the difference. Strength alone could protect people, but it could never replace judgment, restraint, or compassion. Those were qualities no amount of power could grant.

If this encounter had taught him anything, it was that invincibility was not the same as maturity. For the first time in a long while, Daniel saw himself clearly.

’From this moment onward, I am going to be a good person.’ Daniel declared to himself, and this time, he intended to mean it.

...

"Come on, join the fun."

Quill threw an arm casually around Daniel’s shoulders, holding a flask of fruit wine brewed by the Yaka people as he swayed his head back and forth, humming a random tune.

"Let me tell you a little secret, the ladies here are exceptionally fine. I just felt it earlier; every single one of them has a remarkably stacked figure."

Quill’s breath was thoroughly laced with alcohol, prompting Daniel to push him away with deep aversion.

"I’m not blind. I can see perfectly fine."

Daniel’s vision was far superior to Quill’s. He had already "carelessly" scanned several Yaka women inside and out with absolute clarity.

Daniel allowed himself a brief glance, nothing more. Looking was one thing; acting on it was another. For all his flaws, he was surprisingly old-fashioned when it came to relationships. Since he and Susan had gotten together, he’d never crossed that line.

And no, the incident with the robot absolutely did not count. He refused to entertain arguments to the contrary.

Whenever Daniel returned to Earth, he never ran around chasing women the way Quill did. Besides, soaking up the energy of distant stars left him feeling more than satisfied. Their light wasn’t quite the same as Earth’s sun, but it was close enough. After spending all day absorbing stellar radiation, physical desires rarely occupied his mind.

Quill, on the other hand, seemed incapable of thinking with anything but his hormones. The man had enough restless energy for an entire crew.

For all of Daniel’s flaws, he was at least honest with himself. That small measure of self-awareness was probably the only thing keeping his ego from spiraling completely out of control. Without it, he might never have recognized how much he still needed to grow.

"Come on, cheers." Quill raised his cup toward Daniel.

Daniel smiled slightly, brushing his heavy thoughts aside. Since he had already recognized his errors, he would let the past remain in the past and focus on the future.

What he needed to do right now was properly enjoy the joyful cheers belonging to a hero.

Before taking another sip of wine, Daniel couldn’t help but reassure himself.

At the very least, I’ve done some good along the way, haven’t I? he thought. The reason the Yaka people can laugh, sing, and enjoy their lives today is because of what I did.

"Come on, let’s dance. Look, everyone else is doing it." Quill nudged Daniel again, grinning as he gestured toward the crowd.

"Not happening," Daniel replied without hesitation.

"Don’t tell me you don’t even know how to dance." Quill pointed at Daniel, laughing. "If that’s the problem, I can teach you. Just follow my lead."

Before Daniel could respond, Quill reached out and grabbed his hand. A strange wave of discomfort immediately ran through Daniel.

"Absolutely not," Daniel said, pulling his hand back. "If I’m going to dance, I’m dancing with a woman. I’m not standing here swaying around with you."

Quill tumbled across the ground for a few seconds before popping back up like nothing had happened and immediately rejoining the dance.

Watching Quill twist his massive rear end through his dance moves, Daniel felt that his decision had been profoundly wise. Just look at what kind of dance Quill was performing, just random, chaotic flailing without a shred of rhythm.

If someone asked him to replicate it, it would likely feature an entirely different set of movements.

It perfectly matched Daniel’s inner assessment of Quill’s dancing abilities: pure secondhand embarrassment.

Holding his cup in one hand while gazing upon this joyful scene with the other, a genuine smile gradually bloomed across Daniel’s face. This was truly nice.

"Here, try some. These are our specially crafted dried fruits, they are very delicious."

Nadia, having finally returned from her thoughts, noticed Daniel’s smile and offered him a small platter of deep crimson-black dried fruits.

"Thanks." Daniel picked one up and tasted it. A moment later, his expression softened. "These are really good."

"I am glad you like it."

A radiant smile blossomed on Nadia’s face as well. A distinct flush rested upon her delicate facial features, whether it was from the warmth of the fire or something else entirely.

The Yaka people were undeniably beautiful. Aside from their slightly pointed ears and distinctive green hair, they all shared remarkably smooth, flawless skin, almost as if they had been sculpted rather than born. Even the smallest details seemed refined, with no visible imperfections.

Daniel had, of course, taken a closer look. He was only human, after all.

After finishing the dried fruits, Daniel and Nadia fell into a quiet silence, the conversation tapering off. Daniel was busy reflecting on himself, while it was impossible to tell what was running through Nadia’s mind.

A moment later, Nadia spoke again. A faint blush colored her cheeks as she looked toward Daniel with a shy smile.

"Would you like to dance?" she asked softly. "You don’t seem very familiar with it, so I can teach you. Think of it as a small way for me to thank you for saving us."

Daniel turned his head, gazing at Nadia for a long moment before offering a warm smile.

"Sure."

Daniel didn’t think too deeply about it. Seeing everyone else dancing, he figured it was a good chance to learn a few steps.

When he returned to Earth, he could surprise Susan with something new. They had been together for a long time, and he felt that keeping things fresh was part of what made a relationship special. Besides, learning a new skill never hurt anyone.

Daniel and Nadia stepped onto the dance floor together, moving with the rhythm of the music as the celebration continued around them.