Chapter 437: The Kryptonian Threat Arrives
The Aftermath of Themyscira
The trip to Paradise Island was fruitful. Three blocks of Amazon Metal, totaling over 15 kilograms, were more than enough for the subsequent research. As for the Amazons' resentment...
Luke Shaw shrugged, indicating he couldn't care less.
That group of old women, who had hidden away for millennia, had their brains dulled into clubs. They were stupid, yet stubbornly proud, and had no grasp of technology or civilization.
The only thing that could be called trouble was Diana.
Wonder Woman was a demigod, smart, powerful, and armed with artifacts. She would certainly investigate once she learned of her people's plight.
But that was a problem for the future.
For now, Luke Shaw just wanted to properly enjoy life with his two beautiful companions.
General Zod's Arrival
The universe is vast and boundless. The seemingly massive sun is nothing more than a speck of dust within it.
In the space outside the solar system, countless light-years away, an elliptical spacecraft abruptly appeared as intense ripples spread out.
The ship was jet black, inscribed with a line of Kryptonian text on its front, which translated to: Exile, Lonely Kryptonian.
In the cockpit, Dru-Zod, clad in black battle armor, stood before the observation window, quietly gazing at the distant star.
The sun's light shone on him, generating a power within his body that grew stronger and stronger, seemingly endless.
His second-in-command, Faora, walked up. "General!"
"Did you find it?"
"Yes. We have captured the frequency waves released by the Conquest and the Fortress of Solitude. They lead to the habitable planet in this star system."
"Good!"
Zod clenched his fist, slightly impatient. "What is the planet like?"
"It is perfect!"
Faora pulled up a data pad. "The climate is stable, there are no large-scale natural disasters, and the oxygen content is plentiful—nearly 21%, far exceeding Krypton. It also has a remarkably rich ecosystem. It is an exceptional life-bearing planet. Most importantly, the sun..." She looked up, her excitement barely contained.
"The sun here is very young and can provide us with energy constantly. Here, we are invincible."
Zod intently watched the data, not missing a single line. After reading it all, he slammed his fist into the wall.
"Jor, why? You knew about a planet like this, yet you chose to conceal it, sending your son here while ignoring the lives of hundreds of millions of Kryptonians. You deserve to die!"
Zod gnashed his teeth, wishing he could dig up his friend's corpse and expose it to the sun for three days.
Faora equally despised the House of El. If not for their interference, the General's military revolution wouldn't have failed, and Krypton wouldn't have fallen to this state.
Of course, there was also Lex Luthor and Kara Zor-El—especially the former. A native who achieved victory through despicable means. Faora still couldn't forget his smug laughter.
Such humiliation can only be cleansed with blood.
"General, let us begin the operation. We must find the descendants of the House of El, recover the Conquest and the Fortress of Solitude, and use the Codex to rebuild Kryptonian civilization. As for Lex Luthor..." Faora gritted her teeth, hating the very name.
"Please leave him for me to deal with."
Zod nodded, about to speak, when a shadow fell at his feet. A man over two meters tall, with thick hair and a face covered in scars, suddenly materialized before him.
This man was utterly unique. His gray-blue hair swirled around him, and his eyes were dark, like two vortices ready to swallow everything nearby.
His body was incredibly strong, with distinct muscle tone and no excess fat. His chest, abdomen, flanks, arms, back... every part bore scars.
He appeared without a sound, his feet off the floor, suspended in mid-air, like an all-seeing god or a sage weathered by time.
This was a man with a story.
Zod roared, "I warned you—knock next time you enter!"
The man looked down, his tone completely flat.
"This is my ship. I was the one who saved you."
"You..."
Zod gritted his teeth in hatred. If it weren't for the man's strength, he would have executed him under military law long ago.
"I heard your conversation. I have... different ideas."
Faora was startled and couldn't help but ask, "Are you siding with the House of El?"
"Jor was my friend and my mentor. I owe him a debt. I cannot stand by while his children are killed by their own kin. And Kara..." At the mention of her name, the man showed a nostalgic expression.
"I haven't seen her in a long time. I wonder what she has become."
Zod took a deep breath, speaking slowly and deliberately.
"This planet is Krypton's last chance. No matter the cost, I will reclaim the Codex and rebuild Kryptonian civilization here. H'el, whatever you are planning, if you dare to interfere, I will take your life, even if it costs me mine."
The man named H'el lowered his head. His dark eyes were like two black holes. Just a glance made Faora and Zod feel dizzy, as if struck by a hammer. Their faces turned pale.
"I love Krypton just as much as you do. I will go to that planet and convince Kal-El and Kara. Until then, you are forbidden to take any action."
As the words finished, he was gone, appearing outside, flashing like a ghost in the void, then transforming into a streak of light that vanished into the depths of space at unimaginable speed.
Inside the spaceship, a pale Faora supported Zod.
"General, are you alright?"
Zod pushed himself up against the wall, staring fixedly out the window.
"He's gone?"
Faora nodded. "He has left for the planet. He will arrive soon."
"General, what should we do? Should we truly follow his command?"
Zod remained silent. After a long while, he hissed,
"Give him three days."
Hearing this, Faora was inexplicably relieved, with a hint of self-congratulation she didn't even notice herself.
H'el was no ordinary Kryptonian. He was the definition of terror, feared by all the high council for his power and ideology. He was a reformer—more frightening and radical than Dru-Zod.
To combat him, the Kryptonian Council had even ignored the law to forcibly exile him to space.
It was precisely because of this that he had avoided the catastrophe that destroyed Kryptonian civilization.
"To think we were saved by him."
Recalling the days of barely surviving in the space station, Faora was filled with complex emotions: gratitude and fear.
Metropolis
On Earth, in Metropolis!
Luke Shaw's absence did not affect the city of several million people. Citizens still went about their lives, coming and going, occasionally spending time at bars, chatting, and following news about Superheroes.
With the appearance of Batman and Superman, and the unreserved publicity from ShowMe, superhero news gradually became a segment comparable to politics, entertainment, and sports.
Every city had its hero, and Metropolis's representative was undoubtedly Superman.
After years of development, he commanded a large fanbase and had become a legend—an omnipotent myth.
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