Listening to the pained, regretful voice of Faora, Heisenberg silently waited.
He knew Faora still needed a moment to mourn.
But the minds of Kryptonian warriors were exceptionally strong—it wouldn't take long for Faora to pull herself together.
And sure enough.
After only a brief moment, Faora raised her head, her confidence fully restored. Still half-kneeling, she spoke to Heisenberg with utter seriousness.
"The past cannot be mended, but the future can still be forged, Your Eminence!
Though we no longer have our former home, under your guidance we have gained new strength.
I believe, without a doubt, that under your leadership we can rebuild Krypton!"
"Then all I can say is—you've put your faith in the right person."
Heisenberg smiled, casually helping the half-kneeling Faora to her feet, then patted the earnest young woman on the shoulder.
"Set the past aside. Our future will be brighter than you imagine.
I know you're deeply attached to Krypton, but we have to admit—Earth is a planet far better suited to Kryptonians than Krypton ever was.
Wouldn't you agree?"
"Of course, Your Eminence. Krypton certainly didn't have a yellow sun like this one!
But the one thing I find hard to accept is that if we don't terraform Earth into a Krypton-like environment, much of our technological tree will lose its purpose.
The lack of materials and the environmental differences would also render our star-core energy-based technology useless.
That would... effectively decommission the vast majority of the technological systems we have left!
Especially our genesis cultivation technology—only a Kryptonian environment perfectly matches our life cradle!
Otherwise, even if we reclaim the Codex from Kal-El, we won't be able to cultivate our people on a large scale!!!"
"I know."
Hearing Faora's words, Heisenberg nodded noncommittally. He had always known why Kryptonians were so fixated on recreating a Krypton-like environment.
Take Zod—the very first thing he wanted to do upon arriving on Earth was to alter its environment.
Or H'El—his entire life's goal was to rebuild Krypton.
The reason wasn't that they couldn't let go of Krypton's environment, nor was it mere nostalgia—that they simply enjoyed living among Krypton's barren landscapes.
It was because Krypton's life cradle technology was designed exclusively for use with a Kryptonian environment.
Southern oranges become oranges, but northern oranges become trifoliate hybrids.
Even fruit has this problem—let alone an undertaking as monumental as creating human life!
But as for this problem...
Faced with Faora's concerns, Heisenberg slowly shook his head.
"I will give you new arrangements for this matter going forward. I don't know what changes Krypton underwent during my long slumber.
But I guarantee—on my Krypton, we will never again use artificial cultivation as the primary means of racial reproduction!
Krypton will rise again, but that rise will not be shaped by technology. Future Kryptonians should never have their entire lives predetermined from the moment of their birth.
Miracles have always rested in the hands of lives possessing infinite possibility—not in artificially manufactured potential!
What Krypton lacks most right now is precisely the miracle of life itself!"
As his words fell, Heisenberg patted Faora on the shoulder once more, then walked past the momentarily dazed female warrior toward the clansmen who were gradually awakening from their struggles.
Watching Heisenberg's figure pass her by, Faora pressed her lips together. She finally understood one thing.
Times had changed...
If General Zod had decided to terminate Krypton's artificial reproduction program, Faora would never have agreed.
Because while Zod was a general, he didn't have the authority to overturn Krypton's traditions!
If he really tried that, his own subordinates wouldn't obey him.
At the end of the day, he had neither the grounds to do it, nor the rationale to explain why he was doing it, nor the jurisdiction to do it!
But when Heisenberg the Elder vetoed the artificial reproduction program, Faora couldn't find a single reason to object.
After receiving Heisenberg's message, Faora had not only reviewed the records but had also learned about Heisenberg's story through the three scholars.
As the final executor of Operation Glory, and the elder with the greatest authority from Krypton's era of natural birth...
How could he possibly, after awakening, continue down the path laid by his former political enemies?
After all, the elders who had decided to abandon natural procreation on Krypton were precisely the doves and political opponents who had exiled Heisenberg to Earth!
Sigh...
Thinking of this, Faora let out a sigh. It suddenly dawned on her that she needed to find time to study the procedures and methods of natural reproduction.
As a woman—and what's more, currently the only woman among the Kryptonian clansmen!
Faora suddenly felt an immense pressure...
As the sole current subject for Kryptonian reproduction, how many children would be appropriate for her to bear?
Ten? Twenty?
No, no, of course that wouldn't be enough. If the partner were Heisenberg the Elder, she could birth an entire combat battalion without any problem!
But... how exactly was she supposed to bear them? How did one even go about bearing children?
She'd never read any books on the subject or learned any knowledge about it!
So troublesome...
But who asked leadership to change...
...
Nearby, Heisenberg walked among his clansmen. With his arrival, those who had yet to awaken began stirring to consciousness one after another.
This was because Heisenberg, using his identity as the Sun God, had regulated the variables of solar radiation for them, greatly increasing their adaptability to it.
Thus, when Heisenberg stood at the center of his people, solar radiation emanated gently outward in all directions from him as the focal point.
Under the influence of this newly generated radiation, one clansman after another levitated into the air, drifting around him on all sides.
These Kryptonian warriors looked at their own hands in astonishment, gazing at everything around them with sheer delight.
They reveled in the exhilaration of floating in midair, utterly overjoyed by the power newly awakened within them!
Hearing his clansmen's excited voices, Heisenberg pressed his lips together and nodded with satisfaction.
"Very good, my clansmen. Even sensing danger, not a single one of you hesitated before my command.
You gave me trust and obedience, and I return to you strength and hope.
As for now—savor fully the changes the sun has brought to you.
As the Sun God, this is my gift to you!!!"
"Yes!"
"Haha!"
"Th-this power...!!"
"Unbelievable!"
"I can fly—truly fly!"
"And just on my own!"
"It's like I don't even need to breathe anymore. I honestly feel like I could drift through outer space buck naked!!!"
These Kryptonians were ecstatic. In the blink of an eye, they began darting and soaring in every direction. Watching his clansmen master flight so quickly made Clark's stomach churn with what felt like gallons of bitter bile!
He—a shut-in who'd soaked up sunlight for thirty-four whole years—had only learned to fly just over four months ago!
His own clansmen were picking it up way too fast!!!
But beneath his sourness, Clark could still roughly gauge his clansmen's strength.
Though they were mastering all kinds of skills far faster than he had, the radiation content within their bodies was still far too low.
Compared to them, he was still Superman. Even if he had a little less oppressive force than before, he was still the strongest!!!
Still...
Thinking of this, Clark couldn't help glancing at Faora. He was basically certain he could defeat the other clansmen—but Faora alone, he wasn't very confident about!
After all, just a few months ago, he had been brutally beaten by Faora when she hadn't even absorbed any sunlight yet.
And that wasn't hard to understand. Faora's genetics carried far less command aptitude than Zod's, but her combat ability was much higher.
Kryptonian generals weren't the strongest fighters—their strategic vision and command ability were the top priorities in their cultivation.
So indeed, Zod genuinely wasn't as combat-capable as deputy commanders and general's guard captains like Faora...
As for who was stronger now between Clark and Faora...
Well, that was a matter of opinion!
Heisenberg suddenly clapped his hands, and the impact, carrying a shockwave, instantly jolted his clansmen out of their excitement.
In an instant, thirty-seven Kryptonian warriors came to a uniform halt before Heisenberg, then collectively dropped to one knee.
They said nothing, remaining silent. But every hero watching this scene knew full well—the moment they received an order, they could instantly become a force capable of sweeping across most planets.
Before this force, Heisenberg nodded and gave his orders in a calm voice.
"Faora, you and the clansmen you brought will form the Elder Guard. You shall serve as its commanding officer.
From this day forward, you will automatically hold all the privileges of the former Elder Council Guard.
You answer only to me, and you obey only my commands.
And now, I command you—accompany Princess Mera of Atlantis to Themyscira, and there master and hone your new abilities!"
"Understood!"
Faora nodded respectfully, then turned proudly toward a stunned Mera and gave a heavy nod.
At the same time, Heisenberg looked back at the heroes and spoke lightly.
"Your training will continue. Right now, you should be delighted—because in addition to a soldier of Apokolips serving as your sparring partner, you've also gained an entire Kryptonian squad as an opposing force!"
"I...?!!"
Arthur's face was completely dumbfounded. He pulled the trident with five prongs from his waist and shot back in shock:
"Am I misunderstanding you? Are you saying we went from getting beaten up by you and Clark... to getting beaten up by thirty-eight Kryptonians and one Apokoliptian?!!"
"Heh..."
Hearing Arthur, Diana laughed teasingly. She strolled over to Steppenwolf, casually hefting the tightly bound New God with one hand, and added:
"You also got beaten up by me and Cyborg. And even with Barry, you couldn't do a thing to him.
Aside from Bruce, I really can't think of anyone among us you can beat!"
"I...!!!"
Arthur was so stung by Diana's words that he nearly coughed up a mouthful of old blood. But even as he fumed, he realized Diana wasn't actually wrong!
That truth made the heavily black-tattooed warrior's face turn pitch-black in an instant.
Heisenberg paid no mind to Arthur's embarrassment. He raised his right hand, and the radiance of the Bifrost burst forth.
Just as they were about to be teleported away, Bruce rushed forward and said to Heisenberg:
"Wait—I don't need to go back to Themyscira. There are still matters in Gotham that need my attention...!"
"Very well!"
Heisenberg nodded. The group vanished in an instant, leaving only Bruce standing alone on that stretch of South American wasteland.
And it was only at this moment that Bruce managed to shout his final words:
"So send me back to Metropolis—...?!!
Huh?!!
Where is everyone?!!"
/-\
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