137 The Death of Zod & The Missing Kryptonians
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David raised his eyebrow in surprise when he saw the towering armor controlled by Batman could actually shake Faora.
Bang!
Faora was sharply yanked over by Batman's grappling hook. With her superb skills and flexibility, she retaliated with an upward punch. Her terrifying power condensed the air into substance, causing waves upon waves of force.
Yet, the massive armor was like a seasoned martial arts master, without hesitation. It carried a sense of profound and imposing strength, countering her attack. The armor then retaliated with a punch that smashed her onto the roof.
"Who are you?"
The entire building shook. Faora frowned, her eyes emitting heat rays that blasted onto the armor's chest. Under the immense force, the armor was pushed back but did not sustain significant damage.
'The strength of this alloy used to build this armor is almost on par with the Kryptonian armors.'
Furthermore, this armor reminded her of David, as it could also absorb energy.
"A human."
Faora thought it was another alien meddling in this matter, but Batman, in his typical cold and concise manner, responded through the armor. Flames jetted from the back of the armor, raising its gigantic fist, charging at Faora.
Boom!
Breaking the sound barrier, they soared into the distance, pursuing Zod and Clark. In mid-air, David cast a final glance before turning his gaze away.
'Promethium metal, Fenrir Armor...'
The scene where the armored suit absorbed heat vision seemed familiar. He identified the raw material of Batman's suit as the same as the military's Zero armor used to deal with him at that time.
Both were made of depleted Promethium metal, with a body that could absorb energy.
With the ability to confront head-on with Kryptonians and its unique design, David remembered one of Batman's powerful armored suits from the comics - the Fenrir armor.
'Though the suit isn't complete, it should temporarily hold Faora off.'
He sped across the city's skyline.
Fenrir, a monster from Norse mythology capable of devouring the GodKing Odin, was the source of the name of Batman's high-tech armor, designed as one of his means to counter the Justice League if they went rogue. It featured defenses against superhuman strength, red sun radiation to counter Kryptonians, a system to calculate the Flash's trajectory, and the ability to create illusions to confuse Wonder Woman.
Even though it was undoubtedly not complete at the moment, it had the foundation of formidable capabilities.
As for how Bruce Wayne obtained the classified Promethium metal from the military, David didn't question it. It must have been the boring money-making ability of the Bat.
He retrieved a vial of Kryptonite solution from his belt and applied it to his hands.
Boom!
At the city's edge, two blurred figures clashed violently. The shockwaves from their punches shattered the glass of surrounding buildings, sending the terrified crowds below fleeing for cover.
"Kal-El, you're a Kryptonian. With the central codex, we can rebuild Krypton, even if it's been destroyed."
Zod relentlessly attacked, his fists flying like a hurricane. The son of Jor-El was undeniably a Kryptonian, but why was he helping Earth and its inhabitants, who shared nothing in common with Kryptonians except their appearance?
"You traitor! Do you realize that all the powers you possess are given to you by Krypton!"
He grabbed a steel beam from a rooftop construction site and swung it with a mournful howl, aiming it squarely at Clark.
"All I know is that I grew up on Earth, adopted by my parents as an orphan from another world. They gave me warmth, raised me into adulthood, and cared about my thoughts even more than they did for my brother, their own flesh and blood."
The scorching heat vision instantly melted the steel beam into droplets of molten iron. Clark shouted in anger,
"You want to destroy the Earth, unleash a massacre, I will never allow it!"
He mustered all his strength to send Zod flying.
Zod was sent reeling but stabilized himself using his bio-field. He raised his fist like a taut bowstring, ready to fight once more. However, a powerful figure soared in from another direction, and Zod saw the green in David's hands. He widened his eyes in shock and anger, attempting to turn and escape.
A powerful gravitational field bound his body. He felt like he was sinking in quicksand, and his lightning-fast movements became sluggish.
"Zod, let's stop here!
Earth will forever be the world of humans!"
"No!"
The figure with a purple glow shot like a meteor, and Zod roared with anger and fear.
As a warrior, he never feared death, but if he died, Krypton would be completely gone, with no hope of rebuilding.
"Krypton, my people!
I going to kill you!"
There was no escape for Zod. With a heart full of sorrow, rage, and reluctance, he struck with a fierce intent to kill.
Why did fate thwart his plans to rebuild Krypton?
Kal-El was the son of Jor-El. He had considered that Kal-El, being much stronger than an average Kryptonian, would try to stop his plan. But the appearance of this person was an unexpected variable!
Aside from the Kryptonian orphan, why did another powerful unknown species emerge on this small planet?
Boom!
David and Zod's fists collided with each other's heads.
Zod seemed like a fired projectile as he pierced through a large building and crashed into the ground on another street, leaving a deep crater.
"The wailing of the defeated."
David's figure remained untouched, and he looked at Zod in the distance, whose seven senses were bleeding and had a severe concussion. He spoke slowly,
"Not very dignified, Zod."
Zod, his breathing labored, saw the world before him blurred in shades of blood red. He heard David's mocking words, and a weak spark of resistance flashed in his eyes. However, his head drooped weakly, and he stopped breathing.
The radiation from the Kryptonite solution hit Zod the moment they got close, stripping him of his strength and making him unable to withstand another punch from David.
The former highest military commander of Krypton had died on an alien world, killed by a young life form with a single punch.
"Is he dead?"
Clark flew over, somewhat complex, and looked at Zod's lifeless body through the hole in the building.
Although Zod aimed to slaughter Earth, it was for the sake of Krypton. Clark could truly sense Zod's loyalty and love for the Kryptonian race, and as a Kryptonian himself, he stood on the opposite side and shattered Zod's hopes.
"That you set just now was quite dramatic and cringe."
"But I don't really agree with Mom and Dad caring more about your thoughts. It's just that you make them worry too much."
David looked at Clark and patted his shoulder, and Clark felt a bit uncomfortable. He coughed and looked away, not expecting David to hear what he said.
"General!"
Batman's Fenrir armor wasn't in perfect shape, and while it held its own against Faora briefly, when she used her super speed, he found himself struggling. Faora managed to escape, and he now chased her.
Upon seeing Zod's lifeless body, Faora couldn't believe it and went berserk with grief and rage.
"I will make you all pay for the General's death!"
With Zod, the hope of rebuilding Krypton also died. David and Clark, along with Batman who caught up with them, quickly broke Faora's armor, ending with David punching her in the face.
Bang!
Faora fell unconscious to the ground.
Unlike Zod, they didn't deliver a lethal blow, like how David had spared other Kryptonians before. David wanted this group of people to provide him with emotional points.
'The emotional points of one Kryptonian can replace hundreds of Amazons, and a few dozen of them are worth tens of thousands of Amazons. If I were to lock these few people in a specially designed prison exposed to red sun radiation, having them resent me for destroying their hope of rebuilding Krypton is worth one Themyscira.'
As for why he had killed Zod without mercy,
'Zod is a natural-born leader determined by Kryptonian genetics. If he is kept alive, no matter where he's held, he'd lead these Kryptonians in repeated jailbreaks.'
He reached down and lifted the unconscious Faora from the ground, his expression cold.
Zod was dead, and this group of Kryptonians, accustomed to obeying others, lacked a true leader; had no backbone and he was not afraid of them causing any more trouble.
"Are you that Blue Hood?"
The three of them slowly landed, Batman sitting in his Fenrir armor, scrutinizing Clark with an icy tone as if confirming an important question.
When the Purple Light Man emerged into public awareness, Batman recognized David at a glance from his distinct features. Later, based on the connection between Purple Light Man and Superman, he guessed that Clark might be the Blue Hood who had visited his mansion with David.
"Are you…?"
Observing the advanced and powerful mech, Clark was puzzled. Although his supervision allowed him to see through objects, he wouldn't casually use it on others if it wasn't necessary.
"He's the Bat in Gotham."
David reminded.
"Look at this city screaming in agony, Superman.
Though it wasn't your intention, these people can be considered to have died because of you."
From David's words, it was indirectly confirmed that Superman was indeed the Blue Hood who felt awkward and embarrassed about coming without receiving an invitation that day. Batman seemed to let down some of his guard and, before leaving, turned to speak solemnly.
"Every time you fly over this city, don't forget the debt you owe to this city!"
Clark's super hearing could clearly pick up the chaos and misery in the city at this moment, and he fell into silence.
On their way out of the city during the battle with Zod, they inevitably caused further destruction and claimed more lives.
Clark tried his best to save everyone, but he was unable to do so.
Zod's arrival led to a massive battle that nearly destroyed half of Metropolis. This incident should have been the catalyst for Batman to become even more determined and prepared to deal with Clark, but now Bruce Wayne's heart did not seem to be developing that way…
There didn't seem to be that level of animosity in Bruce Wayne's words. Instead, it was a somber reminder, a hope to make Clark remember this as a lesson and always remain vigilant, prepared for disasters, and not veer down the wrong path.
Clark clenched his fists, said nothing, and looked into the distance.
Seeing Clark's reaction, David's eyes twitched slightly, and he felt slightly sad in his heart.
'This might be good for Clark in some way.'
Although to some extent, it was him who told Clark about the Kryptonian ship in the Arctic, leading to all of this.
But when you think about it, the casualties in this Metropolis are far fewer than what was in the original plot, so he didn't feel much of a burden.
'Clark often suffers in the comics, even facing life-threatening situations multiple times because he's too lenient with his enemies. If this disaster can help him develop a habit of going all out, it's not a bad thing.'
David counted, and in just this month, Clark had found himself in very dangerous and embarrassing situations more than once.
Dealing with the remnants of Kryptonians, particularly the ones who could master their powers like Zod and Faora, was not the end of it. David and Clark quickly flew back to the Moon to prepare to subdue the remaining Kryptonians.
But when they returned to the Moon...
On the desolate, icy surface of the Moon, the World Engine floated silently, and two Kryptonians were missing among the unconscious Kryptonians.
Standing on the lunar surface, David frowned.
Each Kryptonian's power was not to be underestimated, and letting one of them escape could spell trouble for Earth.
After boarding the ship, David had used his gravity field to keep track of the number of Kryptonians.
But now...
"What's wrong?" Clark looked at his brother, confused, and asked after seeing his expression.
After using his gravity field to search for them and coming up empty, David gazed into the distance on the lunar surface, squinting his eyes.
"It seems like a rat sneaked in while we were fighting Zod and took two people from here."
If it were Kryptonians who had woken up on their own, it wouldn't just be the two people who disappeared from here.
"Here? The Moon?"
Clark looked surprised and suspicious.
With today's Earth technology, it's not possible for someone to freely roam on the Moon.
"Who did this?" The disappearance of the two missing Kryptonians immediately made Clark's expression serious, realizing the gravity of the situation.
"If you want to know the answer to that question, I'll have to borrow your spaceship key," David said.
Through the gravity field sensing, they discovered that some of the interior doors of the massive Kryptonian mothership had been violently damaged, indicating that someone had broken into the ship with intentions to steal Kryptonian technology.
However, it appeared he had not succeeded. There was a huge treasure in front of him but he could not get it. The main control console had been punched, leaving a dent, and then the intruder had left with two unconscious Kryptonians.
"But for now, let's bring the spaceship and these Kryptonians back to Earth."
David and Clark immediately transported the mothership and the Kryptonians back to the Arctic. They then rushed back home to reassure their parents and prevent them from worrying further.
Jonathan and Martha were relieved to see their two sons safely return, and the stone in their hearts dropped.
After hearing the story from their sons, and witnessing the coverage of the disaster on TV, the couple, although filled with sadness and a heavy heart, reassured their sons not to feel guilty about the situation.
Jonathan patted both of their shoulders and said seriously, "David, Clark, you've done your best."
After comforting their parents, the two returned to the Arctic.
Kryptonians have more weaknesses than just Kryptonite; they are also vulnerable to red sunlight, which drains their powers. Creating a prison that emits red sunlight isn't a particularly high-tech endeavor.
David issued the command, and Atlantis created it in less than a day.
Then, David and Clark temporarily imprisoned Faora and the other Kryptonians in the Fortress of Solitude, the massive Kryptonian exploration spacecraft.
…
"...I never expected to see another Kryptonians besides Kal-El."
Jor-El had a complex expression as he looked at the projection screen, watching Faora and the other Kryptonians in the prison.
The Kryptonians were separated and placed in individual cells, wearing mouth restraints, and their limbs were securely locked to iron beds, preventing them from communicating with each other and eliminating any possibility of escape.
David was somewhat surprised and rubbed his chin.
Kryptonian technology had indeed reached the pinnacle of the universe. Without prior knowledge, he wouldn't have been able to tell that the being before him was just an artificial intelligence.
'However, the replication of personality and memories can be considered as a way to continue Jor-El's life in another form.'
"Kal-El told me some things. Please convey my thanks and respect to your parents, David."
Jor-El turned his head and said seriously, "Even Laura and I couldn't have raised Kal-El any better."
"I will, Uncle El."
David nodded. "The Kryptonians here will be troubling you."
"There are a few mechanical guardians on this ship," Jor-El reassured them. "They are enough to monitor them who they are powerless."
"Father, two weakened and unconscious Kryptonians were taken away. They may have fallen into the hands of someone who intends to control or study them.
We would like your help in examining the surveillance data from the other mothership."
These captured Kryptonians were no longer a threat, and Clark took a step forward, addressing another more pressing matter at hand.
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(~˘▾˘)~Don't forget to send your power stones!~(˘▾˘~)
T/N: This novel is finished in the RAW at 210 chapters. I thought it would go to be like 600-700 chapters like other CN fics, but this was a short one. I didn't really like the ending, it was a quick one without any foreshadowing to the end[and without romance😔]. So I'm thinking of first completing all the RAW chapters and then writing some slice-of-life and romance chapters to practice my writing(Though I don't think they will be good, give some ideas for them). :)
