Deep space.
It was pitch black and cold, vast and endless. Stars sparkled like diamonds, slowly igniting across the immense and magnificent sky.
The Kryptonian spacecraft drifted like a colossal beast, lying dormant in a meteorite belt, then suddenly surged forward, piercing into the solar system.
Atop the Kryptonian spacecraft, a transparent shield unfolded, absorbing solar radiation.
"Is this the yellow sun?"
Zod, nearly three meters tall, had his body fully activated by the Destruction Factor present only in the line of Jor-El. His physique was thick, fierce, and exuded a tyrannical aura. Pale, uneven bone armor grew from within, dense white bone protrusions surging outward like tentacles.
Most of his face had mutated into a grotesque and brutal form. His eyes were deeply sunken into his sockets, pupils glowing scarlet with savagery as he stared intently at the sun.
"Jor-El. Barmulodi. No wonder they sought the yellow sun so desperately."
The sunlight passed through the glass shield and gradually gathered on Zod's body, absorbed greedily.
In that moment, he understood why Jor-El and Bardi had come to Earth.
It was not only because Earthlings resembled Kryptonians, but because under the yellow sun, Kryptonians became gods.
They should rule over everything.
Boom!
Zod's skin was rough, uneven, and bore a glint of sharpness. His massive hands were as broad as fan-shaped blades.
He could feel the solar energy pouring into him, his body absorbing it at an insane rate. The Destruction Factor surged through every cell, violently transforming him.
Countless waves of madness and brutality raged through his thoughts, overwhelming his mind with fury and hatred.
That hatred stemmed from having been used by Jor-El, a childhood friend.
And by Barmulodi, who had started the war that doomed Krypton.
Huff...
Zod's muscles twisted like ancient tree roots, firmly embedded in his form. Sharp, jagged bone spurs tore through his skin.
His eyes, bloodshot and filled with rage, flared as he exhaled, completing his first solar-driven genetic evolution.
"Barmulodi!"
Endless hatred and murderous intent surged through him. His blood-red eyes burned with ferocity.
Boom!
Zod smashed his fist against the deck of the ship. The alloy floor—built for space travel—was incredibly strong, but his strike punched a deep crater into it.
The entire spacecraft lurched violently, veering off its course. Several meteorites, each over ten kilometers in size, struck the vessel head-on. The energy shield flared, barely absorbing the impacts.
A shrill alarm echoed throughout the ship.
Zod clenched his jaw, baring his teeth in a twisted snarl. His thick neck trembled as he fought to regain control, breathing heavily, fists clenched tightly.
He still retained his reason. If not, he would have already torn through the hull.
The moment he was exposed to sunlight, the flood of rage and bloodlust had nearly overwhelmed him. His body's instinct to kill and destroy everything had almost drowned out his mind.
But now was not the time.
He had not yet faced Barmulodi.
The glory of Krypton had not yet been reclaimed. He could not allow himself to become a mindless beast.
His scarlet eyes, filled with brutality, turned toward the ship's front.
Toward the blue planet.
Sunlight illuminated his massive, bone-spurred, monstrous form.
...
On Earth.
Bardi did not hide the approach of the Kryptonian spacecraft. Instead, across every corner of the world—through the internet, car radios, public square screens, and television broadcasts—footage of the approaching Kryptonian ship was displayed.
Today, with ultra-long-range surveillance, the massive Kryptonian spacecraft could finally be seen clearly. It surged forward like a great beast. Its blue diamond-shaped energy shield smashed into a ring of planetary debris, plowing through it.
It moved like an arrogant, unstoppable fortress, crashing through the meteorite stream near Pluto's orbit. Sparks burst like fireworks each time a meteorite struck the shield, exploding as if under artillery fire.
It carved a path through the meteorite belt, its diamond-shaped energy shield gleaming like a set of fangs, emanating cold, merciless power.
People across Earth, whether shopping in public squares or watching from home, stared at screens in shock. On televisions, computers, and mobile phones, they witnessed the incoming vessel.
To them, it felt like something out of a sci-fi movie—unbelievable and terrifying. A spacecraft traveling through interstellar space, hurtling toward Earth, sent a chill of panic through humanity.
"This spaceship is insane!"
"It's like something out of a science fiction movie!"
"A ship 300 kilometers wide… it could carry the legacy of an entire civilization and travel the stars."
"It's an enemy of the planet, no doubt."
"Given its size and distance, the energy required to power it must be astronomical. Its weapons—maybe even star-killing cannons—could destroy the Earth."
Someone's scalp tingled as they spoke, and the internet exploded with debate and fear. If this ship intended to destroy Earth, there was no doubt it could.
Humans across the globe trembled with unease, goosebumps rising, a chill crawling down their backs.
"If humanity hadn't been unified by Barmulodi, what could we possibly use to resist a ship with this level of interstellar technology?"
"Even Barmulodi's genetic warriors… can they really stop it?"
"This is the first ship ever to cross interstellar space. Its weaponry probably can't even be survived by living beings."
"What if the Empire of Barmulodi ends up dragging humanity into the abyss?"
"Is our new majesty really going to fight this spaceship with just flesh and blood?"
"Even if he can fly and is bulletproof, could he survive a strike from such a ship's main cannon?"
On the internet, voices were filled with doubt and fear.
The approach of the Kryptonian ship had sparked worldwide panic.
Even with Bardi towering above them, holding up the sky, the people were still afraid.
They had yet to witness his true power.
They had yet to understand…
Their king was a being capable of destroying stars.
(To be continued.)