Boom!
Accompanied by a sharp sonic boom, the figures of Superman, Alex, and Kara vanished from the spot.
The small spacecraft Kara had arrived in disappeared as well, taken along by Superman.
The next instant—
They appeared in the vast Arctic, standing outside a crystal fortress of incredibly sleek and futuristic design.
Superman took out the key, opened the Fortress of Solitude, and led the three of them inside.
---
Buzz!
Jor-El's holographic figure appeared immediately.
"Kal… Alex, you're here as well."
Jor-El was briefly surprised to see Alex, but quickly greeted him.
Even to Jor-El, Alex could be considered an "old friend." This was far from his first visit to the Fortress.
"I already know what happened," Jor-El continued. "I never imagined that even Darkseid would be eliminated by you. He was an extremely troublesome existence."
Jor-El naturally knew who Darkseid was.
Even at Krypton's peak, they hadn't dared to provoke such a being lightly. His overall power was in no way inferior to Krypton's civilization.
And yet—
Such a cosmic tyrant had actually fallen at Alex's hands.
When Jor-El first learned this from Superman, he had been genuinely shocked.
---
"Someone as ambitious as Darkseid was always destined to die by his own ambitions," Alex replied casually, as if speaking of something insignificant.
"Even if I hadn't killed him, he would've perished sooner or later."
"And who is Darkseid?"
Kara spoke up, completely at ease, asking curiously from the side.
Jor-El finally turned his attention to Kara and carefully examined her.
Although it was unclear by what method he did so, Jor-El possessed that capability—another testament to Kryptonian technology being far beyond Earth's.
In an instant, he discerned Kara's bloodline.
This girl was his niece.
---
"Kara?"
"How are you here?!"
Jor-El was immediately stunned.
"Uncle Jor, did you only just notice me?" Kara puffed out her cheeks in mild annoyance.
"Father… she isn't really—"
How could Superman not understand what was happening now?
A powerful urge to curse rose in him as he immediately leaned toward Jor-El for confirmation.
"Kal, let me introduce her properly," Jor-El said solemnly.
"This is your cousin—Kara."
Superman's mouth twitched slightly.
He glanced at Kara, who was looking at him smugly, and felt uncomfortable all over.
This girl really was his cousin.
That was absurd.
A cousin younger than him?
---
"See, Kal-El?" Kara tilted her head, teasing him playfully. "I told you I'm your cousin. Got nothing to say now, do you?"
What could Superman say except shake his head and smile bitterly?
"Kara," Jor-El asked, "what exactly happened? Why are you here?"
Kara briefly explained to Jor-El how she'd been trapped in the Phantom Zone.
At last, everything was clear.
This youthful-looking girl was indeed Superman's cousin.
---
"Kara, in that case," Jor-El said earnestly, "you should settle on this planet and live here peacefully."
Their world was gone.
Both couples—the brothers and their wives—had perished.
Only Kara and Kal remained of the family.
Naturally, the two cousins would rely on each other here on Earth.
Fortunately—
Earth was a planet full of hope, one worthy of becoming Kara's new home.
---
"Congratulations, Clark," Alex grinned, waggling his eyebrows. "Reunited with family—truly something to celebrate."
Superman: "..."
He was happy about the reunion.
It just… didn't quite match the reunion he'd imagined.
---
"Well then," Alex said, "I won't disturb your family time."
"Clark, Jor—goodbye."
"And Miss Kara as well."
With the excitement over, there was no reason to linger in this world any longer. Alex had already spent quite some time here.
Supergirl Kara, like Superman, Batman, and the others, would face countless events in the future.
Alex was sure there would be plenty of missions to trigger later.
But—
Right now, Kara still looked like a girl in her early teens.
He'd probably have to wait a few years before harvesting anything worthwhile.
After saying his goodbyes, Alex didn't delay any further.
He returned directly to the Marvel world.
Back to Krakoa.
---
"The Emperor has returned!"
"Emperor Alex is back!"
The news spread instantly, and the entire island of Krakoa erupted in excitement.
Mystique, Charles, Erik, Hank, the White Queen, and other key mutant leaders all gathered around Alex at once.
"You're improving, Alex," Mystique joked with a smile. "You were only gone a little over a year this time."
Although Alex's stay in the DC universe hadn't been short, compared to previous trips, it really was relatively quick.
"Wait a second!"
Emma Frost stared straight at Alex, as if she'd noticed something. "Alex, you've changed—a lot."
Charles, Erik, and the others glanced at one another and nodded in agreement.
Alex simply smiled, saying nothing.
His time in DC hadn't been long, but the gains had been enormous.
His power had increased dramatically—and the mutants could all sense it the moment he appeared.
---
"How is everyone?"
"How is Krakoa?"
After brief greetings, Alex began asking about the island's situation.
"Excellent. Everything is excellent."
"We're doing well, and so is Krakoa," Charles replied with a smile.
Krakoa was already the strongest power on Earth.
And with Alex stationed here, who would dare provoke them?
Even rogue superpowers like the United States behaved themselves in front of Krakoa, not daring to make a single reckless move.
After all—
The entire world knew Alex had a terrible temper.
Provoke him once, and he'd retaliate tenfold.
If you don't offend him, he won't offend you.
If you do—
He'll repay you a hundred times over.
That was Alex's way.
---
"Everything's good?"
"Then that's perfect."
Alex nodded in satisfaction, a pleased smile spreading across his face.
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