Kara barely had time to react when Zod's blade flashed again. Instinct took over; she raised her hand to block the strike. But instead of the crushing force she expected, the blow felt light — almost weightless.
Her fingers pushed forward, and to her shock, Zod's arm bent back unnaturally. The blade twisted, reversing its path, and in one swift motion, pierced straight through his own eye and into his brain.
Even a Kryptonian couldn't survive that.
Zod's body froze in midair, eyes wide open, the fire in them extinguished in an instant.
Kara's hands remained where they were, trembling. Her mind went blank as she stared at the lifeless general. The echo of his final words replayed in her mind: You must rebuild Krypton.
He had chosen death — not out of fear, but out of conviction.
For a moment, Kara could hardly breathe. The man she despised, the war criminal who had destroyed her cousin, had taken his own life to remove the hatred that bound her. Even in his final act, Zod had clung to the dream of restoring their people.
Slowly, Kara released his arm. The body drifted toward the blazing Sun, weightless and silent. She watched as it burned to ash in the heat, disappearing like a fading star.
The resistance in her heart dissolved. Even someone as corrupted as Zod could die for a cause.
She exhaled softly, not in triumph, but in sorrow.
"Here, take this."
Malrick floated beside her, holding out a dark suit. His expression was calm but respectful. "It's a Kryptonian battle suit. I found it aboard Zod's ship before it was destroyed."
Kara accepted it, her eyes tracing the suit's sleek black surface. The material shimmered faintly under the sunlight, tough yet flexible.
"It's the same type worn by Krypton's soldiers," she murmured.
Malrick nodded and turned his back so she could change. "I thought you'd prefer it to the old nightgown."
"Thank you," she said quietly.
A few moments later, Kara's voice came again, steadier now. "I'm done."
Malrick turned around, and his gaze softened. The suit fit her perfectly — its dark lines tracing her form, blending elegance and strength. No longer the frail figure from before, Kara now looked every bit the warrior she was meant to be.
"You look strong," Malrick said with a faint smile. "And beautiful."
Kara blinked, caught off guard by the compliment.
He continued, "What are your plans now? Will you settle on Earth? Or do you still want revenge on the one who imprisoned you before you decide?"
Kara hesitated, thinking carefully. "The one who locked me away was a bald man. I'll find him. But…" she paused, her expression clouded. "I don't know if I should stay on Earth. Everyone I've met here seems… cruel."
Malrick nodded slowly. "The bald man you're talking about is Lex Luthor. He's the President now. If you want to find him, you'll have to be careful — he has power, and he uses it well."
He looked at her seriously. "As for people, Earth has both good and bad. You just have to find the right ones. I'm not from this Earth either."
Kara turned toward him, puzzled. "Not from this Earth?"
"That's right," Malrick said simply. "I came from another universe. I'm here looking for something."
"What is it?"
"The Life Codex," he answered without hesitation.
Kara froze. "You want the Life Codex too? Is that why you saved me?"
Malrick met her eyes. "That's not wrong. But even if you didn't have it, I still would've saved you."
"Why?" she asked softly.
He gave a small, nostalgic smile. "Because I once knew someone like you. In my universe, I had a friend — a Kryptonian. His cousin was named Kara too."
Her chest tightened. A strange mix of warmth and melancholy stirred inside her. She was special… yet not. Saved for who she was, and yet, perhaps, for someone she reminded him of.
Still, his gaze held no deceit.
"And what do you want the Codex for?" she asked. "To rebuild Krypton in your world?"
Malrick shook his head. "There are no Kryptonians in my universe. I need the Codex as a foundation — to study Kryptonian genes, to become stronger. It's the key to something I'm building."
Kara's brows furrowed. "You plan to modify your own DNA? That's dangerous. You could lose yourself — turn into something else entirely."
"I know," he said quietly. "A Kryptonian who tampers with their genes recklessly could become a monster — like Doomsday."
Her eyes widened at the name.
Malrick spread his hands slightly. "But I'm not reckless. I've prepared for it. Even if something goes wrong, I have a failsafe."
"What kind of failsafe?"
He smiled faintly. "Watch."
Before she could react, his body began to disintegrate. Light flared across his armor as his form broke apart into glowing particles that scattered through the void.
"Malrick!" Kara's voice cracked, her usual composure breaking into panic.
And then, in an instant, the particles gathered again. His form reassembled, whole and alive before her eyes.
He stood there as if nothing had happened. "See? I can self-destruct if necessary. My body rebuilds itself automatically. So, no matter what happens, I won't lose control."
Kara's mouth fell open. "You… you were completely gone."
He chuckled softly. "And yet, I'm back."
Her mind raced. "You're not… Rao, are you? The Kryptonian god?"
Malrick laughed quietly. "No. Not even close."
Kara's shock gradually gave way to an odd calm. He was powerful — far beyond what she had imagined — but he didn't feel dangerous. For the first time since she'd escaped captivity, she wasn't afraid.
Malrick extended his hand toward her. "I promise I'll be careful. When I extract the Codex, I'll use the gentlest method possible. It won't hurt you or damage your cells. I just need to study it for a while. After that, it's yours again — you can use it to rebuild Krypton."
He paused, his tone sincere. "And when that time comes, I'll help you."
Kara stared at his hand. Trust wasn't something that came easily to her anymore. Luthor's betrayal had carved deep scars into her heart.
But Malrick had saved her — twice. And when he looked at her, his eyes carried no deceit.
Maybe that was enough.
She reached out slowly, placing her palm against his. "I'll lend you the Life Codex."
Malrick smiled in relief. "Thank you, Kara. You've given me a chance — and I won't waste it."
For a long moment, they floated side by side near the burning star.
Two strangers from different worlds, bound by one fragile thread of trust.
_____
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