The Golden Key Appears
The space station was enormous, easily twice the size of the Fortress of Solitude.
However, the interior facilities were severely damaged, with many areas showing signs of deliberate destruction.
Linda followed Dar to a sealed chamber deep inside.
The hatch opened, revealing a mystical object: a phantom-like, yet real, semi-illusory golden key floating on a pedestal in the center of the room, like something out of a fairy tale.
The key was palm-sized, emanating countless spatial ripples, as if existing in another dimension.
"It really is it!"
"It's exactly as described in the photographs."
"The legendary Golden Key!"
Linda murmured, her astonishment palpable. Though she lacked real-world social experience, she wasn't foolish. Dar's words had been half-truths with many holes, and she had remained secretly vigilant on the way here, ready to strike him down instantly if he made any suspicious move.
But she never expected the Key to actually be on this space station.
Such a precious artifact, located in such a dilapidated place.
"Dar, you..."
He shook his head. "It was already here when I arrived, along with several Kryptonian corpses. I don't know what happened before. Perhaps a Steward brought it, or maybe it was due to some other reason."
"In any case, it has appeared, and it represents the future of Krypton."
Linda hesitated. "Why haven't you taken it away? This place isn't safe."
"The Golden Key exists between reality and illusion. Only a Steward has the ability to touch it. Ordinary people cannot. I tried, but I failed. Clearly, I don't have the aptitude to be a Steward. You are different. As a descendant of the House of El, perhaps you can succeed."
Linda opened her mouth, speaking with great uncertainty.
"I heard the selection of a Steward requires..."
"Krypton is gone. Those rules are obsolete. Try it. It doesn't matter if you succeed or fail."
"O-Okay!"
Linda took a breath, staring silently at the key.
The legendary Golden Key.
It was the mysterious object her father often spoke of in her childhood. It was said that the Golden Key existed between the void and reality, formless and intangible. One end connected to Krypton, and the other connected to the Multiverse. Only Kryptonians with extremely high aptitude were qualified to touch it, and the one who succeeded would become the Steward, serving the Key for life.
Will I become the new Steward?
Various complex thoughts arose, but she suppressed them. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward to the pedestal, reaching out her hand to grasp the legendary Golden Key.
Dar clenched his fists, muttering,
"You must succeed!"
Ambush
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of kilometers from the space station, space suddenly twisted, and invisible waves rippled outward.
A massive, black warship abruptly materialized in the void.
Inside the Main Control Room, General Dru-Zod rested his chin in his hand, his face grim as he stared at the video feed on the large screen.
In the video, the long-haired Kryptonian girl was reaching out to touch the Golden Key. As her fingertips neared the key, the atmosphere grew tense. Faora and the other soldiers stopped their work, all watching the screen.
Since the destruction of Krypton, there had been no Steward.
The orphan of the House of El must have excellent aptitude. Could today be the day...?
Everyone held their breath, their eyes following the movement of her fingers. As her finger passed through the key and landed on the pedestal, sighs rose up one after another. General Zod also closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his expression was calm.
"Begin. Capture Kara. Secure the Fortress of Solitude. And the Earthling—bring him back alive."
"Under your command, General!"
The soldiers accepted the order.
The Traitor
Linda stared blankly at her hand, her eyes clouded with confusion, just as they had been a few days ago.
She failed.
Sure enough, I don't have the potential to be a Steward.
Dar shook his head slightly, walked to the control panel, and raised his hand. Countless gelatinous substances sprayed out from below.
The sudden appearance of the substance startled the girl. Just as she was about to raise her arm, the gel rapidly adhered to her body, covering her entire torso. It quickly hardened, transforming from liquid to solid in the blink of an eye.
"Dar, what are you doing?! Let me go!"
Linda struggled fiercely but couldn't break free. Her entire body, except for her head, was encased in the gel, rigid and immovable, like a figure locked in a mold.
"I apologize. This is the General's command. I must obey."
"Krypton's Generals are all dead! What General are you talking about?"
Dar's face was grim. "General Zod is still fighting for Krypton!"
Zod!
Linda's eyes widened. She suddenly remembered.
Dru-Zod, the military leader of the rebels, the murderer of her uncle Jor-El, and a super-criminal banished to the Phantom Zone prison by the Council.
He's alive?
"After Krypton perished, the Phantom Zone prison lost its power supply, and many criminals escaped, including General Zod and his subordinates. General Zod loved Krypton deeply. Upon learning of its destruction, he searched tirelessly for Kryptonian soldiers scattered across various outposts and swore to rebuild our civilization. We are all his followers."
Linda roared, "I am also a Kryptonian! I also want to rebuild Kryptonian civilization! How dare you do this to me?"
Dar's face was tight, his cheek uncontrollably twitching.
"The key to rebuilding civilization lies in the Codex of Life. The Codex must be in the General's hands, not the House of El's. Your family possesses great wisdom, but you are all weaklings and cowards! Both Jor and your father, Zor, were the same. If they had heeded the General's advice, Krypton would never have been destroyed."
"That's a lie!"
Linda was enraged and yelled, "Don't think I don't know! If we had followed that demon's advice, Krypton wouldn't even have this last sanctuary!"
"You are mistaken."
A deep voice sounded, accompanied by heavy footsteps. A tall, sturdy middle-aged man with black hair, black eyes, and the eyes of a falcon walked in. He was accompanied by his adjutant, Faora, Captain Edwin, and five other Kryptonian soldiers.
Dar stepped forward and saluted.
"General!"
Zod glanced at him indifferently, then walked up to Linda, looking down at her.
"Krypton thrived on strength and was destroyed by weakness. For a race to ascend to a high position and be revered by others, war and conquest are necessary processes. Your father and uncle clearly disagreed. Like those arrogant, corrupt old men, they only knew how to retreat and avoid reality. They lacked the courage to face it."
"The death of Krypton was their doing."
"You are lying! You are the rebel! If it weren't for you, Uncle Jor wouldn't have died!"
Zod scoffed. "A shallow person, just as foolish as your father."
"Faora, take her. Head to the Fortress of Solitude."
"You stay here and guard the Key."
Dar immediately answered, "Under your command, General."
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