Howling with excitement, the one-armed Kryptonian warrior forcibly tore through the restraints and pulled himself out of the treatment machine.
Clutching his severed hand, he continued shouting at his teammates.
"Believe me, I haven't gone mad, and my mind hasn't been influenced. The changes I'm experiencing are real. The sunlight, the air, even the dust in the atmosphere, all of it is helping me!
I can feel a new power developing inside me, something incredibly active. I even feel like I can fly. My body feels lighter, and there's some kind of force field surrounding me. I think I can control it!"
The injured Kryptonian pressed his severed hand against his body and used his remaining arm to support himself.
The next moment, countless instruments and pieces of battle armor around him began vibrating uncontrollably.
His teammates, who had still been skeptical of his claims, immediately stared at him in disbelief when they felt the strange vibrations.
"This... this is the temporary enhancement caused by a yellow-sun grenade?"
"That's right. It looks exactly like the effects of yellow-sun radiation!"
"Are you sure you don't feel any pain?"
"Wait, Earth's star is a yellow sun!"
The questions came one after another, nearly drowning out the one-armed soldier's voice.
The soldier tensed his entire body, fully savoring the sensation coursing through him, before answering his comrades.
"It is the effect of a yellow-sun grenade, but it's completely different!
"When I lost the protection of my armor and came into direct contact with the sunlight and atmosphere of this planet, it was incredibly painful at first. My body went numb, and I couldn't stop twitching.
"But once I endured that initial pain, I felt as though my body were a cup that had been empty for years, and now it was finally being filled!
"By Rao, I'm actually being filled! I've never felt this alive!
"You should try it too. Believe me, the atmosphere here isn't toxic to us. It only hurts a little while our bodies adapt!"
The moment he finished speaking, the one-armed Kryptonian shot into the air.
Whoosh!
His teammates immediately looked up.
He had actually flown.
He hadn't merely jumped or launched himself forward. He was genuinely flying.
Watching him disappear farther into the sky, the others swallowed hard.
"He really... flew."
"He can fly!"
"Earth's sun... can it make the effects of a yellow-sun grenade permanent?"
Their conclusion was correct.
Kryptonians were aware that yellow-sun radiation could affect their bodies. However, their knowledge was extremely limited. They only understood that yellow-sun radiation could temporarily enhance them, provided they endured the accompanying pain.
Because of this, before Krypton's destruction, professional Kryptonian soldiers would often carry at least one yellow-sun radiation grenade as a last resort during dangerous situations.
Kryptonians generally regarded these devices as dangerous weapons with a certain degree of prestige.
When Krypton still existed, every Kryptonian had a predetermined role in society, their occupation assigned through the rigid system established by the Kryptonian Codex.
Most Kryptonians performed their designated duties according to their genetic classifications and lived their lives according to carefully established routines.
Independent thought had already become a rare luxury on Krypton.
As a result, Kryptonian soldiers only understood yellow-sun grenades as emergency weapons. They had never seriously considered what a yellow sun itself could do to their species.
As for Krypton's scientists, the situation was even more complicated.
After the ancient Kryptonians accidentally created Doomsday through genetic experimentation, the resulting catastrophe nearly wiped out their civilization. The Kryptonians subsequently banned most forms of genetic modification involving the fundamental genes of their species.
The biological changes caused by yellow-sun radiation were likewise classified as dangerous by Krypton's scientific establishment, particularly by the Kryptonian High Council.
Consequently, only a tiny number of people on Krypton understood the true effects of a yellow sun on Kryptonians.
Among them were members of Krypton's ruling council, senior scientists, and the House of El.
In other words, Clark's arrival on Earth had never been an accident.
Earth was the world Jor-El had carefully chosen for his son.
That was also why Clark's relationship with his father's projection had developed as it had.
Clark had already realized that his father hadn't sent him to Earth merely so he could survive Krypton's destruction.
Jor-El had wanted to send something far greater to Earth.
A god among men.
And now...
The one-armed Kryptonian soldier soared into the sky, gazing toward the source of his transformation with something close to reverence.
Bathed in the warm sunlight, he raised his severed hand and brought it toward the stump of his arm.
The damage had only grazed his elbow, and because his arm had been bent at the time, he had lost his elbow as well as portions of his upper and lower arm. A small section of his forearm remained attached to the severed hand.
Now, he positioned the hand against the injury.
Immediately, highly active cells surged from the exposed tissue.
As the severed hand approached the damaged arm, more and more cells began reorganizing. They rapidly differentiated into bone cells, macrophages, and other necessary tissues.
Under the sunlight alone, the severed hand actually began showing signs of rapid regeneration.
The soldier closed his eyes and savored the sensation as his body began repairing itself beneath the sunlight.
On the ground in the distance, the remaining Kryptonian warriors also emerged from their landing craft one after another.
They stared upward in disbelief at their injured comrade, who was still missing an arm yet looked as though he were enjoying himself immensely.
Farther away, General Zod and Fiona also heard the sound of flight and looked toward the soldier hovering in the sky.
As they became increasingly certain that something extraordinary was happening to him, Zod's eyes widened.
Then he looked toward the sun above them in disbelief.
The next moment, General Zod made his decision.
He immediately opened his helmet and removed his battle armor.
The black bodysuit beneath it fit his body perfectly. More importantly, its dark surface was well suited to absorbing sunlight.
For a moment, immense amounts of solar energy seemed to pour into his body.
Zod gritted his teeth and endured the intense pain.
Behind him, Fiona hurried to his side and assumed a defensive stance toward Zatanna.
Across from them, Enchantress quickly grabbed Zatanna's hand.
"Zatanna, he's strengthening himself. We have to kill him!
"Look at his soldiers. After coming to Earth, they can absorb the power of the sun and become stronger. Their rate of growth is incredibly fast, even faster than the rate at which my brother and I grow by consuming souls!"
"What?"
Zatanna was startled by Enchantress's words.
She quickly tightened her grip on Enchantress's hand.
"Kill... kill people?
"I can't do that. He said he isn't our enemy anymore!
"Even if we have to continue fighting, I need to make sure they're actually our enemies first.
"If I have to fight and kill someone, I need to make that decision myself!"
"Huh?"
Enchantress stared at Zatanna in disbelief.
"Are you serious, Zatanna? They're aliens. They're an entirely different species. We were never friends to begin with!
"They couldn't gain the upper hand before, so of course they were willing to make concessions. Even if they were willing to negotiate with Mr. Alfred, that doesn't change anything.
"But now their strength is increasing by the second. I can clearly sense the enormous changes sunlight is causing in their bodies.
"Do you really think they won't turn the tables once they become powerful enough?
"If I were you, I wouldn't gamble on whether these aliens will keep their promises.
"Especially not with the butler's life!
"If Boss Axel comes home and doesn't find his butler, what do you think we're supposed to do to make him forgive us?
"Don't be foolish. Even if we use every trump card we have, we're still nowhere near as important to Boss Axel as the butler!"
At that point, Enchantress could not help waving her hands in frustration.
She was already preparing to unleash a barrage of curses on the Kryptonian who was continuing to evolve.
"Sister Enchantress!"
Before she could do anything, Zatanna quickly grabbed her wrist.
"Don't be reckless, Sister. Even if they're bad people, we can't become the villains first.
"At the very least, we have to let them reveal their own intentions before we act!
"I've watched American variety shows for ten years. I know how to seize the moral high ground. I can stand on the moral high ground and condemn them!"
"Huh?"
Enchantress stared at her again.
"Morality... what's that supposed to accomplish in a war?"
Ultimately, Enchantress abandoned the idea of cursing the Kryptonians.
It was already too late.
While the two women were arguing, three figures wearing battle armor had appeared in the distant sky.
As a core operative of the Dead Souls Gang and one of its primary agents in the field, Lex had prepared battle armor for Floyd and Victor as soon as the technology had been developed.
As for Alfred's armor, that had been built privately by Bruce.
According to Lex's reasoning, people who remained in the rear should not have been prioritized when it came to battle armor.
Unfortunately for Lex, Bruce was impossible to control.
Although the battle armor was not as fast as Superman or a Kryptonian, it was still extremely fast.
By the time they entered Zatanna's field of vision, only a few seconds passed before they landed in front of her.
Seeing Alfred land, Zatanna smiled and pulled Enchantress forward.
"Grandpa Alfred, you've worked hard. There seems to be a problem with the Kryptonians. They seem to have become stronger!"
"Oh?"
Alfred narrowed his eyes beneath his helmet.
"It's not a major problem. No matter how strong they become, they will never surpass Axel.
"I cannot imagine anyone capable of truly defeating Master. Axel has the ability to deal with anyone who threatens Gotham."
Alfred spoke with absolute confidence.
Then, ignoring Fiona's wary expression, he approached Zod, who was still enduring the pain of his transformation.
Zod raised his head.
His forehead was covered in bulging veins as he stared at Alfred.
The two exchanged glances.
Alfred was silent for a moment before decisively opening his helmet.
"Hello. I am the Earthling you wished to speak with.
"You may call me Mr. Pennyworth.
"I am also Mr. Axel's butler. Master is currently exploring another universe and was therefore unable to accompany me here to receive you. I ask that you forgive his absence.
"Therefore, if you intend to do something, I suggest you accomplish as much as possible before Master returns. Once he does, he will undoubtedly repay everything you inflict upon us in full.
"Alternatively, if you are rational enough to speak with me regardless of the circumstances, then state your purpose, Kryptonian."
As he finished speaking, Alfred's gaze remained fixed on General Zod, who was gradually recovering from the pain.
Zod met his unwavering stare.
He took a deep breath before glancing toward Floyd and Victor.
The moment they noticed his attention, a mass of shifting metal separated from Floyd's armored shoulder.
The material rapidly transformed into a massive firearm nearly four meters long before aiming directly at Zod.
At the same time, Victor raised both arms.
Two sharp blades flowed from his arm guards, crossing into a defensive position toward Zod.
Seeing their readiness, the final trace of hesitation disappeared from Zod's expression.
He slowly stood upright and stretched his body.
Snap! Snap! Snap!
His joints produced a series of crisp sounds, making Alfred frown.
After stretching, Zod spread his hands and felt the battlefield's breeze against his fingers.
Then, slowly, his body began to rise.
He was floating.
Seeing Zod ascend into the air like a god, Fiona's breathing immediately quickened.
Zod noticed her reaction and nodded toward her.
"Fiona, follow the path our people have begun.
"Earth's yellow sun can indeed transform us. I've confirmed that this transformation is both powerful and sustainable. It can take our bodies to an entirely different level."
"Yes, General!"
Fiona immediately removed her armor.
Wearing only her purple bodysuit, she dropped to the ground and exposed herself to the sunlight just as Zod had done.
At the same time, the other Kryptonians who had been observing their General followed his example.
One after another, they removed their armor and embraced the transformation brought by Earth's yellow sun.
Before long, an entire row of Kryptonians were lying on the ground, resembling a group of stranded prawns.
Watching the large-scale transformation of the Kryptonian forces, Alfred's eyes narrowed.
Then two small-to-medium-sized canisters suddenly emerged from the back of his battle armor.
He tossed one to Floyd and the other to Victor.
The two looked at the butler in surprise.
Alfred smiled faintly.
"Don't worry about them becoming stronger. We have our own secret weapon.
"Young Master Bruce prepared it.
"Of course, Young Master Bruce wasn't preparing for the sudden arrival of the Kryptonians specifically.
"Although I dislike it whenever Bruce prepares for every possible scenario, because his habit of guarding against everything makes him look like a patient from Arkham, I must admit that when one of his preparations happens to fit the situation perfectly, it is incredibly reassuring."
As he spoke, Alfred quietly closed his fingers around a green stone.
Young Master Bruce had purchased the stone the previous night after sending Alfred to Metropolis to acquire it from several people selling unusual stones online.
If Bruce's deduction was correct, then these stones might be the greatest weakness of Clark and his fellow Kryptonians.
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