Chapter 1: Arrival on Earth
Solar System.
A spacecraft... no, to be precise, stripped down to its bare essentials for maximum escape velocity, it was merely a shuttle-type escape pod, its energy reserves nearly depleted.
Inside the pod, a cryogenic chamber lay.
As the urgent alarm beeped incessantly, a black-haired youth, resembling a mummified corpse, slowly opened his eyes within the cryogenic chamber.
Upon detecting the awakening of an organic lifeform, the white mist within the chamber began to recede, followed by the slow, powerful thud of a heartbeat echoing through the chamber.
The cryogenic chamber's lid slid open, and moments later, a pale, strong hand emerged, stirring the lingering mist as it gripped the edge of the sliding lid.
So... so stiff.
Luka's brainwaves gradually surged back to life.
How long have I been frozen?
Suddenly, a dull ache, like countless ants gnawing at his flesh, slowly crept across the youth's body.
Several massive, jagged wounds stretched diagonally from his right shoulder to his abdomen. Within the twisted grooves, the injuries were encrusted with crimson crystals that crackled faintly with each stiff movement.
Luka's heart, severely strained and partially pierced, struggled to pump the remaining blood through his body as his nervous system revived. With this renewed circulation came a pain so intense it would have made an ordinary person faint.
But Luka's face remained impassive, as if this agony were commonplace. He even managed to push himself up slightly, using his free hand to briefly assess his injuries.
To escape that nightmarish environment, Luka had paid a terrible price. After killing several older participants in the coming-of-age ceremony, he seized an escape ship not belonging to Viltrum and fled into the void.
Though Viltrum's ships were equipped with advanced medical repair systems, Luka couldn't risk using them. He feared the ruthless Viltrumite warriors would recover from their civil war, track his ship's signal, and hunt him down as a traitor to their world. His only option was the escape ship prepared by the remnants of a shattered civilization, a vessel already half-destroyed by the bloody coming-of-age ritual.
To further evade pursuit, he abandoned the ship mid-journey, transferring to a crudely modified escape pod. He even managed to move a cryogenic chamber into the pod to prevent his injuries from worsening during the long voyage through space.
The trade-off was that Luka's injuries showed no improvement. As soon as the cryogenic freeze ended, the massive wound spanning his chest and abdomen began to deteriorate again.
And that wasn't all.
Over fifty shattered bones, a right thigh completely twisted and severed save for a sliver of skin, a spinal column hanging by a thread, a throat torn apart, half his skull sheared off, and a small amount of brain tissue lost...
At least twenty life-threatening injuries across his body.
But these wounds wouldn't kill a Viltrumite.
Especially one descended from that legendary warrior who had distinguished himself so remarkably during the civil war.
After groping around for a while to assess his condition, Luka paused to rest and regain his strength. As the cryogenic effects gradually wore off, he pushed himself up to a sitting position, bracing against the edge of the cryogenic chamber.
The chamber faced the escape pod's main cockpit window, and a vibrant blue planet was reflected in his bloodshot eyes.
An overwhelming sense of hope surged within Luka.
Finally!
Damn you, Viltrum!
I traveled back too early. Viltrum probably hasn't even finished its civil war yet, and Earth certainly won't have any Omni-Men or Invincibles capable of threatening me.
Luka thought excitedly.
Although this premature arrival had subjected him to over a decade of hardship, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement as he prepared to return to his weak "homeland."
At this point in time, Earth lacks powerhouses like Omni-Man, Invincible, and Atom Eve from the original stories. Even the bootleg Justice League hasn't formed yet. The only one who could pose a threat to me is that Immortal Man.
Earth was documented in Viltrum's databases.
A planet assessed to be centuries away from even reaching a standard-level threat, it wasn't even worth the effort of conquering.
Luka's plan was flawless.
With a few simple lies, he could recover from his injuries on Earth.
No one could stop him from enjoying life. If Immortal Man dared to oppose him, Luka wouldn't hesitate to resort to dirty tactics. Like ambushing and killing Immortal Man, then finding a way to seal away his remains.
With the Viltrumites' physical prowess, even an ordinary Viltrumite warrior could become a local tyrant on Earth at this time.
Click.
Luka's expression darkened, mirroring the pitch-black interior of the escape pod that had just lost power.
Although Viltrum possessed advanced technology, all of its scientific advancements served the purposes of combat or war.
They had researchers, but these were typically either naturally weak individuals or those permanently disabled in the brutal competition, forced into this profession after being unable to continue fighting.
Luka, though mentally exhausted by Viltrum's competitive system, had no desire to be crippled and discarded into those perpetually dark, dead-end departments.
In other words, Luka's time after his transmigration was precious, leaving him little opportunity to absorb technological knowledge.
As a result, he had miscalculated his total remaining energy reserves.
The escape pod's power was nearly depleted, and he was severely injured. While Viltrumites could naturally traverse space with their bodies, his remaining strength might not be enough to sustain him for the flight to Earth.
A wry smile twitched at the corner of Luka's mouth.
I'm already here, Earth is just ahead.
Just as he reluctantly crawled out of the cryogenic chamber, preparing to tear open the escape pod and fly the remaining distance himself, a strange sensation enveloped him, sending shivers down his spine.
Years of competition and bloodshed had honed Luka's instincts. He immediately recognized that some powerful life form was rapidly approaching him, its aura already enveloping him.
It might even be locking onto him.
Who could possess such an aura?
Unlike the hostile Viltrumites or the powerful natives resisting invasion, this aura lacked the bone-chilling cold of murderous intent. Instead, it radiated a warmth akin to the sun's radiant glow.
But whether icy or warm, Luka was certain that the source of this aura was unimaginably powerful. So powerful that even his completely exhausted muscles trembled uncontrollably.
He had once glimpsed the future absolute ruler of Viltrum from afar. During a civil war mobilization, the future Grand Regent had swept his indifferent gaze across Luka and the other young warriors awaiting their turn in a brutal trial.
Could this warm, sun-like entity's power rival that of the future Regent?
It might even surpass it.
Luka's movements grew sluggish.
On Earth at this time, or perhaps somewhere beyond?
Where could such a formidable being come from?
Through the transparent glass, Luka stared stiffly at the rapidly approaching dark figure outside the escape pod.
His superhuman vision, a product of his enhanced physique, immediately locked onto the newcomer's thick, bushy beard.
His mind raced, dredging up long-buried memories. The only figure matching that distinctive facial hair was the Immortal Man, a character he had previously dismissed as insignificant in his simulations.
No way! Dude?
Luka couldn't hide his shock.
Damn it! The Immortal Man is this strong?!