[SYSTEM REBOOT — INITIALIZING…]
A stream of neon glyphs illuminated William's vision, flickering between static and fragmented memories. The echoes of countless battles surged forth, compressed and chaotic, as the System wrestled with corrupted archives, piecing together the fragments of his existence.
Corrupted data detected…
Rebuilding timeline…
Analyzing survival logs… combat records… energy fluctuations…
William stumbled, the weight of the words pressing heavily on his chest. His breath faltered. It had been years since he last encountered that cold, unfeeling light. Years since the System had forsaken him, leaving him to ascend through sheer instinct, unyielding rage, and indomitable resolve.
But now—
It had returned.
The text stabilized, sharp and unyielding:
[LEVEL SYNC — COMPLETE]
User Level: 76
Base Power: 5.4 Billion
Super Saiyan: x50 (270 Billion)
Super Saiyan 2: x100 (540 Billion)
Super Saiyan 3: x400 (2.16 Trillion) | Mastery: 92%
The ground quaked beneath him. His aura erupted in a tempest of emerald and bronze lightning, the sheer force distorting reality itself. The System's cold, clinical affirmation merged seamlessly with his spirit, etching the undeniable proof of his power into the very fabric of existence.
And still, more awaited.
[Core Attributes Recalculated]
Strength: 18,900
Speed: 18,200
Endurance: 20,400
Energy (Ki/Cosmic Pool): 24,800
Intelligence (Combat IQ): 2,050
Spirit/Willpower: 30,500
A warning glyph blinked.
Note: Spirit has surpassed the Saiyan threshold. A new pathway is now available.
William's pupils widened. Spirit, over thirty thousand? He could feel it surging within him, not Ki, not Viltrumite strength, but something far deeper. A flame unyielding to storms, a power unrestrained by limits.
The System verified this with unrelenting certainty:
[Divine Energy Module Detected]Condition met → Spirit ≥ 30,000.Status: Locked.
Quest Chain Unlocked: [Godhood's First Step].
His heartbeat thundered in his chest, reverberating through his ribs. Divine energy…
But the System continued. The display fractured into overlapping layers, cascading with revelations.
[Belated Rewards Calculated]
Seed of the World-Eater Tree (Cosmic Variant): A tainted miracle fruit capable of transforming entire ecosystems or bestowing immense power upon a chosen vessel.
Skill Upgrade Ticket [Transformation].
??? Hidden Reward — earned by surviving Marvel Event Tier-Ω. (Details withheld until prerequisites are fulfilled).
The torrent of information struck like a bolt of lightning. William clenched his fists tightly, bronze-green energy igniting against his knuckles. For the first time in what felt like eons, a calm exhale escaped his lips, steady and resolute.
"...Finally." His voice was a murmur of triumph and vengeance. "It has returned."
The chaotic data dissolved into a final message, piercing and luminous, etched into the core of his being:
[System Reboot Complete] User identified: William Khorn Parker - Saiyan/Viltrumite Hybrid of Marvel. Pathway initiated: [Beyond Mortal].
The stillness shattered. The world breathed. And William stood transformed, no longer confined by who he had been, but defined by what he was destined to become.
William blinked, absorbing the gravity of the System's recalibration. The faint crackle of energy around him reflected subtle shifts in his aura. His gaze lingered on the neon readouts hovering before him: attributes, transformation mastery, Spirit, and the enigmatic "Divine Energy Module — Locked."
Suddenly, a new notification appeared, brighter and more vibrant than the rest, pulsating with an almost lifelike rhythm. Its letters seemed to sear into the very air:
Time seemed to freeze. William's heart raced. The Civil War…?
Lowering his hands, the bronze-green aura dimmed as a wave of tension rippled through him. The System's message wasn't a request or a trivial task. It was a command, etched indelibly onto the cosmic ledger, a universal mandate.
Objective: Resolve escalating conflicts between superhuman factions on Earth.
Parameters: Use discretion. Minimize collateral damage. Ensure completion.
Reward: Dynamic System Advancement + Unknown Cosmic Artifact
William exhaled deeply, allowing the weight of the message to settle. He had been rebuilding, ascending, reclaiming lost strength, and now the System was thrusting him into a far more expansive battlefield. This wasn't just about survival, personal growth, or mastering his abilities. It was about determining the fate of an entire world.
A sardonic smile tugged at his lips. The prospect of subduing the warring factions, imposing his will on the chaos, sent a shiver of exhilaration through him.
[Quest Log Updated — Civil War on Earth]
[Warning: A planetary-scale conflict is imminent. Player discretion is strongly recommended.]
William lifted his eyes to the horizon, where the warm hues of dawn began to paint the sky, his aura flickering like a flame in the twilight. The Earth lay before him, fractured and precariously poised, with the System designating him as the key to determining its fate.
A faint smirk played on his lips. "Let's see just how far they're willing to go for this fight."
The gauntlet had been thrown. William was prepared.
William rose to his full, towering eight-foot height, and as he did, the statue above him responded dramatically: its eyes burst into flames, one glowing green and the other bronze, as though acknowledging his presence.
Without uttering a word, William ascended effortlessly, floating upwards until he reached the top floor where the elite of Kandorian society convened. Entering the room with an air of ownership, his imposing demeanor drew frowns from several individuals present.
The disapproving expressions were short-lived, however, as two toddler-sized figures launched themselves at him with such force that he slid back a few inches upon impact.
Looking down, William's stern visage softened into a smile as he gazed at the laughing faces of his young children, Solan and Argenta, both radiating joy with their bright, beaming smiles.
After a few moments of familial reconnection, William's gaze turned to the higher-ups of the city government, who all seemed to shrink from the pressure of his gaze and slowly walked to the chair at the head of the table, which sat a Kryptonian with slicked back black hair and a scar on his temple that ran down his cheek, giving him a dangerous appearance.
As William approached, the man, despite his intimidating appearance, rose abruptly from his seat and offered it to him. He couldn't quite understand why he did so, but an inexplicable sense of pressure and inferiority gripped him when he looked at the young man.
"Wh... Who is this person? Why does his mere presence make me sweat so profusely?" one of the elders at the table pondered silently.
William settled into the chair at the head of the table, folding his hands together and resting his chin upon them. A heavy silence followed, each second intensifying the oppressive aura he seemed to emanate, until even the sturdy chairs began to creak under the strain, despite their exceptional craftsmanship and the advanced material they were made of.
After a few more seconds that to the other men and women at the table felt like an eternity William finally spoke up.
The chamber's silence was suffocating, every Kryptonian present visibly straining beneath the oppressive weight of William's presence. The air grew so dense with their discomfort that even the polished obsidian table seemed to groan under an invisible burden.
Finally, William spoke, his voice smooth and resonant, carrying an unshakable authority that bordered on the inevitable.
"Let me make this clear," he began, his eyes glinting with bronze-green embers. "From this moment forward, Kandor, no, this entire world, belongs to me."
The declaration hit the room like a thunderclap.
A wave of murmurs erupted immediately. One elder let out a bitter, derisive laugh that echoed sharply against the crystalline walls. Another leaned forward, his fingers steepled in a show of calculated indifference, while a third shook her head with barely disguised contempt.
"You overstep your bounds," sneered the scarred Kryptonian who had once held the seat of power. His tone dripped with scorn, bolstered by the unyielding pride of his lineage.
Laughter followed, deliberate and biting. Insults cloaked in diplomatic language were exchanged, disdain veiled behind saccharine smiles. Even the more cautious among them allowed themselves faint smirks, emboldened by their unshaken belief in Kryptonian superiority.
William reclined slightly, resting his chin on his folded hands. He let their laughter wash over him, let their scorn ripple through the air. A slow, deliberate smile crept across his face, one that hinted at mischief and unwavering confidence.
Then, with a single motion, he raised his hand.
Instantly, the chamber fell silent.
Initially, the change was barely perceptible, a faint vibration through the floor, a muted rumble echoing in the walls. Then, with a deep groan that resonated through every beam and foundation stone, the entire building began to shudder violently. Chandeliers swung wildly above, while goblets clattered on the table, spilling their contents in chaotic splashes.
A collective gasp of alarm rippled through the room.
And then, impossibly, the ground itself gave way.
The council chamber, and indeed the entire skyscraper, shook as its foundations tore free from the earth. Dust and debris cascaded past the windows while Kandor's elite stared in paralyzed horror. The building rose steadily, groaning like a mountain wrenched from its roots, ascending into the open sky with deliberate force.
William's hand remained steady.
A smile crept across his face as green-blue lightning arced along his arm, his aura surging in sync with the building's ascent. His voice, calm and commanding, carried the weight of divine judgment as he spoke.
"Do not confuse restraint with weakness. With a mere flick of my wrist, I could hurl this monument to your arrogance into the sun. Keep that in mind before you mock me again."
The smug expressions had long since vanished. Faces that had been resolute and proud now reflected a mixture of terror, awe, and the dawning realization that his words were no idle threat but an undeniable truth.
William lowered his hand.
The skyscraper groaned once more before descending, drifting back to the ground with an almost eerie grace, settling as though nothing had transpired. Silence engulfed the chamber, broken only by the ragged breathing of Kandor's ruling elite.
William leaned forward, his bronze-green eyes sweeping the room with measured intensity.
"Now," he murmured, his voice soft but laden with inevitability, "who will dare to defy me?"
The chamber descended into a profound silence after William's declaration.
Half of the council fell to their knees, some moving with deliberate grace, others with visible hesitation. The word "Sovereign" escaped their lips, carrying the weight of both an oath and a prayer, reverent yet laced with unease.
The remainder stood their ground, bodies rigid, jaws clenched, and eyes blazing with defiance. Pride anchored them in place, unwilling to submit to an outsider, regardless of his strength. To them, Krypton's honor was not something to be given freely but a trophy to be earned.
The silence was broken by the sound of footsteps echoing through the hall.
From the ranks of the defiant emerged a man, tall and imposing, with an air of discipline and authority. His jet-black hair was slicked back with precision, and his piercing gaze burned with the cold intensity of a hardened soldier. His commanding presence silenced the murmurs, drawing every eye toward him.
"I will not kneel."
His words struck the air like a blade against stone.
He advanced toward William with unyielding resolve, each step radiating control and determination. "Sovereignty is not claimed through declarations or the intimidation of old men," he said, his voice firm and unwavering. "On Krypton, it is earned through strength, through combat, through victory."
The chamber grew tense, the atmosphere heavy as every gaze shifted between the two figures. Murmurs rippled through the room like waves, rising until a single name emerged above all others, spoken with a mixture of awe, fear, and defiance:
"General Zod…"
Those who had knelt glanced upward in alarm, while among the defiant, a renewed sense of pride illuminated their expressions.
Zod's unrelenting eyes locked onto William's, unwavering and merciless. "If you wish to rule this world, boy, then prove yourself worthy."
The air in the chamber grew thick with anticipation, as though the entire room held its collective breath, waiting for the inevitable confrontation to begin.
A smile lined William's face as he thought internally, "I appreciate forthright people such as him; they make things so much more fun in these kinds of situations!"
The decree of combat swept swiftly through Kandor, igniting fervor across the city, and within hours, the ancient arena, once the stage for Krypton's most legendary trials, burst to life once more. The stands overflowed with thousands, from the elite to the common folk, all drawn to witness the clash that would determine the planet's destiny.
On one side of the coliseum stood William, a faint bronze-green aura shimmering around him, his towering form exuding a calm yet undeniable dominance. Opposite him waited General Zod, his posture rigid and every line of his physique radiating martial precision. His jet-black hair gleamed under the bright arena lights, and his piercing gaze carried the promise of an impending tempest.
Between them stretched the dust-strewn expanse of the arena floor, a battlefield soon to bear the weight of their conflict.
High above, in the council's reserved viewing stands, Krypton's most powerful figures had assembled, their voices low but charged with intensity. Some bore expressions of hope, others of disdain, as they watched history poised precariously on the edge of a blade.
Amid this solemn assembly, a peculiar group stood out like an anomaly. Hulk loomed awkwardly, his immense frame causing the benches to creak beneath him. Spider-Man leaned forward over the railing, his mask concealing his expression as he muttered nervous quips that drew no laughter. Beside him, Anissa sat with arms crossed, her face an unreadable mask, while Kara shifted uneasily in her seat, her vivid blue eyes fixed on William. Lady Sif, poised and dignified, rested a hand upon her sword's hilt, her gaze sharp and unwavering as a hawk's.
At their feet, the sound of giggles shattered the tension. Solan and Argenta, bright-eyed and radiant, squirmed joyfully in their mothers' arms, their tiny faces alight with delight as though the impending battle was no more than a play staged for their entertainment. Their laughter coaxed fleeting smiles from even the most stoic warriors lining the stands.
But on the arena floor, there was no trace of mirth.
The announcer's voice thundered, amplified by the crystalline speakers. "Today, Kandor bears witness to a challenge of sovereignty! The claimant, William Khorn Parker, faces Krypton's proud defender, General Dru-Zod!"
The crowd roared in response, a chaotic blend of cheers, chants, and jeers that reverberated through the ancient stone. Some shouted William's name, most others bellowed for Zod, and a few murmured silent prayers to whatever gods might heed them.
William allowed himself a faint, mischievous grin, his gaze locked firmly on Zod. Zod offered no words in return, only a cold, unyielding fire blazing in his eyes, its intensity growing with each passing moment.
The signal was imminent. And when it came, the fate of Krypton's sovereignty would rest not in words or council decrees, but in the clash of these titans.
The arena plunged into a hushed stillness as the crystalline gong reverberated, signaling the beginning of the duel.
Zod refrained from a reckless charge, moving instead with the precision of a predator. Each step across the dusty ground was measured, deliberate, his boots grinding against the grit. His fists alternated between clenching and relaxing, his unyielding gaze fixed intently on William. The general's renown was not steeped in arrogance but in instincts sharpened by centuries of combat. He would evaluate his adversary first, analyze every move, before unleashing the unrelenting power of Krypton.
William remained motionless. His towering figure exuded an unshaken calm, hands hanging loosely by his sides, his posture seemingly unguarded yet radiating an aura of gravitas that unsettled even the most disciplined spectators. His eyes held a composed, almost taunting glint, silently inviting Zod to make the first move.
The assault came suddenly, Zod lunged forward, his fist slicing through the air with devastating speed, aimed directly at William's jaw. To the audience, the attack was a blur of lethal motion, but to William, it appeared almost leisurely.
Without altering his stance, William raised his forearm to intercept the strike. The collision resounded like a thunderclap, sending dust spiraling through the arena. Gasps rippled through the crowd as the force of Zod's blow was neutralized effortlessly, William's expression remaining calm and unfazed.
Zod's eyes narrowed as he swiftly pivoted, driving his knee upward toward William's ribs. Yet, before the strike could land, William's body twisted with an elegance that verged on artistry. In a motion as fluid as a flowing stream, he deflected Zod's attack and countered with a palm strike that lightly grazed the general's chest like a breeze, but the sheer force behind it sent Zod staggering back several paces, his boots carving trenches into the sand.
The stands erupted into a chaotic symphony of disbelief. The movement was captivating, flawless, precise, and almost impossibly graceful for a warrior of William's imposing size and raw strength. Even Zod, in the midst of his recovery, found himself frozen in shock. That counterattack wasn't brute force; it was pure mastery.
William tilted his head slightly, a mischievous smile playing at the corner of his lips. "You'll have to take me seriously now, General."
Zod's nostrils flared as his pride as a warrior ignited. He rolled his shoulders, his muscles coiling with tension, and the casual air about him vanished. The testing phase was over. This was war.
The crowd could feel the electrifying shift; the battle had only just begun, yet the tide of respect, fear, and exhilaration was already surging like an approaching tempest.