Edward was relaxing in Avalon as usual, stretched out on a couch in the warmth of a golden-lit room. The air carried the faint scent of wildflowers drifting in through the open balcony doors, and the hum of life in that otherworldly sanctuary set the mood into one of peace. His head rested in the lap of Death, his wife.
She gently stroked Edward's hair with long, delicate fingers, humming quietly as they both watched television. The news anchor's voice was serious, speaking over footage of fires, panicked civilians, and heroes in brightly colored costumes clashing with dangerous individuals.
"Reports of metahuman activity continue to increase globally," the anchor said. "While some are hailed as heroes, others are feared as emerging threats…"
Edward's sigh was heavy. "Looks like it's about to start soon."
Death's hand slowed. She glanced down at him, her smile turning inquisitive. "What's about to start, dear?"
Edward turned slightly, nuzzling against her stomach with the casual affection of someone who had known her since before the rise of civilizations. "World-ending threats. Alien invasions. Those sorts of things."
Her chuckle was soft, like the ringing of a bell at a funeral, tender yet knowing. "You know you can always ask me and the others for help."
He tilted his face up to look at her. "I know. But I don't want to get you or our children hurt. It's my duty to take care of you all."
Death scoffed, a sound both amused and proud, then leaned closer until her lips nearly brushed his ear. "Honey, I am Death. There's pretty much nothing that can harm me."
Edward chuckled, brushing the back of his hand against her cheek. "Sorry, dear. I often forget that since you're so adorable and loving."
A faint blush touched her pale face, though her eyes stayed firm. "Don't change the subject. What is it that's got you worried?"
Edward sat up, stretching his back with a slow crack, then smiled gently. "It's nothing much. Just thinking about how to do things with minimum damage. Knowing what will happen—it feels bad to not interfere. But if I do, then they won't learn and grow."
Death drew him into her arms and pressed his head to her chest. Her voice lowered, warm and reassuring. "You are not perfect, dear. But you are doing the best you can. The Clock Tower is keeping magic in check. Your Blue Lanterns are monitoring the galaxy.
Even the heroes you've taught are doing rather well, much better than their original counterparts. Stop worrying too much."
She kissed the top of his head, lingering. "Now let's go play with Soph. I took the time off so we can spend more time with our son."
Edward laughed quietly, the heaviness in his shoulders easing. "Very well. That kid really needs to go out more. He spends too much time reading."
But before they could stand, the television screen flickered. A loud crackle of static filled the room, drowning out the anchor's voice.
Death raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't this a new one?"
Edward exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening as the image shifted. "No, dear. The TV is fine. That's because the first nuisance is here."
The static gave way to a blurry image—a grim, hard-lined face that slowly came into focus. His voice was deep and commanding, carrying with it the weight of military discipline.
"Greetings, people of Earth. I am General Zod of planet Krypton. We came here today to bring back one of the Kryptonians who has been living among you. The one you call Superman.
Hand him over to us peacefully within twenty-four hours. Otherwise, we will have to use force, which won't end well for your planet."
The image dissolved, the screen flashing back to the regular broadcast. But outside the peaceful walls of Avalon, the entire world was thrown into uproar.
Edward shook his head slowly. "I hope Clark can handle it." Death gently embraced him. "Let us see if he can. If not, we can always intervene."
***
The world below reacted in waves of chaos.
In crowded living rooms, people gasped.
"Did he just confirm the existence of aliens?" a man exclaimed.
"Superman is an alien! I knew a guy so perfect couldn't be a human male," a young girl said, eyes wide with shock.
In the Senate chamber, politicians whispered heatedly.
"Since they are his people, we should return him to them before they start a war," one said nervously.
Another snapped back. "That alien just threatened us! Who does he think he is?"
The Vonarland Council, their voices like thunder, shouted for military action. Some even debated launching the Gungnir V missile toward the unknown Kryptonian ship in orbit.
Across cities, bars, schools, and newsrooms, the debate raged. Some argued Superman should be handed over to preserve peace.
Others said he had lived as one of them, saved them countless times, and therefore was human in every way that mattered.
And some, cynical and opportunistic, whispered of bargaining for Kryptonian technology in exchange.
Meanwhile, in the quiet Kansas countryside, Clark Kent sat tensely in his small home. His large frame was hunched forward, his hands clasped tightly, the weight of the entire world pressing down on him.
Martha Kent, his mother, stood behind him and placed a gentle hand on his broad shoulder. "Son, you don't have to follow their words. Do what your heart tells you."
Clark's voice was low, heavy with conflict. "I heard about him in the recording my father left me. Zod can't be trusted. But if they are as strong as I am, Earth might be in danger."
Martha chuckled softly, trying to bring warmth to his storm. "Oh, we'll be fine. You're not the only hero watching over us. We have him, after all."
Clark shook his head, staring at the floor. "We can't hope for someone who's been gone for nearly a century to show up and save us."
Martha smiled. " Sometimes you need to have faith son."
***
Twenty-four hours later, the world held its breath.
At a secured military location, the U.S. Army and government personnel stood in formation, weapons at the ready. Generals barked orders, soldiers adjusted their rifles, and armored vehicles lined the perimeter.
The sky darkened for a moment. Then, with terrifying grace, three figures descended.
They landed with heavy thuds, the ground cracking beneath them. Black mechanical armor glinted under the sunlight. Their presence radiated raw power.
The first was Urag-Sul, a muscular brute, his towering frame casting a shadow like a fortress wall. His fists clenched and unclenched, eager for violence.
Beside him stood Faora-Ul, tall and lean, her face cold yet beautiful. Her piercing eyes scanned the humans around her with quiet curiousity.
At their center stood General Zod himself—broad-shouldered, his expression one of grim authority, every step exuding command.
His voice was like a blade cutting through silence. "Where is Kal-El? Are you not willing to hand him over?"
General Samwell Lane, standing his ground despite the sweat beading on his forehead, stepped forward. "You have come to our planet, making demands without explanation. We can't just hand over one of our own to you without negotiation."
Zod's lip curled in disdain. "You consider yourself equal to us? Negotiations only happen when two parties have similar strength. Since you have refused, prepare to perish."
Faora's eyes flicked to Zod, her voice low and edged with hesitation. "General, killing these people won't help our cause. We can take them hostage to force them to bring us Kal-El."
Zod's gaze snapped to her, cold and sharp. "Are you questioning me, Faora? We don't need these weaklings as hostages. We need an example."
He turned toward the human soldiers. A tank had been positioned directly in front of him, its cannon aimed squarely at his chest.
"Fire!" one of the commanders shouted.
The shell erupted from the cannon, slamming into Zod at point-blank range. The explosion engulfed him in fire and smoke, the blast rattling windows miles away.
For a moment, soldiers dared to hope.
But when the smoke cleared, Zod was standing exactly where he had been, barely a scratch on his armor. His expression was one of amused contempt.
"This is your weapon? It's weaker than the toys Kryptonian children play with. No wonder this planet is a backward one."
He paused suddenly, his head turning toward the horizon.
There, cutting through the air like a crimson comet, a small dot was racing toward the battlefield.
Zod's lips pulled into a predatory grin. "So you showed up finally, Kal-El."
Meanwhile Edward was watching this from above, invisible. He had a bucket of Pop corn as he watched it unfold. "It's like watching a remake of an old movie with a new twist." He spoke while munching on some pop corn."
He raised his eyebrow when Clark didn't spend any time talking and punched Zod immediately into the stratosphere. Then following up with the other two. "Huh, that's new. What happened to get him so pissed?"
*****
The wind howled through the broken city. Smoke rose in black columns, the stench of burning steel and concrete choking the air.
Clark hovered above the ruins, his cape torn at the edges, his chest heaving as he scanned the battlefield below.
Across from him, descending slowly through the haze, was General Zod. The Kryptonian armor was dented, scorched, smeared with rubble dust, but his eyes burned with purpose. Every step he took down onto the cracked pavement echoed like a drumbeat in Clark's chest.
"You think you can stop me?" Zod's voice carried in the air, sharp and full of contempt. "This planet belongs to us now. We will rebuild Krypton here. These people," he spat the word like poison, "they will kneel, or they will burn."
Clark steadied his breath, his fists clenching at his sides. "As long as I'm here, that won't happen. I will stop you."
Zod scoffed. " Just you? These ants can't even touch me. You alone can't protect them."
Clark scowled. "Is that why you sent someone to attack my mother ? Because you are so confident?"
For a moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the crackle of fires and the groaning collapse of a half-destroyed building nearby. The two Kryptonians stared each other down, warriors from the same lost world, standing on the edge of another's destruction.
Zod spoke calmly. " I live for the sake of Krypton. I would go to any lengths to restore Krypton."
Clark sighed. "Krypton had it's chance. Not anymore."
Zod tilted his head, eyes narrowing. "Then you choose extinction. I'll rip out the genetic code from your corpse if needed."
And then he moved.
The ground shattered under his step, a sonic boom erupting as Zod shot forward like a missile. Clark braced, the impact hitting him like a freight train. The collision sent shockwaves rippling across the street, windows exploding outward in a chain reaction as cars flipped from the blast. The two slammed into a skyscraper, concrete and steel splintering around them.
Clark gritted his teeth, shoving back, the fight exploding upward through the building's levels. Office floors shattered as they rocketed through, desks, chairs, and glass raining like shrapnel. Zod drove a fist into Clark's jaw, the blow cracking like thunder, sending him spiraling upward through another ceiling.
But Clark recovered, twisting mid-air. He stopped barely before crashing into another building. People screamed and ran away, but a young girl in a wheelchair watched with horror as she pointed behind Clark. "Watch out!" Clark gave a reassuring smile and turned around, then punched with all his might.
His fist connected with Zod's chest, the general roaring in pain as he was blasted through the top of the skyscraper into the stratosphere, debris trailing like fireworks.
He turned back and smiled as he carried the girl away . "Thanks little girl, let me get you somewhere safe." He gently put her down near an ambulance and waved, then flew away to beat Zod.
Clark saw the people in the destroyed buildings around him falling to their death, so he moved at speed beyond anything human, and rescued all of them , even the toy of a little boy who was crying. He didn't stop until he could save all who was alive. Grief tore at him seeing the dead people around him.
He gritted his teeth as he saw Zod recovering above. Clark yelled in anger, bursting into the sky.
They met above the clouds, the sun blazing behind them. For an instant, it looked almost majestic—two figures silhouetted against the heavens. Then Zod struck again, his blows relentless, furious, each one echoing across the sky like cannon fire. Clark blocked, countered, their movements a blur of speed and strength.
Zod snarled, his rage pouring out. "I was born for this! I was bred to lead, to rule! You...." another strike, nearly breaking Clark's guard, "you were a mistake!"
Clark shoved him back, his voice steady despite the chaos. "Then this mistake is going to stop you."
He lunged, fists hammering into Zod's armor. One strike, then another—ribs denting, metal cracking. Zod reeled, but retaliated with a headbutt that sent Clark tumbling back through the clouds. Clark steadied himself, only to see Zod already diving after him, eyes blazing with fury.
They slammed into the city again, carving a path of destruction through towers and bridges. Every collision sent tremors through the earth. People screamed and scattered below as the giants warred overhead.
"You could have been a god to them, Kal," Zod's voice thundered, gravelly and edged with venom. "Together, we could have rebuilt Krypton. But you chose them. You chose these… humans."
Clark's jaw clenched. "Krypton had its chance. I was born here. I'll protect them. I won't let you destroy this world."
Zod sneered, the lines of rage etching deeper into his face. "Then you are my enemy."
Like a blur of black lightning, Zod launched upward, fist cocked. The first strike crashed into Clark's guard with such force the shockwave shattered windows for blocks.
Clark slid back through the air, cape snapping wildly, but recovered just in time to counter. His punch landed square on Zod's chestplate, sending the general tumbling through the side of a skyscraper.
The building groaned, its steel frame twisting before it collapsed in a cloud of fire and debris. Zod roared and threw everything he had behind the next punch.
Then it happened.
Clark ducked beneath Zod's swing, his fist rising in a desperate uppercut. It smashed into Zod's helmet with a deafening crack. The mask split open, shards flying away into the wind.
Zod froze.
For a moment, his expression twisted—not from pain, but from something far worse. His eyes widened, breath ragged, and then he screamed.
The flood of Earth's sensations—sounds layered on sounds, scents from every corner, the infinite details of light and shadow—crashed into him all at once. His body convulsed mid-air, eyes darting wildly as he clutched at his head. "It's too much!" he roared, thrashing, spinning as though the very world was tearing him apart.
Clark hovered, panting, watching him. He remembered that first week, the agony of sensory overload, the way every detail had stabbed into his skull like knives. For Zod, it was happening in seconds, raw and merciless.
Then, a blur of movement.
Faora shot upward, catching Zod before he could tumble into the wreckage below. Her arms locked around him, steadying his spasms. "General!" she yelled, her voice sharp, desperate.
Zod's eyes burned red, but his body was failing him. Faora glanced once at Clark, then without hesitation blasted away, retreating into the distance with her commander in tow.
Clark didn't chase. His muscles were taut, every nerve alive, but he knew he had to deal with the others.
Another shadow loomed.
Urag Sul rose from the rubble below, his massive form cutting through the smoke. His armor gleamed, barely scratched from the earlier battle. His face twisted in a feral grin as he launched into the air.
Clark braced, but Urag was already there, slamming into him like a living tank. The two rocketed skyward, fists and elbows colliding in a blur of violence. Clark grunted, blocking, countering, but Urag's strength was brutal, unyielding.
"Your fight is with me, pretender!" Urag bellowed, his voice shaking the air.
Clark yelled. " Stop! This is not what you want. Krypton can't be rebuilt over the bones of innocent."
Urag Sul laughed. "All that strength, yet you think like those pathetic weaklings. Civilization isn't built without blood and tears."
They clashed above the city, tearing through clouds, carving thunder out of the sky. Clark managed to land a blow to Urag's jaw, sending the soldier spinning, only for Urag to recover instantly, roaring with strength. "You're strong, but you're not enough! Just like these puny humans."
Then something weird happened.
As they were fighting, Urag's body slammed into something mid-flight—something invisible, hovering high above. The impact rang out like steel against stone. Urag's eyes went wide. He opened his mouth to snarl—
But then a fist appeared in front of his face.
It was fast. Too fast. Clark barely saw it. One strike, glowing faintly with a dark aura, connected with Urag's chest. The sound wasn't thunder—it was silence, followed by a detonation of air. Clark blinked confused.
Urag Sul was gone.
The Kryptonian soldier's body shot upward like a meteor, breaking the atmosphere in seconds, hurled into the cold void of space. The power of the blow reverberated through the air, through Clark's bones. He froze mid-air, his heart pounding.
And then he felt it.
A presence. Cold, suffocating, terrifying.
Whoever, or whatever had delivered that punch was still up there, hidden beyond sight. Its aura pressed down like a shadow, a dread that wrapped around Clark's spine and wouldn't let go.
He swallowed hard, sweat running down his temple. His instincts screamed at him. Do not fight this.
Without another glance, he turned, streaking after Zod. "I'm not going to anger someone who can one shot a Kryptonian." He muttered nervously.
Meanwhile, Edward was watching with a cold face as appeared in space where Urag Sul was floating. He spoke calmly. "I let you guys fight without interrupting, but you dare smash into my home, where my children are? You should feel lucky, my wife would have given you the most painful form of death."
Urag Sul's eyes widened in fear as he saw the unknown stranger take out weird looking sword .
Edward didn't even fully chant. "Perish in ignorance. ENUMA ELISH!"
Urag Sul screamed for about a second before his body was destroyed down to the atoms with a single strike. He died with regret, not even knowing who killed him.
Edward scoffed and looked at the spaceship floating not far. He almost wanted to destroy it, and end the stupid plot, but he controlled himself as he flew back to Earth. "I really need to think about moving into a different dimension."
In the distance, Zod had recovered somewhat, his breathing still ragged but his eyes burning with grim focus. Faora flew beside him, supporting his weight.
His eyes, still adjusting to the sensory flood, glowed with rage and determination.
"General," Faora said, her tone crisp, professional.
"Enough," Zod rasped, straightening. His hand clenched into a fist as his vision sharpened. "Kal-El has delayed us long enough. The time has come."
He reached into the folds of his armor, pulling out a device. Sleek, alien, humming with power.
She stared at it, her breath catching behind the mask.
"A Phantom Zone singularity bomb…" she muttered.
Zod nodded grimly.
"It will open the Phantom Zone and consume everything within one hundred kilometers in an instant. A singularity of inescapable pull. Superman will not escape it. None of them will."
He pressed it into Faora's hand.
"Stall him," Zod growled, his voice hoarse but commanding. "I'll deploy the World Engine. Buy me time."
Faora's fingers tightened around the device. Its dark core pulsed faintly, whispering of oblivion.
Her eyes flicked to Zod. "This will kill me too."
Zod didn't hesitate. "You are a soldier of Krypton. You know what must be done. It's our honor to die for Krypton."
For the first time, a flicker of emotion crossed Faora's face. A shadow of something human—perhaps fear, perhaps regret. She inhaled sharply, then nodded once, like a warrior accepting the inevitable.
She turned, gripping the device firmly, her gaze on the distant figure of Superman.
As she flew downward toward Earth again, the words left her lips, filled with sadness:
"A good death is its own reward."
Her form blurred into a streak of light as she descended, leaving Zod to vanish into the dark sky, heading for his ship.
*****
As usual, the weekly goal is 1000 stones for per Bonus chapter. I will post the chapter I missed on Sunday later on.
On another note, I stopped seeing some old readers who used to comment a lot. Are you guys still here or have you guys left ? 🥺
Although I can't respond to every comment, I try to answer questions as much as possible. I don't have much time after work, so I usually check back mostly on weekends.