Chapter 134: Can't You Show Me a Little Respect?
Kryptonite Iaijutsu... okay, fine. In reality, it was just converting Light to the specific frequency of Kryptonite radiation.
This was also one of Orin Vale's research results from this period. It was all thanks to those few pieces of Kryptonite he'd pilfered from General Lane's collection. With them as samples, the rest was actually much easier.
Orin Vale had never been the type of person to be satisfied with simply using Equipment and Items. Of course, this wasn't to say he was averse to using items, but rather that, if possible, he preferred them to be things he could understand and control. The same even applied to his Superpowers. Understanding the principles and patterns hidden behind an ability's surface manifestation and completely converting that into knowledge he could actively control—only then could he truly feel at ease.
The research into Kryptonite radiation was actually a relatively simple part. Lex Luthor, the head of Superman's fan club, had expertly mastered this signature technique. He possessed a suit of Kryptonite Armor that could artificially synthesize Kryptonite energy and fire a pulse beam carrying radiation of the same frequency. The Justice League's superhero Firestorm, with his ability to synthesize matter, could also create Kryptonite from scratch after analyzing its elements.
As long as he had a reference, it wasn't difficult for Orin Vale at all.
*Krak.*
"Arghhh!!!"
The base's leader clutched his deformed and twisted fist, falling to his knees as sweat poured down like rain.
Kryptonite would always hold the unshakeable number one spot on the list of a Kryptonian's natural enemies. Its effects were far more intense than the next two, Red Sun and magic.
In a single instant, the leader's abilities had been weakened significantly, yet he had still maintained the high speed of his punch. Naturally, his own fist was what ended up wrecked.
"W-What did you do!?"
His face turned green, and veins pulsing with green light crept up his neck like a toxin.
The Kryptonian roared and struck out again with his uninjured arm. But under the influence of the Krypton Energy, his speed had slowed to a crawl in Orin Vale's eyes. The threat from his limp fist was almost negligible.
Orin Vale casually parried and followed up with an elbow strike. With a dull thud, the Kryptonian was instantly sent flying backward. His body slammed into the rear wall, embedding itself, and the cracked surface sparked with arcing electricity.
"`Green Kryptonite Energy` test successful," Pal said. "I'd call that a major victory, sir."
"Don't get cocky. This is just the beginning," Orin Vale said. "Besides, he was just a minion among the Kryptonians; nothing to be proud of. This only proves we found the right frequency.
But we can't let our guard down. Kryptonians are a shameless race that runs on plot armor; they'll get a power-up whenever they feel like it, completely ignoring the rules. Radiation simulation is just the first step. This research has many more branches.
First, as far as I know, Kryptonite comes in at least seven colors. Each emits different radiation and affects Kryptonians in different ways. We need to figure out the mechanism behind each one."
"Noted, sir."
While they chatted, the Kryptonian officer remained blasted into the wall, stuck so deep he couldn't be pried out.
The remaining aliens all looked at each other, not daring to move, momentarily unsure of what to do.
After noting the experimental results and data, Orin Vale's gaze slowly swept over them.
"Anyone else want to try?"
The aliens pondered.
A moment later, they all dropped their guns and raised their hands to surrender. The Operator in front of the screen even raised all six of its hands, looking exceptionally obedient.
They were just prisoners from the Phantom Zone to begin with. Some followed orders out of mutual interest, while others had no choice but to obey after submitting to the Kryptonians' fists.
Everyone was just trying to make a living, why would they risk their lives over this?
Surrender, we must surrender immediately!
In just a few minutes, the outpost was taken by Orin Vale, smoothly and without incident.
Thanks to having acquired the system access password beforehand, and coupled with his recent research into Kryptonian crystal technology, Orin Vale successfully blocked the entire outpost's signal. Throughout the battle, the base remained completely shielded and isolated. In other words, right up until it fell, the headquarters at Fort Rozz had no idea their outpost was under attack.
He kept a few of the high-ranking personnel and locked them in the 'Figure Maniac Special Edition' cells aboard Old Bu's warship—Old Bu's high-tech cells were not only indestructible but could also simulate any planet's light, gravity, atmosphere, temperature, and other parameters.
With that business concluded, Orin Vale temporarily headed back. He planned to wait until the Old Wizard was free to borrow his Truth Spell and interrogate these people for more inside information about Fort Rozz and the Great Purge.
Upon returning silently to the shop, he found Two-Face in a furious rage.
"The little girl is gone, too!?"
Two-Face glared with the ugly eye on his scarred face, making his few henchmen tremble in fear.
Orin Vale glanced around and realized that sometime after he'd left, Kara had also disappeared.
The Old Wizard behind the counter watched Two-Face's tirade with a smile, apparently finding it quite amusing. Orin Vale leaned in and asked, "Where's Kara?"
"She said she had plans to go shopping with a classmate and left when it was time," the Old Wizard explained.
"Oh, I see." Orin Vale nodded.
He didn't bother asking how she got out. There was no need. A Kryptonian who had already awakened and fairly mastered her abilities had at least ten thousand ways to silently vanish from right under the noses of a bunch of gun-toting thugs.
Only Two-Face's furious scolding could be heard: "Useless trash! You're all incompetents! You had one mission, one!
"I told you to watch the hostages, and what a fine job you did! There were only three hostages, and two of them got away! The shopkeeper's gone, the little girl's gone! You bunch of wastes, you can't even watch anyone under seventy, is that it?"
He was ranting and raving, spittle flying, when in the middle of his tirade, his eyes flicked unconsciously to the side, spotting Orin Vale casually making small talk with the Old Wizard behind the counter.
The rest of Two-Face's words immediately died in his throat, his gaze locking dead on him.
"You!" he exclaimed, raising his gun and pointing it at Orin Vale. "Didn't you escape? When did you get back?"
"Uh, Mr. Two-Face, I don't know what you're talking about," Orin Vale said with a smile. "I've been here in the shop the whole time. I just went to use the toilet."
Two-Face's eyes widened even further.
The toilet? Who do you think you're kidding?
Did you go for a swim in the toilet bowl and then climb back out or something?
"So you're all just messing with me, huh?"
Two-Face was so furious his nose was practically crooked.
The hostages come and go as they damn well please! If they just left, that'd be one thing. But for the one who snuck out to come swaggering back and sit here just to chat?
I'm a supervillain, for crying out loud! I'm holding you at gunpoint here! Can't you show me a little respect?
"Fuck!" The more Two-Face thought about it, the angrier he became.
The Harvey side of his face spoke up again. "Hey, watch your language! Be civil..."
"You! You haven't shut up with your nonsense all day! I've had it with you!"
Two-Face, who was already furious, was pushed over the edge by this nagging. With a *click*, he cocked his handgun and pointed the muzzle directly at his own forehead.
"You say one more word of crap and see if I don't blow your brains out!"
Everyone: "..."
(end of chapter)