A.I.'s Dilemma
"I knew it... I knew it..."
The moment he saw the black warship, Luke's face sank. The result was exactly as he feared: Linda was captured, locked head-to-toe in the gelatinous substance, unable to speak or move, and being held by a short-haired, highly capable-looking female soldier.
They were using Linda as leverage, demanding the Fortress of Solitude open its main hatch.
"A.I., stop playing dead. We need to discuss this. What's the plan?"
The smart steward emerged silently. "Kara's life is paramount."
"So, you're going to obey their command and surrender control of the Fortress of Solitude?"
"..."
Luke looked helpless. "Come on, you're the super A.I. controlling this entire Fortress! Don't be such a coward. I recall the Fortress has particle cannons. Just hit everyone outside with a cannon shot, wipe them all out, and the problem is solved."
"I cannot operate the weapons system without Kara's authorization."
"Her mouth is sealed! She can't speak! How is she supposed to authorize anything? How about this: I'll give the order for her. Let's save the person first."
"Your authority is insufficient."
It paused for a few seconds, then added,
"I will absolutely not obey the commands of an Earthling."
Luke was exasperated. Damn Kryptonian A.I.! You didn't wait for Linda's command when you secretly scanned my IQ. Now you decide to remember your proper function?
Discrimination, it's all discrimination!
Perhaps sensing the severity of the situation, the smart steward spoke after a brief silence. "I can deactivate Kara's restraints."
Luke froze. "You mean, as long as we snatch her back, she can speak the authorization?"
"Yes."
Luke thought for a moment, chin in hand.
"I can take them on, but you have to assist me from the side."
"Provided it does not exceed regulatory limits."
The man and the A.I. negotiated in hushed tones. After reaching an agreement, Luke turned and headed to the hangar. The hatch opened, and a suit of steel armor, flashing with a dark light, came into view.
Its body was an inky black, marked with deep purple stripes, serpentine scales, and a dark faceplate...
Perhaps feeling its master's call, its black eye sockets shot out a pale blue light. The surface of the armor cracked open, forming a human-shaped outline.
Luke took a deep breath and walked into the silhouette.
The armor closed, automatically adjusting its internal structure to fit tightly with his body. Blue light extended from the chest cavity to the limbs. As it traveled, the armor plates automatically aligned and merged with the blue energy, forming a semi-metal, semi-energy powered armor.
BANG!
The floor vibrated. An unseen force radiated outward, then contracted inward, forming a protective energy field.
Luke tightened his fists. Power surged through his palms. In this moment, he felt like he commanded the entire world.
"Although there are still many flaws to resolve, it's enough to deal with Kryptonians who aren't boosted by a Yellow Sun."
The Kryptonian Assault
Outside the main hatch, General Zod's group was growing impatient.
Faora stepped forward and suggested,
"General, should we remind them that the hostage is in our hands?"
"Wait another thirty seconds."
"Understood."
Faora nodded. The metal blade that popped out from her gauntlet pressed against the girl's neck. If the main hatch didn't open in thirty seconds, she would slice off a piece of her flesh.
Kryptonian warriors were never merciful, whether to foreign races or their own.
The feeling of death was so imminent. In a trance, Linda recalled fleeing Krypton: the sky-high flames devouring the entire room. She sat in the shuttle, watching her mother be consumed by the fire, utterly helpless.
The current scene overlapped with that memory. Decades later, she was once again that little girl who could do nothing. Anger and unwillingness boiled up from her heart, and hatred filled her eyes.
Faora glanced at her, saying coldly, "Dar said you and that Earth native are friends."
"Good. I will torture him in front of you until I get all the intelligence I want."
Linda glared at her hatefully. Faora responded with a scornful smile.
The House of El is clever, but they are fools.
Not long after, the hatch opened.
Zod took the lead without hesitation. After stepping through the sealed airlock, he immediately gave orders.
"Faora, secure the Central Control System."
"Edwin, capture the Earthling. Alive."
"Understood!"
The soldiers accepted their orders and dispersed. Zod took Kara toward the main control room. Adjutant Faora took two engineers toward the data center, preparing to replace the Fortress of Solitude's smart A.I.
Captain Edwin, along with the soldier Hill and the gunner Dru-Thut, headed to the residential area.
Hill was unhappy with the assignment, complaining quietly,
"Captain, you're enough to handle that native by yourself. Why drag us along?"
Dru-Thut chimed in, "The supplies on the ship are scarce. I haven't had a decent meal in ages. I'll catch him, but I can't do it on an empty stomach."
"The General's orders. That Earthling is important."
"He's just a low-level native. How important could he be? Once we get the planet's coordinates, we can have as many as we want."
Despite their complaints, the trio didn't slow down. Upon reaching the residential area, one stood guard, one searched, and one scouted. Using the life-detection system, they quickly located the Earth native in the dining hall.
The coordinates showed the Earth native was inside.
Dru-Thut raised his hand cannon, ready to fire at any moment. Hill opened the hatch. Suddenly, the sound of metal hitting the floor rang out, followed by a deafening roar. Countless white lights rushed toward them, filling their entire field of vision.
"Damn it! Enemy attack!"
The three immediately took defensive stances. Gunner Dru-Thut instinctively fired at where Luke had appeared.
The energy blast hit the Phantom Armor, instantly converting to kinetic energy and being absorbed by the plating.
Luke charged forward at extreme speed, shattering Dru-Thut's face with a punch. As he spun, he grabbed Dru-Thut's right leg and slammed him into soldier Hill.
Edwin reacted quickly, retreating while firing. Energy blasts shot at the Phantom Armor one after another. Some were avoided, and some hit the target but had no effect.
Luke extended his index finger and shook it, mocking them in clumsy Kryptonian.
"Your gun is useless against me."
With that, he drove his legs down hard. BANG! Two dents appeared on the metal floor, and the Phantom Armor lunged forward like a cheetah.
Edwin put away his firearm. A blade popped out of his left gauntlet, and his right fist was covered in scales. He chose hand-to-hand combat.
Fist met fist. Edwin stumbled backward. A bone-jarring pain shot up his right arm, and cracks appeared in his scales. He ignored it, dodged an incoming punch, and swung his elbow back.
BANG!
Excruciating pain erupted in his abdomen. After a brief spin, his massive body slammed heavily onto the floor.
"Good technique, but unfortunately, your strength is too weak."
Luke grabbed his ankle and flung him toward the other two.
The three crashed together, skidding backward along the floor.
Hill wiped the blood from his face, raised his hand cannon, and blue light concentrated at the barrel.
BOOM!
An energy ball the size of a water tank rushed toward Luke. The air vibrated loudly, sending out visible ripples. Luke had no time to dodge. He could only raise his arms. His body was struck by the energy wave and immediately sent flying backward, gliding for dozens of meters through the air until he hit the wall at the end of the corridor and stopped.
Pain radiated from all over his body.
It felt like something was constricting his chest, making it excruciating to inhale.
Luke coughed forcefully several times, his expression extremely grim.
"I take back what I said earlier. Your gun is useful against me. But you won't get a second chance."
Engaging Holographic Mode!
The blue light on the armor's surface intensified. The plates contracted, adhering more closely to his body. The thick thighs and arms disappeared, replaced by a more refined, agile mecha structure.
The internal view changed as well. Before, he could only see within 120 degrees; now, it expanded to 240 degrees. The internal processor ran at full speed, analyzing all the information within his field of view and transmitting it to his retina in the form of data.
In Holographic Mode, combat became a third-person RPG game.
Honestly, Luke didn't like it. He preferred the visceral, immersive experience.
The changes in the Phantom Armor did not escape the eyes of Edwin and the other two. They had never seen anything like it. They exchanged a look and simultaneously raised their weapons.
Energy blasts of varying sizes shot out one after another, but Luke, now in his "agile mode," dodged them with ease.
"You've shot me so many times. Now, taste an Earthling's weapon."
Luke raised his right hand. Electric light flickered in his palm. A blue lightning bolt pierced the air, striking Edwin's chest.
The electric current raged, penetrating the Kryptonian combat suit and hitting the flesh beneath.
Edwin's eyes widened. His body convulsed uncontrollably, and agonizing cries escaped his mouth.
Hill dragged him aside. Dru-Thut raised his hand cannon, and a dense beam of light condensed at the muzzle.
"Your turn is over!"
Luke raised his left hand. A laser beam shot out from his palm, precisely hitting the cannon's muzzle.
BOOM!
A terrifying explosion echoed through the corridor. Accompanied by the powerful shockwave, the three men were thrown back like baseballs struck by a punch press. Some hit the wall, others smashed through chairs, lying on the floor, their fates unknown.
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