Chapter 453: The Justice League—Showcasing Their Powers
The Kryptonian Design
In humanity's universal belief, no person is born with a pre-defined role.
But for Krypton, the situation was different. Their genetic technology had advanced to the point of being able to sculpt personalities: soldier, worker, merchant, politician, scientist, scholar, general, leader...
Each identity was a template, with no inherent class or rank; from birth to death, they were all treated equally.
Undeniably, this system possessed an exceptionally powerful side. It significantly boosted the efficiency of human resource utilization, minimized resource waste, and substantially advanced fields like science, military affairs, medicine, and biology.
From a civilizational perspective, this system was near-perfect, but from the standpoint of humanity, it had an irreparable flaw.
Under the control of genetic technology, Kryptonians born from the Worker Template generally possessed strong physiques and a capacity for hard labor. Such individuals could only become workers and were incapable of performing other tasks—not because they didn't want to, but because they lacked the innate ability.
Conversely, those born from the General Template, like Zod, were endowed with continuously optimized genes that granted them super-adaptation, keen insight, incredible observational skills, and a cold, ruthless disposition.
This set of characteristics meant that the moment he stepped onto a battlefield, he would, in a very short time, become a terrifying killing machine.
This was Zod. The super-abilities that Clark and Linda had taken years to master, he mastered in days. His innate adaptability and super-senses allowed him to easily control his body and alter himself based on the external environment.
"Kal, you finally came."
"You are a lunatic!" Clark roared, charging forward. The two engaged in a fierce aerial battle, trading bone-jarring blows. Every attack sent out a visible shockwave.
Edwin tried to assist, but Faora stopped him.
"Don't. The General is enough to handle him alone. Our mission is to protect the shuttle."
The Clashing Forces
Shortly after, Linda arrived at the open ground. Trailing her were Diana—shield in her left hand and sword in her right—the oddly-shaped, green-cloaked Martian Manhunter (John Jones), and the visibly nervous Barry Allen.
The Kryptonian side had six elite warriors plus one scientist.
It was a five-on-seven fight, with the heroes at a numerical disadvantage.
Faora scanned the group and sneered,
"The Daughter of El consorting with Earth savages."
Linda's voice was chilling. "Once I defeat you, I'll smash that shuttle into pieces."
"Dream on!"
Faora lunged forward. Linda met her without fear. Accompanied by fierce roars, a massive tiger shadow appeared.
Fierce Tiger Pouncing on Prey! The attack carried intense killing intent.
The two women, one from the south and one from the north, collided with tremendous force.
Boom!
Air rushed outward like a hurricane. Two seconds later, another explosion sounded. Faora's helmet was torn apart by the tiger's claw. Blood trickled from her mouth, and she flew backward like a kite with a broken string.
Linda showed no mercy and followed with a punch while still airborne.
The iron fist tore the air, and the punch-light shot out.
Bang!
At the critical moment, Edwin stepped in, crossing his hands in front of him to block the punch-light. Even so, the energy shock from the impact left him trembling all over.
"All of you, come at me!"
Whether influenced by the fist technique or another reason, Linda was utterly feral. Her eyes were bloodshot, and with a low tiger roar, she resembled a fierce tiger tearing into its prey.
She led the charge alone. The murderous intent she radiated gave even the steadfast Diana a chilling scalp sensation.
Who is this girl? Is she Kryptonian too?
Barry stared, dumbfounded. He couldn't help but ask,
"What do we do?"
Martian Manhunter looked up at the shuttle.
"That is the priority."
Diana also nodded. "We must destroy that machine before the gravity changes too much."
"I'll take the lead!"
Martian Manhunter stepped forward. "You cover me."
With that, he flew toward the top of the shuttle. A Kryptonian soldier, who had been watching them, leaped up to intercept John Jones. Mid-air, however, he was pulled down by a golden rope.
"Your opponent is me!"
Diana shouted. She flew forward, her Sword of Hephaestus slicing toward the soldier's heart.
Puff!
The Kryptonian armor was sliced open like tofu. The blade's momentum didn't falter, leaving an incision over a dozen centimeters long. The Kryptonian soldier recoiled in shock. An Earth savage's longsword actually cut through Kryptonian battle armor!
"This weapon was forged by a god!"
The Sword of Hephaestus radiated a faint glow. Diana launched attack after attack, her speed immense, aiming straight for the soldier's vital points. Another Kryptonian soldier, seeing the danger, abandoned his attack on Linda and flew over, delivering a heavy punch.
Clang!
The blow was intercepted by Diana's shield. The sheer force sent her sliding back over a dozen meters before she stopped.
She cracked a smile, a hint of bloodlust in her eyes.
"Nice strength."
She drew the Lasso of Truth from her waist. The golden chain coiled around the Kryptonian's body like a snake. Diana then turned to engage the other opponent. The shield and longsword seemed alive in her hands. Her ancient fighting style possessed unbelievable lethality.
As a young woman who had lived for five thousand years, Diana had experienced countless battles. Skill and experience were etched into her very blood—something no ordinary person could match.
The two women were forces of nature, both fighting outnumbered.
The Flying Flash
In contrast, Barry Allen seemed awkward. While his speed was incredible, his strength was a weakness and couldn't compare to the shockwave-punching Kryptonians.
"Barry, Barry, spin that big brain of yours! Come up with a good idea!"
"You're a superhero; you can't just stand here watching the show!"
"Wait! The Floating Pedals!"
Barry's eyes lit up. He activated the flight mode on his panel. Blue light emanated from the soles of his feet. An invisible force field spread around him, constantly pushing against the ground.
"What a strange feeling!"
Barry tried it out. He took a step and, using the Floating Pedals, rose into the air. He stepped again with his left foot. Though his sole didn't touch anything, the anti-thrust device provided him with a perfect point of leverage.
Step after step, he rose higher and higher.
It was as if invisible stairs had materialized in the air. Barry was climbing them as he went up.
"Holy cow!"
"The Boss is seriously too thoughtful!"
After testing it, Barry was so delighted his jaw almost dropped. The Speed Force gave him unparalleled speed, but speed is not flight; no matter how fast he ran, he needed a point of traction. The Floating Pedals perfectly solved this flaw. Now, he could fly in the air.
No, it would be more accurate to say run in the air.
"Yoo-hoo!"
Barry was ecstatic. Lightning enveloped his body, and he vanished instantly. A narrow, elongated white arc of electricity streaked through the sky. The sight of that continuously running figure left onlookers speechless.
Running in the air? Did I see that correctly?
Not just Martian Manhunter and Diana, but even the highly experienced Kryptonian soldiers stared with wide eyes. They had seen people run in the air, but never so fast. The speed was such that Barry became a mere phantom, impossible to clearly discern.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!