Astra murmured in shock. The way she looked at Heisenberg was filled not only with awe but also with profound pain and loss.
It was the same look she had once cast back at Kandor City.
That year on Krypton, deadly snow had fallen over Kandor. That year, Astra had still been by her lover's side.
She and her love should have had a happy life—an ordinary, unremarkable Kryptonian existence.
After all, Astra's life had been perfectly mapped out from the day she was born, all the way to her death, by the Creation Guild.
She was destined to serve as a commander under the Military Guild, devoting her entire life to Krypton's defense and security.
And her husband, Non, was the same. The two of them, husband and wife, were supposed to fight side by side on the front lines of Krypton's safety.
They had been married by decree of the Council, and they were to raise children according to the unions arranged by the Creation Guild since birth.
That year, still snowing, Astra and her beloved Non had already made the decision to apply to the Creation Guild for their first child!
Originally, they would have simply applied right there in Kandor City, where they were stationed. But for certain special reasons…
Well, that "special reason" had to do with Astra herself.
On Krypton, the Kryptonians governed their nation and people through a guild system.
This guild system was composed of four primary guilds and countless smaller ones.
The four main guilds were the Science Guild, the Art Guild, the Military Guild, and the Labor Guild.
They corresponded to the four deities the Kryptonians had always worshipped.
At the same time, these four guilds had been founded by four heroic leaders from Krypton's origin era.
Alok El had founded the Science Guild.
Val Ler had founded the Art Guild.
Rik Al had founded the Labor Guild.
And Dru-Zod had founded the Military Guild.
In the early days of these four heroes, the members of these chief guilds simply wore different styles of clothing and worked together as equals.
But as the heroes passed and the ages shifted, their scale and status began to follow the order in which they were listed.
Some were noble, some were lowly.
After Heisenberg's exile, the Age of Exploration ended, and the Science Guild defeated the Military Guild in one fell swoop, seizing the chief seat.
With the Kryptonians choosing to isolate themselves, the usefulness of the military greatly diminished. The Art Guild, after the Kryptonians opted for a life of comfort and ease, continued to trample the Military Guild beneath its feet and became the second-largest guild.
Although the Military Guild begrudgingly settled into third place, it still crushed the Labor Guild…
But Krypton's current laws, when it came to children, proclaimed an outward principle of equality for all.
The Council declared that every child's assignment and marriage arrangements were entirely left to fate and the judgment of the gods!
That meant anyone's child could be assigned to any guild.
Including the Labor Guild…
When it came to children—even if Astra wasn't the one giving birth—she wanted the best possible outcome!
To have a more perfect, superior child.
To give her child the highest potential.
Astra set her sights on her older sister.
As ordinary commanders of Kandor City in the Military Guild, she and her husband held a far lower status than her sister and brother-in-law.
Because her sister, Alura, had been assigned by the creation system from birth to the exceptional progeny of the House of El.
All of Astra family's resources had gone into arranging her sister's life…
Zor-El, Astra's brother-in-law, was the head of the Science Guild in Kandor City!
In a city with no Council elders residing within it, the Science Guild held absolute sway.
Astra believed that if she could reach out to her sister and brother-in-law, they would surely help her create a more fortunate child.
Just as their family had done for her sister all those years ago.
To give her child a higher genetic sequence, higher status—and above all, ensure it would never be assigned to the Labor Guild…
And so, the families of Astra and Alura agreed to meet on the south side of the Entertainment Guild Hall during the Festival of Truth.
When Krypton's Festival of Truth arrived, Astra donned her smartest uniform and brought her husband along to the meeting place with her brother-in-law's family.
When Zor-El and his wife arrived, they brought their daughter with them—the girl who now seemed as elfin and adorable as Kara El.
The two families listened to ancient melodies in the Entertainment Guild, then looked through the defensive barriers along the city walls at the frost and snow that had shrouded Krypton for thirteen thousand years!
Krypton's destruction had not been sudden. Before that abrupt end, Krypton had long entered a period of decay, facing the twilight of its planet.
It was precisely because of this decay that, thirteen thousand years ago, Krypton had split into two hemispheres.
One hemisphere was locked in eternal frost and perpetual winter.
The other was overrun with lava, scorching and uninhabitable.
To survive in such conditions, under the leadership of the Council, the remaining thirteen million Kryptonians who had survived the Doomsday crisis brought about by Heisenberg were concentrated into nine cities.
The five cities in the snow-covered southern hemisphere were led by Kandor City.
The four cities in the fire-ravaged northern hemisphere were headed by Alok City, built upon pillars of truth and justice.
The higher a city's rank, the fewer people lived there—and naturally, the better the conditions.
The top-ranked Alok City housed only twenty thousand people.
Kandor City, ranking fifth, had a staggering three million people barely scraping by!
As for the Kryptonian lands beyond these nine cities, they were called the Wastelands—a cursed region by the Kryptonians of this era!
At that moment, Astra and Alura were gazing out at that very wasteland—an endless expanse of swirling snow.
Staring at the lifeless desert where only mutated beasts roamed, Astra hesitated for a long, agonizing moment, before finally gathering her resolve and speaking to her sister and brother-in-law.
"Zor, Alura… there's something I need to discuss with you. Could the child leave us for a moment?"
Seeing the barely mustered courage in Astra's eyes, Zor-El nodded, then turned to his daughter beside him.
"Kara, your Uncle Hal is not far from here—he's brought your good friend Fura along.
You'd rather spend the Festival of Truth with her too, wouldn't you?"
"Okay, Dad. You just want to get rid of me—I know, I know. Kids aren't allowed to hear this, kids aren't allowed to hear that!"
Kara grumbled in feigned displeasure, then stepped over to Astra, opening her arms wide to her aunt.
"Hug me, Auntie! I haven't seen you in so long—I missed you."
"Yes, Auntie's been stuck in Kandor's highest command post. It really is too hard to get to see cute little Kara."
Astra smiled and held Kara tight, then let her go at just the right moment, watching her scamper off toward her friend.
Once Kara had left, Zor-El smiled at Astra and gestured for her to continue.
Astra took a deep breath.
"I have an impertinent request. I think you've both guessed it already.
Non and I—we want to apply for a child!"
"Of course!"
Hearing this, Zor-El immediately understood, and his smile grew more natural.
Just a moment ago, he'd feared Astra's visit might be because the Military Guild had caught wind of the plan he and his brother Jor-El had set in motion.
He let out a relieved breath, patted his wife's hand, and said to his sister-in-law,
"Don't worry. There will always be corners of life as cruel as the endless wastelands.
But I promise you—your child with Non will never have to endure that kind of life."
With that, Zor-El gently placed Alura's hand against his cheek, his face radiant with happiness as he continued,
"After all, your sister is the love of my life."
"That's wonderful—I don't even know how to thank you!"
Astra's face lit up with joy.
But before she could finish her sentence, Zor-El gently shook his head.
"Hold on—there's one more thing I haven't mentioned. Because I, too, have a favor to ask of you!"
"Name it!"
Astra replied without hesitation.
Looking at her resolute expression, Zor-El smiled and shook his head again.
"Don't be nervous. It's nothing too difficult.
I simply want to arrange a time soon to send Kara to her uncle.
My brother, Jor-El—he lives in that great city of Alok.
He's also the leader of the Alok City Science Academy, and he's interested in mentoring my daughter."
"That's simple enough, sir. Why don't you—"
"Patience. I understand your excitement, but please hear me out.
We all have our duties, you see. Without proper justification, I have no right to leave my city either.
Sending my daughter to Alok City to seek her destiny—that's hardly a reason I can present!
More importantly, Lady Astra, I don't want the Council to know about this.
As for the reasons—I trust you understand them as well as I do, don't you?"
"Of course—I don't want the Council knowing what I'm up to either. I'm just taking my sister's child to visit her uncle, right?"
"Exactly."
Astra and Zor-El quickly reached an agreement. Astra rejoiced in her favorable outcome.
And Zor-El, too, was satisfied—he had found a way to execute his plan.
Watching Astra's beaming face, Zor-El couldn't help offering her a pitying smile.
These poor souls—they would never face reality, even unto death.
Just as he and his brother had always determined: Krypton's destruction was imminent, within the year at most!
But no one believed it, because no one wanted to believe it.
To that end, he and his brother had established their own plan—he had to include his daughter in it.
Kara must escape the fate of perishing alongside Krypton. She must!!!
But the Council kept them under constant surveillance, offering them few opportunities—until Astra came knocking. Only then did Zor-El remember that he still had this inconspicuous path: Astra.
The Military Guild always had ways to move discreetly between cities, since they were the only guild with legitimate reason to leave the city barriers and conduct surveys in the Wastelands!
Entrusting the task of sending Kara to Alok was perfect for Astra.
Especially since time was running out. The Council's tight scrutiny had repeatedly delayed his and Jor-El's plans.
Krypton's destruction was imminent—he had to get Kara out as fast as possible. As fast as—
BOOM!!!
BRRRRRRRRR!!!
A piercing screech erupted. The sky had changed!
Beyond Kandor City's barrier, within the clouds shrouded by thick icy mist, a colossal starship shaped like a skull had suddenly descended.
Heavy mechanical tentacles wreathed with dimensional ripples descended from that ship, repeatedly stabbing at Kandor's seemingly sturdy but utterly defenseless energy barrier!
In that instant, the music echoing through the Entertainment Guild Hall fell silent. Astra shot to her feet.
"Non! Armor up! Prepare for battle!"
The moment the words left Astra's mouth, the particle garments on both their bodies transformed into armor.
But just as Astra was about to leave, Zor-El seized her right wrist in a death grip.
Gone was his earlier composure. His eyes were bloodshot.
He roared at Astra:
"Brainiac is here! Damn it—promise me! Take my daughter to Alok! Find Jor!"
"But I am a warrior! This is my war!
Stand aside, scholar!"
"Damn it, you're a warrior—and you're a mother! For my child, and for your future child!
Trust me—Jor will give your child the same fate as Kara. Hold the creation ceremony in Alok City!
Your child will be born there, and grow up in a city even I can only look up to! Trust me—trust Jor!!!"
"But—"
"No buts! You'll be sent to the Phantom Zone for dereliction of duty—but your bloodline will live in the supreme city!
We all have to sacrifice something for our children. I choose to give my life defending Kandor, in exchange for Kara not being held accountable by the Council.
What about you? Are you afraid? You'd be ashamed of dereliction, wouldn't you!
But it's all for the children! I beg you—it's all for them!
Take her away! Now! Go! Hurry! Please, Astra—move!!!"
"DAMN IT!!!"
Looking into Zor-El's bloodshot eyes, feeling the strength—far beyond what any scholar should possess—pressing into her wrist,
Astra had no time to wonder why an El scholar had more power than a warrior like herself.
All she could think about was her own future child!
Listening to the tearing sounds of the defense barrier being ripped apart, Astra nodded through her tears.
She gritted her teeth and gripped Zor-El's hand with all her might.
"On my final honor and my life, I swear—even if I die on the road, I will die before Kara does."
"I believe you. You're the only one I trust. Take her away! Go! Go! GO!!!"
With Jor-El's shout echoing in her ears, Astra shuddered, then immediately lunged toward Kara, who was running toward them through the panicked crowd.
She scooped the girl up mid-flight and pulled the screaming child away from the chaos.
Meanwhile, Zor-El let out a long, mournful sigh. He had already stored the memory recordings of himself and his wife in the pendant around Kara's neck. Jor would show them to her.
His child was safe. Now…
Zor-El looked up at the gradually shattering defensive barrier above, his jaw clenched so tight it could shatter.
Beside him, Alura held his hand, murmuring to herself:
"By the wisdom of Tyla we are guided.
By the beauty of Lora we are inspired.
By the moon of Yoda we are embraced.
By the light of Rao we are warmed.
O gods—Kryptonians would rather offer their souls to Cythonna, the dark god of Krypton, than surrender their fate to a city collector from some alien world!
I thank you for your guidance, rejoice in your inspiration. Your embrace warms me in every moment.
But an unbeatable foe stands at our door.
Guidance and inspiration fail. Moonlight and warmth are utterly eclipsed by the enemy's shadow.
So it seems that we, in our arrogance, also need a savior.
What we need is protection.
O gods, I pray to you—who will come to guard us?
I believe he will appear.
Because Krypton's defiance is unyielding unto death.
And Krypton's resilience is tireless unto death!
Even more so—because we will wait."
/-\
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