"???"
The moment Kara spoke those words, both Ross and Nick Fury visibly changed expression.
Rebuild Krypton?
Where would they rebuild it?
There was only one possible answer—Earth.
And once Krypton was rebuilt on Earth, what would happen to humanity?
At best, humans would become second-class citizens. At worst, slaves.
There was no need to speculate. Human history had already provided countless examples.
Previously, they had assumed the Kryptonians had come merely to retrieve one of their own.
If their goal had been invasion, they would have attacked long ago.
But now the truth was clear.
Their real objective was to seize Clark—and use him to rebuild Krypton.
"Damn it—I need to inform the President immediately!"
Ross did not dare waste a second. He pulled out his phone and contacted the White House.
---
"Shit!"
After hearing the full report, President Ellis slammed his fist onto the desk.
In his heart, he was already cursing—cursing the Kryptonians, cursing fate, even cursing God himself.
But anger changed nothing.
Ellis straightened and issued orders without hesitation:
"Immediately place all military bases nationwide—along with global fleets and air forces—on Level One combat readiness!"
"Send a global notice clarifying the Kryptonians' true objective. This is a planetary crisis. No nation is exempt."
"Damn those Kryptonians!"
Returning to his private office, Ellis took out his phone again and dialed a classified number, setting it down on the desk.
He stared at the screen as it rang.
There was no hope in his eyes—only habit.
When the call timed out unanswered, Ellis exhaled slowly.
No disappointment. Only helpless resignation.
"So… has heaven finally abandoned America?" he murmured.
But when he stepped back into the command room, his face was once again resolute and decisive.
"Mr. President!"
A coordinator reported urgently.
"All nations have responded. They will deploy all available military forces to confront the Kryptonians!"
Ellis merely nodded.
Even combined, humanity's hidden strength was likely meaningless against Kryptonians.
He even suspected that humanity's ultimate weapon—nuclear arms—might be little more than fireworks to them.
---
Bzzzz—
Suddenly, interference crackled through the speakers.
The main screen went dark.
Then a familiar, furious voice echoed throughout the command room.
"Earthlings."
"You deceived us."
"You refused to hand over our kin—and you even dared to strike first!"
General Zod's anger was completely unrestrained.
"Therefore, Krypton now formally declares war on your planet."
"Enjoy your final thirty minutes, Earth."
The transmission cut.
The room fell silent.
Ellis's expression darkened.
Thirty minutes.
That was all the time they had left.
---
Kryptonian Mothership
"Who is that woman?"
After ending the broadcast, Zod turned toward Claire below him.
"Why is there another Kryptonian on this planet?"
Claire answered calmly, "General, the ship's AI has already identified her."
"She is Jor-El's niece."
"She was likely sent to Earth by her family during Krypton's destruction."
Zod frowned slightly.
"Forget it. From the combat footage, she lacks experience."
"Assign someone to keep her occupied."
He then turned toward the only scientist present.
"Jax—how is the analysis I ordered?"
"General," Jax replied while working at the console,
"the atmospheric simulation has been fully adjusted to match Earth's environment."
"Based on prior data, you will require no more than ten minutes to adapt."
Zod had already removed his Kryptonian armor.
He clenched his fist slowly.
"So after thirty minutes, our physical capabilities will be significantly enhanced?"
Jax nodded, gesturing toward the remaining eight Kryptonians in the chamber.
"Not thirty minutes."
"Under the radiation of this system's yellow star, your physical attributes will increase by at least tenfold within ten minutes."
"There will be physiological reactions during atmospheric conversion. Endure them."
Zod replied coldly, "That is irrelevant."
"Kryptonian soldiers are born for battle."
He paused briefly, then asked, "What about flight?"
Everyone present had seen Clark and Kara dominate the air.
As Krypton's supreme military commander, Zod understood better than anyone how vital air superiority was.
Jax answered immediately:
"Their flight is achieved by expanding the bio-field within Kryptonian cells, allowing interaction against Earth's magnetic field."
"You're saying… we can fly as well?" Zod asked sharply.
"Yes, General."
"Any Kryptonian capable of controlling their bio-field can achieve flight."
Jax projected a hologram—Earth's magnetic field rendered in dense black particle streams.
He then explained in detail how to synchronize one's bio-field with the planet's magnetosphere.
It didn't take long.
Every Kryptonian in the chamber understood.
---
As the atmospheric conversion progressed, all Kryptonians aboard entered rapid adaptation.
Heat vision.
X-ray vision.
Freeze breath.
Bio-field flight.
The combat units mastered these abilities in eight minutes.
"Enough."
Zod rose to his feet.
"We now possess power far beyond our previous limits."
"The humans of this planet are no longer a threat."
"We will not deploy the World Engine yet."
"Once all organized resistance is eliminated, then we will reshape this planet."
"Claire—brief us on objectives and task assignments."
Claire stepped forward.
"Our highest-priority target is the Genesis Chamber."
"Without it, even if we obtain the Central Codex, creating new Kryptonians would take an unacceptable amount of time."
"I recommend assigning at least three combat units to secure it."
Zod considered briefly, then said, "I will lead the team personally."
Claire shook her head immediately.
"I advise against it, General."
Zod raised an eyebrow. "Explain."
"The Genesis Chamber will be heavily guarded," Claire said firmly.
"I recommend you lead a separate force to draw Earth's primary combatants away."
"If the enemy realizes our intent and destroys the Genesis Chamber…"
"…then everything we've done will be for nothing."
_____
T/N:
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