Boom! Boom!
Laser artillery from the World Engine thundered continuously through the sky. Blazing beams of energy streaked downward in elegant arcs before crashing violently into the planet below.
Each strike erupted with devastating force.
The moment the bombardment touched the surface, forests exploded into flames and shockwaves tore through the land. Entire swathes of wilderness were vaporized beneath the relentless firepower.
From the ground below, furious roars answered the assault.
Massive beasts howled toward the sky, their voices shaking the ancient forests as if the planet itself was protesting the invasion. Some of the creatures charged blindly through the burning terrain, while others lifted their enormous wings and launched themselves upward.
But their rage changed nothing.
The ruthless artillery barrage blanketed the entire region within moments. Under the destructive rain of energy, hordes of monstrous beasts were wiped out instantly. Their towering bodies disintegrated into ash before they could even reach the attackers.
Ancient trees that had stood for centuries collapsed into flaming rubble.
Within minutes, a once-lush forest had been flattened into a smoldering wasteland.
Still, a number of massive winged beasts managed to escape the bombardment. With furious screeches, they soared toward the sky, beating their gigantic wings as they rushed toward the enormous fortress descending from orbit.
The World Engine.
To the creatures of this world, it must have looked like a metal mountain falling from the heavens.
Whoosh!
Dark figures suddenly flashed through the sky.
Those were Kryptonian warriors.
Clad in sleek black combat armor, the elite soldiers moved like streaks of lightning as they intercepted the airborne monsters. Their task was simple—eliminate any creature that threatened the massive warship.
One by one, they collided with the winged beasts midair.
Explosions of blood and shattered bone followed each clash.
Yet just as the battle intensified—
A calm voice descended from above.
"Stand down."
The order carried quiet authority.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The Kryptonian warriors immediately responded.
Even in the middle of combat, they did not hesitate. Feeling the overwhelming presence descending from the sky, they quickly disengaged and retreated toward the main vessel.
Moments later, the battlefield fell strangely quiet.
High above the clouds, a lone figure stood in the sky.
Ethan Drake.
Draped in a flowing black robe, he floated effortlessly above the battlefield like a god surveying his domain. Unlike the soldiers below, he wore no technological flight armor.
He didn't need it.
Flight came naturally to him.
The winged beasts continued rushing toward him, their enormous bodies casting huge shadows beneath the clouds.
Ethan looked at them calmly.
The energy within his body began to rise.
His aura surged upward like a column of smoke piercing the heavens.
Then he laughed.
"Pathetic beasts," he said loudly. "You dare challenge me?"
The words echoed across the sky.
Ethan drew back his arm.
Then he punched forward.
"Spatial Shock."
Boom!
The instant his fist moved, the air itself seemed to explode.
It felt as though thunder had fallen directly from the highest heavens. The atmosphere twisted violently as an invisible force surged outward with catastrophic power.
The shockwave spread across the sky like a collapsing wall.
Bang!
The leading winged beast was obliterated instantly.
Its enormous body exploded into a cloud of blood before it could even react.
But the attack did not stop there.
Ripples of destructive force spread outward through the air, shaking the sky itself. The pressure of the shockwave tore open faint black fractures in the atmosphere as if space had momentarily cracked.
The remaining beasts flying behind it never stood a chance.
Within seconds, the entire airborne resistance was reduced to drifting mist.
A single attack had annihilated the last defenders of the sky.
From that moment forward—
The planet known as Nipton no longer had the strength to resist.
…
…
Not long ago, while drifting through the silent depths of space, the World Engine had unexpectedly discovered a life-bearing planet.
Such discoveries were rare.
After further investigation by the reconnaissance vessel Aquarius, the findings became even more interesting.
The planet's atmosphere was breathable.
Its ecosystem was thriving.
But there was one critical detail.
No intelligent life existed on its surface.
No primates.
No signs of civilization.
The entire planet was dominated by savage beasts.
Nipton was essentially a cradle of monsters.
Upon hearing the report, Ethan had given only one order.
"Take it."
A planet with breathable air suitable for Kryptonian survival was far too valuable to ignore.
Their people could not wander the stars forever.
They needed a home.
Without a territory to settle on, they could not rebuild their population or restore their civilization.
And so—
War began.
At first, Ethan assumed the planet resembled Earth during its Cretaceous era. He expected little more than oversized reptiles similar to dinosaurs.
But reality proved slightly more complicated.
The creatures here were far more dangerous.
Gigantic monsters resembling towering nuclear lizards roamed the forests, some standing dozens of meters tall. Others possessed enormous wings and ruled the skies like living storms.
Fortunately for the invaders—
They were facing Kryptonian warriors.
Against soldiers capable of tearing through starship hulls with their bare hands, the planet's monsters were little more than wild animals.
"Purge all creatures within a ten-kilometer radius," Ethan ordered calmly.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Under Faora's command, the Kryptonian soldiers immediately scattered in every direction. They moved like shadows through the ruined forest, hunting down every surviving beast that dared remain nearby.
Boom!
Behind Ethan, a thunderous sound echoed through the mountains.
The World Engine—after drifting through space for more than a decade—finally descended onto solid ground.
Its blade-like landing structures plunged deep into the mountainside, anchoring the colossal fortress firmly into the planet's crust.
High above, the Aquarius reconnaissance vessel hovered in orbit, maintaining defensive patrols in case any unknown threats appeared.
Ethan stood quietly atop the mountain.
From that height, he could see endless stretches of untamed wilderness spreading across the horizon. Dense forests, towering cliffs, and winding rivers filled the landscape like a living painting.
He looked across it all like a monarch surveying newly conquered territory.
Invading a planet was undeniably brutal.
Countless lives were erased in the process.
But among the stars, survival followed a simple rule.
Either you conquer—
Or you are conquered.
On the path toward restoring Krypton, war, plunder, and death would become unavoidable themes. Ethan had already accepted that reality long ago.
"It's actually a blessing," said Lilith, who had approached quietly from behind him.
She gestured toward the distant wilderness.
"Krypton once possessed enormous colonies of alien beasts as well."
Her words triggered a memory.
In Krypton's ancient history, massive creatures had once been domesticated and used as living war mounts. Legendary riders had soared through the skies atop enormous beasts, commanding them with unmatched skill.
Even the father of Superman had once been renowned for his ability to control such creatures.
"We still possess the technology required to tame them," Lilith continued with excitement. "With the proper methods, we may be able to domesticate these beasts as well."
Ethan nodded slightly.
"That would be useful."
Having powerful creatures serve as additional military assets was certainly beneficial.
At that moment, the medic Lucini stepped forward as well.
"Now that we have an incubation facility, new Kryptonian life will soon be born," she said thoughtfully. "And with a stable territory secured, the future is finally beginning to look promising."
Then she hesitated slightly.
"But…"
"What is it?" Ethan asked.
Lucini sighed softly.
"It would be even better if we still had the Central Codex," she said. "That contains the most precious essence of Kryptonian life."
She shook her head regretfully.
"Since Krypton was destroyed, nobody knows where the Codex ended up."
The Central Codex.
The genetic archive of Krypton.
Within it were the complete genetic blueprints of their entire civilization.
Hearing those words, Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Unlike the others—
He knew exactly where the Codex was.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Clark," Ethan murmured quietly.
"I'm looking forward to meeting you."
....
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