One month later.
The planet Nipton had been completely occupied for an entire month.
Thin strands of smoke now rose peacefully into the sky.
Across the Long Ridge Mountains—an enormous chain stretching dozens of kilometers—the ancient forests that once dominated the region had vanished. In their place stood a series of towering structures rising proudly from the mountainside.
The architectural style was unmistakably Kryptonian.
Every building carried a sleek technological aesthetic combined with an elegant alien design. Smooth metallic surfaces curved upward like sculpted crystal, reflecting sunlight in shimmering patterns.
Dozens of buildings stood scattered among the green hills and forest valleys. From a distance, the settlement resembled a futuristic oasis nestled inside the wild landscape.
The view was breathtaking.
At first glance, however, the situation seemed almost impossible.
The World Engine and the Aquarius reconnaissance ship together carried only twenty-seven people. With such a tiny population, how could a city-like settlement appear in just a single month?
Even Ethan Drake had been confused at first.
The mystery was solved the moment he witnessed entire structures being produced by a massive box-shaped machine.
Buildings emerged from the machine one after another, as if rolling off an assembly line.
"3D printer?" Ethan muttered instinctively.
The moment the thought appeared in his mind, he immediately realized the similarity.
Back on Earth, a technology known as 3D printing had already demonstrated the ability to manufacture vehicles and houses using automated fabrication.
Ethan rubbed his forehead and looked toward the towering form of the World Engine embedded in the mountainside. Only then did he remember that he was no longer dealing with Earth-level technology.
This was Kryptonian civilization.
Comparing it to old Earth standards was almost laughable.
The device responsible for constructing the entire settlement was called a Material Printer. Using raw planetary resources, it could assemble advanced structures within minutes.
Lilith, standing nearby, explained the process calmly.
"The printer can also manufacture small aircraft, laser artillery, ion cannons, and other defensive systems if necessary."
Of course, the machine did not create matter from nothing.
All of the trees, plants, and stone that once filled the surrounding forests had been harvested as raw material. Under the transformation of advanced technology, those natural resources had been reshaped into gleaming towers and high-tech structures.
At the center of the settlement, atop the highest mountain ridge, stood the most magnificent building of all.
A massive palace.
As the newly crowned Emperor of Krypton, Ethan naturally occupied the largest residence in the entire settlement.
The palace overlooked everything.
From its balconies, the entire mountain colony stretched across the horizon like a newborn civilization taking its first breath.
Waking up with power over life and death.
Resting beside beautiful women.
Who had never imagined such a life?
Ethan had risen to the throne of Krypton and now held absolute authority over the surviving population. Admittedly, the empire's current numbers looked embarrassingly small.
But Kryptonians did not reproduce naturally under normal circumstances.
Clark Kent was an anomaly.
Within the Aquarius reconnaissance vessel, the genetic incubation chamber had already begun producing new Kryptonian citizens. The available genetic templates were limited—primarily soldier and engineer classifications—but the process had finally begun.
It was the first step toward rebuilding an entire civilization.
As for beauty…
Ethan had never claimed to be a puritan.
The tall and charming medic Lucini had eventually found herself sharing his bed after some gentle persuasion.
"Your Majesty should still be careful," Lilith had warned helplessly afterward. "Kryptonian law does not allow natural reproduction."
Ethan had only laughed at the reminder.
When life went well, people naturally felt lighter.
Still, Ethan did not allow himself to grow complacent.
Everything he possessed now—his throne, his followers, his empire—rested entirely upon his strength.
If that strength faltered, everything would collapse.
High above the palace, dense energy particles gathered into a swirling vortex in the sky. The center of the vortex funneled downward like a column of light, pouring directly into Ethan's body.
Standing alone on the palace platform, he absorbed the surrounding cosmic energy.
Through his Energy Absorption ability, he drew power from the environment and fed it into his body.
Yet something strange happened.
Despite the enormous influx of energy, it vanished rapidly within him.
It felt as though a black hole had opened somewhere inside his body, devouring everything that entered.
The energy disappeared so quickly it was almost frightening.
Three minutes passed.
By the end of the process, not only had Ethan drained the surrounding energy field, but even the power already stored within his own body had nearly been exhausted.
Then—
A familiar voice echoed inside his mind.
"Ding."
The system notification appeared instantly.
"Extraordinary Defense has reached Level 25."
"New special ability unlocked: Kryptonite Immunity."
Ethan froze.
"Wait… what?"
For a brief moment, he nearly jumped in excitement.
He had almost forgotten about that weakness.
Kryptonite.
The most infamous vulnerability in Superman mythology.
No matter how indestructible the Man of Steel appeared, exposure to kryptonite radiation could reduce him to complete helplessness. Even an ordinary human could overpower him under its effects.
Ethan clearly remembered those scenes from countless stories and films.
The thought alone made him uneasy.
True, the legendary Golden Age Superman could treat kryptonite like a harmless snack.
But Ethan had not yet evolved to that level.
Now, however…
He was immune.
The enormous weight that had quietly lingered in his mind finally disappeared.
"Perfect," Ethan said with a satisfied smile.
Over the past month, he had spent most of his time strengthening himself.
With the assistance of the Oracle system—his personal "golden finger"—he could upgrade abilities by consuming the energy he absorbed.
Energy was the only cost.
And in the vast universe, energy was almost limitless.
So throughout the month, Ethan had repeatedly invested his accumulated energy into improving his abilities.
His strength had grown dramatically.
"Oracle," he said quietly.
A translucent template appeared instantly in his mind.
Host: Ethan Drake
Extraordinary Self-Healing – Level 23Extraordinary Strength – Level 20Extraordinary Defense – Level 25Insight Vision – Level 19Super Hearing – Level 16Super Flight – Level 17Freezing Ray – Level 25Energy Absorption – Level 8Super Roar – Level 7Brain Activation – Level 14
In addition to upgrading existing abilities, new powers had appeared during the past month as well.
Super Roar.
And Brain Activation.
Both were entirely new additions to Ethan's growing arsenal.
....
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