The Death Star had arrived.
Even for Ethan Drake, that counted as an unexpected gain. He hadn't anticipated that something he had only seen in fiction in a previous life would actually exist here, but once the surprise passed, it made perfect sense. This was an era of galactic hegemony, and an empire as vast and ruthless as the Kree would naturally possess weapons of absolute destruction.
And now, that weapon belonged to him.
In the outer orbit of Neptune, a new "satellite" joined the silent procession circling the planet. Its surface gleamed with a cold metallic sheen, unmistakably artificial, unmistakably lethal. The Death Star wasn't just a structure—it was a fully operational combat space station, equipped with a superlaser capable of annihilating an entire planet in a single shot.
Operating something of this scale required personnel. A lot of personnel.
Fortunately, Krypton's population had already crossed a thousand.
With the expansion of the incubation nutrient pools and the activation of multiple life science facilities, the bottleneck of manpower was no longer a concern. The vast quantities of genetic nutrient solution looted from the Kree Empire ensured that growth could proceed at an accelerated pace without interruption.
Ethan couldn't help but feel a trace of satisfaction.
This really was thanks to the Kree.
They had prided themselves on their mastery of genetic science, on their vast reserves of refined nutrient solutions. Now all of it had become fuel for Krypton's rise. Using those very resources, Ethan initiated a large-scale population expansion program without hesitation.
Bold didn't begin to describe it.
After successfully establishing five life science bases, the size of the incubation system had increased by more than a hundredfold. With centralized management through the Ultimate Evolution Module, Ethan began systematically filling every role required for a functioning civilization.
The first priority was obvious.
One hundred thousand Kryptonian soldiers.
The number alone was staggering, but the method behind it was even more so. There was no need for gestation periods, no dependency on traditional reproduction, no maternal limitations. Everything was streamlined, efficient, and entirely artificial.
All it required was energy and resources.
The brilliance of Kryptonian genetic engineering made it possible, and the Central Collection ensured it could be executed flawlessly. In the incubation pools, embryos developed at accelerated rates, their genetic structures optimized and stabilized with precision.
At the same time, two hundred high-tier "generals" were also placed into incubation.
It wasn't that Ethan didn't want more elite units. The problem was cost. High-level genetic constructs consumed significantly more resources, and there were risks involved. According to Lilith's projections, the more complex the genetic design, the higher the probability of embryo failure.
Even so, the current scale was already unprecedented.
Beyond soldiers and generals, entire categories of specialists were being mass-produced. Scientists, engineers, tacticians, field commanders—every necessary function of society was being filled at a rate no natural civilization could ever hope to match.
This was only phase one.
Phase two and phase three were already being drafted.
Lilith's calculations were clear. Within a month, Krypton's population would surpass ten thousand. Considering that it had only recently crossed one thousand, the growth rate bordered on the absurd.
But even that wasn't the peak.
Within two months, once the first batch of one hundred thousand soldiers fully matured, the Kryptonian Empire would cross the hundred-thousand mark. At that point, it would no longer be a recovering civilization.
It would be a force.
"Praise the Central Collection. Praise the Kree Empire."
The scientists couldn't contain their excitement as they monitored the process. Their voices carried through the facilities, filled with barely restrained exhilaration.
Lilith stood nearby, silent but smiling faintly. Her lips were pressed together, but the emotion in her eyes betrayed her composure. She understood exactly what they were witnessing—the rebirth of a civilization at a speed that defied logic.
From a ruined remnant to a rising empire.
All in the span of weeks.
High above, on a mountain overlooking Neptune's expanding cityscape, Ethan stood with his hands behind his back. His gaze swept across the horizon, taking in the sprawling developments below.
In the distance, an interstellar warship began to rise.
That was the newly completed second World Engine.
This was no ordinary vessel. It had already proven its value during the recent raids, carving through Kree defenses with terrifying efficiency. Its defining feature—the gravitational field—made it nearly untouchable.
An absolute defense.
Anything that approached it would be dragged off course, crushed, or rendered useless before it could even make contact. It was less a ship and more a moving singularity wrapped in Kryptonian engineering.
And now there were two of them.
The raw materials for its construction had come directly from the Kree Empire. Entire stockpiles of rare metals had been harvested during the raids, forming mountains of resources that fed directly into Krypton's industrial expansion.
Ethan almost found it amusing.
The Kree were funding their own downfall.
Beyond the World Engines, additional fleets were beginning to take shape. More than thirty reconnaissance ships, modeled after the Aquarius-class design, were under construction. For the first time, Krypton possessed something resembling a true interstellar navy.
Until now, the empire's military power had essentially been Ethan himself.
That was no longer the case.
With ships, soldiers, and infrastructure rapidly scaling upward, the Kryptonian Empire had finally taken its first real step toward becoming a dominant galactic force.
The effects were obvious.
A sense of overwhelming prosperity began to permeate every corner of Neptune. Cities expanded, industries multiplied, and the once-empty stretches of land transformed into networks of activity and production.
It was no wonder the Kree were furious.
From their perspective, Krypton wasn't just an enemy—it was a parasite. Every gain Krypton made came directly from Kree losses. Every step forward for one meant a step backward for the other.
They were being drained.
Systematically.
Relentlessly.
Ethan exhaled slowly, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
"The Central Collection isn't exactly fair," he murmured to himself. "But without it, a destroyed civilization like Krypton wouldn't have a chance to rise again this quickly."
He knew that better than anyone.
No natural system could replicate this growth. Even the most optimistic projections of traditional population recovery would take generations, not weeks. The idea of rebuilding an entire nation from nothing in such a short time bordered on fantasy.
Yet here it was.
Reality.
Looking down at the endless cityscape stretching beneath him, Ethan allowed himself a faint smile. For a brief moment, a thought crossed his mind.
What would Superman think if he saw this?
Would he hesitate?
Would he question himself?
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the imperial palace, a scientist sat at a long table, carefully recording events into a thick, bound volume. Acting as a historian, he documented every major development with meticulous detail.
"In the first year of the Imperial Recovery Calendar, under the guidance of the Central Collection, more than ten thousand Kryptonian soldiers successfully emerged from the incubation pools. The total population has officially surpassed ten thousand."
His pen moved steadily as he continued.
"The Kree Empire has suffered repeated plundering operations. The dwarven nation has formally submitted. The second World Engine has been completed. A planetary-level weapon has been secured in orbit…"
Every achievement was recorded.
Every milestone preserved.
He paused briefly, then added another line.
"His Majesty's power continues to grow. Yesterday's energy fluctuations suggest a significant increase compared to previous measurements…"
The scientist hesitated.
He almost wrote more, something personal, something filled with admiration—but in the end, he crossed it out. A historian's duty was to record, not to worship.
At the same time, far above Neptune, activity continued aboard the Death Star.
Kryptonian personnel moved through its vast corridors, maintaining systems and monitoring surrounding space. While its primary function was planetary annihilation, in peacetime it served as a surveillance platform, scanning nearby star systems for threats.
Today, something unusual appeared.
A technician frowned as data streamed across his console.
"A meteorite has been detected approaching Neptune. It's not on a collision course… but the energy readings are strange."
He adjusted the scan parameters, focusing on the anomaly.
"Wait. The surface is showing biological signatures."
The room grew quiet.
"After cross-referencing the database, the organism matches a known species from Klyntar. It's classified as a symbiote."
Another technician leaned closer, studying the data.
"These things behave more like parasites than independent lifeforms. They struggle in oxygen-rich environments, but they're extremely adaptable under the right conditions."
The first technician nodded, then transmitted the report.
"Requesting instructions from ground command."
The message traveled quickly.
Within minutes, the information reached the palace. Lilith delivered the report personally, her tone calm but attentive as she outlined the details.
Ethan listened, interest flickering in his eyes.
"Symbiotes…" he repeated softly.
Immediately, a familiar image surfaced in his mind.
Venom.
A grin spread across his face.
"Now that's interesting."
He turned slightly, his voice carrying a note of anticipation.
"Dispatch an interstellar ship. Capture the meteorite."
There was a brief pause.
Then he added, without hesitation:
"I want those symbiotes."
....
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