Disclaimer:
This is a fan-created story inspired by elements of MCU & DC Comics, including Krypton and its characters. This work is purely for entertainment and is an original reinterpretation of existing lore. All recognizable characters, settings, and concepts belong to their respective creators and rights holders.
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Chapter 42 — The Eyes That Watched Krypton Die
Far beyond the dying remains of Krypton, in the cold silence of deep space, a colossal skull-shaped world drifted through the darkness.
Its metallic surface stretched for thousands of kilometers, carved with alien architecture and illuminated by countless red energy channels flowing across its structure like veins.
Gigantic mechanical tendrils extended outward from the planetary machine.
Moments earlier, those same tendrils had descended upon Krypton.
And taken something priceless.
The city of Kandor.
Inside the hollow depths of the mechanical world, vast chambers pulsed with cold blue light.
Towering machines processed planetary data.
Energy collectors absorbed stellar radiation.
And at the center of the colossal structure stood its master.
The artificial intelligence known across galaxies as Brainiac.
Countless holographic displays floated around him, each one showing a different angle of Krypton's destruction.
On one screen, the planet's core collapsed inward.
On another, massive tectonic plates split open.
And on the largest projection—
The final explosion.
Krypton shattered.
The once-great world broke apart in a blinding wave of fire and energy that spread across the solar system.
Brainiac watched it silently.
Coldly.
Calculating.
"Planetary civilization designation: Krypton."
"Status: terminated."
His mechanical voice echoed through the chamber.
"Collection successful."
Behind him, massive containment vaults opened.
Inside one of them floated an entire city preserved within a crystalline bottle.
Kandor.
Perfectly intact.
Every building.
Every structure.
Every citizen.
All miniaturized and stored within a containment field.
Brainiac studied the bottled city carefully.
"Kryptonian civilization archived."
But then one of the displays shifted.
A new transmission appeared across the chamber.
The signal did not originate from the skull-world.
It came from somewhere else.
Far away.
From another throne.
Another empire.
Brainiac's holographic systems automatically connected the transmission.
The image that appeared on the projection was dark.
Stone walls.
Burning fire pits.
And at the center of the chamber—
A throne carved from black alien metal.
Upon it sat a towering figure.
His skin was gray like ancient stone.
His eyes burned with absolute authority.
The ruler of the planet Apokolips.
The tyrant known across the universe as Darkseid.
Darkseid watched the destruction of Krypton through the holographic display.
The fiery explosion reflected within his glowing eyes.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he spoke.
"The Kryptonians destroyed themselves…"
His voice was deep.
Ancient.
Absolute.
"…just as predicted."
Behind him stood several armored warriors of Apokoliptian Army.
None of them spoke.
None dared interrupt.
Brainiac responded in his cold mechanical tone.
"Kryptonian extinction probability was calculated at 99.78 percent."
"Outcome confirmed."
Darkseid leaned slightly forward on his throne.
"The Council was easily manipulated."
Brainiac's eyes flashed briefly.
"Yes."
"Their fear of rebellion made them predictable."
Darkseid nodded slowly.
"You whispered to their fears."
"You convinced them to banish their strongest houses."
Brainiac's voice remained emotionless.
"Correct."
Darkseid continued watching the destruction of Krypton.
"The release of Doomsday accelerated the process."
Brainiac nodded.
"The creature's emergence destabilized the planetary crust."
"Combined with the core instability… Krypton's destruction became inevitable."
Darkseid stood slowly from his throne.
His towering figure cast a long shadow across the chamber floor.
"All according to design."
The destruction of Krypton finished playing on the holographic screen.
Nothing remained but drifting fragments.
A dead system.
But Darkseid was not interested in the planet anymore.
His eyes turned toward Brainiac.
"Now tell me."
"Did you find it?"
Brainiac paused.
Then several screens appeared simultaneously.
Files opened.
Genetic analysis reports.
Kryptonian experiment records.
A single name appeared across the central display.
Von-Ra.
Brainiac's voice spoke again.
"Subject classified as hybrid experiment."
"Genetic structure indicates integration of non-Kryptonian biological traits."
Darkseid's eyes narrowed.
"The perfect soldier."
Brainiac responded.
"Potential power projection exceeds Kryptonian baseline."
Darkseid turned slightly toward the burning horizon of Apokolips visible through the chamber windows.
"A being stronger than Kryptonians…"
"…stronger than Viltrumites."
His voice lowered slightly.
"That power belongs to me."
Brainiac's systems processed new data.
Then something changed.
A warning signal flashed across several monitors.
Darkseid noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
Brainiac's voice spoke again.
But this time—
There was the faintest hint of uncertainty.
"Hybrid subject location unknown."
Several screens displayed failed tracking results.
Dimensional scans returned empty.
Brainiac repeated the conclusion.
"Subject… missing."
Darkseid turned slowly.
The flames of Apokolips burned behind him.
"A being with that power does not simply disappear."
Brainiac analyzed the last available data.
"The subject's final recorded location was Krypton."
"But the planet has been destroyed."
Darkseid's eyes glowed brighter.
Then one final data stream appeared on Brainiac's display.
Dimensional energy traces.
Residual signals.
Originating from a place beyond conventional space.
The Phantom Zone.
Brainiac's processors analyzed it instantly.
"Possible explanation detected."
"Hybrid subject may have entered a dimensional prison during Krypton's final moments."
Darkseid smiled.
A slow, dangerous smile.
"Then he lives."
Behind him, one of his commanders stepped forward.
"My lord…"
Darkseid raised a hand.
Silencing him.
His burning eyes remained fixed on the holographic image of the Phantom Zone energy signature.
"A warrior who survived the death of a planet."
His voice echoed through the throne chamber.
"That is not prey."
"That is destiny."
Darkseid turned fully toward the dark stars beyond Apokolips.
"The Kryptonians believed their story ended with their world."
His smile widened.
"But their true purpose…"
"…has only begun."
He looked back at Brainiac.
"Prepare your fleets."
"Scan every dimension."
"Search every star."
His voice thundered across the chamber.
"Find the hybrid."
Silence filled the throne room.
Then Darkseid spoke the final words.
"The hunt begins."
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even the destruction of krypton can't stop Darkseid's revenge, stay tune and read more for more exciting revelations ahead.