On Earth-Two, Su Sheng stood on the rooftop, listening to Jesse relay the details about this so-called "Hernangela."
It turned out that the speedster had ruled Central City for a time, gathering villains seeking revenge on Earth. However, Su Sheng had easily eliminated them. Some of the villains returned to their previous lives, but others began to form a team to wreak havoc. Amid this chaos, a new organization called the Justice League quietly emerged.
This organization only had three members: Superman, Batman, and Wonder Girl.
Jesse hadn't been able to dig up much about Batman or Wonder Girl, but this world's Superman was a particular focus because his appearance matched the image of Zod that Su Sheng had provided. According to Jesse, Hernangela's backstory was strikingly similar to Superman's. After Krypton's destruction, Hernangela was adopted by a regular family on Earth. Like Superman, he gradually began saving people and eventually earned the title of Superman. However, he was much more low-key, and it wasn't until the appearance of the Justice League that he became more public.
"How does he handle things?" Su Sheng asked.
"From what I've gathered, he's tough on criminals but still believes in justice," Jesse replied thoughtfully.
At that moment, Indigo emerged from the bracelet with excitement. "Master, this Hernangela isn't just Zod. He's the son of Zod! In my world, before Krypton exploded, Jor-El's parents sent Kal-El to Earth to become Superman. But here, Zod intervened during the gene fusion process and swapped Kal-El's genetic material with his own, making Hernangela the son of General Zod."
Su Sheng chuckled. "So Zod basically stole Jor-El's legacy, and his son is now Superman. I was looking for a version of Zod who'd flipped the script on good and evil, but this Zod is Superman? That's perfect—watching Zod play the hero could be entertaining."
Su Sheng turned to Jesse. "Find the Flash's helmet. Indigo, see if you can find any more information on the Crime Syndicate in this world," he ordered, handing Indigo a file of information. He then decided it was time to pay Zod Chao a visit.
The sun glared overhead as a figure flew swiftly through the sky. Hernangela wore a black trench coat over blue tights, a "Z" symbol emblazoned on his belt, and a pair of long boots. He lacked Superman's signature red cape, and instead of the clean-shaven face of Kal-El, he sported a goatee—very reminiscent of the Zod that Su Sheng had once killed.
Boom!
Without warning, a scorching laser beam shot from afar, striking Hernangela square in the chest. He fell from the sky with a groan, crashing heavily into the ground below as civilians scattered in fear. Slowly lifting his head, Hernangela glared at the figure descending toward him.
"Who are you?" Hernangela growled, rising to his feet.
"Hernangela? Son of Zod? Or should I just call you Zod Chao? Yeah, Zod Chao has a better ring to it," Su Sheng said with a smirk. "I've come to ask you for a favor."
Zod Chao snorted, launching himself at Su Sheng like a cannonball, aiming a punch at his face.
Snap!
Su Sheng caught his fist effortlessly.
Zod Chao's eyes widened in shock, but before he could react, Su Sheng hurled him into the air.
Boom!
Su Sheng's eyes glowed red as laser beams shot toward Zod Chao, hitting him in midair. "Aaaah!" Zod Chao screamed as he plummeted to the ground, smoke rising from his scorched body.
Su Sheng landed beside him, stepping firmly onto Zod Chao's chest. "What was that you said? You wanted to beat me?"
"You... you're a Kryptonian?" Zod Chao stammered, shocked. "I thought I was the last son of Krypton!"
Ignoring the pain, Zod Chao fired his own laser beams at Su Sheng. But Su Sheng only smiled, his eyes glowing once more as he released his own beams. The two lasers collided, but it was clear Su Sheng's beams were stronger. Within seconds, they overpowered Zod Chao's, forcing the energy back toward him.
Boom!
Another explosion rocked the area as the laser beams hit Zod Chao's face, leaving his eyes singed.
Pushing Su Sheng off, Zod Chao tried to fly away.
"If you leave, I'll kill every person in this world!" Su Sheng's cold voice echoed, and Zod Chao stopped instantly, hovering just above the ground.
Under the sun's rays, Zod Chao's eyes began to heal, but he glared at Su Sheng with mistrust. "Who are you, and what do you want?"
Su Sheng crossed his arms. "This world is on the brink of its greatest crisis."
Zod Chao frowned. "What crisis?"
Su Sheng pointed to himself. "Me! I could destroy this world effortlessly."
"If you want to save this world, you'll need to save another one first. Defeat an enemy who's trying to conquer it. Do that, and your world will be safe. If you fail, well... your world will go the way of Krypton."
"I don't understand a word you're saying, but you can't destroy the Earth!" Zod Chao roared, charging at Su Sheng once more.
Su Sheng sighed, raising his fist.
Boom!
Zod Chao hit the ground hard as Su Sheng rained punches on him, his fists moving so fast they became a blur.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Zod Chao's skin, though nearly indestructible, began to bruise and swell. Blood seeped from his wounds, and he could feel the pain coursing through his body as his invincibility shattered. For the first time in his life, Zod Chao realized he could bleed—and maybe even die.
"No... I am the son of Zod! I'm the son of a hero!" Zod Chao screamed, summoning his last reserves of strength. His eyes flared with energy as he prepared to fire another laser blast.
Boom!
Before he could release the beam, Su Sheng's fist slammed into his face.
Gurgle!
Zod Chao coughed up blood before collapsing, unconscious.
"Son of a hero? Poor fool, you have no idea what Zod was really like," Su Sheng muttered with a chuckle. He grabbed Zod Chao's arm and began to drag him away.
Just as he turned around, a sharp blade hurtled toward him.