Siobhan Smythe woke up feeling sore and bruised, her body aching from the intensity of the previous night. Su Sheng had initially planned to treat her as just another casual fling, but her wild enthusiasm had escalated things beyond what he'd anticipated. Like a small boat tossed about in a raging storm, she had been swept away by the night's chaos.
As she lay there, trying to make sense of everything, she realized she was alone. Glancing around the apartment, she saw no sign of Su Sheng. With a heavy sigh, she checked her phone, and as expected, there was a transfer—$100,000.
"One hundred thousand dollars a night… If I keep this up, I won't need to work ever again," Siobhan Smythe muttered to herself mockingly, before getting up to shower and leave.
Meanwhile, Metropolis had become the epicenter of Superman's mission to bring global peace. His lieutenants patrolled the planet, enforcing his strict new laws, and the "Great Purge" continued to expand its influence, all starting from the city itself. However, resistance was growing, led by the DEO, who had developed an ion shield capable of withstanding the Purge's effects. Clashes between Superman's forces and the DEO had become frequent, with Supergirl and Martian Manhunter leading the charge for the resistance.
Superman, confident that only Supergirl and Martian Manhunter stood in his way, issued a final warning to the DEO. But then, an unexpected rival appeared: Zod—someone who also claimed the mantle of Superman.
Their battle was fierce, shaking the streets of Metropolis and leaving destruction in its wake. As Supergirl and Martian Manhunter fought alongside Zod, they seized the opportunity to gather crucial intel. In retaliation, Superman's most trusted lieutenants, Astra and Faora, were dispatched to confront Supergirl and Martian Manhunter directly.
The battle lasted the better part of a day, devastating the city. When the dust settled, the DEO had vanished, taking Supergirl and her allies with them. Furious, Superman made a public declaration, naming Zod, Supergirl, and Martian Manhunter as wanted criminals. His sense of betrayal stung deeply—Supergirl had chosen to stand against him, and this was something he could not forgive. He launched an immediate assault on the DEO, only to find it abandoned.
From aboard the Discipleship, Su Sheng and Indigo watched the events unfold with keen interest. They were no longer on Earth, having left in search of something far more intriguing.
"Looks like your Zod isn't tipping the scales the way you expected, Master," Indigo commented with a smirk.
Su Sheng remained unfazed. "He'll find his way eventually. Superman always has a way of pushing things to the brink, but this is just the beginning."
Indigo's attention shifted as she glanced outside the ship. "We're almost there."
Su Sheng had been tracking the faint signal of black kryptonite across the cosmos. After traveling 50,000 light-years, they finally neared their destination—a massive fragment of a planet, floating in the vacuum of space. As they drew closer, they realized it wasn't just debris; it was a city, protected by an energy shield.
The Disciple approached the shield and, without resistance, passed through it. Indigo scanned their surroundings. "This isn't a defensive barrier, Master. It's meant to simulate an atmospheric environment."
The ship landed gently on a patch of green grass. As they disembarked, Indigo began accessing the city's network. Within moments, a group of flying robots appeared, issuing a warning in a robotic voice. "Warning, stay where you are, intruder."
Su Sheng narrowed his eyes. "These look like Kryptonian tech… Wait, my powers aren't working. There's no yellow sun here."
Indigo's expression shifted as she processed the data she had extracted. "Master, this is Krypton… or at least, it was."
Su Sheng's eyebrow arched in surprise. "Krypton?"
Indigo nodded. "This is Argonaut City, one of the few cities that survived the explosion of Krypton."
The revelation caught Su Sheng off guard. The destruction of Krypton had been a cornerstone of many stories, but to hear that one of its cities had endured was unexpected.
"Not only did this city survive," Indigo continued, "but it was the city where Supergirl, Kara Zor-El, once lived. It was protected by a shield designed by her father. While he perished, her mother, Alura Zor-El, is still alive, leading the remaining citizens."
Su Sheng's eyes gleamed with interest. "Kara's mother is here?"
"Yes," Indigo confirmed. "There are around 30,000 Kryptonians living here. They've managed to sustain themselves by using the black kryptonite you were tracking to alter the atmosphere and maintain their survival."
Su Sheng smiled to himself. "Thirty thousand Kryptonians… that's quite the army."
Indigo grinned. "Indeed, Master. If you conquer this city, the game will become far more interesting. These Kryptonians don't know the true power of black kryptonite, but there's someone here who does. Someone in control."
"Thirty thousand Kryptonian slaves," Su Sheng mused aloud. "And the woman in charge is Supergirl's mother. This could be fun."
Indigo's eyes sparkled. "Shall we begin, Master?"
Su Sheng nodded, his smile growing wider. "Let's conquer this city."