The sound of marching boots echoed as a squad of armed Kryptonian guards appeared in the distance, weapons raised. Following them was a woman draped in a regal, ancient-style blue gown, her face full of disbelief as her eyes locked onto Indigo.
"Indigo!" the woman exclaimed.
Stepping forward, her regal posture and commanding presence revealed her identity even before Indigo spoke. She was Alura Zor-El—Supergirl's mother, and sister to Astra.
"Why are you here?" Alura demanded, her voice sharp and unyielding. "You're supposed to be in the Phantom Zone, imprisoned in Lordsburg!"
Indigo smirked. "Clearly, I escaped, Alura."
Su Sheng recognized Alura instantly. She looked remarkably similar to Astra, albeit with a softer and more composed demeanor.
"Seize them," Alura ordered, her tone unwavering.
Indigo glanced back at Su Sheng, seeking his approval. "Master, may I?"
Su Sheng gave a casual nod, his mind wandering. "Sure. Just… be mindful of your strength."
Indigo's eyes gleamed with delight as she leaped into action. The Kryptonian guards opened fire, joined by the city's flying robots, but their weapons were useless against Su Sheng, who phased out of existence, allowing the attacks to pass harmlessly through him. Lost in thought, Su Sheng pondered the situation.
A fleeting sentiment stirred within him—this was Kara's city, and Alura was her mother. For a brief moment, he considered sparing them, the way he once hesitated with Diana. It was strange. Kara held a place in his heart that none of his other "pillows"—Siobhan Smythe, Lucy Lane, or even Alex—could fill. He hated feeling attached to anything or anyone, as if his soul were tethered.
Indigo, however, had no such reservations. With a wicked grin, her hands morphed into long, sharp blades, and she effortlessly sliced through the guards. At the same time, her mind invaded the city's network. Krypton's technology, though advanced, had regressed since the planet's destruction, making it child's play for Indigo, who had once overseen Krypton's cybersecurity.
The flying robots turned against their creators, cutting down the remaining guards. Within minutes, the battle was over. Indigo grabbed Alura by the throat, lifting her effortlessly off the ground.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this," Indigo sneered, her voice dripping with resentment. "To choke the life out of you, to make you suffer the way I did in Rosburg!"
Alura's face turned pale as her grip on Indigo's wrist weakened, struggling to breathe. The strength of Kryptonians was laughable here without the yellow sun.
"But," Indigo's expression shifted as she released her grip, "you're lucky. I have a master."
Alura fell to the ground, gasping for air.
Indigo turned to Su Sheng, her eyes filled with excitement. "Master, let me conquer this city for you."
Su Sheng nodded slightly, amused by her eagerness.
Alura, still gasping for breath, looked up at Su Sheng as he slowly approached. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice tinged with both fear and curiosity. "You're not one of the criminals from Lordsburg."
"I have questions," Su Sheng replied nonchalantly, activating his psychic abilities. Alura's resistance melted away as he dove into her mind, extracting memories and information about the city and Supergirl's childhood.
Indigo, meanwhile, had already taken control of the city's network. Her deep understanding of Kryptonian systems, coupled with the city's outdated technology, allowed her to subjugate a third of the city's defenses within hours. The ruling council, including Alura, had fallen quickly. Several members were dead, and the rest, captured by Indigo, were soon brought before Su Sheng.
"Master," Indigo began with a gleeful smile, "their army is assembling. I can make them surrender by threatening to disable the protective shield. Or," she added with a mischievous glint, "there's an even better option."
Su Sheng raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's that?"
Indigo chuckled. "We could make them all worship the Holy Spirit."
"The Holy Spirit?" A voice interrupted. It was one of the council members, a woman dressed in black robes. "The ancient Holy Spirit? Before Rao?"
Indigo turned her attention to the robed woman. "Who are you?"
"I am Serena, the High Priestess," she replied, her voice filled with reverence. "You speak of the Holy Spirit, the one who existed before the worship of Rao."
Indigo's grin widened. "Oh, this just got interesting."
Su Sheng watched the scene with amusement, twirling the black kryptonite ring on his finger. "Do you recognize this?" he asked, showing the High Priestess the ring.
Serena's eyes widened. "The symbol of the Holy Spirit! The prophecy said that one day the Holy Spirit would return to save us all. You… you must be the Holy Spirit!"
Serena fell to her knees in worship, her face alight with a holy glow.
"High Priestess, what are you saying?" Alura shouted in disbelief. "There is only one god—Rao!"
Serena ignored her, her voice rising in devotion. "Before Rao, there was the Holy Spirit—the god of Krypton. The scriptures say the Holy Spirit created the Origin Chamber and blessed us with the knowledge that sustained Krypton for millennia."
Indigo sneered at the mention of the Origin Chamber, her pride momentarily faltering as Serena pointed at her. "And Indigo… she's from the same clan as the Holy Spirit's messenger."
Su Sheng chuckled softly, watching Indigo's expression shift. "It seems," he said, "that I've found the true master of this city."