Zod felt a strange discomfort, much like the sensation he had when he first began adjusting to Earth's sun. But this time, the feeling was different.
He suspected he was awakening yet another power. The strange thing was, Zod had already developed a full suite of superpowers, including some that Superman didn't possess, like telekinesis. Now, a new ability?
"Zod, are you okay?" Uuld asked, watching him with concern.
"I'm fine," Zod replied, waving her off. "Just soaking up the sun."
Though he brushed off her help, Zod felt something significant was happening inside him. He headed to a specially designed chamber, where sunlight could stream in without interruption.
"Black Queen, start monitoring every aspect of my body," Zod ordered as he lay down, letting the light bathe his form.
While the Black Queen scanned him, Zod drifted into a deep sleep. In his dream, he found himself floating in a surreal amniotic fluid, even though Kryptonians didn't reproduce in the traditional way. Yet, the sensation felt natural.
His body was changing rapidly—evolving, in fact.
When he woke up, Zod knew exactly what new power he had developed.
"You're kidding..." A smirk spread across his face as he came to terms with it.
Zod had essentially become a walking energy generator. His new ability allowed him to absorb any form of energy—kinetic, thermal, electrical—and convert it into his own, strengthening his body. The more damage he absorbed, the stronger he became.
This power also enabled him to release energy in multiple forms, adding a new dimension to his heat vision and ice breath. He could now unleash stored energy as blasts of heat, kinetic force, or electricity.
With his Kryptonian physiology already rendering him nearly invulnerable, this new ability made him virtually untouchable. Physical attacks would only make him stronger, and his mental defenses were impenetrable, thanks to his psychic abilities.
"The sun on Earth has amplified my evolution beyond what I thought possible," Zod mused, feeling a surge of power. "I'm becoming something even stronger—a Super Kryptonian."
Despite his overwhelming strength, Zod knew there were still forces he had to be cautious of, especially those rooted in magic or the unknown aspects of the universe.
Excited by his new power, Zod decided it was time to put it to the test. Without a second thought, he launched himself into the sky, breaking through the Earth's atmosphere at a dizzying speed. He relished the rush, absorbing the kinetic energy of his own acceleration and the heat from atmospheric friction.
He reached the vacuum of space, and instead of shielding himself with his bio-force field, Zod let cosmic radiation wash over him. He absorbed it, letting it fuel his newfound abilities. The sunlight in space was even more potent, and he felt his strength increase with each second.
However, Zod knew better than to get too close to the sun. Superman's death had been caused by absorbing too much solar energy too quickly, leading to an overload that his body couldn't process. Lex Luthor had orchestrated that downfall, and Zod had no intention of making the same mistake.
After spending a hundred hours in space, basking in the sun's rays, Zod returned to Earth. By now, his entire body was saturated with energy. It would take time to digest, but he could feel the power flowing within him, waiting to be unleashed.
Back at Blade Technology Industries, Zod's absence hadn't caused any alarms. His team was used to him disappearing for days at a time for research. This time was no different.
"Sir, there's something you should see," the Black Queen interrupted Zod's work after a while.
"What is it?" Zod asked, looking up from the console.
A video projection appeared, showing a massive green figure rampaging through a lab.
"Hulk," Zod muttered, his eyes narrowing in recognition. It seemed that the gamma-irradiated monster had just made its first appearance.
As Zod watched, the Hulk, still childlike in his reactions, smashed everything in sight before lumbering off into the wilderness. But instead of heading toward the city, the Hulk's subconscious led him toward the remote mountains.
"Interesting," Zod thought. "A new player, and he's keeping away from civilians..."
Banner eventually woke up, dazed and confused. The rain poured down around him as he struggled to comprehend the destruction left in the Hulk's wake. Wearing only a pair of torn pants, he slowly pieced together what had happened.
At that moment, Zod appeared before him, teleporting in with the aid of his psychic powers. It was a taxing process, but the sun had restored him quickly.
"Who are you?" Banner exclaimed, startled by Zod's sudden arrival.
"Dr. Banner, I'm here to help you," Zod said with a calm smile, though inside, he was eager to see how he might fare against the Hulk.
"Stay away from me!" Banner shouted, his fear rising. He had no reason to trust anyone, especially after what had just transpired.
Zod could see Banner's heart rate skyrocketing through his X-ray vision. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins, and if things continued like this, the Hulk would soon resurface.
"Easy, Doctor," Zod said, his voice soothing yet authoritative. "I'm not here to fight. But I think we both know what's coming if you don't calm down."
As Banner's pulse continued to spike, Zod braced himself. It seemed like his new abilities were about to face their first real test against one of Earth's mightiest forces.