Through his research, Zod quickly confirmed that the gene he had discovered was of alien origin, but it remained dormant, lacking a crucial component.
"Terrigen Mist?" Zod mused. Unlike mutants, who are unpredictable and difficult to control, Inhumans—who possess superpowers—are more manageable, with great potential, exemplified by figures like Black Bolt.
"But it's not enough," Zod thought. He needed more data.
To gather it, Blade Technology Industry, under Zod's command, purchased and constructed 20 private hospitals. The stated goal was to give back to society and improve the American medical system. Additionally, Zod promised free medical exams for an entire year at these hospitals, which were strategically located in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Boston. Large and well-equipped, the hospitals attracted attention, with many Americans believing Zod's genius might bring a better healthcare experience.
Within two months, Zod collected an enormous number of samples. From a base population of over 19 million people, he isolated more than 1,000 mutant genes and close to 20,000 alien genes. The vast majority of these were dormant, as if lying in wait, just like the ancient gene fragments inherited by humans. Zod believed he could potentially activate these genes, allowing mutants to emerge in this world.
However, for now, he decided to focus on the alien genes—they were safer.
With the help of the Black Queen AI, Zod conducted mathematical modeling, using a template human body model for simulation. The margin of error was only 10%, largely due to the unpredictable nature of real human bodies compared to the more controlled environment of mathematical models. Unforeseen mutations could occur at any moment.
Soon, though, progress came to a halt. The alien genes remained inert, like a stagnant pool. Zod wondered, If these aliens rely solely on the Terrigen Mist, would they face extinction if the Mist were ever to disappear?
He recalled the Inhumans storyline, where Daisy Johnson (Quake) detonates a Terrigen crystal over New York, activating alien genes across the human population. Zod, however, would never let such a thing happen under his watch.
"I'll need some Terrigen Crystals," Zod resolved. Perhaps I can experiment with mutants in the future as well. Just like Batman, Zod always believed in being fully prepared before engaging in a battle.
"Maybe I'll take a trip to Egypt and see if I can dig up Apocalypse…" Zod pondered. Whether he found Apocalypse or not, it would still work to his advantage. A sleeping Apocalypse would be entirely at Zod's mercy.
Even with the ever-growing number of followers under the World Serpent organization, Zod's forces were still not strong enough. His most formidable soldier, Bucky—now enhanced into the super-beast Asura Unicorn—could only engage the Hulk in a few rounds of hand-to-hand combat before being overwhelmed when the Hulk's anger increased his strength.
"Variants…" Zod gazed at the more than 1,000 unique mutant genes he had collected. The temptation to explore their potential was strong, but he wasn't sure if he was unlocking Pandora's Box or finding a golden apple.
Zod's unrelenting scientific curiosity (and reckless ambition) drove him to begin work on mutant genes right away.
As expected, the situation with mutants differed drastically from the alien genes. After two rounds of calculations, the Black Queen discarded many of the mutant genes that would cause undesirable traits like scales, dwarfism, or fish tails. These were recorded, and similar genes could be safely eliminated in the future.
The number of useful mutant genes, however, was shockingly low. Despite mutants playing a huge role in Marvel history, most had abilities that were either negative or useless in combat. The elite mutants—those in the X-Men or Magneto's Brotherhood—represented the top 0.1%. Most mutants, like those slaughtered during the Kenosha incident (where 16 million mutants died), had abilities that made them more of a burden than a force to be reckoned with.
Even so, Zod proceeded with human experimentation.
His test subjects were criminals and enemies of society, kidnapped from places like the Golden Triangle, Brooklyn's underworld, and war-torn areas of the Middle East. To prevent complications, Zod implanted each subject with a thought wave device. Should anything go awry, he could detonate it remotely, wiping out the subject instantly. Even a powerful telepath like Professor X couldn't stop a device already implanted in someone's brain.
Unfortunately, the initial experiments yielded poor results. Despite the Black Queen's calculations and the removal of junk mutant genes, many subjects transformed into grotesque, malformed creatures, writhing in agony on hospital beds.
However, there were also successful cases. One subject became a mutant similar to Colossus.
Zod's research revealed that the subject's body had transformed into a bio-metal stronger than steel. His organs had disappeared, replaced by the bio-metal, and his weight increased from 80 kilograms to 200 kilograms.
Under Zod's control via the thought wave device, the mutant complied with further testing. His strength was extraordinary—he could lift about 50 tons and had durability on par with the likes of Loki, who, despite his outward fragility, possessed similar strength.
The bio-metal's durability was equally impressive. It could withstand temperatures up to 9,000 degrees Celsius and endure hits from 12.7mm armor-piercing rounds without sustaining damage.
Encouraged by these results, Zod injected the mutant gene into one of his veteran soldiers, a large man who transformed into an even stronger version of the original "Colossus."
Dubbed the "Steel Giant," this soldier's power surpassed that of his predecessor. He could lift up to 70 tons, was heat-resistant, and could even withstand direct hits from tank shells.
Zod's experimentation had begun to bear fruit, but this was only the beginning. His quest for genetic perfection continued, with mutants and alien genes at the forefront of his dark scientific endeavors.