Jessica knew that her claim sounded outlandish, and Zod might not believe her without proof. She quickly added, "I can show you, Mr. Heath!"
Zod nodded and led her to a secret test facility—a place he typically used for his own training. It was perfect for testing Jessica's newfound abilities. After a series of rigorous tests, Zod gathered detailed data on her powers.
Jessica's strength had increased to a remarkable level, enabling her to lift twenty-five tons—though she wasn't as strong as Spider-Man, she was still incredibly powerful. Her maximum speed was recorded at 700 miles per hour. However, her physical defense was weaker, and she wasn't bulletproof. Fortunately, her recovery ability was impressive.
Looking at the test results, Jessica was stunned. "Am I really this strong now?" she asked in awe.
Zod smiled. "Congratulations, you've become a superhuman."
Though Zod was pleased with Jessica's progress, he knew she still had a long way to go. His own genetically engineered soldiers—second-generation beast soldiers—were far stronger. Unlike the multi-faceted lycanthropes created by Knos, Zod had specialized his beast soldiers for hand-to-hand combat. Their strength was stable at fifty tons, they could withstand most physical attacks (even tank shells caused only minor injuries), and they possessed the regenerative capabilities of Doctor Lizard.
These soldiers could also weaponize the Extremis Virus within their bodies, using it to create liquid explosives and launch them via shoulder-mounted cannons. Their mouths could even project a biological heat ray, utilizing the virus and body heat to unleash scorching plasma.
Despite their impressive abilities, Zod knew his soldiers weren't enough for the space warfare he anticipated. Hulk and superheroes of his caliber would easily dismantle them. Zod also had to keep an eye on the unpredictable Tony Stark.
Meanwhile, Jessica nervously asked, "Mr. Heath, can I become a superhero like you?"
Zod could see her excitement and hesitation. The Dark Knight persona he had built—armed with high-tech armor—had captivated the public, far outshining Captain America, who was now a museum exhibit. Many young people, including Jessica, saw him as a symbol of justice and rebellion.
Zod smiled kindly. "Of course, you can. But first, you'll need to undergo superhero training."
He didn't reject her or lecture her about focusing on school. He knew that would only provoke resistance, especially given her age. Instead, he decided to let her try. If she couldn't handle the training, she would back out herself. However, if she succeeded, Zod would gladly welcome her into the fold. And with his control over electromagnetic forces, even if she perished during training, he could revive her by activating her brain waves.
Jessica left excitedly, looking forward to her training. The Black Queen, Zod's AI assistant, had arranged an intense regimen starting the next day. It included a 100-kilometer run with weights at 6 a.m., followed by various physical challenges. Though Jessica was superhuman, that didn't mean there was no room for improvement.
Zod hoped she wouldn't be crying to go back to school by the end of the week. Her training was set to last six months, enough time to test her resolve.
Meanwhile, Zod had made significant progress in his own electromagnetic experiments. Standing in the training facility, he twisted a magnetic field in his palm, extracting hydrogen atoms from the air, then oxygen. With a spark of electromagnetic energy, flames erupted in his hand. Zod controlled the flames effortlessly, manipulating them within the magnetic field as if they were toys.
Electricity danced between his fingers, transitioning between states—current, photon, radiation, and back to electromagnetic waves—shifting seamlessly under his command. A plasma beam shot from his fingertips, accelerated by the magnetic field, obliterating the molecular structure of everything in its path.
"Molecular acceleration can vaporize any target," Zod mused, having replicated a molecular acceleration gun using only his control of magnetic fields. Whether for offense or defense, this power gave him unparalleled control over matter and energy. After all, everything in the universe was composed of molecules, atoms, and subatomic particles.
"Temperature is just a manifestation of molecular motion," Zod continued. "With enough motion and temperature, anything can be destroyed—or created."
Between atoms, the influence of magnetic forces was 10,000 times stronger than even gravity. Zod understood this intimately, realizing that his mastery of electromagnetic fields gave him unparalleled power at the atomic level. He laughed, knowing that even beings like the movie version of the Dark Phoenix would struggle against him. And if the comic version of the Dark Phoenix lacked the full power of the Phoenix Force, he might stand a chance even against her.
Brain waves, too, were a form of electromagnetic energy. With this realization, Zod saw that even telepaths as powerful as Professor X would be unable to affect him. In fact, they might fall victim to his electromagnetic counterattacks.
"The more knowledge I gain, the more I realize how much there is to learn," Zod reflected. "Science is a vast, multi-dimensional system."
Despite his incredible abilities, Zod didn't feel invincible. He had only mastered the atomic-level manipulation of electromagnetic fields. Beyond that, subatomic particles, quarks, and the elusive Planck scale remained mysteries. There was still so much more to uncover, far beyond even his current understanding.