As anticipated, the voting results on Spider Web were released swiftly. Dark Knight Zod topped the list with over 12.3 million votes, while second place went not to Tony Stark, but to Susan Storm—the Invisible Woman—who had debuted earlier. However, Susan only garnered a little over 5 million votes.
These results were credible, as Spider Web's strict account management system prevented any vote manipulation. Each person could hold only one account, and facial recognition was required for each login to ensure the authenticity of votes and block fake accounts.
For the superheroes' private film projects, Zod proposed a 50/50 revenue split to let them retain their own copyrights, safeguarding against future exploitation. Each hero had the choice to either play themselves or find look-alikes, leaving the specifics to Uld, who managed the logistics. Had Black Widow's cover not been blown so early, Zod would have preferred her to take the job; she would have relished it more than Uld, whose expression often conveyed, You want me to handle all this?
That night, however, Zod treated Uld to a luxurious, million-dollar candlelight dinner, complete with a bed covered in rose petals. The night turned into a passionate display of his appreciation, one that pushed Uld to her physical limits. Despite her perfectionist spirit, Uld eventually had to surrender, begging for mercy well before dawn and granting herself a well-earned reprieve.
After this night, Uld managed the Superhero Association's affairs with newfound zeal, even appearing energized. Zod mused to himself, "I almost feel like a scoundrel." He quickly dismissed any guilt; with his sense of morality, he preferred doing something meaningful over brooding on sentiments.
With his body's hormones under careful control, Zod returned to his usual, composed self. "Suddenly, I don't want to do anything serious—I just want to relax and play some games." He threw himself onto the plush sofa and donned a gaming headset, diving back into Blood to the End.
Following a bloody battle in the game, Zod arranged a major championship event with a million-dollar prize, attracting countless competitors eager to showcase their skills. His game, after all, was designed with near-perfect realism, making it an effective training ground for soldiers and mercenaries alike. The U.S. military even purchased his headset technology in bulk, hoping to establish a private system to train their troops.
With all real-world firearms programmed into the game—including vintage models from World War II—Blood to the End simulated actual combat with uncanny accuracy, down to malfunctions caused by environmental factors.
Soon after logging in, Zod's account went live, and his fans swarmed in to watch. He found himself matched against Gwen Stacy, also known as "Goddess of Death" within the game. Determined to claim the prize, Gwen had swiftly earned this title thanks to her reflexes, which helped her set a record of ninety kills in a single match. She'd spent the past few days mastering various firearms and learning efficient reloads, preparing for a match of this scale.
"Wait, that player is in?" one fan commented. "Isn't she the one who pulled off that ninety-kill streak?"
Excitement buzzed through the fanbase as Zod and Gwen's names appeared on the roster, igniting speculation. Their fame, however, proved daunting for the other competitors. Instead of facing them head-on, the ninety-eight other players formed an alliance to eliminate the two superstars early on.
Zod was initially unaware of this plan. He began the game by swiftly sniping three distant enemies, but then he noticed more than a dozen vehicles converging on his position. "So they're teaming up?" he muttered, quickly swapping his sniper rifle for a 5.56mm M4A1.
With his enhanced neural reflexes, Zod perceived time in slow motion, allowing him to aim and fire with impossible precision. No matter how many approached, he remained a step ahead.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Before his opponents could even exit their vehicles, Zod had already unleashed a torrent of bullets, each shot perfectly aligned. His screen shook with the impact, leaving fans in awe.
"Seven kills in a row! Unreal!" one fan exclaimed.
"He's gotta be some kind of sniper in real life!" added another.
One player attempted to take control of an M2 heavy machine gun mounted on a vehicle, only to be met with a swift headshot from Zod. Bang! Bang! Bang! With a series of rapid-fire shots, Zod downed five more opponents in less than a second, each shot landing squarely on target.
Realizing they were up against a deadly force, the remaining players scrambled for cover. One player dared to reach out and lob a grenade, only for Zod to sever his arm with a single shot, sending the explosive plummeting to the ground, scattering nearby players in panic.
Bang! Bang! Boom! Gunshots rang out in a deadly symphony, each one marking another life claimed. Blood sprayed as grenades exploded, shattering windows and sending waves of heat across the field. Zod quickly turned his sights to a distant sniper over 500 meters away, headshotting the player before he could pull the trigger.
The match ended in a decisive, staggering victory. Zod had not only survived the ninety-eight-player onslaught but had dominated the battlefield with uncanny skill, leaving his fans—and even his competitors—in speechless admiration.