General Zod’s Fall

General Zod’s madness gradually faded from his eyes, replaced by bewilderment.

Green flames suddenly ignited across Kara’s body. They were like fireflies, but their color was deep and eerie.

It was not just Kara. Across the entire battlefield, everywhere General Zod looked, ghostly green flames lit up one after another like lamps, continually emerging and spreading.

Before General Zod’s disbelieving eyes, the entire world began to change. The devastated battlefield twisted and spun, like a reflection in water disturbed by the wind. Amid the rippling light, even the illusion of the world began to move.

Scattered lights and shadows came from every direction, not only disrupting General Zod’s vision but also leaving his mind unable to distinguish reality from illusion.

Lowering his head, General Zod discovered in horror that Kara beneath him had somehow become Faora. In her unclosed eyes, he could still see the confusion and pain she had felt before her death.

Green mist slowly descended from the vast sky, carrying unknown fragments with it like an eerie snowfall. General Zod knelt silently on the ground, holding Faora’s corpse without moving.

It all felt like a dream, yet also like a fragmented reality.

Where fine dust drifted down, ghostly green flames rose. A black figure coalesced from the haze, strolling out of flames as tall as a person. The first thing to touch the ground was the tip of a Black Umbrella.

"Tut, tut, tut."

The figure in black spoke.

"You didn’t really think we had the capability to spread poison gas across the entire battlefield, did you?"

General Zod had no idea what had happened, nor did he dare think about what he had just experienced. He merely lowered his head and stared at Faora’s corpse in his arms, her eyes still open in death.

"Researching poison gas takes a great deal of time, and speedsters can’t help with that. So how could we have produced such a massive amount of poison in a single night, let alone several large missiles? But there was no need to do that. Poisoning you alone was enough."

"You needn’t be surprised. This was specially prepared for you. Kryptonians truly have powerful physiques, but fortunately, I have some useful things that can weaken your resistance to poison gas. Your resistance and adaptability may be strong, but everything has a first time."

"This should be your first time experiencing this feeling, right? This stuff was originally called Fear Toxin, but I’ve decided to rename it the Mad Apostle."

The figure wearing a Bird-Beak Mask elegantly walked up to General Zod. The glass lenses reflected General Zod’s wretched appearance, and the mask itself seemed almost mocking. After a pause, Zhang Ye continued.

"I’m genuinely surprised. When you went all out, your strength was so terrifying that even the entire Kryptonian army wasn’t a match for you."

General Zod’s gaze gradually cleared. The humans before him had disappeared at some point, leaving only countless Kryptonian soldiers’ corpses scattered helplessly around him. Among them was a massive Kryptonian soldier whose heart had been torn out.

"I haven’t decided on a codename yet, but my bat friend gave me a nice one: Witch Raven."

Zhang Ye gripped the umbrella handle and slowly drew the Ink Sword from within. Several green gemstones were embedded in the pitch-black dagger, giving it an eerie beauty.

"Of course, you can also call me… Harbinger Bird."

As soon as the words fell, Zhang Ye slashed down, aiming directly for General Zod’s head.

Sensing the incoming attack, General Zod’s ear twitched.

He reacted instantly, springing up in a flash. But shockingly, he did not bother with Zhang Ye before him. He did not even glance at the Ink Sword coming toward him. Instead, he turned and grabbed at empty air.

Sshk!

In an instant, the sensation of touching something reached General Zod’s hand.

At the same moment, the sound of shattering glass echoed across the battlefield.

He clenched his fist tightly, feeling the solid object in his grasp. Though he could not see what was before him, he knew that he had indeed blocked the other party’s attack.

And just as General Zod had guessed, the moment he grasped empty air, the Ink Sword falling toward his head passed directly through his body. Meanwhile, the masked figure holding the blade froze in the middle of the slash.

An Ink Sword emerged in General Zod’s hand amid distorted light and shadow. Then the blade, the handle, and the hand gripping it gradually revealed themselves to General Zod’s sight from the endlessly twisting, shifting light.

Only then did General Zod focus his gaze on the person before him. Yet to his surprise, his X-Ray Vision could not see through the man’s Bird-Beak Mask.

"As expected of General Zod."

A slightly hoarse voice came from beneath the mask, carrying a hint of frustration.

But General Zod did not care about that. He tightly gripped the sword in his hand, feeling how utterly weak the other man’s strength was. At last, he could no longer suppress the fury in his heart.

If there was anything more enraging than witnessing his adjutant Faora being beheaded, it was being told that it had all been fake—and that while he had been avenging Faora without restraint, he had actually killed his own adjutant with his own hands.

General Zod did not dare recall what had just happened. He dared not imagine how Faora and the other Kryptonians must have looked at him in reality while he slaughtered them.

It was difficult to imagine that a battle-hardened, decisive warrior like him would fear a memory.

But now, General Zod had no choice but to forcibly suppress those thoughts. He knew what he had to do. Just as he had said, everything was for Krypton’s revival. No matter how many sacrifices were required, they could be accepted.

And now that he could distinguish reality, it was time to make the one responsible for all this pay the price!

At that thought, the killing intent in General Zod’s eyes could no longer be concealed.

"I’ve got you."

Faced with General Zod’s threat, terrifying killing intent, and overwhelming presence, Zhang Ye showed no panic whatsoever.

From beneath the mask came a faintly mocking reply.

"No. I’ve got you."