AM I SUPERMAN?

"Nuclear bomb is ready for launch. Countdown: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... launch!"

The order was executed with grim determination. General Swanwick and Colonel Sam Lane inserted their nuclear keys into the console, twisting them simultaneously before pressing the launch button. The command room fell silent as the plutonium-based nuclear missile roared into the sky, its trajectory aimed directly at the Kryptonian mothership.

The spacecraft remained stationary, eerily unresponsive, as if indifferent to the approaching threat.

"Twenty minutes until impact," a technician reported. The tension in the command center was palpable, with all eyes glued to the screen.

Despite the Avengers' warning that a nuclear strike would be ineffective, the power of nuclear weapons was deeply ingrained in the human psyche. For General Swanwick and many others, this was humanity's last hope against an enemy whose technology far surpassed Earth's.

The minutes dragged on, and then it happened. The nuclear missile struck the Kryptonian ship dead-on, erupting in a brilliant burst of fiery light. The shockwave rippled through the void of space, illuminating the dark expanse like a second sun.

The explosion, though silent in the vacuum of space, was overwhelming to watch. The fiery spectacle reflected on the faces of everyone in the command room, evoking a collective gasp of awe.

"Yes!" someone exclaimed, breaking the tense silence. Cheers erupted as the apparent success of the strike filled the room with hope.

But as the fiery glow faded, the reality became clear. On the screen, the Kryptonian ship reappeared, encased in a shimmering light-blue energy shield. The surface of the shield rippled like water, absorbing the impact of the nuclear explosion effortlessly.

The cheering stopped. Faces fell as the realization sank in: the nuclear strike had failed.

"General..." a technician ventured hesitantly, "it looks like their ship is unharmed. What now?"

General Swanwick clenched his jaw, his gaze fixed on the screen. "No further attacks. Begin immediate evacuation of Metropolis. Deploy all available forces to defensive positions."

Colonel Lane protested, "General, they'll wipe us out if we don't fight back!"

Swanwick turned to him with a grim expression. "We don't have the capability to fight them in space, Colonel. If they come to Earth, we'll do what we can—but right now, our priority is saving lives."

As evacuation orders were issued, another technician interrupted. "General! The alien ship is moving!"

All eyes returned to the screen. The massive Pleiades ship began to shift. Three spiked structures beneath its oblate head detached, separating into smaller, self-contained vessels. The remaining core of the mothership descended slowly toward Earth.

"Those are the World Engines," Swanwick murmured, recognizing the threat from intelligence reports shared by the Avengers. "What's their target?"

"The larger piece is descending toward Metropolis," the technician replied, his voice shaking. "Impact in ten minutes."

"And the other pieces?"

"One is heading toward the southern hemisphere. Projected landing site: the South Indian Ocean."

In space, one of the World Engines, resembling a colossal tripod, ignited its propulsion systems and hurtled toward Earth. Its sleek, metallic frame glowed with energy as it crossed half the planet at Mach 24, its speed still increasing. Within moments, it crashed into the ocean, sending a massive plume of water and steam skyward.

Back in the command center, panic mounted as the Metropolis-bound segment of the ship descended rapidly. Despite Swanwick's earlier evacuation orders, the timeframe was too short to ensure complete safety for the city's millions of residents.

"Prepare all ground forces," Swanwick ordered. "We'll engage them on Earth if we have to." But deep down, he knew the chances of success were slim.

The massive spacecraft descended into Earth's atmosphere, its colossal form casting an ominous shadow over Metropolis. Despite having detached the World Engine, the main body of the ship still measured over 200 meters in length, a gargantuan alien vessel unlike anything seen before.

Citizens across the city paused, their eyes drawn upward as the vessel loomed closer. The police's emergency evacuation orders were ignored as people pulled out their phones to document the otherworldly sight.

"God, what is that thing?" someone murmured, their voice trembling with awe and fear.

"It's gotta be some new military aircraft!" another speculated, though the craft's alien design made the claim dubious.

"You idiot! Look at it—it's not from Earth!" a third exclaimed, their voice shaking.

The growing sense of dread swept through the city as the ship's shadow darkened the streets, heralding destruction.

Elsewhere, Clark was locked in a ferocious battle with Zod. He had driven his enemy from the sky, smashing him into the Earth with a bone-rattling impact. The force of their descent carved a deep trench in the ground, sending debris flying.

"I won't let you destroy Earth!" Clark roared, his voice reverberating with righteous fury. Each word was punctuated by a crushing blow to Zod's face. The ground beneath them shattered with every strike.

Zod, though momentarily on the defensive, grinned savagely. "You can't stop me, Kal-El! Krypton will rise again, even if it's built on the ashes of your precious Earth!"

Meanwhile, Kaius battled two of Zod's elite female warriors. Despite their beauty, there was no room for mercy. The Kryptonians were relentless, their strength and training honed to perfection.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Kaius exploited his aerial advantage, landing devastating blows on one of the warriors mid-flight. She plummeted to the ground, crashing into the ruins of a small aircraft. Her companion quickly pursued Kaius, using her enhanced agility to leap skyward.

Instead of attacking directly, the second warrior seized Kaius's cape, yanking him off balance. The first warrior, now recovered, executed a perfectly timed spinning kick, sending Kaius hurtling to the ground with a thunderous crash.

"General Zod will rebuild Krypton," one of them sneered, standing over him. "You've squandered your only chance to live."

Kaius pushed himself up, his surroundings coming into focus. The battle had shifted to the remnants of a small town, a place scarred by past destruction. The sight of terrified civilians fleeing the chaos struck a nerve.

"This place… it's the same town that was caught in the crossfire when I fought Jor-Lar." Kaius realized, guilt washing over him.

The two Kryptonian warriors wasted no time, charging him again. Their synchronized attacks smashed through walls, vehicles, and whatever remained of the town's structures. One hurled a truck at Kaius, sending it careening through several buildings, leaving devastation in its wake.

Overhead, an armed fighter jet streaked across the sky, part of General Swanwick's deployed air force. As it approached, the missile bay opened, drawing Kaius's attention.

"Great," he muttered, bracing for incoming fire. "Just what I need—more explosions."

But instead of missiles, a figure leaped from the fighter's bay. Descending like a divine warrior, the figure wielded a shimmering shield and a sword gleaming with sunlight.

Diana of Themyscira. Wonder Woman.

She landed gracefully between Kaius and the two Kryptonian warriors, her presence immediately commanding respect and fear. Her voice was calm but carried an edge of steel.

"You've caused enough destruction. If you want a fight, you'll face me now."

The two warriors hesitated, recognizing Diana's confidence and the unshakable resolve in her eyes. They exchanged a brief glance before charging her.

With a flick of her wrist, Diana raised her shield, deflecting their first coordinated strike. Her counterattack was swift and precise—her sword carved through the air with lethal grace, and her shield knocked one of the warriors back with bone-crushing force.

Kaius rose to his feet, shaking off the debris. "Glad you could join the party," he quipped.

Diana didn't glance back, her focus solely on the enemies before her. "Stop talking and fight."

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