AM I SUPERMAN?

As the Kryptonian transport plane moved closer to Zod's starship, Clark's battle with Zod had escalated to a brutal and desperate struggle. The once-pristine surroundings of Metropolis had become a battlefield, with destruction rippling outward with every clash of their blows.

Diana joined the fray, wielding the Sword of Kryptonite, its green glow casting a foreboding light on the battlefield. The moment the blade neared Zod, his strength visibly faltered, the Kryptonite sapping his power.

But Zod, the pinnacle of Kryptonian genetic engineering, adapted quickly. Though weakened, he continued to fight with ruthless efficiency.

Clark, struggling to restrain Zod, finally managed to pin him. Locking his arms around Zod's torso, he shouted to Diana, "Diana, now! Finish this!"

Clark's voice trembled with a mix of desperation and resolve. He didn't want to kill Zod—his last connection to Krypton—but he couldn't allow the destruction of Earth in Zod's quest to rebuild their lost world.

Diana hesitated only briefly before raising the Kryptonite sword high. Its blade gleamed menacingly as she prepared to deliver the fatal blow.

But Zod, sensing an opening, spoke with fervent conviction. "Kal-El, my purpose is singular: to preserve Krypton. Every act of mine—no matter how violent or cruel—has been for our people. Can you truly stand by and let Krypton die completely?"

Clark's grip slackened, the weight of Zod's words stirring a brief moment of doubt. Zod exploited the hesitation, slamming his elbow into Clark's abdomen with brutal force. The blow sent Clark reeling backward, his breath knocked out of him.

"I will sacrifice everything to save Krypton!" Zod roared, wrenching himself free. In one fluid motion, he hurled Clark toward Diana, aiming to use her own Kryptonite blade against her ally.

Diana's reflexes saved Clark. She stopped her swing mid-strike, twisting to avoid the Kryptonite blade cutting into him. The delay, however, gave Zod the opening he needed. With a thunderous leap, he launched himself toward the city, each step creating craters in the ground beneath him.

"I'm sorry, Diana," Clark muttered, guilt weighing heavily on him as he stood.

Diana, understanding the emotional conflict Clark faced, shook her head. "No time for apologies. We need to stop him before he causes more destruction!"

The two heroes took off in pursuit. Clark, flying at incredible speed, quickly closed the gap between them. Sensing he was about to be caught, Zod propelled himself into a nearby skyscraper, smashing through its midsection with devastating force.

BOOM!

Glass and concrete exploded outward, raining down on the streets below. Zod's heat vision cut through the building's structural supports, severing them with precise, deadly beams. The entire building groaned as its foundation gave way.

Inside, panicked civilians scrambled for safety. Below, pedestrians stopped in horror, staring at the collapsing structure. Clark flew toward the building, trying to prevent the debris from crushing those on the streets.

"Zod!" Clark roared, catching part of the building as it fell. He strained under its immense weight, his feet sinking into the ground as he tried to hold it up. But Zod's relentless heat vision strikes severed the remaining supports, causing the building to collapse completely.

Not far from the chaos, Bruce Wayne was speeding through Metropolis in a sleek car. Dressed in his tailored suit, he had abandoned the relative safety of his headquarters to find and save his employees.

The car screeched to a halt outside the Wayne Financial Building, but Bruce froze as he looked up. The building's upper floors were already crumbling, massive chunks of debris tumbling from the sky.

"No, no, no!" Bruce shouted, gripping his phone tightly. "Jack, tell me you got out! Answer me!"

On the other end, Jack's voice trembled. "Master Wayne... we're trapped in the elevator. The building's collapsing! May God be with us…"

The line cut off, replaced by static and muffled screams. Bruce's eyes widened in helpless rage as a massive section of the building plummeted, crashing to the ground in a deafening roar. The shockwave sent bystanders tumbling, and dust filled the air, obscuring the carnage.

Bruce clenched his fists, his face a mask of despair. "Zod," he growled under his breath. "This ends today."

As the skyscraper's remnants settled, Clark emerged from the rubble, his face etched with fury and determination. "I won't let you destroy this planet, Zod!" he shouted.

High above, Zod hovered briefly, his cape billowing in the wind. "This planet means nothing to me, Kal-El. Krypton will rise, no matter the cost."

---

The scene was apocalyptic. Dust and debris filled the air as buildings collapsed around Metropolis, and the cries of terrified civilians added to the chaos. Among the wreckage, Bruce Wayne navigated the devastation with purpose. His eyes scanned the destruction, seeking survivors. Suddenly, his gaze fell upon a lone, crying girl amidst the rubble.

Above her, a massive concrete wall, loosened by the destruction, teetered precariously, ready to crush her.

Bruce's heart raced. Without hesitation, he sprinted forward, throwing himself toward the girl. Just as the wall came crashing down, Bruce lunged, shielding the child with his own body. The debris narrowly missed them, slamming into the ground with a deafening boom.

The girl clung to him, sobbing uncontrollably. Bruce, kneeling, cradled her gently. "You're safe now," he said softly. "It's okay. Don't cry. Where are your parents?"

The girl pointed to a collapsed building in front of them, her voice breaking as fresh tears streamed down her face. Bruce's heart sank as he realized her parents were likely among the victims buried in the rubble.

Thunder rumbled overhead, drawing Bruce's attention skyward.

Above, Clark and Zod fought ferociously, their blows shaking the heavens. Every punch reverberated like a thunderclap, and the buildings beneath them crumbled from the sheer force of their battle. The two Kryptonians were locked in a battle of strength, skill, and ideology.

"There's only one way to end this, Kal-El," Zod snarled. "Either you die, or I do!" He hoisted a massive steel I-beam above his head and hurled it at Clark.

Clark's eyes glowed red with heat vision, the twin beams slicing through the I-beam in an instant, reducing it to molten slag.

Zod was unfazed. Closing the distance with lightning speed, he struck Clark with a vicious backhand that sent him hurtling through a nearby building. The impact caused the structure to collapse in on itself, scattering debris into the streets below.

As Clark pulled himself from the rubble, Zod stalked toward him, his voice dripping with contempt. "I've spent my entire life training to be a warrior, honing my senses and perfecting my skills. And you? You were raised on a farm!"

Zod ripped away his black armor, the clattering pieces falling to the ground. Exposed now was his Kryptonian battle suit, the emblem of the House of Zod emblazoned on his chest. Without the armor, Zod moved with greater speed and agility, his body fully adapted to Earth's yellow sun.

Clark's anger flared. His heat vision ignited again, the fiery beams meeting Zod's in a searing clash of power. The heat of their combined rays distorted the air and ignited nearby debris, creating a fiery spectacle in the sky.

Boom!

The collision sent a shockwave rippling through the air, but neither combatant relented. They charged at each other again, their battle escalating to even greater heights.

Meanwhile, the C-141 transport plane carrying Clark's spacecraft approached Zod's starship. Sparks flew as the Phantom Drives of the two ships began to interact. The fields synchronized, creating a powerful gravitational pull that drew the two vessels toward each other.

Inside the transport plane, alarms blared, and lightning crackled across the hull. The collision of the Phantom Drives was imminent.

From his vantage point, Zod saw what was happening. His newly awakened X-ray vision allowed him to see inside the transport plane, where Clark's spacecraft was fully operational, its Phantom Drive glowing ominously.

Realizing the danger, Zod's calm demeanor broke. "No!" he roared, his voice filled with desperation and fury. "Stop! Stop it!"

Zod launched himself toward the transport plane with blinding speed, determined to prevent the collision. His rage and fear were palpable—this was not just a battle for Earth; it was the end of his dream of Krypton's rebirth.

Clark, seeing Zod's trajectory, pushed himself to his limits. He flew after Zod, intercepting him mid-air. The two collided with a force that sent shockwaves across the city, knocking down smaller structures.

"You're not stopping this, Zod!" Clark shouted, gripping Zod's arm as they struggled in the sky.

Zod sneered. "You're willing to destroy the last chance for Krypton? You would betray your own people for these… humans?"

Clark's eyes burned with determination. "Krypton had its chance. I won't let you destroy this world to rebuild ours."

Their struggle continued, but the transport plane moved inexorably closer to Zod's starship, the gravitational pull drawing them together faster and faster. Sparks, lightning, and the hum of the Phantom Drives grew louder, signaling the cataclysmic collision to come.

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