AM I SUPERMAN?

After the black hole dissipated, a vast, barren expanse dominated the center of Metropolis. It was as if a massive piece of the city had been carved out and discarded, leaving an empty void where life once thrived.

The surrounding buildings were in ruins, with only a few structures managing to stand against the catastrophe. Survivors wandered through the rubble, mourning their lost loved ones. Amid the despair, a handful of people began organizing rescue efforts, their resilience shining through the devastation.

At the edge of the destruction, Zod knelt in the direction where the Kryptonian starship had once loomed. The kryptonite Sword was still embedded in his chest, and his life force drained with every passing moment. His voice was hoarse, laced with bitterness and sorrow.

"We could have built a new Krypton from these ashes…" Zod rasped. "But you chose them over us." His eyes, filled with anger and despair, fixated on Clark, Diana, and Kaius.

"My entire existence was for the survival of Krypton," Zod continued, his voice faltering. "And now… I have no people left to protect."

Fiora approached her fallen general, disregarding the kryptonite Sword in his chest. "General, we can still rebuild," she pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation. "We can find a way—together."

But Zod pushed her away, blood dripping from his lips. "There's no Krypton left to rebuild!" he spat. "The starship is destroyed, the Genesis Chamber is gone. Without it, there's no chance of terraforming another world into Krypton."

His eyes burned with hatred as he glared at Clark, Kaius, and Diana. "You've taken everything from me," he hissed. "One day, I'll return—become the nightmare that haunts this planet. When that day comes, your destruction will be inevitable!"

Zod's curse was cut short as Kaius stepped forward, his Superman card activated. His eyes glowed red, and without hesitation, twin beams of heat vision descended from the sky, incinerating Zod's body in an instant.

"You won't have that chance," Kaius said coldly, watching as Zod's remains turned to ash.

Fiora let out a cry of anguish, rushing toward Kaius, but Clark intercepted her, holding her back.

"If you want to die, I'll grant your wish," Kaius said, his eyes still glowing with residual energy. His tone was sharp and unyielding.

Tears welled in Fiora's eyes as she looked at Kaius. "Krypton is gone, and General Zod is dead," she whispered. "What purpose is left for me?"

Clark's voice cut through her despair. "Enough," he said firmly. "No one else dies today. Fiora, Zod was not a god. Your life isn't meaningless just because he's gone."

Fiora hesitated, her shoulders slumping. As a genetically engineered soldier, her purpose had always been to serve Krypton and follow Zod's orders. Now, with Zod gone, she felt unmoored.

Clark turned to Kaius. "What do you plan to do with her? The military will want custody."

Kaius's gaze hardened. "We can't hand her over to the military. They may promise to treat her fairly, but you know they'll experiment on her. That's not an option."

Clark frowned. "Then what's your solution?"

Kaius stepped closer to Fiora, his tone resolute. "You have one choice," he said. "Swear allegiance—to me, and to the Justice League."

For a moment, Diana's eyes flashed with irritation, but Kaius quickly added, "Your strength is valuable, but your loyalty must be to something greater than yourself—or Zod."

Fiora looked down, processing his words. Her education as a Kryptonian soldier had taught her to respect strength, and Kaius had just demonstrated his superiority by defeating Zod.

"Will you ever rebuild Krypton?" she asked hesitantly.

Kaius's expression softened slightly. "One day, if it's possible, I'll help preserve what remains of Krypton's legacy. But it won't be on Earth."

Fiora was silent for a long time, as if waging an internal battle. Finally, she sank to one knee before Kaius, bowing her head in deference. With the precision of a soldier, she spoke clearly:

"I, Fiora, former lieutenant of General Zod's army, pledge my allegiance to you and to the Justice League."

As she finished, it was as if a massive weight had been lifted from her shoulders. For the first time since Zod's death, her rigid demeanor softened, and she accepted her new path.

A faint, familiar chime echoed in Kaius's mind.

"Ding! Friendship level expanded. Congratulations, host! Fiora has signed the loyalty contract. You've obtained the Slave Card: Lieutenant Fiora (Purple Hero Card)."

Kaius closed his eyes briefly, focusing on the system interface. As expected, the notification confirmed her allegiance. When he checked Fiora's loyalty stats, he was surprised—her loyalty had already reached 69 points, surpassing even Reverse-Flash's initial score.

Reflecting on it, Kaius wasn't entirely surprised. Fiora was a soldier, deeply rooted in discipline and loyalty. His promise to one day rebuild Krypton had likely been the final push she needed to accept his leadership wholeheartedly.

Curious, Kaius activated her card within the system to review her exclusive skills.

"Lieutenant Skill: Iron Body. When exposed to the yellow sun, defense increases tenfold for five seconds. If possessing the Kryptonian genetic pedigree, becomes immune to all attacks for five seconds. Cooldown: One hour of solar absorption."

Kaius's eyes widened. Immunity to all attacks? For five seconds? The implications were staggering. He smirked to himself. "This… this is true invincibility. Kryptonian endurance just keeps evolving."

Kaius's tone lightened as he addressed Fiora. "Welcome to the Justice League, Fiora! For now, consider yourself a provisional member. But work hard, and one day you'll become a full-fledged member of the League."

His gaze softened, carrying a warmth that caught Fiora off guard. The sudden shift in his demeanor—from lethal to encouraging—left her momentarily confused. She wondered if there was some unspoken rule among Earth's leaders about balancing intimidation with compassion.

Diana, standing nearby, gave Kaius a knowing glare, her lips pressed in a thin line of mild disapproval. Clark, however, appeared relieved. He approached Kaius, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you," Clark said earnestly.

Kaius grinned and lightly punched Clark's arm. "Thank me? I just saved your city. Try keeping up next time."

The banter dissolved any lingering tension between the two. Their camaraderie deepened as mutual respect replaced the earlier disagreements.

In the aftermath, the once-darkened skies of Metropolis began to clear. Rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the shattered city below. The warmth of the sun reached every corner, igniting hope in the hearts of the survivors.

Clark turned his face toward the sun, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. As he exhaled, a sense of renewal washed over him. He stood in silent contemplation, his thoughts a mix of gratitude and resolve.

"Ding! Superman: Clark Kent (birth name Kal-El) attributes upgraded to Legendary status!"

Kaius blinked at the notification. "Wait… a Legendary upgrade? Are you serious? Golden Legendary status?"

He couldn't help but laugh. "This day keeps getting better."

As the first signs of recovery began to spread through Metropolis, the Justice League stood united, their bond forged stronger than ever. Though the scars of the battle would take time to heal, the hope they had inspired in the city was immediate and lasting.

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