NOVEL NEXT Chapter 326: Surrender
The Warworld had been destroyed by seventy percent.
Whenever Bardi exerted even a fraction of his power, he would unintentionally generate an intense gravitational field. The resulting spatial distortion would give rise to a singularity centered on him—a vortex-like black hole.
Fortunately, in the end, after nearly seventy percent of Warworld had been decimated, the leaping Mongul was finally pummeled into the ground, beaten to the point where he could no longer stand.
If Bardi hadn't held back to avoid unleashing his full strength—which would have caused a black hole powerful enough to devour the entire solar system—his punch alone would have been enough to kill Mongul. For now, he could only suppress his strength, defeat Mongul, and grind him into the ground.
At the moment Mongul was defeated, Bardi managed to control his magnetic gravitational field in time. Just as the singularity was forming, he annihilated it instantly, preventing a greater catastrophe.
On Earth, Hera and the legion under General Otto began entering Warworld, preparing to transform it into a bridge connecting many alien races beyond the solar system.
Warworld's Engine City—the only city Bardi had deliberately avoided—was the driving core of the entire Warworld.
Inside one of the research rooms, the metallic walls cooled the air.
Bardi sat on a chair, upright and imposing like a mountain, a king reigning over the entire starry sky. He extended his left arm horizontally. Hera manipulated the molecular-combination magnet, using molecular architecture technology once again to reconstruct a gauntlet that would suppress the magnetic field of Bardi's body.
Throughout the entire battle with Mongul, Bardi had only used his bare left hand—just one hand—to flatten Mongul.
Now, Bardi's combat power far surpassed any opponent capable of planetary destruction. An enemy like Mongul could be handled with just one hand.
The room was brightly lit. The secretary-type Hera moved her hands swiftly, manipulating the combined magnet particles as she began reinforcing the base of Bardi's armor arm, extending energy lines to prevent magnetic field leakage.
The magnet particles swirled like a black tornado, converging at the base of Bardi's arm, extending the Emperor's Armor and reassembling the material plating.
Even though Bardi tried his best to suppress his magnetic field, the process was still challenging. A slight misstep could throw the magnetic field into chaos, requiring a complete reset of the containment circuit based on arcane tech.
Bardi's magnetic field always seemed terrifying. It constantly emitted spatial-disrupting fluctuations unconsciously, making it hard to control.
Bardi was aware of this. So, he did his best to focus entirely on maintaining control of his magnetic field.
"Master, Brainiac just sent a message. He wishes to surrender."
Suddenly, the secretary-type Hera, who had been fully focused on constructing the gauntlet, spoke while operating the particle reconstruction device.
She had advanced multitasking capabilities. Controlling the instruments, building the gauntlet, and speaking simultaneously posed no problem.
Bardi's expression remained calm. He continued suppressing the magnetic field radiating from his body, maintaining inner tranquility. But upon hearing Hera's words, he was slightly surprised. The particles around his arm began to destabilize, and the magnetic field flared like a raging tornado.
He quickly stabilized his magnetic field again.
"I was just preparing to head to Mars. Surrender?"
"That's not like him," Bardi said.
"He must have been observing the battle from Mars and reconsidered."
"Brainiac possesses the highest intellect in the universe. He knows when to yield and understands that he lacks the means to oppose you. But he must have other intentions."
"He wants a drop of your blood," Hera added.
"Alright. Let his terminal come and wait for me at the Emperor's Tower," Bardi said with a sneer.
What Brainiac desired was Bardi's divine blood, something that transcended the universe itself—clearly it had sparked his curiosity.
Or perhaps Brainiac had found out, or at least guessed, that Bardi had surpassed the constraints of the universe, and now wanted to explore and understand that mystery.
"He agreed," Hera replied, her fingers never pausing, eyes focused on the particle reconstruction.
"Hm?"
"He wants to become your blood relative?"
Bardi was genuinely surprised.
His blood had the property of making others into his dependents, placing them under his control. Even if Brainiac was intelligent enough to create a terminal body rivaling Mongul, it would still be powerless against the might imbued in Bardi's blood.
Just like Kanna.
Kanna was born of Bardi's own flesh and blood, the first generation of his dependents, a hybrid spirit. She was already bound to him as his divine kin.
Tohru, in turn, was a dependent of Kanna, making her second generation in terms of bloodline.
Of course, this bloodline branding didn't restrict power. First-generation dependents weren't necessarily stronger than second-generation ones, nor could the latter be inherently suppressed—unless Bardi personally imposed restrictions via blood. Otherwise, no such limitations existed.
However, the most important factor was that this connection meant Brainiac's life and death would be entirely in Bardi's hands.
Bardi had merely tossed out a proposition, expecting Brainiac to hesitate. Unexpectedly, Brainiac had agreed without resistance.
What exactly was he planning?
"He says he'll answer more thoroughly when he sees you tomorrow. Brainiac has the greatest intellect in the universe. He wouldn't agree to something that didn't benefit him."
Bardi nodded.
Brainiac truly did possess supreme intelligence. He wouldn't do anything without weighing the advantages.
If he chose to surrender, it likely meant he expected to gain something greater in return.
"In addition, Master, the entity known as Volthoom within the Ring of Power also wishes for you to build him a body. He has vowed loyalty to you."
Hera's delicate features turned serious, her brows gently furrowed.
Initially, she believed Volthoom only wanted Bardi to build a body to house his essence. Since Hera's terminal could also construct a body, she hadn't reported it immediately.
But now, based on Brainiac's actions, she realized Volthoom might want a body created from Bardi's blood—not one built through Hera's technological means.
Recognizing the abnormality, she reported it at once.
"Alright. We'll handle it tomorrow."
Bardi's eyes flickered, but he nodded thoughtfully.
The Ring of Power belonged to Earth-3's version of Green Lantern, and it was where Earth-3's Volthoom resided.
Since the Crime Syndicate's capture, its members had experienced varying fates.
Ultraman had been confined to an underground research facility, cooperating as his physical structure was studied.
The Superwoman, Diana of Earth-3, attempted to seduce Bardi. She was immediately exiled to the warfront by Bardi's female companions. Now, under General Ott's command, she had become a frontline soldier. Bardi had been unaware of this arrangement, it had been orchestrated by Little Hera, who had seen through Superwoman's scheming attempts to become Bardi's queen. Naturally, Little Hera would never allow that.
Given that the legion had no shortage of powerful fighters, neither Bardi nor Hera cared about Superwoman. Little Hera promptly assigned her to the frontlines, battling aliens.
Owlman, due to his calm nature and sharp mind, was sent back to Earth-3 by Bardi to track down the Anti-Monitor's location and serve as a scout for Bardi's eventual invasion.
The cowardly Green Lantern had proven useless. So Bardi ordered his men to give him a mansion where he could stay inside and play games. He was considered hopeless.
As for the ring, it had been stripped from him and connected to Volthoom, enabling communication.
Volthoom had the ability to create the seven-colored spectrum and possessed mysterious knowledge of willpower-based technology—enough to forge Lantern Rings.
He had once aided the Guardians in crafting the power rings. Even on Earth-3, that hadn't changed.
The willpower-based technology Volthoom held was something Bardi had long been eager to explore.
Clearly, Volthoom understood many things—and he, too, wanted a body formed from Bardi's blood.
At this moment, Bardi nodded slightly, finally acknowledging the true potential of his godhood—not only to destroy, but to inspire awe even in beings like Brainiac and Volthoom.
(To be continued.)