DC: Rise of the Kryptonian Tyrant

Earth-3, Metropolis.

Here, the ground was cracked and barren, lifeless and desolate. Burned-out vehicles lay scattered along the roads, emitting the stench of scorched metal, while wisps of black smoke curled into the sky.

The entire city was in ruins, dead silent, like a forgotten corpse.

From a distance, one could still vaguely make out the remnants of what were once magnificent and bustling buildings. Now, all that remained were ruins wrapped in rising black smoke.

On the highway, black smoke billowed from cars, flames twisted the air, and in the wavering heat, a shadow slowly emerged.

He wore an owl-like mask covering the upper half of his face, donned dark karaf armor flecked with stains, and a black cloak gently fluttered behind him as he walked, as though mourning the grief of the world.

He appeared and wandered like a black owl in daylight.

Owlman's eyes gleamed with sorrow. The entire Metropolis was devoid of life, barren and dead.

A faint burning sensation seeped through his skin. The surrounding heat scorched the air, making it oppressive and suffocating, but his heart had already gone cold.

Gotham was likely in the same condition.

This world was finished.

Despite his calm demeanor and rational mind, he couldn't help but feel a chill deep inside.

A wave of sadness rose in his chest.

Boom!

In the distance behind him, a massive volcanic eruption roared. Lava shot into the sky, dyeing it blood-red, casting a fiery backdrop behind his somber figure.

He walked on through the desolation, his figure solitary and quiet, like a ghost moving across scorched earth.

Metropolis had no volcanoes. What erupted was the New Jersey ground fissure, with lava blasting from deep within the Earth's core.

Owlman remained silent.

The entire world was empty, dead.

Gray volcanic ash fell endlessly from the sky, coating the ruins and his shoulders alike.

He left the highway and walked toward the city center. Keeping his head down to avoid the ash, he made his way into the heart of Metropolis.

Owlman raised his head and looked up at an old building.

Once, the Crime Syndicate had constructed their world headquarters here, ruling the world from it. He himself had ruled Gotham with an iron fist, enforcing the version of peace and justice he believed in.

Now, that tower had collapsed, reduced to wreckage. Charred steel beams and iron supports jutted out, and shattered glass littered the ground.

Owlman found an entrance at one corner.

Ding...

It came from the basement elevator he had designed. After reconnecting its circuits and overriding the system, it was still operational.

"Hm?"

Owlman's calm eyes narrowed slightly. On the elevator's F5 button, he saw finger marks. The button was cleaner and brighter than the others, free of dust.

This indicated that someone had used the F5 floor, and not just once.

At that moment, above the elevator shaft, a muscular arm extended down, holding an M9 pistol, aimed directly at Owlman's head.

As the muzzle touched him, Owlman slowly raised his hands in a gesture of non-resistance.

"Alexander Luthor."

Owlman raised his hands and spoke calmly.

A burly figure appeared above the shaft and jumped down into the elevator.

He had hair, unlike Lex. He was the Earth-3 counterpart of Lex Luthor. Aside from the hair, he possessed the power of Earth-3's Shazam.

However, his invocation was reversed. He shouted "Mazahs."

By shouting "Mazahs," he could summon lightning, gain power, and absorb the abilities of the superhumans he killed. On Earth-3, he had slaughtered superhumans en masse, becoming so powerful that no one in the Syndicate could rival him.

Eventually, Owlman had set a trap, using Superwoman's Lasso of Submission to control him and imprison him.

"Owlman, I didn't expect you to come back!"

Luthor's face twisted into a manic expression. His fiery red hair partially covered his sinister grin.

"Thanks to you, I've been stuck here waiting to die, just sitting around for the end of the world."

He pressed the gun harder against Owlman's temple, speaking into his ear with wild rage.

The elevator began to slowly descend.

"I came to take you out of here, Luthor. We've found a parallel world where we can survive, away from Mobius."

Owlman spoke calmly.

After he finished speaking, he felt the barrel of the gun press deeper, digging into his skin as Luthor shoved it forward.

But Luthor suddenly flung his red hair back, then burst into crazed laughter.

"You think I'd believe that?"

Luthor's bloodshot eyes narrowed. Finger on the trigger, he sneered. "Your life is in my hands."

He shoved the gun harder against Owlman's head.

"You already believe me, Luthor. There's only one outcome here—death."

Owlman remained calm, unshaken by the threat.

In truth, this version of Luthor wasn't very intelligent. Owlman had manipulated him numerous times before.

Owlman was smart enough to pierce through Luthor's weaknesses. His words had struck a nerve. Luthor had no way to escape this world, and his only future was death. Now he lived in hiding, too afraid to transform into "Mazahs" and risk attracting Mobius' attention, reduced to a rat burrowed underground.

"We've found a world, and with the owner's permission, we'll be able to survive there."

"And I've been sent by that world's master to find Mobius."

"He's going to fight Mobius."

Owlman spoke with steady clarity. None of it was a lie, but it subtly gave Luthor the illusion of two forces clashing, with himself positioned to reap the reward.

"So, you came for me. Are you planning to use me?"

Luthor's gaze flickered with a trace of murderous intent.

No one understood Luthor's mind better than Owlman.

"Yes. This is your chance, Luthor. Help us find Mobius, and you'll gain entry to that world and survive this apocalyptic moment."

"Unless you really want to die here, devoured by Mobius, and turned into a test subject for his next evolution."

Suddenly, the elevator dropped with a jolt. The doors slid open.

Owlman ignored the pistol still aimed at his head and walked out, frowning.

This had once been his experimental lab, clean and orderly. Now it was in complete disarray, trashed by Luthor. Bags, boxes, and piles of scavenged supermarket food were stacked like a mountain in one corner. The air was filled with mold and poorly ventilated.

Luthor's expression shifted. His intelligence couldn't compare to Owlman's. He was just an ordinary man, and it was normal for him to fear death.

With the powers he possessed, Luthor could theoretically go anywhere. He had absorbed the abilities of many of Earth-3's superhumans, becoming powerful enough to surpass the Syndicate. But his intellect was lacking.

"Owlman, take me to that world. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to shoot you."

Luthor's face contorted, the pistol shaking in his hand like a heavy iron weight, trembling with hesitation.

Owlman glanced back at him, lowered his raised hands, and said coolly, "You can try."

Luthor's expression turned even more twisted. The gun trembled in his grip. A fierce struggle played out in his heart.

In the end, he sighed weakly, dropped his arms, and said bitterly, "I'll agree to anything, just take me with you."

"We have to find Mobius to gain access to that world."

"How do we find him?"

"You'll need to transform... into 'Mazahs.'"

(To be continued.)

***

This book is completed on P/treon. Support me on P/treon to read ALL advanced chapters:

(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)