The deep space universe was dark and boundless, with meteorites drifting by and stars flickering faintly.
In this vast darkness, a massive space battleship, armored in dark and glowing plating like a giant egg, blasted forward. Blue flames spewed from its rear, and with a tyrannical force, it tore through a belt of meteorites. Its surface was covered in a diamond-shaped, honeycomb-like energy shield, and it raced toward Earth at incredible speed.
This was a cutting-edge Kryptonian warship, nearly 300 kilometers in diameter and shaped like an egg. It was traveling at high velocity, and once it deployed its combat form, it could serve as a fully operational space battle station. Capable of launching Star Destroyers, it could annihilate entire planets.
This was a Kryptonian main battleship that could carry over a million individuals. The numerous fighter units inside were fully equipped to attack and invade a planet with ease.
However, the ship did not carry all surviving Kryptonians. Instead, it was manned by many Phantom Zone prisoners who had surrendered to General Zod and now served as his soldiers.
Before Krypton's destruction, this was the most advanced main battleship, co-developed by Jor-El, the Zod family, Faora's family, and dozens of affiliated houses, intended for escape.
But due to the revolution sparked by Bardi and Jor-El's selfishness, the battleship wasn't completed in time. Jor-El secretly hid Hael and the ship, sending them into the Phantom Zone. Later, Hael completed the construction of the battleship.
General Zod had been framed by Jor-El, declared a criminal, and banished to the Phantom Zone.
This first battleship was Zod's backup, intended to be used to restore Krypton by invading Earth.
Events unfolded just as Jor-El had predicted. General Zod boarded the battleship in the Phantom Zone, and Hael awakened. After several years of repairs, Hael received intel on Jor-El's coordinates on Earth.
Once General Zod rallied the remaining Phantom Zone criminals to his side, he launched the warship and set course for Earth, determined to restore Krypton's former glory.
Inside the battleship—
Faora stood tall and slender in jet-black adjutant armor. Her black cape trailed behind her, and the crest of her Kryptonian family was engraved on the chestplate.
She stood upright, her face stern and commanding, her brows exuding heroic determination. Her short hair accentuated her tough, unyielding character.
Before her was the vast cosmos. Stars sparkled in the distance, meteorites drifted across the silence of deep space.
Faora stared into this vast void. Her eyes, always resolute, flashed with a trace of memory and confusion.
Unconsciously, the renowned Kryptonian adjutant, the strongest female warrior, folded her arms across her chest. As if a chill seeped into her heart, she showed a fleeting moment of softness and fell into remembrance.
For a long time, she stood that way.
Suddenly.
Footsteps echoed in the silent observation chamber.
Faora's dazed expression vanished. Her eyes sharpened once more, regaining their decisiveness. She dropped her arms and stood upright, her figure taut as she stared out into the emptiness of space.
She was a warrior of unwavering resolve. She allowed no confusion or weakness, no softness to show before anyone.
Not even before her commander, General Zod, had she ever once faltered in her bearing as a soldier.
Except for "him"!
Faora's gaze sharpened further, her fists clenched tightly. The image of Bardi kept flashing through her mind.
"Are you... thinking about Bardi?"
The approaching figure asked, pausing slightly.
He had a stern appearance but carried the quiet presence of a thoughtful and refined scientist. A distinct silence hung around him. His eyes were contemplative, and his silence held deep meaning.
He was someone who always lived within his own heart, bearing everything inwardly.
He was Hael.
"Shut up!"
Faora's face turned cold as she snapped sharply.
To her, Hael was a traitor to his friends. He had sided with Jor-El and the others, betraying Bardi's trust.
Though she disapproved of the revolution Bardi led, she despised people like Hael even more—those who abandoned their friends and left them to suffer.
If Hael hadn't leaked information, Jor-El might never have been able to pinpoint Bardi's movements.
Though Bardi stood in opposition to them, Faora acknowledged his charisma and leadership in rallying the civilian uprising. As an opponent, he earned the respect of the entire Kryptonian lower class.
Hael, on the other hand, stood under Jor-El's banner, treated him as a father figure, and ultimately caused Bardi's defeat and forced exile from Krypton.
He had betrayed Bardi's trust. He had once been Bardi's friend.
Faora was furious. What Bardi did may have gone against all Kryptonian houses and depleted Krypton's last reserves of energy—but that was Bardi. She understood his choice, and she had made hers.
Both she and Bardi stood firm in their beliefs. There was never a chance of compromise. So even as they loved each other, they were destined to kill one another for their unwavering ideals.
Even if she were to die by Bardi's hand, Faora would feel no regret—only relief.
And if not, then it would be her sword that delivered judgment upon Bardi.
This was a battle of personal beliefs, ideals, and honor. Amid all of it was love—but also strong, irreconcilable convictions that created a painful struggle between love and destruction.
Faora, who loved Bardi yet refused to yield, especially despised Hael for abandoning Bardi and siding with Jor-El.
In her heart, Hael was a traitor, no longer worthy of trust.
Hael remained silent. His gaze was weighed down with reflection as he stared out at the starry sky, eyes filled with sorrow and pain.
Meteorites drifted past his line of sight one by one, as memories flooded back.
He hadn't wanted things to turn out this way. Jor-El, the Kryptonian scientist he admired and called father, and Bardi, his friend and role model, had become enemies. Two social classes had clashed, fighting to the death.
They all loved Krypton deeply. So why had it come to this? Why had their firm beliefs led to Krypton's destruction?
Zod, Jor-El, Bardi, even himself—each of them was someone who cherished Krypton.
Hael believed that if they had united, they could have saved Krypton. After all, each was the most exceptional individual of their generation.
But their unyielding convictions created irreconcilable conflicts.
Pain and sadness clouded Hael's eyes, along with a faint trace of resentment.
He had tried to reconcile their differences. In the end, he had been used—by Jor-El, the father he admired. Bardi had been forced to flee Krypton.
But it was too late. When Hael awoke, it was already a fact, unchangeable. From that moment forward, the mission had been to save Krypton.
Hael believed that those who truly loved Krypton could still come together and save what remained.
But after all that happened, the victors didn't save Krypton. They simply prepared escape ships.
In the end, Krypton's civilians perished. Bardi's revolution failed entirely.
Hael was tormented by the pain of his choices.
If he could turn back time.
He would do anything to save Krypton.
As Hael emerged from his memories and grief, Faora had already stepped out of the observation chamber, her steel boots echoing behind her, her expression as cold and resolute as ever.
(To be continued.)
***
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