Earth

Solar System, southern Milky Way.

A sleek, oddly shaped alien spacecraft suddenly emerged from hyperspace.

"Eiffel, where are we?" a childish voice asked.

"Beep beep." An electronic voice replied from aboard the ship, "According to the classified information sent back by the Empire's outposts, we are currently between the fifth and sixth planets in this star system. We are expected to reach our destination within fifteen galactic days. The star chart previously registered by Dr. Jor-El also showed this planet..." it said.

The childish voice fell silent.

"Master, are you all right?" After a moment of silence, seeing that its young master was clearly not in good spirits, the electronic voice couldn't help asking.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I'm just... a little sad," the owner of the ship said.

"...The Empire will rise again!" the electronic voice comforted him. "Although it was hit by a sudden enemy attack, Krypton... But I believe the Empire won't fall so easily! If the colonies can respond in time, I'm sure their legions can hold out for a while..."

The childish voice gave no answer.

The electronic voice continued, "So I suggest we head to the colonies and gather our forces first, Master. Then we can find a way to restore the Empire..."

"What would be the point?" the childish voice said. "Without the central authority to direct and guide them, the legions on the Empire's other Colony Planets can only fight on their own. Their forces would be scattered, leaving them easy for the enemy to defeat one by one... Besides, the enemy is far too powerful. Unless we can find a way to resist the Mind Stone's powerful brainwashing ability, even if our Fortier Empire rises again, it will be nothing more than a brief flash..."

The electronic voice had clearly thought of that too, and fell silent. After a long pause, it finally asked in a low voice, "Then, Master, do you have a way to restore the Empire by coming to this star system?"

The childish voice fell silent. "At the very least, if this place really is as I imagine, we have an incredible opportunity to obtain something crucial..." he murmured.

"What is it?"

In response to the Smart Terminal's question, Zhou Xiao said, "You'll find out when the time comes!"

In 2002, the third planet from the Sun in the Solar System—a vast, blue, inhabited world called Earth—welcomed an unwelcome visitor from beyond the stars!

"Whirr." Thanks to its advanced stealth coating, Zhou Xiao was able to fly swiftly without alerting the nations of Earth. He finally landed deep in Redwood National Park, in California, in the United States of America—the world's policeman—on the North American continent.

He lowered the boarding ramp, and a short figure clad in armor stepped onto this familiar yet unfamiliar land.

"Phew..." Zhou Xiao—or rather, Aeo, Aeo Zod, son of General Zod and a Kryptonian refugee—took a deep breath, his feelings a complicated jumble. "I've finally returned to... Earth!"

Beside him floated a dark, beeping, spinning unidentified flying object: the Smart Terminal, his butler, Eiffel. Unlike its unmotivated master, Eiffel was far more diligent. It busily gathered data on the surrounding atmosphere, gravity, water resources, and other natural features of the planet, while also comparing it against the information in the Empire's database.

"Beep beep. Master, as you said, this is a young planet. Its atmosphere is full of vitality and the Force, making it suitable for you to breathe and survive. It also has abundant water resources and rich natural resources, and its gravity is slightly weaker than Krypton's..."

"I know all that." After more than half a month of space travel, Aeo had finally made his way from Krypton to Earth in this world. Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar scenery, he asked expressionlessly, "How did your observation of this system's star go? Is it a yellow sun that can empower and strengthen us Fortier?"

"Reporting, Master: this star really is an energy source that can make you stronger. It's a young yellow sun!" the Smart Butler replied.

"Then..." Aeo's eyes gleamed with an unnerving light. "Let's hide the ship first. After that, gather all the information you can about this planet and prepare to blend in... We must quietly absorb radiation so we can protect ourselves!"

"Yes, Master!" the Smart Butler replied solemnly.

Meanwhile, in Nepal.

At the Kamar-Taj sanctuary, the Reclusive Sorceress The Ancient One summoned her beloved student, Kasilas.

"Kasilas, I've felt a powerful unease lately..."

"Respected teacher, what is it that has disturbed your meditation?" Kasilas asked the respected Sorcerer Supreme. "Could it be the Dark Lord...?"

"No." The Ancient One dismissed Kasilas's guess, her expression troubled. "This is a new power—powerful, searing, and as heavy as a mountain, yet not dark. It is unlike anything the Dark Lord possesses..."

"Then..." Kasilas looked up at his respected teacher in confusion.

The Ancient One sighed. "Because following this power is endless darkness and death, no less formidable than Dormammu!"

Kasilas was shocked. "Could there really be a force in this world more powerful than the Dark Lord?"

The Ancient One couldn't help explaining to her beloved student, "Kasilas, this universe is vast—far beyond what you can imagine. Why should it be surprising that there are forces as powerful as the Dark Lord?"

Kasilas fell silent.

The Ancient One continued, "In any case, I don't know whether this power's arrival will be good or bad for Earth. So I want you to go out and investigate who possesses it and what they intend to do." She paused. "If they are a fallen destroyer, report back to me. I'll face them myself!"

The Reclusive Sorceress radiated authority.

"Yes!" Kasilas answered solemnly.

At S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, a senior agent reported to Director Fury, who was on duty: "Director, the space station detected an unfamiliar energy fluctuation. When we tried to investigate further, it disappeared in an instant. We suspect it landed on Earth."

Nick Fury frowned. "Can you confirm where it landed?"

"We can only narrow it down to the northwestern coast of California..." the senior agent replied hesitantly.

"Redwood National Park?" Nick Fury's brow furrowed deeply, unmistakable displeasure in his one eye. "That's a huge area. How am I supposed to search it? Can't you pinpoint it more precisely? We spend so much of our budget every year, yet when it matters, you're completely useless!"

"...Sorry." The agent was sweating profusely.

"Forget it. I understand. You can go." He scrutinized his subordinate for a moment, then finally waved the agent away. "Send Agent Melinda in!"

"Yes, Director!" the agent replied, eager to leave.

"..."

.