Viltrumite, Is Your Mightiest Chat Group Fake?

The planet had split into countless fragments, wrapping around its final embers...

He would never forget the day he saw his unrecognizable homeworld.

Fortunately, hope still remained.

With a casual wave of Zod's hand, the metal scattered and reassembled into the face of his adjutant, Faora-Ul.

He demanded sharply:

"How are the ships coming along?"

"General, the World Engine is operating well. The Phantom Projector and thrusters can be used alternately."

"Also, we have finished analyzing the space probe we captured from Earth."

The mockery on Faora's face was impossible to hide.

"They actually wanted to introduce themselves to the universe through sound, without realizing that this would expose their backwardness—the fact that they still haven't unified."

"That is good, Faora. Earth surely cannot mount any effective resistance. We only need to persuade our own people."

A name was displayed on the screen before Zod.

Carl-El.

He was the son of Jor-El, Zod's nemesis and confidant.

Before Krypton was destroyed, Jor had hidden the Codex, which contained the genetic records of every Kryptonian citizen, inside Carl's pod.

As long as he acquired that, Zod could use the ship's incubation system to rapidly create Kryptonians.

Combined with an Earth transformed by the Genesis system, Krypton would be great again!

At the thought of that future, Zod's breathing grew much heavier.

The liquid metal flowed back down, and the screen shut off. Imagining the face of his old acquaintance's son, he murmured:

"I hope you haven't forgotten your roots, Carl-El."

Meanwhile, at a secret military base somewhere in the Lighthouse.

Bang!

Lex Luthor slammed his fist onto the table, his smooth scalp reflecting several streaks of light in the process.

"I told you all long ago that Superman was a threat. Look, now a ship belonging to his people has already parked in Mars orbit."

His gaze swept across the people and projected screens around the round table as he questioned them:

"Can any of you imagine what will happen next?"

"I don't think some friendly alien exchange delegation is going to come down from there, waving streamers, carrying loudspeakers and colorful rings, babbling about love and peace like our red-caped boy."

A mocking curve appeared at the corner of his lips.

"Judging by that ship's structure, I guarantee it is a weapon. They must be here to invade!"

At that moment, General Sam Lane, Lois's father, raised a hand to stop Luthor's speech.

"How can you guarantee that ship belongs to Superman's people?"

"I analyzed its design language. It is undoubtedly similar to the ship that rose from the glacier and vanished years ago."

Luthor interlocked his fingers beneath his chin, utterly confident in his judgment.

"And I know very well that Superman is an outsider among us. His power comes from that completely different body."

General Sam still wanted to argue, but he changed his mind a moment later.

He said:

"The purpose of gathering here today is to study how to resist them, not to determine that."

"Then, can any of you propose a countermeasure?"

Luthor spoke again. He would not allow anyone to get ahead of him.

"The first option: Kryptonite."

He displayed a transparent case, within which a green crystal gleamed.

"I have already tested it on that experimental subject. What was her name again? Oh, Kara Zor-El."

"During the tests, I discovered that their species can draw power from our sun. That is undoubtedly the source of Superman's strength."

Luthor held up the Kryptonite with both hands, like Napoleon seizing a crown from the Pope and placing it on his own head.

But beneath his feet was not a red carpet—it was a powerless Superman who could only look up at him.

"Kryptonite can strip all that away and turn them into mortals again!"

Then he shook off his excitement and sighed, shaking his head.

"Although I still possess a considerable stockpile of Kryptonite, it is a pity that I do not know who bought half of it."

His performance was not over yet. He raised a second finger.

"Furthermore, I can use Kryptonite's effects to implant a collar into the experimental subject."

"You mean?"

Someone among the attendees looked thrilled.

"We will have a controllable Superman who obeys us completely? Perhaps even two?"

They will belong to me, Lex Luthor!

The big bald man thought to himself, though his expression remained naturally assured.

"That is correct, sir. This is what I, Luthor, can accomplish."

"Then, does anyone else wish to speak?"

General Sam looked around the room.

Among them, Amanda Waller, a plump Black woman with short hair, raised her hand.

The discussion immediately quieted. Everyone knew she was also one of the elites in the metahuman field.

"Ahem, let me report the results of contacting several metahumans."

"We have not been able to track down the speedster in Central City, the one called Flash. Green Lantern has shown no trace of himself recently. And Atlantis believes aliens are our lie..."

One participant interrupted her.

"I want to hear some good news, Amanda. Can your Suicide Squad be of any use?"

"If the aliens are all like Superman, they will not perform well. But I have a stronger card in hand."

Amanda raised her chubby hand and activated the projector at the center of the round table.

A dark-haired woman wearing a golden crown and holding a longsword appeared within it.

"An Amazon princess from Paradise Island, Wonder Woman. According to our calculations, she should be able to contend with Superman."

"It seems humanity will be the ultimate victor."

Luthor spoke first, bypassing General Sam to declare victory.

Though deep down, he knew of another possibility: Superman might turn against the aliens for Earth's sake.

But he could not miss such a wonderful opening.

Their side had at least two opponents on Superman's level, while he was all alone.

Not to mention that he held Kryptonite in his hands.

Superman!

I will make you remember that the true savior can only be me, Luthor. You are not powerful at all.

I am the true—

INVINCIBLE (purple text on a green background)

"Hm?"

Far away in Gotham City, Superman stood atop a building and glanced at Leon, who had suddenly turned around.

"What is it?"

"Nothing. I just feel like someone is barking."

Leon did not spare much thought for that side and continued to close his eyes to sense the activity here.

The next second, the white figure merged into the wind and vanished. He appeared beside a man fighting a scaled giant.

After confirming the eyepatch and the thunderous red-and-green color scheme, he slapped the giant into the wall.

Turning back to the astonished Robin, he smiled.

"Hello, I'd like to apply to be Robin. Do you think I'm the right age?"

(I felt it would be a little boring to copy the movie version exactly, so this time I'm mixing a few things together for some freshness. Also, I had something to do today and didn't make it in time. There will be another update later.)

I'm...

Gotham City had been lively lately, and Bruce had been very busy.

"Watch it, big guy!"

Tim Drake dodged Killer Croc's fist while backing away and circling around him.

During this time, he had seen photos of that ship and Superman more than once on the Batcave computers.

According to Bruce, this might become a catastrophe for all humanity, so he had been studying countermeasures as well.

However, Gotham City had always kept up with the latest trends.

The instant the villains sensed something was off, at least one idea, ten schemes, and a hundred plans would pop into their heads, and they would then carry out a thousand crimes at once.

Tonight was such a moment.

Bruce was stretched too thin. Even Nightwing Dick had returned overnight to help.

And after he had exhausted himself dealing with several gangs, he still had to face Killer Croc.

"Whew..."

After catching his breath for several seconds behind a corner, Tim ducked beneath Killer Croc as he burst through the wall and swung his staff in retaliation.

However, exhaustion ultimately made him a step too slow, allowing the other man to bite down on the staff.

He immediately let go and raised his arm to block the incoming fist.

But at that moment, he caught a flash of white from the corner of his eye.

And the instant that color disappeared, Killer Croc vanished with it.

Boom!

He turned toward the blast and saw a young man floating in the air, brushing scales from his hand.

As well as the unconscious villain, half of whose body was embedded in the wall.

"Hello, I'd like to apply to be Robin. Do you think I'm the right age?"

"I would guess you have already exceeded the maximum admission age."

Meeting the smiling young man's gaze, Tim typed blindly behind his back:

Bruce, this is bad.

I don't know what you did again, but someone who looks like Superman has come looking for you!

"Don't scare him."

At that moment, Superman descended as well.

His expression was extremely uncomfortable. The moment he arrived in Gotham, his super senses had allowed him to hear far too much.

Criminal plans, screams, wails, gunshots...

And all sorts of monsters and freaks that made him uncomfortable just by noticing them.