General Zod

The deserted street held only the voices of Zod and Ryan.

Zod held out his hand, golden sunlight climbing his arm. "I like it here. The sun I knew on Krypton was an aging red. Here, it's a young gold."

"So what?"

"Sunlight changes Kryptonians. This sun's radiation, the air here—everything makes me stronger. I never imagined I could be as strong as I am now."

"Don't tell me you're planning to stay."

"I am."

General Zod lowered his hand and declared with righteous conviction, "I'll turn this world into a new Krypton. The Krypton that died will be reborn on Earth."

He looked like he'd found the perfect spot. Before Ryan could speak, a rushing sound came from the sky.

Ryan looked up to see a cape billowing behind someone. A-Train, Starlight, and Maeve had arrived too.

They looked ready to take on a boss together.

Their sudden appearance startled Zod. "A pack of small fry."

"..."

Ryan, standing off to the side, had yet to react. Homelander, flying overhead, was already furious.

Homelander had spent his life surrounded by praise. He had never heard contempt so direct. Laser Eyes fired from his eyes.

The red beams swept across the road like parallel lines, scorching black tracks into it before heading straight for Zod.

For an ordinary person facing Laser Eyes, running would only delay death. Standing still would mean being melted in an instant.

Zod was different. Beams erupted from his eyes too. "What are those skinny little rays? Is that all you've got?"

As he'd said, his beams were brighter and stronger. They canceled out Homelander's Laser Eyes outright.

Then Zod crouched like Superman about to take flight, planted one fist against the ground, and sent pebbles and dust trembling around him.

Zod rose into the air.