"Activate the World Engine!"
After receiving a definitive answer, AI Zod felt completely reassured and immediately made his decision.
Hearing this command, Tal-Ma and the others standing opposite him were instantly energized as well.
Once the World Engine was activated, the entire Earth would be transformed into Krypton.
When that happened—
The true Kryptonian warriors would experience a massive boost in power!
At that point, dealing with Alex would become far more manageable.
In fact, having already adapted to Earth's environment, Alex might find the Kryptonian atmosphere outright lethal.
They might not even need to lift a finger—
Alex could die from Krypton's toxic environment alone!
It was undeniably a brilliant plan.
As for Kal-El, he might die as well, but since extracting the Codex wouldn't be affected, that was irrelevant.
---
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
With AI Zod's command, a bizarre, crab-shaped spaceship was deployed.
---
"What's happening?"
The military wasn't incompetent. This movement by the Kryptonian ship was detected almost instantly.
Inside the command center, a general stared at the large screen before him and asked grimly.
"The ship has split in two. One is heading east, the other toward the southern hemisphere."
"How fast?"
"Nearly Mach 24—and still accelerating. It appears to be heading for a location in the southern Indian Ocean."
The expressions of everyone in the room grew grave.
They didn't know what the enemy intended to do—
But it was definitely nothing good.
---
"Another ship?"
At the same time the military detected the movement, Alex sensed it as well.
Boom!
Under his watchful gaze, the World Engine slammed down onto a coastal area in the southern Indian Ocean.
Meanwhile, the mothership appeared in the skies above Metropolis.
---
"Put the Phantom Engine on standby!"
AI Zod issued another order.
A second crab-like ship was deployed immediately.
"We've established a link with the World Engine."
After completing a series of operations, the Kryptonian scientist reported back.
"Activate it."
---
Hiss—!
At AI Zod's command, a blinding beam of light shot from the Phantom Engine—
Slamming straight into the ground.
At the exact same moment, the World Engine in the southern Indian Ocean also released a brilliant beam.
The two engines resonated across opposite hemispheres, forming a complete closed system.
---
And at that instant—
A strange force field formed around the Phantom Engine.
Cars, statues, buildings, street fixtures—everything nearby was ripped into the air.
"Ahhh!"
Screams erupted everywhere.
---
"What are they firing?"
Inside the command center, a military officer asked the technical staff gravely.
"It appears to be a gravitational weapon."
A bespectacled researcher adjusted his glasses, studying the data on the screen.
"Working in conjunction with the ship… increasing Earth's mass… altering the atmosphere with micro-particulates—my God…"
Mid-sentence, realization struck him, and his face went pale.
"They're performing environmental modification!" the researcher reported urgently.
"What does that mean?"
"Planetary engineering. They're transforming Earth's environment and atmosphere—"
"They're turning Earth into Krypton!"
The general cut in sharply.
Everyone present understood immediately.
If the process succeeded—
Humanity would be completely wiped out.
Humans simply could not survive in a Kryptonian environment.
---
"Get me the Air Force Command!"
The general wasted no time.
Orders were issued rapidly.
A fighter squadron was deployed immediately.
---
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The fighter jets reached the Phantom Engine at top speed and unleashed wave after wave of missiles.
They attempted to blow the engine apart by force.
But something infuriating happened.
A powerful force field surrounded the engine, deflecting every missile before it could hit.
Anything that got close was violently redirected elsewhere.
Worse still—
The field disrupted all electronic systems.
Which meant…
At present, there was no way to destroy the Phantom Engine using conventional weapons.
Silence fell over the room.
The situation was dire.
---
"General… what do we do?"
The aide beside him stared at the general anxiously.
The general opened his mouth—
Then closed it again.
Because he didn't know either.
Modern weaponry was useless.
They were completely helpless.
---
Boom!
Just as despair thickened the air—
A sonic boom rang out.
"General, someone's flying in!"
"It's him—Alex!"
Someone shouted in shock and excitement.
There was no need to be told.
On the big screen, the general could clearly see a figure flying in with overwhelming presence.
It was Alex.
"And Superman too!"
Someone added.
That's right.
Superman was flying beside Alex.
Unlike the original timeline—where Superman went alone to the southern Indian Ocean—
This time, he immediately sought out Alex and asked for help.
Destroying Zod's fleet was Alex's mission anyway.
He didn't hesitate.
The two arrived together.
---
"Alex, the area around that engine has already been converted into a Kryptonian environment."
"I'm afraid I won't be much help."
"At this point… it's up to you."
Superman carefully sensed the surrounding atmosphere and spoke with a grim expression.
"Leave it to me."
Alex nodded calmly.
---
"Alex…"
"Looking for death."
Inside the mothership, AI Zod saw Alex and his expression darkened instantly.
Even as a program, the murderous intent radiating from him was unmistakable.
"Open fire!"
AI Zod issued the order at once.
He refused to believe that Alex—no matter how powerful—could withstand the mothership's weapons.
---
Boom!
But in the very next instant—
Alex vanished.
CRASH!
The entire mothership violently shook.
Because Alex had already torn through the hull—
And was now standing arrogantly before AI Zod.
---
The cold expression on AI Zod's face froze.
Tal-Ma and the other Kryptonian soldiers were equally stunned.
Every one of them stared at Alex in disbelief.
This was Alex?
This was beyond absurd.
Way too ridiculous.