*Chapter 172: A Step Too Late? Or Right on Time! (Part 1)*

The two tech-savvy superheroes had a mutual understanding: Gotham belonged to Batman, and New York to Iron Man. Whenever one found traces of the other in their surveillance programs, they would quietly back out.

Recently, Superman had been at the center of media attention, making him a focus for Batman. The moment Superman attacked what seemed like an ordinary truck, Batman received the alert.

By saying this, Batman was essentially admitting that he knew Lex Luthor was up to something.

That made things easier.

Atreus transmitted a translated document and continued, "Lex Luthor is conducting forbidden experiments once banned by Kryptonian Council. I’m not sure if he’ll succeed, but we need to prepare for the worst."

After studying Kryptonian data from the archives of a crashed scout ship, Lex used General Zod’s body to create a "Kryptonian Monster." Kryptonian Council had outlawed this type of experiment before Krypton’s destruction.

Luthor intended to use his own blood to hatch creature from an "egg pod." His original plan was to instigate a battle between Batman and Superman, then use the monster to kill the victor.

The thing about conspiracies is that once they’re exposed, their power diminishes.

Before Lex could even set his plan in motion, a certain time traveler had already ruined it. All Lex could do now was take matters into his own hands.

Yes! He would face off against all of New York and Gotham’s superheroes.

As S.H.I.E.L.D. circled Lex's egg-shaped lab with a swarm of Quinjet fighters, demanding Lex come out and talk, a red-and-blue blur, moving at multiple times the speed of sound, smashed straight in.

Boom!

No matter how strong the defenses, they were like tissue paper under Superman's might, crumbling instantly.

Seeing Superman rush in, a baffled Nick Fury could only order S.H.I.E.L.D. to hold off for now.

On the phone, Fury asked General Swanwick, “Did Superman and Zod have that good of a relationship?”

“Uh, hard to say, but Superman did seem pretty anguished when he killed Zod.”

“Oh.” Fury interpreted this as the pain of killing one’s own kind.

What the officials didn’t know was that Superman had beaten up some of Lex’s goons who had tried to kidnap his mom, but he hadn’t killed anyone.

Someone else had sent Huntress and Katana to finish the job.

In this timeline, when Superman dispensed justice, his glowing aura bent light in such a way that while most people could see him, they couldn’t remember his face. Optical devices also couldn’t capture his true identity. But Superman himself was a walking leak—he had already revealed his close connection with Lois Lane. How could the government not keep an eye on her?

It wasn’t that the authorities hadn’t considered targeting Superman’s mother; they just didn’t dare.

President Ellis had quietly suppressed the issue.

Of course, all of this was destined to get buried under a series of secret meetings and backdoor deals.

Right now, everyone’s attention was focused on the giant hole Superman had just burst through.

Superman, furious, glared at the blonde-haired, middle-parted Lex Luthor before him and demanded, in a voice burning with rage, “Lex Luthor! Why did you threaten my family?!”

“Superman! Do you even know what you’re doing? You’re playing god!”

“I’m not a god!” Superman took a fierce step forward.

“Exactly! You’re not a god! But many people see you as an all-powerful, benevolent god!”

“Their beliefs are their own!” Superman stepped forward again.

“No! Their beliefs matter. If there were truly an all-powerful god, why didn’t he come to save me when I was suffering? So an all-powerful god can’t be benevolent—he has a side. And I’m going to reveal your falsehood, drag you off the throne of ignorance where these people have placed you.”

“You’re just talking nonsense!” Superman’s gaze shifted past the frail-looking Lex, landing on the large cocoon behind him.

Through its semi-transparent membrane, the silhouette of a humanoid creature could be seen twitching.

Above the cocoon, thick cables were pumping immense amounts of electricity into it.

A nearby computer system announced in a feminine voice, “Activation in 40 seconds.”

Superman coldly remarked, “You’ve lost.”

His confidence wasn’t blind; it was based on the deep trust he’d built in Kratos over time.

Kratos had provided the intel, and Superman had absolute faith that he would handle everything behind the scenes.

Almost as if in response to Superman’s words, outside the lab, Director Nick Fury gave a swift order: “Cut the power!”

Click! Click! Click!

Apart from the National Guard’s battery-powered industrial floodlights and the lights on the Quinjet fighters, the entire area was plunged into darkness.

This move almost drove Lex mad.

According to his plan, he needed to inject the monster with massive amounts of energy in its final phase to maximize its combat power.

Now what?

This was the infamous “last-second failure”!

Lex was livid!

“No—you can’t destroy my masterpiece!” He raised his bandaged right hand. “It’s my blood relative—”

Outside, Director Nick Fury, using military-grade listening devices to eavesdrop on Superman and Lex’s conversation, smirked. “It’s always the same. Did you really think our electricity was just for hatching your monsters?”

Incidents where power was drained to birth a creature had become so common it was practically a trope.

The old days had Captain America’s creation. More recently, there was Electro. S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn’t dumb; they had learned from experience and developed countermeasures.

Lex, you feeling frustrated?

Good. That makes us happy.

Hovering in the sky, Tony Stark saw a tragic scene unfold on his Iron Man monitors. A vehicle carrying three people was soaring through the night, aiming right for them.

The Quinjets respectfully cleared a space in the air.

Tony flew up to meet them. “Hey, Kratos, looks like you’re late. Superman’s already inside, probably doesn’t need us anymore.”

Atreus, dressed in leather, grinned mischievously. “A step too late? No, I think we’re right on time!”

Almost as soon as Atreus’s words fell, Agent Hill’s voice burst over the comms: “Not good! Detecting a high-energy reaction!”

Nick Fury immediately ordered, “Everyone, fall back!”

His command came just in time. Inside the lab, the creature in the giant cocoon, which resembled a monstrous orc, had finally awakened.

“Hahaha! It’s my blood relative. It has unimaginable strength, and its sole purpose is to destroy you—Superman!” Lex laughed maniacally. “Even if you were a god, today will be your downfall! It is your... Doomsday!”

Mid-laugh, the towering, seven-to-eight-meter-tall beast suddenly lashed out with a massive punch—directly at its "blood relative."

Lex was dumbstruck.

In that critical moment, Superman, out of the goodness of his heart, rushed forward and caught the creature’s enormous fist with both hands.

In the blink of an eye, Superman was sent flying!

(End of Chapter)