Val-Ul floated peacefully in the sky, his royal cape flapping calmly in the breeze. A mantle that portrayed his supremacy. With his hands behind his back, he calmly gazed down at the blonde kryptonian locked in chains. She was in the deepest pits of the prison. Disgusting.
WOOSH BOOM
The sound of the air cracking reached his ears. Then came the flapping of a cape. Finally, the sound of displacement…Clark had arrived.
"Are you here to stop me?" His voice was filled with disdain.
Val finally averted his gaze from the prison. Taking in the man before him, he smiled. The one and only Superman. Jaded but still him. Dressed in red and blue kryptonian garb, though the logo on his chest was much larger. It reached his shoulder almost resembling shoulder pads.
"Kal-El." He finally spoke. His voice was calm.
The two stared at each other. Clark clenched his fists, ready for a cataclysmic battle. Val slowly floated closer until they were only a few feet apart. That was when Kal-El felt caution bubbling up inside.
Val-Ul dwarfed him in height. Made the Man of Steel look normal. Their builds were similar…but this new kryptonian was just…better. It immediately put Clark on edge. The tension in the air was thick.
By this point, the members of Clark's regime had arrived. They watched from afar. Upon seeing the appearance of Val-Ul, instincts told them to be wary. He looked like a kryptonian though there was no logo on his chest.
"Clark will win. He always does." Diana said.
"This is gonna be good. Should've brought popcorn." Hal joked.
Barry remained silent. Placing his faith in Val-Ul, he hoped for the best. This was the turning point.
As the two kryptonians floated closer, Val's calm expression morphed into a smile. The complete opposite of expectations. He casually raised his arms and spoke.
"Brethren."
He brought Clark in, powerful arms wrapping around his shoulders. It was a hug. Clark's eyebrows rose in confusion. Even the members of his regime were confused. What? Why are they hugging? Wasn't this supposed to be a heaven-defying battle?
"How lonely it must be for you. No other kryptonians exist besides you and her. I am sorry." Val said.
Clark's expression softened. He looked tired. Val could see it. Clark was grieving…stubble could be seen all over his jaw. A patchy beard with no defined shape was growing. He didn't care about his appearance. It explained many things.
"Who are you?" Clark asked after the hug.
"My name is Val-Ul. I come from a different universe, as I'm sure you are aware."
"Why did you come here?"
"...Fly with me." Val ordered before flying away.
It was as if he knew Clark would obey. A natural state of things. Authority and grace was part of Val's DNA. It was seen in every action.
As expected, the Man of Steel obeyed. He flew after the man who's bearing seemed…royal. The two began to calmly circle the world. Taking in the sights.
Unknown to Clark, a mental channel had been opened between Val and Supergirl. She would be able to hear the upcoming conversation. Her eyes grew wide upon seeing Clark through Val's eyes.
'What? Who are you?' She croaked softly. Weakly.
'Just watch and listen. I do this for you.' He responded gently. Only then did he focus on the man beside him.
"As you probably expect, I was brought here to show you the error of your ways. Even if that meant with force." Val finally said. Clark's eyes narrowed.
"I won't be stopped by anyone." He growled.
"I don't plan to stop you."
"You…don't?"
"Why would I interfere with the way you handle your domain? Once again…this isn't my universe."
"Barry seems to think otherwise." Kal-El stated.
"Of course. I told him that I would advise you…and I will. Just not in the way he expects."
"I don't need your counsel."
"Just entertain me. Do it for me. Let's talk."
".................." Clark remained silent.
"What's your vision, Kal-El?"
"My vision?" Hearing his question being repeated, Val nodded in response.
"Yes. Where do you see this planet a few years from now?"
Clark thought for a while. Right now he was just enforcing justice. As for the future…he stopped flying and crossed his arms. Val stopped as well.
"I see a crimeless planet. A loyal one. Where there are no more wars. No more greedy politicians and businessmen raking the people over hot coal. I'm putting an end to needless suffering."
"Mnn…good. Then what?"
"What?" Clark frowned.
"What happens after that?"
"I'm not sure what you mean."
Val-Ul wrapped an arm around Kal-El's shoulder. His gaze went to space. After thinking for a moment, he turned to his fellow kryptonian.
"Would you like to see my Earth?" Val asked.
"...You're willing to do such a thing?"
"Of course. You are one of my people. Helping you out is no big deal."
Clark thought for a moment. Maybe he could glean something from this man's version of Earth. Maybe Val would show him something that could help. He seemed like a decent guy.
"How would I get back afterwards?"
Kal-El wanted to make sure he wasn't trapped. It was an important question. Not suspicious at all.
"We've developed multiversal travel in my universe. You can easily be sent back. It might take a month or two though. Just so you know."
"Then I'm willing. Show me." Kal agreed with a nod.
"Great. Before we go…there is one thing I will say. Something troubles me, Kal-El, and it isn't the way you rule." Val-Ul's expression grew icy. Noticing the shift in his tone, the Man of Steel frowned.
"What is it?"
"If you wish to see my Earth, then you must release Kara Zor-El from bondage. She is your only family in this world. Don't treat her like a useless tool."
Hearing Val-Ul's demand, Kal-El couldn't help but think of his cousin. His eyes softened for a moment…then they hardened once more. He shook his head.
"Forget it. I won't be going to your world. I can't release her."
The son of Ul cracked his own neck, his mood ruined. His disappointment was immeasurable…but he kept it in check. His fists clenched and the air shattered in reaction.
CRACKLE
"You don't seem to understand. I wasn't asking. Kryptonians are meant to walk under the sun. Not to rot for a lifetime…which you obviously plan to let her do. She is the only person that shares your blood in this life. Are you that heartless, Kal-El?"
"She opposes me every step of the way. There's nothing I can do. She doesn't understand." Kal-El admitted. He wasn't proud of it either.
"Then MAKE her understand. Place her in a room that is as big as a palace. Give her access to the internet. Do NOT chain her. The artificial red sunlight could help with that. Visit her everyday to explain yourself. Show your love and care for her. Bring her gifts. There are many things you can do."
"She won't agree. She'll break out. She'll run. Then she'll fight against me."
"Then ask her for a grace period. Ask her to give you one year. If she doesn't see any improvement in humanity's situation, then she is free to oppose you. That is how you deal with family. You've failed her."
"Yes! I've failed her. Now she will never forgive me. It's too late to do these things." Clark exclaimed in anger.
"It's not too late. You just don't want to try. You don't value her enough."
"Don't tell me how I feel. You. Don't. Know. Me." The Man of Steel growled. His eyes glowed with crimson energy.
"You're right. I don't know you…so I'll be the villain. Let me put this another way. If you don't release Kara, I'll release her myself. She'll be taken to my universe where she can live happily and freely." Val stated as if it was inevitable. A fact. His gaze was cold.
Small tendrils of golden static danced across his perfectly sculpted form. His energy was fully manifesting, compressed to the limit. His shimmering golden pupils began to glow. He towered over Kal-El. The surrounding temperatures rapidly increased.
"You will NOT touch her." Kal-El stood firm. He wouldn't be intimidated so easily.
"It seems we've reached a disagreement." The son of Ul commented.
"I guess so."
"Then…let me reintroduce myself. My name is Val-Ul, son of Faora-Ul. She was part of the group that served General Zod. You killed her, Kal. You murdered my mother. It looks like I'll be able to give her peace today."
His words shook Clark to the core. Before he could even respond or react, a mighty fist slammed into his gut. His body folded like a lawn chair. Pain was something Clark didn't experience too often. This time…he felt it all the way to his toes.
KABOOOOM
His body blasted out of the atmosphere, the shockwave deleting the clouds across the globe. As Kal flew through space, his hand cradled his stomach. He was bleeding. The fist had broken through his skin and left a hole. Blood seeped from his lips before immediately freezing.
His body slammed into Phobos…one of the moons that orbited Mars. A country-sized crater appeared on the celestial body, the force of impact knocking it from orbit. Slowly rising from the crater, Clark's body started to heal. The sun washed over his broken form…sealing the hole in his gut.
What came next was another emotion that he rarely felt. Fear. Disbelief. Val-Ul quickly reached Phobos. He floated above the crater, looking down at Superman with casual grace and calm.
'I will only hit you twice more. If you refuse to change…then I will smite you. That will be the end of it.' His voice resounded in Clark's mind. Telepathy.
'All this over Kara?' Clark responded mentally.
'We value our kin differently. You forget that you are an endangered species.'
'Stop talking down to me! You don't know anything!'
Red light shot out of his eyes, drilling toward Val. It failed to even reach the man. Stopped by the bioelectric field. It was impenetrable.
The Man of Steel burst into motion, accelerating toward the son of Ul. Raising his arm for a powerful blow, all of his muscles tightened and tensed. Everything was put into this punch. Clark's fist connected with Val's chest.
CRACK
His arm snapped in half. More blood splattered into space. His bones were showing. His hand was shattered. Clutching his arm, Kal-El reeled from the pain. It felt as if he'd punched the hardest material in existence! This was too much. Who the hell was this guy?
Val-Ul causally floated beside him. Grabbing the collar of his suit, he lifted him into the air. Superman's bones were quickly mending…the sun worked to fix his body.
'Let me show you what the life of a full-blooded kryptonian means to me.' Val's icy tone sent a shiver down his spine.
The son of Ul took off with force, the strength behind his acceleration fragmenting the moon. It didn't take long for them to reach lightspeed. The solar system faded into the distance as they reached a new one.
A brown planet was directly ahead. It was barren, consisting of only rocky terrain. Val held Superman steady as they grew closer and closer. Their speed increased. Faster than light.
'Stop!' Kal-El exclaimed. Val grinned.
'By the way. This doesn't count as me hitting you.'
KABOOOOM
Val-Ul pushed Superman directly through the planet. They both came out the other side, the Man of Steel's limbs completely mangled. His ribs were crushed as well. A trail of golden lighting seeped out of the planet. The son of Ul flew on, ignoring the blood that covered his suit. It would vanish just as quickly due to their speed.
'Second hit.'
Before he could even heal, Val's large fist connected with his chin. Kal-El's entire jaw was blown off. More blood. His body didn't fly too far away this time since Val had already caught him by the cape.
Swinging him around like a beyblade, he threw Superman back onto the barren planet. The impact was catastrophic. Another crater of similar size had been created.
Clark didn't move. He lied in his crater as if he were dead. Of course, that was if his body wasn't constantly twitching. He was croaking, lamenting the loss of his jaw. Blood continued to splatter as the sun worked its hardest to heal him.
Minutes felt like hours as the agonizing pain washed through his body. Forming a new jaw…this was something he never wanted to experience again. He truly understood how outmatched he was now. When he finally had the strength to look up, he only saw two golden pillars of heat shooting down.
"W-Wait..." Kal-El croaked.
WHOOOM
It crashed into his body. The concept of nuclear fission and fusion working together with atom erasure. He could see his body slowly disintegrating. Turning into particles.
The powerful beams pushed him into the planet's core. Nuclear explosions rippled across the planet's mantle. Right before he fully disintegrated, the beams were cut off. Val had shown mercy once again.
"It pains me to say this but it's for the better. This is the end for you…Kal-El." Val spoke softly.
A cosmic cloud was forming above the planet, crackling with golden energy. One strike from this lightning and Kal-El would be no more. The son of Ul slowly raised his index and middle finger. Once he lowered it, golden lightning would smite Clark and the planet together.
'Stop!' Kara's voice resounded within their minds. The son of Ul waited, not lowering his arm.
'K…Kara? How…' Kal-El's voice was slow. His mind was slow. Parts of it were missing.
'Don't kill him, Val-Ul! Please! I agree with what was spoken earlier. I won't oppose Kal for a year. I'll stay in his room! I don't care, just don't…just don't kill him.' She begged.
'Don't you hate him for leaving you imprisoned? Didn't it feel good to watch him get a taste of his own medicine?' Val-Ul questioned.
'Yes, it felt good. I admit it…but I can't do it. I can't bear to see it. Don't kill him. He's my family!' She exclaimed. Val tilted his head. The cosmic clouds slowly dispersed.
'Do you see? She understands the meaning of family better than you do.' He spoke to Kal with disdain.
'I…I…was wrong. You made it clear. Are…are you willing to show mercy?' Clark said.
Val-Ul floated down until he was directly over the Man of Steel's broken body. Kryptonians were truly an overpowered race. He couldn't help but marvel at how quickly Superman's body was fixing itself. It definitely came at a cost though. Kal-El had gotten much weaker with every heal.
'Show you mercy?'
Val's cold gaze bore down onto the broken figure of a man. It made Clark shiver. Suddenly, his cold expression switched into a happy one. Calm and benevolent.
'Sure! I can show you mercy. Come, let's get you patched up.'