Chapter 58: Three Years?

In this region, gravitational waves spread unrestrainedly, distorting the space. In the frigid expanse of space, it resembled the anomalies seen in oceanic sinkholes.

H'el stood his ground, his handsome face marred by bulging veins around his eyes. The celestial magnifying lens continued to function, giving him a fearsome and almost insane appearance. Within those eyes, however, flickered the heat lines, cold and ruthlessly rational.

To him, the chaotic pattern of electromagnetic spectra—line spectra, band spectra, continuous spectra, absorption spectra, and others emitted by the military base—appeared to form some sort of pattern amidst the gravitational distortion.

Despite the gravitational turmoil, H'el could still discern the pattern in the electromagnetic spectra based on his hair's sensitivity to gravitational waves.

He was searching for a path to enter the military base while preserving the stellar engine and Kandor City.

"Is Brainiac only capable of using such crude tactics?" H'el's expression was merciless, his eyes showing savage veins, and the pupils gleaming with icy red light. His gaze appeared unpredictable, yet it harbored anger toward Brainiac's actions.

Brainiac possessed the highest level of intelligence in the universe, a level twelve intellect. Although its created body, Brainiac 7, might not possess the same supreme intellect as its true form, it was still on par with intellects like Lex Luthor or Batman, both at level nine.

However, unlike Lex Luthor or Batman, Brainiac had not developed the cunning and crafty psychological and tactical abilities through experience on Earth or other inhabited planets. Its actions had always been dictated by orders from its true form: create stellar engines, supply them with energy, utilize technology superior to that of the majority of civilizations in the universe, and directly engage in interdimensional warfare, destroying and collecting cities with collectible value.

In the face of H'el, it had suffered its first setback. The main reason was that the orders from its true form were clear: capture H'el at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing the stellar engine or itself.

Thus, the technological means it could employ were somewhat limited but still potent enough to capture nine out of ten life forms in the universe. Yet, it had failed to capture H'el.

It needed to develop more powerful technological weapons to restrain Kryptonians like H'el.

"I'm surprised you know the name 'Brainiac.' It appears that other versions of myself have allowed civilizations to escape, leading to the name spreading throughout the universe," Brainiac 7's black eye seemed to express a human-like surprise at H'el's knowledge of the name.

It immediately responded to H'el's question, saying, "Means are just a means to an end."

For it, there was no difference between crude or sophisticated methods; they were all tools to achieve its objectives.

Brainiac 7 saw the "anger" displayed on H'el's surface and was pleased with it.

Powerful creatures inevitably secreted powerful hormones and cortical secretions that matched their strength. Creatures with immense power were more prone to anger, with emotions spiking uncontrollably.

When external forces couldn't affect them, there was no need to hide their emotions, joys, sorrows, and anger. That's why many people believed that if they gained superhuman powers, they'd embody the spirit of their homeland rather than follow the example of Clark.

"Means?" H'el couldn't help but chuckle.

What means could Brainiac have besides indulging in its own desires? Like H'el, it was an intelligent life form with great power in the universe, and of course, it let its own desires flourish.

What other objectives could it possibly have? Its main purpose was to collect valuable items from various places in the universe, making it a well-known collector of cosmic memorabilia.

"I'm sure you've already guessed my objective from the first pulse beam. Let's have a race. We'll set a three-year time limit, starting from the destruction of Krypton. During this time, you'll strive to enhance your power, revealing the strength of Kryptonians from the ancient Kryptonian era known as the Kryptonian Universe Age. Do your best, Kryptonian!

At the end of the deadline, there will only be two outcomes:

1. You are captured and stored in a containment vessel.

2. Or you manage to rescue the Kryptonian survivors."

Brainiac 7 timely raised the Kandor City in its hand, and for a rare moment, a mechanical, rigid smile appeared to convey friendliness.

The bonds between beings, the connections through bloodlines, friendships, and emotions, were all cages that made it difficult for creatures to escape. Brainiac 7 effortlessly utilized the bonds of Kandor City and the camaraderie among Kryptonians. This cold, efficient, and effective manipulation was a simple operation for Brainiac 7, a self-taught master of the art.

Three years' time.

Brainiac 7 had calculated, based on H'el's physical and technological strength, that three years were more than sufficient to construct an anti-matter device to capture H'el.

As for the possibility of H'el defeating or killing it and rescuing Kandor City and the Kryptonian survivors three years from now, in Brainiac 7's estimation, that was simply impossible.

It couldn't help but smile. Could its technological prowess be defeated by a biological being?

Given a little time, any cosmic creature or planet would succumb to the inexhaustible and diverse array of technology. In Brainiac 7's mind, it wasn't battling technology; it was battling the universe itself.

It was a rare moment when Brainiac 7 appeared to smile, and a sense of self-satisfaction spread within it. It was akin to watching creatures of its own kind struggling in a pond while it remained on the shore, enjoying the cruel spectacle – like the fascination of boiling ants in hot water. A genuinely happy signal quickly took over its central processing unit.

This exact feeling of pleasure was something it could sense, making it even happier.

Its black eyes, seemingly permeated with emotion and astonishment, looked at H'el.

In the next instant, H'el abruptly left his original position, heading directly towards the outer perimeter of the gravitational distortion surrounding the base.

He had been calculating the wave amplitude coefficient caused by the gravitational distortion, understanding that it was the result of the gravitational waves generated by the star engine. He had previously seen the operation of the star engine and had learned about it within a few seconds of conversing with Brainiac 7. He had already found a safe path.

The trajectory of gravitational waves was detected on his body's surface as they moved erratically due to the spatial distortion. His black figure progressed through the distorted space like lightning, slowing down and speeding up as needed, piercing through the base's superconductor shielding, tearing through nearly ten meters of cold steel on the base's surface, and inserting himself into the central command room.

His robust black body, wrapped in a black combat suit, resembled a demon tearing apart the depths of space. He broke through the final barrier into the central command room.

Brainiac 7 stood there, its black eyes wide with astonishment, displaying an emotional response. Its emotions were starting to become more complex.

H'el flew to its side, his left hand's five fingers plunged into the top of its head, tearing off the wires on its scalp. The green skin on top of its head was pierced, revealing metal wires flashing with electric currents inside.

H'el's face displayed prominent veins in his eyes, and his pupils shimmered with the merciless heat vision's red dot as he stared at Brainiac 7.

"Three years? How about three seconds?"

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