Chapter 9

Ax-el sat in the command chair of the Viltrumite ship, gazing out the viewport at the distant blue planet that loomed in the darkness of space. Earth. It felt strange to be returning to a world he once called home, even though it wasn't the same anymore. His mind raced with memories from his past life—a time before he was reborn as a Kryptonian, before he became something greater. He knew the people, the history, and the struggles this world faced. And now, he was back, but not as the man he once was.

Anissa stood beside him, her arms crossed and her gaze fixed on the same planet. "We're finally here," she said, her voice tinged with curiosity. "After all that talk, I get to see why Nolan has been dragging his feet on conquering this place."

Ax-el remained silent, his expression unreadable. He didn't care about Nolan's betrayal or hesitation. That wasn't his problem. What mattered now was getting to Earth and finding out how it fit into his larger plans. Whatever Nolan was doing—whether stalling for time or genuinely enjoying his life among the humans—was irrelevant.

Anissa glanced at him, her eyebrow raised in mild irritation. "You really don't care about Nolan's situation, do you?"

Ax-el leaned back in the chair, his eyes still locked on Earth. "I told you before, Anissa. I don't care what Nolan does. I just need to know how to get to Earth. I have my reasons, and they have nothing to do with Viltrumite politics."

Anissa's smirk returned. "You're a mystery, Ax-el. A Kryptonian with the strength to crush empires, but all you want to do is reach Earth. What's so important about this place, anyway?"

Ax-el shifted his gaze from the planet to her, his eyes cold but filled with purpose. "It's not just a place. It's where I started, in a way. There's more to Earth than you or the Viltrumites realize."

Anissa tilted her head, intrigued but not entirely convinced. "You speak like someone who's been there before."

Ax-el said nothing, letting the silence hang between them as he stood and made his way toward the ship's exit. The command deck's doors slid open with a hiss, revealing the rest of the Viltrumite soldiers preparing the ship for their descent.

"Are we landing?" Anissa asked, following him down the corridor.

Ax-el nodded. "Yes. But we're not announcing our presence. Not yet."

As they made their way to the drop bay, Anissa gave him a sideways glance. "You're playing this very carefully. Almost like you're trying not to draw attention to yourself."

"I'm not interested in making a scene," Ax-el said calmly. "Not until I know where things stand on this planet. If Nolan hasn't finished his mission, it means there's more going on here than we know. I need information first."

The ship descended quickly through Earth's atmosphere, the thick clouds parting as they entered the planet's skies. The sprawling landscapes of Earth stretched out beneath them, cities and towns dotting the ground like tiny clusters of light.

Anissa leaned closer to the viewport, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar world. "I see why Nolan is taking his time. This place is primitive. Weak."

Ax-el allowed himself a small smirk. "Underestimate Earth at your own risk. They may not have the technology of Viltrum or Krypton, but this planet has its own way of surviving. Don't forget, Nolan's been here for decades, and even he's hesitating."

Anissa scoffed. "Hesitating or softening? Nolan's not the type to drag his feet. He's been enjoying his role as a hero here. Maybe too much."

Ax-el's smirk faded as his gaze hardened. "That's not my concern."

The ship slowed, and the drop bay doors opened, revealing the sprawling countryside of a remote region far from any major city. They had chosen this spot deliberately—far from prying eyes, where they could lay low and observe the situation on Earth without drawing attention.

Ax-el stepped to the edge of the ramp, feeling the wind whip against his face as he took in the sights and sounds of the planet. It was familiar, yet different. The world he had once known no longer existed in the same way. Now, it was just another stop on his journey, another stepping stone to something greater.

Anissa hovered beside him, her arms folded as she surveyed the landscape. "So what now? We find Nolan?"

Ax-el shook his head. "Not yet. I want to see how Earth's defenses handle themselves without Viltrumite intervention. Nolan may be playing the hero, but if this planet is worth anything, it will have its own champions."

Anissa raised an eyebrow. "Champions? You mean those so-called heroes Nolan's been mingling with? I doubt they're much of a threat."

Ax-el's gaze turned steely. "Maybe. But I want to see it for myself."

Anissa smirked. "You're cautious for someone with your level of power."

"It's not caution," Ax-el said, stepping off the ship and floating down toward the ground. "It's strategy. I'm not here to fight every battle. I'm here to learn."

As they landed in a secluded forest, far from any prying eyes, Ax-el turned to Anissa. "Stay out of sight for now. I need to scout the area."

Anissa frowned but nodded. "Fine. But don't take too long. We didn't come all this way to sit around and watch."

Ax-el didn't respond, lifting into the air and heading toward the nearest city. He moved silently through the skies, his senses tuned to the bustling life of Earth below him. It wasn't long before he detected something—faint but growing stronger. A fight.

Ax-el's lips curled into a smile as he descended toward the city. He recognized the powers at play. Superhumans, but not Viltrumites. Nolan wasn't here, but someone else was making noise. Someone important.

Landing quietly on a rooftop, Ax-el watched as a group of costumed heroes battled against a massive, rampaging creature. The heroes fought valiantly, but it was clear they were struggling to contain the beast's power.

"Interesting," Ax-el muttered, his eyes following the battle closely. These were Earth's defenders—the so-called Guardians of the Globe. He recognized a few of them from his knowledge of Earth's past. They were strong, skilled, but nowhere near the level of a Viltrumite—or a Kryptonian.

Ax-el's eyes narrowed. "So this is what Earth has to offer?"

He could feel Anissa's presence nearby, watching the battle unfold from a distance. She was probably just as unimpressed as he was, but Ax-el saw something more. There was potential here—potential that could either be harnessed or destroyed, depending on how things played out.

As the battle raged on, Ax-el stood silently, observing, calculating. Earth's time was coming. And whether it realized it or not, Ax-el was about to become part of its story.

Not as a savior.

But as a conqueror.

Or something far more dangerous.