Chapter 115

Jor-El divided his conscious memory into three parts, each deployed differently.

This division into three parts was, in a sense, equivalent to his own death. The remaining fragments of his consciousness were merged with artificial intelligence. While he could still think independently, he was limited to carrying out only the tasks he had previously arranged.

One part of his conscious memory was implanted into Krypto's body. In other words, Jor-El had, in some sense, become a dog.

He modified Krypto's genes, reconstructing them so that this dog possessed combat skills surpassing even Krypton's finest warriors. Krypto was equipped with the most advanced combat techniques, whether aerial, ground-based, or naval. All the necessary response mechanisms and reflexive combat data had been programmed into the dog's body.

Yet even with these enhancements, Jor-El remained uncertain. His opponent was Bardi, a battle-crazed warrior who had transcended genetic limitations, a god of combat, Krypton's undisputed master of unarmed warfare.

The memory of Bardi's final battle on Krypton haunted him. Bardi had stood alone against Krypton's most elite fighters: fifty generals, each representing the pinnacle of Kryptonian combat genes, along with adjutant-level warriors. He cut through them like a reaper harvesting wheat.

Even now, Jor-El vividly remembered that scene, Bardi bathed in blood, carving a path through thirty of Krypton's top-ranking generals and adjutants with his bare hands. The image still sent chills down his spine, leaving him both awed and horrified.

However, Earth had given Jor-El a sliver of hope. Here, Bardi's genes were of a lower-tier classification compared to Krypto's enhanced genes. The difference in strength was significant.

Back on Krypton, Bardi's genetic structure had long been a subject of scientific study. Jor-El was intimately familiar with its nuances. From the genetic level, he had calculated countless scenarios, predicting how Bardi's strength might evolve under Earth's yellow sun, how each day of sun exposure would increase his power, how it would saturate, and where the limits might lie.

Based on his calculations, Krypto's superior genes would still give the dog an overwhelming advantage in terms of raw strength and speed.

Jor-El's decision to transfer a fragment of his consciousness into Krypto was part of a larger deception. He wanted Bardi to believe that he'd merely sent a dog to protect his son.

He'd deliberately leaked information about Kryptonite and the existence of the Codex. Bardi's obsession with defeating his enemies and completing his own genetic potential would lure him into the trap. If Bardi killed Krypto, he'd inevitably seek the Codex from Kal-El.

And that would be Jor-El's moment to strike.

Still, no precaution seemed excessive when dealing with Bardi. The man's combat instincts and unpredictability were legendary. Jor-El knew that Bardi would only reveal himself when he was confident he could win.

When that moment came, he needed to be ready.

A red collar adorned Krypto's neck, resembling a simple red rope. This rope had been crafted by Jor-El back on Krypton to shield against kryptonite radiation.

Attached to the front of the collar was a dog tag with Krypto's name engraved on it. The tag, made of a golden crystal-like ore, was clear and strikingly beautiful. However, it was more than just an ornament, it was a piece of golden kryptonite.

Golden kryptonite has the terrifying ability to permanently strip away the superpowers Kryptonians gain from exposure to Earth's yellow sun. This includes heat vision, freeze breath, telescopic vision, x-ray vision, microscopic vision, super strength, super hearing, and more reducing a Kryptonian to an ordinary being forever.

As long as Kryptonian genes remain the foundation of one's body, golden kryptonite's effects are unavoidable.

This was Jor-El's trump card against Bardi.

"Why haven't you shown up yet?"

Jor-El tilted Krypto's head upward, gazing at the bright moon with a heavy heart. It was a posture reminiscent of a wolf howling at the night sky.

The wind stirred, rustling the corn leaves and sending a rhythmic whisper through the field. The dry stalks swayed as the breeze intensified, kicking up dust and forming tiny tornadoes that swirled briefly before vanishing into the darkness.

Jor-El's worst fear seemed to be coming true.

Bardi... from the very beginning, he must have seen through this trap. He realized that the kryptonite was merely bait, a decoy designed to lure him in.

He knew the Codex was here on Earth, hidden within Jor-El's son.

Bardi's calm patience was unnerving. On Krypton, he had been frantic in his pursuit of the Codex, desperate to obtain it. But here, he was unhurried. That confidence suggested he viewed the Codex as something already within his grasp, biding his time until he could strike with absolute certainty.

Jor-El had hoped for Bardi to appear sooner. The earlier he revealed himself, the better the odds of victory. If Bardi waited until Krypto was dead and the plan had failed, then the only option left would be to evacuate his son.

Jor-El had divided his consciousness into three parts for this very reason.

The first part resided within Krypto, the one tasked with confronting Bardi head-on or using kryptonite to weaken him. Even if Bardi had developed resistance to green kryptonite, he wouldn't be immune to golden kryptonite.

The second part of Jor-El's consciousness lay dormant within his son, Clark. Using nanoscale spatial technology, Jor-El had implanted the ability to open a miniature, extra-dimensional wormhole. If necessary, it could locate and connect with a parallel Earth.

The technology was untested and extremely dangerous. Success would rely entirely on luck. But as a last resort, Jor-El was willing to gamble everything to give his son a chance at survival.

The third and final part of his consciousness had been uploaded into the El family's "Key of Hope"—a data archive containing Kryptonian science and technology. Bardi would undoubtedly be tempted by its vast reserves of knowledge.

If Bardi accessed the Key of Hope, Jor-El's consciousness would infiltrate his systems, becoming a hidden artificial intelligence capable of sabotaging Bardi's technology from within.

Jor-El's plan was audacious, perhaps even insane. Few would dare to divide their consciousness into three parts like this. Even if Krypto failed, there was still hope that the Key of Hope might destroy Bardi.

As for Kal-El's fate, that was left to destiny.

Everything was in place. It was time to deliver the Key of Hope to Bardi.

Jor-El needed to know where Bardi was, what he was planning, and how to counter it.

Krypto sat in the moonlight, his snow-white fur gleaming under the silver glow. The dog's expression was solemn, thoughtful like a canine philosopher pondering life's mysteries.

But after sitting still for too long, instinct took over.

His mouth opened slightly, his tongue lolling out.

"Haha… ha…"

Realizing what was happening, Jor-El huffed in embarrassment. He quickly closed his mouth and forced a stern expression onto Krypto's face.

The tongue slipped back in, but the humiliation lingered.

***

For every 100 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on patreon to read 30+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.