34 - General Zod Has Finally Arrived! Close Encounters of the Third Kind!

Here's the translated, corrected, and adapted version of the chapter into English, with the protagonist's name as Azuma Shoyo and character names aligned with their original counterparts (e.g., Clark Kent from Superman, Zod from Man of Steel). I've fixed grammatical and spelling errors for clarity and readability while preserving the tone and pacing:

"Good to know you've eaten," Azuma Shoyo nodded. He didn't bother asking if Yoko Okino had been spotted by anyone—she'd been an idol star for years; she wouldn't mess up something that basic.

"I'm beat. Let's go—no more TV," he said, scooping Yoko Okino up in his arms and heading upstairs to the bedroom.

Yoko Okino shot him an exasperated look.

You call this tired?

Still, she didn't resist.

After all… since last night, she'd realized she was getting a little hooked on this guy, years younger than her.

Yep!

Younger guys were the way to go.

This cheeky little brother was perfect!

…

Past 11 p.m.

Azuma Shoyo took a quick shower, then returned to the room feeling refreshed and flopped onto the bed.

While he'd been washing up, Yoko Okino had slipped out quietly.

That woman—seriously, not dedicated enough.

Running away already?

Pathetic!

He pulled the covers over himself, closed his eyes, and drifted off in no time.

When he woke up, he was back in his Metropolis home in the Man of Steel world.

It was 6 a.m.

Azuma Shoyo got up, washed his face, and went through his usual routine—finding a spot to soak up some sun and grab a bite.

A chill, carefree day passed by.

For him, it should've been just another ordinary day. Sure, last time he'd blown up three American fighter jets off the eastern coast, but the U.S. didn't seem keen on hunting him down afterward.

Of course!

Maybe they just couldn't find him.

Either way—couldn't find him or didn't dare—it didn't matter to Azuma Shoyo.

During the day, he basked in the sun on the American side for a good ten hours.

When night fell there, he zipped over to the other hemisphere to keep soaking it up.

All about that hustle!

But just as he settled down on a beach chair, a noisy commotion broke out nearby.

He sat up, pulled off his sunglasses, and glanced over.

"You… are not alone… in the universe… you are not unique…"

A crowd had gathered because the TV, previously airing random shows, had switched to a bizarre broadcast.

No matter how they changed the channel, the same image stayed on.

Azuma Shoyo's eyes lit up, and he bolted to his feet.

"It's finally here!"

He pushed through the crowd, staring at the blurry face on the screen.

Zod, you old dog, you've finally shown up!

I've been waiting forever!

That distorted face on the TV? Azuma Shoyo recognized it instantly—General Zod, the guy he'd been itching to face for days.

Crossing the stars as Krypton's top general, he'd finally reached Earth!

"Kal-El… surrender him… he's hiding among you… he looks like you… but he is not one of you…"

Zod's voice boomed from the TV, issuing a global wanted notice—backed by the threat of war—to force humanity to hand over this "Kal-El."

"Clark's probably seen this too," Azuma Shoyo thought.

He turned, stepped out of the crowd, and—BOOM!—shot into the sky, vanishing toward the horizon in the blink of an eye!

The crowd erupted in gasps.

"Oh my God! That guy just flew off!"

"Is he the one the TV's talking about?"

"So aliens really look like us?!"

"He's not running away, is he? Please no! What'll happen to us if he does?"

"Maybe he's going to confront those aliens on the TV."

"What? You think he'll turn himself in? They're aliens! Like the old Eastern saying goes, 'Those not of our kind must have different hearts.'"

"What's that mean?"

"It means you can't trust someone from a different race."

"Can we humans even fight aliens?"

"Haven't you seen the movies? Humanity always wins!"

Azuma Shoyo didn't stick around to hear their chatter. In less than thirty seconds, he'd crossed over ten thousand kilometers to Smallville.

Kent Farm.

Just as he'd guessed, Clark Kent was watching the same broadcast.

BOOM!

Azuma Shoyo landed in the farm's yard and strode toward the house.

"Clark!" he called, pushing the door open.

"Shoyo, you're here," Clark said, his face grim.

Azuma Shoyo glanced at the TV, then turned to Clark. "Zod's after you. What's your plan?"

Clark's expression wavered with uncertainty.

"I don't know," he admitted.

His mind was a mess, unsure of what to do.

Instinct told him Zod couldn't be trusted.

But humanity?

Could he trust them?

Clark didn't have an answer.

"If you need help, just say it," Azuma Shoyo said, not rushing him. Clark hadn't made up his mind yet, and he wasn't about to push.

"Think it over. Even if it comes to a fight, I've got your back!"

Of course he did—his mission was to take down Zod.

But Zod's side had the numbers.

If Azuma Shoyo went solo, he wasn't sure he could win.

With Clark, though? Victory was guaranteed!

"Thanks, Shoyo!" Clark said, genuinely touched.

True friendship shines in tough times.

You can be buddies all day long, but it might just be an act.

It's only when trouble hits that you see who's really there for you!

Click!

The lights in the house flickered back on.

The TV switched back to regular programming.

Clark glanced over his shoulder, spotting his worried mother, and walked over to wrap her in a hug.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine. I'll handle it," he assured her.

"Clark, if it comes to it, just leave! Get out of here—go far away!"

Martha Kent didn't have some noble "sacrifice for the greater good" mindset. She was just a mom who didn't want her son hurt.

That's all.

--- Translator Note ---

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