"Martha, leave this to me."
Meeting Martha's gaze, Alex smiled faintly.
Martha had never seen Alex's abilities before, and deep down she was still extremely worried.
But she also understood that right now, she was nothing but a burden—there was nothing she could do to help.
"Be careful,"
Martha said anxiously, then quickly retreated several steps.
---
"You're not a human from Earth?"
Faora stared at Alex in surprise.
"I didn't expect there to be others on this planet."
It wasn't just Faora.
Even General Zod was clearly curious about Alex's identity.
"Capture him alive,"
Zod ordered calmly.
"Congratulations,"
Faora said condescendingly to Alex,
"You've just earned yourself a chance to live."
She then swung her other fist and slammed it straight toward Alex.
---
Boom!
Her punch landed squarely on Alex's chest, producing a dull, heavy impact.
Then—
Alex saw the cold smile on Faora's face freeze instantly.
Shock replaced it.
Not just her.
Even Zod and the other Kryptonians standing behind her were completely stunned.
That man—this so-called Homeland—had taken Faora's punch head-on…
And wasn't injured at all?
Forget being sent flying or hurt.
From start to finish, Alex didn't even frown.
No heavy breathing.
No shaken aura.
Not even the slightest disturbance.
It was as if Faora's iron fist had merely scratched an itch.
---
"So this is Kryptonian strength?"
Alex raised an eyebrow, utterly unimpressed.
He hadn't taken Faora's punch just to show off—
he was genuinely curious about the combat strength of Zod's forces.
After all, Zod was one of Krypton's top elites.
Stronger than Superman at this stage—
setting aside Superman's explosive growth under pressure.
And Faora, as Zod's right hand, was no ordinary soldier.
Alex didn't know how Zod and the others had escaped the Phantom Zone, or when they did it.
But it was obvious they were stronger than the three Kryptonians who had escaped years ago.
Even so—
Based on that punch just now…
They were still trash in front of Alex.
---
"That was just a warm-up,"
Faora snarled coldly.
"Now you'll see my real strength!"
Anger flared as she launched another punch at Alex.
This time—
After witnessing Alex's durability, Faora held nothing back.
She struck with full force.
Whoosh!
The air itself exploded under the pressure of her blow.
---
Alex had already gauged her strength.
There was no reason to take another hit.
He wasn't a masochist.
Even if Faora was fairly attractive.
---
Alex's shoulder shifted slightly.
He threw a punch of his own.
---
BOOM!
The two fists collided violently.
Crack!
The sound of bones breaking echoed clearly.
"Ah!"
Faora let out a pained grunt.
Several finger bones—and her wrist—shattered instantly.
Her entire body jolted, then she was blasted backward like a cannonball.
Alex, on the other hand, stood calmly in place—
Steady as a mountain.
Anyone could tell—
That punch had been thrown casually.
Alex hadn't even used real strength.
---
Is this… the power of Homeland?
How could someone be this strong?
Who in the hell is he?
Zod and the remaining Kryptonians grew deadly serious.
---
Boom!
A sharp sonic crack split the air.
Faora leapt hundreds of meters into the sky and descended like a meteor, attacking Alex once again.
---
Snap!
A soft sound.
Faora's body froze in midair.
Alex had casually reached out and grabbed her by the throat.
In his hand—
This elite Kryptonian warrior looked like a helpless chick.
No matter how violently she struggled, she couldn't break free.
Like a lamb pinned beneath a wolf's claw.
---
"Faora!"
A furious roar erupted.
One of Zod's armored warriors launched himself into the air, charging toward Alex like a human mountain.
---
Fsssh!
Alex merely turned his head and glanced at him.
Two blazing beams of heat vision shot from his eyes.
---
BOOM!
The armored warrior was blasted backward instantly.
---
Crack!
At the same time, Alex applied a little pressure with his right hand.
Bone snapped.
Faora's neck twisted violently, her head falling limp.
Zod's most trusted lieutenant—
Was dead.
Just like that.
---
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Zod and the remaining Kryptonians stared at Alex in disbelief.
First—
Faora's death.
Even though Alex had clearly shown overwhelming power, killing her so effortlessly still caught them off guard.
Second—
The heat vision.
This man… could also fire heat vision?
What did that mean?
Was he—
Another Kryptonian?
Shock spread through the group.
---
"Are you… Kryptonian?"
Zod stared hard at Alex and demanded coldly.
"Does it matter whether I am or not?"
Alex shrugged, smiling dismissively.
Zod didn't respond.
He understood perfectly.
To him, there were only two options—
Subordinates.
Or enemies.
Nothing else mattered.
Even Kal-El was a Kryptonian, and Zod hadn't shown him any mercy.
---
"So you're determined to stand against me?"
Zod's eyes crackled with fury as he questioned Alex.
"Stand against you?"
Alex laughed in disdain.
"You think you're worth being my enemy?"