A Kryptonian in the Marvel Universe

Keyala was a Japanese-Russian hybrid; her father hailed from Russia, while her mother, reportedly, had Chinese roots from Japan. As for why they both became military professionals, it could only be chalked up to personal hobbies.

Keyala was stunning, at least in Zod's eyes. She had an allure that captivated him.

"The inspection's done," Keyala said, placing the two custom Desert Eagles back into their box after a thorough check.

"I've heard the Desert Eagle has a lot of malfunctions," Zod remarked with a smile as he took the box from her. "But these feel smooth. Is that thanks to your modifications?"

Keyala was accustomed to compliments about her looks, but coming from someone like Zod, they carried more weight. She was intrigued by his calm confidence and striking build, particularly his powerful chest and abs. The way Zod's windbreaker casually opened mid-action revealed his chiseled physique—akin to a statue of an ancient Greek warrior.

Zod's physical appearance was reminiscent of Dante Nero from Devil May Cry 4, and he styled his hair with a slick, blue-dyed spray that gave it a windswept look.

"The Desert Eagle's notorious faults mostly come from its design—it was never meant for heavy combat," Keyala explained. "It's a high-maintenance weapon. A bit like a princess who's never seen hardship. Dust, water, even minor environmental changes can make it malfunction. I've made a lot of adjustments. If it feels good in your hands, why don't you show me how you use it?"

"Sure thing," Zod replied.

They headed to the 10th floor of the Midnight Hotel, where a shooting range was set up. Many assassins frequented this floor to practice, with private rooms available for those who wanted space. Since Zod had never been, Keyala opened a room for him.

"Do you prefer moving targets or high-speed targets?" she asked, standing next to a console.

"High-speed targets?" Zod asked, unsure what that entailed.

"They're tennis balls. Several are shot out at once, and they bounce between three walls. Most assassins avoid them—they're hard to hit at that speed."

Zod grinned. "Let's give it a shot."

Keyala pressed the button as Zod donned his noise-canceling headphones. The countdown began: "5... 4... 3... 2... 1!"

Three tennis balls shot out at once, ricocheting rapidly. In an instant, Zod drew his Desert Eagles at a blinding speed, firing off two precise shots. The noise echoed through the room as two balls were hit mid-flight. The third was quickly taken down with a follow-up shot, Zod's hand as steady as a rock.

Keyala stood wide-eyed. His draw speed was incredible—he barely needed to aim.

"Your speed is unreal," she said, impressed. "With reflexes like that, you should consider switching to a revolver."

Keyala explained that revolvers were known for being as fast as their user's hand. Unlike automatics, they didn't slow down. "The Desert Eagle's recoil is too slow for your shooting speed," she pointed out.

But Zod shook his head. "I only like the Desert Eagle."

Keyala chuckled. "Fair enough. I'll make adjustments to the trigger to shorten its stroke without affecting accuracy."

After a few days of rest, Zod accepted a new contract. His target was a man named Deaken, with a $3.5 million bounty on his head. Like many high-reward targets, Deaken was either a formidable opponent, like Gite, or affiliated with a dangerous organization, such as the Hellfire gang.

Skipping the extensive prep work most killers would engage in, Zod simply studied Deaken's photo and location. In no time, he was on his way to New York via the express service of the Midnight Hotel.

Arriving in the city—destined to become a chaotic hub in the Marvel Universe—Zod marveled at its bustling streets. Stark Industries was still headquartered in Los Angeles, but he knew it would eventually relocate here. New York would soon be home to thousands of superheroes, though for now, it was just a normal metropolis.

Zod tracked Deaken easily, spotting him at a noisy nightclub. The music was so loud that it made his super hearing ache until he adjusted. Deaken was on the dance floor, lost in a moment with a blonde woman. After a while, he headed to the restroom, and Zod followed.

The moment Deaken was alone, Zod didn't hesitate. He drew his gun and fired.

Boom! The loud gunshot was swallowed by the pounding music outside, and Deaken dropped to the ground. But as Zod turned to leave, a sudden gust of wind swept past him. He quickly dodged a punch, only to see Deaken—alive—attacking with blinding speed.

Deaken was fast, his strength evident from the way his movements cut through the air. Zod dodged twice more, before firing at his chest with the Desert Eagle.

Another boom! echoed in the restroom as Deaken's chest exploded. But moments later, he was back on his feet, charging at Zod again.

"Vampire?" Zod muttered, as he reacted in time to grab Deaken by the throat, preventing him from attacking again.