A Kryptonian in the Marvel Universe

Sales of Zod's Vitamin ∞ were initially slow, largely due to its high price, but Zod didn't worry. It was unrealistic to expect instant success. However, as days passed, those who had purchased the product began to notice remarkable results. Unlike other vitamins and health supplements, which often had little visible effect after years of use, Zod's Vitamin ∞ produced noticeable changes in just a few days. Consumers felt more energized, healthier, and no longer suffered from the fatigue brought on by sleepless nights.

This wasn't because Zod had included stimulants in his product. Instead, he had integrated nutrients extracted from human bodies, which genuinely had a revitalizing effect. As for the source of these nutrients? Traffickers and smugglers near the US-Mexico border had begun mysteriously disappearing.

Although the truth behind the supplement's ingredients was grim, Zod was confident that even if exposed, people would still want to buy it. After all, the product worked.

Within a month, Vitamin ∞ was completely sold out across New York City. Zod not only recouped his initial investment but also netted over 100 million dollars in profit. The early adopters, whose health improvements were apparent, became walking advertisements for the product.

With his newfound wealth, Zod bought up all the neighboring farms around the small town of Sisweed, where his ranch was located. His purchase consolidated over 3,000 acres of land into a single massive estate. He immediately began construction, replacing the old farm fences with two-meter-high concrete walls. The new perimeter made his ranch more secure, ensuring his privacy and protecting his secrets.

One evening, in the depths of his newly built lab, a terrified member of the Scorpions, a notorious Mexican gang, begged for mercy.

"Help, don't come any closer!" the gang member screamed.

Zod raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "What are you yelling for? It's just a human experiment."

Zod injected a syringe of unknown liquid into the man's body. He writhed in agony before succumbing to death.

"This doesn't make sense," Zod muttered. "I've analyzed human genes thoroughly. Why do they still fail?"

After becoming rich, Zod had purchased a vast amount of research equipment and materials, setting up a personal research base on his estate. For more advanced equipment that couldn't be legally purchased, Zod simply stole what he needed, knowing that no one could trace it back to him.

In Marvel's world, power is everything. Zod already possessed immense power, and with time, he knew he could grow to match or even exceed the most formidable beings in the universe. Still, he was ambitious—he wanted more. He decided to create his own version of the super-soldier serum, a task he thought would be simple given his Kryptonian knowledge. But reality proved otherwise. Every time he tested the serum, the subject died. It wasn't the formula itself—it seemed as if something fundamental was preventing success.

"Am I not allowed to create a super-soldier serum?" Zod mused. "Or maybe it's like the comics suggest—Steve Rogers was just special, chosen to be the only true super-soldier."

Unwilling to give up, Zod decided to change his approach.

Using his existing research, he modified the serum and brought in another test subject. This time, he introduced a different genetic formula.

"If this doesn't work, I might have to switch to using powered armor instead of biological enhancement," Zod said to himself.

The experiment commenced, and this time, the serum worked. The subject's body started to undergo a radical transformation. The process was excruciating, with the man convulsing as his physiology began to change. After what felt like an eternity, the transformation was complete. The subject lay on the floor, panting, his body now covered in a hard, dark green carapace, reminiscent of a crocodile's skin.

"What… what did you do to me?" the man stammered in disbelief, staring at his clawed hands.

"I infused you with a modified crocodile gene," Zod replied casually. "Looks like it worked on the first try."

The man had become something monstrous—muscular, covered in scales, with fanged jaws that resembled a crocodile's maw. Enraged by his new form, he lashed out at Zod, swiping with his massive claws.

Zod caught the attack effortlessly with one hand. His Kryptonian biological force field rendered him immune to most physical damage, and a mere crocodile hybrid was no match.

"Not bad strength," Zod remarked, "but let's see how your durability holds up."

Before the man could react, Zod punched him in the chest, sending him crashing into the concrete wall. The crocodile man slumped to the ground, dazed but alive. Zod had deliberately held back, but he was impressed by the creature's resilience.

"I'll let you live," Zod said, approaching the downed experiment. "From now on, you're part of my 'Animal Soldier' unit. The serum I injected into you contains a genetic virus. If you don't receive regular doses of the antidote, you'll die. Understand?"

The crocodile man nodded rapidly, too terrified to resist.

Satisfied with his success, Zod began planning his next steps. He knew he would need a proper army if he wanted to achieve his goals, and these enhanced animal soldiers were just the beginning.

His gaze turned to the veterans' hospitals in New York. Many of the soldiers there had lost limbs or suffered life-altering injuries in war. They were well-trained, disciplined, and desperate. With his serum, Zod could give them new, powerful bodies—and in return, they would serve him.

Zod's plan to recruit and transform these veterans was set in motion. He saw these soldiers as ideal candidates for his growing army of genetically modified warriors, far superior to the gang members he had previously experimented on.

In his mind, Zod knew that the only path to true power was through strength and control—and soon, he would have both.