DC: Rise of the Kryptonian Tyrant

Bardi took the photo. It was light in his grasp, yet his weakened fingers could barely hold it. If Mike hadn't been supporting its edge before letting go, Bardi wouldn't have even been able to pull it from his hand.

He was weak to the bone now.

Mike could take him down with a single hit. His genes were generating massive amounts of the green substance, corroding him from the inside out.

The sun shone down on him ironically offering no strength.

His gaze fixed on the photograph, eyes locked onto the white, soft-furred dog that resembled a wolf.

This was El's dog.

Back on Krypton, he and H'El had visited El's home and seen it before. It looked exactly the same but it wasn't. Back then, it was merely a dog, lacking intelligence.

Now, that same dog had arrived on Earth.

Undoubtedly, it was here to protect Kal-El.

"Have you encountered this dog?"

Bardi asked.

Mike hesitated for a moment, clearly not expecting the focus to be on the dog.

He thought for a second before responding.

"It's extremely aggressive. When we tried to approach the infant, the dog nearly attacked our men. It never leaves the child's side and doesn't allow anyone near except for the Kents."

He paused before adding, "There are rumors in town that someone saw a white dog flying. I don't know if it's true or if there's any connection."

Mike didn't understand why his boss was fixated on the dog, but he relayed everything he had seen and heard.

The sunlight streaming through the window had grown hotter. Floating dust particles drifted lazily in the air.

The atmosphere was silent.

"It can fly..."

Bardi's heart sank.

It had only been on Earth for about a week, yet it could already fly?

That level of genetic activation was at least on par with Zod's advanced Kryptonian genes.

Given that Jor-El was always one to prepare for contingencies, Bardi wasn't surprised. It was entirely possible, if not expected that this dog possessed genes beyond even high-level Kryptonians.

In other words…

This dog is stronger than Bardi right now.

Its Kryptonian genes had fully awakened the moment it arrived on Earth.

Jor-El modified this dog.

Bardi stared at the image of the dog in the photograph, lost in thought.

"Where did you find the kryptonite? Does anyone else know?"

"Sixteen kilometers outside town. No one knows except for a few of us. As per your instructions, we haven't discussed kryptonite or our intentions with anyone."

Mike bowed slightly.

Bardi gave a small nod, though his mind remained occupied with deeper concerns.

The sunlight illuminated his face, accentuating his sharp features. His eyes gleamed with cold calculation.

There was no doubt, kryptonite could suppress Kryptonian genes.

A direct solution would be to seize the kryptonite, kill the dog, and extract Kal-El's genetic codex to perfect his own genes.

But… was Jor-El really that simple?

Would he send just a dog to protect his son?

Bardi thought back to their battles on Krypton. He and Jor-El had overturned the entire Kryptonian political structure, manipulating the Council at every turn.

He had no way of knowing if Jor-El was aware that he was still alive.

If Jor-El did know…

Then charging in with kryptonite was playing directly into his hands.

It could be a trap.

Especially with Jor-El's intellect, Bardi refused to believe he would be so careless.

Would Jor-El have left his son's safety to just a dog?

And then there was the larger question did Jor-El know that kryptonite was lethal to Kryptonians?

Bardi considered it carefully.

He believed the answer was yes.

On Krypton, genetic calculations were so advanced they could predict and even design a person's entire future. Discovering kryptonite's effects on Kryptonian physiology would have been trivial.

There was no reason for Jor-El not to know.

And kryptonite's presence on Earth?

Most likely, Kal-El's ship had attracted debris from Krypton's destruction, carrying irradiated fragments through space. During the explosion, these materials became radioactive, surviving reentry because they did not react with oxygen.

That was how kryptonite arrived on Earth.

In fact…

It was possible the dog had deliberately placed the kryptonite there.

If that were true, then kryptonite was nothing more than bait, luring Bardi into a confrontation with the dog and, ultimately, Jor-El's contingency plan.

Perhaps the dog itself carried kryptonite, meant to be used against him.

Perhaps the real purpose of the kryptonite… was to control him.

Thinking along these lines, Bardi found it unsurprising.

He understood Jor-El, his opponent, his enemy. Who knows you better than your own rival?

Jor-El would never leave things to chance. He would always have contingencies in place.

Bardi knew him too well. And Jor-El, in turn, understood Bardi.

If his guess was correct…

Jor-El wasn't entirely dead.

However, there was one thing Jor-El absolutely did not know.

Against Kryptonians, kryptonite and red sunlight were effective. But there was something else, something Jor-El could never have accounted for.

Magic.

He needed to find magic.

Bardi trusted nothing that Jor-El had touched or prepared. Only something beyond Jor-El's understanding, magic could completely annihilate him and claim the Codex of Life.

Jor-El.

I will destroy you in a single strike.

Bardi suddenly lifted his gaze to the sun, his eyes sharp and unwavering.

"Mike."

"Call Leon and the others. Meet me on the thirteenth floor in one day. Also, go to the first floor and draw a vial of your blood."

Mike's breath hitched. His eyes widened. Excitement surged through his chest, his heartbeat pounding violently in his ears.

Bardi's words carried an unmistakable implication.

He was granting him power.

After following Bardi for so long, Mike had anticipated this moment. He had long sensed that sooner or later, he would gain superhuman abilities. His mindset had already shifted, he was ready to follow Bardi without hesitation.

Bardi surely knew this, too.

Now, the moment had arrived. The opportunity stood before him.

He could barely contain his excitement. His pulse raced, but he forced himself to remain composed.

"Understood, boss."

Bardi gave a slight nod, turned around, and took the black suitcase from Mike's hand. Without another word, he headed straight for the private elevator leading to the underground levels.

As the elevator doors slowly slid shut, the suitcase hung at his side.

On the back of his hand, the green substance had already begun to spread, its sickly hue bulging against his veins, ferocious and terrifying.

---

Smallville, Kansas

Under the eaves of the farmhouse, the afternoon sun cast long, slanted shadows.

A cool breeze rustled lazily through the air, brushing against the skin in a soothing caress.

A white, wolf-like dog lay in the shade. Its body was still, yet something about it was unsettling. Its neck twisted at an unnatural, almost human-like angle.

Fangs bared.

Eyes glowing red.

It lifted its head toward the sun, an eerie intelligence gleaming in its gaze.

"Barmulodi... where are you!"

***

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