I woke up with a start, sitting on the ground and gasping for air. I checked my body—every limb, every part—to make sure everything was still there. And it was.
After a few seconds of looking around, I recognized it immediately: I was in a place that looked like a park.
I was on Earth.
Joy surged through my chest at the thought that I had returned "home," but it didn't last long. I soon remembered the truth: this wasn't my Earth. It was DC's Earth.
Thinking about it made me curse my bad luck. I would've preferred a thousand times to reincarnate in Marvel rather than here. Marvel is just as dangerous, sure—but at least I know it: movies, comics, timelines. DC, on the other hand… nothing. Just a few Teen Titans cartoons.
Well, complaining won't do me any good. Better test my new add-ons.
I clenched my fists and tried to push the power I felt dormant inside me.
…
"Mom, what's wrong with that strange man? Why is he shaking so much?"
"I don't know, sweetheart… maybe he needs to go to the bathroom."
Damn it! I couldn't draw out my powers and ended up making a fool of myself instead.
Frustrated, I kicked the ground with all my strength. The pavement cracked instantly, splitting open with deep fissures.
Well. I should've started by testing my strength.
Now that I thought about it… where was my army of steroid-pumped cockroaches? And my Kryptonians?
Huh?
A sudden flow of information slid into my mind.
I see… Rob did me the favor of allowing me to summon my subordinates whenever I want. That was good. I didn't want to show up on Earth with an army of mutant cockroaches and a group of out-of-control Kryptonians. Unlike the Terraforms, the Kryptonians in my "Inventory" weren't loyal to me. It was as if I ripped them from their original world and brought them here, just like that.
I remembered how angry I'd been when Rob explained that to me. What good are warriors if they aren't loyal? I'd even asked him to swap the Kryptonians for an army of Yautja. He refused.
Now that I think about it… I've got other gifts that can help with that little problem.
I extended my hand, and four crystals appeared floating in front of me, taken from my "temporal inventory."
These crystals have a peculiar function: they can permanently manipulate memory without the target noticing. I can implant memories, feelings, false loyalties… and they'll never know they aren't real.
Perfect for the three Kryptonians I had stored away. The only drawback was that the target had to be unconscious.
Alright. First things first—let's get away from this place.
Thus began my thi—ahem—second test of my powers.
I took a small leap… and the dream of most humans became reality: I flew.
As I rose and looked at the landscape beneath my feet, I gained altitude little by little. Excited by my first flight, I shouted:
"Wow! I'm the king of the world!"
"Cough… cough!"
Something flew into my mouth. I lost control and landed clumsily.
"Cough… cough… damn it. I think I just swallowed a freaking bug."
Why did American comics and Dragon Ball Z never warn us about this?
As I kept cursing, something in the sky caught my attention.
It was a ball of fire descending from the atmosphere like a meteor, showing no sign of slowing down.
"Damn! Don't tell me I'm unlucky enough for the superheroes to have already found me." I started speculating about what—or who—was approaching.
When it got close enough, I understood: it was a small spacecraft.
I calculated its trajectory and flew straight toward it. With a grunt, I caught it with my arms spread wide. The impact was brutal; I was sent flying backward, forcing myself to brake midair to keep it from exploding.
I felt like my entire body was about to shatter.
Not the best idea to catch a spaceship on my first day with superpowers.
Setting aside useless thoughts, I focused on the ship I was holding.
I descended carefully and set it down on the ground. Without anyone prompting it, the hatch burst open. A young woman stumbled out of the ship and collapsed outside.
Blonde hair. Blue eyes. A teenager—sixteen or seventeen. The House of El symbol on her clothes.
The girl panicked, speaking words I couldn't understand.
I approached and hugged her to calm her down. It worked—her body gradually stopped trembling.
She looked like she was about to speak again… but I interrupted her with a sharp blow to the neck. She fell unconscious instantly.
As I looked at Sleeping Beauty in my arms, a dangerous idea bloomed in my mind.
I glanced around to make sure no one had arrived. I laid the unconscious Kryptonian on the ground and entered the ship.
I extended my hand, and another blond, blue-eyed teenager appeared in front of me, wearing the symbol of the House of El.
"Superland. The male version of Supergirl. One of the Kryptonians I'd received from Rob."
Perfect. Summons appear asleep. Saves me the trouble.
With my objective achieved, I picked up the unconscious Kryptonian again and quickly left the area.
As I watched her sleeping face in my arms, a crooked smile spread across my face.