--
(In a ruined city)
Faora was tearing through cities. Sometimes she used her heat vision; other times, she just relied on brute force.
She stood in the middle of a street, grabbed a car with both hands, and hurled it into a building.
The people inside didn't have time to react.
The car smashed through the glass and crashed into them, killing several as it tore through the structure.
Faora kept going, grabbing another car with the same plan in mind—throw it at the next building.
She did just that.
But this time, someone caught the car mid-air, just before it hit the building.
It was Mark. He held the car above his head, stopping it cold.
Faora narrowed her eyes at him. Mark dropped the car.
It crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact.
Faora and the rest of Zod's soldiers wore armored suits equipped with high-tech helmets. These helmets contained a database of countless languages, allowing them to communicate with humans.
"You look strong. Fight me," Faora said with a smirk.
"I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to stop you. I won't let you keep killing people," Mark replied, clenching his fists.
"Stop me? I'd love to see you try."
Mark was wearing a communicator. Cecil's voice came through.
"Mark, don't provoke her. You just need to buy time for Henry."
"He's back? That's great," Mark thought.
Faora had overheard Cecil through the comm.
"So that's your plan? I didn't think he'd survived... Even more surprising that he made it back," she said.
"She heard you. Don't let her leave, Mark!" Cecil said urgently.
"Damn it," Mark muttered.
He dashed forward and threw a punch at Faora.
She dodged and struck him in the face, sending him flying backward.
"You're inexperienced. No skill. Weak. This isn't even fun," Faora mocked.
"You..." Mark muttered under his breath.
"I should go warn the general... but I guess I've got time to deal with you. Won't take long," she said coldly.
"You have to stall her, Mark," Cecil urged.
But how? How could he stall her? That's all Mark could think.
Faora shot forward.
She uppercut him under the chin, launching him into the sky. Blood splattered from his mouth.
He soared above the clouds.
Faora stayed on the ground for a second, then leapt after him with a powerful jump.
Mark was still dazed from the hit, hovering above the city.
He spotted her coming—fast.
He swung at her but missed.
Faora grabbed his leg and hurled him downward.
He plummeted.
He smashed through the roof of a building and kept falling, crashing through floor after floor until he hit the bottom.
The building collapsed entirely. Everyone inside was killed.
Mark lay buried under rubble.
"...Gotta get up..." he groaned.
He crawled out, face bruised and bloodied.
"You need to hit her back. You won't win by just taking hits," Cecil said through the comm.
"Easy for you to say. Did you see her strength? She's stronger than my dad," Mark snapped.
"Your dad hit harder, I can promise you that," Cecil replied, analyzing Nolan's combat data.
"...Great to hear," Mark muttered sarcastically.
Faora landed in front of him.
Mark sighed, raised his fists, and braced himself.
"I'll finish this quickly," Faora said.
But Mark didn't wait for her to make the first move.
He shot toward her, feinted with a right-hand punch.
Faora raised her right arm to block it.
But it was a fake.
Instead, Mark ducked and locked her in a kata gatame chokehold, wrapping his arms around her neck and helmet.
Faora hadn't expected the feint.
Mark used his body weight to drive her forward.
He hooked her leg with his own and executed a powerful Osoto Guruma—a judo throw.
"Raaagh!" he growled as they both crashed to the ground.
It took every ounce of his strength.
Faora tried to break free, clawing at his arms, but she couldn't. Her position was too awkward.
Mark tightened the choke.
She lay face-up while he held the hold from above.
"Let go of me..." she gasped, struggling.
"No... I won't let you go," Mark growled.
He squeezed harder. Cracks began to form in her helmet.
The pressure was immense. He was crushing it.
Faora began to panic. She couldn't breathe.
In desperation, she fired her heat vision upward.
The beams shot into the sky.
She tried to aim at Mark, but he kept her head locked in place, even using his forehead to prevent her from turning.
Her helmet shattered, and the sudden sensory overload hit her hard. With little training, her senses spiked uncontrollably.
"What… what did you do to me?" Faora cried out, overwhelmed.
"Now! Activate it now!" Mark shouted.
He pulled out a small device—one that emitted high-frequency sound waves.
The same one he'd used on Nolan.
Faora screamed as the sound hit her enhanced hearing.
It was unbearable.
She thrashed and screamed in pain. Her head felt like it was going to explode.
Mark was suffering too, but at a lower volume. Still, it hurt.
He held on.
The constant noise weakened her rapidly.
"Let me gooo!" Faora screamed.
"I told you—you're not going anywhere!" Mark yelled back.
They grappled, both suffering.
But Mark was buying time.
"You... I'll kill you..." Faora hissed.
Both their ears started bleeding.
Even Mark's.
---
(In another city)
Zod stood in silence, thinking.
He wondered when his people would arrive. When he could finally rebuild.
He had already destroyed part of a human city when he saw several figures approaching.
Most humans ran. But not these.
They didn't look ordinary.
They looked like warriors.
Zod recognized their intent—and he would give them what they came for.
Then make them kneel before him.
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