Chapter 140: Thank You, H'el

"When you think about rebuilding Krypton right here at the center of the universe – Earth, you will experience utter despair!"

As the restraints of morality, honor, and rules no longer bound him, Jor-El's rational thirst for revenge took precedence.

The man who had once cloaked himself in ethics and honor was now unburdened, and it was a chilling transformation.

"You think you can defeat the Justice League, control your warships to obliterate twenty thousand ordinary soldiers on the surface, and test Earth's limits? Conquer Earth and rebuild Krypton with your feeble fleet? Hahaha!"

Jor-El's face contorted into a sinister, twisted laugh.

Everything H'el had revealed, even the warships hovering above Washington D.C., was minuscule in Jor-El's eyes. In his mind, it amounted to nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a car.

Even with the seven million Kryptonians, what did it matter?

It was all futile!

"In the ancient Kryptonian era, the universe was filled with the reputation and warships of Kryptonians. It was the greatest time.

Yet, even in such a magnificent era, we were defeated and left as wandering dogs.

Behind Wonder Woman is the gods who restrains and weakens Kryptonian flesh, deities with divine and magical powers. They once effortlessly tore apart the very flesh that Kryptonians took pride in!

Behind Green Lantern is the mightiest force in the universe, the Emotional Spectrum, capable of directly destroying a Kryptonian's psyche. They are always vigilant at the center of the universe and will not allow anyone to interfere with Earth.

Within Cyborg's body lies the Mother Box, connected to the most tyrannical and dark ruler in the universe. With pure physical power, they can shred any ancient cosmic Kryptonian to pieces.

I'm waiting, H'el, waiting for you to exude despair, little by little, as you get surrounded!"

Jor-El's projection deliberately rose, looking down on H'el, his twisted face forming a malevolent smile.

He had been on Earth for several decades longer than H'el, and he believed he knew more and had sensed the true reasons for the fall of the ancient Kryptonian civilization.

Any individual or force attempting to gain control of Earth would become the enemy of the universe, without exception.

H'el's desire to rebuild Krypton wouldn't lead to a favorable outcome either.

"So, you're afraid to the point of destroying the Genesis Chamber, afraid of your own fleeting fantasy about rebuilding Krypton, afraid it might jeopardize your son."

H'el's gaze bore into him, a smile that seemed both mocking and understanding.

Jor-El felt like H'el's words were like thorns, accurately piercing his heart.

No matter how much he believed Krypton wasn't worth rebuilding, he couldn't deny that it was his awareness of Earth's unique horrors that led him to abandon the idea of rebuilding Krypton.

He lacked the resolute will and courage to see it through.

In order to prevent any moment of considering the idea of rebuilding Krypton, Jor-El even destroyed the Genesis Chamber.

Subconsciously, Jor-El tried to find an excuse to tell himself that it wasn't because of the terror he saw on Earth and the difficulty of rebuilding Krypton that he chose not to do it.

But the side of him that had been exposed as selfish knew there was no need to hide it.

Thus, revealing his deepest insecurities only twisted his face further, filled with hatred and cruelty.

"H'el! Let's make a deal.

In my possession, I have all the genetic information for the Codex!"

Jor-El, showing the dark and selfish side of himself, twisted and sinister, couldn't be mistaken for losing his rationality. Instead, his outward distortion represented his impotent rage.

And in his eyes, an extreme level of rationality began to reveal wisdom that was willing to do anything.

There was no doubt that H'el needed all the genetic information from the Codex.

The Codex could no longer be extracted from Superman's body. Even if some information could be extracted, it would require over a thousand or even tens of thousands of years to reassemble, test the meaning of the genetic information, and verify the accuracy of the genetic factors.

Yet even so, the genetic information in Jor-El's possession still held immense value and integrity.

This was unlike the genetic information collected by the AllSpark, which only included genetic information related to psychic powers found in about 30,000 locations among the 7 million Kryptonians. The rest had not been collected.

Because it was such a colossal endeavor, one that would require millions of years to personally collect and validate, which he didn't have the time for right now.

So, when it came to researching Kryptonian genetic information, the process was no different from Earth's research into Kryptonian genetics. Both required numerous repetitive experiments and trial and error, although the progress was much faster on H'el's part.

"Well, go ahead, tell me what you need to exchange for all the genetic information from the Codex."

H'el's gaze, seemingly mocking and pitying, met Jor-El's.

In reality, no matter what Jor-El wanted to exchange, H'el would refuse.

Even if he wanted to exchange for Superman or Nimda's body.

Because H'el wouldn't let Jor-El inscribe his name on the new Krypton he was creating.

H'el would never allow even the slightest glimmer of glory for Jor-El in the history of the new Krypton.

Even if all the genetic information from the Codex was completely accurate, it wouldn't change H'el's mind.

He wouldn't want a future history book to record: "Even though Jor-El was steeped in wickedness and unforgivable crimes, his final act was still a good one. He handed over all the genetic information from the Codex under the pretense of an exchange, passing it down to the new Kryptonian race in its entirety."

That would be utterly revolting.

"Him!"

Jor-El pointed down at the Flash.

He didn't choose to exchange his son, Kal-El. Jor-El's rational thinking had computed this decision tens of millions of times.

Given H'el's deep-seated hatred for him, Kal-El was something H'el would never use for an exchange.

Jor-El took an alternative route, offering the Flash in exchange.

After obtaining all the genetic information from the Codex, Kal-El's value would become almost negligible, and only then would Jor-El have a chance to save his son.

Furthermore, the genetic information from the Codex he provided was completely accurate.

It was almost like giving it away for free to H'el.

Just as H'el had psychologically beaten him, exposing his cruelest nature, he, too, was going to perform a psychological act that would sicken H'el, ensuring that his name would be forever engraved in the future history.

Jor-El deeply understood that any moment of glory he might have would be a blow to H'el's future.

"I most enjoy saying 'No' to those who think highly of themselves."

"Do you think I can't give up all the genetic information from the Codex? Is it my pursuit of the Kryptonian Codex that has misled you into thinking I must obtain it?"

"Don't you understand at this moment, after I've revealed your true inner nature and stripped you of everything, returning you to your selfish, self-centered origin? Don't you understand what I want to achieve?"

H'el said, his face expressionless.

The Codex might be important, but H'el wasn't in a hurry, as the Genesis Chamber had been destroyed, making it impossible to birth new Kryptonian babies.

Furthermore, H'el had a streak of perfectionism in him and was unwilling to allow Jor-El to appear in his new Krypton.

"Is that so? Have you become so arrogant and prideful that you can't contain it anymore?"

"When a tiger is placed on the African savannah, it will engage in hunting tests beyond survival to confirm its status." Jor-El's hologram flickered with a sinister, sly smile. "I will notify and rally all the forces against you to utterly destroy you."

"Earth is not your savannah. You're not a tiger, especially not in the universe. Exposing my true nature, allowing me to have no inhibitions, is something you will regret for the rest of your life."

Jor-El's hologram flickered violently, and his electronic consciousness began the process of breaking free from his fortress of solitude.

"A pawn that has never strayed from control, what right does it have to proclaim its own evil? Go on. When you've gathered all these forces and powers, come and try to save your son." H'el said calmly.

"I will always be your nightmare, now and in the future, night after night."

"Let me do something that you hate so much you'd want to kill me but also something you'll need to thank me for—my twisted psyche."

"Go bury your mother. Nimda's body has already landed on Earth!"

The electronic consciousness of Jor-El, in the midst of departing, displayed intense fluctuations, and the residual projection flickered madly. His face on the projection looked agonized, as if he were about to cry. He clenched his teeth and, acknowledging his identity as a son, painfully said, "Thank you, H'el!"

The next moment, the projection disappeared, and Jor-El's electronic consciousness escaped at the speed of light.

H'el turned his head and saw that heavy, mournful, and angry electronic consciousness of Jor-El crossing paths with Kara, who was excitedly soaring in the sky.

°°°

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