Chapter 17: Plan

"Recovered, BOSS!"

"I've never felt so clear before!"

"I feel like I could solve math problems now!"

The animalized soldiers, now awakened from their transformations, marveled at their newfound strength and health. They were in awe of Zod's power and had developed a deep respect, even reverence, for him.

"My hand, it's healed!"

"My leg!"

The soldiers were astonished to find their limbs restored to their previous state of health.

"Well, the Super Animalized Serum not only restores your health but also prevents most diseases. However, you're just the basic tier of animalized soldiers. Those who serve the organization faithfully will have the opportunity to become even more powerful," Zod explained.

The notion of becoming stronger captivated the soldiers. They had already experienced immense power and were eager to learn about becoming even more formidable.

"You're all just one biological gene now. Imagine the strength if you combined two or even three different genetic traits," Zod continued.

This explanation resonated with the soldiers, making the concept of multi-gene enhancement more relatable and enticing. Zod's ambition was to create the ultimate animalized soldiers, blending multiple genes to forge even more powerful warriors. However, he was uncertain if this approach would achieve the same results as the advanced technology in the strong colony armor.

Zod was without a Kryptonian spacecraft, which he lamented. Such a vessel would contain a brain engine with 100,000 different world knowledge bases, potentially enhancing his research and capabilities.

Shifting his focus, Zod had recently completed developing a brainwashing device. He utilized this device to reprogram the animalized soldiers' memories. Under his influence, they believed that the World Snake had long existed as an organization dedicated to creating elite animalized soldiers through rigorous training and genetic modification.

After the brainwashing, the soldiers' loyalty to the World Snake and to Zod was absolute and unwavering.

Zod felt secure with his growing base of powerful soldiers. Though their strength was only ten times that of an ordinary person, and their defense not comparable to tanks, they represented a formidable force in the early stages of his plan, before superheroes and supervillains made their appearances.

Had Zod been certain whether this was a comic or movie universe, he might have already planned an assault on Hydra to seize their power. For now, he decided to develop quietly in the shadows.

Zetian Health Products Co. had been immensely profitable due to the lack of regulation in the U.S. health care market, allowing Zod to bypass lengthy drug inspection processes and achieve rapid profits.

Zod was currently focused on saving money. His plan was to acquire Stark Industries' weapons division once Tony Stark announced its closure. Zod aimed to buy the division along with its labor and machinery, and then continue weapon production himself. Although this would require a significant investment and entail dealing with patented technologies, Zod was confident in his ability to develop his own weapons.

He found the prospect of acquiring the Stark Industries division particularly enticing, given the potential for future profits once Tony Stark's disappearance and the weapons department's closure were publicly announced.

The World Snake's animalized soldiers were employed as killers and mercenaries through the Midnight Hotel. Their enhanced abilities made them highly effective in their new roles. Despite their success, the rise of other powerful and ruthless competitors in the field led to speculation that they might have strong backing.

Zod, treating the Midnight Hotel as a cash machine, remained unconcerned. He saw the Hydra Gang as a potential adversary but wasn't overly worried about any immediate threats.

The missing killers weren't dead; they were brought back to Zod's base for additional brainwashing and transformation. Zod also provided them with plastic surgery to ensure they were unrecognizable. Those with exceptional skills were captured and reformed to serve the World Snake.

The World Snake continued to grow, operating from the shadows and out of Hydra's reach.

At the ranch's lake, Zod had constructed a glass lounge, partly over the water and partly on the shore. It was designed to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, providing a serene space for Zod to relax and bask in the sun.

Zod took a sip of his chilled beverage, the Fat House Happy Water, which he had cooled with his freezing breath. His control over his superpowers had improved significantly.

Drinking the icy beverage, Zod contemplated his next steps. He planned to blend elements of Batman and Superman, or Iron Man and Superman, by equipping himself with a range of advanced armored suits. While others might focus on breaching these suits, they would eventually face a fully-powered Kryptonian.

Currently, Zod was working on his second major suit, the "War God Armor," which was designed to maximize combat effectiveness. Unlike the Helios Armor, which was meant for saving lives and weakening adversaries, the Ares Armor was built for pure offensive strength, outfitted with a multitude of weapons to enhance Zod's combat prowess.