[112] : Regret

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Roger and Faora flew toward the World Engine, one after the other. Alongside them, many fighter jets were also rushing towards the World Engine. 

Following their orders, the pilots attempted to launch missiles to destroy the World Engine. However, due to electromagnetic interference and the changing gravity, the missiles couldn't lock onto the Kryptonian spaceship above. Instead, they were diverted and hit other targets.

Several missiles spiraled through the air, with a few headed toward the crowds below and distant buildings. 

If Jean Grey hadn't detected them in time and altered their trajectories to make them collide in mid-air, many of those fleeing below would have been blown up by their own missiles.

The heart of Metropolis had devolved into chaos, and with the Kryptonian spaceship looming overhead, the scene resembled an apocalyptic landscape.

Jean struggled to control the crumbling buildings, preventing the debris from crashing into the crowds below. Simultaneously, she used her powers to catch people falling from the buildings, ensuring their safe departure. Only after confirming their safety did she look in Roger and Faora's direction.

Roger and Faora had been fighting from the skies to the ground, and now from the ground back to the skies.

Their battle was like that of gods clashing, making it impossible for anyone else to intervene. Even Jean, with her flying speed, couldn't keep up with the two fighters.

Due to the World Engine's gravitational effects, Jean saw a fighter jet lose speed and crash into a distant building that the World Engine hadn't yet affected.

The impact from the jet caused one side of the building to collapse, sending it toppling toward the people below.

The jet's speed had been too fast for Jean to react, and she couldn't save the pilot nor prevent the inevitable crash of the jet.

However, she could stop the building's collapse, giving the people below more time to escape.

"Sorry, Roger, but I can't help you right now."

Choosing to prioritize saving people over aiding Roger in the fight, Jean stayed behind for the rescue efforts. She believed that if Roger were here, he would understand her decision. Human lives were more important than fighting Kryptonians.

…

Roger, of course, couldn't hear Jean's apology, nor did he expect her to come and help him.

His goal was clear: the World Engine. He flew rapidly towards it, and as he approached the modified environment beneath it, he felt a noticeable increase in weight.

This was the result of the temporary gravitational amplification from the World Engine. With his strong physique, Roger managed to withstand it.

However, Faora, who was flying behind him, wasn't as fortunate. Her flight speed decreased, and she began losing altitude.

Under normal circumstances, the Kryptonian environment wouldn't have affected Faora this severely. But it's important to remember that the Kryptonians' bodies had been enhanced by Earth's yellow sun.

On Krypton, their physical strength was comparable to ordinary humans. What set them apart was their advanced technology.

Now, however, Faora's body, which had been enhanced by the yellow sun, was weakened by Kryptonian environmental conditions. Her "superhuman" physique couldn't immediately adapt, making her feel as though she had been weakened.

Realizing the changes in her body, Faora understood why Roger had insisted on heading in this direction.

Though weakened by the Kryptonian environment, Faora didn't give up. She was still wearing her Kryptonian armor, which far surpassed Earth's technology and allowed her to retain the strength and speed of a Superman.

But just as she prepared to resume her pursuit, she noticed Roger suddenly change his flight path and rush toward her!

"!?"

Roger's sudden change in trajectory caused Faora to pause momentarily.

In that brief moment, Roger found his opportunity. He grabbed Faora's leg with precision while she was still mid-air, giving her no time to react. Then, he accelerated with supersonic speed towards the Kryptonian spaceship in the sky!

Within mere seconds, Roger had brought Faora from the ground to the spaceship. He crashed through the spaceship's outer layer and hurled Faora inside.

Roger had changed course midway because he saw Superman's girlfriend, Lois, approaching with the military, carrying another spaceship's power core.

Roger knew that the next sequence of events would involve the Kryptonian spaceship colliding with the military's fighter jet, creating a black hole capable of sucking in anyone or anything that had been to the Phantom Zone.

So, he couldn't let Faora remain outside. She had to stay with the Kryptonian spaceship and meet her end.

With the ship breached, the Kryptonians inside, all in their battle armor, vigilantly stared at the unexpected intruder.

Faora got up from the ground, completely bewildered by Roger's actions.

Why had he suddenly abandoned his mission to destroy the spaceship and brought her back instead?

It defied any logical reasoning, which is why Faora hadn't immediately ordered an attack.

"Y…"

Just as Faora was about to speak, Roger waved his hand at the surrounding Kryptonians and said, "Goodbye."

Then, he jumped out of the breach in the spaceship.

He wasn't foolish. With a group of Kryptonians inside ready to gang up on him, even Superman would have run away, let alone Roger.

His mission was complete. He had brought Faora back, and without the interference of the spaceship, the military was able to activate the power core even faster than in the original timeline.

The power core collided with the Kryptonian spaceship, creating a small artificial black hole.

While this black hole could only absorb those marked by the Phantom Zone, it was still a black hole, and being too close to it posed a risk for Roger as well.

So, before the Kryptonians could react, he had to escape.

Roger quickly left the spaceship, and just as he got clear, he saw the jet carrying the power core collide with the Kryptonian ship at the highest altitude!

The impact created a massive burst of sparks that spread like a brilliant firework display.

At the center of the explosion, a dark void appeared, absorbing everything around it. Every Kryptonian marked by the Phantom Zone was inexorably pulled into the black hole.

At this moment, Faora finally understood Roger's intentions, but it was too late.

In the end, the female officer met the same fate as in the original story, vanishing along with the Kryptonian spaceship as the black hole consumed them all.

The black hole's gravitational pull absorbed everything related to Krypton, and once it fulfilled its purpose, it vanished along with the remains of the Kryptonian spaceship.

Suddenly, the sky fell silent. The Kryptonian spaceship was gone, and so were the Kryptonians. Apart from the destruction caused by the World Engine in the city's center, it was as if the aliens had never been there.

Roger hovered in mid-air, silently watching the ruins left behind by the vanished spaceship. He floated there in silence for a long while before turning back to find Jean.

At that moment, Jean was still carrying out Roger's instructions, doing her utmost to save everyone she could.

Although the Kryptonian spaceship had disappeared, the consequences of its presence remained.

Many buildings damaged by various explosions were at constant risk of collapsing, and Jean needed to keep preventing those potential collapses.

But…

Jean was struggling.

Constantly using her powers had drained her. Her face was pale, and sweat beaded heavily on her forehead.

Finally, after preventing yet another building from falling, Jean's vision went dark, and she plummeted from the sky.

"Jean!!"

Fortunately, Roger arrived just in time to catch her.

He gently lowered the exhausted Jean to the ground. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Jean's tearful voice:

"I'm sorry… I did my best… I really did, but… I couldn't save everyone. I… I just couldn't… I'm so sorry…"

Jean, who had been under tremendous pressure, finally broke down in tears.

After all, she was only nineteen, still just a child.

And within a single day, Jean had witnessed scenes she might never forget for the rest of her life.

Moreover, her telepathic abilities had become a burden in this situation. In her desperation to find any survivors, she had actively used her mind to search for those she couldn't see.

But the emotions she encountered through her telepathy only compounded the psychological strain on her.

Now, as her powers were overexerted and her emotions overwhelmed her, Jean's mental state crumbled, and she couldn't hold back her tears any longer.

"…"

Roger silently embraced the crying Jean. At that moment, he truly regretted bringing her here.

Jean had only wanted to explore a wider world and experience a wonderful journey. Yet on her first day in this new world, she had to endure such horrors.

If Roger hadn't brought her here, she would probably still be at the X-Mansion, enjoying her life there.

She wouldn't have to endure this pain.

"This isn't your fault. You didn't do anything wrong. You did great."

Gently patting her back, Roger softly comforted her:

"Rest now. Just rest. Stop thinking about all of this."

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