When Zod returned to the Arctic Base with Martian Manhunter and Dr. Erad, he immediately captured the attention of all the Kryptonian warriors.
A wave of curiosity washed over them; this was the first time their General had brought outsiders to their base.
Fiora asked with some confusion, "General, who are they?"
Zod then briefly introduced Martian Manhunter's identity to the group, including Dr. Erad, and instructed them to prepare the transport ship he had arrived in.
At this moment, Erad was staring at the spaceship with a look of obsession, practically itching to touch it.
A short while later, Zod's voice came, "The spaceship is ready, let's depart!"
Fiora stepped forward at this time, "General, do you need me to accompany you?"
Zod shook his head, refusing, "No need, I will be back very soon. You just need to guard the base."
Although this spaceship was originally just the most ordinary transport vessel, and its speed was not particularly fast, after a series of modifications by Zod and his team, it was now capable of flying at sub-light speed.
The seemingly vast distance from Earth to Mars could actually be covered in no more than half an hour.
Before boarding, Zod casually fitted Dr. Erad with a set of ordinary Kryptonian power armor to protect his fragile body.
The spaceship quickly launched, transforming into a streak of light and soaring into the depths of the universe.
During the journey, Martian Manhunter asked, "Mr. Zod, are you planning to establish a new home on Earth?"
Erad was also very interested in this question and stopped his movements of looking around the spaceship.
"No, Earth is merely a temporary transit point for us. In due time, we will search for a suitable planet within the Solar System and then rebuild Krypton."
Zod did not hide anything and directly told him his plan.
Hearing these words, Martian Manhunter felt an immense sadness well up inside him.
Mars was not destroyed, but all of his people perished, so rebuilding a home held no meaning anymore!
Zod also asked at an opportune moment, "Mr. J'onn, what are your plans for the future?"
Hearing this, a trace of confusion appeared in Martian Manhunter's eyes: "I don't know. Now that I am alone, perhaps I will return to Earth and live among them!"
"If that is the case, Mr. J'onn, I think it would be better for you to join us Kryptonians in the future. At least among us, you do not need to hide your identity, nor do you need to assume the appearance of others; you can simply be yourself."
Listening to Zod's words, J'onn's heart trembled.
It seemed to be true. Although he possessed the ability to shapeshift and could take on anyone's appearance, none of those were truly him.
His Martian identity only needed no concealment in front of fellow aliens, the Kryptonians.
Then he looked at Erad, wanting to hear his thoughts.
Erad looked at him solemnly and said, "J'onn, I think Mr. Zod is very right. You don't need to live under someone else's skin."
"Moreover, I hope you understand that we humans are a very complex species. We seek differences, but we also reject them. You are different from us. I can accept your existence, but that doesn't mean others can."
"You are my friend, and I am sorry for your past, but I hope your future can forget all pain and live freely."
Zod heard this and practically wanted to give this guy a huge thumbs-up.
He was already thinking if he could cultivate a healthy heart for this guy to let him live a few more years, after all, truly thoughtful people like him were very much worth appreciating.
Martian Manhunter was originally still hesitant, but after Erad, a pure Earthling, spoke from experience, he felt that joining Zod and his group seemed like a better choice.
"Mr. Zod, I am willing to join Krypton, but before we find a suitable planet, I hope to still be able to live with Erad. Is that possible?"
Ultimately, Martian Manhunter accepted Zod's invitation but also made a small request.
Zod naturally didn't mind this small request: "Of course, no problem. Rebuilding Krypton is not an overnight task, and we also need long-term preparations."
The journey passed in a pleasant atmosphere, and soon they had arrived on Mars.
Under Martian Manhunter's control, the spaceship finally landed at the location of his former home.
Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully bringing an ancient alien race back to their homeland, gaining +1 roulette draw!
Listening to the pleasant notification sound, Zod couldn't help but exclaim in his heart, "What an easy task! If all tasks were like this, that would be wonderful!"
At this moment, Dr. Erad, seeing Mars up close for the first time, was amazed by the speed of Zod's spaceship: "We've reached Mars so quickly! Earth's technology is truly backward in comparison!"
"Dr. Erad, there's no need to say that. Our civilization has reached this point by spanning a full hundred thousand years. Human civilization is still very young, with infinite possibilities in the future."
Zod naturally understood how terrifying human technology would be in the future; let alone mere interstellar travel, even crossing time and space would not be an issue.
Leaving the spaceship, Martian Manhunter's eyes revealed deep sorrow as he looked at the desolate and ruined landscape everywhere.
From his perspective, everything had been normal just a few days ago, but now, a few days later, everything had changed drastically!
As the three walked across the dark red land, Zod clearly felt that this planet was also in an unhealthy state, lacking the vitality found on Earth.
Finally, the three arrived at a temple, and Martian Manhunter knelt down reverently before the broken statue.
Zod, however, looked thoughtfully at the nameless statue.
According to his memories from his previous life, the ancestors of the Martians were a race called the Burners. They relied on burning to reproduce.
No one knew their exact origin, only that they once tried to ignite life-bearing planets to multiply and strengthen their own race, but were eventually stopped by the Little Blue Men with the Green Lanterns.
To prevent them from harming the universe again, the Little Blue Men split the Burners into two, creating the Green Martians and the White Martians.
And through some special method, they imprinted a generational weakness of pyrophobia onto the Martians.
Perhaps, even after being divided, they still retained some ancient traditions. The relationship between this statue and the Burners might be similar to the relationship between Rao and the Kryptonians.
Unfortunately, Zod had no way of knowing the answers to any of this, as it was all too ancient!
After leaving the temple, they went to Martian Manhunter's former home.
Looking at this place, once filled with laughter, now turned into ruins, he waved his hand and cast an illusion, recreating its appearance from hundreds of years ago.
"Are these your wife and daughter?"
Dr. Erad looked at the people in the image and asked softly.
"Yes, that's my wife, M'yri'ah, and my daughter, K'ym."
Martian Manhunter gently reached out to touch his wife and daughter in the illusion, but unfortunately, they dissipated with a touch!
Erad reached out and patted Martian Manhunter on the shoulder: "I'm so sorry."
At this moment, Zod's ears picked up some different sounds, heading towards their location.
Without thinking, the only one still living on Mars was Malefic.
He probably sensed Martian Manhunter's presence and was preparing to completely eradicate him!
So Zod spoke up to warn, "J'onn, someone is coming. It seems you still have a kinsman who survived."
Hearing this, Martian Manhunter's expression changed, and then hatred appeared in his eyes.
The next moment, a voice came from a distance: "J'onn J'onzz, you're still alive! You certainly have a strong will to live, but this time you won't escape!"