24 Hours Since Krypton's End…
Space was silent. Yet, to Damian, it was anything but. The faint hum of energy coursed through the void, a resonance beyond mere sound. It thrummed against his very being, vibrating through his skin, his bones, his awakening senses.
A lone Nestle-class spaceship pod drifted in the vast darkness, its metallic shell battered but intact. It floated in orbit around a gas giant, the colossal planet casting an eerie glow upon its surface. The yellow light of a distant star gradually gleamed against the hull, rays of warmth piercing the cold vacuum of space.
Inside, Damian stirred.
His consciousness clawed its way back from the depths of exhaustion. His eyelids flickered open, his pupils contracting as blinding sunlight flooded his vision. A warmth unlike anything he had ever known seeped into his flesh, spreading through his veins. At first, it was disorienting—his entire body felt as if it were aflame. But there was no pain. Instead, a surge of raw energy pulsed through him, each beat of his heart amplifying his senses.
His hearing sharpened. He could perceive the faintest vibrations reverberating through his ship. His vision adjusted instantly, no longer hindered by the dazzling light but embracing it. The bruises and cuts from his desperate escape had vanished. His muscles no longer ached. Instead, they felt… stronger.
He tried to sit up but froze. A sharp sensation at the nape of his neck.
Reaching back, his fingers brushed against the cold metal of a device latched onto his skin. Recognition flashed in his mind—this was the interface used to encode the Codex into his genetic structure. His lips pressed into a thin line.
"Alpha," he commanded, his voice steadier than he expected. "Give me a status report."
His ship's AI responded immediately. "Codex integration: 100% complete. A secondary backup has been securely stored. Ship diagnostics: Energy shield at 25% capacity. Engines at 85% efficiency. Minor repairs required for optimal performance."
Damian exhaled, allowing himself a brief moment of reflection. The past day had been a whirlwind of destruction and survival. Krypton was gone. Reduced to nothing more than dust and memory. Everyone was dead. Yet, he had made it. Against impossible odds, he had survived. And more than that—he had the Codex.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Not bad."
"Alpha, disconnect the Codex injection device."
A slight unlocking sound clicked, and Damian leaned forward as the device detached from the nape of his neck. He turned his gaze toward the cockpit window, staring directly into the yellow dwarf star. The golden rays soaked into his skin, and the sensation was… euphoric. A rush of dopamine flooded his system, unlike anything he had ever experienced. He clenched his fist, watching in silent amazement as his body responded—cuts fully healed, muscles feeling denser, stronger, more refined.
For the first time since waking in this universe, realization struck him with full force.
He wasn't just a survivor. He wasn't just a Kryptonian.
He was evolving.
A single tear welled in his eye and slid down his cheek. Not for Krypton. Not for the billions lost. No, this tear was for himself. For the impossible journey that had brought him here. For the power now coursing through his very essence.
A thought occurred to him.
"System."
A translucent screen materialized before him, glowing with familiar blue light.
[Mission Quest: Escape Krypton by Any Means] Mission Completed.
[System Update Required to Issue Rewards.] Would you like to update now? Yes or No?
Before Damian hit yes, he considered his options. "I could hit no and never have to worry about another mission." But he shook his head, knowing he needed answers—and more power.
With an amused smirk, he said, "Yes."
As the system initiated its update, Damian leaned back, his mind racing. This system… It had guided him, set objectives, and now it was rewarding him. But why? Was this merely an automated function, or was there something else at play? Something watching, waiting, manipulating?
Someday, he would find out.
The update completed, and a new interface unfolded before him.
[SYSTEM UPDATED]
System has added new functions:
• Bonus Quests Unlocked
• World Traversal Unlocked
• Multiversal Lottery Draw Unlocked
• Transfusion Unlocked
[Any system tabs with a star next to them have updates for you to review. Any tabs with a question mark are subject to change due to new world location, lottery draws, or any bloodlines obtained. In order to fuse bloodlines and powers from other worlds, a Transfusion tab has been added]
The screen shifted to the system functions layout.
[SYSTEM FUNCTIONS]
Status*
Skills*
Main Quests (?)*
Bonus Quests (?) *
Inventory
World Traversal (1)*
Multiversal Lottery Draw (3)*
Transfusion*
Damian eyes lingered down and tapped Multiversal Lottery Draw.
His muscles tensed, anticipation coursing in his veins. This was it. Please don't give me anything useless.
[Multiversal Lottery]
Tickets = 3
Would you like to try your luck? Yes or No?
With no hesitation, he selected Yes.
The screen changed. A spinning box appeared, flashing items on its shifting faces. His eyes widened as he caught glimpses—was that a Halo Energy Sword? A Devil Fruit? His heart pounded as the spinning slowed, and—
Poooof!
An all-black suit materialized on-screen.
[Vibranium Carbon Nanite Super Suit with AI Integration acquired.]
Would you like to customize now?
If not, all lottery items will be automatically stored in your inventory.
Damian's lips curled into an ecstatic grin. Vibranium. One of the strongest, most durable metals in existence. With growing excitement, he decided to store the suit and customize it later.
Subsequently, he went for his second spin.
The box spun again. This time, Damian focused. He caught sight of something chilling—a blue vial marked in an all-too-familiar shape.
The T-Virus? Holy shit. This thing could grant bioweapons… or unleash a zombie apocalypse. His stomach twisted.
Then—
Was that Krillin from Dragon Ball Z?!
Damian's mind reeled. Could the system actually award people? What if he summoned Goku black?... Would they be allies? Enemies? Shaking his head, Damian exclaimed, Well, I hope I don't get someone like that! They'd instantly kill me unless they were awarded as a summon that I could control… hmmmmm? Damian was pondering, then.
The animation stopped.
Poof!
A card materialized. On its surface, a mysterious hand symbol.
Congratulations!
[Ruler's Authority Skill from the Solo Leveling Universe has been acquired.]
Would you like to activate? Yes or No?
Damian's breath hitched. His system didn't just award items—it granted skills. A slow grin stretched across his face. This system wasn't just helping him survive. It was making him stronger and maybe someday unbeatable… He pressed Activate.
Immediately, as Damian hit activate, the card flashed with energy. This energy was zapped directly from the interface into Damian's brain. Damian felt the energy synchronize with his mind, and in that moment, he sensed an unknown yet familiar force that felt fully aware and natural. He stretched out his hand, and with almost zero effort, the Codex backup—resting on the ship's control panel—floated directly to him.
His lips parted in awe. "Wow… I have telekinesis."
Not only that—it seemed perfectly proportional to his physical strength. A murmur escaped him, "Good thing I'm Kryptonian. This skill will grow stronger as I do."
It truly felt like Damian had grabbed the Codex Backup device with an invisible hand.
A ripple in space opened beside Damian, storing the Codex Backup in his system inventory.
His thoughts raced with possibilities. Combat, construction, even posing as a Jedi in Star Wars just for the laughs. A chuckle left his lips.
He navigated to Skills.
Message update:
[Skills do not require prerequisites and are automatically learned and added. Skills do not require mana or energy aside from physical and mental concentration.]
[Skills]
• Elite Warrior Martial Arts
• Ruler's Authority (Telekinesis)
Damian exhaled slowly...
He realized he was becoming something more than a Kryptonian.
Feeling triumph and determination,
He sat up straight, ready to use his last lottery ticket.
Opening the tab, he hit spin… The lottery box animation started, and for some reason, maybe out of sheer whim, he closed his eyes, waiting for the "congratulations" to sound before opening his eyes.
Pooooof!
The box opened and…