Val-Ul's eyes snapped open. He'd seen a vision. A vision of a man with twisted morals and prejudice. It was vivid…like a message. A warning.
"The universe is speaking to me. It seems like I really am its golden child." He muttered.
The kryptonian in his vision was well known to him. Superboy Prime. A child who was forced to grow up too quickly. A kid who suddenly attained the body and strength of a fully grown kryptonian after a night's sleep.
A kid who was pulled from his own reality due to a crisis in the multiverse. Realizing that he was alone…it ate at the boy. It turned him unhinged. Haunted him. Over time, he found himself doing darker and darker things in order to find his own reality.
Val-Ul saw it clearly. There was no worry in his heart. This universe wasn't like the others. Even without interfering, he knew Prime would change his mind. Why?
It was obvious. Kryptonians were blessed in this universe. In order to satisfy this child turned adult…there were many things it could do. Superboy would only find happiness here. Val had complete faith in his reality.
That didn't mean he wouldn't interfere. No. The son of Ul had plans for Prime. The outcome would definitely be…satisfactory.
"What are you thinking about?" Kara Dru-Zod's lovely voice resounded.
The Messenger lazed beside him. Her lovely body was draped in silk sheets. Val gently stroked her skin. Nice and soft.
"The universe showed me a vision." He revealed. She raised an eyebrow in response.
"Are you sure it's not just a dream?"
"Don't worry. You'll see eventually."
"Hey. What's that supposed to mean?" She slapped his leg. He couldn't help but smile.
"Another kryptonian will be joining us soon."
Kara immediately sat up. At first, her expression was one of excitement though it quickly changed into caution. Her mind immediately went to Kal-El.
"It isn't another Kal-El, right?" She asked. He only shrugged.
"It is indeed Clark Kent…but it is not Kal-El. I'm sure you're tired of him."
"Hmph."
The Injustice timeline Kal-El had returned to his own universe a few weeks back. Kal's eyes had been clear and determined before he left. It was as if he'd figured everything out. Val-Ul had told Kal not to punish Flash too harshly since the two kryptonians wouldn't have met if not for him.
For Kara, it was good riddance. She was tired of seeing him. It was impossible to get comfortable with someone who killed your direct relatives. Even if it was a different reality. Understandable.
'If he doesn't make any detours…Prime could arrive at any moment. I should welcome him.' He thought.
Without wasting any more precious time, the son of Ul donned his royal threads. The wall-sized entrance slid open to reveal the snow-filled landscape. He casually walked out of the Fortress of Solitude.
Harbinger was nowhere to be seen. Now that she'd finished observing him…she must've left. His gaze scanned beyond the solar system and found nothing. That was fine. He could still reach her.
'Harbinger.' His mental voice pulsed through the galaxy.
'What the…how are you able to reach me?' She quickly responded.
'Where are you?' He asked.
'That is none of your business.'
'Would it hurt to tell me?' He smiled wryly.
'Hmph. I'm about to leave your galaxy. You barely caught me.'
'Did you see what I saw?'
'Your next trial? I saw it. Handle it yourself.' Her tone was dismissive.
'Of course…I just had a question.'
'Speak.'
'He's wearing the Anti-Monitor armor. As one of the top powers and supporters of this universe…shouldn't I get something similar?' His lips curved into a mischievous smile.
'Arrogance! How do you know that? What makes you think you deserve such a thing?!'
'Well…isn't it disrespectful that he goes around with armor that rivals the Monitor? Don't you think it would be better to show him how superior your master is?'
'You have a glib tongue but you can't fool me. You only want it for yourself!'
'Of course not. I just want to show my appreciation by representing unity and order in this universe.'
'Liar. Hmph. Do you consider me an idiot-'
[There is no need for theatrics. Permission is granted. The Anti-Monitor's interference shall be canceled.]
A calm and powerful voice sounded throughout the universe. Everyone heard it…but only two people knew who it was meant for. The Monitor had spoken. Directly to Val-Ul.
Immediately, sleek and futuristic armor appeared on his body. It resembled platinum, silver, and crystal all at the same time. Shining with resplendent light. It reflected the sun. Almost like a mirror. Like glass.
It fit perfectly over his suit. There were no issues whatsoever. It didn't affect the mantle either. If anything…it made Val-Ul's large form even more intimidating. No tubes for sunlight batteries.
Of course, the son of Ul didn't want it for the batteries…but for the durability. It would be able to tank the effects of anything he couldn't immediately understand. In some ways it was similar to Prime's armor but in other ways it was different.
'Thank you.'
'Hmph. You've been granted something special, Kryptonian. Don't squander it.' Harbinger commented before breaking the mental link.
Val floated into the air while looking at his arms. He wanted to get used to this armor. It felt like an extension of himself. Quite snug. Kara peeked out of the entrance. Upon noticing his dazzling figure, she took a sharp breath.
"Whoa."
With a glowing crown that floated over his head like a halo. This was the most holy Val-Ul had ever looked. Like a saint of light. He smiled.
"Do you like it?"
"I do. Did that voice have anything to do with it?" She asked. He chuckled.
"It seems you know me well."
"If I don't…who does?" She quipped.
"Nobody." He smiled.
"Exactly." Kara hummed.
As she turned away from the exit, he watched her slender back view. Shapely and beautiful. Only then did the hatch slide shut. The son of Ul finally rose to the sky. Sunlight landed on his shimmering armor directly. A beautiful array of colors were reflected.
"Val-Ul. You have an incoming transmission from Coz-Vor." Faora's voice reached his ears.
"...Mmm." He groaned. He'd barely left the Fortress and was already getting petitioned for work.
…
…
…
Prime already knew where he needed to go. Was this the correct universe? Did his family…did Laurie exist here? He didn't know. He would find out.
There was one thing he did understand though. No matter what universe he arrived in…it was as if someone could tell the future. Enemies were always waiting for him upon reaching Earth.
Someone was predicting his arrival. Who was it? Who informed the Green Lantern Corp? Superboy had already fought against every hero worth the title. Was it the universe's will to defend itself?
If any of these hypotheticals held any merit, then he'd be meeting an opponent very soon. The only question was…would this opponent reach him in time? Prime was on a one-way trip to Earth.
His bioelectric field pushed him through space. As he flew, his speed increased to cosmic velocities. He felt slightly stronger. Almost as if this universe was made entirely for him.
As he grew closer to the Milky Way galaxy his eyes widened. Starships would occasionally pass by. That wasn't the surprising part. It was the fact that humans were inside.
'What is up with this place? Why are humans so far out?' He thought.
It just made him more curious what type of Earth he would find. Things had already become more interesting than the last ten timelines. It didn't take much longer to reach Earth's solar system.
Instead of approaching straight away…he stopped at the moon and sat down. Something was up with this universe and it made him act with caution. Prime was by no means an idiot. If he was then he would've never been able to kill the Anti-Monitor. He may act like a delinquent, but his mind was still a supercomputer.
His eyes glowed red with energy as he scanned the planet. He resembled a demon waiting to take a bite from its prey. Waiting for the right moment.
Multiple starships were coming back and forth, docking at space stations. The technology of this timeline was leaps ahead of the majority. He needed to figure out why.
'...There aren't any heroes.' He eventually realized.
His supervision noticed everything. No crime. No villains. No heroes either. Only civilians and the military. Have superpowers? Join the military. Alien race? Join the military. A cycle was revealed.
Finally…it was time for a more important question. Was there a Superman here? Prime's gaze turned toward the North Pole. Where the Fortress of Solitude should be.
His questions were immediately answered. No wonder everything had progressed. No wonder technology was leaps and bounds ahead in this timeline. It's because of them. Kryptonians. His own kind.
His gaze focused on the man who was floating in the sky. Dressed in armor that was similar to his. Maybe even better. He was bigger than most. His hair wasn't their race's traditional black or blonde either.
Val-Ul was mid conversation with Faora-Ul and Coz-Vor. Then he felt it. A deadly gaze had locked onto him. Turning to the source…he found a demon sitting on the moon.
Golden and crimson gazes met across a vast distance. Val immediately smiled, prompting Superboy to smile in return. Two different smiles that meant two different things.