Chapter 30

Norin spent the rest of his time flipping through the student roster, trying to pick suitable candidates for the "Super Seven."

However, he quickly realized how difficult this task was.

Hundreds of mutants were listed, but most had unusual and impractical abilities—like changing TV channels with a blink, releasing ultrasonic waves, or spitting acid without immunity to it.

Some, like the girl who emitted ultrasonic waves, were promising but too young—barely twelve years old—and clearly not ready for combat.

Mutants like Sunspot and Bishop, who appeared in Days of Future Past, were nowhere to be found. They likely joined the academy later.

Currently, the only viable options aside from the X-Men were Iceman, Pyro, Colossus, and Shadowcat.

"This is disappointing," Norin muttered. "How can I form a team of seven with this?"

He marked question marks next to Iceman, Pyro, and Colossus.

They were all third-tier mutants with decent abilities but lacked the training and experience necessary to perform at the highest levels.

Of the three, only Colossus barely matched the official X-Men standards.

Still, Norin considered using them as placeholders for the Seven, at least for support roles like firefighting or emergency response.

Norin then shifted his focus to Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat).

After her secondary mutation, her powers had skyrocketed, surpassing even Wolverine in survivability.

She was now practically untouchable—immune to physical attacks, able to phase through energy strikes, and capable of molecular mimicry that made her extremely difficult to kill.

Kitty’s growth alone could rival Pyro, Iceman, and Colossus combined. Given time, Norin suspected she could even overwhelm all three in a fight.

"At least Kitty is promising," he thought.

Yet, her ability wasn’t without flaws. She couldn’t harm opponents who were physically invulnerable, like Colossus in his armored form.

However, Norin saw this as a minor limitation.

With his Kryptonian physiology, he was leagues above Colossus in raw strength and durability.

Moreover, Norin’s experiments with Kitty’s phasing powers revealed unexpected advantages.

Norin hypothesized that Kitty’s ability could bypass even Kryptonian defenses by phasing through their bodies and attacking internal organs.

He tested whether phasing out of an object mid-way could cause internal damage.

Results showed it worked—but only if the phased body was stronger than the target’s structure.

"This could work against Zod," Norin thought.

A well-timed attack while Zod was still wearing his Kryptonian armor might bypass his defenses before his biological adaptations kicked in.

Failing that, Norin planned to use Kitty’s ability to sabotage Zod’s World Engine, which used Kryptonian gravity waves and defenses to terraform Earth.

The World Engine’s defenses included:

Nano-Metal Weapons – Shape-shifting tentacles designed to crush intruders.

Gravity Waves – Increasing gravity near the core, rendering movement and breathing almost impossible.

But Kitty’s phasing ability could nullify these defenses, making the World Engine vulnerable to sabotage.

This realization boosted Norin’s confidence. With Kitty, Kara (Supergirl), and other allies, he estimated a 50-50 chance of defeating Zod and his forces.

With his thoughts clearer, Norin decided to return to Gotham in the DC Universe.

He closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, he was back at Wayne Manor—this time at dusk.

To his surprise, a new two-story building stood next to the manor.

Its glass walls were made of high-tech materials, appearing opaque from the outside but transparent from within.

"Did Bruce build this while I was gone?"

A familiar voice answered from behind him.

"You’ve been gone 7 hours, 40 minutes, and 48 seconds. That’s roughly three days in your world, correct?"

Norin turned to see Bruce Wayne, whose precise calculation of time didn’t surprise him in the slightest.

"Did you really build this in 7 hours?" Norin asked skeptically.

Bruce smirked. "It’s made of the most durable composite metals and advanced one-way glass. It’s bulletproof, soundproof, and fire-resistant—capable of withstanding artillery shells."

He added, "I also installed solar panels and heat-resistant interiors. It’s optimized for Kryptonians, but ordinary humans wouldn’t last a day inside due to the heat."

Bruce’s pride in the structure was evident, but Norin couldn’t help but focus on his preparation for Zod’s arrival.

Bruce revealed that he had installed defensive satellites and missiles, mobilized military forces, and prepared for aerial bombardments.

"If Zod shows up, we’ll hit him with everything we’ve got," Bruce said firmly.

Norin nodded, appreciating Bruce’s dedication.

"I’ve also improved our odds against Zod by 5%," Norin added, trying to lighten the mood.

Bruce raised an eyebrow. "Five percent? That’s significant against Kryptonians."

Bruce knew their odds were low, but every percentage counted.

Before Norin could continue strategizing, Bruce interrupted.

"By the way, Kara’s in that room. Don’t keep her waiting."

"Wait, what?" Norin turned, startled.

Bruce’s eyes gleamed mischievously. "What’s the matter? Can’t handle her?"

"You’re seriously pushing me into this?"

Bruce smirked. "If you can’t do it, let me know. I’ll be happy to give you pointers."

The teasing was too much. Without another word, Norin used superspeed to disappear into the house.

Bruce chuckled, shaking his head.

Despite the humor, Bruce remained focused.

Looking to the horizon, he noticed storm clouds approaching Gotham.

"Keep those clouds away. If they drift into Gotham, cancel bonuses for today!"

His security team responded immediately, scrambling jets to disperse the clouds.

Explosions echoed in the distance as planes launched countermeasures.

Yet Bruce’s unease lingered. Even with all their preparations, Zod’s forces wouldn’t be easy to stop.

He continued refining weapons, launching satellites, and coordinating patrols near New York’s coast—fully aware that their survival hinged on both strategy and luck.

No matter the cost, Bruce was prepared to fight.

Everything was for victory.