The aliens who were picked up by Superman at the beginning

As is typical in traditional stories, Mon-El, now with new powers, returns and saves Superman just before he is about to be killed by King Phantom.

The two childhood friends stood side by side once again and worked together to defeat the Phantom King.

Having never possessed such immense mental power before, Mon El fainted the moment he won the battle.

When he woke up again, all that was left beside him was a note left by Superman and a Star Bracelet.

In the letter he left behind, Superman added to the unfinished story of their friendship and promised to find a way to cure Mon El's lead poisoning as soon as possible and bring him out of the Phantom Zone.

Mon El stroked the bracelet and carefully preserved the note.

He stepped out of the makeshift sanatorium, crawled out of the tent, and gazed at the still boundless red desert in the distance. For the first time, he felt full of hope for the future.

The scene abruptly ended.

Just as Li Zhen was about to express her doubts, she heard Meng Ai'er's weak voice.

"My mental strength is no longer sufficient to preserve this memory; you have become the new owner of the jewel kryptonite."

Li Zhen felt her body becoming lighter, as if she would soon escape this dark space constructed from mental energy and memories.

But his heart still yearned, like a cat scratching at its predicament, for the story to unfold. "I'm sorry, but perhaps I could tell you orally, before I'm completely exhausted?"

Mon El made a suggestion, and Li Zhen wanted to persuade him not to do so, but Mon El was determined to die.

"I've decided to continue building this world, so that at least when Superman comes back next time, he might see the Phantom Zone thriving."

"I started recruiting people and devoted myself to research and development, trying to use everything I had learned on Daxing to help some of the guys who could turn over a new leaf live a better life."

"But I overlooked something, something I shouldn't have overlooked."

"That lantern!"

"When I realized one day that the lantern seemed to still be lost on the final battlefield, I immediately led a large group of trustworthy people to search for it."

"But we gained nothing."

"I started to feel uneasy, but everything was going too smoothly at that time. There were too many things for me to worry about and keep me busy, so I subconsciously began to selectively ignore them and put the lantern-carrying matter aside."

"Perhaps when Superman comes to pick me up, we can use our combined wisdom to find that evil lantern?"

"Superman didn't come."

"I can't count how long I've waited, but I've always held onto hope." "I followed the example of the Phantom King of the past, offering sacrifices to Ethel and praying that the gods would bless my dearest friend with all the best out there."

"I sometimes fly up to the sun on my own and ask the gods if I need to release it, but they refuse me, saying that the crystals that seal it should not be touched lightly."

"..."

Li Zhen let out a soft hum through her nose, somewhat puzzled, signaling Mon El to continue.

Komon El did not respond to Lee Jung, and the story ended there, leaving only an unsettling silence.

"Huh? A good storyteller usually doesn't choose to end the story here, or have you already—"

Another voice rang out, which, in addition to its gloating mockery, also had the same listlessness as Mon El's.

"His mental energy is exhausted, yes."

The fake Phantom King casually took over the conversation, making no attempt to hide his happiness at Mon El's silent and unnoticed death.

"I can tell you the rest of the story, but I hope you can still maintain your values ​​after hearing it."

Li Zhen frowned. Although he didn't know where this fake Phantom King came from, he didn't have a good impression of him.

"My intuition tells me you're not a trustworthy storyteller." "But you'll be unable to stop listening, because that's what Mon El meant—to let me tell the second half."

There was an indescribable smugness in the Phantom King's voice.

Li Zhen clicked his tongue; he couldn't deny that he really wanted to know what happened next.

Phantom King understood Li Zhen's tacit approval, chuckled twice, and finally continued with the second half.

"99% of what Mon El just told you is false!"

Li Zhen, scratching his head in frustration, paused, almost breathing out at the Phantom King who was nowhere to be seen.

"What? Is this all you wanted to say?"

"This is just a recap, kid, don't interrupt me."

The Phantom King is not a good storyteller; his descriptions are difficult to immerse the reader in and are full of mockery and criticism.

"The Phantom King that Mon El encountered was far more brutal than the one you saw in that fabricated storyline. There weren't as many embellished aspects. In such a harsh environment, everyone was short-tempered, and he simply couldn't afford to give Mon El much patience, even with Mon possessing so many remarkable technologies."

"What you just experienced was a virtual 'history' presented to you by Mon El using a combination of mental abilities and memories." "Let me tell you the truth."

"After Superman left, a feeling that had never existed in Mon Al's heart welled up."

That feeling is called jealousy.

"He was jealous that, despite having almost the same background and experiences, Superman could enjoy the prosperity of the real world, while he could only stay in this place where not even a bird could poop."

"No resources, no knowledge, no comfortable air, and no one to love you."

"Those twisted jealousies grew stronger with each sunrise and sunset, and Superman never appeared again after that."

"He desperately wanted to stop himself from doubting Superman, but that just didn't make sense. Even if the serum was difficult to develop, could Superman really be so busy outside that he couldn't even squeeze in a little time to come back and visit his old friend?"

"He clearly possesses the technology to travel to the Phantom Zone!!"

"Perhaps Superman has encountered some kind of problem?"

"I shouldn't be so suspicious of a friend; that's not me!"

"Mon El chased the sun in the sky, found Ethel who had given him power, and begged him if there was a way out."

"He wanted to see with his own eyes how Superman was doing, even if he would die of lead poisoning the moment he entered the real world." "But he was being driven crazy by those strange thoughts; he just wanted to go out and make sure that Superman hadn't forgotten him."

"We can hand over the Phantom Orb—that's what we used to call it, hmm, Jewel Kryptonite is a bit silly."

"Having handed over the jewels and kryptonite, Ethel no longer possesses even the most basic intelligence; all he can do is open his ugly mouth and beg Mon El for food."

"It recognized Mon El, which was the last thing a poor, primordial god who had lost everything could do. It knew that Mon El was the trustee and agent it had chosen."

"Mon El thought Ethel's shouting was too noisy, and not only did she not answer him, it also annoyed him."

"He completely shredded Ethel, who had long been disemboweled by the former Phantom King, and used Ethel's skin to create a replica of the Phantom King's special uniform, which he then wore."

"And then, I was born."

"The dissected Ethel was given a second life as a phantom being, and became the most powerful phantom being in the Phantom Zone."

"But it still doesn't have much intelligence; it only occasionally flies out to devour some souls that are just trying to survive."

……

Li Zhen woke up.

The story of the Phantom King wasn't finished either; he only mentioned it at the end. He said the version he told Li Zhen wasn't entirely true, and this was Mon El's final hint to him. The falsehood of the two stories wasn't the point; rather, they concealed a solution to a problem Li Zhen needed at that moment. Sensing Li Zhen's awakening, Emperor Zhen finally released his large hand and took a step back to let Li Zhen rise.

Li Zhen then reached out to grab Mon El, who was still leaning against her.

The flesh and bones turned to ashes with a gentle grasp, a sudden event that startled everyone except the emperor.

Mar was so frightened that he stammered.

"He...he said he had a way to save you, but how could you die like this?!"

Li Zhen then pulled out a lantern from the ashes of Mon El's remains.

Emperor Jeongte, who had been silently watching Lee Jeong's actions, shrugged slightly.

"Judging from your decisive actions, you've already figured out the real answer from those two false stories?"

Li Zhen glanced at the emperor, who, unlike the aloof and domineering emperor of the past, instead protested righteously against Li Zhen's disdainful gaze.

"What for? After living for so many years, I've learned a few tricks, and I'm actually quite interested in their stories."