I am Loki the Frost Fruit Ability User

The Tesseract: Zod's Target

Although Zod hadn't accompanied Jor-El and Kal-El to Tonsberg during their mission to hide the Phantom Drive Core, its location was no secret to him.

In his previous life, Zod had seen countless records detailing the location: a fortified chapel atop a rock-tower castle in Tonsberg, hidden and guarded by an obscure sect.

But Zod wasn't concerned. If even Krypton's heavily-guarded Vault of Rao couldn't stop him, how could a handful of mortal guards in an old castle stand in his way?

The Journey to Tonsberg

Thanks to the help of Nabu, Zod arrived at Tonsberg through one of Kamar-Taj's shimmering portals. He quickly identified the castle, its crumbling walls and ancient architecture standing out against the peaceful countryside.

From his vantage point, Zod observed the guards stationed around the perimeter. Their movements were uncoordinated, their discipline laughable. It was clear that only the inner sanctum of the chapel held any significance to those stationed there.

Zod smirked. "Even the guards don't know what they're protecting."

For this mission, Zod didn't need to waste his advanced stealth techniques or use his Mirror Space Manipulation. Instead, it was the perfect opportunity to test the Psionic Illusions skill he had gained from the system.

The First Trial of Psionic Illusions

Zod activated Nirvana Veil, conjuring a cascade of spectral feathers that descended silently from the sky.

As the feathers drifted down, the guards stumbled, clutching their heads in confusion before falling into a deep sleep. The illusion had worked perfectly, incapacitating the mortals without a sound.

"Not bad," Zod muttered. "Although they were weak targets, it's a good start."

Satisfied with his test, Zod stepped over the unconscious bodies and made his way into the castle's chapel.

Claiming the Phantom Drive Core

Inside the chapel, the relic was hidden behind a false wall carved with a relief of the Kryptonian World Tree, an ancient symbol of life and energy.

Zod activated the secret mechanism, and the wall slid open to reveal the Phantom Drive Core glowing faintly in its containment unit. With a triumphant grin, Zod reached for it, feeling its immense energy radiate through him.

"Power like this… this will change everything," Zod thought as he secured the core.

After resetting the mechanism to avoid suspicion, Zod used the Phantom Drive Core itself to create a spatial rift, transporting himself back to Kamar-Taj.

The theft had been effortless. But Zod knew the real challenge was only beginning.

Researching the Core

Back in Kamar-Taj, Zod continued his daily routine of attending lessons with Nabu in the mornings and studying in the library during the afternoons. Despite his outward composure, he dedicated every spare moment to analyzing the Phantom Drive Core.

Over the next six months, Zod painstakingly studied the properties of the core. By combining the mystical knowledge of Kamar-Taj with his own Kryptonian understanding of dimensional energy, he began to make progress.

Though far from uncovering the ultimate secret of infinite energy, Zod achieved a breakthrough that brought him closer to his goal:

He developed a new spell.

A New Spell: Phantom Step

After months of experimentation, Zod successfully created a spatial magic technique. He named it Phantom Step.

[Congratulations to the host for creating a new skill: Phantom Step!]

[Skill added to the system skill library. The host may now track proficiency and upgrade its power.]

Skill: Phantom Step

Proficiency: 0%

Skill Description: A teleportation spell inspired by dimensional rift mechanics. The user must place a spatial marker in advance. Once activated, the user can teleport instantly to the marked location by traversing through the Phantom Zone.

Zod frowned as he read the system's description. "This sounds suspiciously similar to the 'Flying Thunder God' technique from that anime I watched," he muttered.

Despite the resemblance, Zod couldn't deny the spell's usefulness. Instantaneous movement through the Phantom Zone opened up countless tactical possibilities.

But before he could celebrate further, the system chimed in with a new challenge.

System Notification: Side Mission 2

[Detected: The host's first self-created skill, Phantom Step, has been registered. To ensure the skill's full potential, the system has issued a new phased side mission.]

Sub-Quest 2 – Phase 1:

Don't you feel ashamed having 0% proficiency in your own creation? Raise your Phantom Step proficiency to 100% to unlock the next phase of this mission.

Zod rolled his eyes. "No reward for this mission? I see what's happening here," he grumbled.

"You're cutting corners because of how much you gave away in my last mission, aren't you?"

The system responded indignantly:

[How dare the host accuse this system of improper behavior! All tasks and rewards follow the system's strict principles. If the host desires a reward, they must complete the task!]

Zod crossed his arms. "Hmph. I'll play along for now. But once I finish decoding the core's mysteries, I'll create a dozen more spells—original ones—and bleed you dry."

Despite his irritation, Zod couldn't suppress a small smirk. The Phantom Step spell marked a significant milestone in his journey. It was proof that he could forge his own path, blending Kryptonian science with the mystical arts of Kamar-Taj.

For now, he resolved to master Phantom Step while continuing his work on the Phantom Drive Core. There was still much to uncover, and Zod was determined to unlock the full extent of its power.

As he turned his gaze back to the glowing core on his desk, he whispered to himself:

"Soon, the limits of Kryptonian strength and magic will be nothing but stepping stones."