Zod stands there in shock of Superman's challenge.
"You dare challenge me to Jo-Mon?" Zod asks.
"If your plan is to invade Earth, then yes, I must stop you." Superman says.
"Do you truly understand what you are asking? Jo-Mon is a battle to the death." Zod says.
"I understand." Superman says, though truthfully, he wasn't sure. He knew he had to stop Zod's plan, but he has no intentions of killing Zod.
"Since I have come to power, no one has invoked the trial of Jo-Mon. Even in my time on Krypton it was used sparsely. But every time it was, I won." Zod says.
"Well Zod, it's a new day." Superman says.
"Very well Kal-El, though I hate to kill a real Kryptonian I will honor this request. We will do battle in two days a top the third jeweled mountain."
"Very well." Superman says.
"I will have my aid take you to a special quarter for you. You may train there." Zod says.
Superman turns and walks out. He has to think to himself now. He knows he can't let Zod's plans move forward, but he can't actually kill him, can he? Then there was the fact that he was now under a red sun. He feels his powers are just about drained. But Zod doesn't know that Superman's powers have been drained before, after he awoke following his battle with Doomsday. He had to build a new training regimen then and he could do it again.
Zod's aid drops Superman off at his quarters. It's just a small cabin far outside the city limits of New Kryptonopolis. He thought it was meant to be a joke by Zod, outcasting him from the luxurious palace to what was essentially a little shack. Not that it bothered him much. He wasn't swayed by the fancy palace with which Zod lived in. He had everything he needed. Superman sat crossed leg on the floor of the cabin and began to meditate.
Inside the palace Zod began his training as well. Zod had a world class gym inside. He brought one of the guards in for a sparing session. He was training in Horu-Kanu, the deadliest form of Kryptonian martial arts. As the sparing session got more intense, Zod lunges forward and punches his guard right in the heart. The shot sends the guard down on his back as he begins to gasp for air. But it's no use. In a few moments, the guard dies.
"Clean this mess up." Zod says to his aid.
"Right away bethgar." She says.
Zod was feeling good about his chances.
Superman returns to his cabin following a twelve-mile run. He thinks back to his time in solitude in the arctic just a few months prior. This felt so similar to that. He returns to his cabin to find someone inside.
"Who's there?" Superman asks.
"It's me Kal-El, Jax-Ur, I am here in peace." Jax-Ur says.
"What are you doing here?" Superman asks.
"I have brought something for you." Jax-Ur says.
He hands something to Superman.
"What is this?" Superman asks.
"This is a battle suit as it would have been on Krypton." Jax-Ur explains.
Superman unfolds the suit and takes a moment to look at it. It looks similar to the suits his mother makes for him, but it was darker blue and a bit more textured. It still had the crest of the house of El on the chest with a red belt as opposed to his yellow one.
"Why are you giving me this?" Superman asks.
"Truthfully it was being worked on before your challenge to Zod." Jax-Ur says.
"Do you really like his rule?" Superman asks.
"He is the strongest, no one can oppose him. We must do what he wants." Jax-Ur says.
"And what about you?" What do you want?" Superman asks.
"I just want to work on my science." Jax-Ur says.
"So you don't want to conquer Earth?" Superman asks.
"Not many residents here do. But Zod is the reason the Parademons are gone. This planet owes him their lives. And no one can stand up to him." Jax-Ur says.
"Well, now someone can." Superman says.
Jax-Ur watches as Superman practices his punches. He was still only a green belt, and hadn't had a lesson from Kaire Tenaga in nearly two years, but that didn't mean he didn't keep his skills sharp. But as Jax-Ur watches, in his gut he does not feel like Superman's strikes will be as effective as Zod's.
The next day, Superman begins his hike up the third jeweled mountain. As the legend goes, there were Jeweled Mountains on the original Krypton. Jo-Mon would invite his challengers to the highest peak among them. It was there they would do battle. And Jo-Mon won every time. Though it was a long journey up the mountain, Superman didn't mind. It reminded him of the mountain by his arctic fortress, though this one was even higher. By the evening Superman arrives at the top. Strangely he is not tired at all, just anxious. To his surprise, no one is there. Then he hears something.
Zod's ship comes flying down. Out exits Zod's aid, a couple guards, Jax-Ur, and finally Zod. Zod takes a look at Superman, now wearing the kryptonian battle suit Jax-Ur had gifted him.
"I see you still accept our gifts. I give you one finally chance Kal-El, do you yield?" Zod asks.
"I do not." Superman says.
"Very well, Jax-Ur, on your mark." Zod says.
"Kal-El has initiated the sacred Kryptonian battle of Jo-Mon. This will be a battle to forfeit or death. Is everyone clear?" Jax-Ur asks.
"Clear!" Both Zod and Superman say in unison.
"Begin!" Jax-Ur calls out.
Superman and Zod keep their distance at first. They just circle each other for a few minutes. It is Superman who steps forward first. He jabs forward with his left arm. Zod grabs it and as he strikes down with his elbow, Superman frees himself and slides out of the way. Zod comes forward with a flurry of fists. Superman gets his arms up, but without his invulnerability, those strikes still really hurt his wrists. Eventually, Superman swings his arms down and charges forward with a headbutt. The spectator's wince as the two warrior's heads collide. Both Zod and Superman are dazed after the shot.
"Unorthodox." Zod says, as he grabs his head.
Superman grabs his own head, trying to see straight. He then sees Zod charging at him again. Superman actually ducks Zod's punch and hits Zod clean in the gut with a punch of his own. Superman then spins around and elbows Zod in the back. After two shots in a row, Superman is feeling pretty good about himself. As Zod turns around Superman goes for a punch right to Zod's face. But Zod was ready for this one. He grabs Superman's arm and wrestles him to the ground.
Superman struggles on the ground as Zod keeps hold of his arm. He twists it. Superman grunts in pain. He is finally able to roll around and break Zod's grip on the ground. As Zod lays on the ground, Superman tries to punch him again. But Zod is able to roll out of the way and return to his feet. Superman tries to return to his feet as well. But Zod grabs Superman's head and strikes it into his knee. Superman falls back to the ground. Zod jumps on top of him as is about to start striking. But Superman grabs his arms and is able to push Zod off. Superman returns to his feet now.
He thinks of his recent battles with the likes of Lobo, Dragga, and Mongul. All of them were opposing in their own right, but Zod is the most skilled warrior he has ever faced.
Superman charges forward again. He tries to strike high, which Zod blocks, just as he expected. So he then strikes low with a body shot that connects with Zod. He then swings with an uppercut as Zod is off balance and this sends him further back.
The shots enrage Zod, he charges forward again. He strikes at Superman, but Superman is able to block. But Zod swings across and connects with Superman's cheek. Zod punches again hitting Superman in the face. Superman's arms go down. He is no longer blocking. Zod punches again and again, and then Zod sends one final blow right into Superman's heart.
Superman falls to his back and begins gasping. He can't breathe. Zod waits, expecting him to be dead in a moment. Superman looks up and sees a bright light. In it, he sees Lois.
"Get up Smallville, what are you doing laying around, there's work to do." Lois says.
It had been months since he had seen her. He missed her so much. He needed to get back to her. The air begins to return to his lungs and he rises to his feet.
Zod's eyebrows raise. He truly thought that was the end of the battle.
"You impress me Kal-El." Zod says.
"Let's finish this." Superman says.
Zod charges forward again. Superman puts his arms up to block. Zod catches Superman off guard and tackles him instead. He begins whaling punches into Superman's face. Superman is just barely able to get his arms up. But Zod continues to punch. Superman is able to roll over to his back, but Zod just continues punching at the back of Superman's neck. Superman then leverages himself to sweep Zod's legs and send him tumbling back. Superman returns to his feet once more. Zod rolls back and begins to rise as well. But Superman speeds over to him and puts him in a headlock. From this position Superman has the advantage. With a little pressure, he could snap Zod's neck.
"Yield, YEILD!" Superman cries out.
"Never." Zod blurts out.
Zod struggles but can't get free. Superman finally throws Zod off.
"You're just too weak." Zod says, as he gasps for air.
Just then Zod is hit with a beam from behind.
"NOOOOO!" Zod yells out as he is sucked away.
Jax-Ur stands there holding the phantom zone projector.
"Kal-El clearly won this battle." Jax-Ur says.
The guards look on for a moment in confusion. Zod's aid begins to applaud, and the guards join in. Superman looks on dazed and a little confused himself.
"It's over then." Superman says.
"Yes, you have freed us from Zod's rule." Jax-Ur says.
"You can take his place, the aid says.
Superman hesitates.
"I am not here to lead, that should be a job for Jax-Ur." Superman says.
"Me?" Jax-Ur says in surprise.
"Zod saved your people from a great threat. Now is the time for rebuilding. But not weapons of destruction, rather instruments of creation." Superman says.
The guards applaud. Jax-Ur stands there, a little shocked by the situation.
"It is with great humility that I accept this honor." Jax-Ur says.
Later back at the palace, Jax-Ur looks out over the city of New Kryptonopolis. Superman enters.
"Heavy is the head that holds the crown." Jax-Ur says.
"You will be a wise ruler." Superman says.
"I hope so. I have put a halt to military production, and put forth an effort to rebuild the war-torn parts of the world." Jax-Ur says.
"So, no invasion of Earth?" Superman asks.
"No, there is too much that needs done here." Jax-Ur says.
Superman is relieved.
"You look troubled." Jax-Ur says.
"Well, there is one more thing you could do for me." Superman says.
"Name it." Jax-Ur says.
"Even though you're not invading, is it possible I can get a ride back to Earth?" Superman asks.
"I think I have just the thing." Jax-Ur says.
Jax-Ur leads Superman to the lower lairs of the palace. Superman is unsure of where they are going. Jax-Ur opens two large doors. Inside Superman sees a familiar sight. It's his ship, the one that brought him to Earth as an infant. The one that he gave Jax-Ur to come here with.
"We've kept up maintenance on her, she'll get you back." Jax-Ur says.
"This is great!" Superman exclaims.
"There's one more thing." Jax-Ur says.
"What is it?" Superman asks.
"I think this belongs with you." Jax-Ur says as he hands Superman the phantom zone projector.
"What? Are you sure?" Superman asks.
"You father built this; it is part of your legacy." Jax-Ur says.
"I will do my best to keep it safe." Superman says.
"You and me Kal-El, we're the last two Kryptonians. The question now is do we call this planet New Krypton, or do we call it Argo." Jax-Ur ponders.
"I think that should be up to your citizens. You are bethgar now." Superman says.
"Oh I don't think of myself as bethgar, more as drygur." Jax-Ur says.
"Drygur?" Superman asks.
"Yes, it's less oppressive." Jax-Ur explains.
"Well whatever you call yourself just remember to work for the will of the people." Superman says.
"Always." Jax-Ur says.
Superman boards his ship and prepares to take off. After a long journey, it was time to return home.