The few people hidden within the wall's crevice felt an instant shadow fall over their hearts.
Even Batman, whose mental fortitude was legendary, felt cold sweat bead on his forehead. He didn't fear death—but if they all died here, Earth would lose its final hope.
"You all stay here. I'll go out and meet him."
Batman's voice was low and grim as he took out a strange crown from his bag, preparing to step out of the protective illusion cast by Doctor Fate.
Before he could move, Mera suddenly shouted, "Victor! What are you doing!?"
Victor Stone—better known as Cyborg—was trembling violently as his cybernetic systems went haywire. A heavy machine gun extended from his shoulder, creaking as it aimed directly at Superman.
"Damn it! He's locking onto this wall! My self-defense system's triggered—it's detecting danger and preparing to counterattack! Stop! Stop!"
Victor's half-human, half-machine body was the product of Apokoliptian technology fused with his father's desperate attempt to save him. His systems could respond on their own, even when he tried to suppress them.
But it was too late.
The gun had already locked on to Superman, and the barrels began to spin.
"No... Victor," Batman whispered. He already knew what was coming.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A hail of 14.7mm bullets burst from the gun at an impossible speed, echoing through the ruins. The dense, mechanical rhythm mixed with the smell of gunpowder as sparks danced wildly off Superman's body—like rain splashing against a steel lake.
The bullets couldn't harm him. Even direct hits to his eyes only flattened before bouncing away. Superman stood motionless, the gunfire reflecting off his unbreakable frame.
He didn't dodge. He didn't even frown. Instead, he turned toward Cyborg and smiled—a cruel, cold smile that exposed faint, predatory fangs.
"You're here."
BOOM.
Superman exploded forward, the sonic boom shattering the ruins. The shockwave scattered debris like a storm. Doctor Fate's illusion shattered under the pressure, revealing seven tense heroes who had been hiding in the shadows.
Superman ignored them all—except Cyborg.
In a blur, he appeared before Victor and struck. The punch tore the air apart. Cyborg's body split in two before his upper half even hit the ground. His systems still sparked and fired as Superman vanished and reappeared behind Doctor Fate, snapping his neck with a casual twist.
Doctor Fate's limp body fell, the golden Helmet of Fate clattering to the ground. Though the mystical being Nabu would prevent true death, Fate was out of the fight.
The others finally moved.
Deathstroke unsheathed both blades with a metallic hiss, leaping from cover in a blur of motion. Atom grew to his giant form, his head breaking through the dome of the underground chamber as he prepared to stomp down. Mera summoned water spears glowing with aqua energy.
They knew Superman was unstoppable.
They knew they might die.
But they had waited too long to act.
Ever since Lois Lane's death and Superman's corruption by Darkseid, he had lost everything human.
They couldn't forgive that.
But their resistance was futile.
Superman's eyes glowed crimson. Heat Vision erupted like twin beams of pure destruction, slicing through stone and steel, melting the ruins around them.
He turned, ready to burn everyone to ashes—except Batman.
"Stop!"
Batman's roar cut through the chaos as he lunged forward, holding a shard of Kryptonite in his hand.
Superman froze mid-beam, the red glow dimming. It wasn't compassion—it was instinct. Kryptonite still weakened him, and Batman knew it.
Superman batted away Deathstroke's blade with one hand, seized the assassin by the neck, and hurled his other two swords—one impaling Mera through the chest, the other skewering Atom's foot.
Then he unleashed Heat Vision once more toward Batman.
The crimson glow filled Batman's world. This was it. Seven heroes. One god. No chance.
He looked into Superman's blazing eyes and accepted it.
He reached for the crown in his bag—the one that would take him straight to Hell upon death. He would come back. He would walk through fire and bring Earth back from the abyss.
As the light grew brighter, time seemed to slow. He saw flashes—his parents in that dark Gotham alley, Robin, Alfred, Lois...
Joker had been right. Batman had sacrificed too many. Now it was his turn.
A faint smile touched his lips—a bitter one, mocking himself, mocking fate.
Then—impact.
But not the kind he expected.
Two figures suddenly appeared between him and Superman.
Bang!
Batman collided with a man in red, and Superman's Heat Vision slammed into that same figure's chest.
"This timeline... feels like it's a few years after the Kryptonian's arrival, right? How long did Barry's universe reboot take—wait, OW! Heat Vision already!?"
The red-suited man grunted as the beam scorched against him.
"Old man, we just got back and we're already under attack! Don't tell me Darkseid foresaw all this!"
Batman, dazed, pushed himself up and stared. The man in red held an elderly man in one arm while tanking Superman's Heat Vision with his chest.
"Kid, stop talking and throw me already! The lasers are bouncing back this way!" the old man yelled.
"You might as well take the hit yourself next time, old man!" the red-suited one shot back. "And stop hugging my waist!"
He hurled the old man aside, gritting his teeth. "Ugh, why am I rambling again? Damn Solomon's Wisdom!"
Then lightning crackled across the battlefield.
"I need to change back—Shazam!"
A thunderbolt descended from the heavens, blindingly bright. It struck the man, sending Batman tumbling backward as Superman's Heat Vision flickered out.
When Batman looked up again, the red-suited hero was gone—replaced by a man in a black battle suit, his cape flowing behind him like smoke.
For the first time in what felt like eternity, Batman felt... relief.
Even from behind, he could tell this new figure radiated confidence and calm strength.
Superman's eyes narrowed. "Kryptonian?"
The man smirked, meeting his gaze. "Superman?"
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Milestone
100 Power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter.
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