The battle between the two Supermen had shifted from the atmosphere into outer space.
For Earth, that was good news.
But for Batman and the others, it was far from comforting.
Moments earlier, the shockwaves from their clash had swept across the planet, annihilating Parademons by the thousands as the surging impact tore through the skies. The winged monsters fell like rain, their twisted bodies scattered across ruined cities.
Yet, even after their deaths, more swarmed upward from the shadows.
The endless tide of Parademons filled the sky once again, their numbers blotting out the sun.
Only months ago, billions of humans had lived across the world. Now, billions of Parademons had taken their place—an apocalyptic plague born of invasion.
Centered around Batman and his team, the entire Earth seemed cloaked in a gray haze.
That haze was wings.
Billions of Parademons took flight at once, darkening the heavens as they swarmed toward Africa—toward Kandak.
"I think we might need to write our wills and pin them to our chests," Atom muttered, swallowing hard as the buzzing of wings grew louder around them.
Everywhere he looked, there was movement—an overwhelming ocean of creatures rushing toward them.
The Parademons looked insectoid, but each one possessed terrifying strength. In close combat, a single Parademon could rival half of Batman's physical prowess.
Deathstroke gave a low, humorless chuckle. "Even if you stick your will to your forehead, no one on Earth will live long enough to read it. Maybe write it to some beautiful girl on Apokolips instead—tell her to reincarnate here so you can fall in love again in the next life."
He drew his blade and pistol, standing ready. His tone might have been flippant, but there was no fear in his eyes.
"Does it have to sound that depressing?" Atom grumbled, his body expanding until he stood over ten meters tall. His amplified voice boomed across the battlefield.
Mera sneered, raising her hands. Water from the distant river surged at her command, forming a shimmering barrier that wrapped around them like a dome.
Even without Batman's signal, everyone knew the time for retreat was over.
They were done running.
Their last hope—Black Adam—had fallen. Now, all that remained was the New Superman: Malrick.
If Malrick lost, it wouldn't matter what they did. Humanity's resistance would crumble completely.
Better to make their final stand here, while they still could.
Even if it meant dying, at least they would die fighting.
Batman said nothing. He simply gazed toward the horizon, where the black swarm blotted out the last traces of daylight. Then he reached up and tore the remnants of his tattered cape from his shoulders.
"Then let's leave them all here," he said calmly.
Even facing millions—perhaps tens of millions—of Parademons, Batman's tone never wavered. He was the only one without powers, yet he radiated unshakable composure.
Electric fury sparked briefly in his eyes, but his expression remained cold, steady—like still water before a storm.
From atop a nearby rock, Joker let out a shrill whistle.
"The Dark Knight makes his entrance!" he cackled. "Hehehe! You should laugh, Bats! Laugh while you still can!"
He hopped down, sauntering over with his usual deranged swagger. "You know what? I like you people—the Super Boy Squad! I'll even do a magic trick!"
The clown reached into Batman's pack and pulled out two pistols, crossing them dramatically across his chest. He pressed the barrels to his cheeks and grinned wide enough to tear his own lips.
"At a time like this, why not laugh?"
And so, even Joker prepared for battle.
The black horizon drew closer. The Parademons came into view—dense, writhing masses of wings and armor, stacked atop one another like a living storm.
When they dove from the clouds, it was like an avalanche of nightmares.
Joker fired first. The twin pistols barked flames, and the first Parademon dropped from the sky in a spray of green blood.
He laughed maniacally, makeup running down his face, blood mixing with tears.
Atom grew larger, slamming his fists into the incoming horde. Each swing sent dozens of Parademons flying, but for every one that fell, ten more took its place.
The creatures swarmed him from every direction—clawing, biting, blasting energy weapons into his flesh. Blood streamed down his arms like rain.
Mera and Deathstroke flanked him, cutting down the ones that tried to latch onto his back.
Gunfire, steel, and water danced in deadly rhythm.
The team formed a defensive ring around Atom, using him as their living fortress.
Batman tore the blasters from two fallen Parademons and used them like dual pistols, precise and unrelenting.
Joker fought back-to-back with him, giggling and screaming as he fired stolen alien weapons into the horde.
On the outer edge, the old wizard struggled to keep up, shouting "Shazam!" as bursts of lightning sputtered from his staff. The blasts only felled one or two enemies at a time, but he kept fighting.
Whenever someone was badly hurt, he'd pull out the small jade bottle Malrick had given him and pour a few glowing drops of Zeus Spring Water to heal them.
The tide of Parademons crashed against them again and again.
But even as the group fought with everything they had, the enemy was endless.
The ground around the ruins vanished under a mountain of alien corpses. Still, more came. The sky itself seemed alive with wings.
The Zeus Spring Water was nearly gone.
Atom bled from dozens of wounds. His enormous body shuddered under the constant barrage of laser fire.
Mera's shield cracked. Deathstroke's armor was shredded.
Even Joker's laughter grew hoarse. His painted grin was smeared with blood.
Yet none of them stopped.
Batman fought in silence, every movement precise, every blow deadly.
"Hehehe… Batman," Joker croaked, his stomach torn open by a Parademon's claws. "You'll… have a lot of funerals to attend this time."
Batman said nothing. He ripped the creature's jaw apart and shot it through the skull.
Then he glanced at the old wizard. "Do you still have that potion?"
"Still have a bit…" the wizard gasped. "Damn it! Has my other self not found an heir yet?! My successor's useless—won't even say the word 'Shazam!' If he did, we'd already have won!"
He hacked through several Parademons, dragging the bottle from his robe as he staggered toward Joker.
But before he could pour the medicine—
Two crimson beams lanced down from the heavens, splitting the clouds apart.
Heat Vision.
The twin beams swept across the battlefield like divine judgment.
Every Parademon caught in the light disintegrated instantly, turning to ash mid-flight.
The rays expanded outward, growing wider and wider until they engulfed everything within several kilometers.
"Is it him? Is that the new superman? Did he win?!" Atom cried out, collapsing to his knees in exhaustion.
The others looked up.
Through the dissipating clouds, a dark silhouette descended from above—calm, unhurried.
Red light glowed from his eyes as the last Parademons burned away to nothing. The sky cleared, the moon returned, and silence fell across Kandak.
Within seconds, the endless army had vanished.
Only scorched earth and drifting ash remained.
Batman exhaled slowly, lowering his weapon. His heart pounded in disbelief.
That man descending from the sky—the one Barry had once mentioned—Malrick Stark…
He was holding something in his hand.
As the smoke cleared, they saw what it was.
Superman.
The invincible Kryptonian, the god among men, hung limp in Malrick's grasp like a broken doll.
Batman's breath caught in his throat.
The Parademons, who had nearly ended the world, had been obliterated with a single glance.
Such power…
If a man like that ever lost control, no force on Earth could stop him.
Even Superman's weakness—Kryptonite—might be meaningless in his hands.
Batman clenched his fists, his mind already working.
For now, Malrick was their savior.
But one day… he could very well be their destruction.
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