Smoke drifted upward in thick black plumes. What remained of the forest was reduced to scorched, splintered trunks and smoldering craters, the ground in some places melted and glassed over from the sheer heat of the impact. For a while, there was only silence,ash falling from the sky like snow.
Then a cough broke it as figure shifted beneath the debris.
Superman emerged slowly, his cape gone, his suit barely intact. Burn marks stretched across his chest as he steadied himself. Nearby, Kara pushed a massive charred log off her, rising to her feet. Her suit was torn in several places, her hair singed at the edges, but she looked far less affected.
Superman moved forward and lifted a large, blackened vine.
Beneath it layed Billy Batson.
"Billy…" Superman murmured.
He listened closely,faint heartbeat, steady breathing. Alive, but barely holding on. Even as Shazam, he had been pushed to his absolute limit.
This war has to end… Apokolips has to be destroyed, Superman thought, his gaze lifting toward the sky.
The clouds above had been torn apart, forming a massive circular opening where the beam had punched through. Through it, Apokolips loomed.
He turned to Kara.
"We have to destroy Apokolips," he said firmly. "It's the only way to stop this."
Kara shook her head slightly. "We can't do that with those things still around. We'd need people to distract them to give us an opening."
"No," Superman replied immediately. "We can't involve anyone else in this. We're the only ones who can do it now. We have to take the shot while the Boom Tubes are down and end this."
"You're not thinking this through, Kal," Kara said, her tone sharper now. "There are too many of them,even for us. That's exactly why we need to regroup and come up with a better plan."
She stepped closer as she placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"I agree with you,this ends when Apokolips is destroyed. Without it, Darkseid won't have the resources and manpower to fully tale over earth. But rushing in to do it without a plan is just suicide."
Superman fell silent as he looked back toward the sky… then at Billy in his arms.
She was right,hey didn't have time,but a rushed move could cost everything.
Slowly, he nodded,without another word, he lifted Billy carefully and took off to search for the others Kara following close behind.
Nearby, Batman lay unconscious on the ground, ash and soot covering him from his legs up to his neck. He suddenly coughed, the force of it blowing the soot off his chest as he reached up and started pulling off his mask, which had burned and partially melded onto his face from the heat.
He grimaced as the mask came off, taking a chunk of burnt flesh from the right side of his face with it. Still, he staggered up and began unstrapping his exo suit, letting it fall to the ground with a dull thud.
Batman then slowly reached to the side of his stomach and pulled out a metal piece with a low groan. Blood came rushing out immediately as his breathing turned hoarse. Without hesitation, he reached into his utility belt and pulled out a small spray-like device, applying it to the wound. The bleeding slowed almost instantly.
He straightened up and began surveying the area.
It was a miracle he was still alive, largely thanks to the forest Thena had created, which had given everyone cover. Otherwise, he likely wouldn't have made it.
But now,where was Cyborg?
Batman scanned the battlefield and spotted him not too far away, his body crushed under a gigantic charred vine. Only his head was visible, his human eye closed while his cybernetic eye flickered red.
Batman staggered over and tried lifting the vine, but it wouldn't move.
Cyborg's eye fluttered open as he came to.
"It's no use, Batman… it's too heavy," he said weakly. "Go find the others and evacuate this area. If that cannon catches us in the open like this, it's over. You need to go, Bruce. Don't worry about me."
"I can't leave you here, Cyborg. We've already lost a lot of friends today… we can't lose another one," Batman said.
"You'll die, Bruce. Desaad is already readying that weapon again," Cyborg replied.
"Hold on," Batman said, ignoring him as he looked around.
In the distance, a large wooden dome began rapidly retreating into the ground, revealing Thena kneeling beside an unconscious Terra, her hands glowing green as she healed her.
"Hey! Over here!" Batman shouted.
Thena glanced toward him for a second, then created a clone that picked up Terra and vanished with her. The real Thena dashed toward Batman, arriving in a burst of speed.
"Is Terra okay?" Batman asked.
"She'll be fine. She was hit by the shockwave from the explosion," Thena said, her fist clenching at her side, anger clear on her face.
"I'll be alright?" Cyborg asked weakly.
"Yes," Thena replied.
She stepped forward, gripped the charred vine, and lifted it off Cyborg before tossing it aside, revealing his crushed legs. Before he could protest, she reached down and lifted him up.
"What's the plan?" she asked.
"We need to regroup with the others," Batman said.
Thena held out her hand. Batman understood immediately but instead placed a hand on her shoulder.
They vanished,leaving behind a massive cylindrical crater nearly 300 meters across, so deep the bottom couldn't be seen.
A second later, Batman, Cyborg, and Thena reappeared in front of what looked like a giant purple barrier. Before they could react, it suddenly collapsed, revealing Aquaman, Mera, Starfire, Beast Boy, Blue Beetle, Wonder Woman, Hippolyta, and Flash.
At the center, Robin held an unconscious Raven.
Batman stepped forward. "What happened?" he asked.
"Raven strained herself creating that barrier. Without her, most of us would be gone… but I think she'll be alright," Robin said.
"Where's Terra?" Wonder Woman asked,worry creeping into her tone as she looked at Thena.
"I took her home. She's done enough for today,she's at her limit," Thena replied.
Wonder Woman nodded in understanding.
They suddenly heard a sonic boom splitting the air as Superman touched down, carrying an unconscious Billy in his arms followed by Supergirl.
"Billy" Cyborg murmured in worey when he saw the state he was in.
"Is everyone here?" Superman asked, scanning the group.
"Where's the Martian?" Aquaman asked.
"I thought he was with you," Superman replied.
"Wait, then where is he?" Barry asked.
"He didn't make it."
Thena's voice cut through the group, drawing every eye to her. She spoke again, quieter this time.
"During the explosion, I felt his life force disappear. He's gone."
The mood shifted instantly. A heavy silence fell over all of them. Another brave soul, lost in so short a time.
Superman looked around at their faces and spoke.
"Everyone,we can't give up now. We can't let their sacrifices be in vain. We have to see this through." His voice carried a quiet anger beneath it. "We have to destroy Apokolips."
"He's right," Batman said. "Without it, Darkseid won't have the resources to conquer Earth."
"And how exactly do you suggest we do that with those things up there?" Constantine asked.
"We need you all to draw their attention," Superman said. "Keep them occupied while Kara and I do what needs to be done." He turned to Cyborg. "Can you Boom us there?"
"Yes," Cyborg said. "But the moment I open one, they'll come pouring out. You'll need to move fast."
Superman nodded and turned to Batman.
"You'll need two Boom Tubes," Batman said. "Two teams, opposite sides of the planet." He held Superman's gaze. "We can only buy so much time. Make it count."
Superman nodded.
But before Cyborg could open one, the ground suddenly trembled,violently.
"What's happening?!" Blue Beetle shouted.
"I don't know, dude," Beast Boy replied, just as bewildered.
The others looked around in confusion, searching for the source. None of them could guess what the cause of these tremors was.
But Thena had a feeling she knew exactly who was causing it.
'He's back',she thought.
End of Chapter
You can read advanced chapters at patreon.com/darker knight
Chapter 28:A new form
Chapter 29:A clash through space
Chapter 30:Kamehameha!