(General POV)
Location the New Earth: Earth's Orbit/Outer Space; the Justice League Watchtower, Computer Room
The whole League saw this, and they along with many other heroes, and people, Mao's new revealed subordinates, Pincushion, just basically threatened all their love ones, that aren't trained or capable fighting.
Batman, was the most agitated, along with Superman immediately flying to Smallville, trying to get his parents into safety, out of risk of being taken by the Forsaken, when he'd arrived a shadowy figure appeared behind Martha and Jonathan Kent, mouthing to the Hero of Tomorrow, "no escape".
Similar things happened to other heroes, the Flash reported that Iris and Joe West, Batman tried to warn Alfred, and Batgirl did the same as Barbara with her dad, and those shadows were a clear warning, that no where is safe.
Then as Superman, Flash, and Martian Manhunter, joined Batman who nearly smashed a the keyboard console of the Watchtower computer, Bruce was obviously angered and worried, before Clark could try to comfort his teammate and friend, when the computer screen glitched and static, before a messege delivered to all heroes.
"Why do you waste time, you'll lose the game, is you don't play..." Batman, growled and nearly pulled a batrang, throwing it at the computer screen, seems that the Forsaken have them trapt, they'll have to play this twisted game of the Forsaken...but could they sacrifice one billion people.
Even if those billion, were scum and the worst criminals their still people, the League needs help, the game was basically the pro-quo of superhero life, only it encourage, or more like forces everyone to choose a more permanent solution to crime, meaning a lot of civilians, law-enforcement, and even soldiers will be taking matter to their own hands, taking a deep breathe, Batman turned to Clark, Diana, Barry, and J'onn.
Location the Earth, Manhattan; New York, the Avenger Tower
Tony the Ironman, was very worried, without his helmet, laying by the holo-table, as Jarvis showed him the shadows next to Pepper, and Happy, with Cap, and Rhodey, were trying to comfort him, but they too were worried, as their own close friends, and family are at risk, Banner nearly went Hulk when Betty was threatened but Red Hulk, didn't have that self control, he'd immediately went to his daughter to keep watching over her, twenty-four, seven.
Spiderman, Antman, Wasp, Hawkeye, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Black Widow, and Falcon, reported the same shadows were also beside their family members, and friends, but the biggest shock was when Thor, that went to Scandinavia, where the rainbow bridge was connected to his homeland of Asgard.
The Thunder God, himself reported that many of his friends that aren't warriors, and even his own mother have shadows, when Odin found out about it, he'd tried using the Odin-force to purge the evil in Asgard, only for a new shadow emerge from the shadow of Odin himself, grabbing the Allfather by the throat lifting him up, the shadow resembling a demon, glaring and choking the king of Asgard.
Thor, and everyone else wanted to step to save the Allfather, but the shadow was too close, they'll risk harming Lord Odin, as the shadow looked at Odin with discontent, it spoke, "You don't know the forces, you're messing with old man." and to everyone's shock, the shadow threw Odin across the golden throne room, breaking through the columns, and even the rail of the porch that oversaw the center-square of the city, Odin flew and crashed landed on the lake, around the city.
Frigg, the Queen order all the guards to go to the Allfather's side, and help him, reluctant to leave the queen defenseless, they saw Lady Frigg pull out a sword, and prince Thor, standing beside the queen, seeing this the guards worry lessened, and they rushed out the golden palace, the shadow laughed and gave it final words, "If your soo desperate to protect your family and people, Thunderer. Than play the game, and win..." fading away.
When Thor reported this to the rest the Avengers, they had no choice but to play the game, that Mao announced through this creep Pincushion, Tony reached for his helmet and put it on, looking at Steve telling him to contact the X-men, they'll need their help to win this game, even if it means a billion criminal were about to have, a fate worse than death.
(Mao POV)
Location the Void of the Forsaken, Castle Nightscream; Throne Chamber
I can't stop laughing!!
And from what I can see, Vector, Kefka, Candymare, Cyn, and Shego were laughing along side me, my wives and Infernal Lords joining in the new show, I barely got away with that stunt with Odin.
Obviously, I'm currently not at the level of Odin, but I did something that few villains would do, let go of my grasp of Asgard, disactivating my power, as Odin struck with his power, that old Asgardian, hit nothing.
Once he was finish using his power, I reactivated my power, commanding the strongest shadow in Asgard, Odin's shadow to use Odin's own power against him, and I left my final warning.
That's the easiest way to deal with someone more powerful, make them think their winning.
Creating that fake Infernal Lord, Pincushion, was the best target for everyone, as I put all the heroes and villains at the spot, they'll cause so much chaos, seeing my puppet being to valuable, I'd used my magic to preserve that puppet from all matter of damage, and necrosis.
The heroes were acting just like I'd imagined, majority of them will be run rampant by stopping people from killing or crippling criminals and villains, hell some of those people that heroes will have to stop, are going be superheroes as well.
But that's enough of these heroes, I want see how the villains are going to react to my game...
(General POV)
Location the New Earth: South Pole; Surface of Frozen Cave, HYDRA Sub. Main Deck
Red Skull, along with MODOK, Sin, Viper, and Attuma, were in front of the newest members of HYDRA, Dr. Octopus, aka Otto Octavius a pale, scarred face man, with black, unruly hair, wearing cross goggles of red color, leather black gloves and boots, grayish clothing, but the most noticeable trait is a special device attached to his body, directly onto his spine, that device are four mechanical arms, which end in three clamps, that can change upon Dr. Octavius need.
Dr. Octopus, is one of Spiderman's greatest and smartest enemies, at first he was going to refuse HYDRA offer, but after witnessing the multiple attacks of the Forsaken, it was clear it was safer for Otto to join a organization, gaining all of HYDRA and AIM's resources, and forces.
Otto, he thought of the Sinister Six, they've managed to cause even the damn Web Crawler massive trouble, and nearly won some encounters with the Avengers, with HYDRA, and the other individuals aid, those notorious supervillain will even make the Avenger fell.
So leading a strike force of Atlantians, with Attuma assistance, they'd attacked the Raft, on Ryker's Island, recruiting some...old acquiescence, not only recruiting the villains known as Vulture, Electro, and Rhino.
Plus unattentionly the threat of Mao, force many known supervillains to come over and accept Red Skull's offering of joining making these three choices of being apart of HYDRA easy, another benefit, all the criminals set free from their attack on Ryker's, added them point in this twisted game that has begun.
Vulture, real name Adrian Toomes, is one of the oldest adversaries of the Web Crawler, who used to have aggressive cancer, that MODOK and Dr. Octopus, it was healed and his flight suit upgrade.
Toomes is a older man, with a bald head from the cancer treatment, but now looks more revitalized, and stronger, wearing his upgraded Vulture flight suit, a face guard which also has a re-breather system for extreme speed and height in flight, resembling a beak with yellow glass panels and green metal.
A slight platted, protective body suit, with long gloved sleeves, and knee length shorts in gray and grayish-green, strap to his back from the shoulders, a massive pair of metallic wings in green, dark green, and gray colored pallet, and tights of leather with armored knee-guards, Vulture was testing his new upgrades, and improved physical condition, completely pleased.
Red Skull was pleased by MODOK, and Octavius' collaboration on improving the new members of HYDRA, just then a blast of yellow electricity illuminated the red main deck, some AIM, HYDRA, and Atlantian soldiers back away as Max Dillon aka Electro was testing his new suit's power.
Electro was fit man, with a bald head, and prominent scar on his face, resembling a star of electricity, wearing a yellow shirt, green slack, and boots, but what's more important is his power-suit, a metallic open jacket, with yellow wirering exposed in the joints, and open areas of the suit, also has long platted sleeves, that end in fingerless gloves, no longer was Electro capable of controlling energy, as he became a burst of electricity and reappeared beside Dr. Oc, he has finally become energy.
Lasty there's Rhino, or as he is really called Aleksei Mikhailovich Sytsevich, a Russian mob enforcer, man trapped in a massive power-suit, heavily armored and platted armor that resembles a rhinoceros, especially with the helmet having rhino horns.
Originally the armor, it was like a another prison for it was inremovable, until MODOK, gave him the command to equip and unequip it at will, leaving him with all the power, without the sorrow.
He was crotched off the side of the upper level, along all the high members of HYDRA, increasing their power and numbers, but it wasn't enough for Shmidt, with the clear promise of untold pain, and even death, was hanging over all of them, like the sword of Damocles.
But Dr. Octopus action has won them, a lead over the idoligical heroes, but for them to come out the shadow, earlier than Skull originally planned, he'll need to recruit a couple more associates to HYDRA, and those targets are Killmonger aka N'Jadaka/Erik Killmonger, Whiplash aka Ivan Vanko, Crossbones aka Brock Rumlow, Abomination aka Emil Blonsky and Loki of Asgard, those five will utterly tip the scale to HYDRA's advantage, especially since Red Skull understood what's the Forsaken really offering.
To strike at the heart of their enemies, Red Skull, he recognized many of the images of targets for the Forsaken, that alone would raise their stake in this battle for the New Earth, and the Cores of Reality, since MODOK already hypothesized that the next clue, is at the far north, the reason there in the south is to plan, and prepare for a major attack, on the Avengers homesite.
Location Metropolis: Lex Corp, Luthor's Underground Facility; Meeting Room
Luthor was alone, feeling angry, incredibly, and utterly furious, cursing Superman and all his cronies for causing the Forsaken to once again target the whole world!!
Mao's disturbing lackey yet, some freak called Pincushion, promising untold pain, and death for them all, Joker, actually applaud the Forsaken's latest scheme, sighing as he couldn't stand that clown, but he needed him.
Right now under his aid, Joker, next Cpt. Cold aka Lenort Snart, with promise of his sister's safety, and untold amount of money, the almost unrivaled thief, and nemesis of the Scarlet Speedster joined, his calculative mind, a welcome addition to this...Legion.
Another to join Luthor's organization, is Scarecrow, Johnathan Crane, the soo called master of fear, a brilliant mind with skills in chemistry and psychology, to Luthor's surprise, it was Joker who saved Crane from being caught by Nightwing and the Batman.
Taking the scarecrow themed supervillain, was easy to convinced to join, and he'd immediately went to work in making multiple, chemical formulas, ready for use.
As Luthor, contemplated on what to do with this situation, when the sleek black, mechanical door, slide open and a man with a great physique, short, slick back, black hair, wearing all black, a jacket, with platted body armor, slacks with multiple pockets, gloves and boots.
This man is one...no better said, was one of the Green Arrow's greatest enemies, known as Black Archer, real name Malcolm Merlyn, trained by the League of Assassins, his bow and quiver strapped over his shoulder.
Luthor managed to contact Merlyn, and through some...special...means, he broke out Black Archer from prison, and smuggle him out of Star City to Metropolis, gaining Merlyn's debt, after explaining the benefits of joining his organization, Merlyn joined.
But right now Luthor, didn't know why Black Archer, came to see him, as Merlyn walked over and pour a drink for himself and Luthor, he'd asked a question that he already knew the answer, "What are we gonna do, about this Luthor? The Forsaken have thrown a wrench in our plans." Luthor, downed the whiskey in one go.
And replied coldly, but with a clear sense of anger, "Tell me something I don't know Merlyn. I'd expected the League to take up, all the attention of the Forsaken. Not screw all of us!!!" smashing his glass on the floor.
That's when the door opened again, and both Joker, and a very thin man, in a scarecrow costume, with sown mouth, brown hood, a nose around his neck, and a disturbing claw made of syringes on his right hand, Johnathan Crane the Scarecrow, has come.
The two Gothamite villains, sat down as Joker chuckle eerily, and spoke, "Lex, Merl, you two are way too serious." then Crane in a creepy voice spoke next, "As much as I dislike, agreeing with the clown. He's right. There's no need to panic, gentlemen." they pointed out, that Pincushion only asked them to cause as much chaos, and mayhem as possible, before the deadline.
Then Crane, turned to Joker and said, "We have the master of mayhem, with us. Let use him to win this game, and keep ourselves hidden for the bigger event." both Merlyn and Luthor, couldn't refuse either men claim.
The rules is that criminals, do what they do best, and basically overwhelm the heroes, with criminals, and villains being double of what they'd were, it'll be easier for them to win.
So with a bit of reluctance, Luthor gave Joker the reigns, for now, as Joker laughed hysterically with excitement, at the fun, he'll bring with the help of Lexy's toys, and Crane's fear gas...