As Bruce's words fell, he twisted through the storm, evading Hawkman's relentless pursuit while driving closer to the densest lightning at the peak of the Spire.
The moment he reached the eye of the storm, he turned sharply, clasped his hands together, and unleashed a surging laser blast straight into Hawkman's wings.
The impact pushed Hawkman back for a moment, giving Bruce enough time to speak through the comms.
"Lex, good news. Our laser weapon needs around fourteen more strikes to break through their wing defenses."
"It won't be enough to finish them outright, but if we ground them, the fight changes."
"And Clark can handle them once they're on the ground."
"The problem is, every shot has to be precise."
Lex laughed.
"Perfect, because precision isn't the problem. Inspiration was."
He shot past Bruce, driving a fist into Hawkman's face and sending him reeling.
Bruce cut the laser at the exact moment Lex moved. Hawkgirl lunged after Lex, only for Lex to mirror Bruce's earlier motion, clasping his hands and firing another laser at the exact same point Bruce had been targeting.
Below them, Clark had already landed and launched himself back into battle.
Finding his angle, he turned into a living missile and charged Doctor Fate head on.
Doctor Fate blasted him away again.
Clark came back.
Again.
And again.
Each collision shook the battlefield.
Zatanna suddenly gasped.
"Doctor Fate's control over the Spire is weakening. I can break through again."
"Clark, keep pressuring him. Leave the rest to me."
"Understood."
Clark burst from the rubble, eyes fixed on the towering sorcerer.
He hurled himself back into the storm like a machine that could not feel pain.
While Clark kept Doctor Fate occupied, Bruce and Lex's momentum was broken.
Hawkman and Hawkgirl pressed them hard once more.
Bruce and Lex had flawless coordination, but against partners who had fought together across countless reincarnations, even genius struggled to match instinct.
They were gradually being overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, 3.8 kilometers away, Floyd Lawton lay on a rooftop, infrared goggles over his eyes, a cigar hanging from his lips.
Humming to himself, he assembled the massive sniper cannon strapped across his body.
Within moments, the 2.85 meter weapon, fitted with a 28 millimeter barrel, was ready.
He took aim at the distant aerial battle.
Over comms, his voice came through.
"Bruce, Lex, big gun's ready. Eighteen heavy armor-piercing rounds."
"Wait for my signal."
"We'll make it count," Bruce replied.
Above, Bruce and Lex spun back to back under the assault.
Nth metal shifted endlessly, changing shapes, becoming blades, maces, and spears in rapid succession.
Even holding on was difficult.
Their lasers also had limits. Without enough lightning to recharge, two consecutive shots dropped their suits near critical levels.
Then Floyd's voice returned.
"Three second countdown. Target the female."
"Received."
Bruce and Lex moved instantly.
Hawkman's sword came down.
Lex dodged and trapped Hawkman's arm.
Bruce silently counted.
Three.
Two.
One.
An eight centimeter round tore through the sky.
It slammed into Hawkgirl's eye.
The Nth metal field softened the damage, but the impact snapped her head aside. For a split second, she froze.
That was enough.
Bruce launched a nano electrode.
The device struck, electricity surging through her body.
Paralyzed, Hawkgirl dropped.
Bruce seized her and rocketed toward the plasma core.
Lightning arced around them.
At the last moment, he kicked her away and fired.
A fresh burn scarred her wing.
Below the Spire, Zatanna fought her own war.
Maintaining control over the Spire with one hand, she cast spell after spell with the other, blasting back waves of undead.
Then Victor and Selina arrived beside her.
Selina's blade flashed.
Three zombie heads hit the ground.
Without turning, she said,
"Zatanna, focus on the Spire."
"These zombies are slower than the ones in Resident Evil. Victor and I can handle this."
Zatanna nodded.
"Understood."
With Victor and Selina guarding her flanks, she focused entirely on wresting control of the Spire.
The war of attrition dragged on.
Hours later, early the next morning.
Around eight o'clock, Axel stretched and climbed out of bed.
After a shower and a change of clothes, he stepped out of his room yawning, only to find Alfred waiting outside.
Axel grinned and patted his shoulder.
"Alfred, why stand outside? You could've come in."
Alfred gave him a dry look.
"I'd rather not risk disturbing your legendary morning temper, sir."
"The real reason is Master Bruce and the others are having an extremely difficult battle in Washington."
"The enemies there are proving troublesome."
"They've pushed them away from the Spire several times, but whenever Miss Zatanna nears complete control…"
"The enemies return and disrupt her."
Alfred looked at him expectantly.
Axel frowned.
"No way. Those two are dragging this out?"
"Clark joined them before I went to sleep."
"How is this still happening?"
He took the sandwich Alfred handed him and bit into it.
Alfred chuckled.
"Not everyone is as absurdly overpowered as you."
Axel laughed.
"Fair point."
"Alright, after breakfast I'll head over and see what nonsense those witch siblings have unleashed."
He paused.
"Actually, this makes no sense."
"Unless Clark got mind-controlled and switched sides, this shouldn't be hard."
As he muttered, Alfred suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, one more thing. Two of your friends arrived last night and made themselves quite comfortable in your room."
"I put them in guest rooms."
"They're having breakfast in the dining hall."
Axel blinked.
"My friends?"
A grin spread across his face.
"Barry and Kara?"
He strode toward the dining hall.
Then froze.
At the table sat the witch siblings, eating peacefully.
Axel stared.
They noticed him, immediately stood, set down their silverware, and bowed respectfully.
Axel slowly swallowed.
Then pointed at them.
"Alfred…"
"You're telling me these are my friends?"
"And they spent the night here?"
Alfred nodded.
Axel looked back at the siblings, completely baffled.
"If these two slept here all night…"
He pointed dramatically toward Washington.
"Then who the hell has my buddy been fighting this whole time?"
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