As his words fell, Heisenberg picked up the Mother Box and casually tore the chains wrapped around it to shreds.
When Hippolyta saw the chains her people had labored so hard to forge crumble in Heisenberg's hands like scraps of paper, she smiled with a meaning all her own.
The adult world was full of silent probing—this was a metal even Apollo couldn't easily tear apart with raw strength alone!
When Heisenberg managed it with such effortless ease, Hippolyta, who knew the Olympian gods intimately, immediately confirmed his level of power.
Even if he wasn't quite Zeus's equal, he couldn't be far off!
A chief god like this was certainly worthy of her entire people pledging themselves to!
Because unlike Zeus, Heisenberg wasn't a lecherous, erratic fool—and he was young enough besides!
With her head lowered, Hippolyta gazed at the land beneath her with burning passion. What a beautiful planet this was, and what a young, fresh divine kingdom!
The Amazons had fought for the gods for countless years, but until now, all they'd been left with when the gods departed Earth was the job of standing guard.
But now, the chance to enter this divine kingdom was right before her eyes!
And Lord Heisenberg…
After tearing apart the chains, Heisenberg gently patted the silent Mother Box.
When it still showed no reaction, he simply tossed it aside.
At the spot where the Mother Box was about to land, a great hand of sand formed in an instant and caught it in its grip.
At the same time, the little sphere in Heisenberg's arms giggled softly.
"Daddy, Daddy, I'll take this one too! This metal is so fascinating!
Just like the last box—I'll put them in my core, and sooner or later I'll be able to break them down and turn them into a fixed resource my body can keep producing. How's that?"
"Whatever you like, little one."
Heisenberg smiled indifferently. He couldn't care less about a Mother Box that even Apokolips' own people had forgotten.
As for the destructive power the box could unleash—anyone at his level could withstand it.
The Clark from the movies couldn't?
That was only because he hadn't yet grasped the deeper idealistic power of the Kryptonians.
Sooner or later he'd reach the same level Heisenberg stood at now—it would just take a while.
Beside them, Hippolyta admired Heisenberg's grand gesture with excitement.
Yes, just like that!
A treasure Zeus himself had collected for ages, hoping to master the rules within it—and you toss it aside without a second thought!
Only this could prove that the choice I'm making now is far stronger than what I once had!
Watching Heisenberg's magnanimous display, Hippolyta's eyes practically glowed gold.
At first glance the man was merely handsome, but once that bearing came through, he was devastatingly, almost inhumanly gorgeous!!!
Except…
Hippolyta raised her head and glanced at the little sphere in Heisenberg's arms.
Except he already had a child!
But thankfully, that sphere was clearly the will of the planet beneath their feet. The future God King still had no true descendants of his own.
At that thought, Hippolyta couldn't help but glance at Diana.
When she saw the little stars shining in her daughter's eyes, she nodded with relief.
Her daughter wasn't foolish after all.
Beside them, Heisenberg rubbed the obedient little ball in his arms and gave Hippolyta a gentle smile.
"Rise."
He spoke, and with a subtle lift of his right hand, thousands of people instantly returned to their feet.
Looking at Hippolyta, who stood before him nearly matching his own height, Heisenberg said with a smile:
"The Divine Kingdom welcomes you, Hippolyta, and the warriors of the Amazons."
"Understood!"
Hippolyta immediately slammed her right fist against her chest, and the Amazon warriors behind her moved in perfect unison with her.
The Kryptonians, with their lightning-fast reflexes, watched Hippolyta's people move and decisively mimicked the gesture.
And when their fists struck their chests, producing a sound that sent hot blood surging through their veins—
The Kryptonians suddenly realized they loved this salute!
At the same time, from the training grounds, from the laboratories, every Kryptonian who had sensed the change in the Divine Kingdom made their way to the beach where Heisenberg stood.
Everyone—even Bruce included—performed the chest salute in perfect unison toward Heisenberg.
The Flash, surrounded by this atmosphere, looked at Heisenberg with eyes full of pure admiration.
"This is the greatest scene I could ever have imagined!"
He remarked in awe, then gazed at Heisenberg with longing and raised his own fist.
Having only just become a hero, not even famous yet, the Flash found his worldview reshaped in an instant by Heisenberg.
Before he'd even had the chance to truly do something for the world, he'd discovered there was another way to live.
Besides becoming a superhero like Batman, it turned out he also had the chance to stand beside a true god.
Like Hermes in the myths—Barry was fast too. Really fast!
So then…
Barry's eyes brimmed with longing. If he were a god himself, then his father…
Looking at Heisenberg, Barry pursed his lips enviously. Who would dare imprison Heisenberg's father?
Although Heisenberg didn't have one.
Wait, that's not quite right to think…
Anyway…
Barry nodded firmly. He believed that after years of failing to save his father through the law, now, perhaps he could save him through divine power!
His power was called the Speed Force. So if he shortened it… wouldn't that be… Divine Force?
Barry smiled with longing.
Heisenberg could see the expectations everyone placed on him. He could also see the ever-present worry in Batman's eyes.
But no one knew better than Heisenberg.
In just a few short days in the DC world—or perhaps a few short weeks—
His momentum had grown to the point where the Batman before him, and whatever world-will stood behind him, could no longer casually suppress it.
Which meant that if he truly wanted to do something now, the current Bruce probably couldn't stop him.
His rise was nearly complete!
And what was the final thing his rise still lacked?
People!
Heisenberg smiled.
He spread his arms wide in an embracing gesture and addressed everyone present:
"Everyone, welcome to witness my Divine Kingdom—and even more, welcome to step into it.
From this moment on, this so-called god of mine finally seems to live up to the name."
As his words fell, Heisenberg strolled back to the seat he'd occupied before and sat down lightly.
He tapped the table with his right index finger, and countless particles instantly converged.
Dishes of every kind sorted themselves by category and were whisked away to the tables prepared for everyone on the beach.
"Rather than stand there staring at me, why not make this banquet a little livelier?
I've prepared meat and wine for you—so who will offer me song and dance, my friends?"
"The Amazons will not be outdone!"
Hippolyta laughed.
She rose respectfully, then drew the sword at her side.
She turned abruptly and slashed her blade against the sword her guard had likewise drawn.
The instant the two blades met, flames roared to life along the steel.
Hippolyta raised the burning sword high and bellowed to her people, who had all drawn their own swords behind her:
"Martial display!"
Boom!
The Amazons' right feet slammed into the ground in unison, kicking up a cloud of sand. The queen swept off her cloak and touched it directly to the flames on her blade, setting the garment she'd worn for years alight.
The burning cloak wrapped around her sword, and she hurled the blade into the sky.
The raging fire soared higher and higher as she threw it, growing ever more magnificent.
Boom!
Like heavenly fire crashing down, the blade wreathed in flame and cloak plunged into the earth, and the roaring bonfire made the already-bright sky even brighter.
The Amazons danced and sang around the bonfire, while the Evas wove through the crowd, delivering wine and food to those who'd taken their seats.
Heisenberg sat at the head of his own table, and this time, the lineup beside him was even more formidable.
Before, he'd had Superman on his left and Batman on his right.
But now…
Martha on his left, Alfred on his right!
He'd gone from Superman and Batman themselves to the two things they held dearest…
Meanwhile, over where Astra stood.
The commander of Rozz堡 wore a thoroughly displeased expression as she watched the singing, dancing Amazons.
As she watched, she issued orders to the people around her:
"Where are those art guild folks of ours? Time for them to show what they've got!
Kryptonians must not lose to any other race in any aspect whatsoever!
Especially not to other races who've pledged themselves to the Lord!!!"
"Don't worry, Astra, we've got a full twenty people from the Second Art Guild!
Sure, the reason they were imprisoned in the first place was writing love stories about the Council of Elders and the Tuotuo beasts.
But we have to trust them—they're absolutely professional artists!"
Non laughed as he answered Astra, earning a satisfied nod from her.
Watching the singing, dancing Amazons, Astra brimmed with anticipation.
Just you wait—soon I'll show you Kryptonian art!
That will be the song and dance the Lord loves most!
Of course, they were absolutely forbidden from singing about that love story between the elders and the Tuotuo beasts…
…
At Heisenberg's table, Clark had brought Bruce along to sample Kryptonian-style cuisine prepared by professional chefs from the Kryptonian Labor Guild.
The little sphere, along with Kara who'd come over to join them, sat behind Heisenberg, eating hotpot and listening to the music.
Alfred and Martha somehow struck up a conversation about their respective families, and everything seemed perfectly harmonious.
Except for Lois, who was full of thoughts.
And…
The newly appeared…
Barry Allen!
Near Heisenberg's Divine Kingdom, the sky suddenly lit up with countless bolts of black lightning.
The lightning swirled and churned, forcing the people who had been approaching the Divine Kingdom's ships to retreat.
As the lightning grew more and more intense, a deep passage gradually formed at its center.
Countless people saw the figure endlessly running on the other side of that passage!
At the same time, Heisenberg inside the Divine Kingdom frowned.
He'd suddenly realized something.
"Did I forget Mera and Fiona?"
Heisenberg asked Bruce with a smile.
Hearing this, Bruce was momentarily taken aback…
"You also forgot the Atlanteans you promised them…"
"Uh."
Heisenberg pursed his lips helplessly.
"Fine, I'll bring them over right now!"
As his words fell, Heisenberg tapped his fingers lightly, and a brilliant rainbow bridge suddenly appeared over the oceans of Earth.
At the same time, in the silent yet profound passage outside the Divine Kingdom, a streak of blue lightning flashed fiercely!
Just as the rainbow bridge lit up inside the Divine Kingdom, Heisenberg shot to his feet.
Because before the Atlanteans he'd teleported could even step out of the rainbow bridge, Barry's figure had already dashed right up to him!
There was clearly already a Barry beside him, yet now there was another Barry right in front of him.
It was just that this newly arrived Flash had particles flickering on and off across his body.
/-\
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