Chapter 63 Refusing to Execute Such Orders
The metal sphere was condensing, sparks continuously overflowing, and the sound of explosions was endless.
But that powerful explosive force never broke out of the confinement of the metal sphere.
As Kal-El slightly clenched his fist, the metal sphere and the small starfish sphere were continuously compressed and compressed again.
The sphere became smaller and smaller, but its density continuously increased.
Kal-El suddenly released his clenched fist, and the two spheres suddenly plunged downward toward the ruins.
Bang! Bang!
With two loud bangs, the ground was smashed into two deep pits.
"Superman is still as powerful as ever, I wonder when I'll be able to get my revenge?"
Harley Quinn exclaimed as she looked at Kal-El in mid-air.
"What? You're looking for him for revenge?"
Captain Boomerang beside her acted as if he had heard some unbelievable news.
"I thought I was overestimating myself just trying to teach the The Flash a lesson, but I didn't expect someone to be even more confident than me."
"You actually want to get revenge on Superman!"
"Listen to me, stop dreaming."
Harley Quinn didn't care.
"Dreams still need to be had, what if they come true?"
Captain Boomerang shook his head.
"You'd better think about how to seduce him, the success rate would be a bit higher!"
When Starro the giant starfish saw Kal-El easily resolve its small starfish, it immediately became restless.
Having just escaped its confinement, its heart was filled with hostility, and it was full of resentment towards the humans who had imprisoned it.
Roar!
It suddenly twitched its limp legs and lashed out at Kal-El.
Boom!
The enormous force compressed the air, and a strong wind pressure rushed toward Kal-El.
Kal-El had no intention of attacking the starfish.
His body suddenly flashed to one side, dodging the giant starfish's attack.
Kal-El hovered in mid-air, looking at the big eye in front of him.
"Starro, I won't hurt you, I'm going to send you back to space."
Woo!
The giant starfish still wouldn't let up, waving its arms and attacking Kal-El again.
Bang!
Kal-El dodged again, extremely fast, hovering on the other side of the giant starfish.
"I know, you once carefree gazed up at the starry sky, and I promise I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."
Roar!
The giant starfish tried hard to wave its arms, wanting to knock Kal-El down.
Yet it found that no matter how it attacked, it couldn't touch Kal-El's figure at all.
Roar!
It suddenly felt a strong sense of grievance.
It once carefree in space, floating freely in space, gazing up at the starry sky.
Back then it was very happy.
But ever since it was imprisoned by humans, its freedom was completely stripped away.
They experimented on it, making it split small starfish without limit.
It lost its happiness, replaced by endless splitting and splitting again.
Now it had finally broken free and regained its freedom.
But this was no longer the starry sky it was familiar with; here there were only humans it loathed and a strange planet.
It didn't know whether it should still trust this powerful person in front of it.
He had a shape similar to humans, but possessed abilities different from humans.
It stopped its movements, no longer making futile attacks.
The big eye quietly looked at Kal-El hovering in front of it, and suddenly transparent streams flowed out.
Splash——!
Tears kept falling, continuously pounding against the ground.
Splashes scattered everywhere, continuously spreading.
Kal-El could feel the giant starfish's sadness and grievance, and his body slowly approached, stopping in front of the giant starfish's aggrieved big eyes.
Kal-El's expression was very serious.
"Trust me, I will hand those people over to justice and make them pay for everything they've done to you."
The giant starfish's eyes moved.
"But you cannot recklessly harm civilians; they know nothing, nor have they ever hurt you. They are innocent."
"Woo——!"
The giant starfish rolled its big eyes and gently waved its arms.
Kal-El revealed a trace of a smile.
"Starro, now I'm going to send you back to space, send you to live your own life—a place without humans, where no one will ever disturb you from watching the stars again."
"Wuwu X ﹏ X!"
Starro's mood finally lifted; it waved its arms somewhat excitedly, and its legs were also constantly moving.
It hadn't quietly gazed at the starry sky in a long time, how it looked forward to it!
Kal-El smiled slightly, his figure cutting through the air.
He instantly arrived behind Starro the giant starfish, placing his hands on Starro's body.
Bio-electric Field!
Woo——!
He slowly lifted Starro's massive body up.
Starro lay in mid-air, continuously waving its limbs.
"Now, I'm sending you to go see the stars!"
Kal-El said with a smile, gradually beginning to ascend into the sky.
Harley Quinn and other Suicide Squad members felt a sense of relief when they saw the giant starfish's body rising higher and higher.
"Look, that giant starfish is so happy!"
Robert smiled; the mission was finally completed.
In Harley Quinn's eyes as she looked at the giant starfish, there were some little stars.
"I want to raise a starfish too."
Rick Flag turned his head toward the starfish sphere on the side.
"Look, there are plenty of them over there, you can pick one up anytime!"
Harley Quinn turned her head to look, involuntarily shuddering.
"Forget it, their teeth are too sharp! I definitely don't want to turn into a walking corpse."
Rick Flag turned to look at the group of excited team members.
"Guys, our mission is complete. Congratulations on getting your sentences reduced, and don't forget to ask for some extra perks."
"Of course, I want to have a luxury cell in the prison, and I can check in anytime no matter when I go to jail."
Harley Quinn immediately became excited, taking the opportunity to put forward her own request.
"Of course, you can't accept money, my money is all in the bank, and there's no way to withdraw it in prison."
Nanaue patted his belly.
"I want to have endless people to eat whenever I'm hungry!"
Rick Flag: "..."
Everyone: "..."
"Sorry, Nanaue, I'm afraid that request of yours cannot be satisfied."
Just as everyone was talking and laughing together, a familiar voice suddenly came through Rick Flag's earpiece.
"Rick Flag, your mission is not over yet."
"What?"
Rick Flag furrowed his brow.
"Destroy the hard drive, it cannot be leaked."
Rick Flag immediately shook his head.
"Sorry, I refuse to execute such an order; the public has a right to know the truth."
"You are an American soldier, you should obey orders that benefit the country."
"But I am even more so a human being, a person with a conscience!"
Amanda Waller took a deep breath.
And turned to speak into Robert's earpiece.
"Robert, destroy the hard drive!"
Robert looked at Rick Flag beside him, and Rick Flagimmediately became alert, putting the hard drive into his uniform pocket.
Harley Quinn gripped her gun, but the smile on her face didn't change.
Captain Boomerang kept toying with his boomerang in his hand.
Javelin had an injury on his shoulder, but still endured the pain and picked up his Javelin.
Savant continually patted his bouncy ball, closely staring at Robert's movements.
Although the cooperation with Robert had been pleasant enough, at a time like this they would definitely still choose to stand with Rick Flag.
"Wait, you guys aren't going to start fighting, are you?"
Polka-Dot Man felt the situation was somewhat ominous, yet didn't know how to break up the fight.
Having just finished a hard battle, he definitely didn't want to turn his gun muzzle on his own people.
Ratcatcher 2 Cleo worried that Robert and Rick Flagwould come into conflict, and hurriedly stepped between the two.
"Please, don't be like this."
She looked at Robert and pleaded, pleading with the man who had cared for her like a father.
"Haha!"
Robert suddenly laughed.
"Sorry, I don't accept this kind of order either!"
Chapter 64: The Real Enemy?
Amanda Waller was furious at this moment.
"Damn it, have you forgotten about the bomb inside your skull?"
"Now, I order you to snatch back the hard drive and destroy it."
Her words weren't finished yet.
"And you guys, I demand that you assist Robert in destroying the hard drive, otherwise I will detonate the bombs inside your skulls."
"Damn you, Amanda Waller, suit yourself."
Captain Boomerang chose to push back hard.
He wasn't scared at all.
"You can detonate all the bombs inside our skulls, as long as it makes you happy."
This taunting tone completely infuriated Amanda Waller.
She suddenly turned on the bomb controller, disengaged the safety, and found Captain Boomerang's bomb button.
"You'll regret this!"
Her finger moved slowly, resting on that red button.
"If I were you, I wouldn't be that foolish."
Robert's voice was very calm.
"What?"
Amanda Waller grew even more indignant.
"Superman has already been involved in this matter. He has already promised the giant starfish Starro that he will make those people pay the price."
"If you destroy the hard drive, you're completely going against Superman."
Amanda was unconvinced.
"This is for America, Superman will agree!"
"But Superman doesn't belong to America; he belongs to the world. He is the guardian deity of the entire Earth."
Harley Quinn also added a sentence.
"Of course, Superman doesn't just protect America; he protects the whole world, just like right now."
"So he doesn't belong to any single country; he just lives in America."
Robert was very relaxed.
"I don't think anyone would be foolish enough to go against a superhero who protects the entire world, and the government wouldn't ask you to do that either!"
This speech by several people completely choked Amanda Waller up.
Everything they said seemed to be the truth.
After snapping back to reality, she immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
That really was true!
Superman just lived in America, but he also frequently appeared in other countries.
He was helping anyone who needed help.
Perhaps in his eyes, all humans were treated equally.
She had unknowingly regarded Superman as personnel led by the US government, trying to interfere with Superman's plan.
She retracted her hand and re-engaged the safety on the bomb control box.
But she wouldn't apologize.
After a long while, Amanda's voice sounded in Rick Flag's earpiece once again.
"Then do as you say, and ask for Superman's opinion."
Rick Flag exchanged glances with the others.
"Yeah! We finally won one back in front of that annoying woman."
Captain Boomerang and Harley Quinn high-fived each other.
"She really is annoying."
Harley Quinn suddenly leaned into Cleo's ear.
"Maybe her menopause came early!"
"Haha..."
"Harley Quinn, don't think I can't hear you right now."
Amanda's face darkened even more, and she gritted her teeth, barely able to tolerate it.
Harley Quinn, you're annoying too!
...
On the other side, Kal-El had already brought Starro into space.
"Wuwu! Wuwu!"
Entering familiar space, Starro's movements became even more exaggerated.
It kept waving its floppy body, twisting constantly in Kal-El's hands.
Kal-El could feel its excitement through Starro's body movements.
Flying forward for a very long time, Starro suddenly struggled.
"You want to stay here?"
"Wuwu!"
Kal-El looked at the surrounding environment; amidst a profound darkness, countless planets were floating quietly.
Stars of different colors were arranged in the universe, and from time to time, scattered meteorites fell toward the planets, trailing a long tail behind them.
Kal-El removed the Bio-electric Field, and the giant starfish immediately began to swing its limbs, swimming happily around.
It kept turning its body, its big eyes staring closely at the vast stars in this boundless universe.
Kal-El smiled and slowly landed on the giant starfish's head.
The giant starfish lay on its back, enjoying this starry sky together with Kal-El.
Soon, Kal-El opened his eyes and woke up from his sleep.
Boom! Boom!
He patted Starro's body, but Starro didn't react in the slightest.
Kal-El shook his head, clenched his fist, and used just a tiny bit of strength.
Boom!
"Wu?"
The giant starfish Starro's big eyes looked upward, but no matter what, it couldn't see Kal-El's figure.
Kal-El chuckled and jumped down from Starro's head.
Floating in front of Starro's big eyes.
"With eyes as big as yours, there are still places you can't see?"
"Wu? (Aggrieved)"
Kal-El stopped teasing this pitiful giant starfish.
"I'm leaving."
"Wu? (Reluctant to part)"
Kal-El reached out and touched the giant starfish's big eyes.
"I will make those who hurt you receive the punishment they deserve! You must stay here and watch the stars well."
Kal-El's palm suddenly became wet, and tears couldn't stop flowing from the big eyes.
"I will come find you again!"
Kal-El said one last sentence, slowly turned around, and flew toward Earth.
Whoosh——Boom——!
A dazzling light appeared in the universe, traveling at extreme speed through the vast cosmos.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
All meteorites blocking its way shattered into pieces, completely turning into cosmic dust.
That light transcended everything, crossing countless stars in an instant.
At the end of the light was Kal-El in a black battle suit.
At this moment, he, was the light.
——!
Boom!
Kal-El's figure suddenly shifted from motion to stillness, stopping abruptly in a familiar expanse of space.
Solar System!
Looking at the huge sun in front of him, it emitted ultimate light and heat, carrying a powerful aura of destruction.
Like a giant fireball, it brought infinite vitality to this universe.
Kal-El turned around, his cape fluttering without any wind.
Rising across the sky once more, he shot toward Earth following the sun's light.
Boom——!
"Light, I've caught up to you!"
Kal-El didn't linger, rushing straight into Earth and returning to Corto Maltese almost in an instant.
He hovered quietly in mid-air, looking at Rick Flag and the others in the city.
"Superman!"
Everyone stood up one after another.
Rick Flag came before Kal-El.
"This is the hard drive for the Starfish Project. Inside is the truth of the Starfish Project, and I want to make it public."
Rick Flag held his breath nervously; Kal-El's attitude would determine whether he could make the truth in the hard drive public.
Kal-El nodded slightly.
"Hand it over to the Daily Planet; they will make the truth public."
He slowly turned his head, looking toward the distant sky.
"Some people need to receive punishment!"
Hoo!
Rick Flag let out a long breath.
"I will!"
Harley Quinn crowded forward at this moment, revealing her iconic smile.
She raised her hand and waved at Kal-El in the air.
"Hey, Mr. Superman, do you still remember me?"
Kal-El's mouth curved slightly upward.
"Of course I remember, Harley Quinn. You had a road rage attack at the bank and I threw you into prison, isn't that right?"
"Uh, there's really no need to remember it in such detail."
Kal-El's gaze shifted to Dr. Sivana at the back of the crowd.
Sivana lowered his head slightly.
Kal-El didn't continue staying either; they seemed to be under a lot of pressure.
Supervillains facing superheroes are like this!
"Prepare yourselves, the real enemy hasn't arrived yet!"
Boom——!
Kal-El suddenly shot into the sky, leaving across the sky with a terrifying gale.
Harley Quinn looked toward the sky; Kal-El's figure had completely disappeared.
"What is the real enemy?"
Chapter 65: The President's Troubles
Robert shook his head as he watched the direction Kal-Elleft.
"Maybe these superheroes all like to be mysterious."
"You weren't saying that when Superman was just here!"
Robert: "..."
"Mission accomplished. Once we head back, I'll apply for a bigger sentence reduction for you all!"
"Many thanks!"
"And Cleo, I will report to the higher-ups to have you released. Being able to summon rats isn't your fault; that's your superpower."
Cleo grew excited.
"Thank you, Colonel Rick Flag."
Rick Flag and Robert led the team members back to the prison. Amanda Waller also recognized reality and did not break her promise because of this matter.
A ten-year sentence reduction!
This promise successfully freed Ratcatcher 2 from prison and even earned her a compensation package for her imprisonment.
After all, Ratcatcher 2 didn't have any severe criminal record; she was sentenced to prison simply for summoning rats.
However, Harley Quinn wasn't too concerned about the sentence reduction.
This was her third time in prison for bank robbery, coupled with prison escape attempts, so her sentencing completely followed the maximum standards.
Now her cumulative sentence had piled up to over sixty years, and this ten-year reduction wasn't even enough to cover a single bank robbery.
Robbing the wealthy was still more cost-effective; even if she got caught and sent to prison, the sentence wouldn't be that heavy.
Therefore, she only pushed hard for better treatment in prison and didn't care at all about her sentence reduction.
But Rick Flag cared a lot about his team members.
Under his persistence, Amanda Waller ultimately granted the few of them varying sentence reductions ranging from over a decade.
...
Daily Planet.
"Goodness, this material is truly astonishing!"
Editor-in-Chief Perry White saw the data in the hard drive, which clearly recorded the details of the Starfish Projectformulated by the United States during the Cold War.
This included human experiments conducted through the giant Starro.
Scene after scene inside was simply shocking.
"Oh, I probably shouldn't be seeing this. Is this something a news editor-in-chief should be looking at?"
He suddenly hesitated.
Once the information in this hard drive was published, it would definitely cause a huge commotion.
Those American politicians were not to be trifled with.
Even though the Starfish Project had passed for decades, many people had already died, or were about to die.
But there were always some stubborn old geezers who held certain influences.
Even the government probably didn't want this information to leak out.
After all, the spread of such a stain would definitely affect the national image of the United States, and those in power as part of the vested interest class could never bear to see their own interests harmed.
Was he really going to risk going head-to-head with the U.S. government to make this data public?
The philosophical wisdom he had accumulated from surviving at the Daily Planet for many years told him that right now was the best time to look for leadership.
The higher-ups might consider this matter more comprehensively than he did and could judge based on their own strength whether they could withstand the government's pressure.
But once this material was published, the Daily Planetwould definitely be able to sell massively across the U.S. on the back of this unique news, and it wasn't entirely impossible for it to leapfrog into becoming the largest news media outlet in America.
He couldn't see clearly whether this was a gamble or an opportunity to take the Daily Planet to the next level.
He took out his phone and dialed that familiar number.
"Hello?"
Snow Gray's voice sounded through the receiver.
Perry White calmed his excited mood and explained the situation of this material.
"I know about this matter. Feel free to publish this evidence; our Amazon Group isn't as simple as you think."
Snow Gray's voice was steady and measured.
"For us, there won't be any obstacles regarding this matter."
Perry White had never felt Snow Gray's voice sound so pleasant.
Judging by the general manager's tone, Amazon seemed to have some connections within the government, and the other party's position didn't seem low.
Could it be some influential congressman?
"Alright, I understand. I'll make this news spread across America overnight!"
"The Daily Planet will definitely use this to become America's top news media organization."
He hung up the phone excitedly, seeing the upcoming glory of the Daily Planet in his eyes.
As for the negative impact this evidence might have on the United States, he didn't care at all.
The U.S. government didn't pay him a salary and still deducted his taxes.
Meanwhile, Amazon Group's high salary of $800,000 a year made his life happy and fulfilling.
Since the higher-ups could withstand the pressure, he was also willing to publish this material to give back for the group's generous treatment.
And,
The kindness of his boss, Kal-El!
With a grateful heart and unparalleled work enthusiasm, Perry White immediately summoned the employees of the Daily Planet for a meeting.
At the meeting, he opened this file and projected it onto the projector.
"Oh, goodness!"
"This is an unforgivable crime, and everyone involved in this project should face legal sanctions."
Lois slammed the table and stood up even more excitedly.
"Indeed, this plan is simply inhumane."
"This is a negative textbook example of humanitarianism; they must receive the punishment they deserve!"
The group of people was filled with righteous indignation.
This evil plan had cost many innocent people their lives.
The elderly, women, children...
Political rivals, reporters...
These people all became victims of the Starfish Project.
Among them, the number of reporters who died reached double digits.
For people in the journalism industry like them, every predecessor who bravely disregarded danger to acquire news was a respectable hero.
The Daily Planet moved quickly. After working overtime all night, by the next day, news about the Starfish Project had appeared overwhelmingly all over the internet.
This evidence clearly documented the crimes of the U.S. government during the Cold War.
America exploded, and the media went crazy.
How did the Daily Planet get a hold of this kind of news first?
Never mind. If they couldn't get the first wave of traffic, following behind to eat some leftovers would have to do.
The U.S. government was given a massive headache by this suddenly exposed bombshell.
White House.
President Trump was sitting in his comfortable swivel chair, casually pressing a button on the side.
He rubbed his forehead with his hand.
The Secretary of State nearby stepped forward.
With one hand in his pocket, he paced slowly in front of the president.
"Mr. President, domestic news media are all staring at the White House right now. They want you to provide an explanation regarding the Starfish Project from the Cold War era."
"Damn it, why did this kind of thing have to be exposed? Who was in charge of this kind of thing?"
"Amanda Waller's A.R.G.U.S.. She is responsible for managing and coordinating American superhuman affairs."
"Ask that annoying, ugly woman Amanda Waller why she exposed this kind of matter. Was her brain infected by that bunch from the circus?"
The Secretary of State clenched his hand, placed it near his mouth, and gave a cough.
"I think there's no need to ask her again. She said this is also Superman's intention."
The president found it somewhat hard to believe.
"Isn't Superman our American superhero? Why would he do this?"
The Secretary of State also pressed his lips together.
"Although I really don't want to admit it, this is just our own wishful thinking."
"Superman has never belonged to any country; he is a superhero for all of humanity, or rather, the entire Earth."
"Why would it be like this? I'm even a fan of his; I bought an action figure of his for my youngest son."
"Alright, please calm down, Mr. President. Right now, you aren't anyone's fan; you are the President of the United States."
Thump! Thump!
A knock sounded, and a woman walked in carrying a tray.
"Mr. President, your cola!"
Chapter 66: The Mother Box
The woman placed the Cola in front of President Trump.
Trump smiled, picked up the cup, and took a sip, looking quite enchanted.
He looked at the woman, his mood suddenly turning very good.
"Thank you, you look very charming today!"
"Oh, really? Too bad I don't like elderly men!"
The woman teased with a chuckle and walked out with her long legs.
Only when the woman's figure was completely out of sight did Trump withdraw his gaze.
He turned his head to look at the Secretary of State beside him.
"Where were we?"
The Secretary of State spread his hands helplessly.
"How should we handle the domestic public opinion?"
"What is your opinion?"
The Secretary of State slowly sat down.
"Since the matter has been exposed, the only thing to do now is to hold the relevant personnel at the time accountable. The public needs an explanation."
"It seems we have no choice but to handle it this way. Superman has really given us a big headache!"
With the orders coming from the White House, the state machinery began to operate, and the government started arresting people based on the list.
More than half a century had passed, and most of the relevant personnel from back then had already passed away.
But there would always be some who slipped through the net and were still alive.
With the exposure of the Starfish Project, they also became the targets of public criticism.
Before long, the police began showing up at their doors to make arrests.
Even though some of them already had mobility issues, they would still have to spend their remaining days in prison.
Karl picked up the remote control and turned off the news.
Now, he could have a good rest with Diana for a while.
Go to space to see the giant starfish?
...
Countless light-years away from Earth, in a distant galaxy.
On a massive planet exuding an aura of destruction, Darkseid sat quietly on his throne.
"Find the mother boxes. They are the artifacts of Apokolips, a powerful aid for my conquest of the universe."
He looked at the crowd of subordinates below, his voice calm yet exuding an invisible deterrence.
At this moment, the High Priest of Apokolips suddenly spoke.
"The Mother Box sent out a signal some time ago, but it did not provide the exact coordinates of Earth."
"I can only deduce from the Mother Box's information that a Kryptonian has appeared on Earth."
"A Kryptonian? Krypton has been destroyed. There are still surviving Kryptonians on Earth?"
"The Mother Box is certain. It would not mistake the aura of a Kryptonian."
Darkseid slowly stood up, a powerful sense of oppression instantly washing over the room.
"Kryptonians should not be an obstacle to me. Earth has blocked me for far too long, and I can no longer suppress my rage."
He suddenly turned his head to scan his subordinates.
"Whether the Mother Box is willing or not, make it reveal the coordinates. We need guidance."
"The army of the New Gods will descend upon Earth once again."
"The Old Gods of Earth have perished. A mere Kryptoniancannot stop the army of Apokolips."
The High Priest nearby nodded in agreement. The Mother Box was an artifact and should not feel fear.
He now had to make the Mother Box guide them to Earth.
The Old Gods had perished, and though the Kryptonians were powerful, their numbers were few.
They believed that this time, even if they couldn't achieve complete victory, there wouldn't be a disastrous defeat like the last one.
Moreover, Darkseid was even more powerful now.
Darkseid looked at Steppenwolf, who stood in the corner with his head bowed, silent.
"Steppenwolf, recalling you this time does not mean I have forgiven your betrayal. I want you to go to Earth to gather intelligence, attempt to retrieve the mother boxes, and prepare for the descent of the army of Apokolips."
"Are you willing?"
Though Steppenwolf was reluctant, he still stepped forward and knelt on the ground.
"Master, I am willing to be the vanguard and clear the way for the army for now."
"Go. Remember, you still have fifty thousand worlds to conquer for me. This is your atonement."
Steppenwolf looked at Darkseid, his eyes clear.
"Understood, my master."
He slowly left, walking out of the great hall.
He had to make all preparations to avoid encountering the Kryptonian.
He would not rashly confront the Kryptonian.
The safest way was to hide after entering Earth and gather intelligence on Earth's combat power for Darkseid.
Darkseid looked at Steppenwolf's retreating figure.
"Will he be able to seize the three mother boxes to open the teleportation portal?"
"Impossible. The Kryptonian won't let him get the three mother boxes."
Darkseid clenched his fist and smashed it onto his throne.
Bang!
Cracks appeared all over the armrest.
"Only the teleportation portal of the mother boxes can allow the army of Apokolips to reach Earth in the shortest time, but now it seems Earth won't give us that opportunity."
Darkseid's voice was steady and powerful.
"In that case, we will take the spaceships and perform space jumps."
The parademon Wantaba spoke immediately, already impatient to begin a slaughter on Earth.
"As long as we have Earth's coordinates, we will arrive there eventually, even if it takes a bit longer."
Desaad was also full of confidence in this invasion plan.
The New Gods would once again embark on a campaign against Earth, washing away the shame of their past defeat there.
Darkseid was stronger than in the past, and the Old Godsof Earth had perished.
Furthermore, Darkseid's vanguard Steppenwolf and the Female Furies were both powerful subordinates.
And Earth only has a Kryptonian; if Darkseid takes action himself, they won't pose much of a threat.
Darkseid slowly turned his head to look at the distant sky, suddenly remembering the humiliation he suffered on Earth in ancient times.
That axe strike was something he remembered vividly even now.
Although at that time he did not possess the Omega Beams and his strength was far from what it was today.
Now that the Old Gods had disappeared, Earth's strength had greatly declined.
Although the Kryptonian was powerful, it was not enough to make him fear.
...
Paradise Island, the Mother Box storage tower.
Karl was quietly looking at the Apokoliptian artifact in front of him—the Mother Box.
"Compared to your godkiller sword, this thing actually seems like a real artifact."
Diana did not agree.
"My godkiller sword isn't bad. It is sharper than any weapon on Earth. The only reason it was so easily destroyed was because it faced Ares, the God of War."
Karl smiled slightly, not interrupting Diana as she tried to save face.
This thing was very special, not even looking like something created by any living organism.
Diana also nodded in agreement.
"It's really hard to imagine that three such mother boxes, in unity, could instantly destroy Earth."
"Because it is an artifact of Apokolips in the Fourth World, which is fundamentally different from our world."
Hippolyta, the Amazon Queen, walked in, followed by two female warriors.
"We have guarded the Mother Box since ancient times, but we still do not understand it.
Its mystery and power keep people at a distance, and we have never tried to understand it because we worried it would draw Darkseid here."
"I wouldn't normally let anyone touch it, but you two are different."
She looked at Karl seriously, her tone solemn.
"Will Darkseid come again?"
"Yes, he will definitely come!"
Karl answered without hesitation.
"I don't know how long it will take, but he will definitely come. Just the fact that the Apokoliptian artifact, the Mother Box, is left on Earth means he won't give up."
"Perhaps there is also something else he wants to obtain on Earth?"
Hippolyta's expression was grave; she was already feeling the pressure.
Although we won the war in ancient times, Earth was in its Golden Age back then.
The gods led by Zeus, the Green Lanterns of the Green Lantern Corps, the Amazons, Atlantis, and the human forces all united, with countless powerful beings.
But now, the Old Gods of Earth have perished, and the various factions are divided.
Can just a few superpowered individuals cope with the threat of Darkseid?
Chapter 67: Want to Learn and You Can
"Kal-El, if Darkseid descends upon Earth once more, does Earth still have the ability to resist?"
Hippolyta's voice was very serious.
Kal-El also turned serious, nodding at Hippolyta and Diana.
"I will do my utmost."
Hippolyta was very gratified.
"I am temporarily handing the Mother Box over to you for research, and I hope you can gain something from it."
"Many thanks!"
Not until Hippolyta had walked far away did Diana step closer and speak in a low voice.
"It is truly hard to imagine that someone like Mother, who views responsibility as more important than life itself, would actually be willing to let you touch the Mother Box."
"She has never let me touch that thing!"
Kal-El smiled.
"That's for your own good!"
Diana helplessly facepalmed.
"I know, I've heard this sentence countless times too."
Kal-El shook his head slightly, stepping forward to pick up the Mother Box and examine it up and down.
It seemed completely motionless, without the slightest stir.
X-Ray Vision!
Activate!
Kal-El utilized his vision to continuously scan the Mother Box in his hands.
After a long while, Kal-El put the Mother Box down.
"How is it? Did you see anything?"
Kal-El nodded.
"The material of this Mother Box does not belong to any known metal, yet it is exceptionally hard."
"There is an extremely powerful energy compressed inside the interior of the Mother Box; this power is capable of destroying matter, and it can rearrange the molecular structure of matter."
"In other words, this energy can easily decompose enemies."
Kal-El paced back and forth slowly.
"Precisely. Being able to decompose also means being able to restore."
Diana completely hadn't expected the Mother Box to have so many abilities; she had thought that the Mother Boxtrinity being able to destroy a planet was already shocking enough.
"This power is too terrifying; it's a good thing it only exists within the box."
Kal-El was not so optimistic, however.
He knew that at the very least, Darkseid possessed a similar ability, and an even more powerful one at that.
Omega Beams!
This was an insanely overpowered ability.
Today's Kal-El did not fear Darkseid, but he still felt a headache regarding Darkseid's practically uncounterable ability.
He wondered if the Omega Beams could erase Superman.
Even if that were truly the case, he couldn't fail to consider Diana and the others.
Kal-El didn't know whether Darkseid's Omega Beamswere obtained through the power of the Mother Box, but by now he couldn't care about all that so much.
He had to thoroughly research the power of the Mother Box to ensure he could contain Darkseid's Omega Beams.
Since Superman possessed a super brain and the strongest learning capability,
then Kal-El wanted to try researching the Mother Box to find a method to crack the Omega Beams.
Super brain, activate!
"Super Brain: Haven't used it in a long time, it's really almost rusting!"
Kal-El and Diana stayed on Paradise Island, studying the power of the Mother Box every day inside the tower where it was stored.
Diana even placed a few mirrors on the tower so that sunlight could be reflected onto Kal-El inside the tower.
Thus, a few modern mirrors unexpectedly appeared on the ancient-style Paradise Island, full of incongruity.
...
Time passed quickly, and Kal-El was still studying the Mother Box on Paradise Island.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Diana's footsteps went from far to near.
Kal-El withdrew his Bio-electric Field, and the floating Mother Box instantly fell into his hands.
"Kal-El, a new superpower user has appeared in Kahndaq."
Kal-El withdrew his gaze from the Mother Box.
He looked at Diana with keen interest.
"What's the situation?"
Although he had already guessed the other party's identity, Kal-El chose to satisfy Diana's desire to share.
"In Kahndaq, a group of Intergang mercenaries conflicted with a superpower user possessing the power of thunder."
"His abilities are somewhat similar to Billy Batson's, but his combat power is even stronger."
"They call him Black Adam!"
Kal-El gently nodded, not paying it too much mind.
"Hand them over to the Justice Society; they can resolve this matter."
He suddenly remembered that when the Justice Societyfaced Archdemon Sabbac, Doctor Fate was killed.
"You can also go take a look; you should be able to help out a bit."
Diana nodded. She hadn't taken action in a long time and was almost unable to suppress her desire for battle.
If not for her noticing that Black Adam currently hadn't shown an evil side, she probably would have already lost control and gone looking for him.
"Also, Amanda Waller dispatched Peacemaker to execute a secret mission, Project Butterfly!"
"This is a minor matter; they can resolve it themselves."
Kal-El turned his head to look at Diana.
"Sometimes don't let yourself get too tired. Humans also have many superpower users, and they are completely capable of resolving some simple minor matters!"
"We are guardians, but we don't need to manage everything!"
Diana nodded in understanding.
"But I like fighting evil forces!"
Kal-El felt a bit helpless, almost forgetting that Diana was a combative female warrior.
She had started secretly practicing combat skills from a very young age.
Diana reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear, leaning close to Kal-El and staring at the Mother Box.
"How is the research on the Mother Box going?"
Kal-El smiled.
Suddenly, two golden beams shot out from his eyes.
Boom!
The beams shot straight out, yet suddenly changed direction several times in succession, successfully hitting the stone door to the side.
Bang!
With a muffled sound, the stone door vanished with a roar, leaving behind only specks of dust in its original spot.
The entire massive stone door had already disappeared without a trace.
Diana's eyes widened slightly, completely unable to believe it.
"What kind of power is this?"
Kal-El used his Bio-electric Field to suspend the Mother Box, smiling faintly.
"This is my very own Omega Beams, researched based on the operational principles of the Mother Box's energy."
"Decomposition, destruction, resurrection (restoration)!"
"These are all its functions!"
Kal-El also felt proud of his research achievement.
"Although I haven't tried it, it truly gives one a chill."
Diana was somewhat alarmed.
She completely couldn't dodge the trajectory of the Omega Beams, and the destructive energy within them was also exceptionally terrifying.
She could feel that this kind of beam already far surpassed Kal-El's Heat Vision.
That energy felt as if it wanted to melt everything and decompose everything apart.
Facing this kind of beam, she had completely no power to resist.
No matter how strong her combat ability and taijutsu were, her body was ultimately composed of matter.
"If I were to face an enemy like you, I would have no ability to fight back whatsoever."
Diana was very glad that Kal-El was not an enemy of Earth, otherwise Earth would likely usher in its darkest hour.
But at this moment, she was also astonished by Kal-El's learning capability.
"How did you learn it? Just by scanning the Mother Box all day long?"
Kal-El smiled slightly.
"I believed I could learn it, so I learned it."
Turning his head to look at Diana, who seemed unable to understand, Kal-El's expression turned serious.
"Diana, you must believe in the power of the heart."
"My heart told me I could do it, so I did it!"
Diana looked at Kal-El as if looking at a monster.
"Just because you thought you could do it, you did it?"
"This doesn't seem to have a shred of basis."
...
Under the sea, Atlantis, the resting place of the Mother Box.
Boom!
A Boom Tube opened, and a pillar of light slowly formed.
Mera immediately became vigilant as the Mother Boxsuddenly stirred with unusual activity.
Steppenwolf's signature wolf-like horns poked out from inside the teleportation channel.
"Earth, I have come!"
He reached his hand toward the Mother Box, but Mera at the side suddenly rushed forward.
...
Two days later, Kahndaq.
Archdemon Sabbac descended upon the world once more.
Roar!
The powerful magic made him practically unstoppable.
Roar roar!
"No one can hinder me from restoring my rule!"
Chapter 68 Leave It to Me
Doctor Fate, Hawkman, and the others from the Justice Society launched a fierce, storm-like onslaught against Archdemon Sabbac, taking the upper hand for a time.
However, they never managed to deal a fatal blow to Sabbac.
Instead, as time went on, they gradually began to find themselves lacking the strength to keep up.
Roar! Roar!
Archdemon Sabbac roared towards the sky, finding Doctor Fate's illusion realm truly annoying.
"Still, there is ultimately nothing they can do to me!"
Bang!
He suddenly shattered the illusion realm.
Doctor Fate prepared to make a desperate last stand.
At that moment, a glowing rope suddenly shot over from afar, tightly binding Archdemon Sabbac.
Roar?
Sabbac wanted to break free, but felt a tremendous force coming from the rope.
His body was swung up uncontrollably.
Diana grabbed her lasso of truth with both hands, leading Sabbac and spinning him around continuously like flying a kite.
Archdemon Sabbac roared angrily, and Diana suddenly swung Archdemon Sabbac hard toward an abandoned building on the side.
Bang!
With a loud crash, Archdemon Sabbac's body heavily slammed into the thick wall.
Bang!
Rumble!
The thick reinforced concrete wall was completely smashed apart by Archdemon Sabbac's body.
Roar!
Diana did not give Sabbac time to react, swinging the rope once more and smashing Sabbac toward the other side.
Roar!
Archdemon Sabbac could only roar powerlessly in mid-air.
Even with all his might, he failed to break free from this annoying rope.
Swish!
Like a meteorite crashing to the ground, Sabbac slammed into the collapsed house on the other side with a powerful tearing sound in the air.
Bang!
The house looked as if it had been hit by a missile; large chunks of rock suddenly exploded, gravel splattered, and dust filled the sky.
Diana pulled the rope again, her body leaping into mid-air.
She swung her arm hard, and Sabbac, bound by the rope, was uncontrollably pulled up into the air.
"Hah!"
Diana let out a loud shout, and Archdemon Sabbac began to plummet rapidly under the pulling force.
Roar roar!
Sabbac roared angrily, his eyes wide open.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The loud crashes echoed throughout the city.
A giant crater appeared on the ground centered around Archdemon Sabbac, and the tremors from the ground spread throughout all of Kahndaq.
"Good grief, she is truly violent!"
Hawkman found it somewhat unbelievable looking at Wonder Woman like this.
"As expected of Earth's female God of War, her reputation is well-deserved!"
Doctor Fate chuckled softly.
Wonder Woman coming to assist was something they hadn't expected, but it was also a pleasant surprise.
At the very least, their pressure was greatly reduced, and casualties were avoided.
They just hadn't expected Wonder Woman to be so powerful; they had always thought Wonder Woman's combat strength was on par with superpowered individuals like them.
She only had a higher reputation because of her beautiful appearance and figure.
They hadn't expected Wonder Woman's combat power to be obviously much stronger than theirs.
Roar!
Archdemon Sabbac's roar came from within the smoke.
Bang!
He suddenly leaped out of the giant pit, ignoring the members of the Justice Society, and charged straight toward Diana.
This woman had swung him back and forth on the ground, and as Archdemon Sabbac possessing the power of the six demons, he felt intense humiliation.
Diana, however, was not afraid.
She drew the Holy Sword and shield from her back, instantly turning into a whirlwind and thrusting toward Sabbac.
Roar!
Sabbac roared, throwing a heavy punch forward.
Bang!
Diana dodged to the side and slashed out with her sword.
Bang!
Sabbac let out a painful roar, and a deep scratch instantly appeared on his chest.
Roar!
Sabbac howled once more, throwing a punch toward Diana.
But Diana suddenly accelerated, completely turning into countless afterimages.
She used the Holy Sword in her hand to launch a frantic, storm-like onslaught against Sabbac.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Countless sword shadows completely enveloped Sabbac, splashing sparks all over his body.
Hellfire constantly spewed out from Sabbac's chest.
Roar!
Sabbac howled, able to do nothing but take beating after beating under Diana's fierce onslaught.
Diana's figure completely surrounded Sabbac, and her sharp attacks turned into countless streaks of lightning continuously piercing through Sabbac's body.
Fast, too fast!
Sabbac completely failed to capture Diana's figure.
"Hah!"
With one final strike that pierced the air, Diana transformed into a fierce, blinding flash of sword light.
In just an instant, the sword light completely passed through Sabbac's body.
Bang!
Roar!
Diana slowly turned around behind Sabbac; a huge hollow had already appeared on Archdemon Sabbac's chest.
Roar!
"Sabbac!"
The Lord of Hell seemed to have heard the call, and Sabbac's body recovered once more at a speed visible to the naked eye, the hollow in his chest also healing rapidly.
"How can this be?"
Diana was somewhat surprised, but she would not be afraid.
She slowly put away her longsword and looked at Archdemon Sabbac.
Roar!
Archdemon Sabbac extended his arms, and two huge pillars of fire instantly spewed out, the powerful hellfire shrouding toward Diana.
Diana clenched her fists tightly, watching the incoming hellfire.
She rushed forward at extreme speed, her arms colliding in an instant.
Bang!
An incomparably powerful divine force burst forth from her arms, turning into a formidable destructive shockwave.
Boom!
The moment the divine force made contact with the hellfire, it swept the hellfire back in reverse.
Boom!
The blazing fire filling the sky was swept up by the divine force, rushing toward Archdemon Sabbac along with the shockwave.
Roar!
He roared once more, trying to steady his body.
But he was blown away by this powerful divine force.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
His body penetrated several buildings, and the exploding rubble buried him deep beneath the ruins.
Diana stood straight, paying attention to the movement beneath the ruins.
Roar!
Archdemon Sabbac's roar came from beneath the ruins once again.
Bang!
The ruins buried over Sabbac suddenly exploded, and Archdemon Sabbac's battered body darted out.
Still not dead?
"Oh my god, what kind of monster is this?"
Hawkman simply couldn't believe that this monster's vitality was so tenacious.
Atom Smasher was the same.
At the beginning, their battle against Archdemon Sabbachad also been fiercely offensive, but in the end, they found that they hadn't caused any effective damage to Archdemon Sabbac at all.
Was Wonder Woman going to repeat the same mistake as well?
Diana's gaze towards Sabbac also turned serious.
"I'm going to chop off your head and see if you can still recover!"
Diana prepared for battle once again.
Archdemon Sabbac suddenly roared toward the sky, and the surrounding air began to boil.
Hellfire spread out completely from his body, and the surroundings completely transformed into a sea of fire.
Doctor Fate hurriedly cast an illusion space to prevent the hellfire from causing harm to ordinary people.
Hawkman and the others were just about to step forward again to besiege Sabbac together with Diana when they suddenly heard an unfamiliar man's voice.
"Leave it to me!"
Doctor Fate turned his head sharply; an unfamiliar person had unexpectedly appeared inside the illusion space he cast without him knowing when.
Atom Smasher, Hawkman, Cyclone, and the others also looked up toward the sky one after another.
The moment Diana heard the voice, a smile appeared on her face.
"You really came after all!"
Doctor Fate looked up into the air and discovered a man wearing a black battle suit quietly hovering there.
With one leg slightly bent, he stood quietly in the air, his cape flapping loudly behind him.
An indescribable sense of oppression emanated from him.
"Superman!"
Chapter 69 Omega Beams
Doctor Fate and the others gasped in surprise.
Sure enough, wherever Wonder Woman appeared, Superman's traces were often found as well.
Could those rumors be true?
Diana looked at Kal-El.
"Actually, I could handle her, you didn't have to come in person."
Kal-El smiled slightly.
"I know, I just happened to be itching for action."
Roar!
Archdemon Sabbac suddenly roared, and the hellfire on his chest instantly formed a pillar of fire rushing toward Kal-El.
Whoosh!
Kal-El exhaled slightly, and his freezing breath instantly turned into an extremely cold frost that engulfed the hellfire.
The cold air continued to spread, roaring right up to Archdemon Sabbac.
Condensed ice crystals began to appear on his chest.
Roar!
He retreated backwards at extreme speed, finally pulling out of the impact range of the freezing breath.
Archdemon Sabbac looked at Kal-El with a hint of dread, but he still rushed toward Kal-El.
A demon king never yields!
Kal-El's figure suddenly flickered at extreme speed, and his entire person instantly vanished from Archdemon Sabbac's sight.
Bang!
Kal-El's figure instantly appeared in front of Archdemon Sabbac.
Throwing a punch, his fist grew larger and larger in Archdemon Sabbac's eyes.
Archdemon Sabbac had no time to react at all before this punch, filled with power, already slammed into his chest.
Bang!
With a loud explosion, Archdemon Sabbac instantly turned into a tiny black dot.
Bang!
Kal-El's figure flickered again, suddenly crossing hundreds of meters to shift behind Archdemon Sabbac.
"You are too slow!"
Roar!
Archdemon Sabbac instinctively wanted to dodge.
A sideways whip kick.
Bang!
Kal-El's savage whip kick blasted through the air, heavily slamming into Archdemon Sabbac's chest.
Bang!
With another loud crash, Archdemon Sabbac slammed heavily toward the ground with a roar of unwillingness.
Bang!
A huge crater appeared on the ground, and Archdemon Sabbac roared in agony within the pit.
He leaped out once more, but his body had become battered and broken beyond recognition.
Kal-El descended in altitude, slowly standing before Archdemon Sabbac.
"He is too powerful; is this the true strength of Superman?"
Hawkman's gaze looking at Kal-El was filled with amazement.
Kal-El looked at Archdemon Sabbac and slowly spoke.
"I've played enough, it's time to end this."
"Surrender, or die!"
Roar!
Archdemon Sabbac let out a roar, suddenly leaping into the air and rushing into the distance at extreme speed.
Bang!
His speed had been boosted to the limit, instantly putting distance between himself and Kal-El.
He did not want to face that person who gave him zero hope of victory ever again.
Sometimes villains felt quite helpless too.
He had finally returned from hell, wanting to rule Kahndaqonce again.
Only to encounter a bunch of super-powered humans from the Justice Society.
Just as he was about to completely crush the Justice Society, Wonder Woman appeared—a powerful warrior possessing truly pure divine power.
He had exerted all his effort just to preserve his life in the hands of this female warrior, and he hadn't even started the third round.
Yet an even more powerful Superman had appeared.
This one was even more formidable; with just a single punch, he left Archdemon Sabbac—who possessed the power of the ancient six demons—completely defenseless.
He could only take a passive beating.
This time his recovery had slowed down completely, and his battered body also affected his condition.
If they kept fighting, he would die!
He would definitely die!
Therefore, he could only choose to flee, even if it meant hiding in hell temporarily.
In less than a moment, Archdemon Sabbac had already flown far away.
Kal-El turned his head to look, and two beams suddenly shot out from his eyes.
Boom——!
The golden beams were about to catch up to Archdemon Sabbac in a The Flash.
Archdemon Sabbac could sense the energy contained within those two beams; it was a power capable of easily destroying his body and soul.
Bang!
He swerved rapidly toward a side street, hoping to dodge the attack of the beams.
Boom!
However, the beams altered their course to follow him, instantly striking his body.
"No——!"
He let out a final roar of unwillingness, and his entire body suddenly burst apart like illusory foam.
The battlefield grew quiet.
"What was that?"
Hawkman was very surprised at this moment; was this a new skill of Superman that he had never seen before?
Doctor Fate's reaction was very calm.
"Superman is a member of the Justice League. The stronger his strength, the safer the Earth will be."
Atom Smasher and Cyclone also came before Doctor Fate.
"Archdemon Sabbac, whom we fought for so long, was just taken down by Superman like that?"
Doctor Fate nodded.
"As you can see, he seemed more like he was directly disintegrated, soul included."
"He has become even more powerful than before!"
Kal-El descended from mid-air, and Diana also stood by Kal-El's side.
Doctor Fate brought the others walking over.
"Superman, Wonder Woman, thank you both for coming here to help us."
Kal-El nodded slightly.
"It's our duty!"
"Where is Black Adam?"
"We sealed him in a secret prison at the bottom of the sea."
"His strength is not bad; we might have a time when we can make use of him in the future."
Hawkman was instinctively puzzled.
"What kind of matter would require the help of that brawny guy who disregards life?"
This Hawkman sure held quite a grudge against Black Adam!
"Perhaps a great battle in the future!"
The others were still somewhat puzzled, unable to guess what kind of war the future battle would actually be.
World wars had already happened twice; could a battle requiring Black Adam's help possibly involve an alien invasion?
Hawkman shook his head and threw the question to the back of his mind in the blink of an eye.
He hoped they would never need Black Adam; he certainly didn't want to see that impolite burly man again.
The city returned to peace, and Kal-El looked at Diana.
"Let's return to Paradise Island!"
"Why? Still want to study the Mother Box?"
"No, I mean to say that the Mother Box may have already sent a message to Apokolips."
"During this period, through studying the Mother Box, I discovered that the Mother Box possesses the ability to transmit messages across endless distances."
"I suddenly recalled that a short while ago, a similar fluctuation diffused into the universe; that must have been a message sent out by the Mother Box."
"I wonder if Darkseid will descend upon Earth, and in what manner he will arrive."
Kal-El turned his head to look at Diana.
"The Mother Box is still on Paradise Island. Just in case, we'll head straight to Paradise Island to guard it.
During this time, at least one of us must stay on Paradise Island to be vigilant against people from Apokolips seizing the Mother Box."
Diana was also somewhat moved that Kal-El could consider her mother and Paradise Island.
"Then what about the mother boxes of Atlantis and the human side?"
Kal-El pondered slightly for a moment.
"We can have Clark pay more attention to them."
Diana shook her head.
"I'm afraid Clark alone cannot keep an eye on these at all times; why not have Bruce and the The Flash help?"
Kal-El looked at Diana with some surprise.
"Darkseid is very powerful, and Clark cannot be careless when facing them; I'm afraid they might be directly beaten to death."
"Oh, well, it was my oversight!"
Diana nodded, feeling her recent thought to be somewhat laughable.
Better to let Batman continue being Gotham's vigilante, catching criminals.
Faced with a powerful alien race like Darkseid, Batmanwas simply too fragile.
Holding back some soldiers of the alien legion could still come in handy, though.
Bang! Swish!
The two of them suddenly soared into the air, tearing through the air in an instant.
Two figures flew side by side toward Paradise Island.
Darkseid, I am making preparations.
Will you come in person?
Chapter 70: Light Vision
Just after returning to Paradise Island, Kal and Dianareceived a message from Bruce.
According to Bruce's description, a winged humanoid monster had appeared in Gotham.
Kal and Diana exchanged a look.
"Parademons!"
The two of them spoke in unison, both guessing that this might be Apokolips' army of Parademons.
It seemed this was Darkseid's vanguard!
But Kal and Diana had been staying on Paradise Island and hadn't encountered Apokolips coming to snatch the Mother Box.
The Mother Box: *shivering in fear!*
Since they had already appeared, Kal planned to take Diana straight back to the Justice League.
But before that, to prevent Apokolips from coming to Paradise Island to snatch the Mother Box after they left and bringing danger to Paradise Island, the two of them went together to find the Amazon Queen, Hippolyta.
"Queen, Apokolips has descended!"
"What?"
Hippolyta had never expected Apokolips to descend again so quickly.
She nodded slowly.
"I understand your intention. Take the Mother Box with you."
"Queen, the Mother Box has always been a dangerous Apokoliptian artifact strictly guarded by us Amazons. Letting them take it will draw the gaze of Apokolips onto them."
The Amazon general, Antiope, frowned.
Hippolyta looked at her sister.
"Since Apokolips has descended, we do not have the ability to guard the Mother Box on Paradise Island, and it will only bring danger to Paradise Island."
She turned her head to look at Kal and Diana, smiling slightly.
"I believe in Kal-El; he has the ability to protect the Mother Box. Nothing is safer than having it in his hands."
Diana smiled happily. She had wondered if her mother would let it go, since her mother had always regarded guarding the Mother Box as her duty.
She was certain that if it were just herself, her mother would never hand the Mother Box over to her for safekeeping.
This was a mother's instinctive love for her child, but also a doubt of her abilities.
"Mother, thank you for believing in Kal."
She then walked over to her aunt, Antiope, and gently patted her arm.
"Aunt, don't worry about us. Kal has the ability to protect the Mother Box."
"With him around, I won't be in any danger."
Kal also stepped forward and made a solemn promise.
"Queen, I will protect Diana and take good care of the Mother Box."
Hippolyta nodded gently, looking at them tenderly as she slowly placed their hands together.
"Go, children. I believe you can do all this and defeat Apokolips and Darkseid once again."
Kal and Diana nodded, turning to walk out of the great hall.
Stepping outside the hall, Kal held the Mother Box in one arm and instantly soared into the sky.
Boom! Boom!
Kal and Diana turned into two streaks of light, flying side by side toward Metropolis.
The Justice League base.
Just as Kal and Diana landed from the sky, Bruceimmediately came forward to meet them.
"We were just waiting for you!"
Diana smiled immediately.
"Sorry, we're late!"
The three entered the base, where the The Flash and Clarkwere already waiting.
Seeing Kal appear, the The Flash stood up immediately.
"Kal, long time no see! You seem to have been very busy lately, always on Paradise Island!"
"Yes, I needed to make some preparations."
The The Flash nodded, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
"Actually, I haven't had the chance to thank you in person yet. Thanks to your and Bruce's help, my father has been acquitted."
Kal patted Barry's shoulder.
"Your father was innocent to begin with. It's the least we could do."
Clark also stepped forward with a smile on his face. It was clear that he and Lois had been doing very well lately.
"Kal, Diana, long time no see!"
He suddenly stepped forward and gave Kal a hug.
Kal was a bit surprised; this didn't seem like something Clark would do.
Diana smiled and nodded to Clark in greeting.
"It looks like you've been in a great state lately."
"Of course, lately I've been traveling all over with Lois..."
He suddenly remembered that Kal was still his biggest boss and quickly changed his wording.
"Lately, I've been taking Lois around the world to gather news material. It's been very fulfilling."
Bruce took out some drinks from the liquor cabinet and poured a glass for everyone.
"Oh? So, have you gathered any big news?"
Clark looked away and shook his head.
"Not really. We gave a lot of the stories to our colleagues."
*Right, so it's a vacation on the company's dime, huh?*
But Kal didn't mind. Lois had always worked hard, so this could just be considered a benefit for them.
Unlike Clark, who shirked his duties and was always out being a superhero.
After finishing their small talk, Bruce turned on the 3D projection, displaying images of the strange creatures that had recently appeared.
"What is this?"
The The Flash looked at Bruce, somewhat puzzled.
"I thought it was you, or rather, when did you change your suit?"
Bruce shook his head.
"That's not me, Barry."
"These unknown creatures have been appearing in the city recently, seemingly looking for something."
"Many ordinary people have already encountered them, resulting in deaths and disappearances."
Bruce looked at Barry, who had shut his mouth.
"Although their appearance is somewhat similar to a bat, they are incredibly ugly!"
"These are Parademons. In ancient times, when Apokolips' Darkseid invaded Earth, his army all looked like this."
Diana spoke up to explain the origin of the Parademons to the others.
"Darkseid? Is he very powerful?"
The The Flash looked at Diana and asked curiously.
"Very powerful. Back then, Earth had to gather its strongest forces to defeat him."
"There were the Old Gods, the Green Lantern Corps, the Amazons, Atlantis, and humanity."
"Well, even though there are some I've never heard of, I can tell he's indeed very powerful!"
The The Flash asked no more questions, and Bruce nodded in agreement.
"So, what are they looking for?"
"The mother boxes!"
Kal placed the Mother Box on the table.
"The mother boxes are Apokoliptian artifacts. When the three are unified, they can instantly destroy the Earth."
Diana then added.
"Darkseid used the mother boxes to destroy countless planets, turning the native inhabitants of countless worlds into Parademons under his command..."
"If that's the case, then we can't let them get all the mother boxes."
Bruce stood up, his expression serious.
"Where are the other two mother boxes? We need to protect them ahead of time."
"Atlantis and humanity each guard a Mother Box, but we don't know where they have hidden them."
Diana felt a bit helpless. Back then, the mother boxes were split into three, with each of the three factions keeping one.
Now, no one knew where the others had put their mother boxes.
"Let me take a look!"
Kal stood up, and the others looked at him expectantly.
"X-ray vision, activate!"
A faint light gleamed in Kal's eyes, and the world instantly became transparent to him, with the structures of various objects clearly displayed before him.
Kal's gaze extended further and further, passing through buildings, rooms, and skeletal humans walking on the streets.
He even accidentally spotted couples playing games in their rooms.
Kal had no interest in such private matters, so his gaze quickly swept past.
"North America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, Asia!"
"Beep! Beep!"
Small black dots appeared in his vision; these were all lead-containing materials.
Suddenly, Kal noticed an abandoned nuclear power plant in Asia.