An Unexpected Attack!
One Week Later
Kayn sat in the center of the training room, the ambient glow of the enchanted lamps casting intricate shadows on the walls. His mind fully clear as he was meditating.
Even after 2 years of training, Kayn continued meditating every time he got the chance, training his will to be firm and slowly, but holistically, improving himself.
~Knock~Knock~Knock!
The loud, overbearing sound of hurried knocks on the door echoed throughout the room. Opening his eyes, Kayn saw Soren hurriedly open the door, a sense of urgency in his step and revealed in his expression.
"Kayn, we need to talk. The Justice League has called for another meeting. There's been a development," Soren said, his tone conveying the seriousness of the situation.
Kayn nodded, grabbing a towel to wipe the sweat from his brow. "What's happened?"
"APEX has launched a counteroffensive. They've targeted multiple cities simultaneously. Monsters are attacking civilians. The height of these attacks is Novosibirsk. With how many monsters are there, we presume the Main Headquarters of APEX is located there." Soren spoke, leading Kayn towards the conference room.
As they made their way to the conference room, the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on Kayn's mind. They had anticipated APEX would retaliate, but the scale of the attack was alarming.
Upon entering the conference room, they found the rest of the team already assembled. Hugo, Violet, Mika, Kayle, Damon, Hakeem, and Laura all looked up, their expressions a mix of determination and concern.
A holographic map of the world dominated the center of the table, with red markers indicating the locations of the APEX attacks, the largest red marker of course being Novosibirsk.
On one of the screens, a Bat-signal was located, with a voice call with Batman and the other members of the Justice League present.
As for why it wasn't a video call, only Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman and Batman knew what Kayn and his team looked like, and Batman and the others wanted to keep it that way, to respect secret identities in the future.
( In Justice League animated show, Batman initially knew everyone, but Wally didn't know the others identities until Batman revealed them on a mission. )
"We will handle Novosibirsk, the intensity of the attacks there indicate it is where their Main Base is located, possibly underground. You all can handle the attacks in other cities." Kayn said to Batman and the other league members listening in.
He didn't want the entire Justice League barging into Russia. To him, Russia was their home base, and Kayn and his team could handle any problems that arrived here.
"Okay. The other members of the league will be handling most other cities. However, to be sure, we've already sent someone to reinforce Novosibirsk, they're currently picking up Vixen. You'll meet them there." Batman spoke.
"Once we complete this mission, I'll send over the documents for you and all your friends. Identities, Visas, Business Documents and other stuff." Batman spoke and the meeting finally concluded.
Everyone dispersed to prepare for their respective missions. Kayn gathered his team, outlining their plan and assigning roles.
"Kayle, I need you to stay here and focus on analyzing the data we have. Use every resource at your disposal to narrow down the possible locations of APEX's base. The rest of us will go out and save civilians." Kayn spoke, immediately beginning to plan out everything.
"The rest of us will be on the field saving civilians. As soon as the base is located, Mika and Soren will follow me alongside the Justice League's reinforcements and destroy it." Kayn concluded.
The team moved with practiced efficiency, each member understanding the urgency of their task.
______________________
Novosibirsk was a City most known for its thriving art scene, and the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre is fondly known as the "Siberian Coliseum."
However, the City at the moment looked anything but artistic. The once clear, azure sky was now choked with ominous clouds, casting the city in an eerie, perpetual twilight. Crushed trees lined the streets that could now be called battlegrounds, littered with debris and overturned vehicles.
Abandoned vehicles also littered the streets, pilling up as citizens ran on foot away from the terrifying, grotesque poisonous monsters.
Buildings, both old and new, bore the scars of the ongoing assault—windows shattered, facades cracked and crumbling, and smoke rising from numerous fires.
Monsters of nightmarish proportions roamed the city, their forms twisted and unnatural. Some were towering behemoths, their massive limbs crushing everything in their path.
Others were smaller, swifter, darting through the alleyways and leaping from rooftops with terrifying agility. Their roars and screeches filled the air, a cacophony of horror that echoed through the desolate streets.
The city's landmarks, once symbols of pride and progress, now stood as grim reminders of the chaos. The grand Opera and Ballet Theatre, with its impressive dome and columns, was partially collapsed, its majestic entrance reduced to rubble.
The Novosibirsk State University, a beacon of knowledge and innovation, had its campus overrun, classrooms and laboratories left in ruins.
Amid the devastation, pockets of resistance could be seen. Brave citizens, armed with whatever they could find, fought desperately to defend their home.
Soldiers and emergency responders worked tirelessly, setting up makeshift barricades and attempting to evacuate survivors. Their faces were marked with determination and fear, a stark contrast to the monstrous adversaries they faced.
As Kayn and his team arrived at the area, Mika's Spiritual Senses tingled, "There's a strong magical presence here. They've placed wards and barriers to conceal their operations. We'll need to be cautious."
"Remember, go for the Crystal Core in the chest of these monsters. It destroys them instantly." Kayn spoke, and jumped forward into the battle.
Kayn hurried towards a man protecting 2 children he presumed to be his own kids. One of the monsters was attacking him as he tried to protect his children, yet he seemed to be getting weaker as the poison took it's tool.
Kayn hurried forward, a Jet-Black Scythe gleaming in the moonlight in his arms as he cut through several monsters to reach the man.
~BANG~
A bang occurred as Kayn blocked the monsters attack, deathly poison dripping from it's pores as it swung once again towards Kayn.
Kayn dodged to the left, avoiding the deadly attack as immediately went on the offensive.
"Chains of Illuminus." He muttered, a spark of light illuminating the surrounding area as it immediately wrapped around the grotesque monster, restricting it for just enough time for Kayn to cut through its core like tissue paper, destroying it.
"Laura, heal the saved civilians and get them to safety. Damon, take care of the monsters from a range." Kayn telepathically ordered.
Laura was a Metahuman with the Ability to Heal and Purify, allowing her to be the perfect supporting agent on the battlefield, meanwhile Damon was a MetaHuman with the ability to create weapon constructs.
Laura immediately took away the man and his two children, healing them and sending them off to a safe rendezvous point the team had created, a Magical Barrier constructed there to protect them.
Damon took position atop a crumbling building, constructing a bow and arrow, his arrows tipped with explosive energy as they found their marks with unerring precision.
Each shot pierced a core, detonating the monsters in showers of toxic gore, all the while Hakeem had a pair of gloves imbued with spikes on the knuckles, weaving through the onslaught of monsters as he punched through them ferociously.
Kayn dashed into the fray, his scythe a blur of motion. He moved with lethal precision, each swing cleaving through the core of a monster, reducing it to a puddle of bubbling ichor.
One creature lunged at him, claws dripping with venom, but Kayn anticipated the attack. He sidestepped, leaping to the side and shooting a blast of Lightning, chaining through multiple monsters and pulverizing them all.
"You are quite interesting, why don't you join CADMUS?" Suddenly, a deep voice broke the ferocious battle.
Kayn looked to the left and spotted a monstrous man, his body coated with poison and various magical runes, yet he seemed to be somewhat sane. However, Kayn could sense his life-force rapidly decreasing, a half-successful experiment maybe.
"No thanks, however for your wonderful invitation, I'll take the pleasure of sending you straight to the gates of hell." Kayn said, his eyes glowing purple as lightning chained across his body.
"Arrogant boy, CADMUS will annihilate you." The monstrous man roared.
Kayn leaped towards the enemy, who swung a massive hand towards his, a viscous poison flying towards him.
Kayn ducked under the attack and drove his scythe into the creature's chest. The blade met resistance. Kayn grunted and created a telekinetic shield behind him, blocking the poison from hitting his body.
"Ignite." Kayn muttered.
~BOOM~
A massive eruption of flames occurred around Kayn, coating his weapon and burning the monsters body.
"ARGGGGGG!" It groaned in pain, yet Kayn couldn't care less, sliding as he sliced through the left leg of the monster, leaving it handicapped.
"Enveloping Darkness." He muttered as he grabbed the face of the monster, ripping the eyes of the monster out and infusing his eye-sockets with dark energy that burnt through his body from within.
Then, Kayn slashed once again, slicing through its body and piercing the core.The beast convulsed before collapsing.
"Soren, change the environment, funnel all of the monsters towards this street. Mika, Violet, you go do the same on different streets, get all civilians towards the safe point. Also, contact our Justice League reinforcement, what's taking them so long?" Kayn ordered.
"Don't worry, I'm right here." A playful female voice echoed out of the surrounding area, and amid the chaos, a shimmering portal of light appeared.
The first to step out of it was Vixen, who with a nod to Kayn, immediately leapt into action, channeling the power of an elephant as she overpowered the monsters.
The second person to exit from the portal was an imposing figure, her presence radiating both power and elegance. Clad in her iconic outfit—a black top hat perched on her long, dark hair, a fitted black jacket, white corset, and fishnet stockings—she exuded an air of both mystery and confidence. Her deep blue eyes glinted with determination as she assessed the scene.
It was Zatanna!