Chapter 152

Although Ozymandias (Adrian Veidt) does not possess any superhuman abilities, his unmatched intellect allows him to outmaneuver even the most powerful beings. He developed a tachyon field capable of interfering with Dr. Manhattan's perception of time, effectively preventing him from seeing the future.

This clever strategy blindsided Dr. Manhattan, making him unaware—or so it seemed—of the impending catastrophe. Astonishingly, Dr. Manhattan even collaborated with Ozymandias to execute his plan, willingly deceiving himself.

Recently, cities worldwide—especially in the United States—were attacked using energy signatures identical to those of Dr. Manhattan. The death toll exceeded millions, possibly more, with even the United States itself suffering devastating losses.

The scale of destruction enraged Dr. Manhattan, prompting him to confront Ozymandias without hesitation.

Ozymandias, knowing the severity of his actions, understood the stakes. If Dr. Manhattan wished, he could disintegrate him instantly—Ozymandias would have perished the very moment they met. Yet, for reasons unknown, Dr. Manhattan refrained from immediate retaliation, giving Adrian a narrow window to escape into a highly secured facility.

From the outside, the facility was an architectural marvel—a massive structure modeled after the Great Pyramids. Within, its labyrinthine design concealed complex mechanisms.

Did Ozymandias truly believe he could evade Dr. Manhattan indefinitely?

If so, he was not the smartest man alive but the most foolish.

Kara Zor-El—known to some as Supergirl—stood nearby, arms crossed, observing Ozymandias through her super-vision. Accompanying him was an unnervingly modified lynx, clearly enhanced for unknown purposes. Kara's sharp gaze followed them as they hurried toward a specialized device within the pyramid-like structure.

A knowing smirk spread across Kara's face. The device bore a striking resemblance to the equipment responsible for Dr. Manhattan's transformation decades ago. Was Ozymandias planning to recreate the quantum accident that gave birth to the most powerful being in existence?

Did he genuinely believe this could harm Dr. Manhattan?

Kara narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. Ozymandias's intention wasn't to destroy Dr. Manhattan but to buy time—possibly to trigger a temporary return to the quantum realm, forcing him to reconstruct his physical form.

Her gaze swept across the facility and beyond. The surrounding area, and indeed the entire planet, was in turmoil. Despite the chaos, nations across the globe had simultaneously reached an unprecedented decision: to unite against the existential threat posed by Dr. Manhattan.

Kara realized the brilliance of Ozymandias's plan. By fabricating a global crisis, he had manipulated humanity into setting aside their differences to face a common enemy. He had anticipated that Dr. Manhattan's fading connection to humanity would ultimately lead him to abandon Earth entirely, seeking solace in the vastness of the cosmos.

"So that's your game, Adrian," Kara muttered. "But you didn't account for me."

Nearby, Laurie Juspeczyk, also known as Silk Spectre, stood with two companions: Nite Owl II (Dan Dreiberg) and Rorschach (Walter Kovacs). While Nite Owl and Rorschach exchanged wary glances with Kara, Laurie shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to introduce her.

"Who is she, Laurie?" Dan asked cautiously, his gaze fixed on Kara.

Rorschach remained silent, though his masked face tilted slightly as if studying her intently.

"She's…" Laurie hesitated. "Jon brought her here. She's…well, different. You saw how she flew here from Mars—less than three seconds, no less. And yes, she can survive there without any aid. That should tell you something."

Dan and Rorschach exchanged wide-eyed glances.

Meanwhile, Kara, uninterested in their conversation, focused her attention on Ozymandias. The once-confident mastermind now stood in the central chamber, facing the same device he had used to trigger the global catastrophe.

Adrian Veidt's plan was falling into place. Dr. Manhattan's current physical form had been destroyed by quantum interference, forcing him to retreat momentarily to reconstruct himself. The delay was all Adrian needed to execute the next phase of his scheme.

Kara frowned as Laurie suddenly lunged forward, shouting, "Adrian!"

Her voice was laced with fury as she drew a concealed handgun, pointing it directly at Ozymandias.

"I'll kill you for what you've done!" Laurie screamed.

The sound of gunfire echoed through the chamber as Laurie pulled the trigger.

Adrian staggered but remained standing. Kara, observing closely, noticed that he had managed to deflect the bullet with his bare hands—though it had clearly taken effort.

"You're nothing but a murderer!" Laurie spat, tears streaming down her face. "You killed the Comedian—my father!"

Kara's eyes widened. She had learned from Jon that Laurie recently discovered her true parentage. Edward Morgan Blake, the Comedian, had assaulted Laurie's mother during the early days of the Minutemen. Despite the horrific circumstances, Laurie's mother, Sally, had later admitted she harbored complicated feelings for Blake, leading to Laurie's birth.

The revelation had shattered Laurie's perception of her family and fueled her rage against Adrian, who had orchestrated Blake's death years earlier.

Kara, observing the scene unfold, muttered to herself, "You can't plan for everything, Ozymandias. Not when human emotions are involved."

Adrian, still composed despite the confrontation, turned to face Laurie. "Do you think killing me will solve anything?" he asked, his tone calm but calculated.

Before Laurie could respond, Kara stepped forward. Her golden hair gleamed under the facility's artificial light, and her red cape fluttered behind her like a banner of justice.

"That's enough," she said firmly, her voice carrying an air of authority that silenced everyone in the room.

Ozymandias met her gaze, a flicker of unease crossing his face. Kara Zor-El was a variable he hadn't accounted for—a wildcard with the power to dismantle even the most meticulous of plans.

"You've played your game well, Adrian," Kara continued, her eyes narrowing. "But it ends here."

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