### **Chapter 3: Steel and Shadows**

---

The Hall of Justice training arena was unlike anything Gojo had ever seen. It wasn't just a place to work out or spar; it was a battlefield built to test even the most powerful members of the Justice League. Robots, holograms, and advanced weaponry could simulate nearly any combat scenario imaginable. Today, it was set to test him.

Batman stood across from him, his arms crossed over his chest. His sharp, calculating gaze made Gojo feel like he was back in school being graded on a pop quiz he hadn't studied for.

"You've got raw power," Batman said, his voice cold and precise. "But power without control is a liability."

Gojo smirked, leaning casually against a pillar. "Aw, Bats. I didn't know you cared."

Batman didn't react. He pressed a button on a remote, and the arena around them shifted. The empty room transformed into a bustling city block. Holographic civilians screamed and scattered as drones shaped like alien invaders rained destruction from above.

"Your task is simple," Batman said. "Protect the civilians, neutralize the threats, and minimize collateral damage. No Infinity."

Gojo raised an eyebrow. "No Infinity? What's next, no breathing?"

Batman didn't respond, and Gojo sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Fine. Let's see how I do."

The simulation began. Gojo moved like lightning, leaping over buildings and sending precise blasts of cursed energy to dismantle the drones. He focused on disabling them rather than destroying them outright, careful not to let any debris fall on the civilians below.

"Not bad," Batman muttered from the control room. 

As the simulation ramped up, more challenges appeared. Fires erupted in several buildings. Civilians were trapped under rubble. Drones swarmed in greater numbers, targeting both Gojo and the innocents.

Gojo deactivated a drone with a swift strike, then turned to see a holographic child pinned beneath a collapsing beam. His breath caught for a moment. 

Focus. 

He dashed forward, using *Blue* to pull the beam away and free the child. The simulation continued to escalate, and Gojo's movements became sharper, more calculated. By the end, the city was still standing, the civilians safe, and every drone neutralized.

As the simulation ended, Batman walked over, his expression unreadable. "Better than I expected."

Gojo wiped imaginary sweat from his brow. "Careful, Bats. If I didn't know better, I'd say that was a compliment."

Batman's voice hardened. "But it's not enough. Out there, you won't just face drones. You'll face enemies who think, adapt, and exploit your weaknesses. You need to be ready for anything."

Gojo's smirk faded. Batman was right. This world was far more dangerous than the one he'd left behind. If he wanted to survive—and protect others—he had to be better.

---

### **Building Bridges**

Outside of training, Gojo's relationships with the League were starting to take shape. The Flash, ever the joker, had taken a liking to him. 

"Okay, so let me get this straight," Barry said one day, lounging in the cafeteria. "You can stop anything from touching you? Like, anything?"

"Pretty much," Gojo replied, munching on a sandwich.

Barry grinned. "Does that include, like, bad vibes? Because Batman could really use some of that."

Gojo laughed. "Not even Infinity's strong enough for that."

Wonder Woman, on the other hand, treated Gojo more like a student. She often sparred with him, teaching him techniques for combat that relied on discipline rather than raw power.

"Power alone doesn't make you a warrior," she told him during one session. "A true hero knows when to strike—and when not to."

Her words stuck with him. Gojo respected her wisdom and admired her strength, though he couldn't resist teasing her occasionally. 

Superman was the hardest to connect with. While polite, he kept Gojo at arm's length, wary of his pragmatism. Their moral differences came to a head during a conversation in the Hall's common area.

"Every life matters," Superman said firmly. "Even a villain's. If we start deciding who deserves to live and who doesn't, we lose what makes us heroes."

Gojo leaned back, his expression unreadable. "And if that decision saves a hundred innocent lives? You're telling me you'd hesitate?"

Superman frowned. "There's always another way."

Gojo didn't argue further, but the conversation left a bitter taste in his mouth. He respected Superman's ideals, but he couldn't shake the feeling that the world wasn't so black and white.

---

### **Lex Luthor's Plan**

Unbeknownst to the League, Lex Luthor had been watching Gojo closely. The new arrival fascinated him—not just because of his power, but because of his potential. Luthor saw in Gojo the seeds of unpredictability, a force that could disrupt the League from within.

Luthor hatched a plan. Using his resources, he orchestrated a large-scale attack in Gotham, planting explosives throughout a skyscraper filled with civilians. As the League scrambled to respond, Luthor released his secret weapon: *The Parasite.*

---

### **The Battle**

The League arrived in Gotham to chaos. Civilians screamed as explosions rocked the building. Superman and Wonder Woman worked to evacuate the people, while Gojo and Green Lantern confronted Parasite.

"You must be new," Parasite growled, his monstrous form towering over Gojo. "I can smell your power. Let's see how it tastes."

Before Gojo could react, Parasite lunged, latching onto him. He felt the drain immediately—his cursed energy being siphoned away, and with it, his Infinity.

Gojo gritted his teeth, summoning his strength. *He's feeding on my energy. If I give him too much, he'll use it against me.* 

He broke free, delivering a powerful strike that sent Parasite sprawling. But the villain quickly adapted, using the stolen energy to form a shield around himself.

"Clever trick," Gojo said, his smirk returning. "Too bad I'm better at it."

Gojo unleashed *Blue* to destabilize Parasite's shield, then followed up with a barrage of precise cursed energy blasts. But Parasite wasn't going down easily. He retaliated with a massive energy wave, targeting the building's foundation.

The structure groaned, threatening to collapse. Gojo froze for a split second. *I can't let this happen.*

---

### **The Choice**

With civilians still trapped inside, Gojo knew he had no time to waste. Parasite was a threat that couldn't be contained—not here, not now. 

"I'm sorry," Gojo muttered, his voice barely audible.

He raised his hand, summoning *Hollow Purple.* The destructive blast tore through Parasite, disintegrating him. The building steadied, and the civilians were safe. But the weight of what he'd done pressed heavily on Gojo's chest.

---

### **Aftermath**

Back at the Hall of Justice, the mood was tense. Superman confronted Gojo, his tone filled with disappointment. 

"You didn't have to kill him."

Gojo met his gaze, his expression hard. "I didn't have a choice. If I hadn't, he would've killed everyone in that building."

"That's not an excuse."

"No," Gojo said quietly. "It's reality."

Wonder Woman stepped in before the argument escalated further. "Enough. What's done is done. The question now is how we move forward."

Gojo left the Hall that night, his mind racing. He'd saved lives, but at what cost? 

---

### **Cliffhanger**

In a darkened room, Lex Luthor watched the footage of the battle with a satisfied smirk. 

"Interesting," he said. "He's powerful, but flawed. We'll see how far he's willing to fall."

Behind him, a towering figure stepped out of the shadows. Darkseid. 

"If he cannot be controlled," Darkseid rumbled, his voice like thunder, "then he will be destroyed."