241. Before the War.

"Alright, I understand. I will respect your choice."

Alex nodded slightly. He wasn't surprised at all by Black Canary's decision. In fact, it would have been strange if she had answered otherwise.

"So, you'll help me return to my universe, right?" Black Canary leaned forward, her tone probing, full of hope. She needed a promise from Alex.

"Of course." Alex smiled.

"But for now, let's focus on the plan at hand. If we can't save Red Hood, then none of this will matter."

Hearing this, Black Canary's expression became more serious. However, her heart, which had been heavy with doubt for so long, finally began to ease. After all these years in this universe, the death of Oliver and the disappearance of the Justice League had been a constant nightmare for her. But at this moment, a glimmer of hope reignited.

As she thought, if she couldn't save her own world, then at the very least, she would perish alongside it.

Meanwhile, Alex, sitting across from her, let out a faint smile before quietly raising his glass to his lips. As he took a sip, his mind was already drifting elsewhere.

Perhaps Black Canary didn't fully understand what was happening in her universe, but Alex, who could see the entire timeline from a macro perspective, had already noticed some very subtle things.

First, there was the magical power in the DC universe, which was vastly different from that in the Marvel universe, as well as the origin of divine power.

In the DC universe, divine power could be considered the beginning of everything. This was not only reflected in the early formation of reality and the manifestation of the universe's great powers, but it was also closely tied to the downfall of the Old Gods and the rise of the New Gods.

Unlike Marvel, which contained countless dimensions connected to reality, the DC universe was much more subtle in its depiction of magical realms. Instead, it focused more on the interconnectedness of its multiverse.

It might be because of Barry Allen, the Flash. In the DC universe, the power that transcended reality was grander, and this power piqued Alex's interest.

Currently, for Alex, magical energy was his main source of power. If he could devour magical entities from the DC universe and absorb their unique magic, it would undoubtedly make him much stronger, and there might even be new developments in his abilities.

This was the best method Alex could come up with to enhance his strength after realizing that external items like the Darkhold could no longer aid him.

Besides the differences between the DC and Marvel universes, there were also certain clues revealed by the Apokolips War universe that caught Alex's attention.

Whether it was the Justice League or the Teen Titans, these major superhero groups all appeared during the Apokolips War. Though most of what was shown in the movie were their tragic deaths and gruesome fates, they still had brief moments of presence. However, what was worth considering was that neither Black Canary nor Red Hood made an appearance in the Apokolips War. Or rather, they were never shown in the movie, not even in death scenes. This raised the question of whether they had, in some sense, already broken free from their destined fate.

This could also explain why the others hadn't arrived in this universe.

Those people were still bound by the predetermined narrative. Their deaths at the hands of Doomsday were vividly portrayed, and without an "external force" like Alex, it was unlikely they could break free of this "fact."

Black Canary and Red Hood were the "lucky ones" who had slipped through the cracks of this grand design.

However, Alex still hadn't fully grasped the rules behind this so-called design. Despite traveling through several different universes, his understanding of the self-regulating systems and changes of these worlds was still limited. This made him very curious about the experiences of Black Canary and Red Hood.

If he could figure out how they came to this universe and uncover the secrets behind it, he might be able to find clues to the origins of the time controller, which had eluded all observation, and step by step unearth the hidden truths of the multiverse.

With this in mind, Alex had already set his sights on the Apokolips War universe as his next target after meeting Black Canary. But for now, it was more important to deal with the task at hand. Everything could wait until after they rescued Red Hood.

"The execution is scheduled for tomorrow at ten in the morning, at New Era Square. By then, everyone who has come to New Babylon will gather there to witness Hydra's sentencing of Red Hood. At the same time, many lawless individuals will try to seize opportunities for themselves. There are quite a few people eyeing 'the Justice League.'"

Alex put down his glass and began sharing the intel he had gathered in New Babylon over the past few days with Kara and Black Canary.

"The gang members and mercenaries aren't a big concern, but we can't underestimate the Hulk Gang and the mutants. We don't know whose side they're on. If they're after us, this rescue mission won't be easy."

"This is, after all, Hydra's headquarters. Red Skull must have some hidden cards up his sleeve if he's confident enough to hold such a high-profile trial. Kate Bishop talked to me about Red Skull and Hydra, and I could feel her wariness toward him. He's definitely a terrifying figure and must not be underestimated."

"But haven't all the powerful beings in this universe been banished from reality? Could there still be anyone here who poses a threat to us?" Kara furrowed her brows, asking the question that was on everyone's mind.

"That's what I'm wondering too. Red Skull must be aware that, beyond Earth, among the stars, there are many forces capable of challenging his rule. So I suspect that Red Skull has something that gives him the confidence to face those challenges," Alex said, rubbing his chin.

"But you'll have a way to deal with it, won't you?"

Even though Alex had painted a dire picture, Kara noticed that his heartbeat hadn't changed much.

"No matter what, this event is bound to be the grandest battle since the fall of the superheroes in the Old War. I can't predict every possible outcome."

At this point, Alex turned his head and glanced out the window at the raven perched quietly on the rooftop, staring in the direction of the White House.

"As for the outcome…"

The next moment, a smile crept onto Alex's face.

"...who knows?"

......

📢30 advanced chapters on p@treaon📢

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242. Execution Time!

243. The Heroes Appear!

244. The Justice League Appears!

245. The Green Lantern Burns Bright!

246. What Makes a Hero.