Chapter 179 : Flashpoint!!!

[In the dark night, a golden eye opens upon the sea!]

[It was Diana's funeral pyre!]

[As she watched her daughter's body consumed by flames, tears welled in the eyes of the Amazon Queen, her grief palpable. With solemnity, she began to recite the sacred words:]

["Artemis, goddess of the hunt, hear the plea of the Amazons, your most devoted...]

[But her recitation was abruptly cut short!

[Boom!]

[A thunderbolt struck the clear night sky, and from the lightning emerged a figure with imposing presence and flowing locks!)

Kamui [Supreme, save for the Amazon Queen, all bowed their heads, unable to meet Zeus's gaze!)

["Your daughter is no more, yet you stand here!" Hippolyta's voice rang coldly!]

[Zeus extended his hand towards the flames, from which burst forth a golden divine energy, enveloping his hand!)

[Having done so, Zeus turned his gaze to Hippolyta. Rarely did he display anger, yet his voice remained steadfast: J

["Darkseid's threat looms large, poised to conquer all! I come to inquire of the Amazons: will you join the realm of Olympus?"

["Is this the mercy of the Divine?"]

[Hippolyta's lip curled in scornful mockery: "I refused once, and I refuse again!]

["Foolishness!"]

[You would sacrifice your own kin!]

[Zeus snorted icily, transforming into lightning and departing, his voice echoing in the night:)

["Cease your pleas to Artemis, for she has forsaken Olympus, betrayed the Amazons, and stands as Diana's former foe!]

In the DCEU realm, Barbara, the leopardess, found herself momentarily dazed, her eyes then flashing with an unsettling intensity!

With a vehement cry, she exclaimed:

"Zeus, arrogant and blind, one day you shall topple from your throne like Cronus!!!"

Upon the Paradise Island, Hippolyta paled!

The loss of her future daughter and the treachery of the huntress goddess weighed heavily upon her!

And amongst the Amazon ranks, confusion reigned!

Their faith shattered!

As for the countless ordinary folk of this world, a single emotion gripped them!

Dread!

And Diana's demise marked merely the dawn of their despair!

[Soon, corpses would litter the earth, humanity on the brink of extinction. Those who survived would face a fate worse than death!"

[And for the Amazons, their destiny drew to a close, all poised to meet their end!)

Offscreen, Aum revels in the chaos within Atlantis!

The demise of these women aligns perfectly with his desires!

In the blink of an eye, his complexion turns pallid, beads of sweat dotting his forehead!

His gaze fixates on Superman's arrival in Atlantis!

[Superman descends into the depths of the sea, breaking through the bedrock of Atlantis with remarkable force!]

in mere moments.)

[The ocean floor rumbles violently, and a multitude of fish flee Atlantis in a frenzy, as if fleeing for their lives!)

[Boom boom boom!!!)

[Beneath the waves, a thunderous roar echoes, as a colossal crevice forms, stretching into the abyss!]

[And the most astonishing sight: the two ends of this immense chasm merge after a mere ten seconds!]

Off-screen, a wild notion takes root in countless minds!

"Impossible!"

"I must be imagining things!"

Aum vigorously shakes his head, voice trembling with disbelief!

But in the next instant, he freezes, terror evident in his eyes!

He witnessed

"A massive slab breaks free from the ocean floor, hoisting all of Atlantis along with its myriad structures!"

[Finally, it breaks the surface and ascends into the skies! ]

[And below, it is Superman who bears its weight!]

Outside the screen, an eerie silence ensues, the surreal spectacle leaving onlookers in awe!

After a millennium, Atlantis basks in sunlight once more!

Yet, this time, it is a calamity!

[Deprived of seawater, the Atlanteans gasp for air like fish stranded on land!

[But the ordeal is far from over!]

[Ten minutes later, Superman hurls the entirety of Atlantis into the heart of the Sahara Desert!"

[Arthur, too, falls victim to Superman's wrath, impaled by his own trident, a desolate figure amidst the desert sands!)

[Thus concludes the demise of the Justice League's Aquaman!)

(…)

[As time marches on!)

[Five years later]

[Across the desolate expanse, beneath a sky devoid of mercy, several small spacecrafts and bands of scavengers and demons drift together, as if in search of something!)

Moments later, as the vessels and demonic entities fade into the distance, a battered Batman emerges from the shadows!]

[Following him, Cyborg, Mera, Deathstroke, the weathered Flash, and the Joker make their presence known!]

[Under the shadow of Superman's tyranny, villains and heroes begrudgingly unite as allies!]

No matter how much hatred and resentment they harbored before!

At this moment, Cyborg spoke nervously, "We need to move faster; we can't stay exposed for too long. He'll find us soon!"

Mera slammed down the bucket, brandished Arthur's trident a few times, and shouted in anger and resentment, "Let that bastard come over. This time, I'll skewer his heart with a trident!"

Batman's eyes were filled with weariness, but he still reassured, "I understand how you feel, Mera, but we need to stick to the plan if we want a chance at success."

The tide of hatred in Mera's heart surged. She looked at Batman coldly and said, "Who do you really love, Bruce?" At that moment, she perceived Batman as cold-blooded.

In the Batcave!

Bruce gazed at the special armor hanging up, sealed, with "Hahaha, you're a joke, Batman" written on it, his eyes filled with pain.

That was the paint his adopted son had sprayed on it after the Joker killed him!

The Joker had killed Robin and exposed his heart!

This was the pain of his life!

And at that moment, Joker's distinct laughter echoed in his ears once again.

On the central screen, Joker laughed uproariously, "On the contrary, Little Bat, he knows what it's like to lose a loved one."

"It's like losing his father, his mother," Batman said coldly, glaring at Joker. "Your last line is the best."

The corners of Joker's bright red mouth twitched for a moment, then he slowly said, "Or an adopted son?"

Boom!

Bruce slammed his fist hard on the table, his eyes blazing with anger!

In the image, Batman approached the Joker!

The Joker, fearless, stared into Batman's eyes and said, "Or is this old stinky fish correct? How many more people will die in your arms before you become numb to death?"

Batman shook his head slowly. "You're not thinking carefully. My heart is already dead!"

And in the next moment, Batman suddenly extended his hand, pointing viciously and shouted, "But even I have a limit. Once you cross it—"

Joker showed no signs of panic and laughed heartily. "No, you won't kill me. We're best friends, Bruce! Besides, who'll entertain you when I'm gone?"

Off-screen, the Joker's morbid grin widened.

"That's it, Bruce! You need me, and I need you! We're inseparable!"

The Joker's words pierced Batman's unhealed wounds, each one reopening them afresh.

"Until..." Joker continued, producing a joker card and offering it to Batman. "Truce, Bruce. As long as you hold this card, we're at peace."

But Batman didn't reach for it; instead, he sneered.

"It's ironic," he retorted, his gaze icy. "You speak of those who died in my arms without restraint. But do you know what Harley Quinn did when she was dying in my arms, covered in blood? She begged me... to kill you."

Batman locked eyes with the Joker, his smile frozen but full of determination.

"And don't misunderstand me; I will end you when the time comes. She begged me to slowly torture you to death. I'll honor that promise."

With that declaration, Batman seized the joker card from the Joker's trembling hand, causing the grin on the latter's face to vanish. In the heavy silence that followed, both men's defenses crumbled.

The Joker's off-screen smile disappeared, leaving everyone wondering about the madman's thoughts.

Suddenly, a sonic boom shattered the tension, startling everyone. As the setting sun was obscured by a black cloak, Superman hovered in the air, his scarlet eyes scanning the scene below.

(...)

A bolt of lightning streaked across the ground, encircling the earth in less than a second before vanishing.

Then, in the darkness, the Flash materialized abruptly. His gaze fell upon the figure slumbering in a chair before him, and he shouted urgently, "Bruce, wake up!"

"Remember what I told you!" he added, his voice fraught with urgency. "It's Lois, she's the key!"

In that moment, everyone witnessed the Flash's journey back in time.

****

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