Goodbye

The Mother Box was a fascinating piece of technology. It was a living computer with many abilities, including opening boom tubes (spatial tear for teleportation), healing, energy manipulation, gravity manipulation, mental communication, etc.

Edward had the knowledge and capabilities to replicate all its abilities, including the part about being a living computer made of organic and inorganic matter.

Studying the box only added a new variety to his and the Empire's technology tree, but that was not the main reason for his interest. According to the comic, the Mother Box drew power from the Source, which is one aspect of [The Presence], or God in the DC Universe; in simpler terms, the Source is an enormous source of power that he lusts after.

After reverse-engineering the Mother Box, he discovered that the comics were correct; this thing did draw power from a powerful dimension or entity, but he did not dare search for it.

[The Presence] is the creator of the DC Universe and thus has transcended Tier 11; in other words, he's an entity that is at least Tier 12. Although he had previously fought God or Yahweh, that was on a different scale. Plus, he's unsure if they are the same entity despite the comics often claiming they are.

"It's unfortunate but not worth the risk," Edward shook his head. He decided to settle for the best thing — the Omega Effect or Darkseid's source of power. The Omega Effect allowed Darkseid to travel at will through space and time, so Edward knew it might be useful for his Time Game. Additionally, when he uses the Omega Beam, it can erase people from existence, similar to his power of destruction.

'If I remember correctly, Darkseid is a Tier 11 God but is stuck in a higher dimension and cannot interfere in the lower dimensions without using an avatar. While he's distracted with this invasion, I might be able to sneak into this dimension and steal a little bit of the Omega Effect."

After analyzing the situation, he decided to use one of his trump cards to ensure success: the False Multiverse Fail-Safe Plan. The idea is to use his Time Rule to summon time remnants of his floating city; he would summon the city from a second, two seconds, three seconds, and so on from the past until he has more than a million of them. Then, he would link these time remnants to the main floating city, thus achieving a temporary or false Tier 11.

According to past trials and errors, he will only have a very short window with that boosted power, and he needs to use it to steal some of the Omega Effect. As long as he prepares early on, this plan could succeed.

Edward did not waste time as he set up everything for his heist. Diana and the Justice League were busy preparing, he was also doing the same thing. So, three days later, things started.

Edward watched the battle in the mirror dimension, and every member brought their best. Superman did not have to hold back his strength and speed, and nor did the flash. Batman used his best exoskeleton suit, Green Lantern showed why the ring is known as one of the most powerful weapons in the universe, Aquaman could flood any area without any care, and Cyborg showed his technomancy capabilities while working in tandem with Batman. Lastly, Diana was a force of nature.

She had access to Edward's Virtual Reality headset for decades, allowing her to learn most of the Empire's martial arts and battle techniques. She also had his bracelet, which allowed her to wield Zeu's Divine Thunder, and she learned a great deal about Thunder Spells from the headset. Lastly, she somehow contacted Olympus after his absence and gained possession of her famous Bracelet of Submission/Bracelet of Victory, one of the few things in the universe capable of directly blocking Darkseid's Omega Beam.

"Not bad," he commented before proceeding with his plan. He calculated the best time before sprinting to action.

"ARGHHHHH. DISGUSTING MORTAL."

Those words reverberated in his mind as he escaped Darkseid's dimension with his prize. He wiped the blood dripping from his nose, "That went better than expected."

"Say that to yourself," complained Morgana. "See this?" She showed him a screen. "That screen echoed in countless timelines, possibly the entire multiverse."

"Did it break or affect anything?"

"No, but now, we definitely cannot say for long."

"Well, that was already the plan," said Edward, who immediately began to analyze the purple orb in his hand. The result was somewhat disappointing. The Omega Effect was a unique power that combined a little bit of the power of creation with mostly destruction.

Its ability to travel space and time is nothing more than destroying specific parts of the space-time continuum and forcefully creating tears that lead to any place or time. Such a power perfectly matched someone like Darkseid but was probably useless to his Time Game.

The good news is this thing did have some value. It was an excellent reference for his study of Void Energy, which also had both destruction and creation characteristics. Lastly, it also helped his Destruction Rule.

…

"Did you see my fight?" asked Diana, dressed casually as she sat in a booth at a diner.

"I did, and it was wonderful," replied Edward.

"Wonderful? That's all you have to say?"

"What else do you expect me to say?"

"Be a little more excited or impressed."

"What can I say? You guys barely destroyed the Solar System. To me, or even Darkseid, this level of a fight is now child play."

"Your dimension must be a nightmare for regular people."

"It is," nodded Edward. "Let's not talk about this. Tell me, what happened to you after I left?"

"Nothing exciting happened in the first few years as I listened to your advice and waited for the right time to become an ambassador in the world of men. It was quite difficult after seeing the atrocities of World War II, but I persevered.

"And when it was time, I did not even have to convince my mother as the Gods of Olympus contacted us and granted me these bracelets."

Edward looked at them; he could tell they were made similarly to the Lasso of Truth but also contained the [Guardian/Protection Authority].

"They told me to become their ambassador, and I answered their call."

"Did you even learn what had happened to them?"

"No, I only know something happened that affected all pantheons."

Edward nodded, thinking it was probably related to the Convergence.

"Once I joined the world, Clark, or Superman, had just begun to appear to the world. Soon afterward, there were more and more like-minded individuals, and we formed the Justice League to help people."

"You seem happy, I mean, happier than when we last saw each other."

"Well, I found a purpose to which I can dedicate my life, and I am very content with it."

"Yes, having a purpose can have this effect."

The two spent the next few days talking and rekindling their friendship. They traveled, talked, ate — and Diana asked for a rematch with the caveat Edward had to use the same tier as her. She lost, of course, but put on a great fight. Her talent for close combat is better than him, and her skills are now on par, if not better, after using the headset, but he still had thousands of years of experience above her.

Three days later, it was time for Edward to leave.

"Can't you stay a little longer?"

"Unfortunately, that's not possible," replied Edward.

"When will I see you again?" asked Diana. "I will see you again, right?"

"Maybe."

"Those are not reassuring words."

"I will be very busy. So you might see me in a few months, a few years, or never. As a dimensional traveler, time is not really a constraint for me."

"Your words are raising eyebrows," Diana said. "If you need help, say so, and I will not hesitate to offer it."

"I know, but there is no need for that," Edward replied before looking her in the eyes. "Bruce is a great guy; I have no doubt he can make you happy."

"So, you knew."

"My outburst was not simply because of how I personally feel about him."

"I did not take you for the jealousy type," she said with a smile.

"I have my low points. But what I said is true — he can make you happy."

"I don't know. He has always had reservations about our relationship because of our line of work. Plus, I couldn't stop thinking about your words."

"He can change," added Edward. "I've seen. After he surrounds himself with his adopted children — the Robins — he does change. At that point, you only need to see the right therapist, and he can overcome his trauma."

"Do you really think so?"

"I wouldn't say so otherwise," nodded Edward. "However, you should be wary of a woman named Talia Al Ghul."

"Why?"

"She has a son with Bruce named Damian, but he was not really a willing participant in the procreation process — if you know what I mean."

"So cruel?"

"I'm afraid so."

"I will be on the lookout."

"Good. One last thing in case we don't see each other again."

"Don't say that."

"Listen since it's important," said Edward in a serious tone. "The entire Multiverse is about to be forced into a war of unparalleled proportions. If you want to protect the people you love, become as powerful as possible."

Edward sighed deeply, "I want to say do whatever is necessary to acquire power, but I know this goes against your personality, so I won't embarrass myself. But you should understand my intention or the severity of the situation."

"A war? With whom? And when?" swiftly asked Diana.

"I don't know much, but what I do know, with your immortality, you will live to see it happen. Be prepared."

"I…understand."

Edward nodded, hugged, and kissed her on the cheek before hopping into his floating city and leaving for the void; his next destination was the Fate/Moon Universe.