Chapter 54: The Final Game 4

Two important things. 

-First, I'm going to have a serialization schedule that will be Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Three chapters per week. I just want something from you guys. I want you to leave your power stones and leave a review. 

I'm breaking my neck bringing you a story of a very different quality than most here and with more words. It's not perfect, I admit it, but I want to give you quality. Something contrary to the other fics where they copy the whole UCM saga or everything from Young Justice or so. 

-Second. Guys, you don't know how hard it was to write this long episode (more than 7k words). I had to stop writing twice because I was literally crying. If you think Atom's death was sad, this chapter will be worse. I hope I was able to transmit at least a little bit of what I felt writing this.

Enjoy :)

Curious Question: For Jujutsu fans, how many chapters do you think Yuta and Itadori will last against Gege's husband (Sukuna)?

---------

"talking"

'thinking'

"Ghost Rider Voice/Demonic Voice"

<Mental command>

"Gorilla's sounds"

--------

Chernobyl, in the fight

The news of Atom's death brought a hush to the battlefield for our beloved superheroes. This was a war, but it wasn't until someone dear to them who died, to open their eyes to reality.

Despite the sadness, and the pain they all felt for the loss of their friend, it also renewed everyone's conviction to fight.

The fatigue faded and with renewed strength, ALL the heroes began to battle and gain ground. Little by little the heroes were achieving the impossible. Despite the odds.... They were winning.

However, all was not well. For just someone, who was in hot pursuit on his flying motorcycle, was beginning to have a premonition that it would all go to hell.

Edgar was feeling that feeling again. That feeling he felt the day of the explosion at his research center, and he felt it again the day the children were kidnapped from the orphanage.

Something bad would happen. Edgar was sure of it, and it would bring no good to anyone....

However, that didn't stop him from continuing to pursue his prey, namely Black Adam. At this point, he was slowly gaining speed and was matching the speed of these supermen, but he was still lacking. 

But this did not stop him, far from it.

He pulled out his shotgun and started throwing fireballs at Black Adam who was flying zigzagging to dodge these projectiles. Zehuti's wisdom told him that this fire was too damaging to him, so he didn't play brave and preferred to dodge.

However, that moment was enough for the first pursuer, i.e. Superman, to catch up with him and grab his foot and, with all his might, smash him to the ground. Superman then proceeded to launch powerful blows at Adam's humanity.

Punches so powerful that they rippled the wind and generated powerful sounds of thunder were being delivered by the man of steel. Atom's news did not take well at all, and at this moment he was taking out a pent-up rage he didn't know he had. Superman, at this point, was NOT holding back.

However, Black Adam showed why he was the dangerous and feared fighter he was, and just as Superman was about to strike again, he dodged his blow and delivered a powerful headbutt that momentarily stunned Superman.

Then, he threw a knee to the ribs of the man of steel, which knocked all the air out of him, and finally he summoned his power in his fist to strike with all his might at Superman's stunned face.

But just at that moment, a chain became entangled in Black Adam's hand, stopping him in his tracks.

Edgar had arrived. However, Edgar didn't stop and with a boost from the bike, he knocked Adam to the ground, and dragged him away like Grundy. Edgar, at this point, was walking Adam all over the area as he first did with the big zombie.

However, Adam was not Grundy. When he had enough of being dragged, this one simply put all his strength into it and, to everyone's surprise, completely stopped the dragging motion with sheer brute force. Edgar kept pulling on the chain, but Adam wouldn't budge.

However, Superman didn't stand still either, and just then, he came in at full speed and struck Adam's face with full force with his fist, which caused his face to do a complete 45° turn.

If anyone saw that blow in slow motion, they would see how Adam's face practically rippled and that as he was spinning, his mouth was spurting saliva mixed with drops of blood. That's how powerful Superman's punch was.

Now, on the right, was Superman and Edgar. And on the left, dazed and with a bleeding mouth, was Adam.

Superman and Edgar looked at each other, and nodded. An unspoken agreement hovered just then between the two.

After a couple of seconds. They both moved.

Flying at full speed, they were going to hit Adam with all their power to knock him out at once. Superman put so much force into his fist that the veins were protruding and Edgar powered his skeletal hand with his hellfire. That blow would be the final one to end this great threat.

Adam stared at the ground stunned, even his body looked wobbly from Superman's blow. It looked like the wind would knock him down at any moment. He never turned to see that they would deliver the blow of his life.

Superman and Edgar closed in fast. Meters cut off in a few seconds with their supersonic speed. But just as they were about to arrive, Adam moved....

He lifted his face, which wore a slight smile, and raised his hands and made...

"CLAP!"

A clap so powerful that it rippled the wind itself, which generated a small hurricane, which stopped Edgar and Superman's advance.

The wave practically stopped them in their tracks and sent them flying away. Even Edgar flew off the motorcycle. But Edgar, just at that moment, raised his rifle and fired a couple of shots at Black Adam, which seriously wounded him and made him kneel down due to the pain he felt.

Superman and Edgar flew and crashed many meters away from where they were. The worst of all was none other than Superman, who practically destroyed part of his eardrums. His ears were bleeding and he was in a daze, but Edgar helped him up.

"Superman, are you okay?" 

"Aghh, that thing deafened me. But I'll be fine. Sometimes it's not good to have super senses"

"Mmm" Edgar nodded. Even if he wasn't complaining like Superman, that hurt him a lot too because of his enhanced senses.

..

..

..

"He is pretty powerful"

"Quite so" Edgar nodded again. "But the one I'm worried about is him" he said, pointing to the sky where red and gold dots were visible. It was Mordru fighting Doctor Fate.

"Sigh, one enemy at a time, my friend. One enemy at a time"

"Mmmm" Edgar nodded again.

Just then, Black Adam stood up and was looking at his chest where a burn mark was visible. He then looked menacingly towards where the two of them were and flew off.

"Okay, round three" with that Superman flew to intercept.

Edgar didn't stand still either and whistled.

"Phew, phew" the bike came to meet him. He hopped on and attacked again.

The fight was going to be a long one

----------

Constantine was not having a good day. Hell, he hadn't even had a good week.

First, they'd had a lot of boring meetings where they'd planned and planned and kept planning, until a damn ultimatum given by the bad guys had ruined all those elaborate plans and they'd had to come to this damn war.

Then there was the mission he was tasked with. Undoing a powerful magical seal. However, it never occurred to them that a damn sensual sorceress was waiting for them, and frankly, at this point, they were losing. Katana was a bleeding mess on the arm and he was no better, as his magical power was running out and so were his ideas.

But the WORST thing about all of this, was the fucking shitty cigarette he was smoking. A cheap imitation of his favorites that they discontinued. And the worst part, it cost just as expensive.

'Iugg, it tastes like shit' he thought. 'Cigars are no longer made as they used to be'

Constantine picked up the cigar that was running low and with a flick of his finger threw it at the beautiful green haired woman. Just as it was about to reach for Emerald Empress, a purple seal materialized right on the cigar and it ignited like a small bomb.

"BOOOM!"

However, the explosion didn't hurt Emerald, as she had covered himself with a green shield just then.

"You're running out of options, Constantine" said Emerald Empress with slight mockery to our beloved trenchcoated demonologist.

"Don't worry, my dear. I still have a lot of tricks up my sleeve"

Well... this wasn't entirely a lie. Actually, he did have one last trick up his sleeve, but it was something he frankly didn't want to do. If these weren't such desperate times he wouldn't even have thought of such a solution.

'My grandfather would turn over in his grave at what I'm going to do' thought Constantine. Constantine turned to look at the Japanese woman who was trying to skewer the giant eye with her sword, but was unable to do so, and told her

"Katana, I need you to give me a minute, and distract the two threats. I have an idea. A crazy, stupid idea. But one that I'm sure will work"

"オーケー" (okay) Katana nodded in Japanese.

That was another matter. If they survived all this, he had promised himself to teach this woman the English language, and not just any English, but of the original British. Trying to guess her anime phrases had frankly already tired him out.

Constantine stepped back a bit and pulled a small pocket knife out of his pocket. He then pulled out a small book, which had only a pentagram on the cover, and, cutting his hand with the penknife, it spread a couple of drops into the book. The book was clearly not ordinary, for the blood was quickly absorbed and the pentagram began to glow.

The book suddenly began to vibrate and float. A red seal with a pentagram just materialized on the ground and from there, a gigantic muscular demon, emitting enormous power, emerged from that seal.

It was Belial, a powerful Duke-level demon, son of Archduke Belfegor, one of the archdukes of hell along with Satan, Beelzebub, and Ashtaroth, and a specialist in magic, mainly fire and dark magic.

(AN: Sabbac is also Duke level)

"Who dares to invoke the mighty Belial, Duke and second to the hand of the Archduke Belfegor.... Oh, it is you, Constantine, what do you want now?" 

Actually, it wasn't the first time Constantine had summoned him. The first time he almost made a mess that his grandfather had to fix and to calm the anger of this powerful demon, he gave him a powerful relic in exchange for Belial not taking his grandson's soul.

Since then, he forbade him to summon this demon again, and Constantine never did it again... well, until now.

"Belial, I need your help. Help me destroy that magic seal"

Belial turned to look at the seal and raised his eyebrow curiously. He was amazed that someone would be so powerful to create this seal. It was astonishing. But destroying it, for someone like him with his knowledge, was a piece of cake.

However, what caught his attention was something else, specifically the floating eye that was attacking the Japanese woman.

'Interesting' thought the demon.

"That's fine. But in return, I want that eye... and your soul"

'Get in line' thought Constantine. If he could gather all the powerful beings and demons who wanted his soul, he would fill Wembley Stadium.

"Deal..." Constantine agreed, which made Belial smile, but then what followed wiped away his smile "but my soul when I succumb to death"

Belial didn't like the last. Constantine's soul was a great delight, but he would wait. He would be patient. Constantine would not be able to avoid his fate.

"Mmm, fine. We have a deal" 

When he agreed, the circle glowed as a sign that the contract was in place. What Belial didn't know, however, was that, in the not-so-distant future, Constantine would be forced to make a similar contract with three other powerful demons in exchange for his soul. Practically, they would have to fight among themselves to see who would get him. But this is a story for the future.

Belial summoned all his power he could muster at that moment and cast a powerful spell right at the center of the magic seal. Quickly like gunpowder, the paint burned away until it faded.

"NOOOOOOOO" shouted Emerald as she saw the broken seal, then turned to look at Constantine angrily, but that moment of hesitation was enough for Katana to reach out and impale her with her sword.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Ekron's eye, which wanted to help its owner, was pulled by a red chain from Belial. The eye wanted to resist, but Belial absorbed its power, making it smaller and smaller until it became the size of a billiard ball. Then he simply crushed it with his hands and it disappeared.

"The deal is done...don't summon me again or I'll take your soul without question, Constantine"

Actually, Belial was a pretty good demon for his kind. Mostly because he was someone who was very active with humans in medieval times. He practically liked to make deals with people and satiate his curiosity that he was born with.

There were even legends that he had fallen in love with a homo-magi, and had a child. Even the more absurd ones said that he was Merlin himself. But that rumor had never been confirmed.

"No, no, no. no. no. I will kill you. You hear me, I will kill you" Emerald threatened, however, already without her eye, her hair began to gray and her skin began to wrinkle. What was left was a decrepit and hideous old woman. This was Emerald's true appearance, before she was granted the eye and Mordru helped her. An old sorceress on her deathbed.

'Iuggh, and to think I thought she was sexy', Constantine thought in disgust at the sight of the wrinkled, hideous woman.

Emerald's threats were in vain, as slowly her soul was being sucked into the sword that was inserted into her chest. The light of life was fading for this sorceress. Finally, her eyes turned white and her body fell like a rag.

Cera Kesh (Emerald Empress) was dead.

Constantine put his hand to his communicator and said to everyone.

"Constantine to all. The magic barrier is down, repeat, the magic barrier is down"

With that, Constantine lay down on the ground. He was exhausted. That magic ritual had drained him. Katana, however, picked him up and said to him in perfect English. 

"Well done"

"You knew English?" he asked in disbelief.

Katana just smiled and walked away. A song was hummed by the Japanese woman as she walked away.

Constantine watched her go, unable to believe it.

'That woman cheated on me... and now I'm out of cigarettes. Life sucks'

------

However, if anyone was truly having the worst day of his life, it was none other than Lex Luthor. Right now, he was defending himself as best he could from his two attackers, the pair of Hawks, Hawkman and Hawkwoman, and he was losing.

"Damn you two birds. Just die already" Lex said as he launched several missiles towards the pair. However, they proved why they were such a good team and why they were so adept at their skills, when, in a totally impressive aerial maneuver, they dodged these missiles by contracting their wings and turning in a 360° pirouette.

"BOOOOM" the missiles simply exploded, but their targets had escaped.

Good thing Lex got a breather when two robots, Red Tornado versions, launched a powerful blast of wind and lava at the pair, which they had to dodge by flying away. The robots gave chase.

Lex was angry, and tired. Bringing a hand to his communicator, he said.

"Thinker, damn it. EVERYTHING IS BAD. We're getting slaughtered"

"Lex...look, I'm really busy. While you're yelling at me, I'm keeping the damn Cyborg from getting to where I am. Besides, there won't be any more robots because Cyborg destroyed the entire production line"

That there were so many robots in the sky and that they never seemed to run out was actually because they were manufactured in bulk at the underground facility. While one was being destroyed, another 10 were coming out.

But thanks to Cyborg, this was no longer happening. There were still plenty of robots left in the sky, but they couldn't make any more.

"What about the tropos. Send them all. We have millions of soldiers all over the world. Why they don't seem to have arrived?"

"I already did, Lex. I made that command over five minutes ago. I don't know why they haven't crossed over, but my system indicates that the portals are still operating quite well. It's not a technical problem"

This was another major asset. They had programmed Boom-Tube portals, to get troops through in small troops. This way they would have an almost unlimited resource of people at their disposal. At first, that was happening, but that stopped happening 5 minutes ago. Thinker couldn't figure out what was going on, but whatever it was, it was from the other side.

"Hold on, I'll check news and transmissions..." Thinker started analyzing the entire internet, and there he finally saw why the soldiers were no longer arriving to reinforce. "Lex...we have a problem. A big damn problem"

"What is it?" asked Lex solemnly. Thinker's tone was one of concern. Even with his robotic voice, Lex could tell that whatever was going on was not good for them.

"The troops can't come because they're fighting. The Centers of Value are under attack..."

"By whom...?"

"By the world...The whole world has taken up arms against us. Even with all my programming I couldn't guess such an event. The Superman speech...it worked"

People were fed up. Fed up with this group and their 'Centers of Value', telling them how much they were worth.

What right did they have to judge people's worth?

What right did they have to even have an opinion of people's worth?

They didn't know someone's true worth

EVERYONE is valuable. We can ALL go far. We can ALL reach our goals.

Only WE know our TRUE VALUE.

And that... the world had discovered it, or had been reminded of it by Superman's speech.

At this point, everyone had grabbed whatever they had at their disposal. Shovels, baseball bats, hammers, and even small caliber weapons, with only one purpose. To overthrow these tyrants and take their Centers of Value. To fight for their freedom. Fight for their true value.

The soldiers were well trained, with better weapons, and so on, but the world was millions. The soldiers were being overwhelmed by numbers.

From this day forward, history would know this day as The Revolution of the Modern Era.

 The Revolution of True Value. 

Lex was numb to this information. He couldn't understand what was going on. Where they had gone wrong.

And, as if this wasn't bad enough, just at that moment, dozens of golden magical portals materialized in the inner zone and from there Atlantean and Amazonian reinforcements came out. This was phase 3 of Batman's plan. Break the magical barrier and bring reinforcements to the inner zone.

The Atlanteans were commanded by none other than Mera and the Amazons were led by the Queen's sister and Diana's aunt, Antiope.

"AMAZONS, let us show them our fury"

"AHU, AHU, AHU"

"Atlanteans, fight for your king, for your kingdom. Attack!"

"AHHHHHHH"

If it was bad for The Light before, this was simply a losing ultimatum for the villains. The Light was finished. Well... not quite.

[Project Cadmus completion percentage: 90%]

'Come on, Vandal' thought Lex. This was the only hope they had. That the project would be completed.

However, he could think no more as he had to summon a shield just then to avoid being hit by an electric mace. It was Hawkman.

Hawkman angrily began to strike the shield. Blow after blow began to break it. In the end, from so many powerful blows, the shield fell, and Lex could no longer defend himself. However, Lex did not remain idle and when the shield broke, he threw a powerful blow at the hawk, sending it away.

However, just at that moment, he spun around and saw Hawkwoman coming at him with fiendish speed, raising her mace towards his face.

This was the last image he saw before his world went dark…

-----------

Reinforcements had arrived, and the heroes were grateful for this, because frankly their fatigue was too much. This brought respite for most of them. However, not all of them were able to rest as they were involved in powerful and dangerous fights against formidable foes.

One of them was Green Arrow, who was still having his duel against Merlyn. Arrow after arrow clashed, as they raced by throwing on the move. In the end, Green Arrow launched a powerful arrow and was able to hit Merlyn's shoulder.

"Agh, damn it Green, that hurt" Merlyn pulled the arrow out, and, ignoring the pain, took a last arrow and took aim. "Last arrow. Let's see who's the better archer"

"As you wish" Green Arrow took his arrow and took aim as well. They both looked at each other for a moment. And just as they were about to strike, something strange happened.

Merlyn started to convulse on the ground. The cause of all this, none other than a red electric arrow. This arrow generated an electric field so powerful that it knocked him out after several seconds.

Just at that moment, the cause of the arrow arrived where Green Arrow was standing. It was Roy Harper, or known as Red Arrow, Oliver's ward, and a member of the Teen Titans.

At this point, with the reinforcements that arrived, the Titans who had disobeyed orders also arrived. In addition to Roy, Supergirl, Kid Flash, and Shazam were on the scene.

However, this did not bring joy to Oliver Queen. On the contrary. If looks could kill, the look Oliver was giving Roy right now would have him buried 10 feet under by now. 

"Roy... I'll give you 10 seconds to explain to me WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE"

"Saving your ass, old man, isn't it obvious?"

"I already had him... and don't change the subject. What are you doing here. We told you that you were NOT coming on the mission, and from what I see in the sky with Supergirl hitting the robots with her heat vision, I guess you weren't the only one who disobeyed the order"

"Okay, look old man, you can get mad and berate me all you want, but later. Right now we're in a war" Roy said as he pointed to the group of approaching soldiers.

"We'll talk later... but right now, cover for me"

"Ha, you cover for me, old man. I'm faster and better than you. I'll even bet I can beat more people"

"It's a bet then"

Roy turned his back to Oliver and they both started firing.

"On your 6"

"At your 9"

"At 3 o'clock"

"Watch out at 2"

With devilish coordination, they were wiping out the troops in sight. Nevertheless, they had an expression of happiness on their faces, as they smiled at their competence. This, to Oliver, was like the old days when they patrolled Star City.

"You're getting slow, old man"

"Ha, count it right. I'm carrying more than you, kid"

Oliver was still smiling cheerfully. Quickly every incoming troop was simply decimated by his arrows. Ice arrows, electric arrows, arrows with pulleys. This was just like the old days. Oliver was grinning like crazy.

"HA, We're making it, Speedy. Just like old times"

The reply, however, never came....

"Speedy...?"

..

..

..

Green Arrow turned to look at his ward, but there he saw something that made his blood run cold. A knife was piercing his chest. And Roy… he was on his knees, vomiting blood from this.

"ROOOOOOOOOOY!!!!" Green Arrow knelt down and looked at his ward. He felt his skin and saw that he was going pale and cold. Roy Harper was dying.

"You'll be fine, hang in there Speedy, I'll get you out of here"

"Don't make promises you can't keep, archer" a voice was heard in the distance, but it sounded clear to Oliver. At that, another similar knife pierced the same spot in Roy's chest, which made him vomit more blood and drop like a rag.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Oliver turned demonically toward the voice. There he saw the culprit of these projectiles. None other than Ra's Al Ghul himself.

"The knife was meant for you, emerald archer. Your young ward practically saved you. Poetic, since you did the same for the blonde woman before. That loyalty, I respect it"

"You... I WILL KILL YOU!" Oliver no longer thought. He just acted on instinct.

Leaping with his bow this one wanted to hit Ras hard, but Ras just dodged it with a simple movement.

"You are good in combat, emerald archer, but not that good. Compared to Bruce you're not half as good... and that's why you won't be able to defeat me"

"SHUT UP" Oliver threw a punch that connected with Ras' face. Then another. Then another. However, after several punches, Ras moved. This one took his fist and with a bleeding smile said.

"My turn"

Oliver couldn't even defend himself from the attack. Ras moved with incredible speed and delivered a combo to his ribs, then delivered a kick to his leg that brought him to his knees and finished off with a kick to the chin, which knocked Oliver to the ground. He then delivered a kick to his leg, breaking it so he couldn't get up.

"I told you, you won't be able to defeat me" Ras reached over and pulled out another knife. With a quick motion, this one stuck him right in Oliver's upper back.

"AGHHH" Oliver grunted in pain at this. He hadn't hit any vital spots, but it hurt like hell.

"I respect you for your skills, Emerald Archer. I think you have a lot of potential and I would have liked to train you personally. But this..." he said pointing to the battlefield "It's a war... and unfortunately, you have to die"

Ras pulled out another knife and was about to stab right into Oliver's heart, when something happened that Ras didn't expect. An arrow just pierced him right in the forehead.

Practically the point of attack was right in the center of the forehead, which practically pierced part of his brain. A simple and instant death. Ras fell like a rag doll.

The cause of all this, a dying Roy Harper who had taken a sharp arrow from Oliver's bow and fired it. Unfortunately that was the last thing he could do, for just at that, the light of life went out in his eyes.

Roy Harper (Red Arrow) was dead. 

"FATHER!" shouted a Talia who was near the scene and witnessed this whole scene. "Quickly, kill those in the area and take my father's body. We have 15 minutes if we want to revive him" she commanded the ninja troops scattered around the place.

They all moved in unison with one simple purpose. To take the body of the old demon and revive it with the pit of Lazarus.

What was not known was that a pit was nearby. The third hidden pit was right in the Ukraine. But they had to get out of there fast if they wanted to get there in time.

However, the group of ninjas could do nothing, as justly a metal spike pierced Ras' body, exploding his head.

"SPLASH!"

"FATHEEEEEEEEER!"

More and more spikes fell all over his humanity completely disfiguring him. If they wanted to revive him, they needed the body intact... now they would no longer succeed. There would be no more resurrections for the leader of the League of Assassins.

Now it was official.

Ra's Al Ghul was dead. 

It was all the work of Metamorpho, who had arrived on the scene, and was covered in a metallic alloy that he had absorbed from the enemy tanks. He was throwing spikes of metal at the enemies, piercing and shattering them completely. All over the battlefield, he was making carnage. When he saw Ras down, he didn't hesitate and attacked.

Talia angrily pulled out a gun and wanted to shoot, but just Plastic Man arrived and covered Oliver's wounded body.

"Oh, no, no, no, no. Not a second time!"

Metamorpho kept firing his spikes, killing the ninjas on the spot, while Plastic Man covered the wounded Oliver who was slowly crawling on the ground. 

Talia, in rage, but seeing that they were cornered, could only do what she thought best

"RETREAT!"

Without her father, it was now Talia's turn to lead. But this war, in her eyes, was already lost. The ninjas would have to go into hiding and reorganize. With that, they all departed as quickly as possible, while covering Talia from being killed by Metamorpho's spikes.

However, Oliver was devastated, he crawled over to Roy's body, as his leg was broken and, grabbing him in a hug. Oliver began to cry.

"Roy, sniff, oh, sniff, Speedy, forgive me, forgive me for being a bad mentor, oh, sniff, forgive me for being a bad father, sniff, Roy, come back, please don't leave me. Come on, wake up. Tell me you're better than me. Come back and tell me I'm getting old, but don't leave me, sniff, Roy, don't leave me, son, please"

To Oliver, Roy wasn't just a ward. He raised him and took him off the streets. He taught him the best he could and gave him an education. And even though it wasn't all good, and Roy sometimes behaved very arrogant and didn't appreciate authority, to Oliver... he was his son.

His son... he had passed away.

"I never told you I was proud, sniff, but I was, sniff, I was super proud of you, sniff, sorry for being a bad father, son, sniff, I'm so sorry"

A silence hung over the place. The second major death had happened... and of a young hero who should NOT have been there.

Just at that moment... it was raining.

---------

The battlefield was in chaos. All against all, and now with reinforcements, the allies were practically slaughtering the enemy forces. However, at this moment, very mythical fights were brewing between several powerful opponents. For example, in the sky, Zatara was subduing Weather Wizard.

Killer Frost was battling Ice in a match to see who was the best with ice powers, and Etrigan, Vixen and the others were fighting Gorilla Grodd and the powerful gorillas that were in the area.

However, not all the fights were fist fights. In fact, at this time, an unconventional fight was brewing between two individuals with telepathic powers.

Ultra-Humanite vs. Martian Manhunter.

All around them was chaos, but they... they were standing still, looking at each other, making no pretense of attacking each other.

Anyone who saw them would be surprised, for it seemed as if they were two statues. However, the long-awaited fight was going on inside the great white ape's head.

---------

(Ultra-Humanite Mind)

Inside Ultra-Humanite's head, the city of Chernobyl was visible, but as if the radioactive disaster had never happened. The buildings were intact, cars of the time were parked around the place and the nuclear plant looked intact. However, everything was empty. Well, not so empty...

"CRASH!" the sound of a loud projectile was heard. A building, practically destroyed from the force of the crash.

Emerging from the rubble was Martian Manhunter, who shook off the dust from the impact. However, he could do nothing more, as the great ape came with momentum and grabbed him by the foot, smashing him to the ground, creating a large crater.

Blow after blow landed on the Martian's humanity, and, in the end, all he could do was throw a kick to send the ape that was slaughtering him away.

This was quite a strange thing to see. Ultra-Humanite was winning the fight, and Martian Manhunter was practically being beaten like a rag doll all over the area, but the weird thing wasn't that.

The weird thing was that Martian wasn't using any of his signature powers.

Sure, he was still using his super strength and great flying speed, but the other powers, he wasn't using them. 

It must be said that Martian Manhunter was like a Swiss Army knife.

He had many powers besides telepathic ones, such as telekinesis, intangibility, shapeshifting, and so on. But at this moment, he wasn't using any of them, he was just letting himself be beaten and hardly defending himself.

Perhaps it was because he was inside the ape's mind. However, the answer was answered later for everyone, but it was too late for Ultra-Humanite to know.

Ultra-Humanite picked up a car and was about to throw it at the Martian when he finally saw it.

In the distance, at the edges of the city, he saw how everything was disintegrating into dust, leaving a white landscape. At first, this caught Humanite's attention, but eventually, he realized what it all meant.

'I guess I lost'

Ultra-Humanite, slowly let go of the car, set it down on the ground and sat down.

At that, the whole landscape changed drastically and now a city hidden in the jungle where many beautifully designed houses, with statues of giant apes could be seen. Ultra-Humanite was sitting on top of a pyramid, in his royal chair, watching all this with longing eyes. This place was Gorilla City.

Martian Manhunter flew calmly to where Ultra-Humanite was, however, his face was one of sadness. Tears were falling as he watched the ape gazing longingly at the city. 

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I had no choice" pleaded the Martian.

"Don't feel bad, my friend. I would have done the same with you. Please sit down, and spend my last moments with me"

This conversation was strange for everyone. Because before they were hitting each other and now they were sitting as friends. It was all very confusing.

However, what they knew was that the disintegration that was occurring was the consequence of forcing your way into someone's subconscious and ripping it apart.

As they fought, and Martian let himself be beaten, he subtly used his powers and slipped into Ultra-Humanite's subconscious to search for the valuable information he was entrusted with. The activation codes of the soldiers' minds.

The soldiers were programmed to carry out The Light's orders without question, but, so that all those without telepathic powers could reprogram these soldiers, Ultra-Humanite implanted a secret code in the mind that activated this. And that was what the Martian had found.

What he never expected, however, was that by entering the subconscious, the white-haired ape had configured his mind to erase himself completely. Something like a contingency plan to erase everything. And it had no way to remedy himself.

At this moment, all of Ultra-Humanite's mind, memories, and so on were being erased. All of the ape's essence was disappearing and all that would be left would be an empty vessel. Simply put, Ultra-Humanite would be brain dead. 

At this moment, Ultra-Humanite was awaiting his death....

"Did you at least find what you were looking for?" the ape asked politely. The Martian only nodded sadly.

"I'm truly sorry, I... I didn't want this"

"I know, you are too noble to do so. I'm glad my last moments are at the hands of you, Martian, and not at the hands of humans. You are very powerful, I didn't even notice when you snuck into my subconscious"

"You are also very powerful, but that's not a matter of power, it's a matter of subtlety. I am a Manhunter, a sort of elite policeman of my kind who specializes even in taking information from those of my own race. However, I never expected-"

"That I had a contingency protocol for that, yes, I did so I would die on my own terms when it was time... you see Martian, I hate pain, I hate it so much. I don't like to fight not because I can't, but because feeling pain... it's the worst thing for me. A trauma I could never leave because of the experiments I was a victim of"

Ultra-Humanite closed his eyes and started to remember the months he was in that experiment from hell. All those tortures, all those drugs injected into his body and the constant whippings he received when he offered resistance. His greatest fear.

"But something good came out of it... this" he said pointing to the whole city, where apes lived happily and peacefully. Gorilla children were running around happily as they played with their friends. This was no different than any happy time any human child had ever had. Only with apes.

"I allied myself with Vandal and The Light to survive. I stooped to their level so that they would live in peace and never suffer what I went through" Ultra-Humanite looked seriously at the Martian "Humans are monsters, Martian. They hunt ours for 'sport' justifying their monstrosity. Fighting them was impossible, so I allied myself with them. The city was built with our effort, but the materials so sturdy and the territory so peaceful my city is in, was thanks to them. I accomplished my goal thanks to The Light. The peace of my people"

Ultra-Humanite sighed heavily.

"But I strayed from my path. I started getting greedy and put my people at risk. Actually, I think all of The Light got sidetracked. At first we wanted to create an empire that would bring absolute peace. But now, with this war, I only feel we bring misfortune to our counterparts"

Ultra-Humanite looked back at his beloved city. In the distance, everything was being erased and all the apes that were there were disintegrating into dust.

"Martian, promise me that my people will be safe. That all these apes you see, from the smallest to the oldest, will not suffer from the hunting and destruction that I experienced. Promise me that. That's all I want to know before I leave in peace"

Martian looked at him seriously and said.

"I promise. I promise I will do my best to make sure that doesn't happen. You have my word" These words brought a smile to Ultra-Humanite.

"In any human this promise would be vain for me, but in you, I can believe it. You are noble, and I respect that. I only hope that humanity does not corrupt your principles, my friend"

Finally, Ultrahumanite put his hand to his head and gave one last telepathic command. Martian asked curiously.

"What did you do?"

"Give instructions to my successor, and do what I should have done from the beginning of this war. Take care of my people"

"I see..."

With that, silence reigned as they both watched as only the pyramid remained undisintegrated. But slowly the pyramid was crumbling to dust.

"Hey, Martian. Can I confess something to you?"

"Sure"

..

..

..

"I don't want to die" there Ultra-Humanite broke down and started crying. "I want to live. I want to live in peace. I want to be able to feel the morning air when I see my people. I'm afraid to die!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" Martian also shed tears hearing this.

However, it was all over now, at this point, Ultra-Humanite was getting dusty.

"Hey Martian, do you think it's painful, it's just... I hate pain"

"No" Martian Manhunter shook his head. "It'll be like a dream"

"A good one, I hope. I'm tired of the nightmares I always have"

With that said, everything went white....

----------

Grodd was fighting the demon Etrigan and the black-skinned woman with whom he felt a strong affinity. It was Vixen.

One he attacked mentally and the other he attacked physically. He gave no quarter. However, just then he stopped, as a mental transmission came to him from his leader.

<Grodd, sorry that my final message is short, but I'm dying. And no, I don't want you to do anything rash for this, enemy was better than me, that's the truth. It your time rule, it become leader never was, and take care of our people. But first, fulfill last demand. withdraw. The war lost. So go save what's left Don't worry, I've already made a deal with League everything will be fine. leave all you, Grodd>

Grodd turned sharply to look at his leader who stood like a statue. Mentally, however, he felt it. The brain waves were fading. Ultra-Humanite was dying.

Finally, he shed a tear and shouted a howl to the sky.

"UH, UH, UH, UH, UH"

From there, everyone followed him.

"UH, UH, UH, UH, UH"

"UH, UH, UH, UH, UH"

"UH, UH, UH, UH, UH"

"UH, UH, UH, UH, UH"

All the gorillas stopped fighting and began chanting to the rainy sky.

"What's going on?" rasped Etrigan in confusion.

"They... they're singing. It's a sad song" Vixen concluded. Her powers were telling her so. These apes were saying goodbye. "They are saying goodbye to their leader"

Then the apes moved to where their leader stood and in a surprising gesture they all prostrated themselves in respect, raising their hand. This was the primate gesture of absolute respect.

Finally, when all this was over. Grodd mentally commanded.

<Brothers, let's go. It's time to go home>

The gorillas took the body of their leader and carried it away in procession. No one stopped them from leaving. Everyone understood that this... was goodbye.

However, Grodd turned and spoke to the woman with whom he had an affinity for the wild. And, in his raspy voice and in difficult English, he spoke.

"Grodd want the best for his people. People of Grodd live in peace. Grodd does not want war anymore"

"And there won't be. Not from our side. I promise. I will see to it that your peace is maintained"

Grodd nodded but not before beating his chest and roaring to the four winds. This was goodbye to them. Not without an expensive cost, the death of their beloved leader.

However, the one who never moved was Martian Manhunter, even he did not stop using his powers. He was still connected to Ultra-Humanite's last mind wave. At this moment, he was a spectator of the last memory that the white ape was seeing. A memory that was making him cry.

A beautiful memory....

-----------

Ultra- Humanite opened his eyes and saw that he was prostrate on a giant bed with handcuffs restraining him.

'NO. NOT THIS NIGHTMARE AGAIN!'

How could he not know where he was. He was in the experimentation room that gave him his powers. That room where he spent months of daily torture. This was his nightmare. Right now, he wasn't the strong, powerful ape from The Light. He was just a useless white-haired ape who could do nothing to stop it.

Now he knew what was going to happen. People in robes would arrive. They would inject him with a drug so powerful it would make his blood boil, and they would finish him off with electroshock attacks. And if he defended himself, he would be whipped with 100 lashes until a bloody mess was left on his body. His worst fear.

However, contrary to his expectations, this did not happen. Instead, his handcuffs opened, leaving him free.

Ultra-Humanite didn't even think about it. He ran and left the place without looking back. But the strange thing was that no one was there. No one offered him any resistance. It was simply a rather pleasant trip to the exit for the ape. But he didn't stop to think about this. He just wanted to leave. 

However, when he got out, he was greeted by a sight he thought he would never see again. A memory he hadn't seen since the hunters took him away. His birthplace. The mountains where the last white apes lived.

'What is all this?' he wondered. What happened next, however, he never expected.

"UH, UH, UH" (son, you are back)

"UH, UH, UH?" (Mother, father, siblings, all are here, but... How?).

All the white apes were there like the last time he was there. The dozens that were left all over the world and had been hunted to exhaustion by greedy humans who wanted their skins.

"UH, UH, UH, UH" (hahaha, don't be surprised, son, we were always here. We were waiting for you)

"UH?" (waiting for me?)

"UH, UH, UH, UH, UH!" (Of course, without you the party couldn't get started. Guys, let's celebrate. My son is back!)

"UH, UH" (Yeii)

"UH, UH" (Party)

"UH, UH" (Come on, brother, come and play)

Ultra-Humanite couldn't believe it. This was just like before. Before his martyrdom. Before his suffering.

When he was at peace...

Tears of happiness were shed by the ape to see his people happy. However, his mother, who was by his side, was only worried to see her son crying

"UH, UH?" (Son, are you all right?)

"UH, UH, UH...UH, UH" (Yes, mother. I'm just happy...Happy to be back home)

Ultra-Humanite was dead.

--------

AN:

My P@treon 

TioIroh99 (12 chapters ahead). Finished this arc on chapter 64 in P@treon. 

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