Earth, Metropolis.
Though sunlight shone once more, the oppressive feeling hanging in the air had not faded at all.
The final countdown to Darkseid's arrival had begun.
They all knew: twenty-four hours.
That was all the time Earth had left.
The heroes of the Justice League had no time to celebrate the return of sunlight and water. They immediately threw themselves into frantic preparations for battle.
Darkseid might have been lured away by Homelander, but that did not mean the Apokolips Legion would stop its invasion.
"Fifth defense sector! Raise the elevation of those plasma cannons another fifteen degrees! Green Lantern says the portal will open right above Metropolis!" Bruce shouted into his communicator. "Steel Bone! Is the defensive field's power circuit connected yet?"
"Five more minutes, Batman!"
"Barry." Bruce turned to The Flash. "You're the fastest. Tell the resistance leaders everywhere to gather their best troops in Metropolis immediately. Civilians should stay in the underground shelters. No one comes out."
"On it!" Barry Allen's face was grim as blue arcs of electricity burst around him.
Mera arrived at the harbor in Metropolis Bay. She raised her trident high and summoned her magic.
At her call, seawater surged into the city's rivers and sewers, forming a network of defensive currents. Once the Apokolips Legion appeared, those currents would become deadly weapons.
The Amazon general Phillips led several hundred Amazon warriors into formation at the front of the square. They raised swords and shields, bows slung across their backs, their eyes burning with a resolve to fight to the death.
Deathstroke Slade lounged with a cigar clenched between his teeth, polishing his sword as he watched the sky with a cold smile.
Green Lantern fired an emerald signal through the atmosphere. It was a beacon to the cosmos, and he hoped