Lasso of Truth!

Lasso of Truth!

The golden rope automatically tightened the instant it touched Bruce, binding him securely as it gave off a faint golden glow.

"Now tell me, who are you? What exactly is your purpose in coming here?" Diana released her captured hand, stepped back, and gripped the other end of the Lasso of Truth. Her gaze became incomparably sharp.

She knew that before this divine artifact forged by Hephaestus, no lie could remain hidden.

Bruce glanced down at the golden rope radiating a sacred aura around his body and did not struggle.

"I'm Batman." He raised his head and calmly met Diana's scrutinizing gaze. "I came here to invite you to join a war that will decide whether this world lives or dies."

The light on the Lasso of Truth did not fluctuate in the slightest.

He was telling the truth.

Diana's brow furrowed even deeper.

"War?" She gave a cold laugh, a trace of weariness and disappointment showing in her eyes. "I've seen too many human wars. Mutual slaughter, greed, destruction... I've had enough. I heard about the Kryptonians on the radio. That is a matter between them and humanity. It has nothing to do with me. I will not involve myself in any human conflict again."

She had already made up her mind to seal herself away forever in this museum called "the past."

"What if there is an enemy behind this war that even you cannot ignore?" Bruce was not shaken by her rejection. Instead, he posed an even deeper question.

"What do you mean?" Diana asked warily.

"General Zod is only the beginning. He is like lightning before a storm. What is truly terrifying is the thunder that follows."

Bruce's voice grew incomparably grave as he pronounced, one word at a time, a name that represented Ultimate Fear even in the cosmos.

"Apokolips."

The moment that name left Bruce's lips, Diana's expression changed completely!

For the first time, her eyes, which seemed to have seen through a thousand years of time, revealed genuine shock and horror from the depths of her heart!

"How do you know... Apokolips?!" Even her voice trembled slightly.

Apokolips! Darkseid!

It was a nightmare from ancient times, one that all the gods had deliberately chosen to forget! In the distant past, Darkseid, tyrant of Apokolips, had led his army of Parademons to Earth for the first time, intending to use three Mother Boxes to transform Earth into a second Apokolips!

That battle had shaken heaven and earth!

The Old Gods, Amazons, Atlanteans, human tribes, and a Green Lantern from outer space—every race cast aside their differences and formed an allied army. Only after paying an unimaginably terrible price did they finally repel Darkseid and seize the three Mother Boxes of infinite power, which were entrusted to the Amazons, Atlantis, and humanity respectively.

This was Earth's oldest and most crucial secret! Only the leaders of the races that had taken part in that war had even heard of it. Where had this mortal calling himself Batman learned all of this?!

"I know far more than you imagine, Princess." Seeing Diana's shocked expression, Bruce knew he had made the right first move.

"Not only do I know about Apokolips, I also know that Darkseid left behind a contingency when he retreated from Earth. The three Mother Boxes guarded separately by your people are the coordinates he will use to invade Earth again. They have slept for thousands of years, but they will soon awaken."

Bruce continued to drop one bombshell after another.

"General Zod's arrival, along with the enormous energy fluctuations produced by his World Engine, will act like a beacon in the night, drawing the attention of every watcher in the universe. Darkseid's servants will soon follow that energy here to search for their lost Mother Boxes."

"The Kryptonian war is only the beginning. It will raise the curtain on an even greater, darker war. When Earth has been weakened beyond measure by the Kryptonians' assault, it will be the perfect time for Darkseid to return."

Bruce looked at Diana, his voice filled with irresistible conviction.

"So you cannot stay out of this war. Because your people, the Amazons, are one of the guardians of the Mother Boxes. Apokolips's first target will very likely be your homeland—Paradise Island!"

Diana fell completely silent.

Every word Bruce spoke struck her heart like a heavy hammer. She could not refute him, because she knew this man was very likely telling the truth. The threat of Apokolips was an ancient terror etched into her people's bloodline.

"...Even if everything you say is true." Diana took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. "What makes you think you can change any of this? You are only a mortal."

"Because I am not fighting alone," Bruce replied. "A survivor from Krypton, a man fast enough to reverse time, and soon, a demigod will join us as well. We will form a League, a League against every force that threatens Earth."

He paused, and his tone became even more sincere.

"I need your strength, Diana. That Kryptonian, Superman, is not mature enough yet. His kindness could very well become a fatal weakness in a brutal war. The battle in Metropolis needs a true warrior on the front lines to guide him and minimize innocent casualties as much as possible. And I will work behind the scenes, dealing with the dirty work those 'gods' cannot conveniently handle."

"I will join the battlefield too." Bruce looked at her, his gaze resolute. "I promise you."

Diana looked at the man before her, her heart churning like a stormy sea.

Reason told her that this man was exceedingly dangerous. He knew too much and hid too much. Yet her instincts—those instincts born of a warrior—told her that he was not lying. There was a ruthless determination in his eyes, one that would pay any price to achieve its goal.

She thought of Steve, of all the innocent lives lost in war. She had secluded herself for nearly a century because she had become utterly disappointed in humanity's darker nature.

But now, the threat no longer came from humanity itself. It came from an ancient evil god in the depths of the cosmos.

Could she really stand by and watch this world descend into war once again, watch countless innocent people be dragged into it?

"...Why should I trust you?" Diana asked her final question.

Bruce did not answer. He merely raised a hand and lightly touched the Lasso of Truth wrapped around him with one finger.

Buzz—

The golden rope flared brilliantly, and a powerful divine force surged into his body in an instant, scrutinizing his soul.

But Bruce simply stood there quietly, allowing the divine power to wash over him. His will was like ancient ice that would never melt, unwavering and immovable.

A moment later, the light faded.

The Lasso of Truth automatically loosened from his body and fell to the ground.

Unprecedented shock appeared in Diana's eyes.

The Lasso of Truth had actually given up restraining him of its own accord! That meant this man's will was so pure and unwavering that even a divine artifact could not shake it!

"Good."

After a long while, Diana finally spoke a single word.

She stepped forward, picked up the Lasso of Truth from the ground, and wrapped it around her waist again. Then she raised her head, and the fire of a warrior reignited in her beautiful eyes.

"I'm in."