On Apokolips, the figure in the Mobius Chair quietly watched everything on the screen in front of him.
That was a Batman whose will was twisted by Darkseid and who was imprisoned by the Mobius Chair.
He was no longer Bruce Wayne, but merely a highly efficient, cold, biological computer serving the New Gods. When that unauthorized Boom Tube lit up with a glaring red dot on the monitoring system, his processing flow started almost instantaneously.
An encrypted communication was initiated, and in the holographic projection, Desaad's withered and distorted face appeared.
"Lord Desaad," Batman reported in a flat, synthesized voice, " the Boom Tube on Earth has been activated. According to database analysis, survivors have arrived on Apokolips, intending to put up a final stand."
Desaad seemed unsurprised by the news; his sharp fingernails scraped across the console, making a teeth-grinding sound. "Understood. Contact Granny Goodness and have her Female Furies greet the guests."
"Command received," Batman responded, but his optical sensors captured a detail in the image—the black-haired woman in the blue and red suit. The data comparison was completed instantly.
"Add more information," he said again, "Among the invaders, there is a Kryptonian."
This information was clearly beyond Desaad's expectations. He stopped what he was doing and remained silent for a moment.
The next second, the communication interface in front of Batman split into five, with Steppenwolf, Kanto, Kalibak, and the face of the Granny Goodness with a fake smile lighting up at the same time.
"A... new Kryptonian?" The Granny Goodness's voice was sickeningly sweet, yet it sent chills down one's spine.
"Insects! Another horde of these suicidal insects is coming!" Steppenwolf hoisted his massive electric axe, his fighting spirit soaring. "These are mine!"
Kanto and Kalibak remained silent, but the murderous intent in their eyes spoke volumes. Their figures had vanished from the throne, clearly indicating they had already set off.
"Grandma's good daughters will take good care of her," the Granny Goodness chuckled. "And of course, our obedient 'Boy Scout.' Isn't it fair that one Kryptonian takes on the other?"
The communications were disconnected one by one.
The control room fell silent again, but Batman remained motionless in his chair.
A certain instinct, deeply ingrained in Bruce Wayne's Soul Stone, a premonition that transcends programming and control, is sounding the alarm.
Variables. Uncontrollable variables.
The plan is going too smoothly, abnormally smoothly.
Ultimately, he bypassed all the intermediaries and directly accessed Darkseid's private communications.
"My lord," he reported, "All as stated above. However... I have detected an abnormal fluctuation in probability."
Meanwhile, on the burning surface of Apokolips.
The heroes had barely stepped out of the Boom Tube, and before they could even get a full look at this Hell, piercing screams came from all directions.
The sky was obscured, and endless Parademons swarmed down like locusts. The ground trembled with heavy footsteps, and gigantic Doomsday crawled out from the cracks in the rocks.
"Damn!" Constantine spat out his cigarette butt, then lit another one with trembling hands. "I just want to ask, is there a time limit to this 'membership trial' we're on?"
He could feel divine power flowing through his veins, but faced with this apocalyptic scene, his pitiful courage was still insufficient.
"No," Barry Allen's figure streaked across the battlefield in golden lightning, punching an oncoming Parademons into a shower of dust. "Unless someone can kill Thor, this power is ours."
"That's awesome!" Constantine exclaimed, his spirits lifting. He let out a shout, clasped his hands together, and a golden magic circle unfolded before him, instantly purifying dozens of Parademons.
"Can anyone tell me where that damn Boy Scout is? I'm going to be the first to beat him to a pulp!"
As if in response to his taunts.
An unprecedentedly terrifying pressure descended from the sky.
The Parademons in the sky parted neatly to the sides, making way for a passage.
The first thing that catches the eye is the green light.
Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern, floats expressionlessly in the air, with thousands of grotesque monsters formed from willpower behind him.
Next, there was the scent of the ocean.
Aquaman Arthur Curry wields a black trident, with Mera and Starfire, who are also under his control, standing beside him.
There was no water beneath their feet, but the force made the surrounding air thick and heavy.
Wonder Woman Diana Prince, Martian Manhunter J'onn Jungs... one familiar face after another appeared.
They were once symbols of hope, but now they have become the most deadly enemies, their eyes filled only with empty obedience.
Following them were Darkseid's most loyal henchmen.
His eldest son, Kalibak, roared as he brandished his Beta Club.
Steppenwolf carried his electric axe, a bloodthirsty grin on his face.
At the very center of this army of despair, hangs a nightmare from which no one can escape.
Clark Kent.
Superman.
He wore that blue and red battle suit, the "S" symbol on his chest still conspicuous, but his body was shrouded in an ominous red light, and his eyes shot out two blazing red beams, plowing two deep furrows into the ground beneath his feet.
His face was expressionless; he was merely a perfectly manipulated weapon of war.
The entire battlefield fell silent for a moment.
The survivors on Earth no longer felt anger, but a chilling cold that seeped into their very bones.
How do I fight that? How am I supposed to fight that? That's Superman!
" Carl El..."
A cold, hoarse voice broke the silence.
Kara, with her black hair, raised her head, her gaze piercing through the vast army, locking onto the figure in the air.
That was her cousin, her only family member since she came into this world, and now he had become the enemy's lackey.
An indescribable rage exploded from her chest, not for the earth, not for justice, but purely... the anger of her family being bullied.
She glanced at her teammates, as if to say: Don't try to take it from me.
"Leave it to me."
Before he could finish speaking...
boom--!
A terrifying sonic boom exploded beneath her feet, cracking and sinking the hard metal ground into a huge spiderweb-like crater.
Her figure transformed into a bolt of lightning, without any skill or detour; it was pure, primal violence.
It shot straight up into the sky, like Superman.