As soon as Arthur finished speaking, a subtle awkwardness filled the air.
Of everyone present, besides Thor, who hadn't placed their hopes on that blue figure in a moment of crisis?
But unfortunately, what Arthur said was true.
They subconsciously rely on Superman's power, but always selectively ignore his equally "super" brain.
My cousin has an amazing brain!
A clear and determined female voice broke the silence.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw three figures walking over from the temporary resettlement point not far away.
Leading the group was Kara Vers, who had just recovered; she was also known as Supergirl.
Behind her followed Lucy Lane, who had also changed into clean clothes, and the Guardian James Olson.
Kara had clearly heard Arthur's mutterings, and with a hint of resentment on her face, she stepped forward to the crowd and argued, "His brain processes information faster than any computer in the world, but... but most of the time he doesn't need it!"
Aquaman Arthur glanced at her, let out a muffled thud, and spoke with an air of self-righteous mockery:
"No need? I think you Kryptonian don't even trust your own brains. Otherwise, why haven't I seen you use it?"
"I..." Kara choked for a moment, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she stammered, "Because... because if I overuse it, I'll become absolutely rational, and I'll lose a lot... and then, I won't be myself anymore."
Her words elicited thoughtful expressions from both Barry and Diana.
Absolute rationality, for a creature with world-destroying power, may be more terrifying than impulsiveness.
"That's normal."
Thor, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke, his hoarse voice, masked by the bat-like mask, drawing everyone's attention.
"A common trait among Kryptonian," he said in a factual, emotionless tone.
"Whenever a crisis arises, their super brain immediately provides the optimal solution—quick, use your invincible superpowers to solve the problem. Simple, direct, and effective. But what if they encounter a problem that even this power can't solve..."
Thor paused here, then added the second half of his sentence in a weathered, experienced tone.
"... Then it'll have to rely on my idiot son."
These words left everyone present momentarily speechless.
Diana, in particular, felt a complex mix of emotions as she looked at the man before her who bore the identity of " Thomas Wayne."
She knew about the friendship between Bruce and Clark, and it just felt a little strange coming from this "father's" mouth.
"What if... what if Batman can't solve it either?" The Flash Barry Allen, asked instinctively, as if he had just thought of something.
Thor turned his gaze to him, and the look in his eyes, hidden behind the mask, seemed to see right through him, making Barry's heart pound with fear.
"If even he can't solve it," Thor's voice was calm and even, yet it sent a chill down Barry's spine. "Then you'll have to be sacrificed."
"Huh?" Barry was taken aback.
Ignoring his astonishment, Thor continued in his unique tone, as if reciting some ancient law, "If all else fails, then we'll just have to see if that bastard Constantine can pull you out of Hell."
" Constantine?" This time it was Hal Jordan who spoke, his brow furrowed, his face filled with confusion and resistance. "That scum? You can believe him?"
Thor finally deigned to look at him properly, his gaze as if he were looking at a country bumpkin who had just come from the countryside.
"Remember this order, kid," he said slowly, his voice not loud, but it struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.
"When things are going well, rely on Superman; when things are going badly, rely on Batman; Extremis, rely on the Flash; and when things are at a dead end... rely on Constantine."
This catchy, rhyming phrase plunged the entire square into deathly silence once more.
Superman, Batman, the Flash... these three are the core of the Justice League and the pillars of Earth, which is undeniable.
Constantine? A liar, a conman, a magical rogue even the devil despises?
What makes him worthy of being ranked alongside the three leaders of the Justice League, even placing him at the very end and in the most crucial position?
"What if..." Diana took a deep breath, her azure eyes filled with determination and resentment, and she asked the worst-case scenario, "What if we can't count on any of them?"
Thor's gaze fell on her, lingering for a moment on the face of this strong Amazons princess.
He could sense the deep compassion she held for all living beings and her unwavering perseverance within her.
He paused for a rare moment, then said in an almost cold tone, "Then your universe is doomed. Think of your last words and find a comfortable position to die."
These words were like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in everyone's hearts.
However, just as Diana's eyes dimmed, Thor abruptly changed the subject, adding a casual remark as if it were a trivial matter.
"Of course, you can choose to believe in miracles. For example, if you ever find yourself at your wit's end, try calling my name." He shrugged, a hint of mockery in his voice. "If I hear you and I'm in a good mood, I might come to your aid for the sake of my stupid son."
"Calling your name?" Hal Jordan looked Thor up and down as if he'd heard something out of the blue. " Thomas? Just like that? That's not scientific, is it? Sound waves don't travel very far in the universe."
He was a test pilot, a Green Lantern who believed in physics and willpower, and this almost mystical notion instinctively struck him as absurd.
Thor glanced at the simple-minded Green Lantern and pointed to the glittering ring on Hal's hand. "Do you think that ring on your hand, which can turn imagination into reality through 'courage,' is scientifically sound?"
"Uh..." Hal was speechless.
Thor then pointed to Barry Allen, who was watching with a "show" expression. "He can run faster than light, reverse time, and accidentally restart the entire universe. Is he scientifically accurate?"
"..." Hal scratched the back of his head, feeling his worldview shaken, and could only manage a dry, "It does seem... not very scientific, huh?"
Thor sneered inwardly.
Trying to explain science to these characters from American comics? That's a complete joke. You yourselves are the biggest unscientific thing ever.
He didn't want to continue the topic, so he took out the Batcomputer from his wrist again, the light from the screen illuminating his chin beneath the mask.
"Alright, enough of this small talk." Thor's voice returned to its previous cold, hard tone.
"I've taken a quick look. Although the Dark Knight's invasion has been contained, the entire Earth's communication and defense systems have been paralyzed. I detected some scattered life signals; they're all from surviving heroes."
He quickly operated on the virtual screen, bringing up an incomplete world map with a few faint red dots flashing on it.
"We need to join them and consolidate our forces. And while we're at it, it's time to make those who've been watching from behind the scenes pay the price."
Diana immediately stepped forward; she was used to being the most steadfast executor when Bruce made plans.
At that moment, she naturally put herself in the role of Thor.
Where should we go first?
Thor's gaze settled on a red dot on the map, located on the west coast of the United States, and he lightly tapped the name with his fingertip.
" Star City."