The light vanished.
Toneri blinked. He was no longer in the sky but suspended in a colorless void. No up, no down, only endless grey.
*'What… is this?'* he thought.
A voice a woman's, smooth as glass spoke behind him. "You know… that would be cheating, right?"
Before he could reply, he was back. Floating once more above the earth and the radient energy was now gone.
Below, Superman was the first to notice. His eyes widened. "What the…?"
The entire city, once reduced to dust and ash… now stood whole again.
Not just restored better, Cleaner, Purified.
Superman's lips parted in awe. 'The pollution… it's gone.'
Around the world, the same effect occurred. Broken buildings, shattered forests, cratered landscapes all reversed. Every mark of destruction undone.
"By Hera…" Wonder Woman whispered.
"Incredible…" Batman murmured, glancing up at Toneri who had descended slightly, the last of his emerald aura flickering away.
But Bruce noticed something Toneri wasn't smiling.
No pride on his face and no satisfaction at what he'd just accomplished. His expression was… troubled.
The Next Day
Thousands gathered beneath clear skies at the United Nations Plaza. Every president, prime minister, and dignitary who could make it had come China, Australia, Russia, France, South Africa each seated with heavy security, each dressed formally for what was now a moment of history.
At the podium stood the President of the United States, given the honor of addressing the heroes who had saved the planet.
He gripped the microphone with both hands. Cameras from every corner of the globe zoomed in.
"Ladies and gentlemen… and all those watching across our reborn world… We stand here today because seven individuals and one alien being of unspeakable power stood between us and extinction."
He glanced at the group.
"While governments debated, while armies faltered, they fought. Against odds so great, threats so vast, that we still struggle to grasp what exactly we faced."
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
"They did not ask for medals,They did not wait for approval. They acted bravely. Selflessly and In unity. I don't know what that was they were wearing costumes, armor, uh… jewelry…"
Green Lantern leaned over and muttered, "Costume? This is my uniform."
"Quiet," Batman said without looking.
"Oh, now you wanna bark orders after I pulled everyone together?" GL snapped.
Batman turned to him with a smirk. "You mean when Toneri and I came up with a plan… and you nearly went full kamikaze on Darkseid?"
GL scowled. "You're not gonna let that go, huh?"
"Ain't no way," Bruce replied.
"I really hate you, Bats."
---
Diana watched the crowd with wonder in her eyes.
"I can't believe people are no longer afraid of us," she said softly.
"Or…" Superman added, "maybe they think we're a team." He glanced at the others. "We're not a team. But… I'm glad to have met folks who get me."
She smiled. "Yes. It was good to walk among a pantheon again."
"How do you mean?" he asked.
She gestured subtly at their group. "Hades," she said, nodding toward Batman. "Apollo," she nodded at Hal. "Hermes, Flash. Hephaestus, Cyborg. Zeus, Shazam. Each a god in their own right."
Superman chuckled. "And me? Lunaris?"
"I've never met anyone like either of you. You display the essence of divinity… yet look so mundane."
Superman followed her gaze to Toneri, who stood quietly to the side, deep in thought.
"He's been like that since last night," Batman noted beside her.
"Maybe something happened in that flash," Clark said.
---
On the side platform, Cyborg leaned close to Shazam.
"I shouldn't even be up here."
Shazam grinned. "Are you kidding? You should be proud. Besides your dad's here." He pointed to the front row, where Silas Stone sat, eyes glassy with emotion.
Cyborg stared for a second. Then he smiled.
" You are the bomb Victor. Victory! Victory! Victory!" Shazam suddenly chanted.
People in the crowd began laughing. Diana sighed. "He's impossible."
Toneri finally spoke, his voice calm and low.
"Be proud. You've saved the lives of mortals. That alone is a reward worth more than praise."
"Yeah what he said," Shazam nodded.
Cyborg glanced at Toneri. "Thank you. And I don't just mean for the words. I mean for helping me."
Toneri shook his head. "Don't worry about it. It wasn't what I intended… but it worked out."
---
The President, now wiping sweat from his brow, turned again toward the group. "Oh geez, I didn't even ask. What do we call you guys?"
Shazam threw his arms up. "Oh we do have a name! You can call us… the Super 8!"
Everyone groaned Flash visibly face-palming.
Even Toneri chuckled softly. "Well… that's my cue."
"You're leaving?" Superman asked, stepping forward.
Toneri nodded. "I've regained enough chakra to begin repairing what Darkseid and I damaged beyond Earth."
Batman stepped closer. "How do we reach you?"
Toneri turned to him with a faint smile. "Call my name… or let Cyborg contact me."
As he opened a glowing portal and stepped inside, Cyborg blinked. "Uh… how do I contact him again?"
Batman crossed his arms. "Hmm."
The portal closed with a shimmer.
And the Super 8 whether they liked the name or not stood in silence, watching the space where their comrade had vanished.
A new era had begun.
——————-
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