Breaths were ragged. Darkness engulfed the old tunnel, and the only light came from Spider-Man's new suit—glowing like a spark in the unending gloom.
"Left!" Batman whispered firmly, pointing toward a narrow passage barely wide enough for one person.
The group rushed into the passage. A red flash flared behind them—robot patrols had begun their sweep. There was no choice but to press on.
Minutes later, they entered a wide chamber—empty, save for a single beam of light at its center. For a split second, it felt like safety. But Peter, carrying Shazam on his back, didn't slow his pace.
"What is this place?" Green Arrow asked, glancing around with unease.
"The security grid marks it as a dead zone…" Batman murmured, inspecting his device.
Peter gently set Shazam down, then turned his head warily.
"This is a trap, isn't it?"
No answer was needed. The ground shook, and the walls split apart, revealing four gates—from which emerged familiar foes… but not from their world.
Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Spider-Man… alternate versions. The versions of this world—rulers under an "Iron Justice."
The other Spider-Man spoke first, his voice dripping with mockery
"So, you finally decided to show up, me. I thought you'd keep hiding behind the heroes."
Peter stepped back half a pace, answering calmly
"You're not me. You're just a twisted copy—trapped in a system that knows no mercy."
The alternate Wonder Woman laughed, spinning her sword with precision
"How cute… a moral speech before battle. You off-worlders are always so weak."
The real Batman tossed a smoke bomb instantly, as Diana shouted
"Move! This isn't a fight we can win right now."
But their enemies were ready.
A crushing blow from the alternate Superman shattered the ground in front of them, forcing them to scatter. In moments, the chamber was alive with screams, explosions, and blows that shook the metallic walls.
Peter now faced himself—or rather, his shadow—in a half-lit arena.
"You know," the other version said as he stepped forward confidently, "I stopped seeing the point in saving the world. The world needs strong rule, not fragile heroes."
Peter didn't respond with words. His answer came through motion—his nano suit fired an energy blast that tore through the air, slamming into his opponent with enough force to demolish a column behind him.
But the copy smiled.
"Nice. Finally fighting like you mean it."
As they traded blows, Diana clashed fiercely with her alternate self—two swords meeting with perfect balance, each strike echoing a different history.
Elsewhere, Batman realized his counterpart was disrupting his tech in real time—this battle wasn't just physical, it was a war of minds.
Suddenly, Flash's voice cut through—it was the real Barry, back on his feet and regaining some speed
"We have to fall back! We're not winning this round!"
Peter, blocking a deadly punch, replied
"Stick to the plan. We'll cover you."
Flash began spinning rapidly around them, generating a fierce vortex that disoriented the alternate versions—creating a temporary exit.
Shazam, now slightly conscious, yelled "Say the word, Peter!"
Peter looked around at them all—blood, sweat, exhaustion… and the grim certainty this was only the beginning.
In a steady tone, he said
"We run."
And the group began their retreat through the tunnel—slowly at first, then faster—as the chaos raged behind them.
…
Far away, in a control room, Lord Superman stood watching everything.
He smiled—a smile devoid of mercy—and said
"I suppose it's time I handle this myself."
And in the heart of the tunnel…
The air was thick with smoke and dust. Breaths came fast and shallow, as if every step might be their last. Peter led the way, Shazam slung over his shoulder.
Diana watched their rear, her sword gleaming in the dim light, and Batman guided them with a mental map etched into his mind.
"We're only two corridors away from the transmission room!" Batman shouted without looking back.
An explosion from behind broke the silence—Wonder Woman's version was chasing them, but the rock Green Arrow skillfully dropped temporarily blocked the entrance.
"That will buy us a minute!" Green Arrow said, running beside Peter.
They reached a massive metal door, engraved with an old warning emblem, half-burned.
Batman placed his device on the side panel, and the door emitted a buzzing sound before slowly opening, revealing a circular room with a platform in the center, surrounded by old screens and control panels.
They entered quickly and closed the door behind them.
"This is the main transmission room for this dimension..." Batman said while inspecting the devices. "If the network isn't damaged, we can contact the watchtower in our world."
Diana placed her hand on Peter's shoulder, looking at Shazam, who was barely breathing.
"Is he okay?"
"He will be... if we get out of this world alive."
Flash was nervously moving around, glancing at the devices, then turning toward a small window overlooking the metallic void.
"How much time?" he asked helplessly.
"Two minutes. Just keep an eye on the door," Batman said, quickly tapping on the keyboard.
Peter approached the screen. The dimension map began to appear, then a green flash... the connection signal opened.
"We have a channel!" Batman shouted.
Martian Manhunter's face appeared on the screen, his features tense, behind him the watchtower flashing faint alarm lights.
"Peter? Batman? You're alive?!" he said with surprise and clear concern.
Peter stepped forward steadily, despite the blood and scratches on his face
"Listen carefully, no time for a long explanation."
Batman interrupted sharply
"The heroes in this dimension... aren't real heroes. They've deceived us from the start."
Diana added "They're twisted copies... altered for absolute loyalty to a repressive system."
Peter continued with a deep voice
"They claimed to help us, but they were trying to capture us from the first moment. Don't ask how, just believe me. They don't want cooperation... they see us as threats."
Batman glanced at the screens
"And there are indications of military movements on a dimensional scale. Looks like they're preparing to invade other worlds."
Flash stepped forward, his eyes glowing with energy
"I'll deliver the message myself. We can't risk losing connection."
Martian Manhunter said from the screen
"We'll begin immediate fortifications. And if they plan an invasion... we'll be ready."
Peter nodded confidently, despite the worry in his eyes
"Can you? You're still exhausted."
Flash smiled, a man who knows there's no time to hesitate.
"The Speed Force waits for no one."
He stepped to the center of the room, where a metallic circle was dedicated to feeding energy.
Batman said "We'll redirect the magnetic field here to give you enough boost to open the time corridor."
The devices started making a deep sound, the air grew heavier, and sparks of energy rose around Flash.
Peter approached, placing his hand on Flash's shoulder.
"When you arrive... tell them not to trust anyone. Not even our copies."
Flash nodded, then closed his eyes and began running in tight circles inside the room.
The light condensed, the air became stormy. Then, in a moment, everything around him exploded with a white flash, then he vanished... as if he never existed.
Silence.
Peter breathed deeply, then looked at the screen, where Martian Manhunter said
"We detected the time wave. He has arrived... now it's your turn."
But before anyone could speak, an alarm sounded inside the room.
Diana said immediately "They know our location."
Peter took a deep breath, then said, looking at the door
"Flash delivered the message. Now, we just need to
hold on... until we find our way."
Then, as the walls trembled under the footsteps of something approaching, the moment of silence ended.
The game had reached its midpoint.
...
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