"I'm serious, we need to talk, Lothar."
"Mera has already told me about you."
Diana met Lothar's indifferent gaze without flinching, her tone earnest.
She understood Bruce Wayne's nature perfectly, so Diana felt it was necessary to get to know her nominal "relative" before Bruce did.
She didn't want to see another tragedy like Superman's unfold, nor did she want to witness Bruce Wayne getting his head caved in by Lothar's punch.
Lothar was currently a stranger to this world. She could use this opportunity to build a connection with him and inform him of this world's rules and order.
Just as Steve had done in the past.
She had originally intended to talk to Lothar about this yesterday, but then Steppenwolf, that oaf, interrupted them by trying to kidnap someone.
After Steppenwolf fled, she didn't have time to find Lothar due to her discussion with Bruce, and after that discussion, she had to rush back to Themyscira to do research.
She had planned to properly talk to Lothar through Mera after returning from Themyscira, but then she unexpectedly ran into him on the streets of London.
So, they might as well talk now.
"Mera?" Lothar was unmoved.
Only he knew how much exaggeration was in the story Woz told Mera.
"In a way, Lothar, you and I are the same."
"I, too, once knew nothing about this world, and I, too, once lost someone I loved." As Diana faced the Thames, a hint of reminiscence and sadness flickered in her eyes when she mentioned her loved one.
"Continue." Lothar's commanding tone left Diana speechless.
"I know your past status might have been high, but listen, Lothar, this world is no longer the one you're familiar with."
"You need to learn to adapt to this world. Only by adapting will you not seem out of place."
Diana carefully chose her words, persuading Lothar in a tone that tried its best not to provoke him.
"I will never adapt to any world, ever." Lothar sneered, stepping closer and closer to Diana's face.
"My father once said that if I wished it, the world would change because of me."
"Do you understand?"
At such close proximity, Diana could even feel Lothar's breath. She felt she would never forget those eyes, intertwined with indifference and arrogance.
"Lothar!"
"Lothar, I don't know who else to turn to. My father has sealed off all exits, I have no way out, Lothar. Please save me!"
"Lothar, can you hear me?"
"Please, come save me..."
Mera's slightly tearful voice suddenly emanated from the white conch tucked into Lothar's waist.
"Mera? What's wrong?"
Diana, snapping back to attention, immediately responded to the voice from the conch.
She remembered Mera was supposed to be home for the Atlantean King's funeral; why was she calling for help?
"Diana?"
Mera on the other end of the conch was clearly surprised to hear Diana's voice.
"I just ran into Lothar in London. What happened, Mera?"
"I..."
Mera told Diana all about King Nereus's plans.
"How could this be..."
"Mera, don't—" Diana hadn't finished speaking when the white conch exploded!
Crack!
Milky white fragments scattered across the ground.
'Damn it!'
Diana's expression was grim. She pulled out her phone, about to call Bruce Wayne, but was stopped the next second.
"Call that incompetent human? Is that the choice you make after being domesticated by this world?"
Lothar's mockery immediately appeared before her eyes.
"See?"
"You and I are not the same."
"This is where I am different from you."
"I never accommodate the rules and order of any world."
"I will proactively dye the world my color."
Lothar grinned, his smile chilling.
Boom!
The shockwave from the sonic boom instantly knocked Diana, who was standing nearby, off her feet!
Seeing herself about to fall into the Thames with the scrambling crowd, Diana flung her Lasso of Truth around a stone pillar on the bank!
"This guy..."
After rescuing everyone onto the bank, Diana immediately called Bruce.
"You go back to Themyscira, I'll handle this."
...
Outside the universe.
Steppenwolf, now missing an arm, respectfully reported the details of the invasion to the figure on the main screen.
"That's how it is. Regarding that man who entered this universe through the spatial tunnel, I personally believe his threat level is comparable to that of the Kryptonian."
"Is that so? I understand."
"In that case, prepare yourselves."
"This time, we will retrieve all three Mother Boxes directly."
The figure on the light screen then vanished, and Steppenwolf respectfully accepted the order.
In fact, if not for Darkseid's curiosity about the extraterrestrial Lothar, which led him to send Steppenwolf to test him, he might have already obtained one or two Mother Boxes by now.
"Then, let's start with the Mother Box guarded by the Amazons."
Steppenwolf glanced at his severed arm, reining in his anger, and his figure gradually disappeared within the warship.
Lothar... he would settle the score. The moment he gathered all three Mother Boxes would be the moment he got his revenge.
...
Themyscira, Amazonian stronghold.
As Diana, filled with a mixture of longing and trepidation, stepped onto her homeland, she was greeted not by the smiling faces of her people, but by a brutal war.
Dense swarms of monsters flapped their wings, forming small groups and clashing with the Amazonians!
"This is... Steppenwolf's army?!"
"Diana!"
A shout. Diana followed the sound and saw her mother being pursued and attacked by the one-armed Steppenwolf?!
"STEPPENWOLF!!!!"
A fierce lightning bolt instantly struck. Diana, having transformed in an instant, roared with rage. Her arms crossed over her chest, and the divine power generated by her bracelets clashing sent Steppenwolf sprawling!
"It's you."
Steppenwolf, who had tumbled several times on the ground, recognized Diana, the woman he had met just yesterday.
"Die."
The enraged Diana, her face cold, drew her sword and leaped, thrusting it at the fallen Steppenwolf.
Clang!
The longsword struck his armor, carving out a spark!
Whoosh!
A golden lasso directly coiled around Steppenwolf's calf.
"You cannot stop me."
"You cannot stop, Darkseid!"
Steppenwolf, speaking truthfully, swung his axe at Diana!
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