"So, the ultimate goal of your plan is to revive this Lothar, correct?"
Kansas, USA, a small border town.
After bringing Mera and Diana back to his place, Arthur Curry stood by the window, his gaze directed towards Gotham.
"That's right," Mera nodded.
"I understand."
"But, I have a question."
"Are you sure that man can defeat Darkseid after he's resurrected?" Arthur Curry's voice was calm, stating an established fact. "You and I both clearly saw what happened earlier; Lothar and Superman combined were no match for Darkseid."
Is the Mother Box's amplification really that strong? Can it boost Lothar enough to defeat Darkseid? It wasn't that Arthur Curry didn't believe it, it was just too insane an idea.
"...To be honest, I don't know." Mera shook her head, many words flashing through her mind, but ultimately choosing to tell the truth.
Darkseid's power had far exceeded Mera's expectations, even forcing the usually arrogant Lothar into a state of suspended animation.
"But I believe him." Mera tightened her grip on the Golden Trident, a captivating smile gracing her lips. "I believe him, so I'm willing to stake all our hope on him."
"Just as he staked the hope of his own resurrection on me."
Arthur Curry: "..."
"Most importantly, we currently have only one option: to resurrect Lothar." Diana, who had been observing Arthur Curry, interjected.
Superman, Clark, was truly dead. If they were to revive him again and Lois Lane were to be killed by Darkseid, who would be able to awaken him then?
Lothar was different; he was only in suspended animation. His consciousness hadn't dissipated like Clark's, so there wouldn't be any messy rampaging incidents after being revived by the Mother Box.
"This world has already fallen into Darkseid's hands. We have no other choice, do we?"
"While my impression of this man isn't great, you do have a point."
"We truly have no other choice." Arthur Curry leaned against the window railing, his gaze falling upon the humans in the city, fear and despair clinging to them...
Three days later, Gotham.
The once world-renowned city of crime had now become the temporary base for the Apokoliptian forces on Earth.
Steppenwolf, wielding his massive axe, was stationed here, standing proudly amidst the ruins, awaiting his prey.
The great Lord of Apokolips, Darkseid, had said that the people of Earth would certainly make one last struggle. Neither the Amazons nor the Atlanteans would stand idly by, and Steppenwolf's mission was to fend off that trash for Darkseid.
"This generation's Atlantean successor isn't strong enough yet. The Golden Trident's protective barrier, even drawing on this planet's own power, can last for a maximum of three days."
"So, in three days, kill them."
This was Darkseid's command before he vanished, and Steppenwolf had adhered to it. Today was precisely the third day.
Crack...
A faint sound, Steppenwolf followed the noise with his gaze, and an utterly unfamiliar figure appeared—black Atlantean-style battle armor, holding a blood-stained silver trident. His intent to kill was palpable.
"Who are you?"
Seeing that the newcomer wasn't Diana but an unknown, disheveled man, Steppenwolf frowned and asked.
"The one who's going to kill you."
Arthur Curry sneered, not hesitating for a moment. With a grand sweep of his hand, he raised his trident and charged at Steppenwolf.
This was his mission: to distract Steppenwolf.
Clang!
As axe blade and trident tip intersected, blinding sparks erupted. A powerful force, which Arthur Curry found difficult to resist, instantly swept him into the ruins!
Boom!!!
Dust splattered everywhere!
"Ugh..."
Arthur Curry shook his head, emerging from the ruins covered in dirt. "Is that all you've got, Steppenwolf?"
"What?"
"If that's all you've got, then it's my turn."
Arthur Curry stomped his feet fiercely on the ground, and he shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring, charging at the bewildered Steppenwolf.
"You, alone?"
Though Steppenwolf didn't know what trick this man was playing, it didn't stop him from casually dispatching him.
The current Arthur Curry was truly no match for Steppenwolf. Without his wife's power buff, and with his rightful weapon now belonging to another family, he was essentially facing Steppenwolf in basic gear, destined to be utterly thrashed.
"It's over, sea-dweller."
Steppenwolf didn't dodge, directly bringing his massive axe down on Arthur Curry!
Whoosh!
Thwack!
A button-sized robot shook off the dust, hopping and landing on Steppenwolf's toe.
"???" Steppenwolf, whose attention was entirely focused on Arthur Curry, hadn't even noticed such a tiny object approaching him. A powerful electric current instantly burst forth, making Steppenwolf's eyeballs bulge as the power within his body instantly went haywire!
Thump!
The trident plunged into his body, blood splattering! Seizing the opportunity, Arthur Curry directly crushed Steppenwolf's heart!
"Don't underestimate the wisdom of Earthlings, outsider."
"Don't forget, you left an arm on Earth."
Sneering, Arthur Curry pulled out his trident, then retrieved one of Bruce Wayne's posthumous legacies, and began rapidly firing at Steppenwolf's corpse...
"Is that so?"
Arthur Curry was joyfully firing when suddenly a great terror surged through his heart! He wanted to move, he wanted to dodge, but he was horrified to find his limbs were not obeying him...
BOOM!!!!
An Omega Beam descended from the sky, instantly engulfing Arthur Curry's body!!!!
"NOW!!!!"
Diana, who had been hiding for a long time, hurled her shield towards Arthur's direction, bursting out of the ground! Her sharp longsword, empowered by divine might, stabbed towards Darkseid, who had manifested from the void!
"Your opponent is not me."
From the void, Darkseid, seated on his throne, chuckled, gently waving a finger. On the bronze portal, one of the supposedly dead bodies suddenly raised its head. Two heat vision beams shot from its gray pupils, narrowly missing Diana...
"????????!!!!!!!"
"Clark?!!!"
The sudden turn of events shocked almost everyone.
"What did you think I hung their bodies here for?"
Darkseid, on his throne, quietly admired the results of his modifications.
"When the righteous Superman falls into darkness, he will be an unrivaled god in your world."
Darkseid's figure slowly faded, and Clark on the bronze portal regained his freedom...
"Clark...?"
"No! Clark!!!!"
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