The early rays of sun filtered through the tall windows of Ashborn's office, casting long shadows across the sleek furniture. He entered with his usual calm, only to find an unexpected guest lounging on the chair across from his desk—Kara, in her civilian attire, legs crossed, eyes scanning some document she clearly had no interest in.
Ashborn blinked once. "Good morning, Kara."
She looked up and grinned. "Good morning to you too."
He walked to his desk, and took his seat. "Why are you here this early?"
Kara gave a half shrug. "Can't I just visit a friend?"
Ashborn tilted his head slightly. "You don't usually drop by without a reason."
Kara rolled her eyes with a smile. "You really lack proper hospitality, you know that?"
Without a word, Ashborn tapped a button on his desk. "Uncle Rex, send up a mix of snacks and beverages. Get a variety."
Kara laughed. "Now that's more like it."
Ashborn leaned back in his chair. "How's life treating you these days?"
Kara stretched her arms. "Oh, you know. Fighting crime, saving cats from trees, standard hero stuff." She smirked. "And by the way—you really ought to be grateful to me."
Ashborn raised a brow. "Why?"
"Because," Kara said, voice laced with amusement, "after Batman found out you knew who he was, he wanted to come have a little chat. And guess who else wanted to tag along? Wonder Woman." She grinned. "I talked Kal-El into stopping them and even vouched for you. Imagine that awkward visit."
Ashborn chuckled softly. "Then thank you, Kara. Though I would have welcomed Batman with open arms. Maybe even invited his beloved, the Joker, for the occasion."
Kara snorted. "He'd probably cancel the visit on the spot if he knew the Joker and you were in the same room."
A knock at the door interrupted them, and Rex entered alongside another employee, both carrying trays stacked with a colorful array of snacks and drinks. They placed everything carefully on the low table between the two chairs.
"Thanks, Uncle Rex," Ashborn said.
Kara grinned. "Yeah, thanks, Mr Rex!"
Rex gave a small nod and shuffled out with the other employee, leaving the two alone once more.
Kara popped a chip into her mouth and gestured at the room. "So, what do you do around here for fun?"
Ashborn gave her a pointed look. "Is that really why you're here? Bored out of your mind?"
She laughed but didn't deny it.
He exhaled lightly through his nose. "Why not go out with other heroines your age? You know Batgirl, and you can invite Raven and Starfire. Call it a 'heroines of Earth night out' or something."
Kara blinked. "Huh. That… actually sounds fun. I only really know Batgirl personally, though."
Ashborn waved a hand. "Invite them anyway. Starfire loves making new friends, and she'll make sure Raven shows up. It won't be awkward."
Kara leaned back thoughtfully. "I like that. I'll try it. Thanks for the idea."
She paused, then tilted her head slightly. "And what about you? What—"
Before she could finish, her communicator buzzed. A distress signal.
Duty called.
Kara stood up, brushing crumbs from her lap.
Ashborn simply pointed toward the window without looking up. "Be my guest."
She grinned.
With a laugh and a gust of wind, she launched into the sky.
Ashborn turned back to his desk, eyes glancing at the window and thought [I should automate that.]
___________
The sun had dipped below the skyline of Metropolis, casting golden hues across the city as its usual hustle began to settle into evening calm. Inside a cozy, corner café of the main street, Ashborn stepped through the door, greeted by the familiar scent of roasted beans and faint jazz music playing in the background.
He moved with his usual composed grace to the counter, ordered his usual, and waited. But as he glanced up at the television mounted in the corner, his expression subtly shifted.
The broadcast was anything but ordinary.
Grainy footage showed a towering figure of muscle and bone—a monstrous creature rampaging through the heart of a city, leaving destruction in its wake. Its bony protrusions were slick with blood, and its roars silenced screams with primal terror.
The name wasn't spoken, but Ashborn already knew.
Doomsday.
The screen's ticker ran updates in bold red. The Justice League had been battling the creature for hours. And still, it stood. Still, it killed.
The scene cut—Supergirl, her suit torn, one eye swollen, struggling to lift a staggering Superman. Both looked barely conscious. Wonder Woman stood several feet away, sword cracked and arm bleeding, chest heaving with exhaustion. Smoke and fire lit the background like a warzone.
The anchor's voice trembled slightly as she reported: "Several League members have been evacuated due to critical injuries. The monster continues its rampage—"
Ashborn's eyes narrowed as he sipped his drink, unbothered by the rising panic filling the café. People were glued to the screen, whispering, horrified.
All the heavy hitters were down.
And yet Doomsday remained unscathed.
[Interesting,] Ashborn thought. [Is this world's Doomsday stronger? Or is the Justice League simply weaker than their counterparts elsewhere?]
His curiosity flared, but not his concern.
With a calm nod to the barista, Ashborn took his coffee cup and turned, walking out into the cool evening air as if he hadn't just witnessed the near-collapse of Earth's most powerful defense force.
As he walked, his eyes shimmered—just for a moment—glowing faintly. Behind him, unnoticed by all, his shadow warped unnaturally.
A piece of it peeled off, slithering away silently, racing through alleyways and streets, unseen by all. It moved with purpose, speeding toward the chaos miles away.
Ashborn sipped from his cup, his stride relaxed.
___________
The battlefield was silent save for the crumbling buildings and distant sirens echoing through the devastated streets. The sky above was darkened, not by clouds, but by smoke, debris, and exhaustion.
Wonder Woman stood tall despite the searing pain in her side, her shield long gone, her sword chipped, and her breathing labored. She glanced to her side where Superman knelt, arm around Supergirl as she helped him stay upright.
"Any idea how to stop that monster?" she asked, voice tight with strain.
Superman gritted his teeth, gaze locked on the rampaging beast in the distance. "We have to keep hitting it… until it goes down." He then turned to Kara, his voice firmer, "Kara… leave."
But Supergirl didn't move. Her body ached, her cape was torn, her lip was split—but her eyes burned with defiance. "I'm not leaving you alone with that thing."
A crimson blur zipped beside them, and the Flash came to a halt. His suit was scorched and torn, streaks of blood painting his arms and legs, but he was still standing.
"Everyone in a few dozen blocks is evacuated," Flash reported, panting, "There will be no more casualties for now."
"Good," Superman nodded, still catching his breath.
Flash looked at the others, then back toward the looming monster tearing through yet another skyscraper in the distance. "But do we have a plan to stop that thing?"
Superman shook his head. "Just keep hitting it."
Supergirl, eyes narrowed with frustration, offered, "What if we try to fling it into space? It can't fly. We could trap it up there."
Superman gave a small, humorless smile. "It's not going to let us do that. And even if it did, it can come back. Again."
"I'll try binding it," Wonder Woman interjected, gripping her Lasso of Truth with what little strength she had left. "You three… hit it with everything you've got. I refuse to believe that thing can't go down."
The others nodded. Their bodies screamed in protest, but none hesitated. They pushed forward, bloodied yet determined, toward the creature that had nearly shattered them all.
Doomsday turned, sensing the approach of his enemies. The ground trembled beneath his massive steps. He roared, a deafening, bone-chilling sound that shook the broken city.
And then—something unexpected happened.
From the broken asphalt between Doomsday and the advancing heroes, a ripple of darkness surged like a living wave. Shadows laced with glowing threads of blue light began to rise, coiling and dancing like flames caught in a midnight breeze.
The League members stopped in their tracks, eyes wide with confusion and wariness. Doomsday too paused, its crimson eyes locking onto the shadows with animalistic curiosity.
From within the swirling vortex of shadow and light, a figure emerged—a knight, unlike any they had seen.
Towering in stature and draped in jet-black armor that shimmered with otherworldly metal, the being's presence was commanding. A tattered black cape flowed from his shoulders, and a single long red ornament extended like a mane from the back of his helmet. His body radiated calm, cold power.
It was the Shadow Marshal, Igris.
Without a word, Doomsday bellowed in fury and charged. The earth cracked beneath his feet as he lunged toward Igris, fist raised with the force to obliterate anything in its path.
But Igris stood unmoved. Calmly, he extended a single armored hand—and caught the punch.
The impact sent a shockwave in all directions, but Igris didn't even flinch.
Then, with a swift motion, he twisted Doomsday's arm and flung the beast over his shoulder, sending it crashing through the remains of a building with thunderous force.
The League gasped in disbelief.
Igris turned toward the fallen creature as it struggled to rise. In one smooth motion, he drew his sword—a glowing blade of pure azure energy, laced with bolts of crackling electricity. He walked slowly, like a predator closing in.
Doomsday roared again and charged.
Igris sidestepped.
A flash of blue.
In a single fluid sequence, Igris sliced through Doomsday's arm, then spun and cut off one of its legs, followed by the other arm and then the final leg. The beast screamed and collapsed, flailing in the rubble, limbs severed and body broken.
Without hesitation, Igris drove his sword through Doomsday's skull, ending the rampage in one, final, merciful strike.
Silence fell over the city once more.
The League could only stare, awestruck, wounded, and utterly stunned. The monster that had nearly brought them to ruin was felled in mere moments.
Igris turned to glance at them—no words, no acknowledgment—before his cape began to ripple unnaturally.
It expanded, growing into a vast shadow that enveloped his armored frame and Doomsday's corpse together.
The darkness swallowed them whole.
And then, both knight and beast vanished, sinking into the earth like ghosts fading from a dream.
The wind whispered through the broken remains of the city.
No one spoke.
___________
Far away in Ashborn's home, Igris and the shadow of Doomsday were bowing to their king.
"The Justice League of this world is weak"