"Everyone run!" Starfire shouted as they all rushed away from the center of the altar.
The ground began to crumble inward, revealing a glowing crimson abyss beneath. Gigantic horns started to emerge, followed by a monstrous head with red skin and four glowing eyes.
The Titans stopped at a safe distance, watching the massive figure rise bit by bit.
Blue Beetle stared up at it. "Well… that's not good."
---
A distance away, Nina and Superman, who had been trading blows, came to a halt.
"Our lord Trigon has fully descended upon this world," Superman said coldly. "You shall all fall."
"Let's end this then, shall we?" Nina replied.
Superman rushed toward her and launched a punch.
At the last second, Nina vanished and reappeared behind him, delivering a powerful kick to his face that sent him flying backward. He flipped midair, dug his feet into the ground, and skidded to a stop.
He looked up.A massive beast made of compressed air was already rushing toward him. Nina had unleashed Hirudora.
Superman drew in a sharp breath and exhaled a powerful gust of wind. The two forces clashed for several seconds before the Hirudora exploded in a violent blast of raw force.
Superman crossed his arms as he was engulfed.
Nina did the same.
When the explosion subsided, Superman lowered his arms and began to survey his surroundings when-Splurt.
Something pierced through him from behind, emerging from his abdomen.
His eyes widened in pain.
He looked down to see a blade made of lightning protruding from his stomach.
"Checkmate," Nina's voice came from behind him.
Superman gritted his teeth and grabbed the blade, trying to pull it out. Nina pushed the Chidori Sharp Spear deeper, electricity surging through him.
He roared in pain.
Dark smoke began to pour from his mouth, coalescing into a demonic spirit that screeched at Nina before flying away into the sky.
Nina dispelled her jutsu and stepped back as Superman groaned and dropped to one knee.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Yeah," he replied, breathing heavily. "It's already healing."
"Good. Because we need to stop that," she said, pointing toward the monstrous figure.
Superman stood up, his expression now serious and clear.
"Where are the Titans and the rest of the League?" he asked.
"The Titans are over there," Nina said, pointing in their direction. "Wonder Woman and Cyborg are still knocking some sense into your teammates."
Superman nodded.
"Let's regroup with the Titans and come up with a strategy to stop that thing."
He took off into the air.
Nina followed shortly after.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles
"I had it in mind, but I had to give it a try," Max said as the bartender served him his drink and placed it in front of him. "I take it this isn't the first time we've met, right?"
"It's actually the third time," Didi replied.
Max glanced at her.
"The first was when you died fighting Darkseid. The second was when you fell to the Anti-Monitor. This makes the third."
Max looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers slightly before scanning the room.
"But don't worry," Didi continued gently. "I'm not here for you this time. Even if I was, I couldn't help you pass on. You don't exactly fit in well here. That's just how special you are."
"I guess I am," Max said with a faint smirk as he picked up his glass and took a sip of whiskey.
"Can I ask you something, Max?" Didi asked.
"Sure." He set the glass back on the counter.
"Are you afraid of dying?"
Max was silent for a moment before answering.
"I never have been. And I don't think I ever will be. What I am afraid of… is what it would do to the people I care about. And leaving things unfinished."
Didi nodded slightly.
"I understand that everything that lives must eventually stop existing," Max continued. "And the way things are going, my life might very well be coming to an end in a few years."
"Do you think you'll lose again?" she asked softly.
"No," Max said without hesitation. "I'll win."
Just then, a woman screamed.
Both of them turned toward the sound. A man lay on the floor, convulsing, foam at the corners of his mouth. A small crowd had gathered around him, some shouting, others attempting CPR.
Didi stood up.
"And that's my cue," she said.
She turned back to Max with a small smile. "I'll be rooting for you then,See you around " she said then left,leaving Max behind
Max finished his drink, pulled out a stack of bills, and placed them on the counter. He stood up, glancing toward where Didi had walked.
The man was still lying there, people crowded around him.
But Didi was nowhere to be seen.
"I guess I'll be seeing you again someday," Max muttered.
He turned to leave,then stopped mid-step when he felt that similar vile presence The one he felt in Hell.
But this…one was different. It was orders of magnitude stronger than the small fries he had fought down there. Even Nazra didn't compare.
It can only be him, Max thought.
He strode toward the door and stepped outside.
He found Zetsu leaning against a dumpster, still transformed as an ordinary human.
"We're leaving, Zetsu," Max said.
"What? Did you find him?"
"No. I found someone else."
"Did that person help you with what you were looking for?" Zetsu asked.
Max paused.
It hadn't even occurred to him to ask her. He had been too shocked by seeing her. From what he knew about her, she wouldn't have refused… right?
Now it was a missed opportunity. No point lingering on it.
As Max was about to answer, Zetsu spoke again.
"You didn't ask, did you?"
"I'll find another way. Now be quiet," Max said coldly.
He activated his Susanoo.
The massive construct enveloped both him and Zetsu as it rose, lifting them high above the ground. They stood within it, atop its crown.
"I haven't seen this in a while," Zetsu muttered.
The Susanoo fully formed, wings spreading wide as it hovered above Los Angeles, illuminating the city in ethereal light. It could be seen from kilometers away. People below stopped, staring upward, some even pulling out their phones to take pictures.
With a single mental command, it shot upward and vanished into the clouds.
End of Chapter
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