The blur in question was non other than Max of course.
He dragged the Doomsday across the forest, carving a trench through the earth as he activated the Seventh Gate. His speed multiplied instantly.
Before Doomsday could react,Max slammed it into the side of a mountain.
The entire structure shook violently.
Before it could recover, Max's hand clamped around its neck, holding it in place.
He then focused his chakra,Ki and Haki.
All of it condensed into his right fist and for a split second, everything went still.
Then he punched,the blow landed squarely on Doomsday's chest.
Boom.
The force tore straight through it, destroying its heart as a hole exploded out from its back. The impact didn't stop there,it continued forward, ripping through the mountain behind it and blowing it apart.
Doomsday choked,then went limp in his grip.Dead.
Max released the body without a second glance, letting it drop like worthless debris.
The Seventh Gate faded and without a moment of hesitation,he blasted into the sky once more, heading toward Metropolis.
Batman and the others slowly regained their bearings.
They looked up,just in time to see the one who had attacked and killed Doomsday.
This time, they got a clear view.
The figure flew past them without even sparing a glance.
Max,of course it was him.
Because other than Max, none of them could think of anyone capable of doing what he had just done,to Doomsday whom they had been barely suppressing with such ease.
Even Martian Manhunter and Hawkman, who had only known him for a short time, couldn't think of anyone else who came close.
By the time Max arrived on the scene in Metropolis, it was already over.
Superman lay in Lois Lane's arms, unresponsive. His suit was torn in multiple places, blood seeping from his wounds as tears slowly streamed down Lois's face.
A small crowd had formed around them, all bearing solemn expressions.
The Doomsday in question lay in a crater nearby, its neck twisted at an unnatural angle. Its body rested on its back, its face buried in the dirt,clearly killed by a single, decisive break.
Max descended from the sky.
As he did, unease spread through the crowd. Some stepped back, others glanced around, even entertaining the thought of fleeing,uncertain of what he had come to do.
Max finally touched down in front of Lois.
She looked up at him, her voice trembling.
"Can you help him?"
Max didn't reply, but instead stepped forward and placed a hand on Superman's chest.
His hand glowed green.
Superman's wounds, which had been slowly healing, began to rapidly close.
Max then stood up and spoke.
"He'll live. His Kryptonian physiology has slowed down his non-essential functions to focus all its energy on recovery… so he'll remain unresponsive for a while."
Max said, and Lois Lane nodded.
Just then, a Boom Tube opened nearby. The battered heroes stepped out, helping each other as some of them struggled to walk, clearly injured.
Max suddenly looked up, his eyes narrowing at something unseen,no, not something, things. Objects that had been following him for a while now. He didn't move, simply letting them know he had detected them.
A silent warning to back off or he would tear them apart.
He already had a hunch who they belonged to,Darkseid.
Whether this had been a probing attack or an attempt to weaken them, it had failed. If anything, it only served as a reminder,time was running out.
Max kept watching for a few seconds until his view was suddenly obstructed by something larger, descending from above as the people gasped once it came to their field of view.
It was a rocket.
But that wasn't what shocked them,It was the one carrying it.
A humanoid figure, wearing a suit similar to Superman's, with a red visor glowing over its eyes. It descended and landed beside Max before setting the rocket down.
"You?" Lois spoke first, recognizing the figure as the AI from Superman's ship.
"Yes, it is I, Miss Lane," the figure replied calmly. "Though you should refer to me as Eradicator while in this tangible form."
"Now, if you would relinquish Kal-El to my care for recovery."
It stepped forward.
Green Lantern was about to protest, but Batman placed a hand over his mouth, stopping him.
Eradicator moved without hesitation. He picked up the unconscious Superman and placed him inside the spacecraft. The doors sealed shut with a soft hiss.
Without another word, he lifted the rocket and ascended into the sky.
Max's feet left the ground as he began to levitate. He turned to Batman.
"I'm sure you already have an idea who sent those monstrosities. And yes,it's who you think it is. I hope you prepared those countermeasures like I told you to years ago."
Then his gaze shifted to the others.
"As for the rest of you… get your act together, or you might not make it out alive for what's coming."
He was about to leave,then paused.
"One last piece of information, Batman."
"What is it?" Batman asked.
Max's eyes flicked back to him.
"Those things were Kryptonian in nature. Do what you want with it."
And just like that,he vanished.
GOTHAM,NEW LEAGUE OF SHADOWS BASE.
Max appeared inside Pain's room and found Pain, Ra's al Ghul, and Zetsu playing cards.
It was… an odd scene.
Especially with Ra's holding his cards close to his chest, clearly trying to hide them from the others.
It was Pain's turn.
He played his card calmly.
Then it was Zetsu's turn.
Zetsu glanced at the cards in his hand, then at the ones laid out on the table.
"…Nah," he muttered under his breath. "He's cheating again."
He paused.
Then suddenly pointed an accusing finger.
"He's cheating again!"
Pain raised his hands slightly in surrender.
"My eyes are closed, as you suggested," he said.
Zetsu narrowed his eyes. "Nah. How do we know that with that damn mask of yours?"
He turned toward Ra's.
"I've been telling you,he's gonna win this round again."
Ra's remained composed.
"You seem to be quite lacking when it comes to these games," he said calmly.
Zetsu scoffed. "Nah, this is the tenth round in a row he's about to win. So no,I call bullshit."
A small sweat drop formed at the back of Max's head.
He had been standing there the entire time,unnoticed.
After a brief pause,he cleared his throat.
"Yo, Max," Zetsu said, tossing the cards in his hands into the air and forfeiting the game as he stood up. "You came at the right time,can you read his mind and tell me he's been cheating in our games?" he added, pointing at Pain.
"I don't have time to entertain your shenanigans," Max said. "What I'm here for is to notify you that I'll be gone for a while again."
"So you're going back to hell again? Can I come? I've been damn bored lately," Zetsu said.
"No," Max replied.
"Ah, come on,why?" Zetsu whined.
"Because I do not want you coming with me. And second, you are to assist the heroes if those things that attacked today return," Max said.
"Ohh… so we're finally going public?" Zetsu asked.
"Not exactly. Only do so if the situation is dire,or if Nina instructs you to," Max said.
"Understood," Pain replied.
"And lastly," Max continued, "protect my family at all costs. They are your number one priority, no matter what happens."
"Alright, you got it," Zetsu said with a grin. "So where are you going?"
"Far away. I don't even have a destination,I'm going on a search. I don't know how long I'll be gone," Max said.
He paused, then looked at Zetsu.
"How are your impersonation skills?"
"The best. Top-notch,I'm talking Oscar-worthy performance," Zetsu said proudly.
"Good. You'll go and meet Lex Luthor as me. Convince him,however you see fit, as long as you don't harm him or anyone around him,to start producing as many kryptonite-based weapons as possible becausethise things that attacked were based on Superman's dna ."
"Sweet," Zetsu said, rubbing his hands together. "Don't worry Max,I've got this."
With that, he sank into the ground.
Max then turned to Pain.
"Where's Terra?"
End of Chapter
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