As he spoke, Axel crossed his legs, casually letting one foot swing through the air.
He continued addressing Enchantress in a relaxed tone.
"Think about why you came to me in the first place.
You came because you didn't want me casually wiping you out, right?
Did I eliminate you? Don't be ridiculous. I quite like that face of yours.
So I kept my promise. The problem is that you lacked the ability to protect the territory I granted you and continue providing the returns you promised."
At that, Axel pursed his lips and looked at Enchantress.
Seeing the mocking expression on his face, Enchantress felt her heart tighten. Before she could respond, Axel continued.
"The things you promised me every few thousand years, I honestly don't care about them.
But I can choose not to care, you can't.
And if you can't even preserve that little bit of dignity for me, then why should I keep giving you land for free?
That's territory, not a damn charity service."
"Uh, wait, Axel!"
Beside him, Bruce clapped his hands in confusion before drawing Axel's attention.
"You do know we speak English here, right? If I didn't understand a few East Asian expressions, I wouldn't have any idea what you're talking about."
"Hah."
Axel laughed and waved dismissively.
"Bruce, I thought you were about to tell me to go die."
"Now I understand even less."
Bruce snorted before turning to gently hold Rachel's hand.
Rachel couldn't describe what she was feeling. Looking at Enchantress, the woman responsible for the Washington disaster, she felt an odd sense of sympathy, like seeing someone else standing beneath a guillotine.
Most of the others felt something similar. Even though Enchantress had not yet brought disaster to Gotham, many of them had visited Washington. The memory left a bitter impression.
Geralt, however, couldn't help asking a question.
"I think I understand part of this. Is this the woman Floyd mentioned before, the one responsible for millions of deaths?
But why is someone like that involved with all of you, especially Axel?
My world may not be as advanced as yours, but if someone like her appeared there, the entire world would hunt her down.
Even if she were a god."
As he finished speaking, Geralt's gaze toward Enchantress grew even colder.
His witcher medallion vibrated steadily.
Just then, a golden streak shot across the distant horizon.
BOOM!
Diana landed heavily on the grass in front of Axel, one fist and both boots striking the ground.
Seeing her dramatic landing, Clark instinctively tensed.
He had been thoroughly beaten by Diana only days earlier, and the memory was still fresh.
Diana ignored him completely.
After a quick glance around, she immediately stepped toward Axel through gritted teeth.
"Axel!"
Suppressing her fury with visible effort, she growled.
"I thought it was all just her version of events, but I never expected she was actually connected to you!
So it was true. You really handed the land of Israel over to two filthy witches who treat human lives like toys!"
As she spoke, her hair moved despite the absence of wind.
The invisible aura surrounding her seemed to distort the air itself.
Facing the furious Amazon, Axel merely sneered and spread his hands.
"Princess, would you call a lion hunting an antelope a crime?"
"That comparison is ridiculous! This witch isn't acting on instinct alone!"
Diana roared and drew her sword with a sharp metallic ring, pointing its edge directly at Enchantress's throat.
Enchantress stiffened her neck and spoke without fear.
"Diana, this is Axel's realm, not Olympus.
I'll stand right here.
Let's see how you plan to kill me inside Axel's territory.
Come on!"
"You think I won't, you damned bitch?!"
Provoked beyond restraint, Diana exploded forward like a bolt of lightning.
She had never been famous for patience.
When dealing with enemies stronger than herself, she used wisdom.
Against someone she could overpower, she preferred direct action.
At that moment, she was every bit the fierce Amazon warrior.
Just as Diana lunged toward Enchantress, Axel grinned and raised a hand.
Flames suddenly appeared.
In the next instant, Diana's neck was already in Axel's grasp.
Everyone stared in shock.
No one had seen how she got there.
Holding Diana by the throat with one hand, Axel reached out with the other and brushed the back of his fingers across her cheek.
The slight touch made Diana shiver involuntarily.
Axel smiled.
"Tell me, little Di, why can't you learn something from Enchantress?
Look at her.
She speaks properly. She behaves properly.
An ancient witch who just crawled out of history understands this is my territory.
Yet you still choose to make a scene in my home.
Where exactly do you place me in all this?"
Without warning, Axel released her throat and grabbed her jaw instead.
His thumb forced its way between her teeth, prying her mouth open.
"Ugh!"
Diana groaned in pain but continued glaring at him defiantly.
Her stubborn eyes eventually softened, revealing a trace of grievance.
Seeing it, Axel paused.
Then he sighed and released her.
Around them, everyone quietly relaxed.
Although Axel was usually gentle, frighteningly gentle at times, everyone present knew how dangerous his moods could become.
Even Bruce was no longer immune to that pressure.
Axel returned to the sofa and leaned back lazily.
Resting one arm on the armrest, he spoke slowly.
"Diana, think carefully.
If I truly wanted something from this world, who could stop me?
Yes, there are plenty of beings who could oppose me.
Just because nobody can completely defeat me doesn't mean I can defeat everyone.
Dream. Death. Lucifer. The Presence.
If those beings chose to show off in front of me, I could annoy them at best.
Beyond that, there wouldn't be much I could do.
But even then, apart from those absurdly powerful entities, who else can stop me?"
Axel extended a hand toward Selina.
She immediately handed him a bottle of wine.
Taking a long drink, he exhaled softly.
"Even with all that power, what have I ever demanded from this world?
Respect.
Affection.
A little admiration.
People talk endlessly about truth and tell countless fairy tales.
Reality is much harsher.
Suffering doesn't elevate someone above others.
Power does.
The ability to consume others does.
And I happen to be someone capable of consuming everyone.
But I don't.
I ask for very little.
Yet even then, you still refuse to give me the respect and affection I deserve.
At times, I genuinely worry about you.
What happens when I finally grow tired of you?
How many more times do you think I will overlook your behavior?
Do you really believe my fondness for you will protect you forever, lucky Miss Diana?"
When he finished speaking, Axel stood and walked toward her.
He pulled Diana to her feet and gently held her trembling hand.
Patting the back of it, he continued.
"I know how much the Washington disaster matters to you.
But you should understand something.
I don't care how many people died in Washington.
I didn't know them.
They were never loyal to me, nor did they do anything for me.
I didn't kill them because they were irrelevant to me.
I didn't save them because they were irrelevant to me.
As for Enchantress."
His gaze drifted toward the witch.
"She kneels before me.
She reveres me.
That alone makes her slightly more important to me than people who mean nothing to me.
What I gave her wasn't much.
Just the right to live.
And even then, I bound her through the concept of territory.
As for your conflict with her."
His eyes moved between Diana and Enchantress.
"I know those two siblings have been causing trouble in Israel.
I know you charged at them like a hero and beat them thoroughly.
Did I help them?
Did I stop you?
Answer me, Diana."
"No..."
Diana swallowed hard and lowered her eyes.
Axel nodded approvingly.
"Exactly.
I didn't favor her.
I didn't interfere with you.
So why are you yelling at me?
Because I like you?
Because we've shared a few exciting experiences?
Is that really your reason, Diana?
I thought that was simply fate."
"I..."
Diana's heart trembled.
Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed Axel's wrist.
Feeling the steady pulse beneath her fingers, she struggled to maintain her composure.
"I understand.
I won't cause trouble in your home again.
But those two, I will never let them go.
If they ever leave your territory and return to Israel, I will hunt them down again.
Until death."
"I support you, Miss Diana."
The moment she finished speaking, Lex nodded seriously.
Looking at Enchantress with visible caution, he continued.
"A witch from ancient times, correct?
Even if Diana leaves you alone, everyone here except Axel will probably come after you sooner or later.
Axel acts as an arbiter.
At least, that's the position he has chosen.
He stands between the mortal world and the supernatural world.
He promised fairness, and he has upheld that promise.
But he can be fair.
We can't.
I am an unapologetic human supremacist.
Enchantress, I understand your mentality.
I understand the way your kind views humanity as a disposable resource.
But this is no longer your era.
Humanity rules this age.
And in my eyes, Axel is humanity's ideal guide and ruler.
You've learned how to respect Axel.
Now you need to learn how to respect humanity as well."
After finishing, Lex looked directly at Axel.
Axel nodded encouragingly.
"Well said. Though it sounds like you aren't finished."
"Correct, Axel. I've had a rather unusual idea."
Lex stood and looked around at everyone gathered.
After making eye contact with each person, his gaze settled on Geralt and Ciri.
"This idea started taking shape after I became familiar with the Witcher world.
When Axel brought us there for a vacation.
When we celebrated with the Lady of the Lake.
And especially after Princess Ciri managed to bring Geralt into our world without Axel's assistance.
I realized we could be doing far more than we are now.
Power capable of crossing between worlds shouldn't be wasted as little more than transportation.
Instead of merely sightseeing and making friends across countless realities, we could accomplish something much greater.
We can travel across endless worlds and spread humanity's influence."
Lex became visibly excited.
Pointing toward Bruce, he continued.
"Take you, Bruce.
I know you enjoy being a hero, a dark knight protecting Gotham.
You devote endless time and effort to fighting criminals in alleyways.
But that same effort could achieve far more elsewhere.
Just as we helped Ciri's world by destroying the Wild Hunt.
Your heroism could shine in worlds far more desperate than Gotham.
You could bring hope to people who need it most.
You could spread humanity's strength and our ideals across countless realities.
Axel would receive the admiration he desires.
Bruce would gain the satisfaction of saving people.
And I would get the thrill of advancing humanity's dominance.
Everyone wins."
Lex spread his arms wide.
His excitement bordered on fanaticism.
"So I propose the creation of a Pan-Universal Human Alliance, led by our extraordinary team!"