"Let us… fight our way… to Apokolips…!!!"
The moment Barry's words fell, a halting voice suddenly sounded from nearby.
Heisenberg followed the voice. The speaker wasn't Clark—it was Fiona, standing beside Mera.
As the best-conditioned of the Kryptonian warriors, Fiona was no match for Clark, but she could still put up a fight.
At the very least, she was the third person present who had moved purely under her own power!
Fiona stepped past Mera and slowly flew before Heisenberg, kneeling respectfully on one knee.
"My lord… your dignity… cannot be… trespassed by Darkseid.
We must… prove it to him!
Whoever offends Krypton… shall be punished no matter how far away!!!"
"This is Earth, but I like that line!"
Beside them, Bruce nodded gravely.
"At least my future self was clear in his thinking. I don't know the details of the future, but I can empathize with his mindset.
And the decision to strike Apokolips, reckless as it is, is as clean and decisive as Alexander cutting the Gordian knot!
Since the future proves that in raw strength we truly can contend with Darkseid, then carrying the flames of war to Apokolips is indeed a fine approach!
But before that, I want to ask one thing."
As his words ended, Bruce looked at Barry and asked cautiously.
"Who is the Martian Manhunter?"
"The Martian Manhunter is J'onn. That's all I know, because after we returned to Earth, he was one of the only warriors left on the planet capable of fighting the Parademons!
Besides him, there's also a Green Lantern on Earth named Hal Jordan. He inherited his ring from a Green Lantern called Abin."
"Ah-ha, so Abin dies in the future?"
In Heisenberg's arms, the little ball started slightly, then marveled.
"Even he dies in that future. Tsk tsk, what a terrifying future that is!"
With those words, the little ball bounced in Heisenberg's arms and said softly.
"Dad, I never took part in the war the Green Lanterns once fought against Apokolips.
But if that guy plans to deal with us, then I figure we've got every right to declare war on them, don't we?"
"That's right… Great-Grandfather, let's… strike first!"
Clark said seriously.
In just a few short moments—merely a few exchanges of questions and answers between Bruce and the future Barry—Clark had already sensed the unavoidable war between the Divine Kingdom and Apokolips.
Like Bruce, Clark also hoped the flames of war would burn somewhere other than Earth.
So Apokolips was absolutely the best choice!
And as Clark made his decision, Bruce made his own beside him.
He simply thumped his chest, then said to everyone, and especially to Heisenberg.
"Heisenberg, let's do it. There's probably no better choice than this!
I think we should act as soon as possible!
As for the future Barry—if you can't stay long, then don't keep struggling here.
Don't worry. We'll give the future Earth an answer!"
With those words, Bruce looked at Heisenberg and nodded firmly.
And Heisenberg, having understood Bruce's meaning, immediately released his control over time.
The flow of time returned to normal in an instant, and the future Barry began flickering continuously.
The change immediately made the future Barry nervous.
"Alright, I really didn't expect you all to be this decisive—but this is right!
I can't hold on much longer. I have to leave!!!
Fight on—for Earth, for humanity, for the Justice Lea—!!!"
Whoosh!
With a sound, the future Barry vanished cleanly.
And the instant he disappeared, the war dance and music around everyone resumed as well.
As countless confused eyes turned toward the group that had changed positions, Bruce shrugged helplessly at Heisenberg.
"Heisenberg, do you know about the Anti-Life Equation?"
"I do!" Heisenberg nodded.
"Okay, so the Anti-Life Equation really does have the ability to control Clark, right?"
"It does." Heisenberg nodded again.
With Heisenberg's confirmation, Bruce frowned and said quietly.
"In that case, who can guarantee that the Barry who returned to this time wasn't controlled by the Anti-Life Equation?
And what's more—was my future self controlled, and then used to scheme for Barry and Darkseid?"
Bruce's words cooled the blood of the heroes who had just been fired up.
Who would've thought—this guy with the thick eyebrows and big eyes doesn't even trust himself!
At the same time, Bruce continued his analysis.
"There's absolutely no need for us to launch an attack right now, and no need to be frightened by the future described by the Barry who came back.
Because the future Barry spoke of has one core element: Heisenberg leaving Earth!"
Hearing this, Victor, not far away, nodded rationally as well.
"That's right. I am a life shaped by a Mother Box, and I know very well that these boxes may look like dead objects, but their temptation to living beings is everywhere!
It's as if countless souls exist inside them. They know fear, and they have desires!
As long as Earth still has powerful beings, they will never send a signal to Apokolips!"
With that, Victor looked at Bruce and asked quietly.
"Do you have a good idea?"
"Do I need a good idea? Because everything happened after we left Earth—especially after Heisenberg and the Divine Kingdom left Earth!
But right now, we haven't decided to leave!"
"Then what about my people? I don't want them waiting even a single day longer!"
Fiona suddenly cut in.
"I don't know what's wrong with humans, and I don't need to know. Apokolips is indeed a troublesome enemy, and that's exactly why we should recover my people!"
"Please wait a moment, Lady Fiona. I never said we wouldn't save the Kryptonians!"
Bruce interrupted Fiona.
He thought for a moment, then grabbed a bottle of beer from nearby and popped the cap with the hook on his gauntlet!
"The future is like this bottle of beer. The Barry who just came back wanted to open the cap to the future—but the one drinking the beer has to be me.
No matter who returns from the future to the present, even if my future self stood before me, I wouldn't believe him!
Because from ancient times to now, anyone who tries to change the future is a failure.
I don't take advice from failures!"
As he spoke, Bruce downed the beer in great gulps. After draining it clean, he tossed the bottle aside carelessly.
"Earth is this beer, and Heisenberg is the cap on it right now. So obviously, every move we make could become the bottle opener that the failures of the future use to pry open the present!
So, give me some time. I need to think through more possibilities!"
After Bruce finished, he walked off to stand quietly to the side. No matter how many puzzled eyes turned toward him, he didn't budge.
At the same time, Fiona frowned and looked at Heisenberg. "My lord, the minds of Earthlings are truly troublesome. I don't see why everything has to be so difficult.
Since you must remain on Earth, then please entrust the task of saving our people to me. I will take my subordinates and seize Brainiac back completely!"
"That's right, Great-Grandfather, I can go with Fiona and the others while you stay on Earth.
That way, Earth won't be attacked, we can rescue our people, and the future will change with it!"
"But what if nothing changes? What if this is exactly the result Darkseid wants from the future?"
Barry beside them was somewhat dejected. The young man had been frightened by Bruce's all-consuming gloom.
He rubbed his head helplessly, then said quietly.
"I, for one, believe in my future self, because after this, I plan to protect myself well.
If other changes really do happen in the future, I'll still return to the past to warn you all.
You all know I'm not much good at fighting, but if you make me an insurance policy, then I can definitely do it!"
"Mm!"
Heisenberg nodded, then smiled and patted the young speedster's shoulder.
"Don't worry. Nothing is that complicated. Don't let Bruce frighten you."
With that, Heisenberg sat back in his seat and greeted the utterly bewildered Mera in a soft voice.
"Welcome to my Divine Kingdom, Mera.
And of course, welcome to you and the friends you've brought!"
Saying this, Heisenberg raised his glass from where he sat and gestured toward Nereus and Vera, who were equally stunned.
The moment Heisenberg's gaze fell upon them, their eyes suddenly shone with golden light.
It wasn't their power—their eyes had simply been pierced by Heisenberg.
Nereus immediately led their guards to kneel on the ground and kowtow to Heisenberg with reverence.
After they had paid their respects, Heisenberg beckoned lightly to Nereus.
Seeing this, Nereus lowered his head respectfully and came before Heisenberg.
He clearly saw Heisenberg give him an amused smile.
"Friend, what should I call you?"
"I am Nereus, King of the Kingdom of Xebel. It is my honor to behold your divine countenance, my lord!"
"Oh, Nereus, is it? Skip the pleasantries. I want to discuss something serious with you."
Heisenberg smiled as he reached his hand out to the left.
The sand beside him suddenly split open, and from the massive fissure, two exquisite cubes slowly floated out.
Heisenberg controlled the force field, making the two Mother Boxes swirl around his left hand, while he continued speaking to Nereus.
"Clark, go with this Nereus to their Kingdom of Xebel.
Since everything began with the Mother Boxes, I think these things should be gathered in my hands—that is, in our hands!"
"Yes!"
Clark nodded in understanding, then flew to Nereus's side.
Looking at the smiling Heisenberg before him, then at his stunned daughter behind him,
Nereus understood.
This wasn't a choice being offered to him—it was the first divine decree he would have to carry out.
So he simply knelt on one knee and answered respectfully.
"As you command!"
With those words, the Bifrost suddenly enveloped the two of them, and Nereus and Clark returned to the palace of the Kingdom of Xebel in an instant.
With Nereus leading the way, Clark quickly took Atlantis's Mother Box in hand.
The two didn't need Heisenberg to teleport them. Clark, knowing the way back, carried Nereus and flew back to the Divine Kingdom in just a few seconds.
And so, the Mother Boxes in Heisenberg's hands became three.
Beside him, Bruce gave Heisenberg a deep look. He had figured out what Heisenberg intended to do.
And Heisenberg, sure enough, after weighing the three Mother Boxes in his hands, smiled.
"What brought Darkseid to Earth was the Mother Boxes.
So, let's just take them with us and go take down Brainiac.
I must rescue my people, because they will be my greatest strength and support.
I can't help but suspect that the future simply wants me to lose this power.
As for Earth…"
Heisenberg thought for a moment, then shook his head lightly.
"The future is ever-changing, and no one can guarantee a perfect outcome.
If, after we've done everything we can, Earth still cannot avoid tragedy…
Then I'm sorry, but I'm not the kind of person who likes to make up for the past. Compared to repair, I prefer making the one who started it all pay the price!
He can destroy Earth, and I can destroy him.
And his life will be my mourning offering for Earth!"
/-\
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