Regarding Zatanna's word, Martian Manhunter's first reaction was skepticism.
After all, Martian Manhunter has some of the strongest telepathic and mental powers on Earth.
"I'm certain that no one on our team has been mentally influenced or hypnotized, and him killing Hawkman is a visible fact."
Batman threw a few batarangs, forcing Katana and Vibe back as they tried to charge again, then he argued against Martian Manhunter.
"J'onn, you can sense mental powers, but that doesn't mean you can detect interference from gods."
Martian Manhunter paused, raising his hand to stop the others who still wanted to fight.
He looked seriously at Batman, wanting confirmation.
"You're referring to those Olympian gods?"
Before Batman could answer, a furious voice came through Martian Manhunter's communicator—it was Amanda Waller.
That woman was obviously dissatisfied that the team she assembled was persuaded by Batman in just two or three sentences.
"J'onn J'onzz, you are not a member of the Justice League. You work for A.R.G.U.S., and your teammate just died horribly at the hands of a dangerous alien criminal!"
Martian Manhunter frowned, but he had to admit that Amanda Waller was also right.
Martian Manhunter first responded to Amanda.
"But as captain, I have the right to judge the situation and make judgments and choices at appropriate times. If there really is an enemy hidden in the shadows, mindless fighting will only weaken both our and the Justice League's strength simultaneously."
He then looked back at Emperor Viktor, who was buried in the ground with only his head sticking out, lying there in the sun.
"But a mission is still a mission. We previously sought confirmation of your origins from Hawkman, but Hawkman covered for you and said nothing. The A.R.G.U.S. deduced your past must hide some danger, and Hawkman's dying at your hands only confirms that."
Martian Manhunter tried to offer a compromise.
He trusted Batman, but he couldn't just let a potentially dangerous person go because of some hidden threat.
"I swear on the honor of my race, as long as I confirm you're not a dangerous person, based on the current situation, I can reconsider how to deal with you."
Clearly, Martian Manhunter was already doing his best to side with the Justice League.
Superman let out a sigh.
"It looks like this can't be avoided."
Emperor Viktor tilted his head, and the sand around him began to crack.
Then he stepped out of the sand as if walking up stairs with the sand parting beneath his feet.
"If your way of verifying me involves reading my mind, then that's not happening."
Martian Manhunter's expression also became serious.
"You killed Hawkman, you..."
He ignored him and looked past Martian Manhunter, looking at Superman and Batman with a half-smile.
"I've already shown the most patience and goodwill I can. You should know that if you attack me, I fight back. It doesn't matter who you are."
Viktor, hiding near Superman's ear, laughed helplessly.
"If I said his patience is actually much better than mine, would you believe me?"
Suddenly, one of Martian Manhunter's arms stretched out, turning into a thick, flexible green rope that lashed toward Emperor Viktor.
As Emperor Viktor dodged backward, Martian Manhunter gave a final order to the Justice League of America members present:
"Arrest the criminal who killed Hawkman!"
At the same time, Batman suddenly pressed a button at his waist.
The batarangs he threw during the fight earlier, stuck in the sand, suddenly light up, then burst with dazzling electric light.
They released bright electricity and connected, forming a net of electricity meant to paralyze movement.
Katana, Stargirl, and others were instantly paralyzed by the sudden electric net.
Their muscles locked up, and they all fell to the ground, unable to move.
Doctor Light, however, blocked the electric shock with a light shield around himself.
He raised his hand and was about to fire a laser at Emperor Viktor.
But just as he lifted his hand, Superman rushed over and grabbed his wrist.
The white laser shot off course, streaking diagonally across the sky.
Superman shouted to the others:
"Don't make a move, I'm protecting you!"
Also, Batman gave a stern warning to Martian Manhunter.
"If this is just an arrest, we'll cooperate, but don't drag your teammates into this... they will die!"
Martian Manhunter hesitated again for a moment since the warning came from Batman.
Suddenly, Amanda Waller's cold voice came through the communicator.
"Looks like the American Justice League can't be relied on much, but the A.R.G.U.S isn't out of options."
Then, a mass of shadow rose from beneath Emperor Viktor, and as some kind of tentacle creature climbed upward, firmly locking his entire body.
"It's Obsidian from the New York command center!"
Martian Manhunter was shocked. He had just recognized who it was when he saw Emperor Viktor calmly look down.
The shadow actually formed a mouth and seemed to be mocking him.
"I am one with the shadows, and physical attacks can't even touch me—"
Emperor Viktor's eyes suddenly flash a trace of yellow light.
Superman and Batman's expressions change simultaneously.
He lifted his foot and stomped down. The impact made the entire beach tremble, and the sand jumped.
The shadow's voice suddenly stopped. Then, dark red blood spread out from underground, soaking a large area of sand.
"No!"
Even though Obsidian wasn't part of Martian Manhunter's team, they were still colleagues.
The scene of his death greatly stimulates Martian Manhunter.
The rope he had used to bind Emperor Viktor quickly pulled back and turned into a huge, muscular arm, sending him flying.
As a hero strong enough to rival Superman, Emperor Viktor flew nearly a thousand meters away into the ocean, like a cannonball smashing into the sea surface.
In just a moment, Emperor Viktor flew back out of the sea.
He wiped a bit of blood from his nose in slight surprise and gave a strange smile.
"This is actually pretty exciting… killing someone I've already killed once."
As soon as he finished speaking, a sonic boom exploded around him, and he charged straight toward Martian Manhunter.
Martian Manhunter had no choice but to stop holding back. He flew up as well, pulling the fight away from the beach to avoid hurting others.
In the blink of an eye, the two collide over the sea surface.
The impact created a massive shockwave, pressing the sea beneath them into a half-sphere crater.
The massive water turned into a small tsunami, sweeping toward the beach.
"Superman, you go stop them!"
Batman quickly gave orders.
Superman responded and moved, first lightly tapping to put Doctor Light into a sleep, then tossing him to a place far from the shore.
Then Superman flew up to meet the incoming tsunami.
"Zatanna, call backup. We can't let Ares and the others keep interfering like this."
Zatanna looked a bit annoyed.
She knew what he meant by calling the magical heroes they had recruited earlier.
That included Ragman, Black Orchid… and the shameless Constantine.
Zatanna actually had to contact Constantine herself. It was hard to imagine what kind of nonsense he would say this time.
"Cyborg, take Rhonda into custody, ensure she remains unconscious. Contact Shazam, Firestorm, to prevent the aftermath of the fight from endangering nearby cities."
"Green Arrow, go deal with A.R.G.U.S."
There was a brief silence in Batman's earpiece.
Green Arrow's gritted voice came through.
"…Wow. Thanks a lot, Batman."
...
600 POWER STONES = 1 BONUS CHAPTER
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