This is Joey's first time meeting the Queen of Themyscira—Wonder Woman.
Unlike when he first encountered that alternate-universe version of Queen Maeve, Joey now had his perception fully unlocked. It was effortless for him to see how different she was from ordinary humans.
To be honest, he might not have even needed super vision to tell. The aura radiating from Diana was far sharper than the edge of the Godkiller sword she held.
This lethal presence was something that the indulgent Queen Maeve—who spent her days drowning in martinis and brandy in Vought Tower, surrounded by endless parties and models—could never compare to.
In this world, Wonder Woman had never interacted with the human world in her youth. The first person she met outside Themyscira was the King of Atlantis, Arthur Curry.
Back then, the young Wonder Woman and Aquaman fell in love at first sight. Both believed their union would bring a brighter future to the Amazons, Atlantis, and the entire world.
But the Amazons and Atlanteans had always been sworn enemies. Their marriage satisfied almost no one on either side.
No one could clearly explain how a mutual love match between equals turned into a chaotic, blood-soaked wedding.
But the outcome was obvious. The destruction of Themyscira and the death of her mother Hippolyta turned Diana—the demigod warrior—and her people into one of the most dangerous forces on Earth.
And even now, the crown of Mera—Aquaman's lover—rested upon Wonder Woman's head, taken as a trophy after Diana beheaded her. It served as a constant reminder to Aquaman and his people of the stance they should take toward her.
To be honest, Joey didn't like the British. In his past life, at least 80% of the humanitarian tragedies he witnessed in Africa and along the eastern Mediterranean had something to do with British colonial history.
Now their homeland had been occupied by the Amazons and renamed New Themyscira. Wasn't that a kind of dark irony?
As Joey had thought before, with just a single thought, he could decide the fate of these British people based on his own preferences—he could allow the Amazons to do as they pleased.
They had already begun suppression and transformation within the island. Men would be exiled or imprisoned, while women would undergo brutal trials and magical rituals—of which only one in ten would survive—to become new Amazons.
Strictly speaking, what these British people were experiencing now was merely a reflection of what they had once done to others.
But Joey would not do that.
Not because of justice or moral boundaries—true justice and morality lay in the survival of billions across the globe.
If sacrificing the British Isles could bring lasting peace, he would not hesitate.
But Joey understood that simply handing Britain over to the Amazons would not bring peace to this era.
As long as the war between the Amazons and Atlantis continued, Wonder Woman's invasion of the human world would never stop.
The Amazons were outnumbered in their war against Atlantis. She needed the resources of the human world to win.
Joey extended his hand toward the Queen of Themyscira.
"Work with me. I can stop your war with Atlantis, bring true peace to this planet, and make this world better—on the condition..."
"A foolish proposal."
Wonder Woman didn't even let him finish. She stepped forward coldly, thrusting the Godkiller sword toward Joey's neck. She no longer believed in such promises.
Aquaman had once told her the same thing—that their union would create a better world. The result was the endless war between their peoples.
Boom!
Joey exploded into motion, striking her from the air with a single backhand blow. The speed was so great that even Wonder Woman couldn't react.
The immense force slammed her into the ground, directly into the street where she had just given her speech. The impact reduced the former residence of the British Prime Minister to rubble.
The reporters who had just been driven away by the Amazons hadn't gone far. Hearing the commotion, they turned back, cameras raised once more.
"Jimmy! Hurry, start filming!"
Lois Lane urged Jimmy Olsen to get the camera ready. The moment it powered on, a red streak shot down from the sky, triggering a second, even larger explosion that nearly knocked Jimmy off his feet.
"Forget this, Lois—we need to get out of here!"
In a normal DC universe, they would have been Superman's closest ally and friend. But in this broken world, they were strangers to him.
Joey dove from the sky, his punch colliding with the bracers Wonder Woman raised in defense. The divine bracers groaned under the strain but fulfilled their function, converting the damage into a shockwave that blasted back at Joey.
The third explosion tore through the street, leaving nothing but ruins. Joey, sent flying, struck again, only for Wonder Woman to block with the Godkiller sword.
With one hand holding the sword, she reached for her waist and lashed out with the Lasso of Truth, trying to restrain him. But Joey caught the blade with his bare hand and hurled both her and the sword into the air.
Before she could recover, Joey closed in again. This time, caught midair, she couldn't keep up with his speed and took the blow directly. The Atlantean crown on her head shattered under the impact.
Joey's eyes glowed red as his heat vision swept across her face, carving a shallow wound. Seizing the moment, Wonder Woman countered—her divine blade pierced straight through Joey's left shoulder.
This was nearly the first time Joey had been injured in his new life.
Grimacing, Joey grabbed the sword's hilt, kicked her away, and seized the weapon.
He pulled the blade from his shoulder. The strike had nearly taken his arm off. Blood poured out, yet his senses only grew sharper.
Dozens of meters away, Wonder Woman cast her Lasso again. Without even focusing, Joey could now perceive the microscopic world beneath appearances.
He caught the Lasso with his left hand and pulled against her. His shoulder wound healed rapidly. With his right hand, he raised the Godkiller sword.
Looking at Wonder Woman, who struggled with all her strength yet couldn't overpower his still-injured arm, Joey decided to teach her how to use her own weapon.
"I remember this sword can cut at the subatomic level. Now I'll show you how to really use it!"
He swung the blade, slicing precisely through an atom in the air, while pulling her closer with the Lasso.
Boom—
The act triggered a small fission explosion in the sky. Both figures plummeted toward the ground.
Though Joey was closer to the blast, Wonder Woman suffered more. Her skin could endure Kryptonian strength, but not ordinary weapons.
As the dust cleared, Joey stood with the Lasso wrapped around her neck. Even with her divine power, she couldn't resist its truth-binding force. At that moment, she was no different from a mortal.
The arriving Amazon warriors hesitated, seeing their queen's life in his hands.
But Penthesilea, Hippolyta's sister, was far more resolute. She shouted at the Female Furies:
"What are you doing?! In the name of Zeus, save the queen!"
"Stop, Joey!"
Kara descended from the sky, having retrieved the House of El suit from the Arctic ship. Her restored body was framed by the red-and-blue suit, the golden 'S' emblem shining on her chest.
Kryptonians moved at incredible speed. The Amazons couldn't react before she broke through their ranks and reached Joey.
She grabbed the Lasso in his hand.
"Don't."
Joey looked down at Wonder Woman, kneeling at his feet, gasping for air. With a single pull, he could end her life.
Every cell in his body urged him to do it. Even she forced out a few words:
"Do it... what are you waiting for?!"
"No."
Seeing Kara's plea, Joey calmed slightly. He had come to negotiate, after all.
He loosened the Lasso, giving her room to breathe, but didn't release it entirely.
"I have one question. How can I find Themyscira?"
Bound by the Lasso's power, Wonder Woman could only answer truthfully, revealing the hidden location of the Amazon homeland.
Joey then tossed the Lasso back, granting her freedom.
Diana couldn't understand why he let her go at the last moment. The Lasso connected their minds—she had felt his overwhelming killing intent.
She was ready to die.
"I acknowledge your strength," she said, "but someone as... merciful as you cannot end this war. And Themyscira has already sunk. Whatever you seek, you will find nothing there."
"Don't mistake my sympathy for weakness."
Joey looked down at her and extended his hand once more.
"My offer still stands."