A/N: Nothing really to say here, just enjoy? As always, review!
In the heroes' camp, the mood was surprisingly ok. Batman was being understandably quiet, but everyone else was nonetheless confident in their victory.
"By my calculations, we're outnumbering the other camp." Martian Manhunter said.
"By one" muttered Batman, sending the room's mood to the floor.
"I was just trying to boost morale… I"
"Morale?" Batman stood and squared up to J'onn, "We don't even know what Darkseid's plan is here? How can you…" Superman moved in to pull Batman away.
"He was only trying to help, Bruce." Superman said, placing his hand on Batman's shoulder.
"I would've though J'onn would be the one who thinks of the bigger picture, not just morale!"
Just as Batman shrugged off Superman's hand, the screen opened from the ceiling and once again revealed Darkseid's face.
"Good day. Today's challenge is simple. Two from each team are selected to protect a third, whilst also trying to take out their oppositions' selected teammate. From scanning your world's video games database, I believe this is known as a VIP match."
"Cool, I love Call of Duty!" Shazam said, his face lightening up.
"Today's combatants are as follows – Batman, Shazam and J'onn J'onzz for the heroes, Professor Zoom, Black Adam and Grundy for the villains. Batman and Zoom are the VIPs." The screen flickered before going black. Batman and J'onn both headed for the door immediately.
"But he didn't say begin?" Shazam said, imitating Darkseid's booming voice. Both Batman and J'onn turned to give him a condescending look. "Okay going out there anyway then…" he said, following them up the stairs.
At the same time, the villains made their move and Zoom didn't like the way he was being 'protected.'
"Will you put me down? It may surprise you to know that I can actually walk." Zoom shouted.
"General man told Grundy to take care of yellow man." Grundy muttered, with Zoom slung over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. Black Adam walked further in front of them, scouting the area.
"When we get back, I'm going to kill Zod." Zoom said under his breath. Without warning, Adam shot into the air. Grundy, who was looking in pretty much every other direction than up, hadn't realised that Shazam had done exactly the same as Black Adam, and the two were fighting in the sky. J'onn and Batman climbed over a boulder to see the Zoom and Grundy.
"Go J'onn, I can handle myself." Batman said. J'onn flew into the air and made straight for Grundy and Zoom. Grundy saw him and picked Zoom off his shoulder.
"Finally" Zoom said, taking a deep breath. Unfortunately for him, Grundy then threw him at the oncoming Martian Manhunter. J'onn easily phased through the flying speedster and punched Grundy in the jaw and subsequently, through a wall.
Zoom on the other hand managed a surprisingly good landing, swirling his arms around to cushion his fall. Surveying the area around him, Zoom took the advantage given to him and hid from the battle.
Meanwhile, outside the force field, a large group had gathered by the original military convoy. General Luceno's tent was filled with some of the best heroes not inside Darkseid's game: Robin, Batgirl, Supergirl, Vixen, Hawkman and Guy Gardner.
"What do we have here General?" Batgirl asked.
"From what I know this is all Darkseid, other than that, all I know is that we can't get in at all. This force-field is tough…. really tough" he replied.
"Do we have any contact from the inside at all?" Robin said, stepping in front of Batgirl.
"Not in the slightest. We can't even see whatever is happening in there."
Back in the battlefield, Manhunter was dodging Grundy's flailing haymakers whilst Shazam and Adam were throwing each other around. Adam grabbed Shazam and kneed him in the stomach and, with a hard elbow, sent him hurtling towards the concrete and flew after him. Just before Shazam hit the floor, Adam kicked him in the back of the head, increasing the strength of the collision between the concrete and Shazam's face.
"You still haven't managed to use those powers of yours properly, boy. The wizard was a fool to give them to you." Adam said, smirking as Shazam tried to stand.
As Adam laid punch after punch into Shazam, Zoom crouched behind a rock watching the action. He wasn't even paying attention to Grundy because any fool knew that Manhunter had that one covered easily. Suddenly he felt all his muscles tense. He let out a scream as his body slumped to the floor in agony. Behind him stood Batman with a Taser in hand. As Zoom rolled onto his back, Batman kicked him in the head, knocking him out.
Suddenly Darkseid's voice came booming across the battlefield.
"As I expected, the heroes have won. Proceed to your bunkers immediately." As Batman stood up, he gave a nod to Manhunter and Shazam, whilst Grundy, Zoom and Black Adam were removed from the battlefield forcibly by Mongul and Ares.
When they returned to the bunker, Shazam turned to Superman.
"Flash totally needs better bad guys."