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Chapter 9: The Invulnerable vs. The Unbreakable
High atop a mountain far above the earth a dark shadow gathered at its peak. Settling turbulently, the shadow gathered into the ever shifting image of a woman. Smiling gleefully she looked across the earth to survey her handiwork.
"Magnificent!" She laughed, "and oh so much fun!"
Eris knew her meddling couldn't last but while it did she was having the time of her (immortal) life.
The gods had sworn to not interfere in man's world a millennia ago. Which meant poor Eris had been nursing a serious case of disgruntled boredom for a lifetime.
But, when the child had requested her help! It had given her a window—if ever so small—to exercise her destructive energy.
"And what a request!"
Imagine to help avenge the Amazons! Why even Zeus himself couldn't deny that request. Of course it wouldn't be long until others tried to join in the fun. (A certain god of war, for instance.) But right now Eris was so deliciously happy even that glorified war dog couldn't spoil it.
She stretched her fingers in anticipation of the glorious chaos that was about to ensue. She had already helped the little Princess with her disappearing act, and oh how hilarious it had been to watch her small friends scramble to figure out where she had gone. Pathetic mortals.
It was especially amusing to see the pointy eared one in black fail again and again trying to find her. It was such a simple trick really.
But it was just killing him to have to watch the little Princess slip slowly into madness…marvelous madness.
"How sweet." She remarked as she turned her eye to the bat.
"He still loves her…Hmm I wonder, does she still love you?"
Eris moved her gaze to the isolated warrior.
"Hmm perhaps….But it is too clouded over with grief for her to remember you, my little cockroach….still, this could prove interesting."
Eris returned her gaze to Batman and laughed joyfully.
"Oh that is beyond precious! You still want to save her!"
Her shrill laughter split across the empty sky like thunder as storm clouds began to gather.
"Well by all means try, it's not like I could stop you…she has done this all by herself….I am so proud." Eris hissed as lightning flashed across the mountain.
Even though Eris would have happily claimed responsibility for all the destruction the wondrous Wonder Woman had caused she could not. That honor was solely Diana's. She was under no control but her own. And it was fantastic!
The goddess of discord wiped a tear of mirth from her eye.
"Well time to get to work! After all we can't have any interruptions to the Princess's chat with wonder bread down there."
Diana may have wanted to face him with her own strength, but that didn't mean Eris couldn't help keep the other's out of the way.
A sinister smile spread savagely across her beautiful, ever changing face.
"Make him bleed my dear, make him bleed."
Batman
"J'ONN!" Batman barked into the com link.
"Batman?"
"You need to get every available league member to Metropolis, NOW!"
"I am sorry Batman, but the league is stretched to capacity."
"What are you talking about?" he growled impatiently.
"It is madness Batman, it is like every chaotic event that could happen has! Natural disaster, resurfacing villains, some we even thought were dead have returned! Or at the very least some very convincing look alikes. And every manner of crisis both large and small. Everyone is gone."
"Then get yourself down there! I'll meet you as soon as I can!"
"Why, what is happening?"
"She's going to kill him!"
Metropolis 5:30 am
"Luthor!"
The supervillain turned at the sound of his name and dropped the useless pedestrian he had been holding in the clutches of his mechanical armor.
"Well, glad to see you could grace us with your presence Superman."
The condescending charm oozed from every pore and a self-satisfied smirk stretched across his superior face.
Normally Superman would have been able to ignore Luthor's obnoxious god complex…but not today.
The anger inside him had reached new heights. He needed to hit something! And low and behold here was a target asking for it.
His vision red from rage, he flew down from the sky with a vengeance headed straight for Luthor who didn't even flinch.
Clark had only a moment to register the gleeful grin on Luthor's face before he was blinded by an over powering Green light, and every inch of his being began to burn in the most excruciating pain he had ever experienced.
"What's wrong Superman? You seem a little green!"
Haughty laughter rang in his ears while pounding thunder wracked his skull. Clark struggled to focus his sight, but it was blurred and images swam before his eyes turning his stomach. His body felt on fire, like a red hot sword was being used to peel his very skin off bit by bit.
Raising a hand weakly towards the green light he tried to pull himself up…to no avail.
"H-H-How?" he gasped before his head fell to the hard concreate.
"This? Just a gift from a friend to even the odds."
Superman's vision suddenly began to clear as, to his surprise, he watched Luthor stash the LARGE piece of green kryptonite in a sealed box. It must have been lead lined because his vision instantly began to focus, however the pounding in his head and the burning in his lungs was slower in dissipating.
Confused he struggled to stand, only to fall once again landing hard on the concrete as his body fought against the poison's effects.
Luthor backed away with an amused chuckle and Superman once again was dumbfounded.
Why is he backing away? Where did he manage to get so much kryptonite? What is going on!?
Luthor's laughter stopped and Superman saw him look into the distance.
"Ah, glad you could join us my dear."
His strength returning Clark turned his head in the direction Luthor had spoken. At first he was blinded by the barely rising sun reflecting off metal. But as the figure moved closer, its shadow blocked the offending light.
She towered above where he knelt on the ground, still trying to get to his feet. The star spangled costume of Wonder Woman was gone, and in its place she wore an ensemble far more impressive.
The top resembled her original uniform except it was of a deep red much more startling to the eye, the color of blood. The traditional WWs had been replaced by a golden design that at first resembled an eagle with its wings spread menacingly but then curved into a more Grecian design. The "eagle" head rested in the middle with golden strands fanning out towards her waist creating a breastplate effect. Cinching in her waist was a thick metal belt that also shone golden, but was probably of a much more durable material. It also curved elegantly in a similar pattern to the top. Below the belt hung two layers of leather strips also the color of blood that formed a warrior's skirt that stopped at the middle of the thigh. The top layer was edged in a simple band of gold while the lower layer was studded with small golden medallions that each bore a different name inscribed in her ancient tongue. He didn't know this at the time but they were the names of the Amazons.
On her arms gleamed the silver bracelets; strapped to her back was an unsheathed sword, the handle of which was so complicated a design no human hand could have rendered it. Finally his eyes found her face. Cold and hard, her magnificent hair was swept up, but a few dark curls, longer being held at bay by her tiara, had escaped and now blew about her face.
For a moment he forgot, forgot all she had done, forgot whom she'd become. All he saw was Diana, and he felt relief…but only for a moment.
"Diana?" he asked as he began to stand once again, this time his strength returning as he felt the last effects of the Kryptonite abate.
His full strength returned he stood tall and strong, looking once more at her his face clouded over with hurt and rage…he remembered.
"Murderer!" he hissed as he started for her, but quick as lightning she stepped forward, her eyes dark with hate and rammed her fist into his jaw sending him flying back, crashing into a building down the street.
"An eye for an eye."
She charged again but he was ready for her and punched her hard in the stomach, pushing her back.
She ground her feet in the ground and raced back, a war cry tearing from her throat.
Leaping into the air, she dove for his face, but he swiftly turned out of the way bringing a massive fist down across her back.
A scream escaped her as she fell to her knees. But swinging her legs, she managed to knock his out from under him.
Whirling on top of him she rained punches on his face and chest in rapid succession, the force of which began to weaken the ground beneath them.
Grabbing her wrist he flew into the air taking her with him, dragging her through the sky.
Twisting her arm against her back, he held her aloft as she gritted her teeth.
"You killed my wife, Diana! My Family!"
"And you killed mine!"
Reaching up her free hand, she grabbed his hair and pulled him over her head.
Spinning, she threw him back down to earth.
He landed, the force creating a crater in the middle of the city.
He could hear people scream as they scrambled to get away from the waring gods.
Another war cry reached his ears and he looked up just in time to see her hurdling straight for him.
Flying up, he met her head on.
Punches and kicks flew, both meeting their equal in strength.
Eris
Eris tore her sight from all the fun little games she had put in the way of the princess's friends. Gazing across the world she found him, the little bat flying his darling plane right into the thick of things.
"Oh and look here comes the green one too…tsk, tsk, tsk we can't have you spoiling the fun!"
With a vicious cackle she flew off.
Watchtower
J'onn ran for the teleporter but as soon as he reached it the Watchtower's power shut off. His orange eyes glowed as he looked through the darkness. All the doors had been locked by the power outage, but that would be no problem for him.
Flying towards a door, he began to faze through the metal when a woman's voice echoed through his head.
"Ah no cheating."
He felt a shock of electricity course through him as he yanked his arm back.
"Who are you?" he demanded but the darkness only laughed.
"Very well." His eyes once again glowed as he searched for the woman telepathically.
"Oh you can do tricks? Guess what so can I!"
Before he could even attempt to find anything J'onn was caught up in a vision that was so real his whole being believed it to be true.
He was surrounded on all sides. Fire blazed, licking his skin with its flames burning him, pulling the air from his lungs.
Eris laughed as she watched him scream for help.
"Foolish being, it is only a game."
Laughing once more she vanished, leaving the poor creature to battle his own mind.
Batman
Batman flew the bat plane past the various sky scrapers of Metropolis trying to pinpoint the dynamic duo. They weren't difficult to find, especially once Superman threw her through a building. He silently hoped the authorities had managed to clear it out because there was no way anyone could have survived that impact, since neither had the building.
He saw her rise from the rubble but she didn't get a chance to get air born again before Superman landed, punching her head into the concrete. Even for an immortal goddess that had to hurt.
Without warning he saw her take a leg and use it to propel the blue wonder into a bus.
This was his chance to join the fight. He pushed the thrusters and aimed the plane straight for her, hoping to buy Superman some time.
He was getting closer; in only a second he would make contact. He could see her face speeding towards him and then!...Everything went black….
He lost control of the plane and felt himself spinning out of control! He hit the eject button but it didn't work.
"Damn!"
The plane was going to kill someone, if only he could see!
Suddenly it stopped!
He felt himself floating in the darkness, no longer held down by the metal of the plane but also frozen, unable to move his own body.
A woman's laugh rang in his ears as the darkness seemed to circle tighter around him.
"Now that wouldn't be very fair, you interfering in their little spat."
More laughter.
"Who are you!" he demanded and the shadow seemed to tense.
"Chaos!" it hissed making his skin crawl.
"Let me go!"
"Oh no, no, no, I have something much more fun planned for you…you are going to watch."
"What?"
"You are going to watch the woman you love, kill your best friend."
The laughter returned and the darkness disappeared. He found himself watching the two of them, fighting for their lives. He was so close he could have reached out and touched them. But his arms wouldn't obey. He tried to look down at his arm but he couldn't move his eyes from the battle. He tried to shut them, but they would not close.
He struggled against its control, fighting to be free. His only reward was more amused laughter.
"Enjoy the show!"
Metropolis
Superman's head smashed into the bus. Pushing himself off the ground he readied to face her again.
She staggered a little as she walked towards him.
Both struggling to catch their breath, he saw her spit blood from her mouth and wipe it away with the back of her hand. He could feel every punch imprinted on his body. If there had ever been any doubt that she was his equal in strength it could be laid to rest, but thankfully he had other skills.
She seemed distracted by something for a moment. Her head turned sharply and for a second he glimpsed something besides hate on her face…concern? He took the opportunity.
Red beams of heat burst from his eyes.
She looked back just in time to raise her bracelets in defense.
The force pushed her back, her feet sliding across the gravel.
He moved forward increasing the force.
She gritted her teeth as she fought back.
He may have more powers she thought but he is no fighter.
He lacked the discipline and skill. But she didn't
She dropped her bracelets and spun to the side.
He snapped his eyes shut but not before the beams cut a building in half.
With the speed of light she raced for him, grabbing the back of his neck and pulling his face down making contact with her knee.
Red blood poured from his nose. She leapt into the air bringing her leg across the side of his head.
He moved out of the way, but not before her foot caught his face.
Grabbing her arm that was now raised toward his jaw, he blocked her shot and delivered one with all his strength into her side.
He could hear the crack as one of her ribs broke and her scream of pain rang in his ear.
Still not slowing down she bit the hand that held her arm captive.
He yanked it back.
She reached up both arms and slammed her bracelets against his ears with deadly force.
He fell to his knees clutching his head in his hands. The pain that burst through his skull was unbearable and a loud ringing filled his ears blocking out all other noise.
Taking her lasso she wrapped the noose around his neck and flew into the sky.
Dropping his hands to his neck he gasped for air as he clawed at the golden rope.
Spinning with all the strength of a hurricane she let go the rope and watched him fly through six buildings before slamming into the shards below.
Flying down with the speed of Hermes, she grabbed the sword from her back and let out a cry.
Superman dug the rope from his neck blood oozing down his fingers from where it had cut him. Still gasping for breath.
He heard her cry behind him and turned.
The sun glinted off the metal sword as she brought it down across his face.
It cut through his right eye all the way down to his jaw bone and he howled in pain as blood poured from the socket.
Panting with exhaustion she once more took hold of the rope.
It glowed as she bound him in its coils.
Luthor
He had watched patiently as they battled it out.
This was all part of the deal. She wished to fight him unabated. So be it, soon now it would be his turn.
Metropolis
She spat in his face that flowed with blood, blurring his vision in his still remaining eye.
He watched her step back and Luthor take her place before him.
With a cruel smile he once more opened the box and held out the large piece of kryptonite that glowed a sickly green.
All the pain in his body was instantly magnified until he didn't think he could take it!
Laughing Luthor raised the shard high into the air and brought it down swiftly.
Superman screamed in pain as Luthor cut across the large S creating a deep gash in his chest. Reaching once more into the box Luthor removed a tiny bag of green dust. Pouring it into his hand he rubbed it into the gash like salt on a wound.
If Superman thought his pain could be no worse, then he was wrong. Every cell in his body burned as the green poison did its work.
Luthor's manic laughter once again filled his ears as he struggled to see through the pain and blood.
"At last, how it should be—the end of the last son of Krypton."
He saw Luthor raise the shard once more in the air and Superman knew he was about to die.
Batman
"CLARK!" he yelled struggling to be free of the shadows' grasp.
Metropolis
Laughter filled the air and then suddenly!
It stopped.
Batman and Superman watched as she walked calmly behind Luthor, took his neck in one hand, his head in another and broke it.
The laughter stopped and he fell to the ground, dead.
Picking up the green shard she placed it back in the lead lined box.
Immediately Clark felt his strength begin to return as his body began to heal his wounds. But something wasn't right, they weren't all healing. And blood still poured from his neck and face blinding him and causing him to feel weak.
She picked up the rope and uncoiled it.
He raised a hand to fight her but it fell back to his side.
She stood above him watching as he knelt on the ground, broken.
"Why?" he whispered.
Why had she not killed him? Why did she stop Luthor?
Kneeling one leg down she grabbed his hair and pulled his face up to see hers. Hate burned within those magnificent azure eyes more intensely than ever.
"Because now you will know how it feels. Every day of your unfortunately long Kryptonian life you will feel this pain, and it will never subside, never numb. I want you to suffer like I suffer. You took my people and now I have taken the one you loved most. I was powerless to stop their deaths while you held all the power. Well you aren't the most powerful anymore."
She dug a nail into the gash in his chest that was trying to heal, causing him to wince in pain.
"That poison inside of you will never leave. It won't kill you because death is too good for you. But it has weakened you forever. Live the rest of your life, son of Krypton, and remember what I have taken from you."
Dropping his head to the ground, she flew into the sky and disappeared.
Batman
The shadow disappeared and he was back in the plane, landed on the ground still strapped into the seat. Ripping off the belt he opened the hatch and ran towards the man who lay slumped on the ground.
"Clark!"
He fell to his knees and tried to pull his friend up. Taking his free foot, Batman kicked the box away even though it could do no harm whilst closed.
"Clark?"
Superman coughed and blood ran out of his mouth. Ripping off a piece of his cape, Batman hastily tied it around the gash in his friend's skull that was healing far too slowly.
"You're going to be alright, she's gone."
"No," he coughed. "No, she won…she's won."