Welcome back to Age of Miracles. Last time, Dragnarok, the Gotham Knights, and the Crystal Gems confronted the crew of the first resource extraction device. And much to everyone's surprise, the entire group defected to the HRL, and never even activated their device. With 12 new allies in hand Dragnarok turns his attention to the other device, sent by Luthor Jr's end of the competition. So how's that going to go? Read on to discover...
(Our story resumes at the second resource extraction device, where Belial and the Titans are observing the scene, finally getting a lock on who's operating this thing)
Belial Aether: Looks like we're dealing with Jinx, Gizmo, Mammoth, and... (In disbelief) There's no way that's Lex Luthor. He's at the other one!
Robin: Hold on. Let me get a look. (Sees exactly what Belial Aether sees) That's him alright, but it's not the same one we saw on Peridot's feeds. Note the lack of a chrome dome.
Belial Aether: Wait, what? (Looks back at what Robin is seeing) How did I miss that? But if that's the case, that's actually much more dangerous.
Beast Boy: Um... how?
Robin: It means it's Mazahs, a Lex Luthor from another Earth who has the ability to steal the powers of those he kills.
Raven: A metahuman Lex Luthor. Exactly what we don't need.
Cyborg: So what's the plan, Belial?
Belial Aether: Distracting Gizmo and company should be easy. It's Mazahs we need to worry about. Leave him to Koriand'r and I. Robin, Beast Boy, Raven, you've got the Hive Trio. Vic, you're in charge of hacking that thing and shutting it down. We'll keep you covered
Robin: You seem pretty desperate to work with Starfire. Is something up?
Belial Aether: (Sighs, with a tear in his eye) Let's just say I still miss the Koriand'r I knew.
Starfire: Did something happen to my counterpart?
Belial Aether: She was a survivor through and through. The only Titan left after the fall of the Regime, and the only one with enough guts to join the Republic. Admittedly we both knew we weren't the one the other was looking for. I'm not one meant to settle down, and she was still mourning her world's Nightwing. But we were fine being friends with benefits. Then that bastard Damian Wayne put a sword through her, and almost killed our daughter in the process.
Beast Boy: Wait, Fire Jackal's you and Starfire's daughter?
Belial Aether: She never knew her mother. During the emergency C-Section, by sheer bad luck it seems, Kori succumbed to her wounds.
Cyborg: Whoa.
Belial Aether: Don't worry, I gave that mockery to the name of Nightwing a sword to the gut in kind. I swore on her grave I would keep our daughter safe.
Raven: So you let her into this battle?
Belial Aether: (With a slight chuckle) She has her mother's spirits. I kept her safe as long as I could, teaching her everything I could to defend herself. And just like her mother, she defends the innocent.
(This revelation has left the entirety of the Titans silent, with Starfire hit especially hard by the fate of her other self. But as they do, Belial Aether brushes a tear from his eye, before steeling his resolve)
Belial Aether: But that's in the past. If I know Kori like I know I do, she wouldn't want me dwelling on her death.
Starfire: A sentiment shared across all versions of Tamaran.
Belial Aether: Then let's get to work. We've got to stop this thing before anything gets destroyed.
(As Belial and the Titans sneak into the scene, we focus in on Mazahs and the Hive Trio, as the familiar form of Eternal materializes on the machine)
Eternal: Mammoth. What is your progress?
Mammoth: You'll have to ask the kid for that. I'm just security.
Gizmo: For the last time, I'M NOT A KID! I just have a growth plate condition!
Eternal: Regardless, get to the point Gizmo.
Gizmo: Extraction of this world's resources is going a little strange, with how dissimilar this world is to ours. I mean these continents are all messed up!
Eternal: I hope there's a but coming.
Gizmo: But with some of my modifications, we're pushing miles ahead of the other team.
Jinx: In other words, the boss is certain to win, so long as he trusts in us.
Eternal: Excellent. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have pressing business with your comrade.
(With that, Eternal signals to Mazahs, at which point the two walk off towards the side and start talking)
Eternal: I assume you've considered my offer.
Mazahs: If you honestly think I'm going to kneel before some dark dragon god, you better be able to make it worth my while.
Eternal: My Master offers power beyond anything your Earth, this Earth, any Earth. All we need is a sample of your Dark Lightning.
Mazahs: If that's it, don't waste my time.
Eternal: What about this? The ultimate superpower: Immortality.
Mazahs: (Interested) Go on.
Eternal: Think of it. Any metahuman that could ever exist, meeting their end by your hand, which would in turn make you even stronger. What's more, despite absorbing your predecessor's powers, you are still one of the world's mightiest mortals. My Master can elevate you beyond that.
Mazahs: Infinite life, infinite power... You've convinced me.
Eternal: Excellent. Once this pitiful contest is over, we'll talk more. (Letting the Hive Trio back into the conversation) I will return soon to check on your progress.
(With his message delivered, Eternal disappears in a cloud of violet energy as we see Belial and the Titans have made their way to right outside the machine's perimeter and are prepared to strike.)
Belial Aether: Alright, on my mark.
(And the second the last bit of energy Eternal left in dissipates, Belial Aether gives the cue)
Belial Aether: Now!
Robin: Titans, GO!
(And with that, the battle begins. As planned Robin, Beast Boy, and Raven tackle Gizmo, Mammoth, and Jinx respectively while Starfire and Belial Aether combine their forces to hold back Mazahs while Cyborg starts trying to hack into the machine slowly draining the resources from Beach City. But almost immediately things start to take a turn for Belial and Starfire. Mazahs is already stronger than they anticipated. Thankfully Raven wraps up Jinx quickly, alongside Beast Boy, now in the form of a T-Rex as he finishes Mammoth. Robin is having a little bit of trouble with Gizmo at first due to their differences in mobility, but a few quick hits with a bo staff sorts that out quickly. Soon it's just everybody trying to dogpile Mazahs and keep him away from Cyborg. But before long, the Hive Trio reveals they're not as finished as we thought, and soon we're back where we started and everything is going wrong.)
Belial Aether: We could use a little help here, Vic!
Cyborg: I'll be there as soon as I can! (To himself) Because of course Luthor Jr didn't skimp on the antivirus protocols! That would just be too easy!
(Just as things are at their bleakest, a familiar shadow can be seen across the sun, one of dragon wings)
Dragnarok: Hope we'll do for backup then!
(And just like that Dragnarok and his allies enter the battle, save for Pearl and Peridot, the two of whom immediately start to work with Cyborg in taking down the machine)
Pearl: If we may, Mr. Stone, you look like you could use a hand.
Peridot: Three brains are better than one after all!
(While this trio makes immense progress in hacking the machine, the rest of the group starts into their attacks. Deathstroke, Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl, and Robin are able to easily ground Gizmo, allowing Lapis and Vulture to fly up and take the villain by surprise. Meanwhile Kotal Kahn uses his sunlight enhanced Osh-Tekk strength, with some aid from Garnet and Beast Boy, now in the form of a gorilla, to hold Mammoth at a standstill while Harley Quinn, Mr. Freeze, and Killer Frost start attacking him from behind. Mammoth, being the powerhouse he is, eventually breaks through, only to be confronted by Kingpin, who Mammoth laughs off)
Mammoth: Seriously? The fat businessman thinks he can defeat the unstoppable Mammoth?!
Kingpin: Only two percent of my body mass is fat, you imbecile. (Delivering a solid left hook that actually knocks Mammoth to the floor) Now allow me to show you what 350 pounds of muscle is capable of.
(In a feat of unbelievable strength, Kingpin lifts Mammoth right off the floor with hardly any effort before signaling to Girder)
Kingpin: Mr. Woodward, if you would?
Girder: (Forming his steel skin) Gladly.
(With that Girder starts charging as Kingpin throws Mammoth into him, Girder's metal skin protecting him as he knocks Mammoth into the ocean with sheer velocity. As this happens, we see Raven continuing her battle against Jinx, only now aided by the Riddler and Two Face)
Riddler: Riddle me this, Jinx. How badly is this going to hurt in the morning?
(Not wanting to deal with this, Jinx attempts to hit Riddler with her powers, but Riddler spins his cane to deflect the blasts as Amethyst tangles her legs in her whip, all the while Two Face sneaks up behind Jinx and holds her in a choke hold long enough for Raven to charge up a powerful spell)
Raven: Azarath, Metrion, ZINTHOS!
(With a blast of dark energy, Raven sends Jinx flying down to the beach. Meanwhile, Belial Aether, Starfire, Magneto, Lex Luthor and Dragnarok turn their attention to Mazahs, and so far the battle is starting to turn, but it only gets better once we see Steven Universe and Connie engaging in a Fusion Dance, emerging as Stevonnie armed with Rose Quartz's shield and sword, and the tide turns again. For a moment Mazahs gets the upper hand, knocking away Stevonnie's sword, but using his mastery of magnetism, Magneto is able to call it back and actually spear Mazahs' leg long enough for Starfire and Belial Aether to pepper him with star-bolts and blasts of arcane energy before Dragnarok and Lex Luthor come in with a pair of solid punches. Now angered, Mazahs channels the Dark Lightning of Mazahs, shocking everyone on the battlefield, but just as he intensifies the voltage, Pearl throws her spear straight at his head, backed up by Cyborg's sonic cannon while Peridot locks Mazahs' feet in place by manipulating the metal around him)
Cyborg: Booyah! The machine's taken care of. Time to kick some tail!
Mazahs: You really think your pitiful forces can defeat me?! I AM A GOD!
Dragnarok: Says you and every lunatic this side of the Silver River.
(But even still, Mazahs is no pushover, and immediately calls down an even stronger Dark Lightning burst, almost strong enough to defuse Stevonnie. But just when all hope seems lost, the sound of heavy footed running can be heard as someone literally tackles Mazahs to the ground, an yellow and orange figure, save some greenish spots and two short green horns, with long white hair and an orange gemstone in place of her nose)
Jasper: (Summons her now horned helmet weapon) You try that move on a Diamond, any Diamond, even one I seriously dislike, again, and I'll make sure to hit harder.
Stevonnie: Jasper?!
Jasper: Long time no see, kid. I'll admit, still not used to the whole fusing with humans thing.
Mazahs: You really think that's all it's going to take to defeat me!?
Jasper: (Cracks her knuckles) Try me.
(Now a serious battle begins. Jasper and Mazahs are equal in strength, but Mazahs' lighting gives him a distinct advantage, that is until Stevonnie and Dragnarok step in and shield Jasper)
Stevonnie: (Extending a hand) Looks like you could use a little extra power.
Jasper: (Taking their hand, and getting back on their feet) We're not fusing. We're fighting side by side.
Stevonnie: Deal.
(With that, the battle resumes. Stevonnie and Jasper together hold a serious advantage, and with a little aid from Dragnarok's Aether, they manage to beat back Mazahs, just as the machine they're on starts to collapse, at which point, the group starts to get off of there, just as an unseen Eternal teleports Mazahs away, just in time for the machine to fall to the ground, destroyed as Stevonnie defuses.)
Dragnarok: That should take care of them.
Steven Universe: That was... SO COOL!
Lapis: I'm honestly surprised you came storming in, Jasper.
Jasper: The kid's a Diamond. Not my Diamond, but still. It's kind of my job to be the protective one.
Amethyst: Still good to see you're one of us good guys this time, sis.
Jasper: Don't patronize me.
Dragnarok: Regardless, we couldn't have done this without you.
(But just as things appear calm, an explosion rocks the skies, catching everyone by surprise)
Steven Universe: (Seeing where the explosion came from) Did the Temple just explode?!
Dragnarok: (Seeing the structure through the smoke) No but something tells me Purple Diamond and company need some help. Let's go!
(With that, the band of warriors charges on, as our tale ends for today)
And that looks like a good spot to wrap up for now! I bet nobody expected Jasper to show up. Well since Steven Universe Future ended with these two on at least semi good terms, I figured I'd build on that idea. Made some sense to me at least. Anyways, back to the point. What's going on at the Temple? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!