This is Part II of the 35th Story Special. Last time, after briefly setting up this chapter, Enchantress acted on her plans to revive the Dark Master, but ultimately got... someone else. This was the birth of Darkblood, one of the Nullverse's more infamous characters. But now that we've got that, we need to focus back in on Blaze and Batman. So how's that going to go down? Read on to discover...

(Our story resumes just as we left it before seeing Darkblood's origin, in the Legion's headquarters where the Legion and Insurgency are licking their metaphorical and literal wounds, and we arrive just as Blaze makes her pronouncement to Batman)

Blaze: (Weakly) I'll explain myself... once you explain why you let Superman go...

(Again, all eyes are on Batman, and despite the cowl hiding things a bit, you can arguably tell he's nervous. But he doesn't show it, in typical Batman fashion.)

Batman: I don't have to explain my actions to you.

Flash: (Fed up with this) Spoken just like Clark.

Batman: Excuse me?

Flash: You heard me.

Batman: I am nothing like Superman.

Supergirl: Are you sure? You've been insistent on keeping things your way the entire time we've worked together, unwilling to hear any other way to do things or to trust your allies without observing them from afar. How is that any different from what Kal did?

Black Canary: Watch it kid.

Green Arrow: Dinah, she's got a point. Brother Eye is something Superman would've come up with if given the chance.

Black Canary: This war took a toll on all of us. Bruce just wanted to ensure this couldn't happen again.

Red Hood: Don't try to blame this on the war. I can tell you from personal knowledge that Bats had plans for something like Brother Eye back while I was Robin. The Regime just gave him an excuse to actually do it.

Green Lantern: Don't make me come over there and smack you, kid

Shade: There it is, the same creeping decay that led you to wear yellow for Superman.

Green Lantern: What did I say while we were down in the generator room?!

Batman: Stand down, Lantern. I don't need you to defend me.

Catwoman: Real funny Bruce, because you've done no defending!

Black Lightning: Selina's right. You've just deflected the question!

Spyro: You heard her, Batman. Why don't you quit deflecting and give us a straight answer. Why did you let Superman escape?

Cynder: Wait a second. I think I know exactly why he did that. He's afraid. He knows he can't beat Superman. That's why he pulled us over here last time after all.

Batman: Don't you EVER call me a coward!

(Through all of this, Blue Beetle and Firestorm just look on as Batman straight up refuses to give a straight answer, and are already starting to get confused, slowly losing their faith in Batman, but they're not showing it. Harley Quinn meanwhile spots it)

Harley Quinn: Come on, Bats! Just tell them what the hell you were thinking! If not for them then for the kids, they have no idea what you're up to!

Red Hood: You really think he gives a damn about those kids?! Look at what happened to his own son!

(But Batman refuses to give an answer, and now the entire group has started fighting with each other. And now, as the scene devolves into chaos, Blaze can be seen getting angrier and angrier. Until eventually, she's had enough)

Blaze: Enough!

(With that, Blaze, still wobbly from her wounds, gets to her feet and stares Batman in the eye)

Blaze: We've tried to coexist with the Insurgency this whole time. But it's clear to me now that this is impossible.

Batman: For once we're in total agreement.

(And with that, the room starts to split, members of their respective factions siding with either Blaze or Batman. Harley Quinn, Blue Beetle, and Firestorm still side with Batman, if begrudgingly. But surprisingly, while Black Canary sides with Batman, Green Arrow stays with Blaze.)

Black Canary: Ollie, what're you doing?

Green Arrow: I can't do this anymore, pretty bird

Black Canary: (Confused) Can't do what?

Green Arrow: (Points at the Insurgency) This! The Insurgency has gone past the point where I can support it in good conscience. Brother Eye and drafting the kids was the first straw, letting Superman just escape was the last one.

Black Canary: Ollie, we've been Insurgency since the beginning, we can't just abandon it now!

Green Arrow: Dinah, you've got to look past whatever you feel you owe Bruce and see things have gone past a point we can't support anymore!

Black Canary: I'm sorry, Ollie, but I can't do that

Green Arrow: Then... I think this is where we need to part ways.

(The entire room is honestly surprised by this, but none more so than Black Canary herself)

Black Canary: Well. If that's how you feel. (Stands by Batman) Then so be it.

(Seeing they're no longer wanted there, the Insurgency leaves Legion headquarters, but not without a few backwards glances from Harley Quinn, Blue Beetle, and Firestorm. But ultimately, the Insurgency completely walks out)

Blaze: Looks like we're on our own now.

(As the Legion looks towards an uncertain future, our tale concludes for today)

This concludes Part II of the 35th Story Special. For the Finale, head on over to Dragons Plus Phoenix. So Batman refuses to give a clear answer as to why he let Superman go. This will be one of the driving forces between these two factions going forward. Believe it or not, the little Green Arrow and Black Canary splitting up scene was one of the first things I envisioned when I started working on this story. So, what awaits the Legion now that they've essentially gone to war with the Insurgency? Tune in next time to find out. Same time... same channel.