Welcome back to The Injustice Wars. Last time, to celebrate the New Year, we had another intermission chapter. And this one featured an interaction I've waited to do since writing The Dark Order, that being Sulfur finally confessing his love for Dracia, only to find she grew to love him as well. So now the two are an official couple as 2022 dawns. How sweet. But now, back to the war. So what's going on now? Read on to discover...

(Our story resumes somewhere in Central City, as members of the Legion continue to fight off the forces of Brainiac. Specifically, we're focused on Blaze, Flash, Captain Cold, and Black Manta.)

Black Manta: I have no idea how the heck you dragged me out this far!

Blaze: (Under her breath) Remember the plan? You're going to infiltrate whatever this Darkblood character is up to?

Black Manta: (Under his breath) And how does any of this help us with that?

Blaze: (Under her breath) I'm hoping this should draw him out.

Black Manta: You're a bit crazy, you know.

Blaze: Tell me something I don't know. But we have to hope this works.

(Before long, Brainiac's drones are shorted out by something, something resembling black magic)

Blaze: What did I tell you?

(And as the last of Brainiac's robots falls, we see the vile drake Darkblood is in fact behind this, just as the entire group gathers to face the new threat)

Blaze: (Under her breath) Remember, we need this betrayal to look convincing.

Darkblood: I see you have chosen to continue in the fight.

Flash: Like we said last time, we're not letting this world fall under your rule.

Darkblood: I'm afraid you won't have much choice. Once we finish with you.

(And with that, Darkblood snaps his claws, causing three pillars of green fire to emerge, and from them emerge Enchantress, Raven, and Killer Frost, each ready to fight)

Darkblood: (Seeing his forces now match the Legion's) I believe that evens the playing field.

Flash: (Recognizing his former Regime compatriots) Raven? Frost?

Killer Frost: Surprised to see us again, Barry?

Flash: More like disappointed in how far you've fallen. Particularly you, Raven.

Raven: My alliegances are of no concern to you, mortal.

Darkblood: Now then my lovelies, what do you say we end this little scuffle?

Enchantress: Gladly.

(And now the battle begins. Flash immediately starts fighting the Enchantress, Captain Cold and Killer Frost engage in a battle of ice, Black Manta attempts to fire a harpoon into Raven, and of course, Blaze fights Darkblood straightaway. But just as straightaway, we notice Blaze is pulling her punches for some unknown reason, but it does allow Darkblood to get the better of her, and has her down for the count ultimately)

Darkblood: So this is what you fight like? I will admit, I'm disappointed.

Black Manta: (Dodging a blow from Raven) You're not the only one.

(With that, Black Manta does the seemingly unthinkable, he pulls out his harpoon gun and fires a shot straight at Flash, hitting him in the leg and causing him to go straight through a wall as he grinds to a halt, before firing another harpoon at Captain Cold, knocking the Cold Gun out of his hands and allowing Killer Frost to trip him up)

Captain Cold: (Not knowing what's going on) What was that for?!

Black Manta: It's clear to me now that this Legion is doomed.

Captain Cold: You black-hearted traitor!

Darkblood: (As Enchantress, Raven, and Killer Frost return to his side) It's good to see somebody realizes the stronger force in this war. (Extends his claw) Come with me, and I will show you what true power is like.

Black Manta: Gladly. Besides, I understand you and I have a common enemy, in the sea king.

Darkblood: (Enraged at the mere insinuation of Aquaman, but keeping it somewhat calm) Indeed we do. I want him dead as much as you do.

Black Manta: (Taking Darkblood's extended claw) I'll gladly help you with that.

Darkblood: Good. Now, let us away.

(With that, Enchantress gets her cue, flashing the entire group away in a blast of green fire, leaving the defeated Legion behind, particularly allowing Flash to get out of the wall he crashed through, pulling the harpoon out of his leg and allowing his super-speed healing to kick in)

Flash: Looks like this Empire's turning into more of a threat than we expected.

Captain Cold: And it just got worse, Barry. Manta just ran off with them.

(Though, much to Captain Cold's surprise, Flash is not surprised by this, neither is Blaze)

Captain Cold: (Confused) Why am I the only one who's outraged at this?

Blaze: Because this was planned.

Captain Cold: Planned?

Blaze: Manta volunteered to go undercover into this "Empire", so we would have someone on the inside.

Captain Cold: (Thinking about it) I guess Manta made the most sense. If anyone would turn on the Legion, it would be him.

Blaze: (Getting back up) Now we just have to hope he can get information out of them.

(And just as she says that, we transition back to Enchantress' barn, where the Empire is making their headquarters currently. And there we see Black Manta taking a knee before Darkblood as the vile drake seemingly knights him with black magic before rising)

Darkblood: Now, welcome to the Empire, Black Manta.

Black Manta: The honor's all mine.

Darkblood: Excellent. Our little force is growing by the day. (Looking around) We'll need a better headquarters than this though.

Enchantress: Don't look at me, I kind of stole this place from some doctor. What was his name? Simon Hurt or something like that.

Darkblood: Well, the good doctor better have had some property somewhere else.

(At this point, a flash appears outside the barn door, sending everyone into a defensive state as the barn door flies open in a sort of shockwave, revealing what looks like a red gem this close to splintering into fragments, on the ground in a crater)

Darkblood: A Spirit Gem?

(But this is not a Spirit Gem, as before long, the gem starts be surrounded by some sort of white energy forming into a rough humanoid shape, but with features of a serpent, and completely blood red but covered in black armor that appears to have a clock centerpiece.)

Darkblood: (Seeing the figure) Who are you?

?: I would assssume an ally...

Darkblood: Assume nothing, whoever you are. Now reveal yourself.

(Now the figure steps out of the shadows, revealing his serpentine face)

?: My inferiorssss call me "My Diamond".

(Now Darkblood is infuriated. He is NOBODY'S inferior, and the fact that he starts choking out this figure with his dark energy from a distance makes this clear to the new arrival)

Darkblood: Let me make this clear, I am NOBODY'S inferior. Whoever you are, you will show me respect, or you will die. (Dropping the figure) Do I make myself clear?

(At this point, the mysterious figure realizes who he is dealing with, if not in identity, then certainly in power)

?: Sssssuch power... (Getting to his feet) It is clear to me now I am dealing with one close to an equal, sssssomething I have not encountered in, well, ever.

Darkblood: Speak your purpose or be destroyed.

?: I proposssse, an allianccccce.

Darkblood: An alliance? When you have been defeated so easily?

?: Perhapsssss a demonsssstration of my powerssss is necessssary.

(And with that, this figure releases a burst of energy, and before anyone can respond, everyone but the figure and Darkblood are frozen in time, surrounded by a cloud of scarlet energy)

Darkblood: Impressive. And here I thought I was the only one who could manipulate time.

?: (Extending an arm) Sssssso, what do you sssssay?

Darkblood: (Clasping the had) Consider yourself part of the Empire. Now, what is your name?

Vermillion: My equalssss may call me, Vermillion.

(And as Vermillion and Darkblood cement their alliance, our tale ends for today)

And that looks like a good spot to end for now. With the introduction of one of the Nullverse's most infamous villains, Vermillion. This serpentine lad was one of the initial 10 characters that started off the Nullverse to begin with, so I've been looking forward to showing the beginning of this alliance for some time. Add him to Blaze, Belial, Darkblood and another we've technically introduced but haven't named yet, there's actually half of the original 10 in this story to date. But now the Empire has indeed become more dangerous with the introduction of Vermillion to their ranks. Hopefully Black Manta will be able to pass this information to the Legion before it's too late. So will he? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!