This is Part III of the Winter Games Special. Last time, we caught up with Belial Aether and his team, and saw their first meeting with the immortal warlord Vandal Savage, who offered them a place on his team, granting them full autonomy in exchange for letting them act as equals with him. So they agreed, on the condition they work on getting them home along the way. Thus began the sixth and final faction in this war, the Republic. Now all we need to do is get all the factions to meet one another. So, what's going to happen next? Read on to discover...

(Our story resumes in Legion HQ, where Blaze, Flash, Supergirl, Green Arrow, and the rest of the Element Guard are standing at the team's computer, trying to tune into some sort of frequency, and it's not working apparently)

Green Arrow: (Checks his watch) If this doesn't work out on time, we just might be able to catch the World Series.

Leroy: This had better work, else putting Manta in as a spy will have been worth nothing.

Blaze: This is going to work out. The frequency for Manta's submarine is just unlisted, so it's kind of hard to get locked on to it.

Supergirl: And you're sure this comm line is encrypted?

Blaze: There's no way Darkblood will be able to lock onto it. I'm certain of that.

(And just when it looks like they won't lock onto the frequency, a familiar pair of red eyes appears on the monitor, as Black Manta appears, but only his eyes are visible.)

Black Manta: Manta to Legion, come in Legion.

Blaze: This is Legion, we read you Manta. And why the hell are you transmitting in the dark?

Black Manta: I'm kind of stuck in a closet right now, Darkblood's at the port, preparing to come aboard, I don't have much time before he shows up to inspect the ship.

Blaze: Well, what have you uncovered?

Black Manta: There's a new member to the Empire.

Blaze: Anybody we'd recognize?

Black Manta: Not unless you'd recognize someone made of snakes.

Flash: One of Kobra's agents?

Black Manta: Not with a snake motif. Literally made of snakes, or at least what look like snakes.

Blaze: Could be an old Kobra project still. Anything else we need to know about this guy?

Black Manta: He calls himself "Vermillion".

Blaze: That really doesn't tell us much. What can he do?

Black Manta: You'll be really surprised when you hear this. He can...

(But before Black Manta can explain anything, the sound of a hatch can be heard opening, at which point we transition to Manta's side of the transmission.)

Black Manta: That's Darkblood arriving now. I've got to get moving.

Blaze: Keep us updated, and when you get a moment, let us know anything you can find about this "Vermillion" character.

Black Manta: Will do. Need to get moving.

(With that, Black Manta closes the laptop he's using, stows it somewhere and reports to the bridge of his ship, where Darkblood, Enchantress, and Vermillion stand)

Darkblood: About damn time you get here. Where were you?

Black Manta: Using the head. (Sees the group is a lot smaller) Where're Frost and Raven?

Darkblood: Conducting a mission for me. (Sees around the vessel) Yes, this ship will do for what we need. Come, we set off immediately.

Black Manta: If I may ask, where are we headed?

Darkblood: You may not ask.

Black Manta: Hey, I'm the captain of this ship. If anyone needs to know where we're going, it's me.

Darkblood: I will provide the directions from here. You will have your crew follow them.

Black Manta: (With a begrudging sigh) Fine. Where to?

Darkblood: Your ship is to head for the following coordinates: 21 degrees South by 87 degrees East. What we're looking for should be quite obvious from there.

Black Manta: Okay?

Darkblood: You dare to question me?

Black Manta: I know those coordinates. That's in the middle of the Indian Ocean. There's nothing there.

Darkblood: There's something there alright. Something the world has long forgotten about. But something I remember all too well...

(With that we transition backwards in time, and see Darkblood as he was, back as Dragnarok, in some sort of scuba gear, staging an operation off some sort of reef, with Hydrar nearby)

Dragnarok: Alright, if Orm's information is to be believed, the High Councilor's little project should be a few klicks ahead, off this reef.

Hydrar: It had better be. We don't have much time before Atlantis mobilizes it's forces.

Dragnarok: He may be a cowardly scumbag, but Orm's done nothing if not provided good intel. Let's get to it.

(With that, Dragnarok and Hydrar take off from the reef and within mere moments, find what they're looking for)

Hydrar: By the Ancestors...

(But as Hydrar sees what he's looking at, we transition back to the present day, where we see Black Manta's submarine arriving at the same place, back through Darkblood's visage)

Black Manta: (As he sees what Darkblood was looking for) Holy shit.

Darkblood: Welcome, to The Trench.

(Now we see it, straight out of Injustice Year 4, a vast underwater complex sprawls across the ocean floor)

Darkblood: This is where Superman sent those who protested his Regime all those years ago. Then a year before we arrived, a hero known as Plastic Man staged a breakout. Now, a few former supervillains seeking an escape from those who would exploit them have hidden out in the ruins.

Black Manta: So we're here to get them?

Darkblood: They're not all we seek. But, you will leave this job to us. Keep the ship warm while we work.

(With that, a hatch opens from the sub, allowing Darkblood, Enchantress, and Vermillion to escape towards The Trench. Fast forward a few moments, and we see them walking through the remains of the prison, until they arrive at a doorway)

Enchantress: (Using her black magic) They're in here.

Darkblood: Excellent. Open it.

(At Darkblood's command, Enchantress breaks down the door, revealing exactly what he described: a small group consisting of Killer Croc, Orca, Parasite, Multiplex, Metallo, and Hyena)

Killer Croc: Who are you?! And how did you find us?!

Darkblood: I have my resources. Now then, on to business.

Orca: We have no business with you, whoever you are.

Darkblood: Not currently, but soon you will.

Killer Croc: Leave. Now.

Darkblood: I had a feeling you would be... uncooperative.

Multiplex: (As he replicates) I guess you didn't get the memo. Croc said to leave. So you really should leave.

(The threat made, in one swift movement, Darkblood grabs the central form of Multiplex and flings him into the wall, causing all of his replicas to hit the floor as he does. This sends Hyena into action, but Vermillion freezes him in time before he can attack Darkblood from behind, before immediately dropping him)

Darkblood: I could sense him, you know.

Vermillion: That'sssss the ssstrangesssst "You're welcome" I've ever heard.

Darkblood: It doesn't matter. I grow tired of this farce already.

(With that, Darkblood unleashes a stream of dark power, that washes over everyone, causing everyone but Vermillion, Enchantress, and Darkblood to stop what they're doing and stand at some sort of attention, eyes glowing violet as Darkblood's do.)

Darkblood: Now then, I assume we're all of the same mind right now. Am I correct?

Killer Croc, Orca, Multiplex, Metallo, Parasite, and Hyena: Yes, Lord Darkblood

Darkblood: Excellent. (As his eyes stop glowing violet) Now then, I'm sure you know the specific prisoner Superman kept here. The one person who didn't escape when Plastic Man staged his breakout. (To Killer Croc and Orca) I believe you two have been here the longest, so you should know where he is. Take me to him.

Killer Croc and Orca: Yes, Lord Darkblood.

Darkblood: The rest of you wait for us near the entrance. We shouldn't be long.

Multiplex, Metallo, Parasite, and Hyena: Yes, Lord Darkblood.

(And as the group splits in two, our tale ends for today)

This concludes Part III of the Winter Games Special. For the Finale, head on over to Injustice Dragons Among Us 2. So, it looks like Darkblood's out recruiting for the Empire. And this straightaway takes out a good chunk of the group Yami had originally sent me as a roster for the Empire. There's still a few left, but we'll get to them in time. But it appears none of them were the one he was looking for. So, who is? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!