Welcome back to The Injustice Wars. Last time, Black Manta sent his first report back to the Legion, just as Darkblood has him set his submarine out towards Superman's old underwater prison, the Trench. While there, he takes control of a group of villains that were just hiding there, not wanting to get into any trouble. But it appears they weren't the reason he was here. There's someone else. So, who is it? Read on to discover...
(Our story resumes back in the Trench, where Killer Croc and Orca, fully in Darkblood's thrall, are shown escorting Darkblood, Enchantress, and Vermillion through the corridors of the prison, eventually stopping before a pair of massive double doors, secured by a glowing green lock)
Enchantress: (Seeing the lock) Superman was a fool to trust a simple enchantment like this. I'll be able to break the hex in no time.
Darkblood: That's no hex. That's a radiation lock. Specifically using Thorium-232 if the schematics Brother Eye uncovered are anything to go by. It's designed to only unlock once the material within has gone through complete radioactive decay.
Enchantress: Well what's so special about that?
Darkblood: That stuff has a half-life of 14 Billion Years. But... (Gestures to Vermillion) That's what our time manipulating friend is here for.
Vermillion: (Putting it together) Ah, I sssee. You want me to accelerate the decay processss.
Darkblood: Exactly. Now get to work.
Vermillion: Gladly.
(With his confirmation, Vermillion steps up to the lock and, his hands glowing with green energy, places them upon the lock, infusing energy into it until the glow within the lock fades, and the metal surrounding it rusts away in the process, turning to metallic dust as he finishes)
Enchantress: Show off.
Darkblood: A very useful show off. (To Killer Croc and Orca) Stay out here, we have business within.
Killer Croc and Orca: Yes, Lord Darkblood.
(Leaving those two behind, Darkblood, Enchantress, and Vermillion step into the scene, revealing a figure strapped into some apparatus hanging down from the ceiling, one who for a moment has a very familiar face, one resembling the former High Councilor, surrounded by a series of boxes.)
?: Who are you? What are you doing here?
Darkblood: I would assume allies.
Enchantress: (Thinking she knows who this is) Don't be too sure. There's no way the former High Councilor will work with any of us.
Darkblood: That is true. But this isn't the High Councilor. Isn't that right, Dr. Henshaw?
(At this point, the figure's face is made clear, revealing only the upper right side resembles Superman, and the rest more closely resembles the Terminator, complete with the glowing red eye, and a red and black super suit as opposed to the usual red and blue)
Cyborg Superman: It depends. What do you want?
Darkblood: I have come here to liberate you from your confines.
Cyborg Superman: I'm sensing there's a catch.
Darkblood: The only thing I ask for is your loyalty.
Cyborg Superman: And what do I get out of it?
Darkblood: How about a chance to get back at the man who ruined your life?
Cyborg Superman: Go on.
Darkblood: Superman has recently escaped from his confines. I offer you the chance to destroy him, and to replace him.
Cyborg Superman: You can do that?
Darkblood: With time the world will forget Kal-El, soon Hank Henshaw will be the name this world fears and respects.
(After a moment of consideration, Cyborg Superman looks back to Darkblood with a makeshift smile on his mechanical face)
Cyborg Superman: Count me in.
Darkblood: Very well. (To Enchantress) This lock is mystically secured. It's on you.
Enchantress: Gladly.
(With that, Enchantress casts a bolt of magic into the device holding Cyborg Superman to the ceiling, causing it to open, allowing him to fall to the ground, eventually getting to his feet.)
Darkblood: Welcome to the Empire, Dr. Henshaw. Now, let us be off.
Cyborg Superman: Hold on. There's something else you need to see here.
Darkblood: What?
Cyborg Superman: Did you really think I was the only one Superman kept locked away down here?
Darkblood: There is another? Brother Eye didn't tell us anything about that.
Cyborg Superman: Because he was never officially listed as being down here. To this day, nobody outside of Superman's inner circle knows who he even is.
Darkblood: Tell me more.
Cyborg Superman: I'd rather show you.
(With that, Cyborg Superman breaks open a box, allowing a solid block of cooled lava to fall out of it.)
Darkblood: You tempt me with such information only to show me a rock I could get from any volcanic island?
Cyborg Superman: This isn't just any rock. This is Gril Pyrogen. He was an admirer of Firefly and Heatwave back while they were alive. After they died he sold his soul to some demon of Trigon's forces. But Trigon tricked him, turning him into a solid lava rock. Only Trigon's magic can restore him.
Enchantress: You fool! Trigon is trapped in Limbo!
Darkblood: (Scratching his chin) But perhaps his daughter should be able to do what we need.
(With that, we return to Darkblood's temporary headquarters in the old barn Enchantress was using, now complete with his thralls and newest recruit, and the lava rock)
Raven: This is my father's magic, but harnessed by one of his lesser demons. It should be easy to release him, provided the same conditions are met.
Darkblood: Those being?
Cyborg Superman: All you'll need is a bit of heat.
Darkblood: If this turns out to be a false lead, I will personally see you melted for scrap, Dr. Henshaw.
Raven: He is correct. Heat is the elemental trigger needed.
Darkblood: Very well then.
(With that, Darkblood unleashes a stream of fire onto the lava rock, while Raven casts her dark magic into it. And before long the block returns to a state of molten lava. But now, the lava starts to move around, before taking on a vaguely humanoid shape but still being completely composed of lava, like Flint Marko in No Way Home)
?: FREE AT LAST! (Sees Raven, and recognizing her energy) You're of Trigon! You tricked me! DIE!
(But before this lava monster can lunge at Raven, Darkblood steps into the way)
Darkblood: Halt!
?: WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO DENY ME MY VENGEANCE!?
Darkblood: Because she's not the one who tricked you.
?: Huh?
Darkblood: In fact, if what I know of you is true, my friend and I were the ones who released you from Trigon's curse. At least to some degree.
(At this point, the figure looks at himself and realizes something that fills him with joy)
?: You're right! I finally got what I was promised!
Raven: You were promised this?
?: I wanted to show the entire world the power of fire once my idol Heatwave was killed. Trigon's demons offered me the ability to become fire, then trapped me as a rock. I still don't know what happened entirely.
Raven: The spell was incomplete. I simply finished it.
Darkblood: And it was my fire that gave you form.
?: Then I owe you everything! (Falling to what appears to be his knees) From this moment forward, my entire life is dedicated to your service! Anyone who opposes you will BURN!
Darkblood: (Seeing what he has here) I never would have expected as... enthusiastic a servant as you. But I welcome it. Welcome to the Empire, Mr. Pyrogen.
?: Please, don't call me by my former name. I abandoned it when I made that deal.
Darkblood: Then is there a name I can call you?
Psycho Burner: Call me... PSYCHO BURNER!
Darkblood: Very well then, Burner. Welcome to the Empire.
Black Manta: Great, now we've got a giant fire monster on the team. We're not going to be able to keep secret in this barn forever.
Killer Frost: Why not return to the Trench? Nobody seems to be looking for anything there.
Psycho Burner: I'M NOT GOING BACK DOWN THERE!
Darkblood: Calm yourself, my fiery enforcer. I do believe there's a place for us. Hidden far from prying eyes. (To Enchantress) Is your research complete?
Enchantress: Indeed it is. And I know exactly where we need to go.
(And with that, we transition to a place unforeseen by anyone, deep in the Himalayas, or more accurately, deep beneath the Himalayas, in some sort of cavern system underneath it, where Darkblood reveals a great chasm.)
Vermillion: What is this place?
Enchantress: According to legend, a group of students from Nanda Parbat, banished for practicing the dark arts, went further into the mountains than anyone believed survivable, eventually arriving here, in the fabled Nameless City. For centuries it was believed this place was a myth. After finally overcoming June, I found it was real, and stayed here for a time while the rest of her was purged from my system.
Darkblood: (Seeing a throne upon the center of this place) This will do perfectly.
(With that, Darkblood seats himself upon the rocky throne, high above his associates, all of whom take a knee, seeing what he intends to do)
Darkblood: Then from this Nameless City, my Empire will spread, and soon, rule this world.
(And on this scene, we end our tale for today)
And that looks like a good place to wrap up for now. I will say this, the Nameless City is something I made up entirely for The Injustice Wars. There's nothing I can find indicating this was a thing in DC Comics at any point, though Nanda Parbat is a thing that exists and it will come into importance late. As to why I made this up, part of the lore Yami has given me is that the Empire's headquarters is beneath Mount Everest. Well, Nanda Parbat is hidden in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which per my research is a far reach of the Himalayas, so all of this becomes an explanation for why there's a perfectly habitable cavern beneath the Himalayas. Darkblood will make it more of his own place, adding some of the features Yami has described, namely stained glass windows of all his generals, as we go along. Hope this works, Yami! Anyways, it looks like the Empire's now got it's big three: Darkblood, Vermillion, and now Psycho Burner. So what awaits as we go forward? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!