Welcome back to The Injustice Wars. Last time, the first meeting between the Republic and the Legion didn't go too well, as the Empire showed up and managed to kidnap Belial Aether despite the efforts of both factions. A Dark Gem net will help that. Thankfully, Black Manta in secret provided a knife for them to escape. And now, both the Republic and Legion are on their tail. But, what does Darkblood want with the Republic's leader in the first place? Read on to discover...

(Our story begins in the Nameless City, where Belial Aether is being bound to some sort of X structure by Killer Frost and Raven as Enchantress and Darkblood prepare some kind of ritual structure)

Belial Aether: I don't know what you want with me, but this will not end well for you. You don't know what power I hold.

Darkblood: On the contrary, Son of Anubis. I know exactly what power you hold. And it's exactly what I want.

Belial Aether: (Finally realizing what's going on here) You are a fool if you think I'll do that! For you or anyone! I vowed I would never use that power, ever!

Darkblood: I'm afraid you won't have much choice in the matter. (To Killer Frost and Raven) Is he secure?

Killer Frost: Very secure. I'll admit, this guy's kind of a turn on.

Raven: I urge you to keep the romantic drivel out of this. We have a mission to accomplish here.

Darkblood: Raven has a point. (With a perverse smile, then to Killer Frost) You think he's good? I can show you better...

Enchantress: (To Killer Frost) He's not wrong. Trust me.

Belial Aether: Never thought I'd hear a hag talk about a dragon like that.

Enchantress: You're just jealous he got me before you did.

Belial Aether: On the contrary, I wouldn't touch you with a ten-foot pole.

Darkblood: Now, such uncouth arguments will not stand in my palace. The ritual will take time to prepare, am I wrong Enchantress?

Enchantress: (Knowing what Darkblood has in mind) Not as much as you'd think. I'll wrap things up here. Should give you just enough time to show Ms. Snow exactly what I mean. If she has no objections...

Darkblood: (Strokes Killer Frost's face) I can sense the curiosity in her, I think she'll be willing.

Killer Frost: (With a slight bit of ecstasy on her face) Fine by me. I'll be the judge of a good time.

Raven: (Sighs) I may as well not be the only one here who doesn't see what this is about.

Darkblood: Glad we could convince you, Raven. You two come with me. Enchantress, fetch me when things are ready.

(And with that, Darkblood leaves with Killer Frost and Raven leaving Enchantress to finish setting up the ritual, whatever it's for. But as she does, we transition to the outside, where the joint forces of the Republic and Legion are following the course of Black Manta's submarine down river, only to realize the river forks off in two directions)

Aero: Great, the river forks off. How're we supposed to know where they went?

Hawkgirl: There may be something visible from the air. I'll check it out.

Vixen: While you're doing that, I'll check an idea on the ground.

(As Hawkgirl flies up, Vixen activates her Tantu Totem and summons the tracking abilities of a wolf, particularly its sense of smell, to try and track the submarine from the ground level. And sure enough, after only a few minutes, Vixen's got something)

Vixen: Oil. The smell's faint, but it's coming from the right fork.

(At this point, Hawkgirl descends)

Hawkgirl: She's right, got an oil slick the length of the fork just a mile up the river.

Blaze: Clever move. Manta must've rigged the submarine's oil tanks to leave us a trail

Jay Garrick: That trail leads right into the mountains.

Vandal Savage: I'm afraid that's quite literal my friend. As far as I've been able to discover, this river flows underground.

Red Hood: Underground?

Blaze: If there's a river under these mountains, there must be a cavern somewhere. That's got to be where they took Belial.

Vandal Savage: There is a cavern entrance up ahead. I'm not sure it's the right way though.

Blaze: Why not?

Vandal Savage: It was sealed in a rockslide about 200 years ago.

Blaze: Darkblood must've found a way in somehow. It's the only lead we've got. We need to follow it for now.

Vandal Savage: Very well then. Let's go.

(And with that, the group heads off down the river's right fork, following the oil slick Black Manta left behind. But as they do, we look to the skies above, where a familiar Tamaranian face has entered the scene. Starfire is following them for some reason.)

Starfire: So the stories I've heard are true. There are dragons on Earth! And it looks like they've gathered a new league. (Noticing who else is with them) Vandal Savage? What's he doing there? This is something I must investigate.

(Her goal in mind, Starfire follows the Republic-Legion alliance trying to figure out what's going on here, as our tale ends for today)

And that looks like a good place to wrap up for now. So, the new team seems to be working together well. And they've got a bead on where Belial's been taken, thanks to Black Manta's meddling. But it looks like there's another set of eyes after them. Starfire is about to enter the war, whether she knows it or not. So, how does Starfire react with this new state of the world? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!