Strangers In Paradise
Chapter 18: Blind Darkness
Helion Solar Test Range – 10 Minutes Ago
"There! It should be fixed now. We're just about ready," said a restless Apollo as he worked frantically.
"You've said that three times in the past ten minutes," said an equally restless Persephone.
"You've been keeping track?"
"I'm just noting your incompetence."
The Queen of the Underworld might have beauty that captured the heart of Hades, but she could be extremely annoying. As much as Apollo was inclined to curse her, he didn't bother wasting his breath. He needed to make sure the Gate of Eos was ready. If the energy output from the Cerberus Generators was any indication, Ares was about to unlock the Tomb of Erebus at any moment.
He should've been enjoying another bottle of wine, waiting for just the right moment before revealing to Ares just how badly he had been outsmarted. Then, for reasons he still couldn't ascertain, the energy from the Cerberus Generators became unstable. The mortal scientists and technicians working in the field described it as interference. They still believed this was all some elaborate solar energy experiment. They couldn't possibly understand the forces behind this anomaly. Unfortunately, Apollo didn't understand it that much either.
But he didn't need to understand it. He just needed to work around it. Still working from the elaborate interface built into the main hanger, he adjusted the Cerberus Generators remotely. Dozens of holographic screens kept blaring warnings and bizarre readings. It was like someone or something was pumping a different kind of energy into the generators. That shouldn't have been possible. No mortal or most gods for that matter should have such capabilities. As dire as some of these warnings were, the systems remained intact.
However, in order to keep it from getting too unstable, he might end up having to skip a few steps in his plan. With the Queen of the Underworld still watching him closely, this would be a challenge. But he was willing to work around it.
"Mr. Disole, sir. The interference is stabilizing, but we can't filter it out. It's causing some readings that have a lot of folks down here real worried," said the chief engineer, who had been in constant contact with him since this incident began.
"Then don't waste time trying," replied Apollo, altering his voice so he sounded like Alfanso Disole again. "Take the rest of your team and retreat behind the safety barriers. Tell the perimeter guards to move everybody back another 500 feet. This might be more volatile than I calculated."
"Will do, sir. What about you?"
"I'll catch up," he replied.
It was a blatant lie, but he was used to lying to mortals. At this point, the mortals he employed had outlived their usefulness. He issued another protocol to sound more alarms, warning everyone still on the test range to drop whatever they were doing and evacuate. At the very least, he could ensure they would be witnesses to this moment.
Once the communication line was severed, Apollo abandoned his identity as Alfonso Disole once and for all. The next time the mortals saw him, they would know to address him in a very different manner. He checked the timer that was counting down until the Gate of Eos was at full power. Since there wasn't enough time to eliminate the interference completely, he engaged a series of protocols that he hoped to initiate later. Knowing that Persephone was still watching, he prepared for some new complications.
"You'll have to find something else to complain about, Persephone. This should keep the system stable," said Apollo as he entered the final command.
As soon as the protocol began, another round of warnings flashed on all the screens. The erratic energy readings fluctuated more severely. Along with these readings came an ominous warning.
"Protocol Icarus engaged," the system said. "Cerberus overload initiated. Warning. Energy flux has been reversed. Permanent gateway instability immanent."
"Overload? Reversed? Instability?" said Persephone anxiously. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"That didn't take long," said Apollo wryly.
More warnings on the holographic screens blared, but Apollo wasn't worried in the slightest. While Persephone didn't know much about this technology, she knew that certain words did not bode well.
She briefly looked out the window towards the massive structure in the middle of the test range. It was already charging up with energy from the Cerberus Generators. It began with a steady, stable flow that created a small yet stable purplish glow. Now that flow of energy didn't look nearly as stable. The purplish glow clashed with traces of yellowish energy. She knew enough about Olympian power to understand that this was natural. It left her deeply concerned and less trusting of her fellow god.
"Apollo…what in the name of Olympus are you doing?" she said in a more hostile tone.
"You know when you give me that angry look, it's so difficult to lie to you. It's a testament to your beauty and your charisma. It's something I've always admired about you, Persephone," said Apollo as he approached her with a mischievous glare.
"You had best explain yourself before you take another step. I'm warning you, Apollo!"
"And I'm returning the favor by sparing further lies," he said. "Honestly, do you really want to go back to Olympus? After what Ares has done, do you really think you and your mother will have a moment's peace?"
The Queen of the Understood took a few steps back. Her gaze kept diverting between the Gate of Eos outside and the approaching God of Light before her. She felt a sinking feeling that filled her with anger and dread. That desperate hope she had been clinging to since this affair began finally shattered as the cold truth set in. She should've seen it sooner, but now it was too late.
"You…you never planned on sending me back, did you? You never even planned on letting Ares through the gate," she surmised.
"I'll do you one better. I plan to use the power of the Tomb of Erebus to close every gate between this realm and ours for good," said Apollo.
"How is that better?" exclaimed Persephone.
She was prepared to lash out at him, but Apollo didn't give her the chance. With reflexes as fast as the light he commended, he grabbed the Queen of the Underworld by the neck and overpowered her. Before she could even begin to struggle, he pushed her up against a nearby wall and pinned her. She struggled at first, but Apollo made sure she couldn't escape. She needed to understand what she was now a part of.
"Spare me your shallow questions. I know you don't care about the answer, but you should. You really should because like it or not, you made this possible," said Apollo in a deep, menacing tone.
"You…lied to me!" spat Persephone.
"I thought you of all people would be used to that by now," he scoffed, "But take comfort, if you can. I am not Hades, nor am I my father."
"No. You're…worse!"
"I am only doing what none of the gods will or even contemplate doing. I am ending the fruitless struggles between and within our world and this world. And believe it or not, you stand to benefit far more than most."
"More…lies!"
"But since I had a feeling you wouldn't believe it, I took the necessary precautions."
The Queen of the Underworld continued to struggle within his grasp. She began thrashing and kicking at him. As she wasted her energy, Apollo reached into his pocket and retrieved a little something he borrowed from Ares. It was a shard of an amulet he once used on Prometheus to subdue him. When he held it up over Persephone's forehead, it flashed briefly and unleashed the same effect.
Persephone recognized the amulet shard just in time to feel its energy wash over her. Almost immediately, a bluish halo of energy surrounded her entire body. She felt her strength nullified and her body go limp. She barely got out an angry grunt before she fell to the floor, still conscious but unable to move. Now lying helplessly with her back against the wall, Apollo knelt down and cupped her face so she couldn't turn away from him.
"You can't see it. None of the gods could see it," said Apollo in a more serious tone. "Our worlds cannot remain connected. I believe those very connections are what fuels the chaos the gods constantly battle. By closing those connections forever, the gods can focus on controlling their world while the mortals can focus on building theirs. But unlike the gods, the mortals lack the power and authority to sustain themselves. They need a guiding light – one whose authority they cannot subvert with their petty ignorance."
"That's…what this is…about? You seek…to rule them?" said Persephone, weakened yet still defiant.
"No. Zeus seeks to rule. Ares seeks to conquer. I seek to guide," said Apollo strongly. "I will bring order to the mortals – order they'll desperately need if they are to have any hope of survival. They'll worship me, oppose me, and even doubt me – but they won't be able to stop me."
"What of…the gods? What of…my mother?"
Apollo just sneered. Even after centuries of suffering, the Queen of the Underworld still clung to the connections that had doomed her in so many ways. It would've been tragic if it didn't make her so useful.
"Their fate is up to them now," he said in a crass tone. "I'm sure your mother will be fine. She might even be proud of what you're part of now. While I don't seek to be a mere king in this world, I'll still need a queen."
His firm grip on her face turned into a gentle caress. His touch disgusted Persephone more than that of Hades at this point. The way he looked at her made her want to gouge his eyes out. He didn't just want her as a queen. He wanted her as a trophy. Even Hades never looked upon her in such a demeaning manner. Once again, her desire to see her mother led her into the arms of a possessive god and she could do nothing about it. She only managed to spit on his shoes in disgust, giving him nothing but scorn for his deception.
It did little to dissuade Apollo. He just laughed and grinned as he let go of her face. She remained hopelessly paralyzed and unable to oppose his will. Her fate was already sealed. At this point, he needed only to seize his own.
"You'll come around. You and every other mortal in this world eventually will," he said as he rose up and left her to her helplessness. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a message to deliver to Ares. There will be no more interference. Now nothing and no one can change the fate of god and mortals!"
Tomb of Erebus – Five Minutes Ago
In every great myth, there came a point where those attempting to subvert the will of the gods made a critical error. They would let their emotions overwhelm them. They would trust those that would end up betraying them. They would even charge into battle ill-equipped and overwhelmed, seeking some measure of honor or glory or whatever lie they told themselves to avoid being called foolish. No matter what their error, the theme was always the same. Lowly mortals weren't supposed to oppose the will of the gods. However, no mortal in any such tale had the genius of Lex Luthor.
He was now a passive observer in the ongoing battle amongst the gods, the Amazons, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the newly-arrived Sons of Leuctra. He actually didn't expect so many participants, but their presence was inconsequential. Lex had actually hoped that Ares would somehow find a way to kill Wonder Woman to take her off the table. That might have been hoping for too much, but it didn't matter. Eventually, they would all fall.
'This is too easy…and boring for that matter. I hate it when brilliant plans require such careful timing. You can never rely unwitting pawns to stick to a schedule, even when those pawns are gods. But you can always count on being overlooked by those who believe they've already won.'
Lex made sure everyone assumed he was defeated. His spirit remained locked within the Annihilator Armor as he lay motionless at the base of the Tomb of Erebus. He could see Superman being restrained by the seal, the energy already flowing into him in an effort to break it. He could also see Wonder Woman and the Sons of Lecutra defending against the Amazons. But the most important sight for him was the sudden shift in the energy flowing through Superman on the seal. It clashed with what Ares had intended. Naturally, he had no idea where it was coming from. It put him in a better position than any mythical hero of old.
'You don't know it yet, Ares. But you've already lost. You lost before you ever stepped onto this battlefield. You and your fellow gods think you're the only ones capable of manipulating exotic energy. I want to be insulted, but that would only make this less satisfying than I intend.'
He kept on watching, noting Ares growing frustration at the energy now flowing into the seal. The God of War had yet to make a connection. He should've seen the signs, but he predictably failed.
After escorting the Amazons to the tomb, Ares ordered him to kill or subdue Wonder Woman until he unlocked the seal. Lex gave the impression that he would gladly do so and enjoy himself immensely in the process. He probably thought just being in a suit of armor that allowed him to slay powerful beings like her would be enough incentive. He was too content assuming Lex Luthor had failed him – a fatal assumption if ever there was one.
He still took quite a beating from Wonder Woman. The power of the armor urged him to finish her off. He probably could've if he desired, but Lex opted for a more strategic approach. The most important part of that strategy was to lead her to the tomb. This would begin the vital process of undermining Ares' battle plan. He would learn soon enough that, unlike the foolish men of old myths, Lex Luthor understood the vulnerabilities of those wielding god-like power. Their flaws made them more predictable than any mortal could hope to be.
The wait to begin the next step was agonizing. Finally, while Ares and Superman were yelling at each other about something, he noticed a small portal open near him. It was different from the portals Ares had been using in that this one gave of a yellowish hue, similar to the energy that was causing the God of War so much frustration. From this portal, Mercy Graves emerged holding the final key to his triumph.
"Hello Lex. I take it you're well-rested," she said to him.
"Quite," Lex replied with a smile. "How goes that little side-project of mine?"
"It's operating at full capacity. We've successfully hijacked the energy signature from the generators at Helion Solar. They have no idea we're overriding them."
"Of course they don't," he said with a touch of humor. "Keep the generators going for another 15 minutes. Then turn them off, destroy the facility, and guard my body at the hospital until I say otherwise."
"It will be done, sir. How will I know when you give me the word?" asked Mercy.
"Trust me. You'll know because the whole world will know."
She didn't ask for details. Mercy rarely cared for details. She would soon learn the extent of Lex Luthor's triumph over wannabe gods like everyone else.
"Then I guess the only thing left for me to do is give you this," she said.
Without saying another word, she presented Lex with the Dagger of Deimos. It seemed only fitting that the relic that began this messy affair would be the one that ended it.
"Time to finally enjoy the fruits of my genius," he said as he gripped the dagger. "Return to base, Mercy. I'll take it from here. These gods are so fond of seizing their fate. Let's find out how willing they are to accept it."
Mercy did as she was told, slipping back into the portal and disappearing from the site. As soon as he had it in hand, Lex carefully arose and got into position. He had every intention of making his inevitable triumph greater than any myth.
Tomb of Erebus – Now
"Errr! Luthor…you dare defy me?" said an enraged Ares.
"Yes Ares. I dare!" said Lex, driving the dagger in deeper to reinforce his point.
The God of War let out a pained gasp as the effect of the wound spread. Still paralyzed and shocked, the painful truth finally sank in. A mortal had wound a god and that mortal found a way to make that wound severe.
The gods of Olympus rarely experienced such pain. Being powerful and immortal, they had little reason to fear this kind of pain. It was the same pain that mortals experienced regularly and could do little to resist. Ares might have been the first one in centuries to endure it, but its effect went far beyond pain.
As he stood paralyzed and wounded, others took notice. Superman and Wonder Woman had been so focused on Ares that they didn't notice Luthor's presence until the dagger was in. This act seemed to settle the severe quakes rocking the area for a moment. This allowed the Amazons and the Sons of Leuctra to stop retreating and share in the God of War's surprise.
"What just happened? Who is that?" asked Hippolyta.
"Did he just kill Ares?" wondered King Agesilaus III in his shock.
"I don't know, but I suspect Ares wishes wish he were dead right now."
Neither the Amazons nor the Spartans could understand or appreciate what they were witnessing. They only saw some random soul within the Annihilator Armor turning against Ares. Like Ares, they thought he had been defeated. For Superman and Wonder Woman, who had dealt with Luthor's treachery on more than one occasion, they had a better idea of what they were in for. It didn't bode well for mortals or gods.
"Lex Luthor," said Superman with a mix of frustration and dismay. "You just have to find a way to exploit every crisis."
"Guess I didn't hit him enough," said Wonder Woman, sharing in his frustrations.
"Or…he let you hit him as much as he wanted," he said as he began piecing together the details.
"So I'll hit him some more!" she said, already clenching her fist.
"Wait!" said Superman, holding out his arm to stop her. "As hard as it is to believe, I have a feeling that'll make things even worse."
He then pointed towards the Tomb of Erebus so Wonder Woman could see what he had just notice. The energy that had been erupting from the Tomb of Erebus was still changing. The Gate of Eos above remained open and Apollo, whose face had since disappeared, could not close it. They could tell he was trying because the gate kept giving off erratic flares, which seemed the tear at the integrity of both their realms. But a much bigger change came as Ares grew weaker.
Due to the damage caused by the wound, Ares lost the energy he had been channeling since the tomb was unlocked. This caused him to shrink back to his normal size and wither, losing his imposing mass and demeanor. Once lost, this energy began flowing into the Annihilator Armor. And just as it had done with Ares, the armor started to grow in size and power. But unlike Ares, Lex Luthor knew how to make better use of it.
After watching Ares whither into a pathetically feeble form, Lex roughly ripped out the dagger and let the once imposing God of War fall ingloriously to the ground. The wound kept bleeding profusely, leaving behind a large cut with trails of yellowish energy stemming from it. Ares groaned in agony, clutching the wound and coughing up blood. Now standing over him, Luthor made sure Ares couldn't look away from the mortal that outwitted him.
"You feel that, Ares? That's what we mortals call pain and suffering. You probably knew that, but I doubt you ever gave it a second thought…or even a first," taunted Luthor.
"You think…you know suffering?" spat Ares, coughing up more blood.
"A superior mortal knows far more than an inferior god ever will. That's why you could never have seen this coming. You assume mortals are as at the mercy of their limitations while your fellow gods are doomed to your fate. You never think beyond those assumptions because you're too used to being vindicated by your power. Well now a mortal controls this power and he's going to use it in ways you've never dared!"
With Ares still watching on in his wounded state, Lex held up the Dagger of Deimos and channeled the energy from the Tomb of Erebus in an entirely new way. The massive fissures and cracks that had formed over the tomb spread, causing more of the mist-like energy to be released. Some went up through the beam leading to the Gate of Eos. The rest swirled around Lex Luthor's growing form, collecting around the tip of the dagger. Like an antenna, it drew the energy in. At times, it tried to resist. But whatever Luthor had done to hijack this energy, he made sure it couldn't escape.
Not willing to wait and see what he would do with this power, Superman and Wonder Woman took action.
"I remember that dagger. We have to get it away from him!" said Superman.
"Does it matter if we do it in a way that hurts?" asked Wonder Woman, already taking to the air.
"No."
They both attempted to fly in at high speeds and strike before Luthor gathered too much energy. However, he had already sensed them coming and let them know it was already too late.
He cast them a bemused glance as he directed some of the energy from the Tomb of Erebus towards them in the form of powerful bolts. Superman and Wonder Woman attempted to evade them, managing to fly around the first onslaught. They only managed to get within twenty feet of him before they were both struck by the second wave, inflicting a paralyzing shock that sent them crashing face-first into the ground.
"Aaagghhh!" they both cried out.
"Nice try, but you're not going to catch me off-guard this time," taunted Luthor. "I am not a renegade god or a misguided hero. I am a man who happens to be smarter and more capable than you'll ever be."
The sight of Superman and Wonder Woman falling after a single strike from Luthor horrified the Amazons and the Sons of Lecutra. Some still wanted to rush to their aid, but Hippolyta and King Agesilaus III waved them off. They were starting to grasp just how dire their battle had become.
"That man – he's really doing it. He's usurping the power of Erebus," said Hippolyta distantly. "Gods help us all."
"I don't think even they can help at this point," dreaded King Agesilaus III.
They could only watch as Lex Luthor continued to grow in size and power, drawing in more energy from Erebus by the second. At times, it was like the energy was crying out. This man was perverting it more than Ares had ever dared. But he didn't care. He just looked down on them in utter triumph.
Superman and Wonder Woman tried to fight off the sting, rising to their hands and knees. Ares remained too wounded. Now looking up at Lex Luthor as he channeled this power through the Annihilator Armor, they saw an enemy they had little chance of defeating.
"I could kill you all so easily. I could've even killed a god and let his corpse be the first testament to my power," boasted Luthor.
"A mistake…you'll regret," said Ares, still too weak to get up.
"I'm willing to take that chance to prove myself to man and god alike. I want you all to see what a truly superior being can do with this power you so blatantly misuse!"
"Is that what this is about Luthor? Using power to prove your superiority?" said a still sore Superman.
"Hardly," he scoffed. "I don't need to prove my superiority. I already am superior. What I do – I do to expose the hypocrisy of gods like Ares and beings like you, Superman. All that power and skill – what exactly did you do to earn it? You never had to fight for it. Just like these pathetic gods, you live apart from humanity while seeking to control their fate."
As Lex chastised him with his harsh words, a fresh round of tremors rocked the area around the Tomb of Erebus. It looked ready to crumble at any moment. At this point, Luthor had grown so big and channeled so much power that there was no stopping it.
"That's the worst part about beings like you. You're so eager to influence man, but you're never willing to share the fruits of your power. You always seek to stay above of us. Well guess what? That ends today! I am going to take this power and I'm going to bring it into the world you thought you were saving. I'm going to use it to reshape and rebuild it – not according to the will of false gods or aliens, but in accord with humanity's best interests."
"Don't you mean your best interests?" spat Wonder Woman.
"You keep forgetting that I am a man. I don't claim to be anything else. Who better to guide humanity into a new golden era – free of gods or aliens – than its greatest genius?"
It was tempting to assume that Lex Luthor had gone mad with power. That might actually make what he said less disturbing. But the most terrifying part of his tirade was that he sounded completely sane and completely in control.
He meant every word he said. He was prepared to wield the power of the gods to create the world he wanted. He didn't bother mentioning innocent people or whether those people even wanted to live in that world. He didn't even mention the kind of damage he would do with this power that even gods couldn't contain. It was safe to assume he didn't intend to let anything stop him. They had all passed the point of no return.
No longer concerning himself with the petty arguments of inferior minds, Lex Luthor looked up towards the Gate of Eos. The power he usurped from the gods was just stable enough to allow what he had planned. By now, the Annihilator Armor had grown to the size of a building. Still holding the dagger up to channel the power from Erebus, he made sure he stopped growing after a certain point. At that same point, the rest of the Tomb of Erebus collapsed.
"Time to begin my rightful ascension!" Lex proclaimed.
Another massive quake followed as the rocky mount collapsed like an erupting volcano. Superman, Wonder Woman, Ares, and everyone else near the tomb were blown back as a shockwave ripped through the air. The destruction of the tomb unleashed a blinding column of energy that briefly took a humanoid form. However, Lex continued to channel that energy, distorting the form and drawing it into the Annihilator Armor. From there, he projected it up into the Gate of Eos above.
This act turned the unstable portal into a gaping hole that undermined the very fabric of the space between the realms. But Lex didn't care. Nobody was going to convince him that he couldn't control this power. Nobody was going to stand in his way. With the power of gods and god-like forces at his disposal, Lex Luthor used this new power to levitate and ascend towards the Gate of Eos above. Knowing that the innocent people on the other side were woefully unprepared to deal with him, Superman and Wonder Woman had few choices.
"We have to…go after him," said Wonder Woman, shaking off the effects of the shockwave.
"With that kind of power…in that form…what are our chances?" wondered Superman as he looked up at the massive display.
"Does it matter?" she questioned.
"No. It doesn't."
The daunting power Luthor displayed did not dissuade them in the slightest. As the land around the ruins of the tomb became more unstable, they didn't have time to contemplate additional options. Despite their heads still ringing from the effects of the shockwave, Superman and Wonder Woman took off to go after Luthor. But before they got too far, the now-weakened Ares reached up and grabbed Superman's cape.
"Wait! Don't…fight him," he urged.
"I think we've heard enough of your advice, Ares," said Superman as he easily yanked his cape out of his hand.
"No…you don't…understand," said the God of War weakly. "The armor…don't…fight it."
It was hard to make out what he meant. Ares had no credibility whatsoever at this point. Wonder Woman even flew back to pull Superman away so he wouldn't be tempted to listen. Ares tried to say more, but more chaos soon erupted.
With the Tomb of Erebus now destroyed and Luthor ascending through the Gate of Eos, the defenses that once surrounded the area shattered and the armies Ares once controlled began pouring into the area. With the God of War now weakened, nothing was guiding them. They followed only chaos. That effectively drew them to the energy unleashed by Erebus and the Gate of Eos. Without Ares, they threatened to do even more damage.
"Looks like there's still plenty of fighting to go around," said Wonder Woman as she watched the undead armies descend upon the area. "Is this your doing Ares?"
"No. I am…no longer in control," admitted the God of War.
"They're going for the gate!" said Superman. "If they follow Luthor through…"
"They won't. Look!" said Wonder Woman, pointing out into the distance.
As dire as this situation had become, they were not alone in facing it. Both the Amazons and the Sons of Leuctra were still ready to fight. The quakes and shockwaves left them stunned, but it didn't affect their resolve.
"Looks like Ares' blunders keep adding up. Guess we'll have fix them," said King Agesilaus III, shaking off injury and fatigue to address his men. "Spartans, stand and defend the gate! Let none of these beasts pass into the world of man!"
"For Sparta!" they all replied in perfect harmony.
"The Amazons will do their part as well. We cannot let the blood from this war be on our hands," said Hippolyta, still standing by the Spartan King as she addressed her sisters. "Amazons, our code may say that we cannot fight alongside men. But in times like these, we must stand with fellow warriors. And we are warriors!"
Hippolyta might have lost her position as queen, but she was still a warrior. This time, she spoke with the spirit of a warrior. While some, like Aleka, still looked at her with suspicion, their warrior spirit left little room for doubt.
"We are warriors!" the Amazons replied.
Despite being vastly outnumbered and still quite shaken from everything they had experienced thus far, the Amazons and the Sons of Leuctra gathered their weapons and formed battle lines. For the first time in centuries, Amazons stood side-by-side with men in battle. Traditions of hatred and mistrust fell to the wayside as they stared down the charging hordes of beasts and undead. Being a man or a woman no longer mattered. For this fight, they were all warriors.
These battle lines, now under the command of Hippolyta and King Agesilaus III, stonewalled the incoming attack. They did not allow the beasts to pass and join Luthor in his reckless endeavor. As the battle began, Hippolyta looked back towards her daughter for a brief moment. In the distance, their eyes met. She could already sense how this battle was going to unfold. She could also sense how her daughter intended to fight it. Her first instinct was to tell her daughter to turn back and not fight this battle. However, those instincts had proven her wrong time and again. This time, she followed her heart.
"Go, my warrior princess," she said under her breath. "I believe in you. When this is over, I hope you'll be able to believe in me as well."
Wonder Woman got the message. Nothing needed to be said. She understood what her mother was doing. She was giving her and Superman a chance to take down Lex Luthor. They wouldn't have much time, but she had faith that they would make good use of it. And despite all the bitterness between them, she had no intention of letting her mother down.
"Think they'll be okay?" said Superman as he watched the battle unfold.
"They're warriors, Kal. They'll be fine," assured Wonder Woman. "Now let's go kick Lex Luthor's ass!"
"Diana, that might be the most romantic thing you've ever said to me."
The two lovers smiled, exchanging looks of strength to prepare them for the battle ahead. Like the Amazons and the Spartans, they had to stand together if they were to have any hope against this threat. Now holding hands, Superman and Wonder Woman ascended together towards the Gate of Eos and an uncertain fate.
Oblivion Prison
Behind the downfall of every great king was a much greater tragedy. The gods of Olympus had watched such tragedies play out time and again among mortals, with and without their intervention. There had been times of great discord and struggle, but they managed to avoid such a downfall, even after the mortals stopped worshipping them. What made their defeat at the hands of Ares so devastating was that it didn't take a great tragedy. It took only their desperation and arrogance. For Zeus, it was an inglorious way for his reign to end.
'Damn you, Ares. Damn you for being an insolent brat of a son. Everything I've built…the order I fought to maintain after all these centuries…destroyed in an instant by your petty war. You would desecrate the world of mortals and gods to instill your own order, yet you fail to demonstrate the lightest understanding of order. You will be the ruin of us all. I should make you regret your mistake for letting me live, but to what end? Is this our fate? Are gods and man destined to descend into chaos?'
These were thoughts that no god or titan had ever contemplated. For so long now, Zeus focused so intently on maintaining his rule and securing the order that kept their realm intact that his thoughts rarely deviated. Now, trapped in a prison at the hands of his own son, he could allow himself to contemplate these dire thoughts.
'I should've listened to the oracles. I should've listened to my own instinct. I could sense something amiss within the chaos, but I refused to accept that my own son could be so devious. I refused to accept that any of my fellow gods would be so devious. Perhaps my own father, Cronus, suspected the same. He believed his authority was strong and his order robust. How fitting is it that I make the same mistake?'
His thoughts frequently drifted between his son and his own father, Cronus. It seemed to be one of the many burdens that kings had to bear. Sons often felt entitled to the crown worn by their father. They often saw their fathers as inept, believing themselves to be the solution whatever problems their father had failed to solve. Their youth and their inexperience blinded them to any notion to the contrary. Even among immortals, the mistakes seemed unavoidable.
Now these mistakes may end up destroying more than Olympus. Ares could never see beyond the next battle. Zeus doubted he could see the damage he was doing to his realm, the realm of the mortals, and everything in between. He actually thought in his bloodlust that he could unlock the Tomb of Erebus and control the power it unleashed. He was dead wrong and he probably wouldn't realize that until it was too late. With so little standing in his way, the former King of the Gods could only dread the carnage his son would unleash. As far as he knew, only Diana was in a position to oppose him.
Once his thoughts drifted to Diana, Zeus' demeanor shifted. If there was a sliver of hope that someone could stop Ares, it lay with his daughter. She faced such overwhelming odds and such daunting forces, but he didn't doubt for a moment that she would fight. Of all the illegitimate children he had sired over the centuries, few embodied Diana's spirit. If there was any good to come from this chaos, it was her.
'Even if I am doomed by my mistakes, Diana will not be one of them. She will fight. She will find a way to survive. She will continue to embody the very best of what Olympus stands for. While I had to break my promise to Hera to bring her into this world, I will not face the consequences with regret. I just wish there was a way for me to do right by my children for once.'
This moment of clarity came too little too late for Zeus. He held his head low, lamenting the struggle that Diana had to endure by herself and without the aid of her father or the gods. He would never get a chance to explain to her why he did what he did, lying to her and her mother. Perhaps that was another burden that gods and kings had to bear.
Zeus' thoughts finally settled as he began accepting the fate he had wrought. It wouldn't be long now. Ares had probably already unlocked the Tomb of Erebus. Before long, he would realize the breadth of his mistake. Before long, there wouldn't be much left of this world or that of the mortals to undo that mistake. As a king and a father, he had failed.
"Forgive me, my children," said Zeus in a solemn tone. "I didn't just fail you. I failed us all."
"Really? It takes you this long to show a shred of humility?" said a crass, yet familiar voice.
The sound of that voice jolted the former King of Olympus from his thoughts. He thought his words would fall on deaf ears in this endless abyss. As he listened to the echoes of the voice, he felt his cell move until hit arrived at a portal where he confronted one the second to last person he wanted to see.
"Hera…just when I thought fate couldn't be any crueler," said Zeus with a mix of shock and dismay.
"Speak for yourself, dear husband," said Hera dryly. "I'm extremely tempted to just stand here and enjoy this. You being this helpless is a novel concept to say the least. And as much as I want to berate you for the next several centuries, we've got a situation with our son."
"Indeed we do," said Zeus, "But I was under the impression he locked you out. Ares made it a point to brag about exploiting your jealousy."
"He did and I fully intend to make him suffer for his bragging. Whether by fate or luck, I now have an opportunity. You can thank someone else who subverted our rules for that."
Hera stepped aside briefly to reveal who had helped her re-enter the realm. It was Hessia, an Amazon that both her sisters and Olympus had exiled for forbidden study of the mystic arts. She was back in her Amazon armor, showing no regrets for what she did. For once, Hera was actually glad that someone defied her.
"It is a privilege to be in your presence again, Lord Zeus," said Hessia, bowing respectfully.
"Don't give him more respect than he deserves, Hessia," said Hera dryly. "As far as I'm concerned, you're the least guilty participant in this unfolding catastrophe."
"I don't care what my role is. I came to Themyscira in hopes of assisting Diana. I had no idea it had gotten this bad already. But with Lady Hera's help, I was able to break the lock on the Gate of Tartarus."
"I'm glad you did. Can you use those same talents to release me from this prison? There may still be time to thwart Ares before he does too much damage!"
"Stop right there, dear husband. You're getting ahead of yourself at a time when you've precious little leverage," said Hera, holding Hessia back before Zeus could start giving orders. "Nobody's going anywhere until we address a few issues that we've been avoiding for the past several centuries or so."
Zeus frowned at his wife. He never tolerated her talking down to him like this. His first inclination was to yell at her as he had done for so long as king. He had to remind himself that he no longer wielded that authority. For once, Hera had all the leverage. It was an uncomfortable position, but one he couldn't avoid.
For a moment, Hera tried to enjoy this. Standing before her husband and seeing him trapped in this prison cell was so satisfying on a purely selfish level. For so long, Zeus had exercised his power with complete impunity and reckless abandon. He always kept her under his thumb, treating her as a subject more than a wife. For a moment, all his lies and acts of infidelity flashed before her eyes. Then she recalled what Superman had told her and she reminded herself why she chose this path.
"Let me make one thing clear – I don't have to free you," said Hera strongly. "I could just as easily have Hessia here free all the other gods that Ares imprisoned. Together, we could probably hold our own against Ares. We might even be able to take him down."
"And you could just let me rot in this prison for all eternity, regardless of the outcome. But if you were going to do that, you wouldn't be talking to me right now, would you?"
"Not like this, I wouldn't," she said bitterly. "Fortunately for you – and unfortunately for my chronic jealousy – I sobered up long enough to have a conversation with the man bedding your daughter."
"You almost sound proud when you say it like that," said Zeus.
"I don't get many chances to gloat so don't spoil this for me. While I doubt you would like anyone who captures the heart of your bastards, you would be wise to listen to men like Superman. He has the power of a god. He could easily stand beside us and hold his own. He could just as easily assert himself on the mortals, demanding worship and doing as he damn well pleases – just as we've done for so long. And yet, he doesn't."
"Are we supposed to admire that?"
"We don't have to admire it to learn from it. Our world might be very different compared to the mortal world. We do not always have the luxury of doing the right thing because it's rarely enough to instill order. At least, that's the excuse we've always told ourselves. At times, the entire foundation of Olympus is built on those excuses. We now know how weak that foundation was in the long run so if we're going to do anything to save Olympus, we need a different approach."
Hera finally stopped sounding so smug and vindictive. She now spoke to her husband in the most reasonable tone she had in centuries. It actually impressed Zeus somewhat, her looking beyond his many failures and speaking to him as a fellow god. For once, past bitterness would not cloud her judgment.
"I told Superman that he had no chance against Ares. I even told him Diana had probably failed already, but that might have just been my own personal bias talking," Hera continued.
"It might have been more than that, but I won't assume the details," said Zeus.
"But no matter what I told him, he kept insisting that he and Diana would find a way. He had no idea what he was up against. He had even less an idea of how powerful Ares had become. It still didn't matter. He went into battle anyways – not just to save the woman he loved, but to save the mortals who don't even worship him."
"And you admire his dedication to protecting those mortals?" questioned the former King of the Gods. "You never gave the impression you cared much for any mortals beyond the Amazons."
"Speak for yourself," she retorted. "It's not his dedication to protecting the innocent that struck me. It was his confidence – his faith that he could find a way. That more than anything sobered me up. It's a question we gods stopped asking long ago. Is there a better way? If so, are we incapable of finding it?"
These were profound questions that few gods contemplated. The whole concept felt uncomfortably mortal. For so long, the gods operated through power and authority. Zeus himself was the embodiment of this way. It might have helped him secure his rule, but that rule had been quite tenuous at times. He never even allowed himself to think that there might be another way. Now, in Olympus' darkest hour, they needed one.
However, finding this way meant making some uncomfortable choices that Hera hoped to avoid. Glaring at her selfish, unfaithful husband, she was so tempted to choose the path that would exact upon him the justice he had been immune from for so long. But that choice would come at a price and she had paid a high enough price for her selfish choices.
"What exactly are you suggesting, Hera? What are you asking of me?" asked Zeus intently.
"Probably the most unreasonable thing a scorned queen can ask of her arrogant king," she said, a touch of bitterness still lingering in her tone. "While I have many choices before me in battling Ares, fate still restricts those choices that give us the best chance. Like it or not, you are still the mightiest of the gods. You have the power to do more than just stop Ares. You might actually be able to undo the damage he inflicts."
"And you deem the latter more important than the former? That's an impressive assessment for a queen."
"Don't try to charm me, Zeus. It might work with all the mortal women you seduce, but it won't work with me."
"Your eyes beg to differ," he quipped.
"Then look me in the eye when I give to you a choice that will determine the future of mortals, gods, and the worlds they inhabit. If I were to free you, would you promise to find a way to stop Ares and save our worlds? A better way that involves more than exercising sheer power and authority?"
"You know I would gladly make such a promise to my queen. My only concern is…would you believe me if I did?"
"I don't know. That's why I'm still so damn tempted to let you rot here. So if there's anything at all that you could say to make me feel less disgusted by this choice, now is the time to say it. No more excuses. No more lies. Just be honest with me for once in your immortal life."
She kept glaring at him with those powerful eyes of hers. In them, Zeus saw so many emotions. Hera had centuries of hatred, jealousy, and anger influencing her whim. At the same time, he saw in her the same emotions that made her the Goddess of Womanhood.
Even after his many transgressions, Hera still embodied the greatest strengths of women. She was strong and passionate, yet focused and determined. These strengths were among the many reasons why he sought to make her his queen. It might not have been out of love, but Zeus still respected Hera in ways not afforded to other gods. Now she had to be more than a queen and he had to be more than a king. She had already chosen that path. Now he had to choose it as well and convince her that he was just as willing to make that choice.
"Hera…I know there's nothing I can say that will temper your resentment. This time, I have no excuses or decrees," said Zeus. "I have only regret for the pain my mistakes have wrought."
"I doubt you'll lose much sleep over your regrets so you'll have to do better than that," Hera scoffed.
"Then allow me to add some perspective on my latest regret – the one involving Hippolyta," he continued.
Now he had both Hera and Hessia's attention. This secret act of infidelity was what triggered this crisis in the first place. If ever Zeus had a reason for his transgressions, this was the time to make it good.
"What I did…I did for several reasons. Yes, my own selfish lust was a part of it. That much I will not deny," said Zeus.
"At least you're honest about it," muttered Hera. "I'm still plenty disgusted."
"But it was not the primary reason. After what happened between Hercules and the Amazons, I saw first-hand just how terribly I had failed as a father. Whether sired by mortals or gods, I could not produce an offspring that embodied all the traits Olympus would need for its next king."
"Next king?" said Hera with a raised eyebrow. "You actually considered letting someone else inherit the throne? Excuse me if I find that hard to believe."
"It's the truth. Do you think I want to spend eternity bearing the burdens of the crown? You know the prophecies of the oracles as much as I do. Kings that remain on the throne for too long eventually get usurped. More often than not, jealous sons will rise up. And the atrocities committed by Hercules and the sordid affairs carried out by Hades left me too disgusted to even contemplate passing on the crown. That's why I turned Olympus away from the world of mortals. That's why I became so focused on maintaining my rule. There was no one else who could stand in my place. Ask yourself, Hera – would we have stopped the chaos if someone like Ares or Hercules ascended to the throne?"
It was a disturbing thought, giving some of Zeus' points a begrudging bit of validity. As miserable as Hera was for so many centuries, she didn't doubt for a second that this misery would've been worse if Ares or Hercules had been king. As detestable a husband Zeus might have been, he did ensure a certain level of stability over the centuries. However, it still wasn't enough.
"At some point, I wanted to sire an offspring that could be stronger and more virtuous than any of us could ever hope to be," Zeus continued. "We are all tainted by our memories of the war against the Titans. Many more are tainted by the atrocities committed by my offspring. So when Hippolyta came along, praying for a child, I saw an opportunity to get it right."
"You had to know on some levels how much it was going to hurt me," Hera pointed out.
"You're right. I did. That's why I went to such great lengths to conceal the truth. That's why I gave her the story about forging her from clay. In Hippolyta, I saw a woman who strived to achieve the ideals that we gods so frequently negate. In many ways, she is a testament to your guidance, Hera. So much of what she became comes from you."
"You're still trying to charm me and it's still not working."
"It's still the truth. I know that Hippolyta would be the kind of mother who would instill those virtues. She would be untainted by the war against the Titans – untainted by the atrocities of Hercules. She could become the very best of everything the gods had to offer. And in many ways, she did. As we speak, she's fighting to save a world that has scorned and rejected her. She knows she will always be an outcast among her sisters. She knows she will never be truly mortal. But she does it anyways because she knows it to be right. Is that not something we can all admire and learn from?"
This detestable excuse for a king finally said something that resonated with Hera. That mention of her doing the right thing reminded her of the conversation she had with Superman. What Diana did and what Superman did was something far greater than any god or demigod had dared before. It inspired her to make this fateful choice that led her to confronting her husband like this. It made too much sense to be another one of her husband's many secrets. It made what he had to say much harder to discount.
"I'm under no illusions. I know that Diana may never aspire to be Queen of the Amazons, ruler of Olympus, or anything more than a great warrior," Zeus continued, "But her very existence is a testament to what we strive to be. And I still want to keep striving. I want to preserve Olympus and all the glory we've created. I know I do not deserve more chances. I also understand that I must find a new way to achieve what Diana has already achieved."
"And just how far are you willing to go if I gave you that chance?" asked Hera more seriously. "Would you still do what's necessary or would you be willing to do what's right?"
Zeus paused for another moment before answering that question, knowing Hera would not accept anything other than the honest truth. This time, despite his many inclinations to do otherwise, Zeus had no intention of succumbing to past fate.
"I don't think there's an answer to that question that would satisfy you, Hera," he said. "Being willing to do something has never been an issue for gods. We have to be willing to do more than just act."
"What more could we possibly do besides act?" she asked curiously.
"Sacrifice," Zeus answered strongly. "We've asked the mortals to sacrifice plenty over the centuries. The time has come for us to return the favor. And for the good of Olympus and the good of all we stand for, I am willing to sacrifice what I must to stop this chaos."
A heavy silence came over the two jaded spouses. Hera kept glaring at her husband, studying him in every conceivable manner. Old bitterness and newfound clarity clashed, leaving her conflicted. If she chose to release him, then what was to stop Zeus from exacting revenge on her and everyone else who had aided Ares? How could she possibly trust a man who had such an extensive history of lies and deceit?
At the same time, however, she thought back to what she saw in Diana and Kal-El. She once considered them foolish for having faith in others to do the right thing. It defied every godly instinct that she had. However, those same instincts helped create this crisis. If they were going to find a better way, then it had to start somewhere. It might as well be here.
Swallowing centuries of disgust and many lingering reservations, Hera turned to Hessia and nodded. The exiled Amazon was actually surprised by her choice, but she complied. Utilizing the same talents that helped her break the seal between realms, Hessia cast a spell that freed Zeus from his cell.
It remained tense as he stepped out and approached Hera. For a moment he just stared back at her. Then, in an act that surprised them both, Zeus affectionately caressed her face and smiled.
"You've just proven you're better than I could ever hope to be, Hera. Thank you," he said to her.
"Whatever," she replied, pretending it didn't strike an emotional chord with her. "It still doesn't make us even."
"No. It does not. We'll have plenty of time to discuss that later though. For now, we must act!" he said strongly.
"What do you need of us, Lord Zeus?" asked Hessia, still willing to contribute as much as an exiled Amazon could.
"For now, I need you do for the other gods as you did for me. Free them from this prison and lead them back to Olympus. They must reclaim it from Ares' forces."
"I doubt they'll need much motivation to do that," said Hera.
"But they will need guidance. That is why I am giving you provincial authority over this battle, Hera. We both agree we need to try another way. Now I'm giving you a chance to seek it."
Hera looked at him in disbelief for a moment. Zeus had never granted provincial authority to anybody, let alone her. But he was dead serious. He really was going to see this through, attempting to do the right thing for the right reasons for once.
"I uh…it will be done," Hera found herself saying.
"And I will help," said Hessia. "What about you?"
"I'm going after Ares," said Zeus, now speaking as the powerful god they knew him to be. "I'm going to stop my son and undo his madness. If he has unlocked the Tomb of Erebus, then I must be the one to contain it. We must all act quickly! With every second that passes, the sacrifice we're destined to make only grows."
Now free and determined, the King of the Gods flew through the portal leading out of the Oblivion Prison, leaving Hera and Hessia to do the rest. He could already sense the growing imbalance of forces consuming this realm and that of the mortals. Time was running out. The damage Ares had done was dangerously close to being permanent. He couldn't let that happen. He knew that if he could not confront this chaos in time, then his daughter surely would and he was not about to doom another one of his children to such a cruel fate.
New Mexico – Helion Solar Test Range
"Behold, my fellow man! A being truly worthy of worship!" proclaimed Lex Luthor as he emerged from the Gate of Eos.
The sun had finally risen over the New Mexico desert, illuminating for everyone the emergence of a new power greater than any false gods. When Lex stepped out from the Gate of Eos in the Annihilator Armor, it felt like he was ushering in a new world where man had no need for gods and aliens. Between the power generated by the Cerberus Generators and the power he usurped from Erebus, nothing could stop him.
After fully emerging from the gate, Lex stood in the center of the test range and just soaked in this new power. He could hear the Cerberus Generators humming. He could feel the Gate of Eos growing unstable from his manipulations. It all came together in a moment of genius that outwitted the gods and the forces they claimed to control. It was a satisfying, but incomplete moment. Gaining this power was just the first step. Putting it to good use, giving mankind something truly worthy of worship, would be a far more fruitful endeavor.
This promised to be the easy part. Now standing as tall as an office building, Lex had every intention of demonstrating his power to his fellow man. He could already feel the eyes of those present at the test range looking up in awe. They were the lucky ones. They were the first to admire his genius, but they would be by no means the last.
"So this is what it feels like to be a god among men," he laughed. "I must say, it's not nearly as invigorating as I thought."
"Then maybe you'll enjoy feeling like a corpse instead!" yelled a booming voice.
Lex rolled his eyes within the armor as he saw Apollo emerge from one of the main hangers, blowing through the heavy doors with a devastating beam of light. It would've been a much more impressive display of power if it hadn't come from such a feeble excuse for a god.
Apollo was so enraged that he barely noticed the imposing size and overwhelming power of the Annihilator Amor. He was still processing what this pestilent mortal had just done. He didn't just hijack his whole operation on this site. He hijacked the power of Erebus. This was an affront to him and every god on Olympus. He could not let it stand.
Now surrounded in a massive halo of light, Apollo hovered a few hundred feet in the air, giving off the energy of a miniature sun. It filled nearly the entire test range with blinding light and he prepared to direct it at only one source.
"You think you know the power of a god? You will burn for your arrogance!" roared Apollo.
"Speak for yourself," said Lex curtly.
The God of Light unleashed the full force of his power against the Annihilator Armor. When it hit, it struck with the force of solar flare. Lex guarded the head of the armor with his arms, absorbing and deflecting the energy. He could feel it pressing down on him with the weight of a mountain, but it did little more than annoy him.
"You must be, Mr. Disole. Or do you prefer Apollo now?" taunted Luthor in the midst of the onslaught. "I have a message from Ares that you might want to hear."
Apollo only responded with an angry grunt before channeling more power into his blast. The forces unleashed were great. At one point, Luthor had to dig in his heels to keep himself from being pushed back too far. Parts of the concrete where he was standing actually started to liquefy. It was an impressive show of power to a lesser mind, but Lex Luthor was by no means a lesser mind.
He began pushing back, intent on delivering this message. Armed with a power greater than any god, he stammered forward through the massive beam of energy, braving it as though it were a powerful wind. Apollo tried in vain to increase the power, so much so that he began straining himself. But he refused to back down, as was to be expected of a false god. When Luthor finally got close enough, he actually saw a hint of fear in this powerful being's eyes. That fear turned to utter dread when he reached out and grasped Apollo in his hand, effectively ending his attack and snuffing out the light surrounding him.
"Ungh!" Apollo exclaimed. "Unhand me…mortal."
"You say that word as though it were an insult. Is mortality really so demeaning? Why mankind ever worshipped beings like you is pathetic," scoffed Luthor.
"You…will suffer…for your crimes," spat Apollo.
"You know, Ares told me the same thing – albeit with different words. That's why this message I have to give is so important. And for once, you're going to listen like the inferior power you are."
He then squeezed Apollo within his grasp, causing him to groan in a pain he had likely never experienced before. Lex tried not to enjoy it too much. He needed Apollo to be coherent enough to hear what he had to say.
"Being mortal means we must earn whatever power we obtain. Gods like you and Ares – you've never had to earn anything. You just take it and nothing can stop you…until now that is. Ares just found out what happens when a mortal with a superior intellect goes up against a god with superior strength. In the end, it reveals just how underserved your divinity truly is."
To help reinforce his message, Lex roughly slammed Apollo into the hard concrete below. This time he allowed himself to enjoy it. Being able to seriously hurt a god brought out a special kind of satisfaction. He could've probably crushed him like a bug and made him the first victim of his new reign, but that would be too merciful. After making sure he was in sufficient discomfort, Luthor picked him up again, holding him only by his arms as Apollo now hung limp and weak in his grasp.
"Hnn…" was all he could get out.
"You gods will never appreciate your power, nor will you ever do anything meaningful with it. You'll only ever hoard it for your own selfish ends. Well that ends today! Lex Luthor is going to usher in a new era for man and god alike. And since I've made my message so abundantly clear to you, why don't you share it with the rest of your phony gods?"
Now confident Apollo would convey this sentiment to every other false gods, Luthor threw him into the Gate of Eos with enough force to ensure he would be in a great deal of discomfort when he landed. It was among the last loose ends, disposing of the petty rivalry between these phony gods. It wouldn't be much longer now before no being, god or otherwise, could stand in his way.
Still standing before the Gate of Eos and clutching the Dagger of Deimos, Luthor continued to absorb more power. The gate remained unstable, but it kept channeling the energy from Erebus through the dagger. It continued to fight him, but it could not defy him any more than false gods could defy him. As it flowed into him, he sensed a growing connection to the forces between realms. The energies between world of Olympus and the world of mortals converged through him, ensuring his dominance over both.
"Yes! Come to me, Erebus. Stop resisting!" said Luthor intently. "I can feel the web of forces that bind our realms. It's like gaining countless new limbs, each governed by my will. The armies, energies, and powers these false gods once wielded – I'll bet they never wielded anything like this! This world and theirs will be mine to reshape. Soon, nothing will stand in my way!"
"Don't be so sure about, Luthor," said a determined voice from within the portal.
Lex instantly recognized it, but didn't have a chance to react when Superman and Wonder Woman came flying through the Gate of Eos at high speeds. Together, they flew in and struck him simultaneously in the head, hitting with the force of a small meteor. While it was not devastating, it was enough to knock him off balance and disrupt his moment of triumph.
Superman and Wonder Woman made sure to put some distance between him and the gate. They didn't fully understand Luthor's methods, but they knew his endgame. Knowing the fate of two realms lay in the balance, they prepared to face this man despite his overwhelming size and power.
"I hope that hurt," said Wonder Woman, already clenching her fists in anticipation.
"Me too, but we're probably going to need a lot more than that," said Superman.
"So we'll hit him again. He might be oversized, overpowered, and overconfident – but we still have the most important advantage."
"And what's that?"
"Each other," she answered.
"You sure that's going to be enough?"
"We have others, but that will be the most important if we're to get through this."
The two lovers exchanged smiled, ready to stand by one another for the coming battle. They came together by an accident of fate. They built their love from difficult choices and powerful passions. Now fate and choice had led them to this moment where they had to share the burdens of their struggles and trust one another to fight with all their heart. Knowing the fight ahead of them test and strain them in every conceivable way, Superman and Wonder Woman prepared to face this battle together.
Up next: Pain and Sacrifice