Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel or DC

This chapter, we see the true origin of Karabai, the appearance of the main villains of Time Runs out and more from Virgil's reality hopping team.

The Redeemer

Chapter 20: Last days of a universe

Earth-Designation Merged-A great number of years ago

By day he was Clark Kent, a farmer and a man who lived a simple life in Smallvile, but the overalls and messy hair hid whom he truly was. Day and night, whenever he was needed, Kal-El soared the skies of his Earth as the greatest super hero who ever lived. A founding member of the Vengeance league and the inheritor of the shield of Captain America. Superman was the very embodiment of good in a world where evil could reveal itself from anywhere. It had come from underground in the form of the Moleman, it had come from beneath the ocean when Namor warred with Aquaman for control of Atlantis and it came from the stars when the likes of the Skrull, Darkseid, Thanos and Galactus and Brainiac tried to claim Earth as their own. But each and every time Superman had been there to lead the charge. Today was a day for his and every other costumed crime fighters achievements to be recognised.

All of Metropolis cheered as they watched their hero fly through the clouds. His red cape flapped with the wind, the shield on his right hand shined and his family shield was visible in the middle of the American star on his chest. The belly of his costume had red and white colours and his hands and feet were covered by red gloves and boots. Superman landed on a pedestal and smiled at the gathered crowd. Reporters from the Daily Planet had assembled, including his very own wife Lois Lane. New York had sent Ben Urich from the Daily Bugle and officials such as Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the secretary of defence Lana Lang also gathered with their attendants. But above them all, the men and women Superman was proud to call family were the members of the super human and mutant community.

The members of the Vengeance League included the founders and reserves and recruits whom had expanded the league since its inception. There was Zatanna, sorceress Supreme, clad in her white and blue super hero costume, complete with her cloak of levitation. Iron Man, billionaire Tony Stark, wearing his classic red and gold armour. Fitting considering he'd recently broken up with Zatanna and was in the process of courting Black Canary, much to Green Arrow's chagrin. Clark saw the smirk on the blonde beauties face and Tony wasn't that shallow, they were doing it to confirm if Oliver's interest in her was genuine. Next to Canary, always casting a look at her stockings was Quicksilver, the blue and white clad speedster of the team. He was quickly chided by his sister Scarlet Witch. Hovering above them were the Green Lanterns, John Stewart in his customised gloveless Lantern uniform, Kyle Rayner in his traditional uniform with the white gloves and his customised mask. Their predecessor Lanterns were also present, Carol Danvers in the Lantern uniform, but with black gloves and exposed thighs and a scarf hanging across her back. Matt Murdock however was the first Green Lantern of Earth, often called Daredevil because his green and black costume had a devil motive.

Thor stood for once with mortals, beside his lover and fellow warrior Wonder Woman. The Hulk stood with the outcasts who had proven themselves time and time again, androids Vision and Red Tornardo, aliens Martian Manhunter and Captain Mar-Vell and lab accidents Metamorpho and Blue Devil. A cadre of the greatest super hero scientists also stood together, including Scott Lang the Ant-man, Ray Palmer the Atom, Dr Magnus and his Metal men and Reed Richards and his family in the fantastic four. Young heroes of the Teen Titans stood side by side, smiling because they stood with their mentors and inspirations. They included Spider-man, Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, Beast Boy, Nova, Wonder Girl, Firestar, Justice, Jericho, Kole, Speedball and Jewel. Even those whom had at one time been misunderstood and feared stood together, Professor Xavier bought both mutants and metahumans together in his X-patrol.

"People of America, of Earth, I stand before you today humbled by your generosity and remembrance," Superman said, motioning to the statue in the centre of the city.

It stood as a monument to the first generation of wonders, both World War Two and the eighties. Captain America stood with his team mates in the Invaders, alongside the team mates he made in the Justice Society after he had awoken from his time on ice. They included the first Flash Jay Garrick, the Lantern Alan Scott, Ant-man and Wasp, Hellcat and Batman. All had sadly passed from this world, but Superman remembered them all everyday and he was glad the entire world did as well.

"But today, the fight for justice gets bigger," Superman said, smiling at the shocked expressions on the faces of all those present. "We've made our Earth a better place, of that I have no doubt, but we know we can do more. We can make the League mean more, so we'll spread to the stars and beyond. A few days ago we discovered that our existence is not the only existence there is, there is not just a universe of worlds out there, but a multiverse," Superman raised his arms as he spoke, and a holographic ring of planet Earths appeared in the sky.

"That is how it all started isn't it Kal-El? The end of your world?"

Onyx walked around Karabai, otherwise known as Kal-El. His guards, aliens empowered by the fraternity of raptor crystals, all stood their ground. Kal however knew they wouldn't stand a chance against Onyx. They were not his bodyguards, to have a bodyguard implied that you were too weak to defend yourself. Karabai was far from weak, he had created an empire through the fear his raw power gave. He began with what little Kryptonian technology he had been able to take with him from his destroyed universe and expanded his resources with every world he took. In terms of raw power, Onyx could only get Kal-El to fight at his best, at least as he was now. Yet Onyx wasn't afraid of the Kryptonian, for he was slowly becoming something greater than what Kal had even been as Superman. He was becoming the embodiment of darkness itself.

"You opened a door you didn't know how to close, without thinking you would let something else in, something from beyond," Onyx said.

"You, you finally show yourself, after all these years," Kal-El grit his teeth together as he stepped away from his throne. "After marooning me on this world, after devastating mine," his eyes glowed red.

"YOU MAROONED YOURSELF!" Onyx yelled.

His helmet covered his head and a black smoke gushed out of his visor. It forced Kal-El to step back, whilst it covered the guards and began to eat at their skin. Their screams echoed through the throne room before dying out, leaving only skeletal remains that plunked at Kal-El's feet.

"When it came down to a choice between saving what was left of your adopted home world, the home world where you had been raised, where your friends lived, where you fell in love and married...you abandoned them for small pieces of Krypton. I did nothing that you hadn't already done Kal-El, your suffering is of your own doing and the suffering we cause ourselves is the worst kind," the echo effect of Onyx's helmet was even more haunting than Brainiac's voice.

Kal-El had pictured it every day, meeting Onyx again, imagining what he would do. But instead he was paralysed by fear and confusion. He was confused because Onyx was not on his level. True he had the power to dominate the rest of the league and his world's Avengers, but against a Kryptonian, Aeon had never been his physical match. Which was why it all the more confusing to see Onyx so confident, to have been beaten by his 'good' half Aeon. That humiliation was still fresh on Kal-El's mind.

"What do you know about the Beyonders?" Kal-El asked, his frown fading slightly as he looked towards Onyx.

"They fancy themselves gods, the creators of all things, but that is a lie they tell others and themselves, a lie all 'gods' tell themselves. Kryptonians believe that Rao is the creator, the Asgardians and Olympians believe themselves to be true gods and they try to convince the world of it. The Celestials and the Builders shape and create life in different universes, but being god is more than simply creating life, all women could be called god if so. There is truth to the Christian and Muslim beliefs of their being only one god and it, not he is all around us," Onyx raised his arms on the spot, turning as if to emphasize his point. "The god we pray for is existence itself, this chaotic and unplanned world, this grand accident of existence is the miracle and the god and each time we act we are placing tribute to it. This world is both our creator and our puppet, we shape it and create a new possibility with every choice we make and action we take. That is god!"

"Is this what you came here to discuss with me? Your beliefs on god? Are you trying to make me abandon my belief in Rao, the universes belief in higher powers?"

"I am trying to illustrate a point, that god and miracles lie in every corner of existence, you just have to look and believe correctly. Unlike you however I won't conquer because a person's beliefs do not match mine. I will destroy, I will torture and I will push both the best and worse out of people unlike you whom inspired only fear and bought death to your people," Onyx said.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW!" Kal-El yelled.

Onyx suddenly appeared behind Kal-El, suddenly turning into a brown haired, pregnant woman.

"Lois," the Kryptonian gasped.

"You lost your family, killed them yourself because you allowed fear to dictate your actions," Onyx suddenly turned into Batman, shoving Kal onto his throne. "I mean come on, Joker is a lot of things but Doomsday, how the hell would he get Doomsday to work with him," he shifted into a shape that made Kal stand in anger, Joker. "I'm a genius but I'm not that resourceful, you just went in guns blazing, or arms swinging in your case, didn't think about the situation, should have left it to Batsy!"

"SHUT UP!" the Kryptonian roared, grabbing Onyx by his neck and shoving him against the wall.

"Your world was a variation of one where a great injustice was performed, you crossed a line you said time and time again you wouldn't cross," Onyx raised his hand, placing it on Kal-El's face as he turned into Wonder Woman.

"You were so desperate to not let it happen again, or I at least hoped so, in truth you were just angry with the world, and I foolishly tried to manipulate that anger," Wonder Woman lowered her head before she turned into Onyx.

"Admit it 'Superman', there came a point when you knew you weren't fighting for peace anymore, at what point was it?"

He cycled through various forms, Nightwing, Green Arrow, Atom, Martian Manhunter, Kyle Rayner, John Stewart, Black Canary, Guy Gardner, Rag-man, Huntress, Renee Montoya, Lex Luthor and Shazam.

"At which point did you admit to it Kal, at which point did you admit that you were wrong, that what you were fighting for was your anger with the world? Was it when another Earth appeared in your sky?"

"YES!" Kal-El yelled. "Yes, that's when I realised I had been wrong, when I saw true heroism, when I saw you!"

"Or at least my counterpart, he prevented the collision the only way he could, compromising only one life, his own," Onyx looked at his hands as his helmet faded. "The ability to fuse with organic beings, he fused with the biggest in the galaxy, his own planet. He stopped the very first incursion, and you were inspired by it. In much the same way as another version of you is being inspired right now!"

Earth 9117 (orbit)

The end of days was upon them and yet they still fought. Kal-El looked down at the fight happening on his Earth. This 'sorcerer supreme' Doom fired blasts of energy at Iron Patriot and the two new arrivals. Like the patriot the position of their hearts had been reversed, as if they had stepped out of a mirror. It was noticeable only by the natives of universes, to Virgil he was still using his right hand. He jumped up and punched Doom, knocking off his face plate to reveal...

"You didn't screw up your experiment in this world I see," Virgil said.

"He just still had an obsession with iron masks," Kid Flash grinned, remembering what Virgil told him about his universe's Doctor Doom.

Iron Patriot hit Doom with a repulsor blast, knocking him against the wall.

"I don't know who you people are but do not interfere with my mission," Iron Patriot said.

"We're not here to stop you Captain Rogers, we're here to help you," Virgil said.

"Fools, the doom of this universe cannot be prevented," Doom said before he disappeared.

"Wow, does he often use the term doom when he talks?" Kid Flash asked.

"(sigh) constantly," Steve and Virgil said.

There they were, fighting what many would consider a hopeless and impossible battle. Yet still they fought, even with the whole world seemingly set against them. It vexed Kal-El, vexed and inspired him. He didn't know what it was to be courageous, for he was one of the most powerful beings on the planet. It was difficult to be courageous when you were the strongest fighter in the yard. But his eyes focused on Virgil as he moved through crowds of League soldiers, fighting only with his fists and whatever gadgets he had bought with him. He was like Batman, an ordinary man, except he was fighting for a good cause, or at least Kal got that impression when watching him. When the battle was done, Virgil was left with the Patriot whilst Kid Flash ran in the opposite direction.

"Who are you people?" Rogers asked.

"Reality hoppers," Virgil said.

The blunt statement shocked both the cyborg and the Kryptonian.

"We're here to stop both Earth's from colliding without wiping out the entire populace. But to do that we're going to need some of the greatest scientific minds on two Earths working together, and something being kept out of our grasp, but the only way we can do that is if you help us Captain Rogers, you too Kal-El," Virgil explained, looking up at the sky.

Again Kal-El was shocked, for Virgil was looking up directly at him. He wondered what on Earth the boy would want his help for. He looked towards the other Earth, seeing the woman bearing his symbol fighting on despite being out numbered. It was chaos, such uncontrollable chaos that it seemed difficult to see a positive end. Yet still these 'heroes' fought on, through their wounds, through the pain of so much bloodshed around them. The fight was futile and the end was inevitable, yet still they fought.

"Wow, it always amazes me how Waynes have so much money to spend," he heard Kid Flash speak in the distance.

He looked towards the speedster, watching as the yellow and red streak ran through a building, beating down guards before they could even react. The young man's speed was slowly improving, something that came as a welcome surprise to him. When Kid Flash reached a door, he vibrated the molecules and caused it to explode. Then he ran out of the building, carrying a blonde haired woman with him. Kal-El recognised her as the leader of the resistance, Moira Queen, the daughter of Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak.

"Got one boss, I'm going to get another one," Kid Flash grinned, leaving Moira at Virgil's feet.

"Who are you?" Moira asked.

"I'm..."

"Got Silas Stone too from an outpost the guards will be on their way so a slight delay," Kid Flash appeared and then ran off again.

Virgil sighed slightly as Silas Stone asked him the same question again. As Virgil began to explain his origins and his plan, Kid Flash ran through the streets. He blew the top off of a hydrant, hitting a patrol of guards with a jet of water. Ninjas from the league rappelled off of the roof tops, but their lines were quickly cut by Kid Flash. The hero however didn't let them fall, creating wind funnels with his hands to slow their falls. His speed made him the ultimate hit and run fighter, striking through league soldiers before they could attack. He grabbed a fire hose and wrapped it around a total of sixteen men before he cranked the water up. The hose waved around, hitting other soldiers, whilst the jets of water knocked ninjas from the buildings they climbed off of. Kid Flash slid underneath the hose and made a beeline for one of Damian's most secure and supposedly unbreakable buildings. It was where he was keeping his final prisoner.

"This plan of yours, its filled with too many holes, too many things that can go wrong," Steve Rogers stated, already disapproving of Virgil's actions.

"It can work, we just need the right minds working together to figure it out, as well as Kal-El's approval, but to get to the fortress we'll need to get past the army that's stationed there. To do that we're going to need some help from the Atlantean army, Silas you're an expert on sonic communication, Iron Patriot's armour has sonics on it, if you can translate the message I've planned out into Morse code and relay it through Patriot's sonic cannon then we'll be able to draw Aquaman's attention," Virgil explained.

"I worked with Aquaman to get citizens who didn't agree with Wayne into Atlantis, that's why I'm here, to help negotiate and convince him," Moira said.

"Yeah, but I understand you'll want to call your fellow rebels first, the only problem with that is that it would take time to rally them, time we need to spend getting people to the fortress."

"I understand but whose this final mind you're getting?" Silas asked.

"If Kid Flash's speed is intact then I'm betting just about..."

"TA DA! Moira Queen, Silas Stone, let me introduce you to the last part of our brain trust," Kid Flash said as he removed his prisoner's hood. "Lex Luthor!"

Earth Designate-Merged-the past

They were away from the cameras, so Superman and Wonder Woman didn't need to act like the people they used to be. The Amazon removed her Asgardian styled crown as she joined the rest of Superman's inner circle, his Illuminati. Tony Stark stood with his helmet off, alongside Reed Richards, Hank McCoy in his human form, Bruce Banner as Doc Green and Black Bolt, all from the Marvel universe. From Superman and Wonder Woman's universe stood Sinestro of the Green Lantern Corps, Raven and Cyborg of the Titans and Billy Batson AKA Marvel-Prime, dressed in a fusion of his Captain Marvel and the hero Prime's costumes.

"Fine speech, the internet is abuzz with reactions to our latest controversy," Tony said.

"It's understandable, they've just discovered that we're not alone in the universe," Doc Green said.

"Humanity was never alone," Sinestro commented.

Black Bolt raised his hand and gestured to two chambers in the corner.

"He's right, it's time we disposed of our last obstacles," Raven said.

"That's a little harsh, isn't it?" Billy asked, looking to Superman.

"We should hear what they have to say first," Reed said.

The Illuminati turned to their prisoners. Inside two glass chambers were the greatest obstacles to both groups rise. Of the Marvel universe was the aged Steven Rogers, whom led a manhunt for the Illuminati when he discovered their plans concerning the collision. From Superman's Earth was someone he considered his best friend, Batman, the leader of the rebellion against the Kryptonian's regime. Both men looked like far cries from the great heroes they were, Rogers wore a ripped version of his director's uniform and Bruce no longer wore his cowl or gloves, his suit and armour had been wrecked and his utility belt was missing.

"I'm sorry Bruce, Steve, you're both dead to the world now, but you died as heroes, they've fully come to accept that as the reality they live in," Superman explained.

"Well we do live in a crazy world, who's to say dead is dead now, you two can always come back. Kal-El can get rid of this ugly hybrid uniform (no offence) and you can go back to being Captain America Steve, Gotham's still here, it's more peaceful than ever, it won't even need a Batman. Just a Bruce Wayne to run a company, or you can retire to some tropical island, I was thinking of retiring myself." Tony added.

Both men remained silent.

"I remember what happened before but that was another world right? We shouldn't be blamed because of what happened there cause those events no longer exist right?" Billy asked.

"If anything this world is better, Sinestro's in charge of the Corps, I'm now in control of the green and best of all neither Earth was destroyed, we didn't have to cross the line both of you argued against, so why are you both so damn stubborn?" Doc Green inquired.

Again they remained silent.

"We are at peace now, you both have fought long and hard and honourably, you could both be rewarded for that," Diana said.

"Or are you both so consumed by your warrior's spirits that you crave a war?" Sinestro asked.

Both men looked up at Superman, glares fixed across their faces.

"We remember it Clark, it happened," Bruce snarled.

"The fact that you were willing to lock us away, to hide the truth is proof that you're not the heroes the past of this world says you are," Steve said.

Superman squeezed his hands into fists, his eyes glowing red as he looked at his old friend.

"Why do you have to be so damn self righteous? We've been given a chance here to spread this peace beyond our world, isn't that what Aeon wanted in the first place, for the fighting to stop?" he asked.

"He wanted all of us to stop fighting, to settle and live in a world he literally gave his life to create. I admit I was wrong to jump into a fight with you," Steve looked at Tony as he spoke. "But I refuse to admit that you were right, that you were in some way exempt from any responsibility or punishment for what you planned to do once the collisions started. That goes to you too Reed, you laugh and look at your family now as if nothing happened, is that what you're going to teach Franklin and Valeria, to ignore the sacrifices made for them, to ignore heroes like Aeon?"

"Heroes, that what the world called us once, but as things got rougher we started making compromise after compromise, excuse after excuse, justification after justification, and then it became easy to cross the lines once upon a time we told ourselves we wouldn't cross. We stopped being symbols and started thinking about results, we cared only for our own world and not others. You may want to forget what you did to keep our world spinning, the hundreds of Shiar ships you destroyed, the people who started dying when the collision began."

"They all came back when Aeon..." Reed stopped his retort as his phone began to ring.

"Is that Sue or Ben? Have their memories awakened yet?" Steve asked.

"Only those whom were at the incursion point have any knowledge of what happened," Diana said.

"And how long before Barry and Hal awaken their memories, how long before the Avengers who were present at the incursion point remember?" Bruce asked.

"They won't remember, because we did what we had to, to keep them from remembering, didn't we Raven?" Cyborg turned to his fellow Titan as he spoke.

"No one will remember, but above all no one will care," Raven said.

"Hey, that's too harsh, Aeon made a sacrifice that none of us were willing to make," Billy said.

"Only because none of us had the power to, if I could change what had happened, if I could put myself in his place I would without a second thought but I can't and I have to live with that," Reed explained.

"Is that so? Well too bad Sven Reilly junior never got to see his father, too bad he has to grow up without his idol, his hero," Batman said.

"It's useless talking to you both, but you'll both see, you'll see the benefit of what we're doing, bringing this peace to the Multiverse," Superman explained.

"Don't any of you see, you are the villains here, none of you will ever be heroes again because you haven't taken responsibility for your failures, for the evil things you've done. Right now you're all people covering up the unpleasant details of your past, you think this will honour Aeon's sacrifice?" Bruce asked.

"It's spitting on it," Steve said.

Superman turned away from the two heroes, leaving them to yell their curses and disapproval at his retreating form.

Present

"My son, the child Faith and I would have had if she hadn't died," Onyx gazed longingly at the image of a brown haired boy.

"How ironic, I get a world with my wife and child back, and you lose yours, or at least your counterpart did," Karabai said.

"Only because he gave his life to save yours, they still existed in your timeline, before the Beyonders came," Onyx shook his head and turned to the window of space. "They are out there, forcing their will on other worlds, simply because they believe whole heartedly that they are the creators of everything. But in traversing the multiverse I saw what was the beginning, I saw the true creation of the infinite worlds, every choice being made every day results in the creation of a new Earth, a new universe, new possibilities," he squeezed his hand into a fist and put his helmet over his face. "NO MORE!"

The embodiment of evil released a blast from his eyes. With the ferocity of the sun it ripped the bridge open. But instead of flying into space it flew into a portal created by Onyx. Fire and energy then flew out of the portal, signalling the end of another Earth. Onyx's muscles tensed and he shivered, as if he had taken some kind of drug. Then he turned to Kal-El and grabbed him by his neck. Dark energy surrounded the two beings and they were suddenly flung out of the universe and into the gap. Onyx shoved Kal-El aside, sending him floating into a battle between the Celestials and the Beyonders. He shielded his body as the beams flew towards him. But the energy passed through him and Kal-El realised that they were not truly taking part in the battle between the wannabe gods. They were spectators, but fighting their own battle as well. The Kryptonian attempted to unleash the full power of his heat vision, but the embodiment was already behind him.

"Witness the results of your arrogance!"

He grabbed Kal-El's forehead, causing the Kryptonian to yell in agony as black flames branded his head. But the agony he felt was not just physical, he was exposed to every happy moment he had ever experienced, and every failure he had suffered. He spent time with his parents again, then experienced the disappointment and fear in their eyes when he stopped being their son. Again he married his wife and discovered her pregnancy, and again he watched both die. He shook hands with Bruce, then broke his back, patted Billy on the shoulder, then lobotomised him. His life seemed to be filled with an equal balance of good and bad deeds, but all of the bad erased the good. Onyx seemed to be fuelled by both his own personal suffering and the suffering he had wrought.

"Witness again the day your Earth was DESTROYED!"

Earth-Designation merged-the final day

The last Incursion point on both worlds had been Dinosaur Island and the Savage Land. Both areas had been merged into Savage island. Ka-Zar and Shanna welcomed Kal-El and the league onto the island, for in this world's past their land had been liberated from Sinister's control by Superman. The members of Superman's assembled army waited Richards and Stark, and the other members of their science team made their final adjustments to their portal device. There was a second reason for the team being there, they believed it would be the safest place to use the portal if something came through the portal from the other side.

"Are you okay dad?" Valeria Richards asked Reed.

"Of course Valeria, I just didn't get a lot of sleep last night," Reed said.

Superman traded a look with Reed, he knew why the man was so distracted. Steve and Bruce had gotten to him, Reed wasn't like Tony whom had no family to appeal to his heart. If Reed did compromise the experiment in some way, Clark was willing to get rid of Reed if he was going to stand against him. It never occurred to him that Reed may have been right to have doubts.

"We're standing on the precipice of the most important moment of our history, the space race has nothing on this, the day we make peace in other worlds," Superman explained.

The gathered heroes all listened, he was after all the greatest of the icons. But there was still doubt, even from the likes of Shazam and Doc Green. Reed didn't dare to turn the device on himself, looking at his daughter and making the conflict within him very clear. Valeria knew her father hid something and she knew he felt threatened by Superman. Kal-El however wasn't going to allow himself to be denied. He stepped towards the machine and pushed the activation switch. The machine tilted its barrel, aiming towards the sky. Then it fired, releasing abeam that covered the clouds over Savage island. A ring appeared in the sky, showing not another Earth but a pure white space.

"What do the readings say?" Iron man asked Richards.

"We monitored other Earths before, but this one, it's supposed to be a world occupied by something called the Crime Syndicate, but it's not where it should be," Reed explained.

Superman narrowed his eyes at the portal, using his enhanced vision to see through it. He detected only one form of life, and it was falling. A comet, surrounded by dark energy flew out of the portal, ripping through the clouds and careening towards the island. The other heroes prepared themselves, whilst Superman looked through the comet with his X-Ray vision. He widened his eyes at what he saw within it, or rather who. When it landed, it decimated a whole region of Savage island, turning the land into black ash and disintegrating the life forms whom lived there. Raven led the Titans towards the region, her bird aura glowing behind her. Something slowly walked out of the remains of the comet.

"What is that?" Starfire asked.

"It looks familiar," Spider-man said, gripping his head for a moment.

"Not it, he," Nova said.

"Raven, they remember," Cyborg whispered to his team mate.

Raven's skin took on a reddish hue as she looked at Nova and Spider-man. Her telepathy, and her dark intent gave her the extra eyes of her father Trigon. She accessed the memories of Nova and Spider-man, specifically the image they were remembering of a man in a white and red suit.

"You will forge..."

But any command she could give, any memory she could tear apart remained intact. Both Raven and the Titans widened their eyes as a red beam tore through her chest. The beam came from the black armoured being who had emerged from the comet. He redirected his gaze towards Superman and the other heroes.

"Run," he said.

He faded in a burst of black flames. Superman looked towards the sky and saw a mass that eclipsed the arrival of the dark version of Aeon. A trio of creatures that stood taller than most men, but also did not bear the faces of humans or any species Kal-El had seen before. Their skin was grey, but occasionally took on subtle green tones. Each wore a suit of silver armour with curved edges on the back. The armour and style of their faces would shift from time to time, making it hard to fully understand what they looked like. One thing remained constant however, the orange glow in their eyes.

"What the hell are those?" Superman heard Hawkeye ask.

Suddenly, the creatures struck, raising their hands and releasing a storm of energy. The beams struck the ground, blowing chunks off of the land. Without hesitation, Superman through towards the creatures, ready to defend his home. He let out a yell as he fired his heat vision, hitting one of the monsters in the shoulder. It turned and grabbed Superman. Kal-El felt his skin burn on contact with the creature, not even the sting of magic or Kryptonite compared to the pain of the creature's touch. It moved its head towards him, looking him in the eyes and shaking its head with disgust. Like a child done with its toy, the creature threw Superman aside, straight into the portal he had created.

The gap-No time

Like the Beyonders before him, Onyx let Kal-El go, leaving him to drift until he landed on the comet he used as his 'throne'. Mar-Vell looked down at the Kryptonian in pity. Loki didn't even feel like laughing, though the same couldn't be said for the Joker if he had been present. The Kryptonian stood up, but he was not Superman, or Clark Kent, or even Kal-El. All that remained was Karabai, the warlord, the warrior, the pawn of Onyx. Defeated and resigned to his fate, Karabai looked up at Onyx as he landed on the ground.

"You opened the door, you unleashed them, everything that happened to your world was your fault. I had been trying to trap them on the Crime Syndicates world, removing the crime syndicate and shackling the Beyonders to an Earth the syndicate had already razed. But your foolishness freed the Beyonders, and they now seek the complete eradication of the Multiverse, so that they can start over," Onyx explained.

"The death of everything, and the birth of something new," Mar-Vell confirmed.

"An Ultimate End," Loki grinned.

"Yes, the final war, the Secret War, remembered by no one because they'll all be dead and what the Beyonders choose as 'acceptable' will be all that is left. I however believe the Multiverse should continue to exist, which was why I arranged the joining of the two Multiveres, removing any barriers that separated every variation of your world Karabai from mine," Onyx clicked his fingers together as he spoke, creating images of multiple worlds. "All of this is chaos, all of this is suffering, and I will take that suffering and blend it all together. Creating a single existence where suffering is absolute, where every bit of hope is shattered and only compromise remains."

"That's why you won't do anything to stop the Incursions, you want to tear the heroes apart by making them destroy other Earth's," Karabai said.

"It isn't so hard, they all think they know everything," Onyx snarled as images of Black Swan, the Illuminati and the deities (Olympians, Asgardians etc) appeared around him. "But they have not seen what I have, the true heart of all life, the true god!"

"I've got to say, I'm liking this religious side of you," Loki said.

"What is the next step?" Karabai asked.

"Give the people of other worlds offers they can't refuse of course, not every world has the means to stop Incursions," again Onyx created a viewing window.

Karabai widened his eyes slightly, seeing a younger version of his friend Oliver Queen.

"Ooooh this Earth, I'm loving the Flash's adventures and this whole 'Legends' thing the future has planned," Loki said. "But since the Joker's not here I have to say it, Arrow, Green Arrow, whatever name he took...started off well, but now he's basically Batman, I mean come on last year he fought Ra's Al Ghul shirtless with a sword...that's Batman for god's sake!"

"Indeed, and when the Incursions begin for this world they will have no defence," Mar-Vell said.

"And that's where you come in," Onyx said as he turned to Karabai. "You want to be a hero again Karabai, take up this mask!"

Karabai looked at the helmet Onyx had given him. It was like a knight's helmet, with the visor included.

"What is this?" he asked.

"Interference with this world will result in the creation of an alternate reality, in any event I do not wish to attract the attention of that Earth's version of you," Onyx explained.

"There is a Clark Kent on that world?"

"A Clark Kent, a Bruce Wayne, a Diana Prince, Flash and the Arrow were the first but they will not be the greatest," Onyx walked past Karabai and again altered reality.

The gap disappeared and Karabai found himself on a dead Earth. His jaw dropped slightly when he saw six individuals standing on the horizon.

"On an Earth designated 16 there is a group that arrogantly call themselves 'the light', you seven will be the Darkness!"

"Wrath!"

A man in armour that reminded Karabai of Batman's, but held none of the symbols. As well as having the cape, the armour was more militaristic, with pouches across the chest for weapons. It consisted of brown and black colours, with glowing yellow lights on the utility belt and his helmet. There was a subtle 'W' shape on his chest and his mask covered his entire face, even his eyes were covered by glowing yellow lenses.

"Doctor Spectrum!"

Covered in a costume with a black mask and gloves was a man with a white crystal on his chest. The right part of his chest and arm was covered by red fabric, whilst the left half was covered by yellow, the lower chest area to his heels was covered by green fabric. A rainbow aura covered the man as he flew over the other costumed individuals.

"Thundra!"

Karabai noticed the red haired woman looking at him like a predator. She wore a red top which left her left arm exposed, a chain and ball had been wrapped around her right arm. Both her wrists had gold bangles on them and gold armour had been placed on her shoulder. Gold greaves and boots covered her feet and lightning symbols ran down the sides of her red trousers. Completing her look as a warrior was the gold helmet/crown worn around her face.

"Cobalt Blue!"

A white skinned man dashed past Karabai, joining the other figures. The man's skin seemed to shine, as if it was both his flesh and his costume. His arms and hands were black and joined at his chest in flame patterns, whilst his lower body was blue and joined into a bolt symbol that ran up to his neck. Blue flames formed his hair and covered his back and shoulders.

"Malefic!"

On Karabai's past Earth he remembered Martian Manhunter having a brother. Malefic's skin however was a paler shade of green than most Martian's. His mouth was covered by the black cloak he wore, which had a gold chain hanging off of the shoulders.

"Namorita!"

A blue skinned woman looked down at Karabai as if she was superior to him in every way. She wore green scaled shorts and a bikini made from gold sea shells.

Karabai looked at the heroes and villains, unsure over whether to be amazed or frightened by the implications of their appearance. He looked towards Onyx, who was already in the process of opening a portal.

"An Incursion will soon begin, that will give you the opportunity to establish yourselves as that Earth's saviours, make clear to that world the barbarity of the work you will have to do, make them question you, make them doubt you, make them so desperate that they will depend on you. Go and save their world Ka-El!"

Karabai shook his head as he slowly raised the helmet.

"I am not Kal-El, or Clark Kent, I can never be Superman again, nor am I Karabai, that was a smokescreen to hide my shame. I have crossed lines I told myself I would not cross, my suffering is my own doing as you said, what I do is brutal but it is what I do to save others."

He put the helmet on, all but killing his former selves and embracing what he had become, what all his choices had turned him into. His eyes glowed red, illuminating the visor of the helmet as he led his dark league through the portal and declared his new identity, his voice echoing like his new master's.

"I am, Brutaal!"

Next Chapter 21: Cooperation

Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter

Karabai/Kal-El's early life was basically Injustice Superman's, but his world was erased when it was merged with the Marvel Universe. He became a native of a merged universe and his new league consists of characters whom parallel the founders of the original league.

Wrath: Not an original character, not Bruce Wayne either, but a darker version of Batman.

Thundra: She's a MU native, kind of like Wonder Woman, changed her costume a bit to make it more like a war suit.

Dr Spectrum: An analogue of Green lantern, from an analogue of the Justice League

Malefic: Has a 'Martian version' of his name that I would have to look up every time I type it.

Cobalt Blue: A member of the Thawne family, will surprise the Arrrowverse Flash...yes the characters of Arrowverse will meet these dark creatures.

Namora: The Exiles character, but she wasn't with the Exiles, female version of Namor, analogues Aquaman

You're probably wondering whether the Arrowverse versions of the trinity will appear, well considering this is fanfiction maybe.

Next time Virgil continued to fight in the collision of Earths, and in New 52 Earth Cade begins his fight against the league of assassins.