Welcome back to The Injustice Wars. Last time, we took a break from the conflict of six factions to introduce the final one of Null's original ten Nullverse characters: Filthnor, as he ends up released from his confinement due to the collection of Metropolis by Brainiac. Filthnor has apparently been locked away since before the Regime was a thing, and now he's realized that this is his opportunity to be taken seriously as a villain rather than derided as a Silver Age wannabe supercrook. Don't worry, those who saw him in Dragon's Quest, he'll get more psychotic as things go on. But for now, we've got another group I want to focus back in on. What's going on with The Empire? Read on to discover...

(Our scene resumes not in the ruins of Metropolis or in Legion HQ, but rather in The Nameless City, where Darkblood is meditating over what just happened in Metropolis, when Enchantress and Black Manta enter the room.)

Black Manta: Boss, we've got an issue.

Darkblood: Metropolis is gone. I know. I felt it from here.

Enchantress: That's not all. Superman seems to have disappeared with it.

Darkblood: Fitting, he vanishes with the city he failed to protect.

Black Manta: He was fighting two Dragons. One purple and one black if our reports are anything to go by.

(At this point, Darkblood's eyes constrict to narrower pupils than usual. It's clear this has caught him off guard)

Darkblood: Where do these reports come from, Manta?

Black Manta: (Realizing he accidentally slipped up, but hiding it behind his helmet) Brother Eye.

Darkblood: (Now suspicious) Allow me to confirm those records then.

(Fast forward a few minutes and the three are confronting Brother Eye)

Darkblood: Brother Eye, analyze surveillance data from Metropolis. I want to confirm some reports from Manta.

Brother Eye: Yes, Lord Darkblood. (Analyzes the data) What specifically were you looking for?

Darkblood: Superman fighting a pair of dragons and then all three vanishing.

Brother Eye: One moment, Master. (Searches for that specific query) Manta's reports are correct. Superman was last seen battling Spyro and Cynder over Metropolis moments before Brainiac collected it.

Darkblood: That fool knows power when he sees it. If he's able to reverse engineer either Aether or the strength of the Kryptonian, he'll have a valuable weapon on his side. Strong enough to crush almost any of us, and possibly give me a run for my money. We need to stop that.

Enchantress: What do you plan to do, my lord?

Darkblood: Prevent him from acting. (To Brother Eye) Brother Eye, I command you to crack the Skull Ship's mainframe. Get everything you can.

Brother Eye: It shall be done, my lord.

Black Manta: A bunch of raw information is great, boss. But what are we going to do with it?

Darkblood: Once we know what he knows, we can figure out the best plan to sabotage him.

Brother Eye: It is done, Lord Darkblood. It seems Brainiac has not had much time to examine any of his trophies, as they appear to have eluded his capture within the Skull Ship.

Darkblood: Excellent, Brother Eye. Now, based on the data you have, predict where the fool is likely to strike next.

Brother Eye: Affirmative. (Runs the calculations) Probabilities indicate three likely targets: Gotham City, Atlantis, or Kahndaq. Of them, Kahndaq takes precedence.

Darkblood: With it's king dead, Atlantis is of no use to us. So most likely we need to go to Kahndaq and Gotham. (Mulls it over) Of course, the Rock of Eternity. Black Adam would still have access to it. Brainiac would be a fool not to secure it. (Thinks over everything again) Alright, here's the plan. Brother Eye, you will deploy back to your old body in the Batcave, get every bit of data you can and broadcast it back here. Manta, you'll go with him for security purposes. Take the Ex Machina Twins with you, they need the fieldwork.

Black Manta: Got it.

Darkblood: Meanwhile, Enchantress, take Fate, Frost, and Raven, and go to Kahndaq. If we can secure the Rock of Eternity before anyone else, we will lead the game.

Enchantress: Of course, my lord. But... what will you do?

Darkblood: I have an idea I want to follow up. (To Brother Eye) Before you go, I need to give you clarifying instruction. Now, all of you, heed my wishes. Now, go!

(And with that, everybody but Darkblood and Brother Eye take off)

Brother Eye: You wished to speak with me, Master?

Darkblood: I did. I have a question and a specification.

Brother Eye: State them, and they shall be done.

Darkblood: First, when in the Batcomputer's files, look out for anything on the Phantom Zone projector and make sure they can't get that information back.

Brother Eye: Affirmative.

Darkblood: Now, a question. Is when I asked you to run the data from Metropolis' security systems the first time you were given such a request? By anyone?

Brother Eye: (Checks the backlogged data) Affirmative. You are the only person who has asked for that data.

Darkblood: Just as I thought... Speak to no one about what we've just said unless ordered to. Now, go about your mission.

Brother Eye: As you command.

(And as Brother Eye returns to the Batcave, Darkblood can only look out towards where Black Manta left from)

Darkblood: Do you think me a fool, Manta? Well, we shall play your little game for now. But rest assured, I will be the victor.

(And as Darkblood makes that ominosu threat, our tale ends for today)

And that looks like a good place to end for today. The Empire is back in full swing, and it seems Black Manta gave away a little too much. Darkblood has finally caught on to him being a spy for the Legion. This isn't good, for Manta, for Blaze, for anybody. But what's he going to do with this information? All will be revealed in time. Meanwhile, what are the good guys and the Regime up to? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!