Chapter 78

Deep within a secluded magical zone in Australia, Aresia and her followers gathered in an area untouched by technology and hidden from magical detection. This was no ordinary place—it was a rare, naturally occurring magical hotspot, a phenomenon that appeared randomly across the universe before fading away just as mysteriously. The air crackled with raw, untamed energy, distorting reality itself.

Aresia stood in the center of the encampment, her fingers tightening around the crimson Berserker Armor she had set aside. It was meant to be her trump card, a last resort if things went completely wrong. And while she had completed her objective, the battle had left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Her confidence had been unwavering—her skill and the warriors she had gathered were more than enough. Yet, the fight had nearly been lost.

Not because of numbers. Not because of strategy.

But because of him.

The man who had turned everything upside down. The man who had mocked her with his very existence.

A deep, insidious voice whispered from the darkest corners of her mind.

'Don't just kill him. Make him suffer. Death is too good for him. Make him what he fears—make him a monster.'

Aresia's grip on her gauntlets tightened as she nodded to the thought, her rage festering. Death would be too merciful for Naruto Uzumaki.

This man had defied them. He had humiliated her, cast shame upon the Amazons. He was the reason men still walked this world with impunity.

But she would change that.

She would save the world from his lies.

She would remind men of their place.

And when her vision was realized, they would serve—or die.

Aresia exhaled slowly, regaining her composure before addressing her team. "Thank you for your efforts, everyone. Especially you, Shade. Your quick thinking was appreciated."

She slid on the segmented red armor piece by piece, strapping the Immortal Slayer sword across her back alongside her shield. Her helmet dangled from her fingers as she regarded the warriors who remained.

They had already lost one member.

It wasn't their failure—no, they had done their best. It was him. The enemy was simply too strong.

For all her research, for all the reports she had consumed, none of it had prepared her for what Naruto had become. She had dismissed the idea before, but now she could no longer deny it.

She recalled a drunken night when Queen Hippolyta had muttered something absurd.

"Naruto is moving faster and faster… No one knows where he'll stop with everything he's involved in. I don't know why, but I see that boy standing above me one day. Isn't that funny?"

At the time, Aresia had scoffed at the very idea.

But now?

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

Naruto was never supposed to have grown this powerful. The intelligence they had gathered just a few months ago was already obsolete.

Supergirl, too, had evolved too quickly. Her raw strength was expected, but her skill—that had been a surprise. Aresia had spent a century honing her techniques, yet Kara had matched her almost evenly in battle.

A growl escaped her lips before she suppressed it.

They would all fall in due time.

Shade, ever the disciplined warrior, lowered his head. "Apologies, madame. I disappointed you with my poor performance. I will do better next time."

Aresia studied him for a moment. His pride had been trampled—Naruto had treated him as nothing more than a nuisance, an afterthought. He had been defeated by a mere clone.

Before she could reply, Cheetah's voice cut through the air.

"You are welcome… but what do you plan to do with that flower?" She gestured toward a peculiar crimson bloom nestled in Aresia's palm. "That's the flower, isn't it? The Man-Killer?"

Shade stiffened. The tension in the room thickened as all eyes locked onto Aresia.

"Yes," she admitted, her tone steady.

Cheetah narrowed her eyes. "Do you intend to kill all men?"

Silence.

Aresia closed her eyes, drawing a slow breath. When they opened again, they burned with a terrifying crimson light.

A wave of pure killing intent flooded the space.

Before anyone could react, their heads left their bodies.

The soft thud of lifeless corpses echoed in the air, blood painting the ground in morbid artistry. Aresia stood in the center of the massacre, her sword dripping crimson.

Her armor twitched and shifted, pulsating like a living creature feeding on death itself.

She inhaled deeply, a twisted smile curving her lips.

The voice in her mind purred in satisfaction.

'Wonderful, wonderful… Let it rage, let it rage. Freedom is beautiful. Let go of your chains and become free.'

Beneath her feet, the ancient magical circle activated.

The ground trembled. The blood of the fallen was absorbed into the runes, fueling the spell.

Aresia felt her excitement peak.

Her goal was so close now.

It didn't matter that her mind was fraying, that the armor had become a part of her—impossible to remove.

None of it mattered.

Only this mattered.

Her eyes gleamed with manic determination as she clutched her sword tighter.

"Mother… I will achieve the dream you abandoned before men enslaved you."

Hippolyta had been corrupted.

Allowing a man on Themyscira? Letting him speak to the Amazons as an equal? It was an insult beyond words.

But Aresia would fix everything.

With this magical circle, the virus would spread.

Through the wind. Through the water. Through the natural energy of the universe itself.

Men wouldn't even realize what was happening until it was too late.

And then…

They would kneel.

Or they would perish.

The peaceful hum of Solar Brew surrounded them as Clark, Kara, and He'El sat at their usual table, enjoying their coffee. The city of Metropolis bustled outside, but inside, the three Kryptonians were simply… relaxing.

For once, there was no villain to fight, no cataclysmic event to prevent—just three superpowered beings having a normal conversation.

Of course, "normal" was relative.

"So… how's married life treating you, Kara?" He'El asked with a smirk as he took a slow sip of his coffee.

Kara, mid-drink, nearly choked. She barely managed to keep herself composed as she shot him a look. "It's fine," she said, clearing her throat.

Clark chuckled, shaking his head. "Just fine? That's all you have to say about being married to Naruto?"

Kara narrowed her eyes. "You guys do this every time we hang out."

"Well, it's not our fault you married a guy who somehow convinced Raven and Veritas to marry him too," He'El teased. "I mean, come on, those two aren't exactly the sharing type."

Kara huffed, crossing her arms. "For your information, we all get along just fine."

Clark raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you don't get jealous when he spends more time with Raven or Veritas?"

She faltered for a split second before quickly regaining her composure. "Of course not! I mean, sure, it was weird at first, but we worked through it." She sipped her coffee casually. "Besides, I know I'm his favorite."

He'El let out a laugh. "Wow. The confidence."

Clark shook his head, amused. "Naruto's lucky you're so patient."

Kara grinned. "Oh, he knows. And trust me, I remind him every chance I get."

Clark smirked. "You remind him, huh? How, exactly?"

Kara took another sip, eyes twinkling mischievously. "Wouldn't you like to know, big cousin?"

Clark sighed, shaking his head while He'El laughed.

"But enough about me," Kara said, placing her cup down with a knowing smirk. "Let's talk about you, Clark." She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. "How's it feel dating Superwoman?"

Clark blinked. "I… uh…"

He'El grinned. "Oh, this is gonna be good."

Kara continued, her smirk growing. "I mean, you always had this whole 'protect Lois because she's a fragile human' thing going on. But now? Not only can she keep up with you, but she's probably stronger than you in some ways."

Clark rubbed the back of his head. "I wouldn't say—"

"She is stronger, isn't she?" He'El interrupted with a knowing grin. "She's got the Amazon training from Diana, plus the Kryptonian powers. I bet she's the one protecting you now."

Kara snickered. "Oh, that must sting for you, Mr. Man of Steel."

Clark sighed. "You two are unbelievable."

Kara leaned back, arms behind her head. "Hey, it's only fair. You tease me about Naruto all the time—payback's a Kryptonian specialty."

He'El nodded in agreement. "It's true. It's only fair."

Clark shook his head but couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. "Lois is… incredible." He exhaled. "I'll admit, it's an adjustment. She's always been strong-willed, but now? Now she can punch through mountains."

Kara grinned. "And you love it."

Clark chuckled. "Yeah. I really do."

He'El sighed dramatically. "So, both of you are married, and here I am, the only one left single." He shook his head. "Tragic."

Kara raised an eyebrow. "Oh, please. You're just picky."

Clark smirked. "Or maybe he's scared of commitment."

He'El scoffed. "Me? Scared? Please." He folded his arms. "I just haven't met someone worthy of my greatness."

Kara rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that."

Clark chuckled. "One day, He'El. One day."

For now, though, the three Kryptonians simply enjoyed their coffee, their conversation, and the rare moment of peace.

8 Months Ago:

The two lunar cities built for the vampires glowed under the eternal night of space, their gothic architecture oddly surreal against the backdrop of the Earth hanging in the distance. The buildings were grand, the streets empty, and the only thing that moved were the eternally bored vampires who had nothing to do.

No wars. No blood feasts. No mysterious cloaked figures lurking in dark alleyways.

Just… nothing.

And for the immortal undead, that was a problem.

Crucifier, the King of the Vampires, sat upon his massive obsidian throne, rubbing his temples as a group of sulking vampires whined in front of him.

"Your Majesty," one of them, Viktor, moaned, "We are suffering."

Crucifier raised an eyebrow. "You're immortal. How are you suffering?"

Viktor threw up his hands. "Because we're bored!"

The crowd of vampires all groaned in agreement.

"There's nothing to do here, my lord!" another vampire cried. "No humans to hunt, no wars to wage! We can't even drink fresh blood!"

Crucifier sighed, looking at the neat rows of Artificial Blood Dispensers lining the streets like soda machines. "You're not dying, so what's the problem?"

Viktor scoffed. "You wouldn't understand! Imagine drinking the same flavorless protein shake for eternity! That's our life now!"

"Exactly!" another vampire chimed in. "And the worst part? WE CAN'T EVEN DIE TO ESCAPE IT!"

A collective dramatic sigh filled the throne room.

Crucifier stared at them in disbelief. "So you're telling me the problem is that you have too much time?"

"Yes!" they all shouted.

He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm not dealing with this alone."

Reaching into his Kingly Cloak of Responsibility (TM), he pulled out a communicator and pressed a button.

A few moments later, the holographic faces of Batman and Robin (Tim Drake) appeared.

Tim looked half-asleep, holding a cup of coffee. "Oh great, what now?"

Batman didn't say anything, but the slight narrowing of his eyes suggested mild annoyance.

Crucifier gestured at the mob of sulking vampires. "They're bored."

Tim blinked. "So?"

"They're immortal and bored."

Batman exhaled. "Are you seriously calling me for a vampire mid-life crisis?"

Crucifier crossed his arms. "Yes. Fix it."

Tim groaned. "You're the King of the Vampires! Why can't you fix it?"

Crucifier gestured to the mob. "Because they won't shut up!"

A vampire from the back muttered, "We heard that."

Crucifier ignored them.

Tim rubbed his forehead. "Okay, okay… Let's think." He took a sip of coffee. "Have you tried… I don't know… sports?"

Crucifier frowned. "What kind of sport works for vampires?"

Batman suddenly spoke. "Lunar Rugby."

Everyone turned to him.

"What?" Crucifier asked.

"Lunar Rugby," Batman repeated. "Low gravity. Super strength. Vampires are fast and durable. No one dies."

The vampires muttered amongst themselves.

Tim hummed. "Actually… that could work." He turned to Crucifier. "You guys are strong enough to launch the ball halfway across the city, and you can literally fly. It'd be like Quidditch on steroids."

The vampires looked intrigued.

"And what about the hunting part?" Viktor asked. "We need the thrill of the chase!"

Tim sighed. "Okay, how about this… Vampire Tag."

Crucifier raised an eyebrow. "Explain."

Tim smirked. "One vampire is the 'Hunter,' and the rest have to run. You have super speed, enhanced senses—make it a real hunt. If the Hunter catches you? You're 'drained' and out. Last vampire standing wins."

The vampires perked up at this idea.

"And," Tim added, "the prize for winning is getting to name the next event."

A collective ooooh came from the vampires.

Crucifier looked at Batman, who nodded approvingly. "It could work. Keeps them occupied. No casualties."

"Fine," Crucifier muttered, standing up. He looked at the vampires. "You whiny undead man-children, go set up a rugby league and a tag competition. If I hear even one more complaint about being bored, I'm banishing you to Earth to work as baristas."

The vampires gasped in horror.

"Not baristas!"

"Cursed fate!"

"The humanity!"

Crucifier smirked. "Then get to it."

The vampires vanished in a blur of super-speed, already discussing game rules.

Crucifier turned back to Batman and Tim. "That actually worked."

Tim sipped his coffee. "I'm a genius."

Batman sighed. "Call us again, and I'm charging you a consulting fee."

The holograms flickered off.

Crucifier sat back down on his throne, watching his people excitedly setting up a stadium in the distance.

"Well," he muttered, "at least they're not whining anymore."

From the rooftops, a vampire yelled:

"WHO WANTS TO BE THE FIRST HUNTER?!"

A mass of excited shrieks echoed across the city.

Crucifier smirked. "Vampire Rugby… Who knew?"

7 Months Ago:

It all started when the vampires on the Moon got bored.

With immortality, no real enemies, and an entire artificial civilization built for them, they found themselves with nothing to do. So, Crucifier, their king, decided to reinvent entertainment. If they couldn't hunt or fight, they would compete.

Thus, Super Sports were born.

Using their enhanced strength, speed, and reflexes, the vampires created Super Bloodball, a brutal mix of rugby, football, and gladiatorial combat. It was wildly successful, drawing attention from both Earth and the cosmos. Soon, other superpowered beings wanted in.

The Justice League and Hero Association took notice. Seeing the potential, they adapted the idea into various professional leagues where heroes, enhanced beings, and even villains (with parole agreements) could compete without holding back.

With proper safety regulations, power levels balanced into ranks, and planetary reinforcements in stadiums, the Super Games officially launched.

Super-powered versions of football, soccer, MMA, volleyball, and even chess spread across the world, leading to the biggest rivalry of all:

The Super Soccer Grand Arena in Metropolis was packed to the brim, with energy barriers shimmering over the field to contain the chaos. Announcers Vandal Savage and Guy Gardner sat in the commentator's box, their voices broadcasting across multiple planets.

Announcers' Booth

Vandal Savage (adjusting his headset): "Ah, nothing like a game of super soccer to remind me of the Roman gladiatorial games. Though I have to say, this is much more... organized."

Guy Gardner (grinning): "Yeah, yeah, keep your history lesson to yourself, Savage. I'm just here to see Superman get kicked in the face."

Vandal Savage: "Ah, the spirit of competition. A tale as old as time."

The JL team, clad in blue and red, lined up against Golden Dawn, whose black-and-gold uniforms gleamed under the stadium lights.

JL Team: Superman, Flash, Green Lantern (Hal), Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Cyborg, Aquaman, Zatanna, Vixen, Black Lightning, and Hawkgirl.

Golden Dawn Team: Naruto, Kara, Raven, Kushina, Impulse, Blue Beetle, Donna Troy, Lunar Maiden, Alessa, Mongul, and Centurion.

Kickoff!

Doctor Fate launched the ball into the air, and Impulse and Flash disappeared in a blur to get it.

But this time, Impulse won—grinning as he snatched the ball with a quick flick and spun around Flash mid-air.

"Still too slow, old man!" Bart taunted before zipping past Aquaman and Zatanna toward the goal.

Superman moved to intercept—but before he could get close, Naruto suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Yo, Clark." Naruto grinned. "Eat this!"

With perfect timing, Naruto executed a spinning pass, sending the ball rocketing toward Donna Troy. She bounced it off her knee, dodged Green Lantern's energy constructs, and performed a bicycle kick.

Martian Manhunter, the JL's goalie, stretched his arms to cover the goal.

But Kara was waiting for that.

Using her heat vision, she bent the ball's trajectory mid-air, making it curve like a guided missile.

BOOM!

The goalpost exploded as the ball crashed into the net.

Doctor Fate sighed. "Golden Dawn scores. 1-0."

Meanwhile, the Super Coliseum was packed with fans from across the universe, watching the main event: He'el vs. Amazo.

The announcers, Booster Gold and Plastic Man, were in the commentator's box.

Booster Gold: "Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing history! The ultimate Kryptonian warrior versus the ultimate adaptive android!"

Plastic Man: "Yeah, yeah, but can Amazo do this?" (stretches into a pretzel)

Booster Gold: "...Please stop that."

He'El stood in the center of the arena, his blue and silver Kryptonian armor pulsing with cosmic energy.

Amazo scanned him instantly, his mechanical eyes glowing red as he activated Flash's speed, Superman's strength, and Green Lantern's constructs all at once.

DING!

The moment the bell rang, Amazo vanished.

Then—BOOM!—a massive crater formed as Amazo punched He'El across the entire coliseum, sending him crashing through three reinforced walls.

The crowd went insane.

Booster Gold: "OH, SNAP! AMAZO JUST SENT HE'EL TO THE SHADOW REALM!"

But before the dust settled, a silver blur tore through the air.

He'El was back—faster than Amazo could react.

Plastic Man: "Uhhh, yeah, maybe don't make a Kryptonian angry?"

He'El slammed Amazo into the ground, his fist driving the android through multiple layers of reinforced titanium flooring.

Amazo adapted instantly.

His body shifted, glowing with the same Kryptonian aura. Now, he had He'El's own powers.

The two charged at each other again, this time at light speed.

The shockwaves shattered parts of the coliseum, and the audience had to be shielded by powerful energy fields to avoid being vaporized by the sheer force.

Justice League was desperate to score.

Superman fired a pinpoint pass toward Wonder Woman, who smashed through Mongul and Kushina to reach the goal.

She aimed—only for Raven to appear out of nowhere, using her magic to teleport the ball to Kara.

Kara grinned, flicked the ball up—

And then Naruto, running up the side of the stadium wall, jumped off and drop-kicked the ball with Sage Chakra.

The ball curved through the air, dodging every defense, and—

BOOM!

Golden Dawn scored again.

Final Score: Golden Dawn 3 – Justice League 2.

As the dust settled, the audience erupted in cheers.

Plastic Man: "Man, I love this game."

Booster Gold: "Best. Day. Ever."

Superman sighed, shaking Naruto's hand. "Alright, you got us this time."

Naruto grinned. "Hey, don't feel too bad, Clark. Maybe next time, we'll let you score first."

Superman chuckled. "Just wait. Next season, we're taking the title."

The Super Games were just getting started.

Location: The Batcave – Moon Base Edition

Batman sat in his dark, gothic office, staring at the massive screen displaying both the Super Soccer finals and the Coliseum battle between He'El and Amazo. His face was a perfectly controlled deadpan, but inside?

He was absolutely done.

The Super Soccer Game – Golden Dawn vs. Justice League

Batman watched as Naruto ran up the stadium wall, drop-kicked a ball infused with Sage Chakra, and sent it exploding past Superman and Martian Manhunter.

The goalpost shattered.

The crowd cheered.

The announcers were laughing their asses off.

Batman took a long sip from his blood-filled coffee mug.

Bruce Wayne was now a vampire. And apparently, this was the insanity he had to live with.

He exhaled through his nose. "…What the hell happened to the world?"

The Super Coliseum – He'El vs. Amazo

The other screen showed He'El literally punching Amazo into another dimension. The android instantly adapted, copied He'El's power, and punched him back.

BOOM!

The Coliseum cracked apart, its planetary shields barely holding up.

Batman rubbed his temples. "We used to stop world-ending threats… now we sell tickets to them."

He leaned forward, typing rapidly on the Batcave's computer.

[SECURITY FEED ACTIVE] – ROBIN (TIM) & CRUCIFIER LIVE CALL]

The screen flickered, showing Tim Drake and Crucifier sitting in an ornate vampire throne room on the Moon.

Crucifier, the King of Vampires, was lazily lounging in his throne, swirling a glass of artificial blood wine. Tim, looking like he had zero sleep in three days, was pinching the bridge of his nose.

Batman's voice was calm. Too calm.

Batman: "Tim. Crucifier. Explain."

Tim sighed. "Bruce, I swear, we tried to stop this, but—"

Crucifier (grinning): "Oh, don't be so dramatic, Dark Knight. The people love it. It's… fun."

Batman narrowed his eyes. "Vampires invented these games to cure their boredom. Now the entire planet is playing along. And somehow, I ended up in the middle of it."

Tim crossed his arms. "To be fair, Bruce… you are a vampire now."

Batman: "That is not the point."

Crucifier smirked. "Oh? And what is the point, dear detective?"

Batman gestured at the screen, where Naruto was now juggling the soccer ball while flying through the air upside-down.

Batman: "This. This nonsense."

Tim sighed. "Honestly? It's working. No more city-wide destruction. No more villains rampaging for attention. Everyone's too busy watching the games to commit crimes."

Crucifier chuckled. "Oh, I love this era."

Meanwhile, Back at the Soccer Match…

Superman walked off the field, wiping dust from his suit.

"Next time," he muttered to Batman, who had just teleported in from the Moon, "we're not losing to Naruto."

Batman gave him the most deadpan look imaginable.

"Clark," he said, "I don't even know what game we're playing anymore."

Behind them, Naruto was riding on Kara's shoulders, laughing his ass off, while Impulse zoomed around the stadium yelling, "VICTORY LAP!"

Batman sighed.

He needed more blood.