CHAPTER 127

At that moment, all electronic devices in Central City abruptly shut down, leaving the streets in chaos. Television screens on storefronts and mobile phones in the hands of pedestrians displayed a strange, ominous symbol. The atmosphere quickly turned tense as panic spread through the crowd.

Barry Allen, the Flash, looked to his companion and asked, "Avenger, what is this symbol? What's happening?"

The Avenger responded grimly, "It's the mark of Brainiac. Think of it as an invasion by alien hackers. We need to head back to S.T.A.R. Labs and assess the situation."

The Avenger speculated that Brainiac, or at least one of his replicas, had arrived on Earth. Given Brainiac's unparalleled technological prowess, it was no surprise that he had evaded Earth's detection systems. The sudden appearance of his symbol confirmed the Avenger's worst fears—a direct attack on Earth's technological infrastructure.

The symbol, a V-shaped pattern formed by three interlinked purple circles, was unmistakably Brainiac's emblem.

Barry wasted no time. He carried the subdued Metal Man, Tony Woodworth, back to S.T.A.R. Labs alongside the Avenger. Tony, a dangerous metahuman with cybernetic enhancements, was handed over to the lab's high-security metahuman containment facility. Although restrained, he was not bound in ways that would compromise his basic needs—a testament to S.T.A.R. Labs' commitment to ethical treatment, even for its most dangerous captives.

Tony's capture was a minor consolation to the Avenger, as the divine power he could draw from Tony was negligible compared to the threat at hand.

Back at S.T.A.R. Labs, the situation was chaotic. Cisco Ramon was furiously typing at his workstation, desperately attempting to regain control of the lab's computer systems. The lab's state-of-the-art firewall, among the most advanced on Earth, was holding off the attack, but barely.

"Come on, come on," Cisco muttered, sweat beading on his forehead. "This hacker's skill isn't just top-tier on Earth—it's galactic-level. If only Felicity were here!"

Despite his best efforts, the firewall was steadily breaking down under the assault. One by one, the lab's systems fell into enemy hands.

Dr. Harrison Wells, observing the chaos, shook his head. As someone from the distant future, he recognized this day—the second recorded alien invasion in Earth's modern history, following the Battle of Metropolis. It marked the beginning of an era when extraterrestrial forces increasingly turned their gaze toward Earth, some seeking conquest, others seeking refuge. But for now, survival was the only priority.

"Cisco, step aside," Dr. Wells commanded as he wheeled himself to the computer.

Cisco reluctantly relinquished control, muttering, "Sure, but last I checked, none of your nine PhDs were in computer science."

"Quiet, Cisco," Caitlin Snow interjected sharply. "Let him work. The priority is stopping this hacker. Who knows what Barry and the Avenger are dealing with out there?"

Suddenly, a burst of lightning illuminated the lab as Barry and the Avenger arrived in the main control room.

Barry wasted no time. "Dr. Wells, it's not just us. Every computer, television, and mobile phone in the city has been affected. The Avenger says... this is the work of alien hackers."

Barry Allen shared the information with the team for the first time. Among them, only Dr. Harrison Wells seemed genuinely intrigued. Instead of panic at the revelation that aliens had invaded Central City—perhaps even the entire United States—Wells seemed oddly excited.

"Another alien invasion? And this time, it's a data network attack? This is... absolutely fascinating!" exclaimed Cisco Ramon, barely able to contain himself.

Before Cisco could continue his enthusiastic commentary, Caitlin Snow smacked him on the shoulder. "It's not fascinating, Cisco! Have you even thought about what would happen if the entire network is paralyzed? It would be a global disaster!"

Barry ignored their exchange and turned to Wells. "Doctor, what's the situation?"

Wells adjusted his glasses and spoke quickly, his tone both analytical and grave. "As you described, this alien—an artificial intelligence—has created a shockingly complex matrix of variables to mask its true intentions. I've deployed counterprograms to delay its attack, but it won't hold for long. In approximately one minute, the computer systems at S.T.A.R. Labs will be completely compromised."

Wells continued, his fingers flying across the keyboard. "Before that, I've taken the liberty of surveying the networks of nearby cities—Star City, Metropolis, Gotham. This alien entity isn't just targeting Central City; it's systematically consuming the entire United States' network infrastructure. And based on the pattern... it's likely aiming to conquer the planet's entire digital ecosystem."

Cisco, staring intently at the monitors, chimed in with his usual flair. "A digital demon! That's what we'll call him. Like Barry's 'The Flash' or Kaius's 'The Avenger.' This guy is officially The Data Demon!"

Cisco's tendency to name their foes was a long-standing tradition in Team Flash, and one he took great pride in.

Before the team could react, Kaius interjected. "Actually, he already has a name. This alien artificial intelligence is called Brainiac. He's not just any AI; he's infamous throughout the galaxy—"

Before he could finish, the countdown reached zero. The firewalls collapsed, and the systems at S.T.A.R. Labs were fully compromised. A mechanical face appeared on every screen, its sharp, skeletal features illuminated against a dark background.

"Correction," the entity spoke in a voice devoid of emotion yet layered with menace. "I am a replica of Brainiac—designated Brainiac 27. Unlike my progenitor, I possess independent consciousness. However, I must say, the name Data Demon... I quite like it."

The face on the screen wasn't the classic green-skinned visage associated with Brainiac. Instead, it resembled a skeletal android, reminiscent of Ultron's early forms. Its glowing red eyes scanned the room, finally settling on Kaius.

"Liam Rogers," it addressed her directly, its tone calculated. "I have a proposition for you."

Before Kaius could respond, Cisco rushed to the main monitor, brimming with curiosity. "Wait, wait! Data Demon—are you just a virtual construct, or do you have a physical form somewhere? What's your endgame here? And—serious question—do you follow the Three Laws of Robotics?"

Caitlin grabbed Cisco by the arm, dragging him away from the screen. "Ignore him," she said with an exasperated smile. "He's a bit of an idiot sometimes. Kaius, whatever this thing wants, don't trust it."

Kaius smirked slightly and stepped forward. Her gaze locked on the mechanical face as she asked, "You mentioned a deal. What kind of deal are we talking about?"

Brainiac 27's expression shifted, almost smug. "My directive from Brainiac was to conquer Krypton system. Those imbeciles, however, chose to annihilate their planet rather than surrender. In the process, I lost a critical component: a fragment of kryptonite. I've searched the entirety of your global networks and discovered that the last piece of this material resides in your possession."

Kaius's eyes narrowed. kryptonite. He knew exactly what Brainiac 27 was talking about. Years ago, when Brainiac attempted to shrink Krypton for his collection, his failure led to significant damage to his core systems. Even now, Brainiac hadn't fully recovered.

The replica continued, "That kryptonite—a weaponized fragment—is essential for my restoration. The kryptonite sword, forged to slay Kryptonians, is in your hands. Surrender it to me, and I will withdraw my invasion."

The weight of Brainiac 27's words hung heavy in the air. Batman's kryptonite weapon had been destroyed in battle, leaving Kaius's kryptonite sword—the very weapon that had killed General Zod—as the last of its kind. Its power was undeniable, and now, Brainiac 27 sought it to complete his own mission of conquest.

Kaius's mind raced. Giving up the sword could stop the invasion, but the consequences of Brainiac—or his replica—possessing such power were too dire to contemplate. One thing was certain: this wasn't just a battle of technology. It was a fight for the future of Earth itself.