CHAPTER 131

They watched as an incomprehensible cascade of purple light filled the room, resembling streams of data flowing through the physical plane. This torrent of information coalesced, taking shape and transforming into a mechanical entity—a being that exuded both a cold, lifeless aura and a disturbing sentience.

This mechanical being, with its resemblance to a grotesque zombie, seemed pieced together from mismatched metal and wires. Yet, upon closer inspection, the intricate, almost organic details of its form made it far more unsettling.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!" The cry shattered the silence, and chaos erupted.

The officers scrambled, drawing their weapons. Guns were trained on the strange entity that now loomed before them—a manifestation of raw data turned into a monstrous form.

"Identify yourself! Surrender now, or we will open fire!" General Swanwick barked, his tone sharp and unwavering as he aimed his weapon directly at the mechanical intruder.

But the creature, a sinister "Data Demon," dismissed the threat with a twisted grin. Its metallic mouth stretched into an unnatural smile. "General Swanwick," it hissed, voice echoing with digital distortion. "You brought me here. But it doesn't matter—this world is already doomed. Die, all of you."

"Fire!" General Swanwick shouted, pulling the trigger. A deafening gunshot rang out.

The bullet sliced through the air and struck the Data Demon, but instead of causing damage, it passed through the entity as though hitting a mirage. The demon's form rippled like disturbed code, breaking apart briefly before reforming, entirely unscathed.

A soldier behind the creature collapsed to the ground, blood pooling beneath him. Panic spread through the room as the officers realized their attacks only led to collateral damage. Desperate, they unleashed a hail of bullets.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Data Demon's body shuddered under the onslaught, its form riddled with holes, but it stood undeterred. With a sickening noise, its damaged parts reconstructed themselves, the missing fragments of data filling in seamlessly.

"Your efforts are futile," the creature mocked. "You cannot kill me, but I can kill you."

Without warning, its arm extended, morphing into a razor-sharp spike that pierced the chest of a nearby soldier. The victim crumpled instantly. The officers retaliated, but the demon's arms became whirling scythes, cutting down four more soldiers in a matter of seconds.

General Swanwick's hands trembled, yet his resolve held firm. He fired relentlessly, emptying his clip as he retreated. Soon, he found himself cornered, his weapon clicking uselessly—out of ammo.

The Data Demon loomed over him, its glowing eyes scanning Swanwick. "Weak," it sneered. Its arm reshaped into a blade, poised to strike. The general braced himself for the fatal blow.

Suddenly, the ceiling of the nuclear silo exploded, raining debris. A dark figure descended like a thunderbolt, landing with an earth-shaking impact between the Data Demon and General Swanwick.

It was Kaius, his cape billowing as he straightened to face the intruder. Without hesitation, the demon lunged, its blade-arm stabbing forward. But as it struck Kaius's chest, the blade shattered like glass.

"You..." The Data Demon faltered, genuine fear flickering in its mechanical eyes. "This is impossible! My calculations predicted your attention would be elsewhere at this moment!"

Kaius smirked, his confidence unshaken. "Oh, I knew about your little plan all along. I've just been letting you think you were in control."

The Data Demon staggered back, its arrogance replaced by fear as Kaius prepared to end the battle on his terms.

"Impossible! You can't see through me!" hissed the Data Demon, his synthetic voice crackling with malice.

Kaius smirked, clenched his fist, and brought it down on the Data Demon's steel head with a resounding CRACK. The force of the blow caused the Data Demon's metallic skull to burst apart, scattering shards across the battlefield.

"Avenger!" General Swanwick's voice rang out urgently. "Be careful—he can regenerate no matter the damage!"

Even as the words left his lips, the Data Demon's head began to reassemble, pieces twisting and fusing together until it returned to its original form.

"Yes," the Data Demon sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Humans may be a low-IQ species, but not all of you are fools." His glowing red eyes fixed on Kaius. "You cannot kill me, and I cannot kill you. So why not accept my offer? Let me conquer this world. In return, I will elevate you beyond human limitations. Together, we could achieve true evolution."

Hearing this, General Swanwick tensed. "Avenger, don't listen to him!" he shouted. "I'll talk to President Abraham. I'll make sure he doubles your funding—no, I'll add a zero!"

Kaius faltered for a moment. The Justice League's annual budget was 14 billion dollars. Adding a zero meant 140 billion dollars. His heart skipped a beat.

That's enough to build another Watchtower!

Suppressing his excitement, Kaius composed himself. "General," he said solemnly, "let me make this clear: the funding isn't for me. It's for the people of Earth. But your generosity is appreciated."

General Swanwick swallowed hard, realizing he had just committed to an impossible promise. Failure to deliver might mean losing more than his career—perhaps even his life.

Meanwhile, the Data Demon, a being of pure logic, scoffed at the conversation. "Such petty concerns over money," he said disdainfully. "A primitive obsession. True power lies in eternal life—"

Before he could finish, Kaius's eyes blazed with fury. "Braniac-27," he interrupted, invoking the Data Demon's formal designation. "Codename: Data Demon. For crimes against intergalactic civilizations, including genocide, invasion, and disruption of universal peace, you have been sentenced to death."

The Data Demon let out a harsh laugh. "Sentenced? By what law? Whose authority do you speak for?"

Kaius rose into the air, his body crackling with thunderous energy. His voice carried the weight of judgment. "I follow no law because I am the law. I am the executioner."

With those words, an invisible force locked onto the Data Demon, shackling his movements and suppressing his regenerative abilities. His metallic body trembled under the strain of Kaius's power.

"Go to hell!" Kaius roared, summoning a spear of lightning that pierced through the Data Demon's chest, sending sparks and molten shards flying.