The Moment The Smile Died

Wonder Woman had finally had enough.

"This is going nowhere," she snapped, removing the Lasso of Truth from her hip. "I will make him talk."

The barrier between her and Ashborn dissolved. Without hesitation, she whipped the golden rope around him, its glow flaring to life as it tightened. Ashborn didn't resist, standing perfectly still as Wonder Woman commanded:

"Tell me everything you know about the Shadow Monarch!"

The lasso burned brighter… compelling to tell the truth.

Ashborn spoke.

"The Shadow Monarch is Queen Hippolyta."

Silence. Then….

"She's using the shadows to gather males for her island's… hip-dancing nights." His tone was dead serious. "She was particularly pleased by Doomsday's tool. As for Lex Luthor? She kept him for her daughter… apparently, she feared her granddaughter would be 'all muscles and no brain'… like someone here."

For a moment, the heroes were stunned, then realization struck. Ashborn wasn't revealing anything. He was mocking Wonder Woman.

Her entire body shook with rage, her sword flashing into her hand in an instant. "YOU!..."

Superman and Shazam barely intercepted her, their combined strength just enough to hold back the enraged Amazonian.

Ashborn laughed. "See? Her first thought is always killing. My point exactly."

Martian Manhunter stepped into the cell "You're intentionally provoking her."

Ashborn replied "Just proving my point. So... you are next? Are you going to read my memories without my consent?"

J'onn didn't hesitate. "You leave us no choice."

Ashborn shrugged. "I can't with a good conscience let you do that without a warning, you'll suffer if you do that. Might not even survive."

J'onn paused for a moment, then placed his hand on Ashborn's forehead ignoring the warning.

The League watched closely.

_________

J'onn's consciousness plunged into emptiness. A white void stretched endlessly around him. No thoughts. No memories. Just… nothing. He tried to push deeper, to escape but the endless white void held him.

Then cracks.The white world shattered, pieces dissolving into jet-black darkness.

A suffocating pressure crushed down on him. His body locked in place.

And then…

Two massive purple eyes flared to life in the endless darkness, staring into his soul. Before he could do anything, Purple fire erupted, consuming him.

_________

In the real world, the heroes watched as Martian Manhunter suddenly convulsed, his body began shriveling like burning paper. A bloodcurdling scream tore from his throat.

The Flash moved in a blur, yanking J'onn away from Ashborn. 

But it was too late. J'onn twitched weakly in Flash's arms, his form charred, his breathing shallow. The martian was burned in front of everyone and no one saw any fire. 

Horror gripped the room. Amanda Waller frowned at Ashborn, who didn't stop smiling the whole time.

Superman roared, "WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

Ashborn sighed. "I did nothing special. And I did warn him sincerely." His smile turned sharp. "But regretfully he did not listen, none of you did. You can't blame me for it"

"We will make you speak everything you know, even if we have to torture it out of you. You just picked the hard choice for yourself." Batman spoke coldly. But everyone could tell the anger in his voice.

Ashborn blinked, followed by snicker then a full laughter, the sound echoing through the hall. When he finally stopped, he wiped an imaginary tear from his eye and said, "Sorry, sorry, it's just a good joke."

Superman, standing stiffly nearby, spoke regretfully. "I wanted to get this done as peacefully as possible, but you are making it hard for everyone."

Amanda Waller, not missing a beat, added coldly, "You keep smiling… do you think you're safe? Even if the Justice League refuses to cross the line, I will."

Ashborn's amused expression faded into something heavier. "You know, I'm a good-natured person and really hard to anger," he said, his voice calm but low, "but my patience and tolerance are beginning to run out with all of you. You brought me here and acted as if I'm doing something evil, when I did nothing. Even if everything you suspect is true, you still have no right to act against me according to your own rules. This is all about what you fear, what you don't understand or control, it has nothing to do with crimes or evil."

His eyes scanned the faces surrounding his cell, sharp and discerning. "I am not obliged to explain anything to you."

The people around him didn't respond, merely keeping their stern gazes locked on him. Amanda broke the silence. "Leave him to me. I'll make him spill everything he knows."

Ashborn let out a long, audible sigh. "You asked if I think I'm safe here?" He tilted his head slightly, his smile growing predatory as he shifted his gaze between Amanda and Batman.

"I am safe here. And no harm will come my way, not because you aren't willing to follow rules and laws, or because I'm relying on someone to come save me. It's really much simpler than that."

His smile completely gone, all that left was a dangerous and cold look on his face "I told you years ago," he said, voice laced with menace, "'You are all far more fragile than you realize.' Too easy to break."

Years of battling monsters and villains had given the gathered heroes a keen sense of when true danger was near and right now, a deep chill ran down every spine in the hall. Ashborn's eyes shifted from their usual color to a burning, unnatural purple, as an aura of dread filled the air.

At that moment, everyone understood: Ashborn wasn't just another human being. Before anyone could react, before a hand could even twitch, Ashborn lifted his arm. Purple light exploded from his hand in all directions, the aura consolidated into chains of pure energy wrapping around every person present, locking them in place. Not a single muscle could move. Even Superman couldn't budge or even move his mouth.

Ashborn's voice carried throughout the hall "I don't need anyone to come. Because I alone am plenty for the lot of you. And me being a peaceful law abiding citizen was your greatest protection and shield but you chose to let go of it."

While they stood frozen, their wide, horrified eyes stared at him as if seeing him for the first time.

Ashborn slowly raised his hand again, and in a flash of violet energy, a short sword appeared, gleaming with malevolent light.

He turned his gaze on Superman "So, what do you think I should do?" Ashborn asked coolly "since I'm a criminal and a lackey of an even bigger one? Tell me. Should I just kill everyone here?"

With a simple gesture, a curl of one finger, Superman's frozen body floated toward Ashborn, helpless.

"I'll allow you to speak," Ashborn said magnanimously.

Superman, struggling to move even a little, finally managed to open his mouth "You… you had powers?"

Ashborn's response was swift and merciless. Without hesitation, he drove the purple sword into Superman's chest.

The Man of Steel screamed, the sound raw and desperate.

"I am the one asking now," Ashborn said coldly, twisting the sword deeper into Superman's flesh.

Gritting his teeth against the agony, Superman gasped out, "If you cross the line… there's no going back…"

Ashborn replied casually and unconcerned "You picked the fight, you made the choice to make it harder for everyone" he said, almost lazily, "and I am merely playing on the ground you all chose. The line was completely erased by you. Now, you face the consequences of your choice."

Without a hint of regret, Ashborn pulled the sword free. Superman fell, crumpling like a rag doll, no longer able to even scream.

Ashborn walked forward, his steps unhurried, until he stood before Amanda Waller.

"You," he said, "are the most disappointing one. You lost all of your resolve way too quickly."

Amanda stared at him, unable to move or speak, terror filling her eyes.

"You actually joined the tribal heroes so quickly after all the help I gave you, and I know this is not about Tea. You think of me as a second Lex at this point and you want to get rid of me." Ashborn said.

He shook his head. "I don't even feel like hearing your excuses or explanation. I would have ended Cadmus and sent you to prison or something, but you are too stubborn and annoying, I know for a fact you will come after me again once your ego gets inflated again."

Ashborn smiled once more, a final farewell "You failed your purpose Amanda but knowing you was interesting nonetheless. Goodbye"

With a single, swift motion, the purple sword sliced through Amanda's neck. Her head fell from her shoulders, lifeless.

Ashborn turned around to face the rest, his expression now filled with clear annoyance "You had to go and bring everyone for this?" he said loudly, lamenting the situation "Now I have to kill so many because of your stupidity. Your addiction to violence and love of picking fights are truly problematic."

Ashborn's eyes shifted, landing squarely on Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E. With a casual flick of his hand, the binds that held them in place unraveled and disappeared away. At the same time, a swirling purple gate opened beside them, its energy humming ominously.

"I gave you my word," Ashborn said, his voice steady, "That if a day came when I decided to eradicate the Justice League, I would spare you and the ones close to you. I always keep my word."

Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E. stood frozen, stunned by the sudden development. Stargirl gripped her staff tighter as she recalled the promise that day, her voice trembling with disbelief. "Wait... that was real? I thought it was a joke."

Ashborn shrugged nonchalantly. "It was both," he said. "You're Ace's friend. I won't harm you just because you hung with the wrong crowd. Just try to be more… selective about the kind of folks you associate with, not everyone as nice as me."

Courtney stared at him, her mouth open in shock. "You can't be serious!" she said. "You're the only wrong crowd in this place! You just killed someone!"

Ashborn's face showed no remorse "It was in self-defense, even law is on my side being kidnapped, imprisoned and all" he said simply "And why are you even talking back? you should have said 'yes, sir' and walked away."

Pat Dugan, standing firmly behind Courtney, shook his head "We can't just walk away. We can't leave everyone like this."

Ashborn sighed, as if their persistence genuinely bored him "You know, there's no shame in walking away," he said. "These barbaric idiots dragged you into this situation, you are victims. Besides..." he added, a small smirk appearing on his face, "even Amazo couldn't beat me. What could the two of you possibly do? Just go. You don't need to see what I'm about to do next. It's not going to be a pleasant sight."

Ashborn's words shook Pat and forced him to rethink his actions. In the end, Pat glanced at Courtney, his heart heavy with the decision he was about to make. Then, with sudden resolve, he grabbed her by the arm and flung her through the purple gate.

"Close it!" Pat barked.

Ashborn obliged, and the portal snapped shut with a sound like a thunderclap.

Pat turned back, raising his arms, preparing to fight, only to be immediately frozen again by another simple wave of Ashborn's hand.

Ashborn looked at him with a calm expression "Since you insist, I'll allow you to be a witness to this," he said. "And I will still spare you on behalf of your daughter."

Pat could only glare helplessly as Ashborn's gaze turned next toward Wonder Woman.