The Monster Behind The Smile

"You," Ashborn said "Daughter and princess of the rapists' island... how does it feel to be like this? Just like how your island loves their sperm donors, helpless and tied."

Wonder Woman, who was now allowed to speak, spat with fury, "You'll pay for every insult and every action. I'll rip you apart personally."

Ashborn didn't interrupt her, simply letting her rage boil over.

"To the very end, you insist on this," he said with disappointment "If you can't be a model, then I'll make you into an example."

Without another word, Ashborn opened another purple gate and stepped through it, vanishing from the hall. Confusion spread across Wonder Woman's face, but she held her glare, unyielding.

Moments later, Ashborn returned, dragging a woman by the hair. The woman kicked and screamed, her voice shrill with outrage.

Ashborn threw her down in front of Wonder Woman with a careless motion.

The room seemed to freeze. The angry woman on the floor raised her head and Wonder Woman's fierce expression crumbled.

"Diana?" the woman gasped.

Wonder Woman recoiled, horror creeping into her features "Mother?" she whispered.

Before she could even process what she was seeing, blood sprayed across her face. Her mother's head, severed cleanly, toppled forward and her body collapsed to the ground.

Wonder Woman stared, numb, as her mother's lifeless form pooled blood around her.

Ashborn's voice came, heavy and lamenting "The life she led and the daughter she raised... made her head and torso separate in sadness."

A scream tore from Wonder Woman's throat, her eyes blazing red with unspeakable rage.

"I'll kill you!" she roared. "I swear, when I'm free, I'll tear you apart!"

Ashborn chuckled darkly "Unlike you and your disgusting island," he said, "I am a generous, open-minded individual who truly believes in gender equality."

With a casual gesture, he lifted the binding from her.

"Draw your sword, princess of the rapist island" he said, his voice almost gleeful.

Wonder Woman drew her sword with a snarl of rage and charged at Ashborn with all her fury. Ashborn didn't even seem fazed; he casually stepped to the side, his hand flickering forward to catch her by her hair mid-swing.

With the same mocking smile on his face, he drove his knee into her back, the impact sending her flying across the ground. Strands of her dark hair were left in his hand as she crashed hard against the metal ground.

"Oops," Ashborn said lightly, examining the hair strands.

"The hair is a lady's crown or something like that..." He snapped the strands between his fingers.

"Oh, right. You're no lady. Just another piece of filth. I almost feel like burning my hand"

Wonder Woman staggered to her feet, a thin trickle of blood running from the spot where her hair had been ripped.

With another furious scream, she charged again. Ashborn effortlessly deflected her sword strike once more and answered with a brutal punch straight to her face.

Wonder Woman was flung back again, her nose shattering with a sickening crunch.

Yet she stood immediately, blood pouring from her nose but her determination didn't waver. She attacked again.

This time, Ashborn drew his purple sword. Her blade met his and snapped like it was made of brittle glass. Before she could react, he struck her with the back of his sword's handle, knocking her down once again.

The remaining heroes, still bound and helpless, watched in horror. One of Earth's greatest champions was being beaten mercilessly and Ashborn just kept smiling that mocking smile.

Ashborn casually drove his sword into the ground. "I won't allow anyone to say I bullied you with a sword," he said "Stand up, Diana of the rapists island. Don't forget your mother and her teachings! What she stood for! and why we are doing this!"

Wonder Woman staggered to her feet again, her vision blurred by blood and rage. With a growling scream, she hurled herself at him.

Ashborn met her charge head-on. He didn't block, he dodged each of her blows with almost lazy ease, retaliating with savage punches and brutal slams. Her lips cracked, blood trickling down her chin. Bruises bloomed across her body like ugly flowers. At every chance, Ashborn grabbed her by the hair, using it as a handle to slam her face-first into the ground.

Minutes passed. Finally, Wonder Woman stood again, barely. Her body trembled under the weight of her injuries. She gasped for air, blood dripping from her nose, her mouth, and multiple wounds.

Ashborn, still untouched, tilted his head with faint amusement "You lived so long, trained so hard," he said "But in the end, you're just another thug. A brute who's good at beating those weaker than you."

Wonder Woman, panting heavily, snarled back, "Stay still... let's see how tough you really are."

Ashborn chuckled darkly.

"Fine," he said. "I won't move."

Wonder Woman roared and charged one more time, putting everything she had left into a devastating punch. Her fist slammed into his face with a colossal shockwave that shook the entire mountain.

The instant after, her eyes widened in horror. Ashborn stood unmoving looking her, completely unharmed, with the same mocking look.

"I forgot to mention," Ashborn said, his voice dripping with false regret "I am invulnerable. More so than Superman… and I am actually a lot stronger."

Before she could reply, Ashborn casually swung his arm in a horizontal arc. Wonder Woman tried to block but the force behind the blow was unimaginable.

Her arms shattered instantly under the impact. Her ribs crumpled as she was sent rocketing backward, crashing through the wall and flying outside the mountain, disappearing from sight.

Ashborn chuckled, shaking his head in amusement "Unfortunately for her," he said, "she didn't die instantly. Now she has to go through a slow, agonizing death."

The watching heroes, still bound and helpless, were horrified. The casual way Ashborn had destroyed her… Combined with his strange powers, the binding spell, the purple sword, and now this unearthly strength and durability, they were starting to believe him. He might truly be stronger than Amazo.

Ashborn turned his gaze next to Batman. He spoke in the same amused tone

"So, oh Great Detective? Did you get your answers? Where I'm getting the magical items from? Why I am immune to things that can affect you? Your theory was a good one, I will give you that, but you still got it wrong. And now, everyone's death is because of your arrogance."

Ashborn lifted the binding from Batman completely, allowing him to move.

Batman didn't attack. He stood still, tense, calculating every word.

"You're some sort of a magician, a very powerful one at that" Batman said slowly "And you're the creator of these items. You lied, you didn't buy them from someone else. But why? Why hide it all along? To what end if not for committing crimes?"

"That's your problem. And everyone else's," he said. "You all think that having power means it must be used, to be a hero or a villain. I simply don't enjoy it. Violence and fighting are boring. The outcome is predictable, often messy. Talking, discussing, arguing, that's interesting. That's unpredictable to me."

Then he gestured casually at the surroundings.

"This is why I avoid picking fights and why I always limited myself to simple weapons and basic martial arts. I restrained myself to no more than a healthy human's strength the whole time." he added with a smirk "Why do you really think I haven't gone all out to get rid of you when I had a chance in the court?"

Ashborn stepped closer, voice turning colder.

"The only reason I turned a blind eye to your antics was because the Justice League is the Watchdogs of this planet, and without you and the rest of the heroes, I would have to step in from time to time to fight for this planet, I can't have my home and planet destroyed or conquered. But I hate fighting, I truly despise the thought of war and conquer. Earth isn't capable of protecting itself properly. That's why I ignored you. Why I supported Cadmus, if your so-called heroes started causing worldwide chaos, someone else would handle it and take your place while I continue enjoying my peaceful life."

He paused, looking over the battered heroes "But not only did you do your jobs inadequately multiple times and I was dragged into your mess… You even colluded together to annoy me when I was keeping to myself for the most part"

Batman remained silent, his mind a whirlwind of racing thoughts. Ashborn's words, as chaotic and cold as they were, fit too many of the inconsistencies Batman had uncovered about him over the years.

Inwardly, Batman cursed him. 

[If you just wanted to live like a strange asshole and enjoy yourself,] Batman thought bitterly, [then why hide? Why not just answer the damn questions and get along with your life? Why create all this confusion, these misunderstandings? This doesn't bring you peace!! Only trouble!!]

And now look where they are. They had gathered everyone here, expecting a major battle against the shadow monsters, a mysterious enemy they had prepared so much for, an enemy that forced them to hide their people, and instead, they ended up facing another monster altogether.

One was as bad and they were ill prepared against him. And the shadow creatures weren't even involved in this, at least not yet.

Ashborn raised his hand slowly, the air crackling around him. A violet-purple light engulfed his hand, swirling and flashing in a menacing glow.

He spoke, his voice calm and detached "Once I clench my hand, everyone here will have their hearts crushed. It'll be the end." 

Ashborn's gaze remained on Batman as he asked "Any last words?" 

Batman's heart pounded. Thinking fast, he said urgently, "You don't have to do this."

"Actually, I do, I like to keep my current slow life as is and you have too much ego to just let go and leave me be" 

Ashborn's fingers began to slowly close into a fist.

Immediately, Batman felt something unseen graze his heart, an icy grip wrapping around it. He gritted his teeth against the sharp, burning pain that followed, it was different from anything he had felt before, his mind couldn't describe the sensation he was experiencing at that moment. Around him, the other frozen heroes were reacting too, their bodies twitching uncontrollably.

And then... Ashborn stopped.

The purple glow dimmed slightly as Ashborn relaxed his hand. He tilted his head to the side, his glowing eyes suddenly shining even brighter, burning like twin purple stars.

Batman sucked in a breath, chest heaving slightly. He watched Ashborn carefully.

Ashborn remained staring for a few seconds before turning his gaze back toward Batman, his voice low and cutting.

"Lucky you," he said "Someone spoke on your behalf. You'll live... this time."

He took a step forward, his tone growing darker, heavier.

"But if this happens a second time, if my life is interrupted" Ashborn said "I will find the people you hold closest… and skin them right in front of you."

He let the words hang in the air, heavy and merciless "Starting with your son," Ashborn continued, voice ice-cold "then his bitch of a mother. Then your dear English butler. And the adopted ones won't be spared either."

Ashborn's eyes scanned the other heroes coldly.

"The same goes for the rest of you tribal brutes. Listen well: you can conspire, scheme, and prepare for every catastrophe imaginable, but it will never be enough. Not against me. I know your names. I know those you cherish. Bury them underground, send them beyond the stars, or tuck them away in some distant realm, it makes no difference. I will find them. Always."

Ashborn lifted his hand again. With a casual wave the gun, the blue dagger, and his two arm guards flew back toward him.

A gate of swirling purple energy opened behind him, crackling with a faint hum.

"This is my last mercy to you all"

With that, Ashborn stepped through the portal and vanished from sight.

The bindings on the heroes snapped and dissolved at last, leaving them free but utterly shaken.