Let’s Chat for a Bit!

Without hesitation, Clark took off, soaring toward the Kryptonian ship.

But when he arrived outside the ship, he didn't see Cyborg behind him…

He paused, turned around, and glanced in the direction of Cyborg's home.

Ah, right—at this point, Cyborg still couldn't control his flight very well. He was flying clumsily, even stumbling a bit…

Seeing this, Clark turned back, grabbed Cyborg, and flew directly to the base with him.

Meanwhile, inside the ship, Flash—who had been tinkering with a robot like a clueless kid—looked up in surprise at the open dome passage leading to the conference room…

Superman and Cyborg stood side by side at the edge of the sky, exchanging a deep glance with Flash.

Under their gaze, Flash awkwardly placed the small robot in his arms on the ground, then clasped his hands behind his back.

"Uh, hi! I'm the Flash!

This… there's no rule against playing with robots, right? I really wasn't planning to dismantle them!"

"Cough, cough!"

Hearing Flash's reckless idea about dismantling Kryptonian robots, Clark cleared his throat lightly and landed on the ground with Cyborg.

Then he walked straight up to Flash and greeted him.

"Hey, I'm Clark, and this is Victor. Nice to meet you!"

"Emmm, I thought we were supposed to use codenames.

But then again, I didn't know who you were before, yet you knew who I was—that's not fair.

But now that you've introduced yourselves, I know who you are, Mr. Clark.

So I should reintroduce myself, right?"

As he spoke, he suddenly ripped off his helmet, revealing his face to Clark and Victor.

Then, in a flash, he put his mask back on and simultaneously grabbed Clark's and Victor's right hands with his own!

"I'm Barry Allen. Just call me Barry, but don't do that in front of strangers—I don't want everyone knowing I'm that kid from Central City!"

"So fast!!!"

Cyborg stared in shock at his own right hand. He could feel the touch, but from the outside, Barry was shaking hands with both him and Superman at the same time!

In that brief moment, Cyborg suddenly felt a surge of confidence in the Justice League.

Even this incredibly chatty and overly eager member had such incredible power!

Hearing Victor's words, Flash immediately flashed an embarrassed smile.

"Just average, I guess. Speed's probably my only real strength—I can't compare to you!"

As he spoke, Flash looked enviously at Cyborg's face and body.

It wasn't until Cyborg was nearly driven to anger by his gaze that Flash said wistfully,

"You're so cool—Power Rangers, Transformers, G.I. Joe, Bumblebee—you're all of them!!!"

As he spoke, Flash even reached out to touch him.

The gesture startled Cyborg, who took two steps back.

Though it was sudden, Flash's genuine enthusiasm actually made Cyborg feel more at ease.

When you're surrounded by so many monsters, you start to feel normal, no longer a monster yourself…

Seeing Cyborg and Flash getting along well, Clark nodded in satisfaction.

"Great, you've met. If you're free, why not help me with some repairs around the base?

And if something comes up here, as long as you can keep up, you can handle it with me.

Also…"

At this point, Clark gave Flash a deep look, then warned sternly,

"Try not to piss off Grandpa Zeus. He's pretty chill, but he does have a temper!"

As he finished, Clark spread his hands, making a helpless expression.

"Like just now—you've seen it, right…"

"OK, I'll try. I know I talk too much, I'll work on it.

Honestly, I've been trying to hold back, but sometimes I just can't stop thinking, and I want to say everything I'm thinking.

Like right now—I just wanted to prove I could control my mouth, but I ended up saying too much again.

I'll change!"

"Heh, that's probably a speedster's flaw. When I was young, I couldn't perfectly control my abilities either.

Back then, because I was faster and stronger than others, I loved being active, and I talked just as much as you.

After all, in our eyes, the world can slow down so much, right?"

Clark explained softly to Flash, then picked up a nearby pipe and started working.

"But I found a way. If you want to calm down, just find something to do, like me.

Keep doing one thing continuously, keep thinking about one thing, and focus your attention more."

"OK!"

The three of them got to work immediately. Though they'd just met, they felt surprisingly natural together.

After all, people like them—so unlike ordinary folks—were the true kindred spirits in this ordinary world…

…

Meanwhile…

…

Mercy Bay, Maine, USA.

At the port, a bewildered Arthur Curry turned back helplessly.

"Is that Batman?"

He muttered to himself.

"Hope he's in the wrong place. Otherwise, that jerk always brings trouble!"

As he spoke, he returned to the bar and sat back in his seat.

Beside him, his father raised his glass and gestured to him.

"What's up? That guy outside?"

"That freakin' mutant bat from Gotham, ugh."

"Oh? That Batman guy?"

"Yeah!"

Arthur frowned and downed a large glass of whiskey, not caring that his beard was soaked with it.

Setting down the glass, he sighed.

Hearing his sigh, his father chuckled and patted his shoulder.

"Kid, don't mope. If he's some so-called superhero, then so are you. No need to envy him!"

"No way, I'd never envy someone so weird-looking."

Arthur quickly shook his head, but his father just laughed.

After a while, his father seemed to have laughed enough. He slung an arm around his son's shoulder and said softly,

"I know you too well, kid. You're envious of him, envious that he gets to be called a hero.

But you can be one too, kid. You're always the hero of Amnesty Bay, the hero of all the fishermen out there."

Hearing his father's words, Arthur frowned, seeming to care, and shook his head.

"Forget it, I'm not in the mood to be any hero, heh."

"But some things won't go your way, kid.

I can feel it—lately, there are more and more monsters in the world.

Those aliens scared the hell out of me. I wanted you to help out then.

Then Superman showed up.

But with Superman around, the trouble didn't stop—it got more frequent.

That Doomsday a few days ago, ugh, it was all over the news.

And having Superman wasn't enough—a god showed up!

That sunlight that night—I still can't forget it!"

"Heh, that's all useless stuff. Who knows if he's really a god!

You know, in those ordinary folks' eyes, I'm called a sea god too, but you and I know what I really am."

At this, Arthur grinned widely, shaking his head.

"I don't care what the outside world is like. As long as I'm here, nothing will ever go wrong in Mercy Bay.

No demons, ghosts, or superheroes can run wild on my turf!"

Whoosh!!!

As soon as he finished speaking, a rainbow flash of light streaked past the nearby window.

The light silenced the entire bar.

Next, all the drinkers turned to Arthur—everyone had heard what he'd just said.

And Arthur…

He set down his glass, wiped the whiskey from his mouth with his right hand.

Then he suddenly stood up and strode toward where the rainbow light had faded—toward Batman!

Pushing open the bar door, he jogged over. When the Batman in front of him raised his right hand in greeting, he said,

"Arthur Curry, admirer of Batman, I…?!"

Boom!!!

Before Batman could finish, Arthur leaped and slammed him hard into the ground.

"Fk, you jerk!

Relying on that so-called rainbow to come and go in Amnesty Bay—you think this is your Gotham, where you can come and go as you please?

Batman!!!"

Bam!

He punched Batman hard in the face. Before Batman could react, the sudden attack left him dazed.

Struggling to shake off the dizziness, Batman reached for his electric net to zap Arthur.

But Arthur suddenly let him go.

"Let's talk inside the bar, asshole!"

"You…"

"What 'you'?!"

Whoosh…

Arthur actually grabbed Batman's chest plate and hauled him into the bar with one hand.

Amid the stunned gazes of the drinkers, Arthur slammed Batman against the wall, gripping his neck with his right hand.

"Now, tell me why you're here!"

"Cough, cough!!!"

Bruce coughed violently. He'd imagined many scenarios, but never this.

Arthur Curry was even more volatile than he'd thought!

Or rather, being impulsive made him easier to handle!

Batman reached up and patted Arthur's hand gripping his neck.

"Let go, or I can't talk!"

Hearing Batman, Arthur glanced at his father nearby. His father nodded, frowning.

Thud!!!

Arthur let go, and Batman fell to the ground.

Moments later, Bruce stood up. He set down the box he'd brought, straightened his chest plate, and said to Arthur,

"You know what's happened these past few days, right?"

"Of course. Monsters came, Kryptonians stepped up, a god appeared, the sun rose—then what?"

"Then, unfortunately, that sun god brought bad news.

Our Earth is facing threats from stronger, more numerous, and more evil life forms!"

"What's that got to do with me?"

"Because you're the chosen one, Arthur!

I, Superman, Wonder Woman—we've formed a team with the sun god.

A Justice League to fight for Earth's survival!"

Boom!!!

As Bruce finished, Arthur grabbed him again and slammed him aside.

As Bruce struggled to his feet, Arthur stood before him, looking down into his eyes.

"You shouldn't ask a son to step into the most dangerous battlefield in front of his father!

You shouldn't propose in Amnesty Bay that I fight for everyone!

Because you know I can't refuse your request—because I can't stand by while my father and the people here face the danger you speak of!"

At this, Arthur suddenly knocked on Bruce's chest plate.

"Is that what you're thinking, huh? But you're wrong!

I don't care about Earth, I don't care about you, and I'm not in the mood for your nonsense!

Now, get out!"

"Are you sure? The box I brought has three million dollars—that's just for you to meet the sun god once."

"Wait!"

Arthur froze. He looked at the rundown bar, then at his father's worn clothes, and thought about the 22-year-old pickup truck they'd driven to the bar…

…

After a long silence, Arthur asked softly,

"Three million?"

"Three million, and more if needed!"

"Fk!"

Arthur smiled.

"When do we leave? But I'm not doing this for the money—like I said, I can't stand by while my father and neighbors are in danger!"

"Of course, I understand. We can leave now!"

As he spoke, Bruce smiled in satisfaction, then extended his right hand.

"Sun god, I've completed the recruitment. Take me back!"

As his words fell, even Arthur tensed up, let alone the others in the bar.

So that rainbow light was the god's doing?

Arthur quickly tossed Batman's box to his father, then anxiously waited for the rainbow bridge to appear…

But…

Bruce paused, withdrew his hand, then raised it again.

"Heisenberg?!"

…

After a long silence, Bruce looked at Arthur, his face sinking.

"Plan B. Let's sit down and chat for a bit. I'll send a plane to pick us up!"