Please Slap My Face
After Barry left, Bruce opened the files he'd left behind and pulled out the first image he'd selected.
It was a written record detailing the Amazons' initial response to Darkseid's invasion.
According to the record, in the 6139th year of the Golden Age, the Amazons noticed the sky, once veiled by the gods, was now shrouded in dark clouds.
With the darkness came flames falling from the heavens and scorching heat.
Countless ships descended from beyond the stars, their numbers nearly enveloping the entire Earth. The air grew thick with the stench of sulfur, leaving no breath untainted.
On that same day, Hermes was captured by Darkseid, imprisoned for three days before escaping.
Athena descended upon Themyscira, rallying the Amazon warriors, while Poseidon arrived in Atlantis, urging the sea warriors to prepare for landfall.
Zeus summoned his brothers and even his elders—the Titans.
The Titans were reluctant to heed Zeus's call, but when the remnants of Uranus were devoured by the Parademons and Typhon's blood splattered at Darkseid's feet, they followed Gaia's will.
Led by the Titans, Zeus's forces engaged Darkseid in a protracted war of attrition.
The battle ignited on Earth, its flames spreading across the solar system and affecting half of the Milky Way, prompting the Green Lantern Corps to send reinforcements.
Over three hundred Lanterns joined the fight, with the final clash spanning half the galaxy. The Parademons began their expansion on Earth, and the war had long since spilled beyond its boundaries.
Yet, due to some force symbolizing opposition, Darkseid's armies remained fixated on Earth. The gods, led by Ares, resolved to make their final stand there.
The galaxy-wide war transformed Ares and Athena into beings of unparalleled power. The demands of life elevated the gods to a new echelon.
Artemis, the huntress, pierced Darkseid's flagship with her arrows, while Zeus's lightning shattered the unified Mother Box into pieces.
Ares, strengthened beyond measure by the war, severed Darkseid's weapon, nearly cleaving him in two.
But the trillions of Parademons ultimately provided Darkseid an escape route.
…
Bruce set down the camera, his brow furrowing deeply.
The greatest threat wasn't Darkseid himself—a powerhouse like him could be countered by Heisenberg and his own traps.
But the sheer might of the Parademon legions under his command was terrifying!
And it wasn't just the Parademons. In the war carvings Bruce had studied, he'd seen countless monstrous varieties: giant apes, malformed tentacle beasts, three-headed dragons—trouble, immense trouble!
Bruce took a deep breath and looked to the sky.
"I cannot allow the war to ignite on Earth. Even if we win, the planet will suffer irreparable harm!
I hope he arrives slower than expected. I must find a way to ensure the battle takes place beyond the stars!
And the most crucial step is to uncover what's drawing Darkseid here!"
At this, Bruce picked up the stone tablet inscribed with text, rubbing two letters vigorously.
"A force symbolizing opposition—is this truly why Darkseid came to Earth?
What kind of opposition? What does it oppose? What's the complete word, and what does it signify?
Only with this information can I craft a targeted bait.
To lure Darkseid and his main forces beyond the stars, allowing Heisenberg and our vanguard to strike directly at his core.
With the traps we've prepared, we must halt Darkseid's advance in the heavens, sparing Earth from the ravages of war!"
His thoughts crystallized, Bruce ignored the encroaching night, tirelessly organizing and analyzing the new data.
The existing records still held untapped potential, and beyond the Amazon archives, he needed the Atlantean records for cross-referencing.
Additionally, he had to travel to Europe to gather myths and legends about King Arthur, which likely contained fragments of humanity's ancient battle records!
The files Bruce compiled grew thicker by the hour. Facing the impending doom and the potential devastation of Earth,
the pressure on him was immense!
…
Zenith Arena.
A bolt of lightning struck, sending Barry tumbling out of the fray. He lay on the ground, wailing pitifully!
As he rolled to a stop, he realized his left leg was gone!
His thigh had been severed at the root, blood gushing like a fountain. In an instant, Barry was drenched in his own blood!
In the arena's stands, Amazon warriors filled every seat, even cramming into the gaps between them.
Watching Barry's plight and hearing his cries, the warriors erupted in excited roars!
This was it—the raw, visceral combat they craved. The Amazons never flinched at the sight of blood.
On the contrary, they reveled in it, thirsting for more!
At the center of their cheers, Heisenberg held Barry's severed leg, his expression cold as he approached.
"Barry Allen!
I've said it before: you're the Flash, not Legman!
Even without your legs, you shouldn't lose all combat effectiveness!
Your legs have been severed seventeen times now, and still, you fail to compensate or counter after each loss!
Is wailing over your stumps your only response to a superior opponent?
Do you think your cries will bring me down?"
Heisenberg tossed Barry's leg beside him. Under the control of the bio-force field, the limb reattached to the stump.
Moments later, sunlight bathed the arena, and Barry's wound healed instantly, though his face remained deathly pale from blood loss.
Sighing, Heisenberg turned to Victor, who was repairing his own shattered skull nearby.
"Victor, take Barry to eat. It seems we'll need to stock an entire warehouse of food before we can take him into battle."
"Yes, Master!"
Steelbone, already deeply respectful of Heisenberg, acted without hesitation.
Even with his own brain in pieces, he set aside the components and carried Barry away.
Barry, tears in his eyes, lay in Victor's embrace, struggling to speak.
"Put me down. I can walk myself!"
"Master's orders. We'll do as told!"
"But your parts are all broken! They're digging into me!!!"
Barry's wails grew more pitiful, causing Victor to pause briefly.
Moments later, Victor grimaced.
"Deal with it!"
The two headed toward the stands, where warriors had prepared food and drink.
Set down by Victor, Barry was propped up by the warriors, devouring meat and fish.
One even fed him enthusiastically.
Unlike his earlier demeanor, Barry was too distraught to care about the warriors crowding around him.
Thinking of the countless battles ahead with Heisenberg, even his thigh muscles began to tremble.
In just one afternoon, his legs had been severed over a dozen times!
Torn off, chopped off, twisted off, even yanked off!
Whenever his molecular phasing faltered, Heisenberg exploited the opening to cripple his legs.
Barry wanted to beg Heisenberg:
"Boss, hit my face instead! Please, hit my face!!!"
Noticing Barry's increasingly pained expression, the warrior feeding him suddenly smiled.
She threw her arms around him, pressing him between her ample chest.
"Hero, don't be discouraged. You're already incredibly strong—even Hermes might not outspeed you!
You merely faced a god. Losing to a deity doesn't tarnish your honor!"
She planted a firm kiss on Barry's cheek.
Stunned, Barry could see nothing but softness.
Meanwhile, the warrior grabbed his hand, whispering:
"Give me a child. I yearn for one with your speed. In my eyes, your speed surpasses even Atlantis's water-dwellers!!!"
"Forget it. Hernandi, Atlantis's burly warrior is our true Amazon ideal!"
Nearby, a warrior sitting beside Arthur argued on his behalf.
"Look at his muscles, his tattoos! I'm getting the same design tonight!
Muscles are a warrior's greatest romance. My child must be like him—yours is too scrawny!"
"He bears divine traits. His speed reminds me of Hermes!"
"Arthur feels like Poseidon reincarnated to me!"
"As Athena's daughter, I'm ashamed you're drawn to the sea's offspring!"
"The sea's offspring are divine too. I admire men like Arthur—pure men!"
She leaned in to kiss Arthur, but he dodged coldly.
"Enough bickering, damn it! Diana's my focus. I need to figure out how to fight him!!!"
Arthur growled, his eyes fixed anxiously on the arena.
Diana had improved significantly in the past hours, her evasive maneuvers and strikes sharper, her footwork more agile.
But Heisenberg inevitably seized her throat, snapping her neck once more.
Crack!!!
The sound of breaking bones made Clark, sitting nearby, swallow hard. It was a fate he'd endured all day!
Noticing her lover's unease, Lois wiped her makeup and clung to Clark's arm.
"Clark, what do we do? If Arthur dies again, it'll be your turn!"
"Damn it, why must I die again? I'll win, I'll crush him!!!"
Nearby, Arthur stood, his face grim. Taking two steps, he froze, embarrassed.
His legs were weak.
He stomped his feet, then resumed his march toward the arena, clenching his fists for encouragement.
"I can do this. I must endure until the end!!!"
"Ha, Arthur, your turn, right?"
Heisenberg smirked, his grin erasing Arthur's resolve.
What had he just said?
"I can do this?"
"I must endure?"
"I must die?!?!"
Facing the predatory Heisenberg, Arthur's face fell.
I'm truly doomed!!!