Do Not Force Me, Transcendent!

The First Redemption Church sent a message. 'Redemption,' regarded as God's messenger by billions of Catholic believers on Earth, requested a meeting with the 'Transcendent,' who had saved the world multiple times, to discuss the handling of the Psionic Pirate mask.

"The grassland is vast, no need to worry about damaging anything, and there are no cameras. If anything happens, it would be the perfect battleground."

Aquaman shook his head, a bad feeling stirring from the location chosen for the meeting.

"Maybe he just genuinely wants to keep the mask safe as a precaution?"

Flash shrunk his head and whispered a possibility.

But the others were clearly not as optimistic as he was, especially Batman, who never trusted anyone. He tapped the table.

"Regardless, the mask must not be handed over to him."

He knew the mask had already been returned by David to the Amazon tribe on Themyscira. As the Amazon tribe, who had guarded the Mother Box of Apokolips for countless years, he felt more at ease with the mask being there than with the sudden appearance of 'Redemption.'

Besides 'Redemption,' the First Redemption Church was just a Catholic sect funded by some wealthy individuals, with no power to protect the mask.

"I've found some subtle clues about the pastor named Haituo Hua. He once spoke about his experiences during a sermon, mentioning participating in a meat grinder-like battlefield. Some details, combined with his age, suggest it was likely World War II."

Cyborg frowned.

"Give me more time, and I might be able to find his detailed origins."

A priest who participated in World War II.

David knew they had discussed this last time. There wasn't much to dig into regarding 'Redemption'; his life story was easily traceable, with corroboration from neighbors, teachers, and classmates. Before joining the First Redemption Church, he was just an ordinary person devoted to God.

"It was the mysterious 'Haituo Hua' who found the true gold amidst a pile of sand, transforming Jarrod into God's messenger 'Redemption.' This person, with no traceable past, is full of suspicious points."

"The meeting with 'Redemption' is tomorrow morning. Is there still time?"

Hal Jordan coughed and asked.

He hadn't really cared about 'Redemption' before. He was never one to worry about tomorrow's events, but the trend 'Redemption' was showing had the potential to shake the world.

A mysterious meeting, all for a special mask that would drive any religious fanatic to madness.

"There was no internet back during World War II..."

Cyborg's expression was troubled.

To be honest, he wasn't confident he could find Haituo Hua's true identity within a day, sifting through the vast sea of online information with only a few vague clues. Moreover, Haituo Hua's identity might not even be recorded online.

"It's alright."

David slowly stood up.

"No matter who he is or what his purpose is, he will have to use 'Redemption' as a tool. In the end, it all comes down to strength."

He wanted to see how much 'Redemption's' power had grown after becoming famous worldwide.

Clark and the others knew that if nothing unexpected happened tomorrow, there might be a battle between the two of them. No one else could help him in that fight. Tomorrow's battle might be a clash between the two strongest humans.

...

In the quiet depths of the night, starlight streamed through the large glass windows into the church.

'Redemption,' Jarrod, clad in a blue battle suit, his tall, sculpted body like carved marble, knelt before the pulpit, a hint of confusion on his brow as he prayed with quiet devotion.

"I know carrying the beliefs of so many people puts a lot of pressure on your heart."

An old, gentle voice drifted over. Haituo Hua, dressed in a robe, emerged from the brightly lit bedroom at the back of the church, holding a cup of hot tea.

"Would you like some tea? Tea can calm the nerves."

"No, thank you, Father."

Redemption's voice was strained.

"It's not just the expectations of others, but the faith of the congregation placed in me towards the Lord. My current power has been amplified to an unimaginable extent. I'm afraid to even speak loudly now, lest I shatter the houses and people before me. This is more dangerous than what happened with Yasir last time."

Last time, with Yasir, he couldn't control his suddenly surging power, causing a military base and hundreds of lives to vanish from this world.

This time, it wasn't just the surge in power; compared to the increased strength, the energy he originally possessed was negligible, like a rabbit suddenly gaining the strength of an elephant.

"I am very sorry about Yasir. We never intended for that to happen."

Haituo Hua took a slow sip of his tea.

"But you must use patience and faith to control your power. Child, you and I have relied on each other and walked through the most difficult path. Now that the dawn has suddenly appeared, it is the Lord's revelation. Are we so weak that we would ignore His help?"

"We'll soon have the chance to spread the Lord's glory throughout the entire world, as long as we retrieve that mask.

Not to disappoint the Lord's gaze upon us, the Lord is watching us."

Hearing this, 'Redemption' straightened his body, a hint of excitement gradually appearing on his face.

His abilities were precisely the Lord's gifts, his descent to the human world was the Lord's will, and, as Father Haituo Hua had said, he was an envoy chosen by the Lord to spread the gospel.

"What are these compared to the trials of faith that Abraham and Isaac endured from the Lord?"

Haituo Hua chuckled lightly, shaking his head.

At this, a fervent devotion surged in 'Redemption's' eyes, like a devout defender ready to become a martyr at any moment.

This was a reference from the Bible, where God tested Abraham's faith by asking him to take his only son, Isaac, and his wife to a mountain three days journey away and personally kill him as a sacrifice.

When the young Isaac followed his father, who had brought no lamb for the sacrifice to God, to the mountain, he saw his father raise the dagger and realized what was about to happen. Yet, without a trace of resistance, he obediently bowed his head in devotion.

The loyalty of the two passed the test. Just as the tragedy was about to unfold, an angel appeared to stop it, and from then on, the Lord's gaze continued to watch over them.

"I once participated in humanity's most brutal war.

When my comrades and I were ordered to push forward on a German front line, we left behind tens of thousands of corpses, yet still couldn't break through that front."

By the window, Haituo Hua held a cup of black tea in one hand, his finger tracing the cold windowsill, gazing at the ground bathed in moonlight that poured down like frost.

He seemed to have returned to that cruel, ruthless, and desperate cold night. When over twenty thousand German soldiers, brandishing their guns, launched a surprise night attack like demons, their defenses crumbled instantly, and everyone was about to die under the muzzles of their guns.

"Beneath the fire spewing from the gun barrels, in the trench, I knelt on the ground, trembling all over, weeping and praying to God to let me live, to return home and see my parents again.

In my despair… the Lord unsparingly cast his gaze down, and a miracle happened!"

His praying palms bloomed with a blue light, dazzling and sacred. After that, the light illuminated the entire battlefield.

"Under the Lord's protection, I survived that meat grinder of a battlefield.

After that, I vowed to spread the Lord's radiance to every corner of this world!"

His eyes blazed with blue light. Reflected in the glass, he looked like a powerful angel beneath God's throne, emanating a sacred might.

"Until the last moment of my death, my faith in the Lord never wavered, and I passed His test.

Tomorrow might be the Lord's test for you, Jarrod."

Haituo Hua took a sip of tea and turned his gaze back.

"You don't need to undergo the same trials as Abraham, and you are luckier than I am, not having to face death."

Redemption trembled all over, clenching his fists. It was as if he saw a corner of the heavenly gate open to him. His voice was deep and powerful.

"Father, I understand. I will retrieve that mask."

"You are the energy, and I am the engine. We are the two chosen by the Lord to change the world. No matter how many thorns, hardships, and trials lie ahead on our path, I will hold firm to the Lord's faith!"

"Very good. After you depart tomorrow morning.

I will, as always, lead the congregation in praying for you."

Haituo Hua's eyes glowed brighter, as if in response. Jarrod's body also emitted a powerful blue radiance, like a blue sun containing infinite energy.

"——To help you fulfill the Lord's will!"

...

Amidst the heat, a cool breeze swept through grass half a man's height. Hyenas, leopards, even lions and elephants could occasionally be seen passing through the savanna.

Redemption hovered in the air with his arms crossed, his eyes closed. The powerful life magnetic field emanating from him made even the most ferocious predators on the savanna tremble and retreat. Dozens of meters away, a herd of elephants raised their trunks, trumpeting in fear, and suddenly retreated.

The herd of elephants, which had never encountered natural predators on the African savanna, now seemed to be fleeing at the first sign of danger.

"You're late."

Suddenly, he opened his eyes and looked up at the sky.

"It's been half an hour since our agreed time."

A dense purple light emanated from his body as he slowly descended from the sky. David, clad in Shazam's purple battle suit with a golden lightning symbol on his chest, made him look like a majestic deity. His hands were clasped behind his back.

"It's quite something that I could make it at all.

Did I ever say I would definitely accept your meeting?"

Hundreds of meters away, Clark, Diana, Batman, and Cyborg landed nearby, their expressions grave and ready for battle.

"The Transcendent delayed their departure by half an hour, giving me time, but I still haven't found any information about Haituo Hua."

Cyborg was somewhat annoyed and frustrated.

Both Batman and he had a premonition that the mysterious Father Haituo Hua might be the key to the situation.

"Perhaps his personal information has long been secretly sealed by his country in written records."

Batman furrowed his brow, proposing a possible comfort to Cyborg.

They had searched for clues Haituo Hua had revealed during his sermons. He had once said that on the battlefield, the Lord's mercy had favored him unprecedentedly, allowing him to survive, which made him realize he had a mission.

What kind of situation could be called the Lord's unprecedented mercy? It was likely that something very unusual had happened to Haituo Hua on the battlefield, perhaps leading his country to seal his records.

"Now all we can do is rely on David."

"I'm not sure if we'll be able to help later."

Watching the two figures confronting each other across half a mile, Clark clenched his fist. The last time Redemption appeared, his speed had surpassed Clark's. He wondered how much Redemption's power had grown and if David could handle him.

"I hope that guy isn't too powerful," Hal Jordan said, unsure of what else to say.

Had any other Lanterns encountered a situation like his?

He couldn't even solve problems within his own planet, let alone deal with interstellar affairs, relying on his teammates to maintain world peace.

"I think as long as that guy's speed doesn't exceed mine, I should be able to help the Transcendent in the fight."

The Flash twisted his wrist.

"Where is the mask of the person who attacked Metropolis?

Transcendent."

Recalling his gaze from the Justice League members in the distance, Redemption casually dropped his arms, looking like a lion ready to pounce. His voice was cold and sharp.

"You must hand it over. It's dangerous."

"You don't need to worry about whether it's dangerous or not.

I'm curious why you're asking for it."

David seemed unfazed by Redemption's aggressive stance, his expression calm.

"Are you truly sealing it away as an item created by devils, or are you using its power to achieve your own unspeakable goals and those of the church behind you?"

"'Redemption' has changed from before."

In the distance, Batman's brow furrowed deeply as he saw Redemption's aggressive expression through the mech's screen.

From their previous meeting and some footage from Jarrod, it was clear that this young man held hesitation and kindness in his eyes. Now, he was like a provoked templar knight, with nothing but his objective in mind.

Swish!

Faced with the undisguised suspicion in David's words, a massive blue flame ignited on Redemption's body. He exuded immense energy, like a supervolcano on the verge of eruption. The scorching heat instantly vaporized the ground, and energy ripples spread out, stirring up gusts of wind.

"Hand it over, and don't force me to act.

I can't control the power I possess right now!"

A sharp, warning growl echoed far across the grassland.

"What do you mean.

Are you afraid you might accidentally kill me?"

The blades of grass turned to ash, and the overwhelming heat felt hundreds of degrees, with unsettling energy fluctuations. David, however, seemed to be brushed by a gentle breeze, merely raising an eyebrow.

"The energy index he's emitting has surpassed that of any nuclear reactor on Earth."

The system's warning blared, and Cyborg looked at the astronomical figure from his scan with horror.

"It's even far beyond that!"

"Fall back, we need to fall back!"

"What do you mean?" Hal Jordan, hovering in mid-air, unsteadily lowered his arm.

"Do we not even have the ability to stand here and watch?"

Their teammate was about to fight, and not only were they not going to help, but they were also retreating?

"If you think you can survive a nuclear explosion, you can ignore this."

Cyborg warned sternly, pulling Arthur back rapidly.

"Cough... cough, I think I can provide remote support to the Transcendent.

Come on, Barry."

Seeing that the two in front were about to clash after only a few words, with a battle on the verge of erupting, Green Lantern raised his hand, conjuring a circular platform to lift the Flash. Together, they retreated with the others.

Only three remained.

Clark, Batman in the Fenrir Armor, and Diana, carrying the Aegis Shield, all three stared intently into the distance.

There was no need for further words between David and Redemption; their attitudes made their uncompromising resolve clear. One had no intention of handing over the mask, while the other was determined to obtain it. If the situation were to change, one of them would likely have to overpower the other with force.

Rumble!

"Just as I thought, you have other intentions regarding the mask."

As the two confronted each other remotely, their gazes sparked like electricity. David's face was etched with coldness. The sky seemed to react to his emotions, the weather suddenly changing, dark clouds churning, and lightning flashing.

Brilliant divine power lightning was born and circled around his tall, strong body, and a low wind blew across the grassland.

"I'm not interested in whatever plans you have, but to prevent you from bothering me about the mask in the future, I'll settle you here and now!"

The reason David agreed to meet Redemption here was twofold: first, he had no reason to back down, and second, if Redemption harbored ill intentions and intended to obtain the mask, he might 'visit' the Justice League headquarters, which was close to Metropolis.

And 'Redemption' was no ordinary individual with power. If the two were to fight, the entire city and the nearby towns might suffer disaster.

"Transcendent, is this your choice?

You are defying the will of the Lord!"

Redemption roared, his energy erupting like a blazing sun rising from the ground. The explosive power shattered the earth within hundreds of meters. His figure shot forward like a comet, igniting the air as he swung his fist at David!

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