DC: Rise of the Kryptonian Tyrant

Monitor Base.

Located in the gap of the multiverse, this stronghold sat within the Blood Domain, acting as a gateway.

The Monitor race, rulers of the divine realm, had their own domain. They had always served as overseers and guardians of the multiverse. From their divine Monitor Zone extended four channels that directly connected to the multiverse through the Wall of Speed Force.

These passageways, when inactive, were extraordinarily dangerous—even more so than traveling through the Speed Force Wall itself. Only those with the authority to judge the multiverse could pass safely.

God's spirit of vengeance, the Spectre, as a multiversal judge, was one of the few qualified to traverse them.

These Monitor passages had always been heavily guarded. Even someone like the Spectre required the permission of Mandrakk, their guardian, to pass through.

The plan of the four had always been simple—capture Raven, draw Bardi to this place, let Bardi pursue the Spectre through this passage, and exit the multiverse.

The passage itself was devoid of time, stars, sun, or moon. Like an undersea tunnel, it was surrounded by high-dimensional matter distorted by the Blood Domain, blocked off by advanced technology.

Within this immense tunnel, the figures of the Phantom Stranger and Golden Superman appeared small as ants.

Mandrakk entered from the far end of the passage and approached the two.

The Phantom Stranger and Golden Superman's eyes narrowed slightly. They looked behind Mandrakk, seeing only abyssal darkness.

"Don't look. Barmulodi isn't coming."

Mandrakk's red electronic eyes blinked as he spoke.

The Phantom Stranger's face darkened. He looked toward Golden Superman.

Golden Superman's expression was grim. "He doesn't strike me as someone who would abandon his wife. When he learned she had been taken, his fury wasn't fake. He will definitely try to save her."

"Mandrakk, you didn't explain the stakes to him?" the Phantom Stranger asked, suspiciously staring at Mandrakk.

Mandrakk's red electronic lights flickered mockingly. "You're too focused on how far he'd go for his wife, even to destroy the universe, without understanding his situation."

"If he follows me into this passage, yes, he could save her."

"But doing so means leaving the multiverse and facing countless quasi-unique gods and demon gods from the Trigon Realm waiting beyond the Divine Speed Wall."

"What would it matter if he saves her then? He'd still lose her. He'd lose everything. That's the most desperate outcome."

A rare chill surfaced in Mandrakk's glowing eyes as he spoke slowly.

"He isn't foolish. In fact, he's far smarter than any of you. Even when his wife was in the Spectre's hands, he never panicked. He never lost his composure."

Mandrakk took out the Anti-Life Equation and tossed it to the Phantom Stranger.

He never believed Bardi would hand it over so easily. The Anti-Life Equation was valuable to him, but acquiring it from Bardi was far too dangerous.

He couldn't take that risk. Better to redirect it elsewhere.

Besides, the Anti-Life Equation wasn't truly his goal. It was still incomplete. It couldn't help him become the strongest entity.

The Phantom Stranger caught the Anti-Life Equation. His heart jolted, and he blurted out in shock, "The Anti-Life Equation!"

Golden Superman's pupils contracted, and his body tensed.

This was a weapon capable of destroying the multiverse. Why was it in Mandrakk's hands—and why had he handed it over so easily?

"I got it from Barmulodi."

"The moment I saw it, I knew your plan had failed."

"He intends to destroy the multiverse and absorb power."

"The Spectre hasn't even succeeded in delivering his wife to Trigon. With the Anti-Life Equation in hand, Barmulodi can destroy the universe and rescue her in no time."

Mandrakk glanced coldly at Golden Superman and the Phantom Stranger.

"Barmulodi knows this too. That's why I struck a deal with him."

"His wife, in exchange for the Anti-Life Equation."

Before finishing, he added that he had also given Bardi the coordinates to Golden Superman's home universe.

"As for whether he actually gets his wife back, that's up to you."

Mandrakk's tone was sarcastic, filled with disdain.

But what he said was true.

The Phantom Stranger narrowed his eyes, gripped the Anti-Life Equation tightly, and said slowly, "Now the Anti-Life Equation is in our hands..."

His expression remained blank. Though he had accepted the Equation, he had no intention of returning Bardi's wife.

As long as the Anti-Life Equation was with them, Bardi would be unable to destroy the multiverse quickly. Time would run out. Sooner or later, he would have to face the demon gods of Trigon.

And the multiverse would be preserved.

Sacrificing a little morality was a small price to pay for the greater good.

Golden Superman remained silent, his golden face cold, silently agreeing with the Phantom Stranger.

Mandrakk's red eyes flickered with mocking amusement.

How ridiculous. Heroes always believed they were righteous.

The Anti-Life Equation had come from Barmulodi. Could it truly be clean? Impossible.

Just touching it might be enough for Barmulodi to destroy a universe without even possessing it.

He was the One God. No one knew how much power he truly held.

Mandrakk thought to himself.

Regardless, Mandrakk would never keep the Anti-Life Equation. It was far too dangerous.

His red eyes swept across the two before he turned to leave.

"This is the end of my cooperation with you. As for the rest... I'll find a place to hide."

The Phantom Stranger and Golden Superman watched his retreating figure.

The Phantom Stranger's gaze sharpened as he clutched the Anti-Life Equation. After Mandrakk disappeared down the passage, he asked, "What is he planning?"

Such a casual handoff of the Anti-Life Equation… That wasn't like Mandrakk.

"He wants power. He wants to be the only one." Golden Superman said, his eyes still on the distant tunnel.

The Phantom Stranger remained silent, his brows furrowed. A storm of doubt clouded his thoughts. His gaze fell again to the Anti-Life Equation in his hand, and he suddenly said, "It's not that simple. The fact that Barmulodi handed over the Anti-Life Equation so easily proves he still has the ability to destroy the multiverse. What we've done isn't enough."

"We've done all we could." Golden Superman shook his head.

The One God should never have appeared in the multiverse.

The Phantom Stranger turned his head and stared at Golden Superman.

"No, not yet."

"Huh?" Golden Superman frowned in confusion.

"For the peace of the multiverse, we must contact the Supreme Superman of the Origin Universe… and draw him out of the comics!"

Golden Superman's face changed dramatically.

(To be continued.)