DC : The Template System

"We need to take this to S.T.A.R. Labs. Maybe they can figure out a way to shut it down," Batman said.

"Though the chances of them actually managing that are slim, it's better than keeping it," Max replied. "I'll make a clone take it there."

With a puff of smoke, a perfect replica of Max appeared beside him. He handed the Mother Box to the clone.

"So you can make clones too? Neat," Green Lantern muttered.

What he didn't know was that Max had an ulterior motive. He wasn't just sending the Mother Box away for safety—he knew it was a key component in the transformation of Victor Stone into Cyborg.

"Alright, let's move," Batman said.

"I can take us there," Green Lantern offered, conjuring a glowing green jet with his ring.

Max and Batman climbed aboard, and they took off into the sky.

---

Sometime later…

The jet landed smoothly. The three stepped out into a windswept, abandoned industrial zone.

"Superman is close. I've been tracking his movements," Batman said, pulling out a beeping handheld device.

"With what? Your own satellite?" Green Lantern asked sarcastically.

Batman looked at him flatly. "Yes."

"I was kidding… You have your own satellite?!"

"The man just confirmed it. What part of 'yes' did you not understand?" Max deadpanned.

Before another word could be spoken, a red-and-blue blur shot overhead and crashed into an old building nearby, sending up a cloud of dust and debris.

"That's him," Batman said.

"Alright. Green Lantern's got this," GL said confidently, flying into the building. Almost immediately, the sounds of combat and green energy blasts echoed out.

Batman and Max exchanged a look.

Moments later, Green Lantern came flying out of the building in a heap, groaning as he slammed into Max's feet.

Then Superman stepped out of the ruins, hovering just above the ground with his cape billowing. His eyes locked onto Max.

"So… what can you do?" he asked before flying straight at him.

Max leapt back just in time. Superman's punch shattered the ground where he'd stood, sending Green Lantern tumbling through the air. Batman quickly caught him and retreated.

Superman then charged again. Max's pupils shrank—So fast…—as he quickly drew his gunbai and raised it just in time.

BOOM!

The impact shook the air as Max was blasted backward, his arms rattling from the sheer force transferred through the fan-like weapon. He smashed through multiple walls of a warehouse before flipping midair and skidding to a halt outside.

Superman came barreling after him.

Max raised a hand. "Almighty Push."

A gravitational wave exploded outward, halting Superman mid-flight. The Man of Steel strained against it, muscles flexing, pushing forward inch by inch.

Max's eyes narrowed. "Limbo: Border Jail Technique."

Invisible strikes slammed into Superman, catching him off guard. He was hurled backward through the same hole Max had created.

On the other side, Batman ducked as Superman whooshed overhead and stopped in midair, nursing his jaw.

Max casually stepped out of the ruined warehouse, twirling his gunbai. He hurled a black rod at Superman. Superman tilted his head, narrowly dodging—but a shallow cut formed on his cheek.

Blood trickled down.

Superman touched it, eyes narrowing. "Magic…"

"We're not your enemies," Batman said calmly. "We need your help. You bruise, but you don't kill. Clark."

Superman slowly descended. "You've made your point… Bruce Wayne."

Green Lantern blinked. "Wait—who the hell is Bruce Wayne?!"

Max approached, gunbai resting on his shoulder. "We need you to come with us. We're facing something serious."

"What is coming?" Superman asked.

"Something very ugly," Green Lantern said, nursing his ribs.

"And we need all the manpower we can get to stop it," Batman added.

Before Superman could reply, a radio signal rang in his ears. The President's jet was under attack—monstrous creatures swarming mid-flight.

"I'll be back," Superman said, and took off in a sonic boom.

"There go the big guns," Green Lantern muttered.

"He'll be back," Batman said. "Now we need to gather the others."

"Who else do you have in mind?" Green Lantern asked.

"Wonder Woman," Batman replied, pointing toward the horizon. "She's not far from here."

"Well then, let's go. In style, of course," Green Lantern said, conjuring a glowing green helicopter.

Max and Batman climbed in, and the craft rose into the air—headed toward their next ally.

On Planet Apokolips

A thick haze of ash hung heavy in the infernal sky. Flames licked the blackened stone of towering citadels, and the ground trembled with the rhythmic march of countless parademons in formation.

Within the obsidian halls of the throne chamber, a deep voice rumbled through the shadows.

"Desaad," it spoke, like molten iron scraping against stone. "What news from our agents on Earth?"

A hunched figure knelt at the base of the throne, his gaunt form cloaked in tattered robes. One hand pressed to his chest in solemn reverence.

"My lord," Desaad rasped, his voice like a dying wind. "The heroes of Earth have managed to secure one of the Mother Boxes. They have begun to mobilize, spreading across major cities in preparation. Their defenses are increasing rapidly."

He hesitated briefly, choosing his next words with care.

"I fear, sire... if we do not move our timetable forward, we may lose the element of surprise."

For a long moment, there was silence.

Then came the sound of something ancient and terrible stirring. The armored giant that was Darkseid rose from his throne, his red eyes glowing like twin stars of damnation.

"So be it," he said, voice heavy with finality. "Let the invasion begin. Let their champions rise... only to kneel before me."

Desaad bowed lower, trembling with dread and worship. "Yes, my lord. As you command".

Batman, Max, and Green Lantern flew low over the city ruins, smoke and fire curling into the ash-colored sky.

Without warning, the silence shattered—an ear-splitting shriek cut through the air as an army of Parademons descended from the clouds, wings buzzing like a swarm of metallic hornets.

"Here we go!" Green Lantern shouted, summoning a massive green minigun with his ring and letting it rip into the horde.

Batman flipped from his glider mid-air, hurling batarangs with precision. When they got too close, he met them with bone-breaking martial arts, striking weak points with lethal efficiency.

Max dropped to the ground in front of them, fingers flying through a single hand sign.

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flames!"

A sea of fire erupted from his mouth, a roaring inferno that engulfed the advancing Parademons. The blast melted the road beneath them, slagging asphalt and steel alike. Max cut off the jutsu just in time, smoke rising from the scorched battlefield.

Green Lantern hovered beside him, whistling low. "Okay… damn. Not bad, Samurai Guy," he said, patting Max on the shoulder. "But Green Lantern had it all in the bag."

"Eyes up," Batman growled. "More incoming."

The building across from them trembled before dozens of Parademons burst through the windows, screeching as they dove toward the group.

"Damn it," Green Lantern cursed, dropping into a combat stance back-to-back with Max and Batman. "Is there an end to these guys?!"

Suddenly, a scarlet blur streaked through the battlefield. In an instant, a dozen Parademons collapsed.

Flash skidded to a stop, grinning. "Miss me?"

"Flash, my boy!" Green Lantern called out, fist-bumping him. "Glad you could make it."

Flash gave a quick nod and scanned the others. "Batman? The Batman? He's real?"

"Yeah, he's over there. Tall, broody, throws things," Green Lantern joked.

Flash's eyes widened as he zoomed to Batman's side. "It's an honor to finally meet you, sir!"

"Don't bother," Green Lantern called over. "Total douchebag. Like Samurai Guy here."

"At least I can keep my mouth shut," Max muttered coolly.

Flash scratched the back of his head and turned to Max. "Hi there, Tobi, right? Nice to meet you."

Max raised an eyebrow behind his mask, but played along. "Likewise… Flash."

Before another word could be said, a new wave of Parademons landed, this time kneeling before the group.

"For Darkseid!" they roared in unison.

Then—

"Haaaa!" A battle cry cut through the chaos as Wonder Woman descended from the skies, slicing through the creatures with divine fury. Her sword gleamed, dripping with molten ichor as she turned to face the team.

"Greetings, warriors," she said, sword raised, her presence commanding.

A sonic boom cracked the sky as Superman landed beside them, eyes glowing red.

"Good," Green Lantern said. "The more the merrier."

A moment later, Cyborg crashed down near them, stabilizing mid-landing, jets still sputtering. He walked forward, face serious followed by who Shazam descended from the sky, lightning crackling around him as he landed with a boom beside the heroes. He pulled down his hood with a grin.

"What's up, guys? I'm with him ," he said, nodding toward Cyborg as he stepped forward,

"I know what they're doing," Cyborg said. "They're terraforming Earth—and turning humans into them."

"Yeah, we figured that out," Green Lantern muttered.

"So what now?" Flash asked.

Max's eyes narrowed behind the mask. His voice dropped.

"Now… prepare to give the next fight your all."

He looked to the horizon.

The ocean churned, waves crashing unnaturally outward. A glowing, massive device emerged from the sea, steam and fire erupting as hundreds of Parademons poured from it like locusts.

And then... he emerged.

Darkseid.

End of Chapter