Superman - Rise of an Empire

The world looked perfect under Superman's rule.

No crime. No hunger. No war.

But not everyone saw it that way.

In the shadows, the Free Legion was growing.

The Underground Awakens

Oliver Queen stood before a room filled with rebels. Not just masked fighters, but politicians, scientists, and soldiers who had grown disillusioned with Superman's control.

"This isn't about fighting Clark," Oliver said, his voice firm. "This is about fighting what he's become."

He looked around the dimly lit room, seeing familiar faces—Black Canary, The Flash, Zatanna, and even former generals who had once supported Superman.

"This world isn't free," he continued. "It's a machine—one man's vision of perfection. But perfection is just another cage."

He placed a small lead-lined case on the table.

Inside, a sliver of Kryptonite.

The room fell silent.

"This isn't about killing him," Oliver clarified. "It's about reminding him that Earth belongs to its people. Not to a god."

Murmurs spread through the room.

Then, Batman stepped forward.

Oliver smirked. "Took you long enough, Bats."

Bruce's eyes were cold. "This isn't about revenge. We need to be precise."

He placed a data drive on the table.

"Superman has blind spots," Bruce continued. "Even he can't be everywhere. If we move strategically, we can take back control—one piece at a time."

The Plan

The rebels would strike in three ways:

Disrupt Kryptonian Tech – Cyborg and Zatanna would infiltrate the Fortress of Solitude's global network, weakening Superman's control.

Expose the Truth – Flash and Black Canary would break into Superman's data vaults, revealing classified information about his secret decisions—the leaders he removed, the choices he made in silence.

Challenge the Throne – Batman and Green Arrow would lead a team to infiltrate the Hall of Justice, forcing Superman to face them—not as rebels, but as his former allies.

The world needed to see that there was another way.

But there was one problem.

Diana's Warning

As Batman left the meeting, Wonder Woman was waiting in the shadows.

"You're making a mistake," she said.

Bruce stopped, his face unreadable.

"Clark isn't the enemy," she continued. "He's saved this world. He's made it better."

Bruce exhaled. "Better? Or easier?"

Diana's eyes narrowed. "You used to believe in him."

Bruce looked away. "I still do. That's why I won't let him become something he can't come back from."

She clenched her fists. "And if you push him too far?"

Bruce met her gaze. "Then we'll find out who he really is."

The First Strike

That night, the Free Legion launched its first attack.

Cyborg and Zatanna infiltrated Superman's Earth-wide surveillance network, planting a virus in the system.

For the first time in years—Superman couldn't see everything.

In the Hall of Justice, a message appeared on Superman's console:

THE WORLD DOESN'T BELONG TO YOU.

IT'S TIME TO LET GO.

Superman's eyes burned red.

And in the sky above the Fortress of Solitude, the first explosion erupted.

TO BE CONTINUED...