Kenroku-en, Kanazawa
Marcus was lost in the serenity of the Kenroku-en Garden. Sketchbook in hand, he captured the delicacy of the Kasumigaike pond, the unique silhouette of the Kotoji lantern, and the harmony of the 180 plant species that made this 17th-century masterpiece so breathtaking. The air was soft, filled with the scent of pine and damp moss.
Occasionally, a fan would approach him respectfully. Marcus would reply in fluent, natural Japanese, bowing with the expected politeness, which never failed to impress. Glances, particularly from young women, often fell upon him. It was rare to see a foreign manga artist, and even rarer for one to possess such a physique—an athletic build reminiscent of Chris Evans in his prime.
The tranquility was broken by the vibration of his phone. The screen showed Awkgirl's name.
Marcus: Hello, my angel. How are you?
Awkgirl,her voice slightly tense: I'm fine, Marcus. I'm calling to let you know the team is heading into space for a mission.
Marcus,surprised: What? You're leaving this month? Isn't that a bit sudden?
Awkgirl,he could imagine her smile on the other end of the line: This mission is... complicated for the moment. I'll give you more details when I get back.
Marcus,a little disappointed but understanding: Okay. Be careful. I love you. Bye.
Kahndaq
Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away, another tragedy was unfolding. Kahndaq, occupied for twenty-seven years by the mercenary organization Intergang, was the stage for a desperate quest. Intergang, like so many invaders before them, had come to plunder its eternium, a precious resource. And as always, no one had come to aid the people of Kahndaq.
The archaeologist Adrianna Tomaz, hunted by Intergang, was trying to locate the Crown of Sabbac with the help of her brother Karim and their colleagues Samir and Ishmael. Her goal: to prevent Intergang from seizing the artifact and to secure it. But the mission turned into a nightmare. Ishmael revealed himself to be a traitor in league with Intergang. Samir was killed, Karim captured.
Cornered, Adrianna was forced to hand over the crown to her captors. Kneeling above an ancient tomb—that of the champion Teth-Adam—she read an incantation out of desperation and uttered the word "SHAZAM."
The mountain exploded. Teth-Adam was free. In a maelstrom of lightning and rage, he decimated the Intergang forces, allowing Adrianna to reclaim the crown and escape with her brother. But when Adam faced enemy reinforcements, a rocket containing eternium grievously wounded him, sending him falling from the sky.
St. Roch, Louisiana - Justice Society Headquarters
News of this powerful unknown being's emergence in Kahndaq spread through the media and reached Carter Hall, aka Hawkman. Contacted by Amanda Waller, he was tasked with assembling a team to neutralize what they perceived as an uncontrollable threat.
In Hawkman's manor, the team gathered: Maxine Hunkel, the vibrant Cyclone; Al Rothstein, the giant Atom Smasher; and the wise and mysterious Doctor Fate.
It was then that Doctor Fate, beneath his golden helmet, turned his vacant gaze toward Hawkman. His voice resonated, ethereal and heavy with meaning.
Doctor Fate: We need him.
Hawkman,adjusting the mace on his shoulder: We've already discussed this, Fate. We are a complete team.
Doctor Fate:No. I do not believe so. The threads of destiny are tightening. The threat is greater than we thought. We need someone with a different kind of strength. A strength that can tip the scales.
Hawkman,suspicious: Who are you talking about?
Doctor Fate:The liberator of Bialya. The League's associate. The one who stood against an army and walked beside the Kryptonian. We need Utopian.
Hawkman was silent for a moment, weighing the pros and cons. Fate's visions were never to be taken lightly.
Hawkman: Alright. I'll call him. I just hope you know what you're doing.
As the Hawk Cruiser prepared for takeoff, a new invitation was issued. A new team was forming, and Utopian's destiny was about to intersect with the world's once more, not merely as a hero, but perhaps as a cornerstone of a mission that would shape the future.