The lunar battlefield was like boiling water, continuously bubbling, and standing by it one could feel the hot steam assaulting their face.
The soldiers of Thanos' army collided with the desperate human soldiers of Earth.
In a short time, both sides suffered massive damage.
Fortunately, humans were not at a disadvantage.
The number of casualties was pitifully small compared to their opponents.
This was mainly because, under the leadership of many superheroes, a hundred thousand desperate soldiers thoroughly suppressed the soldiers of Thanos' army.
Even though among Thanos' forces, many of the elite soldiers were of extraordinary levels, they were inconsequential in front of heroes like Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg.
Notably, soon after the war began, Asgard received intelligence. Heimdall, the observer of all things, captured the situation on the moon and reported it to Thor, the new King of Gods and the ruler of Asgard.
Thor quickly led Asgard's elite warriors to the scene.
This was one of the reasons why Thanos' forces could hardly resist the power of Earth's side.
Under the unstoppable onslaught of Earth's forces, which was like a blazing inferno, the initially confident Thanos' army was smashed into disarray, almost instantly being driven to collapse by Earth's side.
Meanwhile.
The eyes of various universal civilizations were locked on the battle between Thanos and Superman.
They all knew that no matter how powerful Earth's side was, the true control of the battlefield did not lie in the victory or defeat of the armies.
The duel between the leaders was also extremely important, even occupying a significant part in determining victory.
Thus, the battle between Superman and Thanos was even more conspicuous and easier to judge than the war itself.
But the outcome before them was completely beyond the imagination of all universal civilizations, and even many leaders within Thanos' army.
Because Thanos had no power to fight back against Superman.
Many universal civilizations showed expressions of disbelief, almost beginning to doubt whether they were watching the real Thanos.
It couldn't be that he was switched, could it?
Thanos' most loyal subordinate, Ebony Maw, was still there...
If others didn't recognize Thanos, Ebony Maw certainly would...
Speaking of which.
These universal civilizations then turned their attention to Ebony Maw.
They discovered that Ebony Maw's situation in his fight with Shazam was exactly the same as Thanos'.
During the battle, upon seeing the plight of his master, Ebony Maw's spirit was momentarily distracted.
The next moment, he paid the price.
A thick bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, and with the flash of electricity, Ebony Maw was violently smashed into the lunar surface.
A huge crater spread on the ground.
Dust flew in all directions, and a terrifying airflow spread out.
The lunar base itself was shaken by Shazam's attack.
Shazam showed no mercy.
At that moment, Ebony Maw lay pitifully in the pit, with warm blood flowing down his cheeks from his forehead, and his robe torn by the force into strips hanging from his body.
Amidst his pain, Ebony Maw paid little attention to his own situation.
His inner shock overshadowed all superfluous emotions.
Because, at this time, Thanos was faring even worse.
In the hand-to-hand combat with Superman, Thanos was continuously losing ground, his face bruised and battered, and the wounds on his body torn open by Superman's hands, deep enough to see bone.
However, Thanos, although unable to defeat Superman, still did not give up.
He gritted his teeth and exchanged blows with Superman.
Superman stood his ground, taking two punches from Thanos before suddenly speaking.
"Is this the so-called Universal Overlord?"
Superman sneered, "You're a disappointment."
As he spoke.
His fist swung out, colliding with Thanos.
Thanos was sent flying backward.
Seeing this, the morale of the surrounding desperate soldiers soared; they truly saw a glimmer of hope for victory.
As the vanguard against Thanos, they had a profound understanding of Thanos' legion.
The lunar base did not block their access to information about Thanos.
Thus, most of the desperate soldiers joined the battle with a resolve to die.
They believed that even if Earth could win, they would not survive.
After all, the enemy was a ruler who had dominated the universe for a thousand years and invaded countless life-bearing planets. Earth might just be a minor record in his extensive conquests.
However, these desperate soldiers, although knowledgeable about the power of Thanos' legion, lacked understanding of the power Earth possessed at that moment.
No matter how Batman or others within the base encouraged them, hot blood aside, adults had to accept the reality they saw.
Yet, when the war truly began, they found that the enemy was not as fearsome as they had imagined.
Superman even had Thanos, the enemy leader, grinding against the ground.
Was this the enemy they had steeled themselves to face with the resolve to die?
At that moment, the shackles in their hearts were shed, and they unleashed more ferocious attacks in battle.
The roles of attack and defense swapped.
Earth's desperate soldiers fought more vigorously, while Thanos' legion began to struggle.
"Kryptonian..."
Thanos was again sent flying by a punch from Superman.
Uncontrollably flying backward, his body plowed a deep furrow in the ground, stopping only after a hundred meters.
He had stabilized himself during the flight, so the moment he stopped, he stared at his opponent with an ugly expression, his eyes almost solidifying with intensity.
How could this be?
Thanos began to doubt his own abilities.
Could it be that he had encountered such a powerful being on such a remote planet as Earth?
Thanos, who had a thorough understanding of the universe, knew that opponents like Superman were rare even across the cosmos.
"Who exactly are you?"
Thanos forced out this question through clenched teeth.
In fact, as soon as Superman first appeared, he had sent people to investigate Superman's background and origins.
Information from Earth told Thanos that Superman was from Krypton.
But Thanos couldn't find the planet Krypton at all.
The universe is vast and boundless; a planet, even one that has been destroyed, leaving no remnants or debris, is not uncommon.
However, if such a planet could produce a being as powerful as Superman, and possibly more than one...
Then there was a significant problem.
Faced with the current situation, Thanos deeply realized that he had made the mistake of dogmatism.
His arrogance had led to insufficient preparation for Earth.
Even though he felt his preparations were adequate, he had underestimated the power Earth had prepared.
However, Thanos also had to defend himself.
Earth alone was not enough to push him to this extent; it was mainly the level of power displayed by Superman that far exceeded his understanding.
In his view, beings in this universe who wielded such power generally did not act rashly.
Either they were in slumber or pretending to be dead...
This Superman, said to come from the unknown Krypton, seemed as if he had suddenly popped out from between the rocks...
"I am Superman, Clark Kent, the one who will kill you."
Superman, out of a sense of humanitarianism, answered Thanos' last question before death.
He saw the intense expression on Thanos' face, knowing that this man, who in the original story brought great despair to Earth and the Avengers, was now truly caught in the strange loop of the original Avengers story.
Of course, this was inevitable.
Anton's appearance had brought too many surprises, or rather variables, to this world.
At least, Thanos was no longer Earth's greatest enemy.
He wasn't even considered one of the biggest enemies anymore.
Thanos' appearance now, in essence, was no different from previous alien invaders like Langar, the Decepticon Megatron, or even the Chitauri.
He was destined to be swept aside by Earth and become a part of historical dust.
"I may have overestimated you..."
Superman slowly advanced towards the somber-faced Thanos.
"I originally thought you would perform a little better than this..."
"But, I should also thank you!"
"Your arrival has turned Earth from stagnant water into boiling water. Humanity has reignited its fighting spirit. This will be our first step in announcing to the entire universe that humans have arrived..."
"Let your death be the testament to our resolve."
These calm words completely enraged Thanos, who had remained composed from the beginning.
Thanos never imagined that Superman would look down on him this much.
So, from the start, did Earth just use him as a tool?
Even his invasion was part of the opponent's plan, no, or perhaps, anticipated?
When did this start?
After the Chitauri?
It couldn't be that these people knew of his interest in Earth even before the Chitauri, could it?
These thoughts flashed through his mind.
Seeing Superman continually approaching, Thanos did not hesitate for a moment, gritting his teeth and drawing his great sword.
This nearly four-meter-long, double-edged broadsword shimmered with a cold light.
In the original story, it was this sword that had forcefully shattered Captain America Rogers' shield, forcing Rogers to take up Thor's hammer for battle.
Now the situation was reversed, and Thanos was forced to use this weapon to face Superman, who was putting immense pressure on him.
Immediately after, Thanos stomped his feet and leaped into the air.
Raising his great sword, he bent his body slightly backward and then violently chopped forward, aiming for Superman's forehead.
Superman did not dodge.
He calmly took the hit head-on.
Too arrogant!
The eyes of other civilizations were locked on this strike.
Thanos' angry attack was not to be underestimated, as he was a terrifying figure on a universal overlord level.
No one dared to underestimate a universal overlord.
Including the Cybertronian civilization, which was fond of Earth, even the Autobots became more tense.
They too thought Superman was being too presumptuous.
This was Thanos, after all.
However, these beings also understood that if Superman could withstand Thanos' strike without a scratch...
Then...
They dared not ponder further, holding their breath waiting for the outcome.
At this moment.
Countless eyes were focused on the very center of the battlefield.
The battlefield of Superman and Thanos.
Thanos' great sword had already landed on Superman's forehead.
Countless eyes watched this scene.
Time seemed to freeze.
Superman's eyes, utterly calm, watched the advancing Thanos, who was exerting all his strength, and then he surprisingly flashed a radiant smile.
"Thanos, it's over!"
As the words fell.
Crack, crack, crack!
Thanos' great sword suddenly began to show fine cracks, then exploded into pieces under the gaze of countless onlookers.
The most unbelievable, yet somewhat anticipated outcome occurred.
Thanos' attack had no effect on Superman.
Superman took Thanos' strike without a scratch.
To countless onlookers, Superman's body seemed like the toughest metal in the universe, impervious to any marks.
As the shards of the broadsword scattered, Superman moved.
His hand shot out like lightning, grabbing Thanos by the neck, lifting him into the air, and slowly ascending to the mid-air of the entire battlefield.
Thanos struggled under Superman's grasp.
His hands clenched Superman's wrist, hoping to dislodge Superman's grip from his neck.
However, he couldn't.
The activity level of his cells kept dropping, and Thanos' originally purple face now climbed with a layer of blood red, completely unable to breathe, and his control over his body's energy dropped to zero.
"This..."
Countless universal civilizations understood that this battle was over.
From the moment Thanos boldly drew his sword, yet failed to inflict even the slightest damage on Superman, the battle was already decided.
The outcome of this war exceeded everyone's expectations.
A miracle was born.
Earth was about to claim victory.
Even the Cybertronians, who held some confidence in Earth, found it hard to believe that humanity would win so easily.
It was indeed a one-sided affair.
But it was Thanos' legion that fell, and humanity rose.
The clash with Thanos' legion seemed not to have fully unleashed humanity's potential.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha—"
Thanos stared intently at Superman in front of him, as if to imprint this face deeply in his heart.
"Actually, I should thank you."
Superman then spoke, quite sincerely.
"Your death brings us a new future."
"Including this universe..."
"A new story..."
"Has begun!"
The death of Thanos dealt a heavy blow to his legion.
After Thanos' death, Ebony Maw was also killed on the spot by Shazam, and Thanos' legion completely lost its leadership, with soldiers either fleeing or surrendering.
Humanity did not pursue the escapees, standing at the base watching the starry sky, everyone invigorated.
This included the representatives and leaders of the World Security Council located within Earth.
Everyone deeply understood one fact.
A new era had fully arrived.
Humanity had risen.
And all of this was thanks to the Justice League, thanks to Superman, thanks to Batman, thanks to Anton... and to all the warriors, engineers, scientists, everyone who had contributed to this battle for Earth.
But from the beginning to the end, no one knew that whether it was Anton, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg... they were actually all one person.
The Justice League, the Dark Justice League, were actually roles played by one person.
After the war ended, the details and the complete course of this battle were not hidden by the governments of the world; they made it public.
The world was shocked.
Those ordinary people who were previously unaware of the details of this war were instantly stirred.
For a continuous month, humanity was astonished at Earth's rise.
The Justice League became the ultimate sanctuary in people's hearts.
Superman truly became a god in the hearts of humanity.
Six months later, with the push from various nations, the World Security Council was renamed the Earth Human Alliance, with nearly 200 sovereign states becoming members, and Anton assumed the position of the first chairman of the alliance, with immense power.
It's worth mentioning that after defeating and killing Thanos, Earth gained high prestige in this universe.
Although Earth was located in a remote corner of the universe, there were already signs that it was becoming the center of the universe.
Alien immigration gradually increased after this war.
Humanity officially stepped into the interstellar age.
Technology rapidly evolved, and the fourth technological revolution unfolded vigorously.
The Desperation Virus took the stage, becoming the ultimate weapon for evolving humanity; with technological progress, humanity also embraced a new evolution.
The extraordinary was no longer out of reach.
Three years later.
New York, Manhattan.
As the home base of the Justice League on Earth, the headquarters of the Earth Human Alliance was also established in this city.
Now, this area was bustling with people, shoulder to shoulder.
Among the crowd, besides humans, there were aliens of different appearances and skin colors walking around.
In a few years, humans had become accustomed to the presence of aliens.
Earth had established contact with dozens of alien civilizations and started initial exchanges.
However, the civilization most familiar to Earth was still Asgard.
There was even a tourist route established between Asgard and Earth; although the price for a single person was expensive, costing millions of dollars for a travel slot, the number of bookings on the website was still incredibly high, breaking a hundred thousand in just a few days, with reservations extending seven to eight years into the future.
"I'm really foolish..."
"Why did I take the lead in forming something like the Earth Human Alliance?"
"If heaven gave me another chance to go back, I would definitely give myself a hard slap..."
Anton was in immense pain internally, standing at the highest point of the alliance headquarters, looking at the increasingly prosperous city in front of him without any joy on his face, but rather filled with distress.
"Anton, there are several documents waiting for your signature."
Betty stood behind him, urging him emotionlessly: "Besides signing, there's a meeting you need to attend in two hours, and there's a dinner tonight... President Rodriguez is preparing for re-election, and although it seems almost certain, he always feels uneasy without seeing you..."
"Damn it!"
Anton turned his head, gritting his teeth, his face full of regret: "I've been busy for three years, I've never been this busy in my entire life... Can I have some personal time?"
"You have ten minutes."
Betty nodded, quickly agreeing, then turned around, leaving Anton's sight with a swaying gait.
Anton sighed with relief.
He pulled out six Infinity Stones from his pocket, his expression turning complex.
Three years after killing Thanos, Anton found that Thanos had an intrinsic Soul Stone.
With this, he already controlled five Infinity Stones.
After the victory in that battle, the Ancient One quickly passed the title of Sorcerer Supreme to Shazam, and Anton acquired the Time Stone.
All six Infinity Stones were gathered.
Killing Thanos and defeating Thanos' legion, the system rewarded him with 20 million justice points.
The justice points balance had just broken the 100 million mark.
Both conditions were met.
Anton could now redeem Batman's ultimate armor at any time.
This would be a power even more formidable than Superman's.
However, until today, three years later, Anton had not redeemed the ultimate armor.
But the story continued.
Today, three years later, Anton finally found something interesting in the new story.
With a thought, his form changed, a red battle suit covering his body, with a lightning symbol on his chest.
Not Shazam.
As known, apart from Shazam, the DC hero with a lightning symbol on his chest is also the Flash.
Of course, Anton's purpose in transforming into the Flash was not to flee from the alliance headquarters but to go to a new universe to see new sights.
With an experimental spirit, Anton discovered the special ability of the Flash in an accident.
As known, the Flash can travel through time and space, similar to the powers of the Time Stone that Anton held.
However, after acquiring the Time Stone, Anton had tried or manipulated this stone.
In the chaotic timeline, he found that the Time Stone could only control the changes in time briefly, which was of little use.
But the Flash's time travel was the true traversal of time and space.
After transforming into the Flash, Anton immediately took action.
A streak of golden lightning moved swiftly through the streets of Manhattan, invisible to the naked eye.
Even though the streets of Manhattan today were filled with a significant number of superpowered beings and continuously updated technology cameras, the Flash's speed had already exceeded their imagination, reaching beyond the speed of light.
Anton rushed towards the coast.
The moment he leaped towards the sea surface, a space portal opened, and Anton was suddenly sucked in.
Behind him, New York remained bustling and vibrant, completely unaware that their Alliance Chairman had already left this world.
Nighttime.
The starry sky like a curtain, the moon hanging high.
Anton, now the Flash, stood at the highest point of a city, looking up at the bat-signal reflected in the clouds, showing a bright smile long absent.
Following that, his form changed again, revealing the long-unworn Batman armor, becoming Batman once more.
"Gotham..."
Anton, looking at the sprawling city before him, laughed out loud: "Nice to meet you for the first time, we're going to have some fun now!"
As his words fell.
He leapt from the high-rise, disappearing into the darkness.
The Dark Knight returns.