And just like that—
The Justice League was completely wiped out.
Even Superman failed to escape defeat.
"So these are Earth's so-called protectors?"
"This is all they amount to?"
"My master clearly overestimated this planet."
Descending arrogantly from the sky, DeSaad looked down at the battered members of the Justice League lying on the ground, as well as Superman himself. He was brimming with triumph.
Master?
That single word made the expressions of the Justice League members—and Superman—grow even darker.
Because the word "master" revealed a crucial truth:
DeSaad was nothing more than a lackey.
Which meant that behind this invasion of Earth stood someone far more terrifying.
A name involuntarily surfaced in everyone's mind—
Darkseid.
Darkseid hadn't even shown his face yet.
He had merely sent a subordinate, and that alone was enough to crush them so thoroughly.
The pressure carried by that name was self-evident.
But—
Earth hadn't lost yet.
At least, not completely.
Very quickly, a figure flashed through the minds of the Justice League members, instantly giving them a shred of confidence.
Or rather—
Their last remaining hope.
"You think you've won?"
Batman, still refusing to yield, let out a cold snort.
"Yes, you've defeated us. You've even defeated Superman. But you haven't truly won."
"Because there's still one person you haven't defeated."
"And you never will."
Hmm?
There was still someone like that?
DeSaad's interest was instantly piqued.
"Exactly!"
"You only won because Alex didn't step in!"
"If Alex were here, your fate would be the same as Steppenwolf's!"
Aquaman's voice rang out heavily from the side.
As Batman and Aquaman spoke, the eyes of the captured heroes grew resolute once more.
Alex.
He was now their final hope.
"Alex?"
"So that's your last hope?"
DeSaad raised an eyebrow. Who was this person supposed to be?
He had never even heard the name.
Given DeSaad's status, power, and position, it was difficult for him to take seriously someone he'd never heard of.
"If this Alex is really as powerful as you claim," DeSaad sneered,
"then where is he now?"
"Don't tell me he's hiding like a frightened stray dog, too scared to show his face."
DeSaad clicked his tongue mockingly.
The Justice League members' expressions dimmed slightly.
Yes—
With the scale of what just happened, Alex should have sensed it.
So why hadn't he appeared yet?
And considering Alex's personality—nothing like Superman's rigid sense of heroic duty—
Doubt crept into their hearts.
No one questioned Alex's strength.
But whether he would actually step in?
No one could say for sure.
Especially Superman.
The worry between his brows deepened.
No one understood this better than he did—
Alex wasn't even from this world.
What reason did Alex have to fight for their Earth?
More than that—
Alex might not even still be in this universe.
Even Superman had to admit it:
Their world was facing an unprecedented catastrophe.
"Take them all away."
DeSaad's voice rang out coldly.
At his command, the Destroyers surged forward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Destroyers quickly seized all the Justice League members, along with Superman, and dragged them away.
"The minor nuisances have been dealt with,"
DeSaad said calmly.
"Very soon, my master will descend upon this planet and reign supreme."
With that, DeSaad shot off into the sky.
The Parademon army followed after him, swarming away like a plague of locusts.
In just moments—
The creatures that had ravaged Metropolis and plunged the nation into fear vanished completely.
As if they had never existed.
Only the ruined city remained.
"Superman was defeated! Superman has been captured!"
"If even Superman was taken, do we have any hope left?"
"Superman failed. Batman failed. All the heroes who once defeated Steppenwolf have failed!"
"Is the end of the world coming?"
"Earth is facing the greatest crisis in its history!"
News of the battle in Metropolis spread across the globe like wildfire.
The entire planet plunged into shock and terror.
Superman and Batman—
They had always been the most famous and representative superheroes.
Each had countless supporters.
Even their critics had to admit that these two stood above the modern world's power structures.
Whether through intellect or overwhelming superpowers, they were symbols of strength and justice.
And now—
Both had been defeated at the same time, by extraterrestrial invaders.
"Reports confirm that not only Superman and Batman were defeated, but several other well-known heroes as well."
"The Flash, the pride of Central City. Aquaman, guardian of the seas. The legendary Wonder Woman."
"Our strongest defenders have fallen. The military is powerless against this threat."
"Where does our hope lie?"
As the media coverage continued, a suffocating sense of tension and despair settled over the planet.
Governments and military agencies held emergency meetings, desperately searching for a solution.
But all were left with splitting headaches.
Human weapons were simply too weak against enemies like the Parademons.
The only thing anyone could think of that might work was nuclear weapons—
But using those wouldn't just destroy the enemy.
It would obliterate human cities as well.
No one dared make that call.
In short, the situation could be summed up in two words:
Utter despair.
For officials and civilians alike.
Of course—
That did not include Alex.
From beginning to end, Alex had treated all of this as nothing more than a spectacle.
He hadn't lifted a finger.
After all, he wasn't Superman.
He didn't see himself as some savior of the masses.
Whether people who had nothing to do with him lived or died—
He genuinely didn't care.
Right now, Alex was only interested in one thing:
Would the system finally issue a mission or not?
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