This night was destined to be a sleepless one for Themyscira.
In the prison cells, the Amazons—now captives—huddled together, murmuring prayers to the gods of Olympus for deliverance. Even in a dark corner, the once-proud Queen Hippolyta and her trusted General Antiope sat shackled, their elegance and authority stripped away.
When they had awoken in chains, the others quickly told them what had happened before they lost consciousness. Earlier that night, Artemis had visited, speaking at length about the Amazons' dire circumstances, about Diana's confrontation, and about the man now ruling their island—Jack Kadere. Her words had left Hippolyta uncharacteristically hesitant.
Anger churned inside her. So did worry. And—unwelcome as it was—regret.
If she had known that allowing one stranger to set foot on Themyscira would bring such misery to her people and to Diana, she would never have allowed him to stay. She would have driven him into the sea herself.
The night breeze stirred the leaves outside.
In Hippolyta's royal chambers, Jack Kadere reclined on a thick hide blanket. The room smelled faintly of salt air and polished bronze. Artemis stood nearby, her armor freshly removed, posture stiff.
"Finally, a proper-sized pillow," Jack said with a lazy smirk, pulling Artemis down beside him.
A warrior accustomed to battlefields and close combat, Artemis now found herself tense in an entirely different kind of confrontation. Her breathing grew shallow; she barely moved. Jack rested his arm around her and soon drifted to sleep.
For a while, the only sound in the dimly lit room was his steady breathing.
"…Asleep?" Artemis whispered, carefully turning her head toward him. His expression was calm, almost serene. She stared for longer than she meant to, thoughts unsettled, until sleep claimed her as well.
Her warrior's discipline had her awake before dawn. Jack's arm was still around her, holding her close. Startled, she began to shift away—
BANG!
The door burst open.
"Who's there?!" Artemis sprang halfway up before she saw who it was. Diana had already crossed the threshold, striding toward them with purpose.
She was clad in her full Wonder Woman armor: crimson breastplate, blue battle skirt, golden knee-high boots, silver gauntlets, and her star-emblazoned tiara. A shield rested on her arm, and in her other hand, she gripped a long, gleaming sword—its point leveled straight at Jack.
"Jack Kadere!" she declared. "I challenge you!"
Jack stirred at her voice, opening his eyes without moving his arm from Artemis's shoulder.
"…Hmm?" He took in her armored figure, then grinned. "Are you here to challenge me, or are you just barging in to catch me in the middle of something? Coming this early—are you really that eager to have children with me?"
"I will defeat you," Diana said through clenched teeth.
"Because of the God-Killer Sword?" Jack asked, eyes flicking to her weapon. He gestured for Artemis to help him dress. She hesitated only a moment before recognizing the blade—an artifact said to have once been forged to kill a god.
Diana's glare deepened as Artemis moved to assist him.
"Go bring everyone out," Jack said to Artemis. "They'll want to see this."
She donned her armor again and left quickly.
As Jack stepped past Diana, he added with deliberate insolence, "Keep that outfit on when we have our… rematch later. And this time, no Lasso of Truth—I want to focus all my attention on you." He patted her shoulder as he passed.
Despite her anger, Diana's face hardened in determination.
The Amazons were brought out one by one and assembled in the great marble plaza. When word spread that Diana was challenging Jack Kadere for their freedom, a spark of hope lit in their eyes.
Hippolyta and Antiope exchanged a tense glance. They were warriors and leaders, yet even they could not hide their unease. Still, when Diana emerged, clad in her full Wonder Woman armor and wielding the legendary God-Killer Sword, both women exhaled slightly.
The God-Killer Sword's name was more myth than truth—it could not truly destroy a god—but its craftsmanship was unparalleled. In Diana's skilled hands, it might just tip the odds.
Under the gaze of every Amazon present, Jack Kadere walked into the plaza, his pace unhurried, his expression calm.
He glanced around at the ring of onlookers, then at Diana, who stood poised and ready.
"Come on, then," he said, voice calm and almost bored.
"Hah!"
Diana lunged forward without hesitation, shield leading the way.
The battle began instantly. Every Amazon watching held her breath, the air between them electric with anticipation.
Diana had been trained since childhood under the most demanding regimen Themyscira could offer. Now, with her divine heritage fully awakened and the God-Killer Sword in hand, she was a warrior in her prime. Surely—surely—she could succeed.
BANG!
Jack's hand came up, stopping the force of her shield as it slammed into him. In the same instant, she aimed a fierce kick with her golden-and-red armored boots toward his midsection.
Jack's arm swept downward, palm striking her leg with precise force. She was driven back a step, her sword flashing as she brought it around in a tight arc toward him.
Before the blade could strike, his open hand shifted into a fist and punched forward.
Diana staggered, her sword point gouging a deep furrow into the plaza's marble floor as she slid backward.
"You can't beat me like this," Jack said with a smirk. "Use your full strength. Though…" his grin deepened, "even then, it won't be enough."
"Hmph!"
With a cry that echoed across the island, Diana summoned every ounce of her divine power. The God-Killer Sword ignited with blinding light, its edge humming with deadly energy.
The Amazons recoiled as the force radiating from her struck them like a gale, whipping hair and cloaks around, making it hard to keep their eyes open.
At the eye of this storm, Diana charged—her focus absolute. Lightning flashed above. Thunder cracked overhead.
Hippolyta's eyes widened. It has to work… it has to!
The strike carried not only Diana's full divine might, but the unspoken prayers of every Amazon present. The blade descended toward Jack Kadere like judgment itself.
"Infinite stacking—tenfold," Jack said softly, raising one bare hand.
The plaza fell silent in shock. The blade met his palm—and stopped.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Even Diana's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before narrowing again in fierce resolve.
With a roar, she bore down harder, every muscle straining. "Even if you call yourself a god—the God-Killer Sword can still cut you down!"
Her conviction burned, but then—
Crack.
A hairline fracture split the blade.
Crack.
Another split followed, racing down the length of the sword.
Diana's breath caught. Before she could react, Jack's grip tightened, and the weapon splintered in his grasp, shards of the legendary steel falling at their feet. With a final twist, he shook the broken hilt from her hand.
In one swift motion, Jack bent, hooked an arm around her waist, and lifted her effortlessly.
"Let's go," he said with infuriating calm. "Time to make children."