"Why hasn't the Legends team come back yet? They've got a time ship, can jump across centuries, and they're still dragging their feet. Do they think they're the Justice League's official police force now?" Jack Kadere muttered, glancing at Hippolyta.
"You've been holding back for a while," he added. "Go ahead—say what's on your mind."
Hippolyta considered for a moment, then asked, "Are you truly from the future? And if so… what happens to Themyscira in that time?"
Jack smirked faintly, as if he had been expecting this. "Knew you'd ask that. When Diana eventually leaves Themyscira and kills Ares, she becomes Wonder Woman—a symbol the whole world will know. As for the island's fate… Steppenwolf will return. He'll come here to take the Mother Box you're guarding."
Hippolyta's face tightened at the name. Steppenwolf. Memories stirred of that ancient battle, when Amazons, Atlanteans, the Old Gods, humanity, and even warriors from beyond the stars united to drive him back. If he returned… could Themyscira withstand him again?
Jack's voice broke her thoughts. "That's the difference between the New Gods and the Old Gods. Just one Steppenwolf is a nightmare for you to fight. He serves Darkseid—God of Apokolips. And as dangerous as Darkseid is, his own father, Yuga Khan, was worse. Khan became obsessed with something called the Origin Wall. He tried to breach it… and got himself stuck there for good. Zeus is dead. Most of the Old Gods are gone. They couldn't win, so they hid."
A sardonic smile crept onto Jack's face. "Makes you wonder… maybe Zeus knew the New Gods would eventually replace the Old Gods. So if power alone couldn't keep them in charge, he'd try numbers instead—spread his bloodline as far as possible. If one champion couldn't win, maybe an army of demigods could. And if one of those demigods had a few… special advantages—say, someone like Wonder Woman—maybe the odds change."
Hippolyta's eyes narrowed. "And this… Origin Wall. What is it, exactly?"
Jack leaned back, enjoying the moment. "The edge of the known universe. Beyond it lies the Source—the origin of all life, all energy, all answers. It's the Source that gave birth to Gods and metahumans alike. The first Lantern Entities? They came from beyond that Wall. But here's the catch—anything that touches the Origin Wall becomes trapped. Permanently. You don't die; you just… remain there. Conscious. Immobile. Yuga Khan, for example—Darkseid's own father—is stuck there. So was Superboy-Prime in another reality. And before you ask, yes—Yuga Khan got out once. Then he got himself caught again."
He shrugged. "There's one perk to being stuck on the Wall—you're immune to cosmic reboots. And believe me, the universe has been rebooted more than once. Blame speedsters. Every time the Flash messes with the timeline, things… reset."
He paused, chuckling to himself. "Speaking of speedsters… the Legends team is still ridiculously slow."
"The source of everything?" Hippolyta began, clearly unsettled by the idea.
Jack waved a hand, cutting her off. "Don't turn me into your bedtime storybook. If you want that kind of explanation, ask your daughter. I'm not here to answer 'Why is the sky blue?' questions."
Hippolyta's lips tightened at the phrasing.
Jack, still irritated at the Legends' delay, turned on his heel. "Come on. Let's get back."
They returned to the heart of Themyscira, where the sound of cheering echoed through the open courtyards. In the sparring grounds, Artemis and Diana were locked in a fierce duel. Their movements were a blur—sword strikes, shield bashes, and sudden bursts of divine energy. Diana fought with the fluid grace of a demigod awakened to her full potential. Artemis, her body surrounded by faint golden motes of power, wielded the raw might of a newly ascended goddess—Discord's mantle blazing around her.
They were perfectly matched.
"Mother." "Master."
The cheers fell silent. Both warriors froze mid-motion when they spotted Hippolyta and Jack approaching.
"How's it feel?" Jack asked casually, his eyes on Artemis.
She grinned, her voice brimming with excitement. "It's incredible—like limitless strength flowing through me. I'm still getting the hang of it, but I can tell… I can get much stronger."
Then, with a sudden gleam in her eyes, Artemis asked, "Master… may I challenge you?"
Jack's smile widened faintly. He raised his hand.
WHAM!
Artemis's world spun. Pain lanced through her head, and in an instant she found herself face-first in the dirt. She hadn't even seen him move. What had felt like a simple tap carried enough force to make her scalp prickle and her vision blur.
"You can impress them all you like," Jack said coolly, "but if you try to show off to me, I'll put you down."
Without another glance, he turned and strolled away, leaving stunned silence in his wake. This was his own brand of "teaching a lesson"—a reminder that raw power meant nothing without control. Even Eris herself had once been flattened by his strike; what chance did a newly empowered Artemis have?
Diana knelt beside her fallen sister. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Artemis muttered, rubbing her temple. The dizziness was already fading.
"Intruders!"
The alarm cry rang out across the training field. All eyes turned skyward as a deep mechanical hum grew louder. A warship broke through the clouds, descending into the Amazonian courtyard. The downdraft from its engines whipped at cloaks and banners until it finally settled on the ground with a metallic thud.
The hatch hissed open, revealing Rip Hunter in his familiar trench coat, followed by White Canary Sara Lance, Captain Cold Leonard Snart, and Heat Wave Mick Rory.
"Citizens of Themyscira," Rip called, raising his hands in a placating gesture, "please, don't be alarmed. We're here for Jack Kadere."
"You are the Legends?" Diana asked, her voice cold.
Rip hesitated, surprised they knew the name, before nodding. "Yes. How—?"
He didn't get the chance to finish. Diana was already moving.
"We mean no harm!" Rip protested as she closed the distance. "We're here to help—"
"You brought trouble to Themyscira," Diana snapped, and in one swift motion, she tackled him to the ground.
Snart and Rory reached for their weapons, but Artemis was faster. She slammed into them with a force that knocked both men flat. Sara Lance froze as Amazonian spears leveled in her direction. With a sigh, she lifted her hands in surrender.
"Bind them all," Artemis ordered sharply. "Take them to the Master."
Sara frowned. "And who exactly is your Master?"
"Jack Kadere," Artemis said with pride.
Rip groaned. "Oh, for the love of—what has Kadere done now?"