"Won."
With a relieved, almost triumphant smile, Diana swayed on her feet—then collapsed forward, unconscious.
The moment she hit the ground, the divine essence of Ares—the shattered Source of the God of War—seemed to stir as if sensing its chosen heir. The shimmering energy surged toward her, flowing into her body like a tide rushing to its shore. Slowly, she began to rise into the air, suspended in a golden aura that from a distance could have been mistaken for the sunrise itself.
When Eris, the Goddess of Discord, had been slain, Artemis had claimed her divine essence deliberately, absorbing it through will and ritual. This was different. The Source of War wasn't taken by force—it sought Diana out on its own.
And unlike Artemis's long and arduous transformation, Diana's ascension was swift. In only a few minutes, the brilliant light faded, and she drifted gently back down to the ground.
Jack Kadere gave a low whistle. "Huh. Didn't know it could happen that way. Guess the position was pre-approved." He smirked, shaking his head as he gathered up the Lasso of Truth.
Donna Troy—her divine strength returned—pushed herself upright, still catching her breath, her gaze fixed in shock on Diana. "I saw Artemis become the new Goddess of Discord after she got Eris's Source. So now… Diana's the new—"
"God of War," Jack finished for her, casually. "Come on. Bring her. We're leaving."
"Leaving? Where?" Donna asked automatically.
Jack didn't bother answering. He was already walking away.
Donna hesitated, then slung her shield onto her back, hoisted Diana into her arms, and followed.
They moved quickly across the rooftops, the chaos of the previous night's battle echoing faintly in the distance. It didn't take long to reach the hotel.
The window to Jack's suite was already open. He slipped inside without hesitation. Donna followed with less grace, landing heavily while still carrying Diana.
Click.
The overhead light flicked on, and Donna blinked against the sudden brightness. Standing by the wall was a strikingly beautiful woman with dark hair and an athletic build. She was entirely naked.
"What happened to Diana?" the woman—Kate—asked, her surprise fading quickly as her eyes locked on the unconscious Amazon.
"Put her on the bed," Jack ordered without looking up.
Donna hesitated a moment before laying Diana down.
"Now strip her."
Donna froze. "What?"
"Forget it. I'll do it." Jack stepped forward and, with unsettling efficiency, removed Diana's armor and clothing. He looked her over, his mouth curling into an odd half-smile.
"Yeah… thought so. Beautiful faces are everywhere. But moments like the one she had out there? That's rare. Guess I was just caught up in it."
Turning to Donna, Jack asked, "You staying in here tonight, or getting lost?"
Donna, still reeling from everything, stammered, "I… I'll just stay on the floor."
"Suit yourself," Jack said, unconcerned. He switched off the light, plunging the room into shadow broken only by silver moonlight streaming through the curtains.
Donna heard the faint rustle of clothes being removed, then caught a glimpse of Jack lying down and wrapping his arms around Kate.
Her mind raced. If Diana wakes up to this, she's going to kill him. No—she'll try.
But something else gnawed at her. His earlier remarks… did this mean he no longer intended to kill Diana?
The night passed in uneasy quiet.
By morning, the battleground where Ares had fallen was cordoned off. In a city without omnipresent surveillance, and in a region long accustomed to strange phenomena, the truth would be buried under official reports and speculation. Ares's human guise had been powerful, wealthy, and politically untouchable. To the public, this was just another high-profile assassination in a dangerous world.
Sunlight streamed into the hotel room, spilling across Diana's skin. She stirred, stretching with a soft hum before her eyes opened.
Her pleasant haze shattered instantly when she realized where she was—and who she was lying against. Naked. In bed. Between Kate and Jack Kadere.
Memories came flooding back: defeating Ares, the blinding light, the exhaustion—and then darkness.
So… he brought me back? And then…
Her eyes darted around. "Where's Donna Troy?" she muttered aloud.
"I'm here," came Donna's voice from the far corner. "I'm fine. He… he just took off your clothes. He didn't… do anything else."
Relieved but still tense, Diana pushed herself upright, the sheets falling away. She spotted Donna sitting awkwardly against the wall, clearly uncomfortable.
The quiet was broken by a sharp smack. Jack's hand had landed lazily on her hip.
"Get up if you're awake. Stop moving around," he grumbled, rolling over to pull Kate closer. "Knew I'd regret using you as a pillow."
"You—" Diana's anger spiked, words failing her. You strip me, put me in your bed, and now you're complaining?
Jack ignored her glare entirely, closing his eyes again.
Grinding her teeth, Diana swung her legs over the side of the bed, found her armor, and began dressing. Donna quickly followed her lead. Without another word, the two Amazons exchanged a glance, opened the door, and left the suite.
As they walked, Diana asked Donna about her situation and about Themyscira.
Her heart sank when she learned that half a year had passed since she left. Time on Themyscira flowed differently, and she had never paid close attention to the exact passing of days when she first entered Man's World. She truly hadn't realized so much time had slipped away.
Hearing that her mother, Queen Hippolyta, along with Artemis and the rest of her sisters were safe eased her worries somewhat.
"What about you?" Diana asked. "Are you returning to Themyscira?"
"Yes," Donna replied. "And you?"
Diana was about to answer when a sharp pain stabbed through her mind. Athena's voice rang in her head.
What? That's impossible!
No… it wasn't Ares?
Diana's expression shifted, turning grave.
"We were wrong," she said after a pause. "The god-killer prophecy—it wasn't Ares at all. It was—"
Boom!
A deafening noise cut her off.
Through the window, Diana saw a massive time-ship descending—The Waverider.