章 9: Trial By Combat.

Here's another tidbit, somehow, it's Clark Joseph Kent as his full name.

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The days on Themyscira—or Paradise Island, as some called it—seemed to pass in a flash, yet each moment was steeped in the timelessness of this hidden land. The air was different here: pure, untouched by the corruption of the outside world. The women, fierce and graceful, moved with the ease of warriors who had honed their bodies and minds over centuries, their immortality evident in every step.

For Bruce Wayne, this island was an enigma, both a place of stunning beauty and a relic of history that seemed to defy all logic. The Amazons didn't age. Even after lifetimes, their bodies remained as strong and youthful as the day they were forged into warriors. It was a place where the rules of time and science simply… didn't exist. He couldn't deny the quiet allure of this island, but he knew it for what it was: a sanctuary of warriors, untouched by time, but not by conflict.

Jorno, on the other hand, had taken to the island differently. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to act like a child—exploring the shores, climbing trees, and watching the training sessions of the Amazons from a distance. Though his quiet, aloof nature remained, there was a certain lightness in him that hadn't been there before. Perhaps it was the island, or perhaps it was the absence of constant fear.

While Jorno enjoyed the freedom of Themyscira, Bruce remained focused. Every moment he wasn't keeping an eye on Jorno, he spent logging his findings and inputting data into his files. Today, it was File NO. 5.

File No. 5 - Jorno JovannaName: Jorno JovannaAge: 14? - 17?Gender: MaleSpecies: HumanAlignment: Innocent GoodAffiliation: Wayne Enterprises

Abilities: "King Of The Clouds"

Strength: C+ (Building Level)Speed: C++ (Roughly Mach 1)Durability: C+ (Unconfirmed)Potential: ??? (Exponential Growth Confirmed)Area Of Effect: 12 Meters

Unique Ability: Manipulation of Air

Bruce paused for a moment as he typed in the latest observations. He had been able to confirm one thing about Jorno's power: it was not proportional to his body. The realization had come during a sparring session, where Jorno had accidentally slipped up. His "King of the Clouds" ability acted as a kind of invisible shield, intercepting damage that would otherwise harm him. If Jorno were shot, Bruce hypothesized, his power would take the bullet, and the worst that would happen to Jorno would be a scrape.

Unscientific, Bruce thought as he entered the data, but then again, everything on this island defied science. Myths and legends had become reality. Logic, as he knew it, had been left behind the moment they touched down on this ancient land.

His mind wandered back to the reason they had come here. It wasn't just for Jorno's protection. There was a much larger mission at hand, one that extended far beyond the sands of Themyscira.

The Victor Stone Message

Victor Stone. His name had surfaced recently, but it wasn't just a coincidence. Bruce had received a cryptic message from an unknown caller, but it hadn't taken long for Bruce to deduce who had sent it. The message had come from Victor, the son of Silas Stone, a brilliant scientist now in hiding with his son. The footage Bruce had seen of Victor in his father's lab had raised more questions than answers. Victor had been undergoing some kind of experiment, and whatever was happening, it was big.

Silas and Victor's decision to avoid the public eye wasn't a coincidence either. They were hiding, and for good reason. The moment Bruce had received the message, he knew something was coming.

The pieces were falling into place.

Bruce's eyes flicked to the sky above, where the sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon. Aliens. The word felt strange even now, despite his encounters with Superman. What would they look like? Would they be grotesque to humans, like the monsters in myths, or human-like, as Superman had been?

But one thing was certain: peace was out the window. Whatever came next, it would be a fight for survival. The world had no idea what was looming on the horizon, but Bruce had seen enough to know that mankind alone wouldn't stand a chance.

...

The stadium was filled with anticipation. Every seat in the grand arena was occupied, the murmurs of the Amazonian audience growing louder as they awaited the spectacle of a one-sided battle. They were here to witness the defeat of a man—a boy, really—against one of their own. Donna Troy was a champion in the making, and this fight was nothing more than a formality.

"Silence," Queen Hippolyta commanded, raising her hand. The crowd fell silent instantly, their focus sharpening on the arena below. Diana stood beside her mother, watching carefully. She had tried, in her way, to advise Donna to show some restraint. But now, all Diana could do was watch. Held under strict supervision, she hadn't been able to intervene further, but she hoped Donna would take her advice to heart.

"Now, from our side, we have our reigning champion," Hippolyta announced. While Diana was technically the strongest on the island, her years of training had waned, and her time spent in the world of men had distanced her from the crown. Her adoptive sister, Donna Troy, was now the preferred heir—Lady Prince, the one Hippolyta trusted to lead in her place.

Donna stepped out into the arena, her confidence radiating from every movement. She waved to the crowd, soaking in the cheers, before Diana leaped down from the stands and whispered to her.

"Donna, at least try and act like he's hurting you," Diana said softly, offering a small smile. Her mother's eyes bore into her from the distance, but Diana couldn't help but try one last time to soften her sister's approach.

Donna grinned back. "Don't worry, Sis! I'll hold back. I wouldn't want to beat him too badly." With a wink, she strode forward, her excitement barely contained. If she won this match—and she knew she would—maybe it would be her turn to step into the world of men, just like Diana had.

Jorno sat in the center of the arena, his eyes scanning the crowd. He felt the weight of being the only one without cheers or support, save for Bruce Wayne, who watched from the stands, ever silent, ever calculating.

Donna wasn't even wearing armor, let alone carrying any weapons. Her confidence bordered on arrogance. But Jorno didn't care about appearances. He stood there, hands in his pockets, waiting.

"Are both challengers ready?" Queen Hippolyta called out, receiving a confident nod from Donna and nothing but a cold, focused stare from Jorno.

"Begin!" Hippolyta's voice rang out, and Donna took a step forward, her posture relaxed. She wasn't even taking him seriously.

"Go ahead," Donna taunted, "I'll let you have the first hit."

Jorno stared at her, unimpressed, his red eyes betraying nothing but mild annoyance. "You sure about that?" he asked, his voice calm. "I'll give you a chance to leave now. Give up, and this won't have to get ugly."

Donna blinked, confused. "Isn't that what I should be saying?"

Jorno sighed, his hands still in his pockets, and began walking toward her. "Last chance. I'm offering you a way out."

Donna rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. With a burst of Amazonian speed, she dashed forward and threw a punch, but her fist stopped cold. Jorno hadn't moved, but King of the Clouds, the crystal figure, appeared from thin air and caught her punch with ease. Its translucent fist glowed for a moment before delivering a powerful strike to Donna's side, sending her flying across the arena.

"Muda," the figure intoned, its voice low and unearthly.

Jorno barely glanced at the fallen Donna. "Yeah, I know she's annoying, but show some mercy," he said casually. KOTC wasn't much of a conversationalist—it could only say "Muda"—but Jorno understood it perfectly.

Donna staggered to her feet, shock washing over her face. The pain from the blow was real. She touched her cheek, her fingers brushing against a bruise that had already begun to form. "What…? That hurt?" She muttered to herself, bewildered. "Is this what Diana meant about men…?"

The crowd, too, had gone silent. This was not the fight they had expected. Queen Hippolyta's eyes narrowed in confusion, while Diana let out a quiet sigh of relief, whispering to herself, "Sorry, Donna. You'll just have to endure this."

In the stands, Bruce Wayne remained still, though the faintest hint of a smirk touched his lips. This fight was pointless. He knew it the moment it started—Jorno couldn't be fought as an ordinary person.

Donna regained her composure, her earlier smugness gone. She dashed forward again, faster this time, but once again, Jorno's King of the Clouds intervened. This time, it caught her punch with ease. Without hesitation, Jorno tapped her lightly on the stomach as the crystal entity picked up a small rock and flicked it toward her.

"Bang," Jorno said nonchalantly. The rock exploded in a small but powerful burst of compressed air and heat, sending Donna sprawling across the sand once more.

"Compressed air plus heat equals boom," Jorno said simply. "You know that, right?"

Donna lay there for a moment, processing what had just happened. Her thoughts raced. There was something else… another figure beside the boy, something she couldn't see clearly. I can't beat that thing. She realized with a growing frustration. I'll just have to hit him directly.

But before Donna could make another move, a dark shadow passed over the arena. Jorno glanced up as the air around them thickened with the sound of wings. He sighed, the realization hitting him instantly.

"Looks like they're here."

Overhead, Parademons swooped down from the sky, their grotesque forms casting long, terrifying shadows over the island. They shrieked as they descended, attacking without hesitation.

The Amazons reacted immediately. Bows were drawn, arrows loosed. Queen Hippolyta stood tall, her voice booming over the chaos. "Calm yourselves! Prepare for battle!" Her command was clear, and the Amazons formed into tight formations, ready to defend their home.

Jorno turned to Donna, who was still on the ground, wide-eyed as the Parademons swarmed. "You know this place better than I do, right?" he asked, his tone oddly casual given the situation.

Without waiting for a reply, King of the Clouds reached down, grabbing Donna and lifting her effortlessly. She struggled in its grip, furious. "HEY! What the hell are you doing?!"

Jorno clamped his hand over her mouth, silencing her. "Hush," he said calmly. "I've got a job to do."

With a snap of his fingers, a whirlwind of air formed around them, lifting them both into the sky. The two of them soared above the battlefield, heading toward the densest cluster of Parademons.

The Battle for Themyscira

Down below, Diana unsheathed her sword, her eyes sharp with determination. "Focus on defense! Keep them at range!" she ordered, kicking a Parademon out of the sky and beheading another with a single swipe. The Amazons, though surprised, quickly adapted, their arrows striking down the invaders with deadly precision.

Diana cut her way through the chaos, making her way toward her mother. Queen Hippolyta stood at the center of the battlefield, rallying her warriors. "Mother, we need to coordinate!" Diana shouted over the din of battle.

"Not now, Diana!" Hippolyta responded, her voice filled with urgency. "Lives are at stake. We must secure the palace—get inside and lock it down."

Meanwhile, far from the central battle, Bruce Wayne moved with silent purpose, trekking through the Plainfield. His gauntlet buzzed as the data stream from his drone fed him live updates. He was getting closer to the source of the Parademons, the thing that had brought them here. Whatever it was, he knew this was just the beginning.

20 minutes before the Parademon invasion on Themyscira, the planet Apokolips stirred in its infernal glow, a place where evil never slept, and power was law. In the vast, twisted throne room, a figure knelt—his armor gleaming silver, contrasting sharply against his stone-like skin. His eyes, cold and determined, were fixed on the throne before him.

Beside him, draped in black robes, was his advisor, Desaad, his voice a slow, menacing whisper that cut through the air. "My lord... you cannot fail this time. Failure is not an option." Desaad's tone left no room for error.

To his left, towering and menacing in her own right, stood Granny Goodness, her smile cruel as she watched the scene unfold. Her presence was a reminder of what awaited those who failed their master.

On the throne, a figure clad in dark blue armor, his stone skin more weathered and powerful than Steppenwolf's own, looked down with unfeeling eyes. It was Darkseid himself. "Steppenwolf," Darkseid's voice rumbled like a distant earthquake, "failure will not be tolerated twice. Do not return without results."

Steppenwolf bowed his head lower, the weight of his lord's command pressing down on him. "I shall not fail you again, my lord."

Desaad, standing beside him, gestured, and a swirling red portal materialized, crackling with ominous energy. "I'll be Boomtubing you to the target location. The Motherboxes must be retrieved, or don't bother coming back."

With one last glance at his lord, Steppenwolf rose and walked into the portal, determination etched on his face. "I shall return... with the three Motherboxes."

Steppenwolf's Arrival on Earth

Emerging from the Boom tube, Steppenwolf found himself on familiar ground—Earth. But this time, his destination was not the world of men. This was the land of the gods.

He inhaled deeply, sniffing the air like a predator catching the scent of prey. The fresh, untainted air of Themyscira filled his lungs. "Beautiful..." he muttered, his voice heavy with dark anticipation. "The land of the gods is still as clean as ever... but not for long."

He stood near the first Motherbox's location—an ancient temple. But he was not alone. Behind him, an army of Parademons poured from the portal, their wings buzzing like the drone of a thousand insects. His army was ready, and their purpose was singular: death and destruction.

"Come," Steppenwolf commanded, and the air was filled with the shrill, insect-like screeches of his Parademons, flying out with one goal: to obliterate everything in their path.

The Encounter with Batman

Steppenwolf moved toward the ancient temple, the location of the first Motherbox. His steps were slow but deliberate, each one carrying the weight of centuries of war and conquest. But as he drew closer, something caught his attention—a lone figure walking toward him, clad in black.

"A human?" Steppenwolf's deep voice rumbled in confusion as he spotted the iconic Batman approaching him. This human seemed unaffected by the Parademons swarming around.

Bruce, calm and unshaken, regarded the towering figure with cool calculation. "Who are you?" he asked. "And yes, I am human."

"Steppenwolf," the alien warlord replied, his voice dripping with disdain. "And for you to remain untouched by my Parademons... how did you get past them?"

Bruce's fingers subtly tapped the side of his cowl, activating his mask's internal systems. He had no intention of showing all his cards, but a little explanation wouldn't hurt—distraction was a useful tool. "Simple. I interfered with their sensors and emitted the same frequencies they do. Simple math, really."

Steppenwolf narrowed his eyes, even with his translator, Bruce's technical explanation meant little to him. But none of it mattered. "Cunning as always, humans..." He raised his battle axe, towering over Bruce. "But it will not save you from death."

As Steppenwolf prepared to strike, Bruce fired his grapple gun, latching onto a nearby Parademon and using its momentum to launch himself into the sky. Steppenwolf leaped after him, his powerful legs propelling him high into the air, but Bruce was ready.

Letting go of the Parademon, Bruce spread his cape, gliding toward the temple where the Motherbox awaited. Steppenwolf followed, his eyes locked on the human who had dared to stand in his way.

Inside the Temple

While the battle raged outside, Jorno and a begrudgingly captured Donna Troy had reached the temple entrance. Donna, her arms still pinned by King of the Clouds, scowled at the boy. "You need to shoot an arrow into the keyhole. It's not a normal lock," she muttered.

Jorno, ever calm, manipulated the air around him, condensing it into the shape of an arrow. With a flick of his hand, the air arrow shot toward the keyhole, perfectly striking its target. As the door creaked open, Donna's eyes widened in shock. "What the...?" she whispered, watching the air ripple and bend light as if it were solid. "Is this kid a mage?"

Jorno grinned, enjoying the moment. "Surprised? That's my Stand, King of the Clouds." His voice grew dramatic as he tried to explain, "He's the one who stands beside me, which is why I call it a 'Stand'. Cool, right?"

Donna rolled her eyes, unimpressed. "Okay, shut up. I don't care anymore." Still, there was a part of her that was curious, but she wasn't about to let him know that.

Jorno shrugged and strolled inside the temple, Donna following grudgingly. The ancient structure was dark and filled with an eerie energy. It wasn't long before they spotted it—a black box, pulsating faintly with dark energy, dormant but unmistakable.

The Motherbox.

Jorno knelt down, inspecting the box. It wasn't responsive, but Mr. Wayne had been clear: he needed it. As Jorno prepared to lift the box, a sudden crash echoed through the temple, the sound of stone and metal being shattered.

He looked up, eyes wide, as the towering figure of Steppenwolf entered the room, his glowing axe raised menacingly. His voice was a low growl, filled with dark intent.

"Drop it, boy."

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[Auther: I can't help it! I LOVE LONG CHAPTERS! Also because long chapters let me work more but...my editor says working too much is bad, and I suppose I can't ignore him right? Anyways, I'll take a break tomorrow, I mean Saturday and Sunday, I'll drop an MHA chapter tomorrow.]