Chương 21: You Can't Save The World Alone.

Yes, that's right, the character, I've spent so much time building, won't be seen for a while, and even then...

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The chaos of the battle had settled, but its scars were still fresh. The once vibrant streets of Metropolis were now a scene of devastation—shattered buildings, crushed vehicles, and debris strewn across the city like remnants of a nightmare. Emergency services and paramedics flooded the area, moving quickly to tend to the wounded and clear the damage.

Ambulances and fire trucks blared their sirens as they arrived, while survivors—many battered and bloodied—were being escorted to safety. The eerie stillness that followed the battle contrasted with the destruction that had been left behind.

Superman floated silently above the scene, his cape billowing in the wind as he watched the rescue efforts below. After ensuring that Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen were safely returned to the Daily Planet, his focus shifted to the battlefield. No one was speaking, and the only sounds were the occasional crackle of fire and the distant hum of helicopters circling the area, capturing the aftermath.

As Superman descended toward the ground, he noticed Batman standing still amidst the wreckage, his gaze fixated on something. His normally stoic expression was darker than usual, more somber. Superman walked over, his boots crunching softly against the gravel and broken glass as he approached.

"Batman, are you—" Superman's voice trailed off the moment he saw what Batman was staring at.

It was a large patch of blood, smeared across the ground. It hadn't yet dried, and its dark crimson hue stood out starkly against the dust and rubble. The blood was splattered in a manner that suggested a brutal injury—one that would have led to significant blood loss.

Superman's eyes scanned the area rapidly, his mind piecing together what had happened in a matter of seconds. His super-vision zoomed in on the trail of blood leading away, then disappearing in an area scorched by heat—incineration. His heart sank.

Someone had died here. And their body had been burned beyond recognition.

"...To hide the traces," Batman began, his voice quieter than usual, laced with a rare hint of guilt. "The Motherbox gave off a powerful signal. We needed someone to distract Grayven and Steppenwolf while the others—Flash and Cyborg—were required for the revival process. Wonder Woman could hold her own, but she needed backup... so Jorno volunteered."

Superman's brow furrowed as Batman continued.

"It was a calculated risk, one we had to take to keep the Motherbox hidden long enough to complete the plan. But there was a snatch." Batman's jaw tightened, his fists clenched at his sides, the only sign of the storm brewing within him. "We used the time to bring your missing memory back, but it was time he didn't have. Jorno's role was to buy us those extra minutes, but the cost was far too high."

Superman listened, the weight of the situation pressing on him. Jorno, a young man who had fought valiantly despite his circumstances, had been tasked with delaying two of the most powerful enemies they'd ever faced. And in doing so, he had paid the ultimate price.

"The blood trails suggest he bled out," Batman continued, his voice coldly factual, but Superman could hear the anger underneath it. "Then... his body was incinerated to cover the tracks."

Superman stood in silence, staring at the patch of blood where Jorno had fallen. He didn't know Jorno personally—he hadn't had the time to. But he knew enough to understand that the young man had given his life for them, for the survival of the planet, and for the chance to bring Superman back. Without Jorno, there might not have been a victory today.

"May you find peace in rest," Superman murmured, his voice soft as he bowed his head in respect in front of the bloodstained ground.

Batman said nothing, but his fists were unclenched, and he allowed himself a moment of silence alongside Superman. A rare moment of shared grief between the two warriors.

A Few Hours Later – The White House

The crisis had barely ended, and the world was already looking for answers. The White House had scheduled an emergency conference, and the press swarmed like hungry vultures, eager to get any bit of information about the events that had unfolded in Metropolis.

Standing at the podium, Mercy Graves, the sharp-tongued and efficient spokeswoman, addressed the crowd. Her eyes gleamed with anticipation, knowing that what she was about to announce would send shockwaves through the country.

"Hello, everyone!" she began, her voice confident and full of energy. "I know you've been waiting for answers, and I'm here to introduce our country's heroes!"

The crowd buzzed with excitement. But as Mercy stepped off the stage, her expression shifted from excitement to her usual cold demeanor. She pressed her finger to the earpiece in her ear and spoke calmly, "It's time, Mr. Luthor."

In a room behind the stage, Lex Luthor, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, smirked as he adjusted his cufflinks. Lex Luthor, the once-imprisoned genius, now stood as President of the United States. Despite his incarceration for creating Doomsday, kidnapping Martha Kent, and causing mass destruction, the political machine had worked in his favor.

Luthor's reputation had somehow been restored, and now, he was in the most powerful office in the world. While not permanent as he was only, Acting President, what was the difference? It's not like anyone would replace him, and if they did...

He chuckled to himself, his hands running through his newly regrown hair. "Well, my stars! It's showtime!"

Backstage: Superman and Wonder Woman

As Superman and Wonder Woman waited in the wings of the White House press room, Clark's face darkened as he heard the name announced over the speakers. "Lex?" he whispered in disbelief, his expression one of shock. He hadn't been using his super-hearing to listen to the heartbeat patterns of the attendees, and Lex Luthor's heartbeat was unmistakable.

His mind raced. Lex, the same man who had orchestrated his death, who had created Doomsday and nearly brought the world to ruin, was now President of the United States?

Diana watched the brief shock flicker across Superman's face, but she was far less surprised. "The world of man is dominated by capital and wealth, Kal-El," she said, her voice tinged with disdain. "Power is always bought and sold in this world. You should have ended him…permanently."

Superman shook his head, still reeling. He had hoped that Lex would finally be held accountable for his actions and that justice would prevail. But here he was, walking free and more powerful than ever.

A few moments later, Lex Luthor strode confidently onto the stage, grinning like a man who knew he had won. The crowd erupted in applause, unaware of the monster they were cheering for.

"Clark!" Lex called out in his usual jovial tone, completely disregarding the animosity between them. "Been a while, eh? Look, I even got my hair back! I wasn't sure if the bald look was gonna stick, but thankfully, it grew back nicely. What do you think?"

Lex's cheerful tone grated on Superman's nerves, and he struggled to maintain his composure. His blue eyes locked onto Lex, his jaw tightening with every word.

"This isn't over, Lex," Superman said, his voice low, full of warning. "You might be in charge now, but that doesn't mean you've changed."

Lex's smile widened, but there was a glint of danger in his eyes. "Oh, Clark... you never were good at politics. You see, the people don't care about the past, they care about the present. And right now? I'm their man. Let's see how well you fare in this new world order."

Superman clenched his fists, but Wonder Woman placed a calming hand on his shoulder. "Save it for later, Kal-El," she whispered. "We have more important battles ahead."

As Lex Luthor prepared to address the world as President, Superman and Wonder Woman stood quietly behind the scenes, watching as the next chapter of Earth's struggle began. Lex had risen from the ashes of his defeat, and with him, a new threat was looming on the horizon.

The battle against Darkseid was far from over, and now, with Lex Luthor in power, the League's fight would only get more complicated.

...

As Lex Luthor exited the room, his self-satisfied grin lingering in Superman's mind like a bad taste, Clark couldn't help but dwell on the uneasy reality of Lex's new position. While Lex was only the Acting President—a temporary position—having someone like him with access to that much power was unnerving. He knew more about Superman than anyone else, and there wasn't a part of Clark's life that Lex didn't already know or manipulate. The idea of Lex with that kind of control, even temporarily, sent a cold shiver down his spine.

Diana glanced at him, her warrior instincts reading the tension on his face. "Kal-El, don't waste your energy thinking about him. There's nothing you can do about Luthor's current position right now. Besides, there's a bigger issue at hand."

Her words were blunt, but they grounded Clark. He sighed, knowing she was right. The bigger picture loomed ahead—Lex was just another piece on a much larger chessboard, and their attention was needed elsewhere.

As they continued walking down the hallway, they ran into Cyborg and Flash, who were chatting casually near the White House's briefing room entrance. Victor, waving with a smile, had already grown used to seeing the fabled Superman in person. It had only been a day since his resurrection, but the world was already feeling different with Superman back.

"Hey, guys!" Victor said with his usual nonchalant tone. "I hope everything went okay in there."

Before anyone could answer, Barry Allen chimed in, his face a mix of curiosity and confusion as he pointed toward the man standing next to him—a muscular figure with long, unkempt hair, and, notably, half-nude. The man's wild appearance made him seem more suited for the sea than a government building.

"Um… I just wanna ask," Barry began, his fingers pointing at the stranger. "Do you guys know him?"

The man rolled his eyes in exaggerated frustration and crossed his arms. "Oh, come on," he said, exasperated. "You seriously don't know me? The Bat-guy literally came to me for help not too long ago. You know…Arthur Curry? King of Atlantis?" He said the last part with a dramatic flair as if everyone should recognize him instantly.

Superman blinked, still processing everything that had happened in the last 24 hours. "Uh... sorry, I don't remember you," he said sheepishly. "No offense, but—"

Diana cut in, her memory kicking in at the mention of the King of Atlantis. "Wait... I remember now," she said, tilting her head. "You're Arthur Curry, the current King of Atlantis, aren't you? Bruce did mention something about seeking your help."

Arthur grinned broadly, pleased that at least someone recognized him. "That's me! I wanted to assist you guys earlier, but I wasn't exactly sure where you were. The camera crew wasn't exactly focused on, you know, where you were fighting. And Central City's pretty far from Atlantis."

Superman smiled apologetically. "That's fine, Arthur. We're just glad you're here now. The more help we have, the better. Especially since..." he paused, hesitating. His heart felt heavy as he thought about what he and Batman had discovered. "Well, Batman and Jorno are missing." His voice dropped slightly as he mentioned Jorno, the young fighter whose death he had only recently learned about.

Barry stretched his arms, visibly anxious. Being in the White House—and live on TV earlier—had put him in the spotlight in a way that made him uncomfortable. "Yeah, I haven't seen Bruce since the last mission ended. Knowing him, he's probably sulking in some cave somewhere, planning his next chess move."

Victor laughed. "You're not wrong. Batman and Jorno loved their solitude. I mean, come on—why else would Bruce Wayne have a literal cave as a base of operations? What's next, a Bat-castle?"

"Probably," Barry muttered with a chuckle. "But you do have a point. I doubt we'll see them pop up anytime soon."

While the lighthearted banter continued, Diana and Arthur had begun comparing weapons. Arthur's eyes lit up with excitement as he examined Diana's sword. "So, this is the Godslayer everyone's talking about, huh?" He turned it over in his hands, inspecting the intricate craftsmanship and faint mystical glow.

"Yes, indeed. Indestructible, as far as we know," Diana said with pride, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Arthur raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Really? Well, how about a little test, then?" He held up his golden trident, the weapon gleaming with ancient power. "This bad boy is said to be forged by Poseidon himself. Wanna see how it holds up against your sword?"

Diana's eyes gleamed, the competitive warrior in her stirring at the challenge. "Poseidon's trident, you say?" She smirked. "I think that would be... an interesting test."

Arthur grinned back, clearly eager for a friendly spar. They both turned to Superman, who was observing the two with mild amusement. Diana gave him a questioning look. "Kal-El, we've got some time on our hands. Wouldn't it be fine to do a bit of testing?" she asked, her eyes bright with anticipation.

Superman scratched the back of his head. He could feel the weight of the unspoken truth hanging in the air—the secret about Jorno. He hadn't told anyone yet, and the reality of Jorno's death gnawed at him. Batman had been silent, brooding, and distant since the revelation. Superman wasn't one to keep secrets, but in this case, the news had yet to be broken.

"I... sure," Superman said, a bit hurriedly, brushing off his thoughts for now. "A little testing seems fine."

Before Arthur and Diana could begin their spar, Barry suddenly interrupted, bouncing on his feet. "Wait, wait! Can we like... maybe do this not in the middle of the White House grounds? I don't think the President would appreciate ancient Atlantean weapons being swung around."

Victor chuckled. "Yeah, I agree with Barry for once. Let's not trash another national landmark while we're at it. Metropolis still needs to be rebuilt."

Diana reluctantly sheathed her sword, and Arthur lowered his trident, nodding. "Alright, alright. We'll test them some other time. But I'm holding you to that, Diana. I want to see what this thing can do."

Superman exhaled in relief. He wasn't ready for another chaotic battle to break out, even if it was just a sparring match between teammates. As the group started walking again, the mood lightened, and for a brief moment, they allowed themselves to laugh and joke.

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[Auther: What'll happen next? Who knows? Obviously, Jorno isn't dead, even if he was, I'd give him a Senzu Bean or something.