Slade's arrival was a brutal, calculated assault. He moved with terrifying speed and strength, his Mirakuru-fueled rampage tearing through Starling City's seemingly impenetrable defenses. Key infrastructure, symbols of Michael's control, became targets of Slade's destructive fury – power stations, communication hubs, even the newly rebuilt Queen Mansion. The illusion of order Michael had so carefully crafted began to crumble under the weight of Slade's personal vendetta.
Oliver, facing a ghost from his past amplified to monstrous proportions, found himself outmatched, his skills honed against street criminals woefully inadequate against Slade's enhanced abilities and tactical brilliance.
Michael, monitoring the escalating chaos through his city-wide network, his carefully laid plans unraveling before his eyes, knew he could no longer remain a puppet master in the shadows. The game had become personal. He began deploying Queen Consolidated's specialized security forces, armed with the countermeasures he had developed, but even their advanced weaponry seemed to barely slow Slade's advance. The time for subtle manipulation was over; direct confrontation was inevitable.