"That's strange, why hasn't Flash arrived yet?"
In the Justice League Hall, tall pillars supported the roof. The hall was spacious and tidy, the floor scrubbed to a spotless shine, exuding an air of seriousness. It was the day they were welcoming new members, and Aquaman cast a curious glance towards the entrance.
He shouldn't be late.
Flash, usually the fastest among them, was late on such an important day.
"Perhaps Flash is delayed by something."
As one of the new members joining today, Firestorm scratched his flaming head and offered an explanation for Flash.
"Let's not worry about him for now."
Batman said this quietly to the others before stepping forward and solemnly addressing the three newcomers who had been waiting.
"On behalf of the League, we welcome you."
Clark and Diana also smiled and warmly extended their hands to the other two.
"Thank you, we didn't expect to actually be able to join the League." Firestorm and Element Girl, among the three new members, shook the hands of the world-famous superheroes with a mix of nervousness and excitement.
"We're still young, but we'll do our best."
David wasn't interested in such formalities and stood to the side. However, after shaking hands with Batman and Superman as a matter of courtesy, the other two eagerly stepped forward to shake his hand.
"I'm Ronnie, Transcendent. I've admired you for a long time."
Firestorm, clad in a red and yellow suit with a symbol resembling a nucleus on his chest, spoke with a young, excited voice brimming with youthful energy and enthusiasm. His demeanor was like that of a college freshman who hadn't yet entered society.
"What do you mean I look embarrassing? He's the most powerful superhero on Earth. Please, who could stay calm seeing him up close like this?"
He shook hands excitedly, like a fan meeting an idol, then muttered a low, embarrassed retort, as if someone were accusing him of being disgraceful.
He'd forgotten where he was and, realizing his impolite action, quickly explained.
"Sorry, you probably can't see him, but there's another person inside my head, which is also the source of my superpowers."
"It's alright, I know."
David smiled faintly.
Firestorm was composed of the student Ronnie Raymond and the university professor Martin Stein. The two merged into one during a nuclear reactor explosion on the scale of an atomic bomb, gaining immense and extraordinary abilities. Their physiques far surpassed those of ordinary humans, allowing them to unleash powerful energy and even decompose and recombense atoms, organic or inorganic, at will.
"Ronnie Raymond controls the body, while Stein exists hidden within his consciousness. He can see the other person's face appear beside him, communicate with him, and guide him. It must have been Stein speaking just now."
Rarely having nuclear energy as a mutagenic factor for his superpowers, Firestorm's abilities were incredibly potent from the start. With a wave of his hand, he could turn steel into water or graphite into gold. He had immense potential, and if he could develop his abilities to decompose and recombine organic matter at will, he might even glimpse the realm of gods.
Of course, in the comics, he rarely displayed such potential.
"You know me, Transcendent? I mean, have you actually looked at my file?"
Hearing this, Ronnie Raymond became even more excited, causing Stein in his mind to shake his head in embarrassment.
"And me, it's my turn, it's my turn. This is like a dream, Transcendent. I'm Element Girl."
Watching Firestorm excitedly talk to Transcendent while holding his hand, Element Girl subtly pushed him aside. However, she felt it wasn't very ladylike and looked embarrassed.
"Hello."
David politely shook her hand as well.
Her hand felt a bit rough.
Firestorm, with fire erupting from his head, was already peculiar, but Element Girl's appearance was even stranger. She wore a white suit, had vibrant pink hair, enchanting pink eyes, and a beautiful face, which would have been normal enough.
The strangeness began from below her head: one hand was made of brown soil, the other of gray rock, and her torso was a patchwork of these two elements. From the waist down, one leg was a normal human's, shapely and slender with pink skin, but the other leg was made of wood.
"I gained my abilities after a chemical accident."
Element Girl awkwardly tried to cover her strange body, but there was no hiding it.
"At first, I couldn't control my body. Even with all my effort, I could only make one leg and my head appear almost normal."
"Where there's one, there will be two. As I gain more control over my abilities, I believe there will be a chance to return to my original appearance."
David comforted her with a smile.
By being able to freely transform her body into various elements like earth, stone, water, and fire, Element Girl gained formidable powers but lost her normal appearance.
Receiving gentle comfort from the men who had saved the world multiple times, and noticing that no one in the League looked at her strangely, a faint joy bloomed in Element Girl's heart.
"Hello, they all call me Hawkgirl."
The last newcomer, Hawkgirl, was much calmer than the other two. She had a pair of eagle-like wings on her back and wore a magnificent eagle-wing helmet that revealed half her face. She extended her hand to David.
It's worth noting that Firestorm and Element Girl were rare superheroes who didn't conceal their faces. Firestorm used his merged appearance, while Element Girl's distinct physical features made it impossible for her to hide her identity.
"Batman and Cyborg didn't investigate the true identity of the superhero mentioned in the application, giving Hawkgirl an opportunity."
David smiled and shook hands, showing no abnormality.
He remembered that the information submitted by Hawkgirl stated that her superpowers were awakened after birth, which was used to explain her hawk wings. In reality, she was a Thanagarian born with wings.
"The hammer is very nice."
He smiled, pointing at the hammer made of Nth Metal on her hand. Hawkgirl's heart tightened, and she calmly thanked him for the compliment.
"Thank you."
She held a golden, shining mace in her hand.
Tensely gripping the hammer handle, Hawkgirl felt as if the man before her eyes had seen through everything, and his tone when mentioning her hammer wasn't just a simple compliment.
It must be an illusion.
The man before her was terrifyingly powerful, like a supervolcano standing before her, capable of easily destroying her into ashes, which made her feel uneasy and nervous, leading to this illusion.
...
"So, this Jason escaped here?"
In front of the transparent porthole, a tall red figure, a demonically strong body, like a ruler of everything, stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the planet below, his eyes flashing with intense ambition.
"Yes, Your Majesty.
According to the signals we tracked, they escaped to this weak and backward planet."
"Specific location."
Unlike ordinary Kalanor people, the Despair Demon, a genetic mutant, had three eyes on his forehead and fins on his head, looking like a demon. He commanded coldly.
The battleship operator, dressed in a red military uniform, quickly brought up the approximate location of the tracked signals according to what their supreme Emperor, the sole god of Kalanor, had said.
He glanced at the planet image, closed his eyes, and his boundless mental senses extended out.
Standing in outer space, he found the scientist who had been instigating his people to rebel against him for nearly three years since he took control of Kalanor.
"Found it.
Interesting, the natives of this world don't seem as weak as they appear?"
"Flash, Barry Allen, an experimental accident where he was struck by lightning, gaining speed as fast as light?"
Using his mental perspective, the Despair Demon watched the Earth native called Flash talking with the rebellious father and daughter. A playful smile curved his lips, and without anyone noticing, he learned all the secrets of the being named Flash.
"Also, the Justice League? The Transcendent, Superman?"
The Despair Demon's thoughts swept over the minds of people in the vicinity.
His brutal thoughts, like sparks of lightning, instantly integrated the information he desired – the organization that claimed to help that traitor, the only force on this planet worth his attention.
"No one can help you, you foolish traitor."
Slowly opening his eyes, the Despair Demon's gaze was disdainful, exuding a cruel, cat-and-mouse viciousness.
It just so happened that he was no longer satisfied with just one Kalanor in the world he ruled. Rebellions within the planet were few and far between; it was time to take the next step.
"Let this planet called Earth become the next new world under my rule."
His strong arms slowly clasped together, as if to grasp the planet before him.
Once upon a time, he was discarded as an inauspicious anomaly at birth due to his unique appearance, with a third eye. He grew up in discrimination, oppression, and hatred, until his talent awakened, and no one could yell at him or drive him away, and there were no more stones thrown at him.
The entire planet surrendered to his power.
The Despair Demon was not satisfied with this alone. There were so many life-bearing planets in the universe, and he wanted to conquer them all, make countless lives bow at his feet, praise him, and worship him like a god!
"Let's go to the Justice League headquarters first.
It seems that native called Flash is about to reveal that he's bringing the rebellious father and daughter back to the Justice League for help."
The Despair Demon stroked his chin.
"When they return to headquarters full of anticipation, only to find all his teammates lying in pools of blood, and the power they could rely on defeated by me, what despair will they feel?"
He could not wait to see that scene.
Having grown up in a malicious, dark environment, the Despair Demon particularly enjoyed seeing others in despair. That kind of despair, falling from the mountaintop to the valley floor, excited him the most.
"A kind-hearted Kryptonian orphan?
And—the Transcendent, who is believed to be able to fight me, the Despair Demon?"
The Despair Demon crossed his arms, his eyes cold. He wanted to see how powerful those guys called superheroes were.
He hoped they wouldn't be too boring, and that they would last a while in front of him.
He hadn't seen a decent enemy in a long time.
...
In the Justice League hall, the few people chatted harmoniously and friendly, quickly becoming familiar with each other.
"You're saying you can turn stones into gold just by wishing?"
Hal Jordan was greatly surprised by Firestorm's self-introduction?
"Really? No chance of failure? Like alchemy."
"Without exaggeration, yes. I can turn things into whatever I want at will."
Firestorm ignored the voice in his head telling him he was bragging, and said it without batting an eye. In reality, it was Stein who was responsible for this ability. He understood the atomic structure of matter and could alter it, which he then instructed Firestorm on how to do. And it wasn't usually as easy as it sounded.
"Oh, looks like the Justice League has another rich person."
Hal Jordan put on a mocking voice and glanced at Batman, who was talking to Hawkgirl in the distance. He had always resented Batman's role as the decision-maker and brains of the League. He's just a normal human, relying on his wealth to have more power than me. What does Batman have besides money?
Before, when David had produced that ridiculously large amount of gold and thrown it into Metropolis, even Batman had been stunned. Hal Jordan had thoroughly enjoyed that moment. What was so special about being rich? Batman wasn't the only rich one. Now, the League had another super-rich member.
Batman didn't acknowledge his comment, and the annoyed Green Lantern blew a stray curl from his forehead.
"By the way, does Transcendent have the same ability as me?"
Bringing this up, Firestorm subtly glanced at David, who was sitting on a sofa chatting with Clark in the distance, and asked in a low, curious voice. "Last time, he produced a gold bar that shocked the entire world."
Speaking of which, although he had the ability to conjure gold at will and could easily become the richest man in the world, Stein didn't help him do it. As a university professor, he was well aware of the corrupting influence of money on people.
"Probably not," Hal Jordan said, not entirely sure.
"Who knows? He has too many abilities," Arthur shrugged. "Not to mention his body, which is strong enough to wrestle with the ocean, absorbing kinetic energy, manipulating gravity, generating lightning, and his giant form. Who knows when he might manifest new abilities."
Actually, the giant form was the ability to take on mass to enhance his body, which was a form of gravity manipulation, but Arthur and the others were unaware of this.
"Something's not right. I messaged Flash, but he hasn't replied in ages," Clark said, scratching his head in confusion as he sat on a sofa in the living room. Superheroes all had real-world identities. Everyone knew Flash had a job in the real world, something in the police department's forensics lab. "Could something have come up at work?" After all, working for the police department meant no days off.
"With his speed, even if he's busy, he'd have time to send a message," David said, rubbing his lips. He felt something was off. "Either he didn't see the message, or… something happened."
In the hall, the others continued chatting, the atmosphere perfectly harmonious. Suddenly, an unfamiliar, deep voice echoed from outside the hall.
"The Justice League is recruiting new members? I don't think that's necessary anymore."
With the sound of synchronized military boots, a tall, imposing figure, as fierce as a demon and capable of suffocating anyone, entered, escorted by a squad of alien guards in red uniforms. He stopped slowly, arms crossed, scanning the hall like a monarch inspecting his territory.
"After all, after today, the Justice League will cease to exist!"
The sudden appearance of the monster startled everyone.
"What did you say, you monster?" Hal Jordan's face flushed with anger as he stepped forward. How dare this monster, appearing out of nowhere, arrogantly claim to destroy the Justice League?
"Who are you?" Batman's eyes were cold, his face full of vigilance. Looking at Despair Demon's appearance, could it be another ancient demon that escaped its seal somewhere?
Raising an eyebrow, David stood up with Clark to face the newcomer. David felt the person before him looked somewhat familiar. His eyes scanned the demonic, deep red skin, the third eye, and the head fins, and he recognized this guy.
"You are Transcendent?" Despair Demon looked at David, the one who drew his attention the most. Their gazes met, and he exuded a powerful aura, speaking in a feignedly calm tone, as if stating an impending fact. "I will bring you despair and end the Justice League. As the sole deity, I will rule this planet!"
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