The sky split as the Bioship decloaked overhead. From its hatch, Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Rocket, Zatanna, and Ryotaro dropped down in formation.
"Henshin!"
"CYCLONE! JOKER!"
Wind and purple energy spiraled around Ryotaro and Robin as Kamen Rider W hit the ground with a crash.
The villains reacted instantly. Blockbuster charged at Superboy, the ground cracking beneath his massive weight. Their fists met in a thunderous explosion, shockwaves blasting outward.
Sportsmaster twirled his twin blades, striking at Artemis with relentless precision. She ducked, rolled, and loosed two explosive arrows, the blasts forcing him back. "You're slowing down, old man!"
"Never slow," Sportsmaster hissed, his blade nicking her bowstring. At the same time, Bane surged forward, his Venom-pumped body crashing against Rider but they just easily dodge and strike him back. But Bane kick Rider in the center of the chest and send them flying towards the tree which is now collapse.
Rider slowly getting up and watch Bane who is flexing his muscles with grim smile. "Still standing, niños?" Bane sneered, his eyes bloodshot with venom fury. "Then let me show you something new."
Bane take out the strange USB-like device and pressing the button. And insert it into his neck area.
-Alcohol!
Energy tore through his veins. Parts of its body are based on a distillery, a liquor bottle is on the right arm and the red eye is floating like an olive in a martini glass. The red eye is also an allusion to a symptom of intoxication, "bloodshot eyes"
"¡Salud!" he roared, spraying streams of alcohol mist. The fumes ignited as his laser eye cut across them, turning the battlefield into an inferno.
Rocket shielded the others with a hard-light barrier. "This guy's insane!"
"He can't even feel pain anymore," Megan said through gritted teeth, her telepathic scan recoiling from his numb nerves.
Alcohol Dopant stomped forward, flames swirling around him. "Hit me as much as you want— I feel nothing!"
Ryotaro and Robin knows what to do. Their hands reached instinctively for the Gaia Memories.
"Let's switch it up."
"Yeah. Time for precision."
-LUNA!
-TRIGGER!
Their form shifted. The wind-green of Cyclone faded, replaced by the golden shimmer of Luna. Joker's violet was replaced by the sleek blue of Trigger. The silver lines of W's body glowed like circuitry, and a sharp blue gun materialized in his hand.
Kamen Rider W – LunaTrigger!
The Dopant snarled and fired his laser eye. W sidestepped, raising the Trigger Magnum. With a single pull, the gun unleashed curving energy bullets that bent midair, striking the Dopant from all sides.
"Trick shots?!" Bane howled. "Worthless against me!"
His body staggered but did not falter—numb nerves ignoring the pain. He charged straight through the barrage.
"Ryotaro, now!" Robin shouted inside his mind.
Rider jumped into the air with unnatural movement and inserted the Trigger memory into the Magnum.
-Trigeer_Maximum_Drive!
"Trigger Full Burst!" The Magnum's chamber lit up like a star. W pulled the trigger, and a beam of spiraling blue and gold energy erupted forth, splitting into dozens of snake-like lasers. They coiled, twisted, and detonated simultaneously on the Alcohol Dopant Bane, consuming him in a dazzling explosion.
Bane screamed as the Gaia Memory shattered, ejecting from his body. His hulking frame collapsed into the sand, unconscious, smoke rising from his chest.
But one of Bane's men wasn't done. A lackey staggered forward, his body trembling as he injected another Gaia Memory.
"SALAMANDER!"
His body twisted into a reptilian beast, scales glowing fiery red. He roared, unleashing jets of flame across the battlefield.
Kid Flash zipped across the firestorm, yanking Artemis out of the flames. "This guy's a knockoff Dragon!"
"No— just another Dopant," Zatanna said sharply, raising her hands. "!eriF ot kcaB nruteR!"
The Salamander Dopant's flames reversed, curling back toward him. Megan slammed him telekinetically into the ground while Rocket's hard-light hammer pinned him in place.
Superboy leapt high, fists clenched, and crashed down on him with all his strength. The Salamander Dopant reverse back to human and Memory shattered into sparks.
Lex Luthor is carrying the unconscious Queen Bee into his arms with Mercy watches out the attack and go towards the helicopter. The craft ascended, Lex smirking down at the Team. "Enjoy your little victory, children. This is just the start."
Cheshire glanced at Artemis, her mask hiding a conflicted frown. Then, without a word, she bolted into the jungle shadows, abandoning Sportsmaster.
Sportsmaster cursed, swinging wildly at Artemis before trying to retreat back into the Jungle but Zatanna and Rocket stopped him and knocked him out.
Superboy cracked his knuckles, still glaring at the sky where Luthor vanished. " He got away again."
Rider holstered the broken Gaia Memories, looking grim. "At least we caught some of them."
Justice League Watchtower ~ December 30, 20:00 EST ~
High above Earth, the Watchtower gleamed in silence. Inside, Batman's eyes narrowed at the alien-tech bioweapon, his gauntlets typing across the console as he analyzed the nanotech strands.
Footsteps approached.
"New member introductions," Red Arrow said casually. "Thought you'd want to be there."
Batman didn't look up. "Later."
But then Red Arrow stepped closer. His hand trembled as he slipped the tiny bio-chip into place—just behind Batman's neck. Suddenly, Batman kicks the Red Arrow 's chest area without looking and fires the stun gun and paralyzes him in place.
Red Arrow who has been stunned, regain conscious and begin to realize what happens.
"I...no...It is not..." Roy becomes to panic and said with a trembling voice.
"I know. Now, it's not important. Here take this and gives it to Robin. He knows what to do. Go now!" Batman throws USB drive to Roy and walks towards the main room where League members are being controlled.
Inside, the Justice League was already assembled and Superman walks towards the Boomtube screen and overwrite the codes.
Then the Boomtube opened.
Vandal Savage stepped through, every stride heavy with timeless confidence. His cloak billowed as if the air itself bowed to him.
Superman. Wonder Woman. Green Lantern. Hawkwoman. Flash. Martian Manhunter. Aquaman. Dozens of others—the greatest heroes on Earth—stood in perfect formation. Their eyes glowed faintly with an alien shimmer, movements eerily synchronized.
Behind them, a voice like smooth granite echoed.
"Magnificent, isn't it?"
Vandal Savage stepped through the Boomtube with deliberate calm. His long coat swept behind him, his scarred face illuminated by the sterile lights. "The most powerful force of protectors this planet has ever known… and now they are mine."
Batman's jaw tightened. His hand hovered near his utility belt. "This is your plan."
Savage gestured lazily toward the League. "The answer lies in your own hand, Dark Knight. You analyzed the organism yourself. Nanotech fused with alien biology. A gift from the Starro. Efficient."
Batman's mind raced. Starro spores—that had to be it. Bio-organisms capable of overriding free will, enslaving their hosts. He had been so close to the truth, but it's too late now.
Savage's smirk widened. "Every war needs pawns. And now, this is the time for the king to take the stage."
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