An Unfair Game!

Unlike the definition of magic in the Marvel world, DC’s magical system belonged entirely to a far more macrocosmic school of thought.

Though it involved the use of different energies such as Order Magic, Chaos Magic, and Life Magic, whether it was The Green or the demons of Hell, they all existed within the broader definition of "magic," born from the aftershocks of creation.

So whether it was forwards magic or backwards magic, theology, mysticism, witchcraft, or spirit channeling, there was no difference between any of them. Magic was magic; there was no distinction between black and white.

It was Zhang Ye’s first time encountering a spell from another world. This backwards magic originated from the bloodline of the master magician Zatanna. Though he had only learned it through Black Canary’s memories, for some reason, Zhang Ye used it with extraordinary fluency.

That wondrous magical energy obeyed him like an extension of his limbs. Though it was his first time using it, Zhang Ye felt as if he had rehearsed it countless times. He could sense the magic flowing through his blood, etched into the sequence of his soul.

As Zhang Ye’s words fell, a newly born great power descended upon Red Skull. The terrifying pressure made even Red Skull’s soul tremble.

"Th-That’s impossible!"

It was a realm Red Skull had never encountered before, alien contamination from another world, high-frequency information this world found difficult to process.

"How can you wield this kind of power? This is irrational! It shouldn’t exist in this reality!"

It was like pouring a drop of ink into a glass of pure water, or tossing a ladleful of ice water into a searing wok of oil. Two energies that were immensely similar yet entirely different collided violently at that moment.

Brilliant Starlight shone from his eyes, and Zhang Ye himself nearly transformed into a construct of magic.

"No, it’s perfectly rational."

Zhang Ye said.

Any universe, at the beginning of creation, gave birth to a Wall of Reality. It was a product that prevented the rules of other universes from invading, a magnificent existence meant to protect its own universe and ward off external incursions.

Any life-form or energy that attempted to pass through the Wall of Reality would be altered by the rules of that universe while crossing the barrier, causing earth-shaking changes to its physical functions.

Unless the Multiverse was similar, any existence would be rewritten by an even higher-dimensional force. Just as Speed Force speedsters from DC would lose their superpowers upon arriving in other universes without the Speed Force, this was the law of the universe.

But Zhang Ye had now directly crossed universes and summoned magic from another world. He used himself as the seed of magic, planting a newborn power into this reality that had long since been shattered.

If the Wall of Reality in the Wasteland Universe had still been so sturdy, if this world still had a Sorcerer Supreme, then this invasion of chaotic information would never have been so easy.

But all those defenses had been personally destroyed by Red Skull and his allies.

Most importantly, the two universes had already experienced friction. Red Hood and Black Canary’s crossing was proof of that.

This meant the two universes had long been closely connected, and it also helped him bring new knowledge from the other world more effectively—at least, that was what Zhang Ye believed.

"Arghhh!"

Sensing the energy rampaging through his body gradually breaking apart, Red Skull howled in agony. The Nova Corps helmet on his head had begun to fade, while the cape behind him whipped wildly, trying to break free from his body.

In an instant, under Zhang Ye’s words, all the energy inside Red Skull’s body became unstable. The divine equipment on him also began to sever its bond with him, awakening independent consciousness and instinctively rejecting Red Skull’s control.

But what tore Red Skull apart the most was the blade-like agony caused by his soul being divided. It was pain like being disemboweled. He could clearly feel some force forcibly tearing his soul apart.

"No, stop!"

Red Skull’s screams were useless. Under the control of Batman and the other Justice League members, he could not offer any resistance at all. He could only watch helplessly as the energy within him collapsed.

"Zola!"

(I’m here, Fuhrer.)

Zola’s voice came through, and a cold glint flashed in Red Skull’s eyes as he endured the pain.

"…Activate the gravity field across the entire battlefield! Activate all weapons!"

(But, Fuhrer, over here—)

Before Doctor Zola could finish speaking, Red Skull cut him off with a roar that was almost a howl.

"Activate them now!"

(…)

This time, Doctor Zola gave no response at all.

Zhang Ye silently watched Red Skull, continuously channeling magic without making any attempt to stop him from calling for help. Or rather, Zhang Ye simply did not care.

Red Skull was frantic now, because he had already noticed that the Ten Rings he had traded from Mandarin were slipping off his fingers one by one. The tattered cloak Doctor Strange had left behind also suddenly tore away from his back and flew toward the horizon.

"No! Zola! Zola!"

Feeling the agony of his soul being carved apart, every cut unbearable, Red Skull shouted for his loyal artificial intelligence, begging it to help him escape this dangerous situation.

Yet the voice that entered Red Skull’s ears made him freeze where he stood.

(There’s no Zola anymore, Skull.)

That was not Zola’s mechanical voice at all, but a young woman’s voice.

If Doctor Zola’s previous answer had given Red Skull hope, then this unfamiliar voice dragged him straight into the abyss of despair.

(There’s only Spider-Woman here. Also, Black Canary of the Justice League asked me to say hello for her, you (expletive).)

"What?"

Those polite words made Red Skull feel as though he had fallen into an ice cave. He widened his eyes and stared directly at the black-clad man floating overhead. Though the other man wore a sunny, resolute face, all Red Skull could see was a savage Bird-Beak Mask.

"…You, it was you!"

"That’s right. It was me."

Zhang Ye spoke calmly, directly admitting to all his plans.

"Did you think I didn’t know about the contingencies you had hidden away? That ever-evolving technology of yours—"

High in the sky, Cyborg alone held off all the fighter jets and armed helicopters. Doctor Zola, who controlled the vast majority of the automated weapons, had also had his mainframe destroyed by Black Canary and Spider-Woman Ashley after they broke into the White House bunker.

"Those villains who survived from the old days."

The trump cards Red Skull had painstakingly assembled had nearly all fallen by now. The only surviving Sandman, like Taskmaster, had already vanished without a trace, leaving only the yellow sand dancing through the sky as proof that he had once fought here.

"That vast empire you so carefully built."

On the battlefield, Hydra’s elite squads had no ability to resist the devastating attacks of The Flash and Aquaman. Every action the two took eliminated countless Hydra soldiers.

Meanwhile, the unconscious Red Hood, Jason Todd, had been handed over to Old Barton and Songbird. They had successfully joined up with the elderly Punisher who had charged in, and were now searching for a way to break out.

Though Hydra elites continued to emerge from the outskirts, anyone with eyes could see that the outcome of this battle had long been decided. Hydra’s collapse was only a matter of time.

Zhang Ye tilted his head slightly and smiled.

"This was an unfair game from the beginning. You were playing against a chess player who could foresee the future."

Outside New Babylon, hundreds of Doombots had become scrap metal, unable to move again. Countless parts littered the ground, stretching from the outskirts of the city all the way to the edge of the wasteland.

Among those heavily damaged wrecks, Pietro was selecting his spoils, while Kara slowly raised her head and looked toward the city center, in the direction of New Times Square.

"And now."

Zhang Ye raised his hand and severed the last trace of Nova energy from Red Skull’s body.

"General!"