Apokolips War

Under the dim sky, a purple portal suddenly opened in a pitch-black, deserted alley, shattering the silence.

"Safe."

Zhang Ye was the first to step out. Arriving in a new world meant facing countless unknown dangers.

Though he had already traveled through many worlds, this was his first time moving between two timelines running side by side.

So Zhang Ye was not yet sure where they were. He could only roughly guarantee that they had still landed on Earth.

"It stinks." Pietro waved a hand in front of his nose and muttered with a frown, "Are we near another dumpster? I’m almost getting used to it."

But no one paid attention to the pungent smell. They quickly surveyed their surroundings, especially Black Canary and Red Hood. Having finally returned to their own world, it was impossible for them not to feel excited.

"Kara, how are the surroundings?" Black Canary knew Kara possessed X-Ray Vision. The darkness posed no obstacle to her; she could even monitor the entire city.

"…I don’t see… Wait, this city, it’s already…" Kara’s eyes widened, and as her gaze shifted, her breathing gradually became more hurried.

In Kara’s vision, the entire city had long since fallen. The once orderly rows of skyscrapers had all become ruins. The streets were covered in shattered concrete, countless crushed cars lay scattered across the ground, and everything in sight was deathly silent.

If the ruins of New Babylon had still retained some trace of human life, then this place was like a graveyard, utterly devoid of vitality. Nothing but empty death and the terror of silence hung over the city.

"Miss Minutes, check the time flow rates of both worlds."

While the others examined their surroundings, Zhang Ye turned slightly away and called to Miss Minutes in his mind.

Checking. Please wait.

"Kara, what did you see?" Black Canary asked anxiously. Though she had prepared herself for the worst, she still clung to a faint hope deep down.

"…I didn’t see any signs of life, at least not nearby. Don’t worry, Dinah. I can look elsewhere. Maybe this place was abandoned after the war." Kara forced a smile and tried to comfort her.

But after observing the area for a moment, Jason Todd’s expression gradually grew grave.

"This is Gotham!"

Jason Todd spoke with absolute certainty, though a flash of shock and anger also passed through his eyes.

"This is Gotham? How can you tell?" Pietro asked softly. He had been to Gotham too, but he did not think Jason could identify the city so quickly. "You haven’t even left this alley."

"There are many alleys…" Jason Todd clenched his fists, the corner of his eye twitching. "But there’s only one like this in the whole world. I can’t be wrong."

"Huh?"

Pietro was completely baffled. He did not quite understand.

"This shouldn’t be happening. Only the Justice League left Earth. The planet should have been protected by the other heroes. How could it have become like this? Unless they also…" Black Canary did not dare continue.

Jason Todd had nothing to say either. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts, and silence returned to the alley.

After a moment, Zhang Ye turned around. Looking at the others still deep in thought, he spoke and broke the silence.

"I just checked the time flow rates of both worlds. Although these two timelines are advancing in parallel, their rates are still somewhat different. You spent three years in the wasteland, but this world… has only gone through around two years."

"Two years."

Black Canary covered her eyes in pain, Green Arrow Oliver’s figure appearing in her mind. "It became like this in only two years?"

"Dick Grayson… Damian Wayne… Was this your promise to protect Gotham?" Jason Todd gritted his teeth, put on the Red Hood, and headed out of the alley.

"Where are you going?" Pietro asked.

Without looking back, Red Hood replied coldly.

"The Batcave!"

Seeing this, Pietro looked toward Zhang Ye.

"Gotham shouldn’t have fallen so easily. The heroes and criminals here are all troublesome people. Unless Darkseid intervened personally or sent a large number of Doomsday Para-demons to charge them head-on, killing them would not have been so easy."

Zhang Ye considered it, then continued.

"I think they probably found a way to hide. Doomsday Para-demons also have Kryptonian X-Ray Vision, so there must be some kind of shelter here. We might find clues if we check the Batcave."

"You’re right. Damian Wayne is an outstanding hero. They wouldn’t have died so easily." Black Canary took a deep breath and accepted Zhang Ye’s reasoning.

Everyone walked out of the alley, only to see Jason Todd standing quietly at its entrance, seemingly waiting for them.

"I was afraid you wouldn’t know the way."

Jason casually said this before turning and walking away.

Though they had not known one another for long, everyone had come to understand Red Hood’s personality somewhat. Combined with the fact that he had been tortured by Red Skull for three years and had such a tragic past, they generally tried to be more considerate of him, including his feelings.

"Kara, I’m not sure whether there are any Para-demons nearby. I need to connect with this world’s magical energy. Please keep watch on the way," Zhang Ye reminded her.

"Mm, leave it to me." Kara nodded solemnly.

After arriving here, although it was still nighttime, Kara nevertheless felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. It seemed the suns of the two universes were indeed different; this place was clearly far better than the wasteland.

Though everyone was walking, they moved at no slow pace. A breeze swept through, lifting old newspapers from the ground and sending them fluttering through the air. The entire city seemed to have been killed in its sleep, leaving only cold, deserted streets.

Every ruined wall bore marks of destruction. Those savage wounds covered the entire district, making Black Canary frown again and again as her heart grew heavier.

If even Gotham had become like this, what would Star City be like? Especially after losing both Green Arrow and her… Black Canary forced herself not to imagine it.

The air was filled with the stench of rot and gunpowder, as though sewage had overflowed from the sewers. Kara, walking in the middle, suddenly stopped and stared fixedly ahead.

"What is it?" Ashley asked curiously.

"There’s something ahead." Kara said uncertainly. "About fifteen blocks away, I think there’s a person being chased by several flying monsters."

"Para-demons!" Black Canary reacted at once and immediately prepared to summon lightning and transform.

"Wait. Using Thor’s power here would be too conspicuous. Are you trying to draw every Para-demon over here?"

Zhang Ye grabbed Black Canary and stopped her, then turned to Ashley and Pietro.

"Skyscrapers are your territory. Go take a look, but be careful."

Ashley and Pietro exchanged a glance, then both gave Zhang Ye confident smiles.

The next moment, they moved instantly.

The Venom suit covered Ashley’s entire body. She leaped into the air, webs shooting from her palms as she swung between the damaged skyscrapers, while Pietro put on his goggles and vanished down the road in the blink of an eye.