"The wind has changed, the situation is now favoring the Justice League. Wrap up our mission, Black Manta. I'll teleport you back immediately."
Luthor had been monitoring the battlefield, and seeing the Justice League break through Earth's barrier, with Superman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash unscathed, he gave Black Manta a new order.
Abandon those foolish Alien Sea Gods, find a way to snatch their Tears of Extinction, then make your escape.
He understood Superman better than anyone, and with Metropolis now sunk, Superman was already seething with rage.
Perhaps a sneak attack by a Sea God could harm Superman, but with the Justice League together, Batman would be watching everyone's back.
In this situation, even if the three Sea Gods were tied together, it wouldn't be enough to face a Kryptonian alone.
"...."
"Did you hear me?" Black Manta did not respond. Luthor, certain that his communication system was fine, asked again.
"Yes, Lex, I heard you very clearly..."
A muffled voice came from the other side, the echo caused by Black Manta's helmet.
However, in reality, Black Manta had secretly incited the Sea Gods to inject the Tears of Extinction into the Flood Demon, creating the current Death Sea Demon. What was he going to bring back to Luthor now?
He hadn't expected the Justice League to always have tricks up their sleeves, even turning out rockets from an underwater city like Atlantis, what could be done now?
Black Manta turned off the teleportation locator on his body, he had a new plan and no longer listened to the bald one's orders.
The Death Sea Demon was right there, if he could gain control over it, Black Manta would become the master of Earth, no, of this universe.
That thing was stronger than the Sea Gods, stronger than the Justice League, any planet it lightly touched would become a pool of dead water.
Gazing at the blood-red tentacles in the sky, Black Manta's desire burned even hotter. He had long wanted to destroy Atlantis, and now was the perfect opportunity.
Black Manta watched the backs of the three Sea Gods. They stood at the bow of the ship, facing the Justice League with determination, completely unaware of him.
And the Justice League on the opposite side also regarded the Sea Gods as their foremost enemies. Even Arthur did not give Black Manta a second glance.
The distance between the two ships was decreasing. Soon, they would be within earshot.
"Sea Gods, surrender, and we can guarantee your safety." Sea King Arthur began to call out.
However, the Sea Gods, imprisoned for ten thousand years, hated the thought of imprisonment the most.
"Zhen Hai, unleash the Sea Demon." Admiral Nu Tao immediately said to his companions. If they were to be imprisoned again, they preferred destruction!
Zhen Hai pressed the bone collar around his neck, and the next second, the tentacles that were originally stationary in the sky began to thrash wildly, and the red barrier showed large cracks.
The Sea Demon began to slowly descend towards the sea surface below.
It appeared to be moving slowly, as if floating, but in reality, that was only an optical illusion caused by its colossal size.
"No, we must stop that creature, don't let it touch the seawater!" Arthur knew what that thing was.
He didn't know the principles or theories, but knowing the result of contact was enough.
No matter what, it must not touch the ocean.
"Justice League, stop it at all costs." Batman issued a new order, and all the flying heroes on the deck surged forward.
They used their strongest attacks, continuously delaying the monster's descent, but it was futile, the enormous creature had an astonishing defensive capability.
Even Superman's heat vision left only a charred mark on its skin, let alone Barry, who circled the creature several times without finding any place that could be considered a weak point.
This thing seemed like a giant octopus fused with a sea urchin, sea cucumber, and coral, yet the usual weaknesses of these creatures were absent in this monster.
Not to mention the obvious size disparity; to this massive sea monster, the heroes were as insignificant as a speck of dust.
"This isn't working! Batman, think of something quickly!"
Superman called out to Batman, but there were unforeseen events occurring near the ship.
It turned out that after the Sea Gods unleashed the Sea Demon, they charged towards Batman and the heroes like Arthur, who couldn't fly or lacked Divine Speed.
The sky was filled with foreboding, and it seemed like a grand-scale melee would break out on the decks of the two ships.
But just then, Black Manta suddenly backstabbed Zhen Hai Commander, plunging a dagger radiating black light into Zhen Hai's back.
The poor White-bearded Sea God only managed a scream before convulsing and dying.
Manta quickly crouched down, removed the fishbone collar from Zhen Hai's neck, and with effort, passed it over his large helmet, draping it over his shoulder.
"Manta! What are you doing?!"
Admiral Nu Tao roared in anger. The three of them hadn't died at the hands of the Justice League, yet they had lost one to a former ally.
"What am I doing? Heh, doing what I should have done days ago." Black Manta touched the fishbone on his shoulder. It was so large, wearing it felt like a cape: "My dagger, like Cheetah's claws, is soaked in Tears of Extinction. I've got the bone circle, I control the Sea Demon, now, bow down to the new god of Earth!!!"
"You're not a god! You're just a pirate!" Nu Tao and Solitary watched as their friend died in front of them, and ignoring the Justice League on the other side, they turned and charged towards Black Manta.