"Shazam, go strip the Green Lantern Rings from any Lanterns still alive. Then imprison them in the metahuman prison. If anyone resists, kill them. Do not tell me you cannot do it."
Adrian's voice carried no hesitation as he issued the command. Shazam, still trying to process everything that had just happened, blinked and scratched the back of his head.
"Alright."
This time, he did not argue.
After Adrian walked away, Wonder Woman shifted her gaze between Shazam and the remaining Green Lanterns. Her expression hardened, her presence sharp and unyielding. She placed her shield on her back, slid her sword into its sheath, and fixed them with a piercing stare.
"I do not know what either of you are thinking," she said, her tone cold and deliberate. "But the next time you face an enemy, do not allow pointless pity to guide your actions. That kind of weakness is foolish. It endangers you and everyone around you."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and followed Adrian.
Shazam watched her leave, then exchanged a look with the Green Lanterns. None of them spoke at first. The weight of the moment lingered.
"I really do not understand how you all ended up as friends."
Supergirl appeared behind them without warning. Kara's voice was calm, but there was a faint edge beneath it.
"In the future, the three of you, Wonder Woman, and I, we work closely together. Close enough to travel through time as a team. But now…" She glanced in the direction Wonder Woman had gone. "Now she stands firmly with Adrian, and she clearly sees your actions as betrayal."
"That is not betrayal," Shazam replied, frowning. "We are allowed to disagree."
Kara shrugged lightly.
"From her perspective, you challenged Adrian in front of everyone. To someone like her, that is the same thing."
Shazam's expression darkened. His patience with Kara was already thin. She had ambushed the Green Lanterns earlier, and now she stood here speaking as if she had the moral high ground.
"That Amazon mindset is simple," Kara continued. "Eliminate the enemy completely. I have looked into their history. They are warriors who show no mercy. To them, hesitation is weakness."
Hal Jordan exhaled quietly before speaking.
"Thanks for the insight," he said. "But we are leaving. Are you coming with us?"
He helped Kilowog to his feet. The large alien looked drained, his usual strength replaced with silence.
"With you?" Kara shook her head. "No. We are not walking the same path."
There was a brief pause before she added, "And do not misunderstand. What I did earlier was not to help you. It was pressure. Nothing more."
Her eyes flicked toward the battlefield ruins below. Then, without another word, she shot into the sky, a sonic burst trailing behind her.
The remaining group stood in silence again.
John Stewart stayed quiet, following behind Hal. The events had shaken him more than he showed. Too much had changed in too little time.
Hal descended to the ground with Kilowog. Waiting for them were the Wonder Twins, Bart Allen, and Barry Allen.
Queen Mera had already left. She had no interest in staying now that the spectacle was over.
Bart stepped forward.
"The remaining Green Lanterns are secured. Do you want them handed over to you? You are one of them, after all. Though I admit, their biology is… interesting."
Hal shook his head.
"No. Send them to the metahuman prison. That is Adrian's order."
He transferred custody of Kilowog to Bart. The restraints around Kilowog's wrists, formed from Hal's ring, held firm despite the Lantern's strength.
As Hal turned, he noticed Barry standing nearby, awkwardly hiding something behind his back.
"Barry, what are you doing?"
"Nothing. Just…" Barry smiled, clearly uneasy. "Helping a friend take a few pictures."
Hal found it strange, but he let it go. His mind was elsewhere.
Too many Green Lanterns had fallen. The survivors were now prisoners. There was no chance the Guardians of Oa would ignore this.
He looked up at the sky. Dark clouds were gathering, heavy and oppressive.
A storm was coming.
At the edge of the battlefield, Lois Lane and Chloe Sullivan waited for Barry to return. When he did, Lois eagerly grabbed her camera and checked the photos.
Her excitement faded instantly.
Every image was blurred beyond recognition, distorted as if taken mid-motion at impossible speed.
"Barry!"
She looked up, ready to confront him, but he was already gone.
Chloe leaned closer, noticing Lois's expression.
"Something wrong?"
"Yes," Lois replied flatly, handing over the camera. "A very big problem."
Chloe scrolled through the images, then laughed softly.
"He is a speedster. What did you expect?"
"That does not mean he cannot do something properly," Lois shot back. "What happens if he is on a date? Is he that fast then too?"
"Lois!"
Chloe stared at her, caught off guard.
"Alright, fine. That came out wrong," Lois admitted quickly. "Let us just focus on something else. Like figuring out birthday presents for the two Supermen."
Elsewhere, inside City Hall, Adrian returned to his office.
A package sat neatly on his desk.
He opened it and found a life-sized model of himself. The craftsmanship was precise, every detail captured perfectly. The suit, the cape, even the battle damage were carefully recreated, giving the figure a worn, hard-fought appearance.
Adrian studied it in silence before setting it aside gently. His expression softened slightly.
Beneath the model was a handwritten note.
"Happy Birthday. And to Mr. Eric Kent, may you always stand unbroken."
Adrian recognized the handwriting immediately.
Hanna.
He picked the model back up, his gaze lingering on it.
"A birthday gift," he murmured.
For a brief moment, the tension in his eyes eased.
In Star City, inside Laurel Lance's mansion, the atmosphere was far less peaceful.
Dressed in her black combat suit, Black Canary stopped at her bedroom door.
It was slightly open.
She was certain she had closed it before leaving.
Her expression sharpened instantly.
"I have to go," she said into her communicator. "Something is wrong."
"What happened?" Oracle's voice came through.
"Someone is inside. It could be one of Adrian's people. Stay alert."
She cut the connection, drew a dagger, and stepped inside.
The room was dim. Curtains blocked out most of the daylight, leaving only faint shadows across the floor.
Every movement was measured. Every sound mattered.
Then, without warning, she struck.
Her body reacted before thought could catch up. She spun, dagger slicing through the air toward the presence behind her.
The blade met resistance.
It felt like striking metal.
She did not hesitate. A swift kick forced the figure back, and she closed the distance immediately. Grabbing the intruder by the collar, she slammed them against the wall.
The impact shook the room. Dust fell. A framed photograph crashed to the floor, glass shattering.
The image revealed her and Oliver Queen.
"Who are you?" she demanded, gripping his throat.
"It is me, Guy!"
The light shifted just enough for her to see his face clearly.
Guy Gardner.
Recognition replaced suspicion, though not entirely.
"Guy?" she said, loosening her grip slightly. "What are you doing here?"
"Maybe let me breathe first," he replied, rubbing his neck once she released him.
After catching his breath, he looked at her seriously.
"I heard about Oliver."
The room fell quiet for a moment.
Then he added, almost awkwardly, "Also… since when are you this strong?"
Laurel ignored the question. She walked over, switched on the lights, and the room brightened instantly.
"I have always been this strong," she said, grabbing two beers from the fridge. "You just never noticed."
Guy had already made himself comfortable on the sofa.
"Fair enough," he said. "So tell me. What is really going on?"
Laurel sat down, opening her drink.
"It is exactly what you heard. We formed a team to oppose Adrian. Oliver, Captain Atom, and Martian Manhunter are gone. Deathstroke walked away. Superman is still here, but he holds back. He acts like a protector, not a fighter. And Adrian…" She exhaled. "He keeps winning."
Guy leaned forward.
"And Batman?"
Laurel shook her head.
"He is out of the picture. Comatose. He cannot help us."