Chapter 684: Mind and Soul
Assessing the New Threat
In an unknown dark corner, the spatial barrier vanished, revealing the heavily wounded, bloodied giant infant, cradling three figures in its arms.
When the explosion occurred, Luke forcibly activated the spatial teleport and shielded Diana, J'onn, and Clark. Even so, the three still suffered various injuries, though none were fatal.
Diana asked anxiously, "Luke, are you okay?"
The giant infant shook its head.
"I'm fine. There might be a slight problem with this body."
Luke's soul left the infant body, returning to its original form.
Seeing this, Diana breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, "What in the world is that woman?"
"I wish I knew," Luke said with a wry smile. He couldn't figure out how such a monster emerged. Immune to physical force, immune to elements, and with incredibly high resistance to mental and soul attacks. Her overall attributes were comparable to those of Superboy-Prime.
"Can we win?" Clark asked.
Luke pondered for a moment, giving a non-committal answer.
"In a frontal fight, there's almost no chance. If we can find a weakness, there might be a sliver of possibility."
"What weakness does she have?"
"I'm still not clear."
J'onn interjected, "Her psychic signature is very strange. It doesn't seem like a complete, singular personality."
"Oh?" Luke's interest was piqued.
"What do you mean?"
"Normally, a person has only one psychic signature. A patient with severe multiple personality disorder might have two. It's rare to have more than three. However, that woman's psychic signature is constantly changing, and each signature represents a different will."
Clark said soberly, "Are you suggesting her personality consciousness isn't complete?"
"Yes. She has no dominant personality. It feels like a hybrid composed of hundreds of consciousnesses stitched together. That's what confuses me."
"What about the hostile twin?" Luke suddenly asked. "Is it a stitched-up monster like her?"
"No. Although that infant's psychic signature is chaotic, it has an independent and complete personality consciousness."
This gave Luke a stark realization: one possessing near-infinite life and strength, the other possessing a nearly immortal soul and numerous superpowers.
If the two were to merge!
Luke shivered intensely. What a terrifying monster would be born!
Diana said urgently, "Can we approach it from that angle?"
She looked at J'onn. Luke and Clark also focused on him. The Martian Manhunter was a master of the mind. If a weakness was to be found, he was the only one who could do it.
The Desperate Plan
Mind and soul sound similar, but they are two completely different concepts.
A person with a powerful soul often has a powerful mind; however, a person with a powerful mind does not necessarily have a powerful soul.
The soul is born from the body but can be entirely separated from it. The mind must rely on both the body and soul to exist.
The soul rarely initiates attacks or pries into others' thoughts. The mind, however, can inflict grievous harm on an opponent from thousands of miles away, wantonly manipulate their memories, and steal secrets buried deep within their recollection.
Take Luke and J'onn, for example.
The Martian Manhunter can perceive others' thoughts anytime and sense both emotional and psychological fluctuations. Luke cannot.
Likewise, Luke can sense the shifts in heaven and earth, the energy factors in the air, and danger through a spiritual premonition, and even possess others' bodies. In these areas, J'onn is far inferior.
Diana's suggestion was compelling. After a long period of contemplation, J'onn finally said slowly,
"There is a way, but..."
"Is it dangerous?" Luke asked.
J'onn was silent. "The woman lacks a singular, dominant personality consciousness. This means she has a major loophole on the mental plane. However, her soul is far too powerful. External mental attacks won't work. We would have to penetrate from the inside."
Luke was stunned. "You aren't suggesting..."
J'onn nodded. "It is the only way."
Luke frowned. "You will die."
"Not necessarily. There is at least a twenty percent chance of survival."
Diana was confused. "What are you talking about?"
Luke sighed deeply.
"J'onn wants to implant a personality consciousness into that woman, using his own personality as the template."
Diana still didn't understand.
"Simply put, J'onn intends to send his consciousness into her body to become the dominant personality."
"But... how is that possible?" Clark felt the method was too extreme.
Luke shook his head. "In principle, it shouldn't be possible. But my presence makes it possible. Soul possesses body; mind steals soul. As long as I can forcefully suppress her soul, J'onn has a chance."
"What if you fail?" Clark asked.
"I will suffer severe damage, and he will vanish from the world."
The air fell into a deadly silence.
Diana and Clark were speechless. They lacked the relevant abilities and didn't understand the intricacies, but instinctively felt the plan was unreliable. It was too dangerous.
"Is there really no other way?"
Luke looked around, saying with a forced helplessness, "We are deep underground. Ninety kilometers ahead is the entrance to the Valley of No Return. The cave is gone, leaving only a black vortex."
"That energy blast just obliterated the entire Plain of White Bones. If she fires another one, I might survive, but you all..."
He trailed off, leaving the implication unspoken.
"Then let's go! Let's leave this place. We don't have to fight her!" Diana pleaded.
Luke shook his head. "Our hope of returning home lies in the infant's body, and the infant is the woman's crucial prize. No matter where we run, she will pursue us. Worse still, if we leave, she will consume the hostile twin and evolve into a complete entity with a singular personality and hundreds of superpowers."
"Imagine, how terrifying a creature would be born that merges the bloodlines of the Gods, possessing endless life, infinite power, an immortal soul, and hundreds of superpowers."
Silence descended again, deeper than before.
Clark shook his head, a bitter look on his face.
"So we have no retreat."
"Then what are we waiting for?" J'onn said gravely. "We are the Justice League. We have no reason to fear a monster."
Diana took a deep breath. She was a decisive person. Since there was no retreat, they would confront the danger head-on.
"What can Clark and I do?" she asked.
"While J'onn and I are executing the plan, keep an eye on that hostile twin. Don't let him get close."
Clark clenched his fist. "Don't worry. I will hold him down and not give him any chance. Both of you be careful, too. You absolutely cannot fail."
After discussing the specific details, the operation officially began.
Luke entered the infant's body, using his spatial ability to bring the four of them near the battlefield. At this moment, the hostile twin and the woman were engaged in a frantic, earth-shattering chase. The twin sprinted while continuously attacking with various abilities.
Flames, frost, lightning, and whirlwinds bloomed like energy fireworks, yet they had no effect. Even the twin's spatial turbulence only managed to graze the woman's outermost muscles, which healed instantly.
This sight only reinforced their resolve: this monster absolutely could not be allowed to live.
The thought of her returning to Earth was terrifying enough to justify any risk.
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