Three days later.
January 21, 2004, 10:13 a.m.
Across the world, countless people sat in front of televisions and computer screens, watching a live broadcast of a war that would decide humanity's fate.
Ellis had already received messages from other major powers: if America required assistance, they were prepared to deploy naval fleets and even provide intercontinental missile fire support.
---
10:15 a.m.
A force numbering several hundred disembarked from military transport trucks.
They wore all manner of strange-looking equipment and carried unconventional weapons. Unlike regular troops, they lacked discipline and formation, appearing loose, unruly, and dangerous.
"Your objective is simple," Amanda announced through the microphone.
"Inflict as much damage on the sea-dwellers as possible—use any method you like!"
"This time, you're free to unleash the beasts inside you. Let the Atlanteans see just how powerful the so-called 'elite of humanity' truly are!"
"Each of you is equipped with a camera. Every action you take will be recorded."
"If you make a significant contribution to this war, I can petition the Federal Department of Justice to award you a National Distinguished Service Commendation—reducing your sentence, or even granting a pardon."
The group merely scoffed.
Entering this battlefield meant near-certain death. Any talk of survival was meaningless until they actually lived through it.
Besides, everyone understood one brutal truth:
If the Atlanteans won this war, they would either become slaves—or corpses.
"Move out," Amanda said coldly.
"May Satan bless you."
The team quickly split up and entered the ruins of Gotham from multiple directions.
---
10:21 a.m.
Whoooosh—
A Stark Industries heavy transport aircraft landed at the military base.
Tony Stark drove a massive transport truck out of the cargo bay and headed straight for the temporary command post on Gotham's outskirts.
When the truck's rear compartment opened, Tony emerged wearing the Mark IV.
Compared to the Mark III—only 90 kilograms in weight and roughly equivalent to a dirt bike—the 230-kilogram Mark IV was more like a fully armed armored vehicle.
Equipped with six brand-new weapon systems, the Mark IV's firepower vastly surpassed the Mark III, which only carried three standard weapons.
In terms of speed, the Mark IV was even more impressive.
While the Mark III relied on four thruster units, the Mark IV featured twelve next-generation engines, boasting superior conversion efficiency and raw output.
Still riding high on confidence from his new armor, Tony spotted Amanda Waller heading toward the command center and couldn't resist mocking her.
"Oh, my dear Amanda," Tony said sarcastically,
"do you really believe a bunch of pathetic inmates can save Gotham—or America?"
Amanda didn't even blink.
"That's still better than entrusting humanity's survival to a so-called 'American hero' who fled the battlefield," she shot back coolly.
"Don't you agree, Iron Man?"
Tony took the hit in silence, snorted, and left behind a single line.
"Just wait and see."
Moments later, he blasted off and charged straight into Gotham.
Amanda watched the departing armor, shook her head slightly, and entered the command room.
---
10:28 a.m.
In the central ruins of Gotham, *Deadshot—Floyd Lawton—*slowly opened his eyes.
He stretched, rolled his neck, and muttered to himself,
"Been a long time since I slept this well."
[Good morning, Dad.]
A female voice sounded in his earpiece.
Deadshot smiled.
"Morning, Zoe."
[Dad, your current blood pressure is…]
As the AI reported his physical condition, Deadshot couldn't help admiring the sheer power of LexCorp.
The armor covering his body—resembling layered fish scales—and the advanced AI system within it had both come from LexCorp's top-secret laboratories.
Unlike Tony's fully enclosed armor, ZOE-1, named after his daughter, was a semi-biological combat system integrating bioelectronic signals and a hyper-neuron network.
The core unit clung to his spine like a metallic centipede, extending auxiliary armor modules to critical points across his body—enhancing human physiology rather than replacing it.
In simple terms:
If Iron Man's armor was a steel weapon relying on superalloys, fusion energy, and mechanical dominance—
Then Deadshot's ZOE armor was a biological enhancer, using a newly developed hybrid energy system to amplify the human body itself, creating a fully optimized combat organism.
This difference perfectly reflected the philosophical divide between Lex Luthor and Tony Stark.
Tony believed in pushing external technology to its limits, letting human will act as the final controller—maximizing safety and minimizing direct exposure to danger.
Lex, on the other hand, believed technology should exist solely to elevate humanity itself.
True evolution, in his view, meant strengthening the human being—completely and fundamentally.
As for the AI's name and voice, those were Deadshot's choice.
His daughter was everything to him—and one of the core reasons he continued to fight.
Deadshot stepped off a five-story-high ruin.
He landed without a sound.
At the instant of impact, the armor transmitted bio-signals that caused precise muscle oscillations in his legs, neutralizing most of the recoil.
Simultaneously, the bio-armor at his ankles, feet, and knees absorbed the remaining force through vibrational dampening.
The excess kinetic energy was then converted into supplemental power for the armor itself.
(Similar to Black Panther's suit.)
In that same instant, Deadshot's vision transformed.
Through synchronization between Zoe and his neural signals, the world became partially digitized.
A one-kilometer radius was fully scanned.
Potential enemy positions were highlighted and prioritized.
"Oh… this feels incredible," Deadshot murmured.
For a master marksman like him, this armor was the definition of perfection—his combat capability skyrocketing instantly.
Guided by experience and Zoe's analysis, Deadshot moved to an optimal sniper position.
Reaching behind him, he detached a rectangular module mounted along his back.
"Unlock weapon."
The system verified his fingerprints, voiceprint, and bio-signature.
In the next moment, the smooth surface split apart into precise grid-like seams.
The components flipped and reassembled rapidly.
A sleek, highly advanced sci-fi firearm materialized in his hands.
Deadshot gently stroked the weapon, his eyes softening.
"I'm glad our first battle is about to begin, my love—Susie."
Susie.
Zoe's mother.
The only woman he had ever truly loved.
_____
T/N:
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