Carrying Hawkman's corpse, Axel dropped to the ground.
Thud.
Dust rose around him as he stepped forward and held the body out toward Selina.
"Selina, take a good look now, or you will miss your chance," he said with a grin. "If you do not remember your enemy's face, your anger might not go away even after your leg heals."
Before she could respond, Hawkman's body disintegrated into ash. His armor and weapons vanished with it, leaving nothing behind.
Selina watched the remains fade, then reached out toward Axel with a faint smile.
Axel took her hand and pulled her into his arms, pressing the Helmet of Fate lightly against her stomach as he held her.
At the same moment, Bruce landed in front of them.
His armor struck the ground with a heavy impact. The leg plating loosened immediately, barely holding together. As the suit creaked and opened with effort, Bruce stepped out, unsteady for a moment before regaining his footing.
After a short pause, he looked at Axel with a blank expression.
"So this is what happens when I stay up all night?"
"Why are you asking me?" Axel replied, annoyed.
He turned his attention to Victor, who was still unconscious nearby.
A closer look made things clear. Victor had taken a direct hit, likely from Hawkman or Hawkgirl. Several ribs were broken, his condition critical.
The fact that he was still alive was surprising.
Axel gestured toward the others.
"That is enough fighting. Someone get my guy treated. Give it another hour and he is dead. Right now, he still has a chance."
Lex nodded from the side.
"I already had Mercy fly the jet over. It is equipped with medical facilities."
"Good," Axel said, satisfied.
He glanced toward the Spire.
"Zatanna, how long?"
"Just a few minutes," she replied quickly. "We fought all night, so I understand how the Spire works now. Without interference, I can dismantle it fast. Once it is gone, the undead in Washington will lose their power source and collapse."
She wiped the blood from her face and immediately resumed her spellwork.
Bruce's attention shifted to the Helmet of Fate resting against Selina.
His expression hardened.
"Axel, you should have hidden that helmet when you destroyed Wayne Tower. Or destroyed it completely. This disaster started because of it."
His voice grew sharper.
"Power like that in the wrong hands leads to this. Look at Washington. Look at the casualties. Someone used that helmet to set a trap for you, and nearly wiped out a city doing it."
He stepped closer, eyes fixed on Axel.
"One of you is already dangerous enough. But if someone worse had your power, someone like Hawkman or Doctor Fate today, the consequences would be catastrophic."
Axel froze for a second.
Then he tried to hold it in.
He failed.
Laughter burst out of him.
Bruce frowned. "You think this is funny? Millions of lives were at stake."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Axel said between laughs. "It is my fault, right? I get it. I really do. But I still cannot stop laughing."
He waved a hand dismissively.
Bruce exhaled sharply and turned away, heading toward Victor.
After examining the injuries, Bruce pressed both hands against Victor's chest and began resetting the damaged ribs.
Cracking sounds followed.
Victor woke instantly, screaming.
"I will kill you, damn it!"
Bruce held him down. "Endure it. I know what I am doing."
Victor clenched his teeth, sweating as the pain surged through him. When Bruce finally stopped, he gasped for air.
"That hurts like hell."
"Pain means you are alive," Bruce replied, patting his chest before standing again.
Clark approached Axel at that moment.
He hesitated when he saw Axel holding Selina close, his expression slightly awkward.
Axel pulled back from Selina and looked at Clark with a grin.
"So, finally decided to get a job?" he said. "Good timing. Work for me. Pay is high."
Clark lowered his head slightly.
"Did you always know… about me?"
"Of course," Axel answered without hesitation.
He smirked.
"The first time I visited your house, your mom panicked. And you ran from the farm to the kitchen in an instant. Broke the floor too. You think I would not notice?"
Clark hesitated. "Then why did you not…"
"Use it against you?" Axel cut in. "Relax. I am not that kind of person."
Clark nodded.
"I understand that now. But what happened today… Doctor Fate was supposed to be a hero. Instead, he sacrificed an entire city just to trap you."
He paused.
"That kind of thing… it does not make sense."
Axel suddenly laughed again.
Clark blinked. "What is so funny?"
"Nothing," Axel said, waving him off. "Go on."
Clark frowned but continued. "What I mean is, what they did was wrong. But the people you killed… they could have faced justice. Your actions are extreme. How are you different from them?"
Axel's grin widened.
"I never said I was different," he replied. "If you have a problem with it, stop me."
His tone sharpened slightly.
"Or kill me."
With that, Axel shifted Selina in his arms. With his other hand, he tossed the Helmet of Fate toward Bruce, who caught it without a word.
"You and Lex can handle that," Axel said. "I trust your judgment more than most."
He adjusted his hold on Selina.
"I am taking her back for treatment. When you are done here, come tonight. We will celebrate. Clark, you too."
Without waiting for a response, flames rose around him.
In the next instant, Axel vanished with Selina.