"Absurd reason?"
Hearing Clark's words, Diana froze for a brief moment, then her expression hardened, anger surging through her.
"What about Doctor Fate, Hawkman, and Hawkgirl? Are their lives just 'absurd reasons' to you?"
Her voice turned sharp with contempt.
"No wonder you follow Axel. Every one of you is just as despicable as he is. There's nothing worth discussing. Now tell me, where is Axel?"
Before Clark could respond, Diana charged forward, sword in hand.
Seeing the two about to collide, Zatanna rushed out of the manor.
"Diana, stop, this is all a misunderstanding!"
"Misunderstanding?"
Diana's voice rose as she struck Clark's arm, forcing him back, then followed with a powerful shield bash that sent him sliding across the ground.
"If death can be dismissed as a misunderstanding, then I'll make sure Axel understands that your deaths are just as meaningless!"
Her eyes burned with fury.
"Doctor Fate and the others were in my realm yesterday. By morning, Fate sent me a final vision before she died. I saw everything, your battle, and how Axel killed them!"
She turned toward Zatanna.
"Answer me. Was what I saw real?"
Zatanna lowered her head, pain written across her face.
"I… I'm sorry. It's true. But it really was a misunderstanding. If you just listen, we can explain…"
Diana vanished from her spot.
In an instant, she was in front of Zatanna, her blade aimed at her chest.
She did not care about explanations.
To her, the result was all that mattered.
Three lives were gone.
Nothing could justify that.
As her anger intensified, it seemed almost visible, heat radiating from her body as she moved.
Just as the blade was about to strike, Clark rushed in from the side and caught it with his bare hand.
Diana released her sword immediately and slammed her Bracelets of Submission together.
Boom!
Clark was sent flying, tearing through the manor wall and continuing across the city, crashing through buildings before finally stopping.
Without hesitation, Diana grabbed her sword again and thrust it toward Zatanna.
"Block!"
Zatanna cast the spell in time. The blade halted midair.
Diana's expression twisted with rage.
"I trusted you. So did Kent. And now you stand with Axel?"
Her voice trembled with fury.
"We all owed Kent our lives. That night could have ended with any of us dead. His wife, his friends, they all had reasons to seek justice. And yet you helped kill them!"
She took a step forward, glaring at Zatanna.
"Zatanna Zatara, your choice disgraces your family. Your father was a hero. And you? You're nothing but an accomplice."
She raised her fist and slammed it into the magical barrier.
Boom!
The entire manor shook violently. The gates shattered, and even Alfred and the others were thrown back by the shockwave.
Before Diana could break through, Clark returned, rejoining the fight.
Though Diana's bracelets had injured him, the sunlight restored his strength almost instantly. Even at a disadvantage, he could hold her off for now.
While the battle raged on, elsewhere, Axel returned to his room.
He entered casually, then nudged Emma to wake her.
She stirred and sat up, startled.
Axel looked at her briefly, then spoke in a relaxed tone.
"If you need money, go to Vought. Ashley or Madelyn can handle it. As long as it's reasonable, they'll give you what you want."
Emma blinked, surprised.
"Really?"
"Within limits," Axel replied flatly. "Don't push it."
After that, Axel left the room and headed to the Seven's headquarters.
He entered the conference room and lay down on the sofa, closing his eyes.
Roughly twenty minutes later, the door burst open.
Madelyn walked in quickly, speaking to her assistant.
"Get Homelander and Maeve here immediately. Before that plane goes down. The hijacking has lasted twenty minutes already, negotiations have failed, and the fuel won't last more than three hours. Tell them to move now."
She stopped mid-sentence when she saw Axel.
Her expression shifted instantly.
"Ancestor… you're back."
She straightened, her tone becoming careful.
"I apologize. We didn't know your whereabouts earlier, so all surveillance near your room was removed. Even if it was meant for your safety, monitoring you would be inappropriate."
Axel gave a faint smile.
"Relax. You're overthinking it."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Now, tell me about this plane."