American comic: The Succubus Sovereign, Gwen throws herself into his arms at the beginning.

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Could it be... that he really isn't a pure demon king? Could it be... that he truly wants to... save the world? Just... in his own way?

Even the heroes' hearts began to waver…

Lin Tian looked down at the "ants" below who were stunned and deep in thought because of his "miracle," and a profound smile appeared on his face.

He knew the principle of giving a slap followed by a sweet treat. While absolute power was important, occasionally displaying "divine mercy" and "the power of creation" was more effective in winning people's hearts, especially those who still had a glimmer of "light" and "hope" in their hearts.

"It seems... you're... quite satisfied with my 'little gift' from earlier?"

Lin Tian's voice rang in everyone's ears again, this time no longer cold and stern, but with a hint of "warmth" in his smile? It was as if a benevolent monarch was questioning his subjects.

"..." No one dared to answer. Everyone looked at him in awe, waiting for his next "divine oracle."

"Very good." Lin Tian nodded in satisfaction. "Now that you have witnessed my 'power' and my 'goodwill,' then what happens next..."

Lin Tian's voice suddenly became solemn and dignified, filled with unquestionable authority, "I declare,"

"From this day forward," "the Earth, and all the dimensions that depend on it," "will be under my protection, Lin Tian."

“I will establish a completely new, absolute, ‘divine order’,”

"Under this order," "all strife will be quelled, all evil will be judged, and all life will be treated 'justly',"

"Whether human or mutant, alien or extradimensional demon," "all must, and can only, abide by the rules I have set."

"Those who obey me prosper, those who defy me perish."

Lin Tian's "declaration of nation-building," filled with domineering power and a desire for control, struck like a thunderbolt from the heavens, once again deeply into everyone's hearts.

He actually intends to... rule the Earth? And even establish a "divine order" under his control? This... this is simply...

A powerful rebellious urge surged within the hearts of all the heroes. They could not tolerate the fate of Earth being in the hands of such a capricious "demon king" who viewed all living beings as mere ants.

However, before they could even utter a rebuttal, Lin Tian's next words left them instantly speechless, and even...with a strange sense of agreement?

"Of course," Lin Tian looked at the heroes below, whose eyes were once again burning with the flames of resistance, yet dared not speak out against them, and a "compassionate" smile appeared on his face, as if he could see through their inner struggles. "I know you must be thinking, why? Why should I, an 'outsider,' decide the order of this world? Why should we submit to a 'demon king' who looks so 'evil' and 'tyrannical'?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of each hero as if engaging in a spiritual dialogue with them: "Then, let me tell you why."

"Your so-called 'Justice League,' your so-called 'Guardians of Earth,' are utterly powerless and laughable when faced with a true cosmic catastrophe."

"Because you are filled with suspicion, division, and even betrayal, you are simply incapable of forming an effective united force to protect this fragile world,"

"The 'morality' and 'bottom line' that you uphold are utterly vulnerable in the face of absolute power and a deeper conspiracy, and may even become your fatal weakness."

Every word Lin Tian spoke was like a sharp dagger, piercing the heroes' hearts, leaving them unable to refute or defend themselves, because… he spoke the truth.

In that apocalyptic crisis just now, triggered by the arrival of the Anti-Monitors, if Lin Tian hadn't intervened at the last minute, everyone on Earth would probably have been reduced to ashes. And what about them? Internal strife, suspicion, and even core members like Batman were almost "turned"—does this "Justice League" truly deserve to protect this world?

“I admit,” Lin Tian’s voice rang out again, his tone tinged with helplessness and heaviness, “my methods may be somewhat… extreme. My style of doing things may not conform to your so-called 'hero' standards.”

“But,” his voice suddenly rose, filled with unquestionable confidence and authority, “only I can truly end this world’s endless strife and chaos.”

"Only I can establish a truly powerful, stable 'divine order' capable of withstanding any external threat,"

"Only I can lead you to an unprecedented... glorious future,"

Lin Tian spread his arms wide, like a true savior, and addressed all living beings below, issuing his declaration filled with allure and a "grand blueprint."

"Under my new order,"

"No more wars between nations, no more discrimination between races, no more gap between the rich and the poor,"

"All superpowered individuals will receive the most appropriate guidance and use of their abilities. Their power will no longer be a source of chaos, but a sword to protect the world."

"All evil will be severely punished, all good will be rewarded, and all life will have equal rights to survival and the opportunity to pursue happiness."

"I will use all the power and knowledge I possess to transform this world, elevate its level of civilization, and make it the most dazzling and powerful existence in the entire multiverse."

"And you," Lin Tian's gaze fell once more on those heroes who had completely wavered, his eyes filled with "expectation" and "recruitment,"

“If you former ‘guardians’ are willing to abandon your past prejudices and biases, and choose to believe in me and follow me,”

“I will grant you… the status and honor you deserve in my new order,”

"You will become my most powerful warriors, my wisest strategists, and my most loyal companions,"

"Together, we will usher in a great era unlike any other,"

Lin Tian's speech, filled with inflammatory rhetoric and "beautiful visions,"

Like the most powerful mental magic, it completely shattered the last shred of defense in the heroes' hearts.

They looked at the man in front of them.

Looking into his eyes, which shone with a depth and confidence as vast as the universe, and listening to his words, which were full of allure and power,

They felt as if they were truly seeing a brand new, hopeful future? Even though this future was dominated by a "demon king," so what?

If it can end the chaos, bring peace, and make the world a better place, then following a "demon king"... doesn't seem... unacceptable? Moreover... this "demon king"... doesn't seem... entirely unreasonable? He's even willing to... give them the right to "choose"? And their "rightful status"?

An absurd yet alluring thought quietly took root in the heart of every hero…

"I...I do..."

Clark Kent, the former god among men, after experiencing the collapse of faith (1.8), the crushing power, and Lin Tian's "heart-piercing" brainwashing, finally... once again... lowered his proud head, and with a tone filled with weariness, confusion, yet tinged with a twisted hope, uttered these three words with difficulty.

Then, Wonder Woman Diana, Flash Barry Allen, Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Aquaman Arthur Curry, Martian Manhunter Ron Jungs—one after another, these superheroes who once represented light and justice—all seemed to have had their souls ripped out, their eyes empty, mechanically repeating those three words.

"I do..."

"I do..."

"I do..."

The Justice League, once the last line of defense protecting Earth, was utterly defeated by Lin Tian, ​​the "Demon King" from another world, with his absolute power and masterful manipulation of people's hearts. They became the first and most important "cornerstones" of the "new order" he was about to establish.

Batman, Bruce Wayne, witnessing the absurd and despairing scene before him, resembling apocalyptic judgment, watching his once most trusted comrades, one by one, swear allegiance to the evil lord like walking corpses, shattered his already wounded heart completely.

An indescribable sense of sorrow, anger, and powerlessness instantly overwhelmed him.

He abruptly raised his head, his eyes, bloodshot and filled with mad hatred, staring intently at Lin Tian, ​​who stood high above him with a victor's smile, as if trying to etch his image forever into the depths of his soul.

Then, he made a decision that surprised everyone.

146 The Fall of the Dark Knight, The Call of the Spiderweb!

Just as the other core members of the Justice League, like soulless puppets, swore allegiance to Lin Tian one after another, and the whole world seemed about to completely fall under the dark rule of this demon king.

Batman, Bruce Wayne, the Dark Knight of Gotham City, the lonely guardian who fights against gods with a mortal body and never gives up, makes a choice that is unexpected by everyone and is most in line with his identity as Batman.

Unlike Superman and Diana, he did not succumb to or lose his way in the face of Lin Tian's seemingly benevolent grace and grand vision.

Unlike the Joker or other villains, he did not choose to fawn over the evil king out of fear or self-interest, nor did he become the evil king's henchman.

They did not, like ordinary people in despair, completely give up resistance in the face of the apocalyptic scene and await the judgment of fate.

After seeing through Lin Tian's true ambition and evil nature hidden beneath the savior's mask, and witnessing the tragic scene of his former comrades' faith crumbling and becoming pawns of the demon king, Bruce Wayne's heart, hardened like a diamond by darkness and pain, was not completely destroyed. Instead, on the verge of despair, an unprecedented and final indomitable will and anger, belonging to humanity, erupted.

"Lin Tian!"

Batman suddenly raised his head, and the eyes hidden under the mask no longer held the confusion and struggle of before, but instead burned with a raging rage like hellfire.

He mustered all his strength and let out a roar filled with boundless anger, resentment, and a touch of tragic resolve.

Even if everyone submits to you!

Even if this world is destined to be swallowed by darkness!

"I am Bruce Wayne!"

"Gotham's Batman!"

"I will never bow my proud head to you, you devil!"

"You want to rule the world?!"

"Then step over my dead body!"

Before he finished speaking, Batman launched a suicidal charge at Lin Tian, ​​who seemed as aloof and superior as a god or demon.

His specially modified bat armor suddenly erupted with blinding lightning and energy fluctuations, clearly indicating that he had activated some kind of suicidal ultimate move.

He would use his mortal body and his insignificant strength to challenge the invincible demon king, who was like a god, even if it only caused him the slightest trouble, even if the price was shattering to pieces and annihilation of body and soul, he would not hesitate. 15

This is Batman.

A solitary dark knight who will never give up, never surrender, and always place the will and dignity of humanity above all else.

"Bruce!"

"do not want!"

Superman, Diana, and other heroes who had just sworn allegiance couldn't help but gasp in shock at Batman's tragic, moth-to-a-flame act.

Their eyes were filled with complex emotions: shock, confusion, regret, but also a hint of awakened shame and admiration.

Perhaps this is what a true hero is.

As Lin Tian watched the tiny figure charging towards him as if burning its own life force, the playful smile on his face gradually faded.

Instead, there was an extremely rare solemnity and a hint of heartfelt appreciation.

"Interesting," Lin Tian muttered to himself, a strange light gleaming in his eyes. "No wonder he's Batman."

He knew that with Batman's mortal body, even if he used some kind of suicide attack, he wouldn't be able to harm himself in the slightest.

But the other party's indomitable will and the pride that belongs to humanity, both insignificant and great, stirred a long-lost feeling in the heart of this demon king who had long regarded all living beings as ants.

But despite the emotional impact, the game must continue.

Moreover, Lin Tian always had a more interesting way of dealing with such disobedient pieces.

Just as Batman was about to rush in front of Lin Tian and detonate all his weapons, Lin Tian simply extended a finger and pointed it at Batman's forehead again.

hum-

Time seemed to stand still once again at this moment.

Batman's resolute and insane gaze froze instantly, and the terrifying energy about to erupt from his body came to an abrupt halt as if a pause button had been pressed.

Immediately afterwards, a torrent of purple-gold spirit, far more powerful and domineering than ever before, filled with an absolute will to control, surged into Batman's consciousness like an invisible cosmic black hole.

This time, Lin Tian no longer played games or tested him. Instead, he directly used all the power of his primordial spirit at the Nascent Soul stage, as well as a portion of the original power of the Mind Stone and the Reality Stone, to completely crush and reshape Batman's soul and will.

"Uh ah ah ah ah!"

Batman let out a scream that was more piercing and desperate than ever before.

He felt his consciousness, his memories, his emotions, his beliefs, everything about him as Batman, being torn apart, ruthlessly crushed, and completely formatted by this irresistible and terrifying force.

Then, it was forcibly replaced by a completely new will, filled with absolute loyalty and fanatical worship for Lin Tian.

This process was more painful than any torture, more hopeless than any hell, but Batman didn't even have the right to be unconscious.

He could only consciously and helplessly watch as everything about him was ruthlessly stripped away and transformed by that demon king.

Finally, as the purple-gold spiritual torrent slowly receded, Batman was still standing there.

But his eyes had completely changed. Gone was the previous tenacity and unyielding spirit, gone was the pain and struggle. Only an emptiness and fanaticism, like that of the most devout fanatic, filled with absolute obedience and dedication, remained.

He slowly knelt on one knee, facing Lin Tian who looked down at him like a god, and spoke, word by word, in a voice filled with awe and worship, yet also tinged with mechanical coldness:

“I, Bruce Wayne, the Dark Knight of Gotham, hereby pledge my allegiance to you as my sole master, and give you everything I have, for eternity.”

Batman, the last guardian of Gotham City, the legendary hero who rivaled gods with a mortal body, has finally fallen.

It has completely become the sharpest and most obedient dark blade in Lin Tian's hands, devoid of its own will.

Looking at the perfect scene before him, where the entire Justice League had submitted, Lin Tian revealed an extremely pleased, devilish smile that was like that of a demon god, full of control over everything.

Great, he has finally acquired all the major heroes of the DC Universe.

Next, it's time to establish a new order that belongs to Lin Tian.

And those catastrophic beings like Storm, Poison Ivy, and Aquaman, whom he had inadvertently attracted before, as well as the Joker who was still waiting for his master's summons in some corner of Gotham City, could also become a nice embellishment to his new order.

A cold, calculating glint flashed in Lin Tian's eyes.

His gaze swept slowly across the sinful city below, which had completely submitted to him, and the ants trembling with fear and despair, like that of an emperor surveying his territory.

Then, in a voice filled with unquestionable majesty, like a divine pronouncement, he proclaimed to the entire Earth, and indeed the entire universe, the coming Dark Age.

"from now on!"

"this world!"