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Facing Lin Tian's gaze, so tangible and filled with destruction and control, Superman Clark Kent felt his very soul tremble! He knew! This man was about to attack him! And this time! He probably wouldn't show any mercy like before! He wanted to fight back! He wanted to use his last bit of Kryptonian power! To perish together with this demon king!
But he couldn't! The "Hehuan Mark" that Lin Tian had planted deep within his soul, and the terrifying pressure that felt like divine punishment, had completely suppressed all the energy within him! It made even moving a finger extremely difficult for him!
He could only watch helplessly as Lin Tian's seemingly pale and slender hand, which appeared to contain the power of the entire universe, slowly pressed down towards his head!
No!! A desperate cry echoed in Superman's heart!! He didn't want to die!! He still had so much to do!! He hadn't found a way to defeat this evil king!! He hadn't yet protected this Earth he loved so dearly!!
However!! Just as Lin Tian's palm was about to touch the top of his head!! A strange change occurred!! A golden light filled with a sacred and protective aura!! Suddenly shot out from the side!! Like the most solid barrier!! Slammed heavily!! into Lin Tian's palm!!
Boom—!! A muffled thud!! Lin Tian's palm! Was actually slightly shaken back by this sudden golden light!
Although it was only a tiny bit!! It was enough to leave everyone present dumbfounded!! Someone actually... someone could actually challenge Lin Tian's power?! Who was it?!
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound! There they saw! Wonder Woman Diana! Holding her protective silver bracelets high!! Her body erupted with an unprecedentedly dazzling golden divine power!! Like a true goddess of war!! Standing before Superman!!
Her eyes! Were filled with determination! Resoluteness! And... a hint of indescribable pain and struggle!!
"Lin Tian!!" Diana stared at the man on the throne, her voice trembling slightly with anger and sorrow. "Stop!!"
"Whatever your purpose! Whatever you want to do!"
"Come at me!!"
"Stop hurting them!!"
"They are innocent!!"
Diana!! She actually... at the last moment... chose to stand up... against Lin Tian?! Everyone was stunned by her sudden action!!
Especially Superman! He looked at the figure standing before him, petite yet incredibly imposing, and his heart was filled with indescribable emotion and… guilt!! Diana… she… she actually protected me…
Lin Tian, looking at the woman who dared to defy him, showed no anger whatsoever! Instead, he revealed an even more playful and wicked smile!
"Oh?" "It seems... my Diana... has finally... learned to 'disobey'?"
He slowly rose from the throne! Step by step! He walked towards Diana! Each step! seemed to tread upon the hearts of everyone present! Bringing endless oppression and fear!!
"You think... with your insignificant divine power... you can... stop me?"
"Or perhaps..." Lin Tian's voice suddenly became filled with temptation and... a hint of cruelty! "You also want to... experience... what... true... despair... is, just like them?"
Diana stared into Lin Tian's deep, all-consuming eyes, feeling the terrifying, almost tangible pressure emanating from him. Her body trembled uncontrollably. She knew that her strength was utterly insignificant before him.
But!! She cannot back down!! For Superman! For the Justice League! For this world!! She must… fight to the very last moment!!
"Even if I die!!" Diana gritted her teeth, her eyes burning with an indomitable flame. "I will never... let you succeed!!"
"Is that so?" Lin Tian's smile deepened! "I like... women with backbone." "However..." His eyes suddenly turned cold! "Too much backbone... can... break!"
Having said that, Lin Tian no longer hesitated! His hand, which had been stroking Diana's cheek, suddenly exerted force! A surge of Primordial Chaos Immortal Essence, far exceeding Diana's expectations and filled with the meaning of "devouring" and "assimilation," instantly surged into Diana's body like the most domineering torrent!
"Ughhhhhh!!!" Diana felt her divine power, her will, her soul—all of it—being utterly and irresistibly overwhelmed by an overwhelming force! Her body convulsed violently! The light of resistance in her eyes quickly faded! In its place was a purple-gold light filled with pain, confusion, and ultimately, absolute submission!
In just a few breaths!! Wonder Woman Diana!! This Amazonian princess who once represented light and justice!! Has followed in the footsteps of other heroes!! Completely!! Fallen!! Become Lin Tian's subordinate!! Yet another... powerful!! And absolutely loyal!! Queen-level pawn!!
"No—!! Diana!!" Superman, witnessing this cruel scene, let out a heart-wrenching scream!! He watched helplessly as his beloved woman was completely "corrupted" and "enslaved" by that evil lord in order to protect him!! This pain and despair!! Was even more intense than when he himself was defeated!!
He hated it!! He hated his own powerlessness!! He hated the cruelty of that demon king!! He hated even more… this world filled with injustice and darkness!!
And Batman, Bruce Wayne! After seeing Diana completely succumb! His heart, which had been desperately holding on! Finally... shattered completely!! He knew! It was all over! Justice... had utterly fallen! The future... would belong to that evil lord's dark age! And they, these so-called "heroes"... would all become pawns... and playthings... that he could manipulate at will!
Batman slowly closed his eyes, surrendering all resistance. He allowed the "Acacia Brand" from the depths of his soul to completely devour his last vestiges of will...
The "cleansing" and "integration" operation in Gotham City, under Lin Tian's thunderous methods and the "efficient" execution of the Queens, came to a swift and overwhelming end.
The once chaotic and fragmented underworld has now completely submitted to Lin Tian, the "new king." Classic villains like the Joker, Catwoman, and the Penguin have either been completely "transformed" into loyal servants or, out of fear, chosen to grovel and become tools for Lin Tian to control Gotham.
Those "trash" who tried to resist, or whom Lin Tian looked down upon, have long since vanished from this world without leaving a trace.
Gotham City, a city that once symbolized endless sin and madness, has strangely become "peaceful" under Lin Tian's iron-fisted rule? Although this peace is built on an even more terrifying and desperate dark order.
Lin Tian was very satisfied with the result. He enjoyed the feeling of having everything under his control, and he enjoyed seeing those once arrogant villains bowing and trembling in his presence.
But his gaze quickly shifted from these insignificant "minor characters" to the "righteous" heroes who were still struggling to fight against him.
Superman, Batman, and Diana, the Wonder Woman of this universe… these beings who once represented light and hope are now, in his eyes, nothing more than a few slightly stubborn, but also more interesting, pawns.
It's time... to end this boring "cat and mouse game".
Lin Tian decided to give these "heroes" an unforgettable "gift"—a "final judgment" that would utterly destroy all their pride and faith.
Thus, an electronic invitation, meticulously crafted by "Zero" and brimming with technological sophistication and unquestionable authority, was sent like a death warrant to the encrypted communication devices of every core member of the Justice League.
The invitation was filled with Lin Tian's usual playful and domineering tone:
To the esteemed heroes of the Justice League:
In light of some recent 'minor incidents' in Gotham City, and some possible 'misunderstandings' about me and some of my 'friends'.
I, Lin Tian, cordially invite you all to attend a friendly dinner three days from now at the top floor of Wayne Tower in downtown Gotham City, with the aim of 'enhancing understanding, resolving conflicts, and discussing the future'.
At that time, I will provide honest answers to some of the questions you are concerned about.
I also hope to discuss with you the issue of building a 'new order' for the future of this world.
Of course, if you are not interested in my 'invitation', or choose to 'communicate' with me in other ways, please feel free to do so.
I would welcome it.
However... you will have to bear the consequences yourself.
We look forward to your presence.
—Your 'sincere' friend, Lin Tian.
This invitation was like a bombshell dropped within the Justice League! It instantly ignited the anger and...fear of all the heroes!
"Damn it!! He's declaring war on us!!" Superman Clark Kent trembled with rage as he stared at the provocative words on the invitation! His eyes practically spitting out hot light! He couldn't tolerate Lin Tian's humiliation of Batman! Nor could he tolerate his arrogant attitude of treating the whole world as a plaything!
·····Requesting flowers·········
"Wayne Tower?! He actually dared to host a banquet on Bruce's turf?! Who does he think he is?!" Flash Barry Allen exclaimed angrily! His fear of Lin Tian had not diminished in the slightest!
"This is definitely a trap!!" Green Lantern Hal Jordan's face turned grave! He could clearly sense the undisguised malice and murderous intent in the invitation! "He wants to wipe us all out!!"
"We can't go!!" Aquaman Arthur Curry also refused outright! He didn't want to become that man's prey! "This is simply walking into a trap!!"
However! After reading the invitation, Wonder Woman Diana fell into a long silence!
Her eyes were filled with complex emotions, a struggle, and… a barely perceptible wavering? She remembered Lin Tian's words about the "multiverse crisis" and the "shared mission"! She remembered his godlike power to easily reverse destruction and reshape reality!
Could it be... that his invitation this time... really is for "resolving conflicts and discussing the future"?
Could it be... that we really misunderstood him?
This thought, like the devil's temptation, quietly took root in her heart. 9
Meanwhile, Martian Manhunter Ron Jungs! After carefully analyzing every word of the invitation and the energy fluctuations it contained! His expression became even more solemn and…pale! 3
He sensed a far more terrifying conspiracy lurking within this seemingly arrogant invitation! This Lin Tian! It seems he doesn't just want to humiliate or destroy the Justice League! He seems to be playing a much bigger game?! And these so-called "heroes" are merely pawns on his chessboard, manipulated at will?!
................. 6
“We…have to go.”
Just as everyone was arguing and hesitating, a hoarse and weary voice suddenly rang out! It was Batman!! Bruce Wayne!!
He had appeared at the conference room door sometime during the night! His face was pale, his eyes dull, as if he had aged ten years overnight! Yet, his tall, upright figure still exuded the resilience and indomitable spirit of a dark knight!
"Bruce?! You…" Everyone was taken aback when they saw him!
“I’m fine.” Bruce waved his hand, interrupting their concern. He walked to the conference table, his gaze sweeping over every hero present. His voice was deep and filled with unwavering resolve:
"We absolutely have to go to this dinner!"
"This is our...only chance!"
"An opportunity to truly understand him! Even... find his weaknesses!"
"And so it is we... as the Justice League!"
"A guardian of the Earth!"
"An inescapable...fate!!"
Batman's words, like a resounding bell, struck the hearts of every hero!
Yes! Running away isn't the solution! They have to go! Even if it's a trap! Even if it's a den of dragons and tigers! They have to brave it!!
For the future of Earth!! For everything they swear to defend to the death!!
"Bruce is right!" Superman was the first to stand up! His eyes rekindled with fighting spirit! "We cannot back down! No matter how powerful Lin Tian is, we must let him know that Earth is not a place where he can do whatever he wants!"
"The Amazons never fear a challenge!" Diana drew her Vulcan sword!
"Count me in!" The Flash clenched his fist!
The Justice League! After a brief period of division and confusion, it seems... they've reunited?! Although this unity is largely based on a tragic sense of shared hatred and a do-or-die spirit!
They began using their final three days to make tense and desperate preparations! Batman pulled out almost every piece of cutting-edge technology and secret weapon he had in the Batcave! Superman headed to Fortress of Solitude, trying to find a way to subdue Lin Tian! Diana returned to Themyscira to plead for the support of her mother and people! The other heroes were also making their own final preparations and...praying!
The entire Earth is shrouded in a tense atmosphere, as if a storm is brewing! Everyone knows that the banquet at the Wayne Tower rooftop in three days will be the ultimate showdown that will determine the fate of the world!
Lin Tian, meanwhile, leisurely enjoyed the service of the queens, seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere of preparation outside.
He knew! His meticulously prepared "stage" was complete! Now, all that was left was for those self-important "actors" to make their dazzling entrance!
Then… under his "director's" arrangement! A scene unfolded… filled with despair, submission, and… endless temptation! The Demon King's Feast!!
On the eve of the 140th storm, everyone's calculating their own interests! The final calm.
Three days of preparation felt both long and short for the heroes of the Justice League. Long because every minute and second they endured immense pressure from Lin Tian, who seemed like a god or demon, and endless fear and anxiety about the uncertain "banquet" to come; they worked day and night analyzing intelligence, formulating plans, and upgrading their equipment, trying to find a glimmer of hope in what seemed like an insurmountable situation.
The time was short because no matter how hard they tried, they felt that there was never enough time. Lin Tian's strength and trump cards were too mysterious and powerful. All the preparations they made were probably just futile struggles in the face of absolute power.
Batman, Bruce Wayne, practically turned himself into a tireless work machine. He mobilized all of Wayne Enterprises' resources, as well as his secret intelligence network hidden around the world, frantically collecting and analyzing all information about Lin Tian.
He tried to deduce Lin Tian's abilities, behavioral patterns, and even possible weaknesses from the clues he had left in various universes.
He also upgraded and modified all the hidden high-tech weapons in the Bat Cave, and even secretly developed several "conceptual" weapons specifically for Lin Tian and the women around him—such as the "Dimensional Anchor" that can interfere with spatial teleportation, the "Mind Blocker" that can suppress mind control, and even a special "God-Slaying Bullet" containing trace amounts of kryptonite and magical runes.
Although he himself knew that the chances of these things succeeding against someone of Lin Tian's level were extremely slim, having them was better than having none.
Superman Clark Kent returned to his solitary fortress in the Arctic. He immersed himself in the vast ocean of Kryptonian knowledge, attempting to find a way to counter Lin Tian's strange power or to significantly enhance his own strength.
He even began trying to access the forbidden technologies and "war weapons" of Krypton's ancient past that his father, Jor-El, had sealed away at "933." He spared no effort, hoping to increase his chances of victory in the upcoming decisive battle and protect the Earth, which he had long regarded as his home.
Wonder Woman Diana also returned to Paradise Island. She told her mother, Queen Hippolyta, and all the Amazons about Lin Tian's existence and the crisis facing Earth.
Although the Amazons were filled with fear and hostility towards Lin Tian, after learning that this man might possess terrifying ambitions that threatened the entire universe, and that their princess Diana seemed to have developed some kind of ambiguous "connection" with him...
After intense internal discussions, they decided to send their most elite Amazonian warriors, led personally by Diana, carrying some powerful artifacts from Themyscira, to Gotham City to fight alongside the Justice League. They wanted to show that arrogant man that the honor of the Amazons was inviolable, and that the fate of Earth was not something he alone could control.
Meanwhile, Barry Allen, the Flash, is in Star Labs with Cisco Ramon and Caitlin Jon Snow, working day and night to study the mysteries of the Speed Force.
They were trying to find a way to break through Barry's current speed limit, or even to briefly manipulate time or space, in order to deal with Lin Tian's unpredictable and elusive footwork.
Green Lantern Hal Jordan returned to Oa to report the crisis facing Earth to the Guardians and requested that more Green Lanterns be mobilized to provide support.
Although the Guardians have never been particularly interested in Earth's "internal conflicts," they granted Hal certain authority and support after learning that it might involve a cosmic entity capable of threatening the entire sector.
Aquaman Arthur Curry returned to Atlantis, attempting to persuade the stubborn and conservative elders to send the Atlantean army to fight against this "new threat" from the land.
Although the process may be fraught with twists and turns, in the end, for the common safety of the sea and the land, he may be able to win the help of some Atlantean warriors.
Martian Manhunter Ron Jungs uses his powerful telepathic and shapeshifting abilities to secretly contact hidden "hermits" or "anti-heroes" with special abilities around the world, attempting to unite all forces that can be united to fight against Lin Tian, their common enemy.
It can be said that, in order to prepare for the "trap" three days later, the "forces of justice" across the entire planet have mobilized and united like never before. They have staked all their hopes on this battle. It's all or nothing.
As the center of all this storm, Lin Tian continued his extravagant and "romantic" life at Wayne Manor.
He seemed completely unconcerned about the Justice League's petty schemes. Every day, he engaged in various "in-depth" exchanges and "guidance" with his beautiful and devoted queens—Wanda, Jean, Gwen, Mystra, Selena, Harley, and the two "Dianas"—.
Their strength, nourished by Lin Tian's Nascent Soul realm Primordial Chaos Immortal Essence and the power of the Infinity Stones, was also increasing at an terrifying rate. Wanda's Chaos Magic could easily distort the laws of reality on a small scale. Jean's Phoenix Force had also awakened to a new level, with a golden phoenix phantom appearing and disappearing behind her, radiating a terrifying power capable of incinerating everything. Gwen's Purple-Gold Spider Queen form was even more perfect, the power of the symbiote completely fused with the Harmony True Qi and Spider Force, making her a near-omnipotent Dark Queen with speed, strength, charm, devouring, shapeshifting... The strength of the other queens had also increased significantly to varying degrees.
It can be said that the overall strength of Lin Tian's "Queen's Legion" far surpasses that of any known hero or villain organization on Earth, and may even be enough to rival some second-rate civilizations in the universe. Lin Tian is very satisfied with his "training results."
He knew that the "banquet" three days later might be a life-or-death battle for the Justice League.
But for him… it was nothing more than a grand “performance” to test the “Queen’s Legion’s” fighting strength, to completely subdue those “disobedient” pawns, and to announce his arrival to the entire universe. He was even beginning to look forward to the spectacular expressions of despair on the faces of those so-called “heroes” when they saw the “surprise” he had prepared.
The calm before the storm.
Dark clouds filled the sky above Gotham City, accompanied by flashes of lightning and thunder, as if foreshadowing an impending bloody twilight that would change the fate of the world.
As dusk fell on the appointed day, amidst the trepidation, anticipation, fear, and despair of countless people, it finally arrived quietly.
The sunset over Gotham City was more eerie and crimson than ever before, as if stained with blood, adding an ominous and apocalyptic feel to this city already filled with sin and madness.