(Robin, can you hear me?)
(...Robin!)
The sudden voice over the comm snapped Tim out of his thoughts. The moment he recognized it, he immediately tapped into the channel.
"Loud and clear."
(What's your current location?)
Old Bruce Wayne's voice came through, strained and urgent.
"We're en route to Metropolis. Chrono-Man detected a surge of anomalous energy there. Based on the analyzer Stark left behind, it's the signature of a Boom Tube about to open!" Tim shouted over the noise, pressing his earpiece.
(Boom...tube...opening... but...)
(...Forget that for now—Gotham's... under... se...vere—)
"What?"
Tim's brows tightened.
"What happened in Gotham? Hello!? Bruce?! Can you hear me?! Hello!?"
Dean, beside him, leaned forward seriously. "What is it, Tim?"
"No idea. Bruce tried to contact me but the signal broke up—completely scrambled. I couldn't make out what he was saying." Tim clenched his jaw.
"That's impossible," said the female Robin from the cockpit, turning to the others in the back of the Batwing. "The Bat-Net uses Bruce's private satellites. That network shouldn't go down, ever."
Sam shook his head grimly. "It's probably the energy spike. It's not just jamming your signal—my guess is, the entire Northern Hemisphere's magnetic field is compromised."
As he spoke, the detector in Sam's pocket lit up in pulsing red, accompanied by a sharp, screeching alarm.
Sam frowned and turned it off. That device was originally meant to track demons and spirits during their hunts—but now it was going off here? That wasn't a good sign.
He didn't know the exact cause, but the suffocating pressure in the air reminded him of when Lucifer broke free. Only this time, whatever was coming… felt worse. Much worse.
"So what do we do now? If that Boom Tube really is from Apokolips, we have to stop Darkseid before he arrives," the female Robin said anxiously.
"First, we need to contact the Justice Society," Tim said, tightening his fists. "Without Supergirl and Black Adam, we don't stand a chance against an army from Apokolips."
His thoughts drifted to Steppenwolf. That battle had pushed him to the brink—he'd barely managed to save a single life, and ended up severely injured. If not for quick backup, he might've died there.
And now… Darkseid himself might be coming.
"Wait... where's Alex?" Damian cut in. "Didn't you say he went to Apokolips? Don't tell me he didn't stop Darkseid!?"
Everyone still had faith in Alex's power. Even though he had once fought a rough battle against Darkseid in the Apokolips War Universe, he'd grown far stronger since then. There was no way he'd lose that easily.
Besides, even if Darkseid was a god-tier threat, there was no reason he'd be able to beat Alex this fast.
Dean simply shook his head. "Alex's situation is... complicated. We were recently in a universe where only the X-Men existed, and the Watcher showed up. That being's methods go far beyond what we expected. If I had to guess—Alex is handling something even more critical right now."
"Doesn't matter anymore—I'm heading to Gotham."
After a brief silence, Tim suddenly stood up, eyes sharp with resolve.
"Are you insane?" The female Robin snapped, turning toward him in alarm.
"I have to go. If Bruce sent out a distress call, then something big must be happening in Gotham. And with the current magnetic disruption, I'm convinced this isn't Apokolips' doing."
He turned toward Damian. "My guess? This is the work of the being you guys call... the Anti-Monitor."
"Hold on—don't be reckless."
Nightwing stepped forward, cutting in with calm authority. "If it is the Anti-Monitor, going there is suicide. What we need now is to rally more heroes, not split up."
"But—"
Tim started to argue, but Red Hood interrupted.
"Let me go instead."
He stepped forward, his voice steady. "I've been injected with the Super-Soldier Serum. I can handle more than you guys in a fight. If things go south, I've got a better shot at surviving."
"This isn't just about raw power," Nightwing frowned.
"I know."
Red Hood placed a firm hand on Nightwing's shoulder. "And I'm not really asking for permission."
With that, he walked toward the rear of the Batwing and hit the switch to open the hatch.
Damian tensed instantly. Gotham was a war zone right now, no one knew exactly what was going on there—and sending anyone in blind was a huge risk. He opened his mouth to object, but Nightwing stopped him with a gesture.
"Let him go."
"But—"
"I'm going with him," Nightwing said seriously. "We don't abandon Gotham. No matter what's happening down there—it's our city, and our responsibility. In the meantime, I need you all to head for Metropolis. Right now, we're all that's left."
His words silenced the room. Damian clenched his fists, but nodded reluctantly.
Nightwing turned to Tim, his voice quiet but firm.
"Metropolis is yours now, Red Robin."
"Yeah."
Feeling the weight of Nightwing's gaze, Tim gave a firm, resolute nod.
-----------------------------------
Meanwhile, miles away in Metropolis…
The city had just endured a brutal rampage by King Kong. Fires raged, buildings crumbled, but thankfully, casualties were minimal—Metropolis was no stranger to catastrophe. The moment the giant ape appeared, citizens had begun evacuating in an orderly fashion, leaving the city eerily empty.
Though lives had been spared, the financial and structural damage was beyond severe.
Now, within the inferno, a massive portal of ghostly blue energy slowly opened. As it did, the air temperature dropped drastically.
Dark storm clouds gathered overhead, the sky choking under an oppressive presence. An ominous stillness blanketed the entire city. Then—he appeared.
A towering figure slowly floated out from the portal, hands clasped behind his back like a king surveying his realm. The moment he entered, a foul wind swept across the ground. Fires were instantly extinguished, and the sunlit Metropolis darkened like the breath of death had passed through.
His glowing eyes scanned the city below, searching.
It didn't take long. His gaze locked onto several figures skulking amidst the ruins.
Knowing he had been spotted, Hourman stepped forward, giving up on stealth. On either side, Green Lantern and Wildcat emerged from cover, walking into the open with calm, steady steps.
"So... the so-called defenders of Earth?"
Darkseid let out a low, cruel laugh. The smile twisted his already terrifying face into something even more grotesque.
Despite the distance, Hourman clearly saw the left side of Darkseid's face—charred and scorched, like it had been burned by a flame not of this world.
"Darkseid! Are you trying to provoke a war between worlds?"
Hourman narrowed his eyes. Until now, the name Darkseid had existed only in briefing files and whispered warnings. Seeing him in person sent a chill down his spine.
He had faced many threats as a hero. He had helped save the world more than once. But none of those foes compared to the crushing pressure now radiating from Darkseid. Not even Steppenwolf, who once nearly destroyed the Earth, had made Hourman's body scream in primal fear like this.
Just standing opposite Darkseid made every cell in his body scream to run. That was the level of power they were up against.
"A war between worlds? You think you're worth that much?"
Darkseid's voice was cold and dismissive. He didn't even acknowledge the three heroes as threats. Instead, his gaze drifted past them.
"You are not my objective, human. Step aside, or I'll erase you before you can blink."
"This is our world. And you—"
Hourman gripped the hourglass embedded in his chest. In an instant, golden light surged from it, enveloping his entire body in a brilliant glow.
"—need to turn back."
Staring down Hourman, who stood defiantly before him, Darkseid let the corner of his mouth curl ever so slightly—almost like he admired the young hero's courage. But the smirk didn't last. He slowly shook his head.
"You brought this on yourself."
As the words fell from his lips, a deafening, metallic hum erupted from the Boom Tube behind him.
In the next instant—countless black shadows exploded outward, swarming the sky like hornets. There was no declaration of war, no negotiation—only monstrous roars as the creatures surged toward Hourman.
Among the horde weren't just Parademons—there were also prisoners and slaves of Apokolips, beings from countless worlds conquered by Darkseid, survivors turned into weapons. And now, they were unleashed upon Earth's defenders.
"Stand and fight!"
Gritting his teeth, Hourman shouted with all his might. His fear was drowned out by resolve as he clenched his fists—not retreating, not hesitating, but charging directly into the oncoming wave.
He knew. He and his team weren't even worth a single real attack from Darkseid. But he also knew something more important:
Until Supergirl, Black Adam, and the others could arrive—he was the first line of defense.
Even if it meant dying here, he had to buy time.
Behind him, Green Lantern said nothing—but his power ring lit up like a beacon, propelling him into the sky like a missile. Wildcat, too, let out a thunderous roar and dove into the fray.
With reckless fury, Earth's champions and Apokolips' horde finally clashed in the skies of Metropolis.
.........
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