Foreshadowing existed for some events long before they occurred.
Batman had anticipated this day ever since news broke from the White House about the formation of an official government superhero organization.
When he saw the White House spokesperson on television two days prior, representing the federal government and stating that the era of individuals placing themselves above the constitution based on their abilities was over, he knew his time to act was fast approaching.
As expected, only two days had passed.
"Justice League, this is a search warrant from the federal government. We're here to search your base on suspicion of criminal activities."
Major Force, with an arrogant expression, presented a search warrant specially signed by the President.
Surrounded and heavily outnumbered in front of the Justice League headquarters, Batman didn't bother checking the validity of the search warrant, knowing it had to be real. He wouldn't have been surprised if they had presented a thousand warrants, considering they were a task force directly reporting to the President.
"Criminal activities? Are you kidding me?"
Firestorm was shocked, finding the situation absurd. They were superheroes. The world knew the Justice League as the most heroic and righteous superhero team, having saved the Earth multiple times and receiving commendations from the United Nations.
"Batman, you are accused of three hundred and seventy-four federal felonies, including, but not limited to, aggravated assault, hit-and-run, endangering citizens with explosives, trespassing, and assaulting a police officer..."
Captain Atom, standing in the center of the four, spoke with a detached expression, like an emotionless military machine. He recited a long list of criminal charges, making Batman, a member of the Justice League, sound like the most heinous criminal in the world.
"And you, Firestorm, you are accused of one hundred and three federal felonies..."
Green Lantern, Element Girl, Cyborg, and Hawkgirl—he listed the charges for everyone present, except for those not in attendance. Each of them was accused of at least dozens of serious felonies.
"Are you joking?"
Cyborg and the others took a step forward, their faces filled with anger. They were heroes, not criminals.
"All the felonies we committed were while resolving issues and dealing with supervillains. Are you expecting us to stand by and do nothing when we see someone robbing a bank, kidnapping innocent civilians, or even threatening to destroy cities and the world?"
"That's the problem, you don't have law enforcement authority!"
Captain Atom coldly declared the illegality of their past actions.
"Why isn't Batman speaking? Not planning to offer a defense? The data indicates you are one of the masterminds behind this criminal organization, the Justice League."
Major Force casually tossed the search warrant in front of them, then crossed his arms and sneered.
Since the moment the four of them appeared, Batman had remained silent. He showed no reaction to the numerous accusations against him, his stern face impassive.
"This is not surprising. When the White House wants to do something to people like us, arguing is useless. After all, they are the ones who make the laws, aren't they? You have too many statutes you can use, and you can amend or add them anytime. The heroic deeds of citizens can be labeled as criminal activities."
His gaze shifted from the leading Captain Atom to Major Force.
"And similarly, criminals who have committed violent felonies and murder can transform into members of the President's task force as symbols. Am I correct, Clifford Zmeck?"
"How do you know my name?"
Major Force's eyes widened, and he lowered his arms, his tone laced with shock and anger at having his past exposed.
"All my related information is classified as top government secret!"
He clenched his fists furiously, showing a clear inclination to attack the Justice League immediately.
"'Violent felonies'?"
The only woman among the four, Extreme Pain, showed disgust and instantly moved several hundred meters away from Major Force, clenching her fists as if looking at a piece of scum.
Black Lightning, who had been silent all along, also had a drastic change in expression. Unlike the other three, he had been a superhero before and had even submitted an application to join the Justice League, only to be rejected among the many applicants. However, he held no grudges against the Justice League. He never expected a fellow task force member to be a murderer, someone he had dedicated himself to fighting and apprehending in the past!
"Captain, is this true?"
Captain Atom reached out to stop Major Force, his expression darkening. He ignored Black Lightning's questioning.
"Knowing government secrets and causing internal suspicion and conflict with just a few words, Batman, you truly are extraordinary. It's no wonder you're the one who managed to obtain the zero-number metal needed to build mechs from military secrets."
He looked towards the Fenrir Mech, which had autonomously taken off from the hangar on the alliance's backyard.
"I'm truly curious about your identity beneath that mask."
"I'm even more curious about who you are. I can track Major Force's past criminal records up to the point he was selected for a top-secret military experiment, after which his trail went cold. But your information is completely blank; your security clearance is even higher than Major Force's."
Batman didn't mention the other two. Before joining the President's task force, one was a well-known street superhero, and the other was an ordinary person. He knew their backgrounds clearly.
"However, your body is as straight as a javelin. Despite not agreeing with some of the actions of those above, like having a murderer as a teammate, you still choose to follow orders."
"Your aura is that of an elite, cold, and rigid soldier. Did you serve in the military's special forces for many years?"
"Major Force was indeed a federal convict before, but he received a presidential pardon and is no longer a criminal."
Ignoring Batman's persistent questioning and probing, Major Force noticed unrest not only among the task force members but also among the personnel in the fighter jets and attack helicopters above. He loudly emphasized his point, his powerful presence quelling the murmurs.
"See, just as I said," Batman said, spreading his hands.
The Fenrir Mech landed behind him with a thud, but he didn't dare make a move, as he doubted the people before him would give him a chance to enter the mech.
"I have been ordered to pursue and eliminate many cunning criminals who are masters of rhetoric, but they all ultimately fell before my guns. Do you know why?" Captain Atom's face was icy, his gaze like a sword piercing through.
"Because the sharpness of words is ultimately no match for the power of guns and cannons," Batman stated calmly.
"So you do know..." Captain Atom raised a hand, signaling his subordinates to prepare for an attack.
"That's precisely why I'm talking so much with you," Batman nodded and smiled.
He hadn't made a move because he knew that if the White House had any integrity, they wouldn't have exaggerated their strength when introducing them. Therefore, the few of them would not be a match for these individuals. The Justice League needed to wait for someone's arrival to overcome the crisis today.
"What do you mean?" Major Force felt a sense of foreboding.
"You're stalling for time." Captain Atom's eyes were cold.
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone realized what was happening. Thunderclouds were gathering on the distant horizon, rumbling loudly. Violent air currents churned the clouds, and the fighter jet formations in the sky became as if facing a great enemy.
"He's here!"
"Transcendent! He has the power to control lightning!"
The army panicked.
"Earth's most powerful superhero." Black Lightning and Extreme Pain's expressions turned grave. Major Force also lost his previous arrogance, becoming somewhat fearful and nervously trying to retreat.
"What are you panicking about? Transcendent and Superman are targets we are investigating and apprehending." Captain Atom's face showed disgust as he reprimanded Major Force, whom he had always looked down upon, without mercy. He gazed intently at the horizon, clenching his fist.
"It's good they're here; it saves us the trouble of tracking them down."
Accompanied by rumbling sounds, two figures flew at extreme speed from the horizon, one after the other, and abruptly stopped. The sheer wind pressure generated by their flight caused the fighter jet formations in the sky to sway and tumble like fragile kites in a gale. Several fighter jets collided, exploding in flames, and the pilots ejected, parachuting down to safety in a disheveled state.
"You've finally arrived, Transcendent, Superman." Cyborg's expression was joyful.
In mid-air, Clark nodded at Batman. David, however, looked towards Captain Atom and the others. Just his indifferent gaze caused them to retreat in fear in the air, even Captain Atom. Although he didn't retreat, his expression was as if facing a formidable enemy. Even after that accidental experiment, he didn't know how powerful he truly was. Continents and mountains felt as fragile as bubbles to him, his body connected to the quantum field, with infinite energy at his disposal. But facing this person, he didn't have much confidence in winning.
"What a lively scene, quite the grand display. Black Lightning, Major Force, and... Captain Atom." David swept his gaze across the fighter jet formations in the sky and then looked ahead. Two days ago, the White House spokesperson held a press conference to introduce the White House Task Force to the public. He had watched the related news, but he already knew the three of them long before that. Black Lightning had once applied to join the Justice League, and he had seen his file. As for Captain Atom, he was quite famous among the many superheroes in the DC world.
"Nathaniel Adam, formerly an officer in the U.S. Air Force, was sentenced to death after being framed by his colleagues. To avoid execution, he was invited to participate in a secret military experiment with almost no chance of survival. The government promised him a presidential pardon if he survived." David's thoughts flashed through Captain Atom's information. Batman was unaware of the identity of this mysterious Captain Atom, but he knew it clearly, and he also knew how his abilities came about.
"The secret experiment involved the durability of an alien spaceship that had accidentally crashed on Earth. When Nathaniel Adam was placed inside the spaceship, the U.S. government detonated a nuclear bomb beneath it. Nathaniel Adam survived the nuclear blast, his body merging with alien metal and combining with quantum energy, granting him all sorts of incredible abilities. Afterward, information about him was sealed by the federal government and classified as top secret. From then on, Nathaniel Adam had another codename: Captain Atom."
"What is your purpose in coming here today? To arrest superheroes who have broken the law? Am I among them?" David was not surprised by the scene unfolding today. As he spoke, his body, like a massive celestial body, emitted an extremely terrifying repulsive force. The dense formations of attack helicopters and fighter jets in the sky were pushed away like paper models, swept clean. Black Lightning raised both arms to defend himself, black electricity crackling around him, pushing his flight capabilities to the limit. However, he still struggled to resist the overwhelming force, being thrown back several hundred meters.
In an instant, the massive army dispatched by the US government to arrest the Justice League was wiped out. Only three figures remained alone in the sky.
Captain Atom appeared composed, his silver metallic body like an infinitely heavy steel mountain, firmly planted in place.
Meanwhile, 'Extreme Pain' floated there, her body like a phantom that couldn't bear force, the gravity field having no effect on her.
"Of course!"
Beneath the force field, Major Force swayed but also resisted the gravity.
But in the next second, David's eyes shot out terrifying energy beams, blasting Major Force away. Under the scorching torrent that vaporized steel, Major Force was sent flying for miles, clutching his chest in pain and fear as he looked on.
"A piece of trash like you dares to stand before me and speak?"
Major Force and Captain Atom looked very similar, both having metallic bodies, just different colors. Major Force's abilities stemmed from the US government's experiments to replicate Captain Atom.
However, after the deaths of many people, the US government only managed to grant similar powers to a rapist and murderer named Clifford Zmeck.
"But even though he's stronger than an average Kryptonian, compared to the original Captain Atom, Major Force is like a shoddy imitation."
It should be known that in the comic book storyline, a certain blue giant, known as the Quantum God, was created based on Captain Atom. Captain Atom was the precursor to Doctor Manhattan, who treated the universe as a toy.
"To avoid unnecessary casualties, Transcendent, I advise you to accept the investigation obediently."
Captain Atom's gaze was confrontational, gesturing for David to look at the people behind him.
He could feel the astonishingly vast energy contained within the man before him. If the two were to fight, this island might cease to exist.
"If I make a move, your teammates might not survive the collateral damage from our battle."
"You could have made a move long ago, Captain Atom. You also have doubts about the White House's orders, don't you?"
David and Captain Atom's eyes met, their gazes sharp and tense, battle imminent. After David arrived and gained some confidence, Batman, who had entered the Fenrir Mech, wanted to persuade Captain Atom.
If possible, he hoped this battle wouldn't break out. He and Green Lantern were like small animals under the feet of two giants. Once the two in the sky began to fight, it would be like Mars crashing into Earth, causing earth-shattering chaos.
His teammates were likely in danger.
"Your past actions cannot be denied, but it is imperative that superheroes be regulated!
If simply donning a tight suit and earning the title of superhero allows one to disregard the law, act recklessly, and engage in explosive battles with supervillains on the streets, what will this world become?"
But Captain Atom suddenly moved, unleashing a fan-shaped energy shockwave like a tidal wave, intending to subdue everyone present.
"I guess you're just repeating what that guy in the White House told you!"
David stood in the void, absorbing the energy. As if wielding divine lightning, he reached out and hurled a bolt of divine power lightning through the air!
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