Jack POV
"Kaioken times forty!" I shouted.
A red aura exploded around me, lightning sparking off my body as I charged straight at Whis with everything I had. My fists blurred, but, just like always, he blocked, dodged, and smiled like this was all a light workout.
"I have to say," Whis said calmly, effortlessly parrying my punches. "This Kaioken technique is fascinating. Combining it with your Super Saiyan 3 form makes you quite formidable."
"Formidable, huh?" I said between gritted teeth, throwing another punch. He caught it with two fingers.
In the corner of my eye, Goku and Vegeta jumped in to help. Goku came at Whis with a flying kick that got deflected like nothing. Vegeta followed up with a right hook. Whis just tilted his head, tapped Vegeta on the forehead, and sent him spinning backward into a tree.
It's been months since I started training here on Beerus's planet, and man, it's been wild. Every day with Whis feels like fighting a god made of silk and lightning; you can't touch him, but every move he makes hits harder than it should.
But I've made progress. Real progress.
I finally learned how to get my bloodlust under control, thanks to Goku and Master Roshi. Goku taught me restraint through battle; Roshi taught me patience through peace. Who knew the old perv actually had wisdom buried under all that nonsense?
I also learned Instant Transmission from the Yardrats. Took me a few days to get it right, but once I did… damn, it felt like magic and science had a baby.
After that, Whis personally invited me to keep training here. I didn't even hesitate, I said yes before he could finish the sentence.
Now, I spar with Goku and Vegeta every day. We eat, train, break bones, heal, and do it all over again. And to be honest… I kinda like it.
Oh, and yeah, I did the Super Saiyan God ritual too. Honestly, I didn't think it would work. You're supposed to need a "pure heart," and I never saw myself that way. But it did work. I don't know if it means I'm better than I thought… or if I've just changed more than I realized.
Either way, I'm not stopping here.
I stopped attacking and dropped back to my base form, breathing steady for a second. Then I focused my energy again, red and gold light flaring around me as I transformed into a Super Saiyan God.
I wasn't done there.
"Kaioken… time fifty-six!" I shouted.
My body exploded with power. Muscles bulged, veins pulsed under my skin, and the red aura around me mixed with the godly flame. This was my current limit for now.
I'd figured out something about Kaioken: it doesn't actually have a limit. The only thing that stops you is your body. And mine? Half-Kryptonian. Which means my body can handle a hell of a lot more than most, unless you count the gods, of course.
I launched at Whis again, faster and stronger than before. The air cracked behind every punch, but as usual, he moved like it was nothing, blocking everything I threw at him with just two fingers.
Then, faster than I could blink, he tapped me twice, one strike to the forehead, one to the neck. I dropped out of my transformation instantly, hitting the ground hard and barely staying conscious. Goku and Vegeta were already down beside me.
Whis floated over us with that calm smile of his."I have to say, all three of you have improved greatly. But you still have problems."
He pointed his staff toward Vegeta."Vegeta, you think too much. The brain can only send signals so fast. You rely too much on analysis and not enough on instinct."
Vegeta growled but didn't argue.
Then he turned to Goku."And you, Goku, you do the opposite. You trust your instincts too much. You need to think, plan, and adjust mid-fight. Your patterns are far too easy to predict."
Finally, he looked down at me."Jack, you actually balance both thought and instinct well. But you lean too heavily on Kaioken. That overconfidence leaves you full of openings. Your body may be stronger than most, but that doesn't make you invincible."
I sat up slowly, groaning. "Yeah, well, none of my other moves even work on you. You dodge everything."
Whis chuckled softly. "That doesn't mean you should abandon your style. It means you should adapt it. Your technique, Destructive Death, has potential. It's fluid, unpredictable. It lets you evolve mid-battle. Use that more often. Don't save it for desperate moments. Make it part of your flow."
I rubbed the back of my neck, smirking. "So basically, I'm awesome already, I just gotta be smarter about it."
Whis sighed. "Something like that."
He wasn't wrong, though. Destructive Death and Kaioken together… yeah, that combo would be insane. I could already picture Kai and Hope's faces when they see how much stronger I've gotten.
Super Saiyan Blue, that's the next step. We're all close, I can feel it. It might take a few more months, but I'll get there.
And by the time I do, Kai and his team will have probably cleared a few small-time crooks, maybe stopped some street-level trouble. Nothing big. Not yet, anyway. At least, that's what Kai said…
Hope POV
"So, if those senzu beans could've healed him completely… why is he still in there?" Trini asked, looking at Kai floating inside the pod.
"Because" I sighed, rubbing my temple, "and I'm quoting here'don't take away my Goku moments.'"
Trini frowned. "What?"
"Trust me, you don't wanna know. The healing pod will fix him up completely in just a few more minutes," I said, watching the energy readings stabilize on the monitor.
Trini tilted her head. "Okay, but another question, do you have to be half-naked to get into one of those pods?"
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "No, you don't. But again, he said, and I quote, 'don't take away my Vegeta moment.'"
Trini blinked. "He seriously said that?"
"Yep. I love my brother, but sometimes… he's a complete idiot," I said with a small laugh.
It's been a few hours since the invasion. Kai spent most of the day flying around the world, repairing cities with magic, like some kind of god. Now he's out cold, healing in one of the pods I built for emergencies, just in case we ever ran out of senzu beans.
Of course, being the anime nerd he is, he made his armor vanish, stripped down to his boxers, and climbed in like he was reenacting a Dragon Ball Z scene.
"Watch him for me," I said, turning to Trini. "And make sure he doesn't try to break out early when he wakes up. These pods are a pain to build."
Trini grinned. "You got it, boss."
I gave her a nod and left the lab, adjusting my jacket as I stepped out. The second I walked outside, my phone started buzzing again, more calls from news networks, both local and out of state.
Ever since New Dawn made its official debut, the media's been losing its mind.
Honestly, I expected this. I just didn't think it would happen this fast. We literally just stopped an alien invasion, and now they want interviews and statements like it's business as usual.
I sighed, got into my car, and started the engine. "Alright," I muttered to myself. "Let's go play PR queen."
It only took me a few minutes to get to the company, but the second I turned the corner, I saw what looked like a media warzone. News vans lined up all along the street, camera crews setting up, reporters swarming the front entrance like they hadn't slept in days.
Yeah, no way I was walking through that mess.
I took the side route into the underground garage and entered through the private elevator. As soon as the doors opened, one of my assistants was already waiting for me, tablet in hand, eyes wide like she'd been through a battlefield.
"They're all outside, ma'am. Every major outlet, CatCo, Daily Planet, GBN, you name it. They're asking for a statement about the team and the invasion."
"Of course they are," I sighed. "Let them in. Conference room B. Make sure there's coffee; reporters are easier to handle when they're caffeinated."
Within minutes, the conference room was packed. Dozens of reporters squeezed into every seat, cameras flashing, mics lined up across the table. The noise hit immediately, voices overlapping, questions flying from every direction.
"Miss Phoenix, how did you find all these metahumans?"
"Why did you decide to create a hero team?"
"Can you confirm who's working for you?"
They were all shouting at once. It was chaos.
I raised one hand, just one, and slowly, the room went quiet.
"Alright," I said, stepping forward, voice calm but firm. "I'd love to answer your questions, but I can't understand a single one of you when you all talk over each other. So, one question at a time. Raise your hand, I'll call on you. Easy enough, right?"
Hands shot up everywhere. I pointed to one man in the front row. He stood up, already looking nervous.
"Miss Phoenix," he said. "Can you tell us who these people are, the heroes working for you?"
I gave him a polite smile. "No, I can't. They have secret identities. Only I know who they are, and I intend to keep it that way. It protects them, and the people they care about."
"But don't you think the public has a right to know who's protecting them?" he pressed.
"One question per reporter," I said, still smiling. "And you just used yours."
He opened his mouth to argue, but I cut him off before he could speak again.
"Next person, please."
Another hand went up, a woman in a gray blazer near the center. I pointed at her, and she stood quickly, voice sharp and confident.
"Miss Phoenix, why did you decide to make a hero team? The government already has one, and there are plenty of others out there," She asked.
"It's true," I said with a small nod. "The government does have its own hero team, and there are dozens of independent ones around the world. But let's be honest, the world can never have too many heroes. The Justice Society is loyal to America, and that's fine, but I wanted to create something bigger, something global. I want to help the world the best way I can."
The woman sat down, looking satisfied with that answer. Another reporter immediately raised her hand, and I pointed to her.
"Miss Phoenix," she said, "how did you manage to find all these metahumans? And how did you convince them to become heroes?"
I smirked. "That was two questions," I said, leaning slightly on the podium. "But I'll let it slide, since you're cute."
A few chuckles rippled through the room. She blushed hard but kept her mic steady.
"I didn't personally find them," I said. "The one known as Mage King did. He's the one who sought them out, talked to them, and convinced them to join the New Dawn. After that, I simply did my part, handled the logistics, gave them contracts, and laid out the rules for working with us."
The same reporter quickly added, "Then how did this Mage King even find these people?"
"Nice try," I said, smiling. "But you already got two questions out of me, and that was your limit."
The room laughed a little, but I could see the curiosity still burning in their eyes.
She sat down, and another reporter raised his hand. I pointed at him, and immediately recognized the face.
"Oh, hey, Jimmy. Long time no see," I said with a grin.
The reporter I pointed to was none other than Jimmy Olsen. I met him back when I did my interview at the Daily Planet with Lois. He's a chill guy, polite, kind, and way too professional for his own good.
"Hello, Miss Phoenix. Nice to see you again," Jimmy said.
I smirked. "Oh, come on, Jimmy. You don't have to call me that. Try again."
He blinked, cleared his throat, and smiled nervously. "Hello, Hope. Nice to see you again."
"Good boy," I teased, crossing my arms. "Now, what's your question?"
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright. About the Mage King, can you tell us a little bit about him? I know you can't reveal his identity, but could you share how you two started working together?"
"First off," I said, "you don't have to say the Mage King, it's just Mage King. And no, I can't tell you how we met. But what I can tell you is that he's the master of the mystic arts, and he knows things even I can't fully wrap my head around. That's why I made him the leader of New Dawn."
Jimmy nodded and sat back down, clearly satisfied with the answer.
Another hand shot up, Lois Lane. Of course. I pointed to her with a grin.
"Hey, Lois," I said casually. "Still dating Clark?"
"Yes," both Lois and Clark said at the same time. Clark was sitting right next to her, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Well, if you two ever get tired of each other, you know my number."
Everyone laughed.
"I don't know why you're all laughing. I'm completely serious," I said with a smirk, then turned to Lois. "Anyway, Lois, your question?"
"Why didn't you bring any of your heroes here today?" she asked.
"Well, that's simple," I said, leaning back in my chair. "Some of them are a bit injured, and the rest are completely exhausted. Especially Mage King, he's in recovery right now. Took a lot of damage from Darkseid."
"Can I ask a follow-up question?" Lois asked.
"Sure," I said, "as long as you give me your number."
Lois actually hesitated for a second, like she was genuinely thinking about it, until Clark gave her that classic side-eye.
"Lois!" Clark said, snapping her out of it. She quickly sat down, embarrassed, and Clark raised his hand. I pointed at him, grinning.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite farm boy," I said. "How are you doing, Clark?"
He cleared his throat, blushing just a little. "I'm, uh… I'm doing fine, Hope. How about you?"
"Pretty good," I said, folding my arms. "Though I could be having a better day than sitting here answering press questions. But hey, since you're here, are you sure you're not tired of Lois yet? Because if you were with me, you'd never have to work another day in your life."
That made the entire room laugh again. Clark's face turned pinker than his cape.
"I'll never get tired of Lois," he said firmly. "And I love my job."
"Loyal and hardworking," I said with a grin. "If she ever breaks your heart, though, I might have to kill her. Kidding! …mostly. What's your question?"
Clark sighed, that patient, Superman kind of sigh, and adjusted his glasses. "It's about the ranking system. I heard Superman said some of your members are comparing others as A-rank, B-rank, C-rank… is that true?"
I nodded. "He heard correctly. We do have ranks in New Dawn, A through D. It helps us determine who's best suited for different missions. Of course, the ranks aren't permanent. Anyone can move up if they train hard enough or get stronger."
Clark nodded, satisfied, and sat back down.
Another reporter raised a hand and I called on them.
"Miss Phoenix, are you planning to recruit more heroes?"
"Yes," I said. "Like I mentioned, Mage King is the team's leader, but I intend to recruit more heroes alongside him. Once he's finished healing, we'll start interviews. Applicants will answer questions, undergo physicals, and meet with a psychologist to make sure they're mentally stable enough to join us. If they pass, they'll go through several months of training with our instructors. After that we'll assign ranks and station them where they'll be most useful."
"That sounds thorough," the reporter said.
"Of course. I'm not going to let maniacs through my doors and do more harm than good," I replied. "Every candidate will be screened carefully."
They sat down, another reporter raised a hand, and I pointed at him. This was turning into a very long press day.
Batman POV
"I think you're being overcautious? They helped us beat Darkseid," Cyborg said.
"I don't think you're cautious enough," I shot back. "We just learned there are multiple Kryptonians on Earth, and this Mage King seems to know about Darkseid and be able to find powerful individuals like it's nothing. That suggests he's hiding something big."
Right now I was in the Batcave with Cyborg; he was helping me probe New Dawn's systems. Normally I'd do this alone, but they infrastructure is unlike anything I've encountered, heavily encrypted, modular, and built to resist casual intrusion.
I need to know who these heroes really are, how long the Kryptonians have been on Earth, and most of all: who the Mage King is. If he knows about Darkseid, what else does he know about us? I'll find his weakness. And the Kryptonians? I have plenty of contingency measures for them if it comes to that.
Cyborg and I were elbow-deep in New Dawn's network when every monitor in the Batcave snapped to black. Silence swallowed the humming fans. Then white text crawled across every screen in perfect, mocking calm:
THIS IS YOUR ONLY WARNING, BRUCE WAYNE.IF YOU TRY TO HACK MY SYSTEM AGAIN, I WILL TAKE EVERY LAST DOLLAR YOU OWN AND I'D LOVE TO SEE HOW YOU PLAY HERO WITHOUT YOUR TOYS.
I stared at the message. "She's doing a press conference right now," Cyborg said, eyes flicking between the feeds. "This looks like a honeytrap, a preloaded warning she left in case someone poked the system. She expected you."
I felt the familiar prickle under my skin. I narrowed my eyes. "Contact the League."