After Wonder Woman and Black Canary crashed through one tree, they tore through several more without losing any momentum.
The tremendous force of the collision devastated everything in their path.
Amid the constant cracking of splintering wood and the heavy impacts of bodies striking trunks and the forest floor, the two women finally crashed to the ground.
Because Wonder Woman absorbed most of the impact, Black Canary was spared from being completely destroyed by the violent collision.
Even after taking the Super Serum and gaining extraordinary strength, Black Canary still felt agonizing pain spreading through every part of her body.
She knew she could not endure much longer. Within her fading consciousness, she could feel her life slipping away.
Ignoring Wonder Woman, Black Canary forced herself to her feet and staggered away from the massive ancient fir trees where they had landed.
The towering trees were already beginning to lean.
One of the enormous firs, shattered at its center by the collision, groaned under its own weight as the fractured trunk strained to remain standing.
Leaves and broken branches poured down from above.
Black Canary planted her feet, endured the pain, and launched herself away.
The Super Serum had enhanced her jumping ability far beyond human limits. With one desperate leap, she cleared several meters before a wave of unbearable pain swept through her body, sending her crashing back to the ground.
The instant she cleared the tree's base, the towering fir collapsed with a thunderous roar.
The deafening crash echoed far beyond the forest.
Broken branches, rocks, and clumps of dirt blasted outward with whistling force.
Dust spread through the air like the aftermath of an explosion.
Lying on the ground with blood flowing from the corner of her mouth, Black Canary's vision was completely consumed by the cloud of dust.
She gasped for breath while clutching her injured chest, staring toward the fallen tree.
To an ordinary hero, being buried beneath something like that would have meant certain death.
But Wonder Woman was no ordinary opponent.
Black Canary never believed that would be enough to stop someone empowered by divine strength.
Keeping one hand pressed against her wound, she watched the smoke-covered impact site without blinking.
Then her pupils narrowed.
Boom!
Wonder Woman erupted from beneath the fallen tree like a meteor shooting into the sky.
The dirt and shattered wood covering her body exploded outward instantly.
The sonic boom from her ascent shook the surrounding forest.
A heartbeat later, she shot directly toward Black Canary.
Although Black Canary tried to evade the attack, her severe injuries had drastically slowed her reactions.
She had no chance.
Wonder Woman slammed into her with overwhelming force.
Black Canary was launched through the air like a bowling ball hurled across the landscape.
Even with the temporary enhancements granted by the Super Serum, her body could not withstand such terrifying acceleration.
Bang!
She smashed into the ground.
Dust exploded upward as another thunderous impact echoed through the forest.
"Even after taking that forbidden drug that grants superhuman strength, it changes very little."
Wonder Woman breathed slightly heavier than before, one hand resting against her injured shoulder as she slowly approached.
"This is where your journey ends. Everything has already been decided. No amount of resistance will change your fate."
She could already sense Black Canary's life fading away, leaving little reason to continue attacking.
"I..."
Black Canary coughed up another mouthful of blood before speaking weakly.
"I was never convinced by you... or Homelander. Your invincible powers... they feel like cheating."
Every word demanded enormous effort.
"And after receiving the Super Serum... after understanding what people like you truly are..."
Her voice weakened even further.
"I... I'll never admire you again."
Wonder Woman ignored her completely.
She removed her shield and slammed it into Black Canary.
Although Black Canary instinctively raised her arms to defend herself, the impact still hurled her across the ground.
"You talk far too much."
Looking at her dying opponent, Wonder Woman slowly lowered her shield, her expression remaining solemn.
As Black Canary stared upward with fading eyes, a warm light began shining toward her.
Believing death had finally arrived, she assumed the light marked the path to heaven, or perhaps hell.
Thinking she would soon see Oliver again, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
Then her expression froze.
The light was not golden.
It was an eerie, ghostly green.
Summoning the last of her strength, she turned her head toward it.
Someone stood there.
Someone she never expected to see again.
Oliver.
"Am... am I really dead?"
Black Canary whispered in disbelief.
Oliver heard her faint voice and gently shook his head.
"Laurel, you're not dead. That's why you can still see me. But I truly am."
"How is that possible?"
Her trembling hand reached toward him.
It passed straight through his body.
"I've become the new Deadman. I'll explain everything later. Right now, your condition is critical."
Instead of dwelling on their reunion, Oliver focused entirely on her injuries.
"The Goddess may still be able to save you. I have to get you to her."
His first thought was taking Black Canary to the Goddess atop Shangri-La Snow Mountain, where she might still receive treatment.
The moment he finished speaking, the air rippled.
Doctor Fate appeared silently behind them.
His arrival was almost ghostlike.
"Remarkable, Oliver Queen. You've inherited the mantle of Deadman and returned in such an unexpected way."
Doctor Fate regarded him with genuine surprise.
"We can catch up later."
Oliver glanced toward Wonder Woman, who continued walking steadily in their direction.
"Can you send Laurel to Shangri-La right now?"
Doctor Fate studied him.
"Are you certain you can remain behind and hold off this Amazon?"
"Just answer yes."
Oliver straightened himself, his unwavering gaze fixed on Wonder Woman.
Meanwhile, Adrian faced Batman and Constantine.
"Black Canary is dead, Bruce. After Detective Chimp and Wizard Boy, another ally has died because of your decisions. Somehow, you always survive, while everyone around you pays the price."
Adrian stood with his arms folded, watching the two men with an emotionless expression.
"Perhaps your survival isn't destiny. Perhaps it's because I always leave you alive out of pity. Every time someone sacrifices themselves for you, I spare you once more. The longer you live, the greater your suffering becomes. I think watching you endure that pain is far more satisfying."
Batman slowly tightened his fist.
"I've lived with pain my entire life. It won't shake my resolve."
"Is that so?"
Adrian shook his head.
"Then let me tell you another truth."
"You can't stop me."
"As long as you're unwilling to kill, you'll never truly defeat me. Gather every superhero on Earth. Swallow as many enhancement drugs as you like. None of it will matter."
The instant he finished speaking, his body blurred into a streak of lightning.
Bang!
Batman was sent flying by the impact.
His body tumbled through the air before slamming violently onto the ground.
Red energy gathered within Adrian's eyes.
Heat vision was moments away from firing.
Even Adrian had to admire Batman's persistence.
The man was already close to collapse, yet he continued fighting.
Even the Super Serum should not have been enough to sustain someone in such terrible condition.
His determination bordered on obsession.
Batman lay on the ground but refused to retreat.
Ignoring the pain, he pulled a device from his utility belt and launched an electromagnetic pulse bomb.
A visible wave surged toward Adrian.
The powerful electromagnetic field instantly enveloped him.
The crimson glow in Adrian's eyes vanished as the pulse disrupted him.
EMP weapons were capable of disabling advanced electronics, disrupting communications and targeting systems, while their microwave emissions could also inflict severe physical harm.
Lower frequencies could trigger headaches, confusion, memory impairment, and cardiac problems.
Higher frequencies could scorch skin, destroy tissue, and even prove fatal.
Adrian had already suffered devastating injuries during his battle against Trigon.
His body remained weakened.
The microwave pulse struck him at the worst possible moment.
His ears rang violently.
His head spun.
It felt as though an enormous bell had exploded beside him.
Ordinarily, such an attack would have accomplished nothing.
Now, however, it affected him.
Shaking his head, Adrian struggled to clear his senses.
Before he could recover, Constantine launched his next attack.
Boom!
A burst of destructive magic exploded toward Adrian.
Still reeling from the EMP, Adrian failed to evade it.
The magical blast struck him head-on.
The explosion shook the surrounding earth.
Smoke completely swallowed Adrian.
Burning fragments scattered across the battlefield before raining onto the shattered ground.
Without hesitation, Batman drew a specially modified firearm and opened fire into the smoke.
The battlefield disappeared beneath relentless explosions.
Trees splintered.
The earth churned.
Rocks shattered beneath wave after wave of destructive force.
Then everything fell silent.
Suddenly.
Adrian burst from the smoke.
He shot straight toward Batman.
Another kryptonite enhanced bullet screamed toward him.
Before it could reach its target, Adrian caught it in his hand.
The bullet exploded instantly.
The black-green shockwave erupted around his fist.
He remained completely unharmed.
Bang!
Batman, already exhausted, was blasted backward several more meters.
His body carved a deep trench through the earth.
Before Batman could recover, Adrian reached him.
With one hand, he lifted Batman into the air as effortlessly as if raising nothing at all.
Then he hurled him away.
Batman's armored suit scraped violently across the ground before finally crashing into the dirt.
Adrian appeared beside him once more.
"You're almost dead, Bruce. Your body has reached its limit. Even if I stand here and do nothing, you won't survive much longer."
His voice remained cold.
"You put on a costume every night and exhaust yourself trying to stop me. There are countless things worth doing in this world. Tell me, what do you truly hope to gain, and what are you willing to sacrifice?"
Batman slowly forced himself upright.
His cape fluttered in the night wind.
"You ask about purpose... about gain and loss."
His breathing was ragged.
"The answer is simple."
"I stop people like you."
"And I preserve something that matters."
"Stop me?"
Adrian scoffed.
"Stop me from what? I'm a god. I can do whatever I choose. No one can stop me."
"You are only human."
"A fragile man who could die at any moment."
"Do you truly believe you can defeat me?"
"The only reason you're still alive is because I haven't decided to kill you."
"This time, none of you will escape."
Batman met his gaze without hesitation.
"Why not?"
Adrian looked at him with faint curiosity.
"You said you wanted to preserve something."
"What exactly?"
Batman drew another painful breath.
"Superheroes are guardians."
"They are not rulers."
Adrian frowned.
Batman continued.
"The foundation of civilization is law and order."
"Heroes can inspire people."
"They can save lives."
"But they cannot decide humanity's future."
"They cannot place themselves above everyone else."
"So that's what you call crossing the line?"
Adrian stared at the battered man before him without the slightest trace of emotion.
"You believe superheroes cross the line the moment they kill, even when those people are criminals."
"You're wrong."
"Superheroes are still human."
"You demand perfection from them while excusing ordinary people for the same flaws."
"Bruce, that's hypocrisy."
Batman slowly wiped the blood from his mouth.
"No."
His voice remained steady.
"The line isn't killing."
"The line is losing your respect for humanity."
He looked directly into Adrian's eyes.
"Adrian... you no longer see yourself as human."