While Adrian relentlessly pressured Batman and Constantine, another fierce battle raged elsewhere.
The clash between Trickster and Trigon had descended into complete chaos.
Violent waves of overflowing energy surged across the battlefield, shaking the entire forest.
Towering ancient trees were uprooted and shattered as their overwhelming power tore through everything around them.
Massive chunks of earth, broken trunks, and splintered branches were hurled high into the air.
The sheer force of their battle made it nearly impossible for anyone nearby to keep their footing.
Deadman, Oliver Queen, who had been preparing to intercept Wonder Woman, suddenly noticed the ground trembling even more violently.
Heavy, rhythmic footsteps echoed from the distance.
No voice accompanied them, yet the relentless shaking of the earth alone made it clear that whatever was approaching possessed terrifying strength.
Nightwing had only recently entered the battlefield and intended to assist Renee Montoya against Clark.
Even after taking the Super Serum, Montoya remained completely overwhelmed.
Although Clark had been seriously injured, he still dominated the fight.
He blocked Montoya's relentless attacks with practiced precision before catching one of her punches.
Twisting his body, Clark executed a flawless shoulder throw, sending her flying across the battlefield.
He had deliberately held back.
Had he fought without restraint, he would have done far more than simply throw her aside.
Nightwing hurried over and helped Montoya back to her feet.
Before either of them could react further, the thunderous footsteps drew closer.
The dense undergrowth suddenly parted.
A towering giant of bark, vines, and living earth emerged from the forest.
Swamp Thing.
"Swamp... Swamp Thing?"
Montoya stared in astonishment.
The immense creature radiated an overwhelming presence, so imposing that she momentarily forgot the pain coursing through her body.
Nightwing froze as well.
Even with all his experience, the sight of such a colossal guardian left him speechless.
Elsewhere, Constantine, who had been confronting Adrian, immediately felt a sense of foreboding when he noticed Swamp Thing's arrival.
Constantine understood something about wars.
No one entered a conflict believing they were wrong.
Everyone convinced themselves they were justified.
Real conversations became impossible.
Instead, people clung to flawed plans and questionable ideals, dividing themselves into opposing camps until every person was forced to choose a side.
Seen from that perspective, Swamp Thing's arrival made perfect sense.
Whoosh!
To the surprise of Constantine, Montoya, and everyone nearby, countless vines erupted from Swamp Thing's body.
They shot across the battlefield with incredible speed.
In an instant, they wrapped themselves around Batman's allies.
Batman.
Constantine.
Nightwing.
Harley Quinn.
Montoya.
Cyborg.
Every one of them was lifted helplessly into the air.
Only Oliver escaped, his ghostly form making him impossible to restrain.
Wrapped tightly like a cocoon and suspended above the ground, Constantine sighed dramatically.
"If I'd known this was coming, I really should've taken that green pill."
He claimed to regret refusing the pill that temporarily granted Superman's abilities.
Whether he truly meant it was another matter entirely.
After all, everyone knew Constantine's mouth was the least trustworthy thing about him.
Standing nearby, Adrian silently watched Swamp Thing incapacitate Batman's entire faction without needing any assistance.
A brief flicker of surprise crossed his face before disappearing.
Whatever Swamp Thing's reasons were, his actions clearly showed they were not enemies.
That alone was enough for Adrian.
He had no interest in prying into another person's motives unless they stood in his way.
"I have no intention of harming you, John."
Swamp Thing's deep voice rumbled like roots breaking through ancient soil.
Constantine looked far from convinced.
"You sure about that, mate? Because this slimy green vine wrapped around me is crushing parts of my anatomy I'd very much like to keep intact."
His shameless complaint made nearly everyone nearby grimace.
Nightwing secretly thought leaving Constantine tied up forever might not be such a terrible outcome.
Ignoring the provocation entirely, Swamp Thing gazed directly at Constantine.
"I know what you're thinking."
"I know what you intend."
"You want to kill me."
"But you cannot."
Constantine simply smiled.
"I already know that."
"As long as you're connected to the Green, I'd never pull it off."
"So how about we call it a draw?"
"I admit I was wrong."
"We all go home."
"I'll quietly reflect on my life choices, and you can return to protecting your lovely little forests."
"There's really no reason for you to keep involving yourself in Batman's fight against Homelander."
Nearby, Adrian frowned slightly.
The Green.
He remembered what it represented.
Throughout the DC Universe, all plant life was linked by a mysterious force known as the Green.
Every plant possessed a connection to it.
Swamp Thing served as its greatest avatar and protector.
Over time, however, others had also formed powerful bonds with the Green.
Among them was Poison Ivy.
In the future Adrian remembered from his previous life, Poison Ivy would eventually succeed Alec Holland and become the Green's newest avatar.
While Adrian considered the implications, Swamp Thing answered Constantine.
"If only it were that simple."
"I've already chosen my side."
"And I don't trust you."
The vines immediately tightened.
Constantine's face twisted in agony.
"Ah! My balls!"
His miserable scream echoed through the battlefield.
"This is your punishment, Constantine."
Swamp Thing only increased the pressure around Constantine.
The others remained unaffected.
Bang!
A second later, every restrained member of Batman's faction was slammed violently into the ground.
Batman crashed hard enough to send dirt exploding in every direction.
Nearby, Shazam stood watching the scene unfold.
Then something changed.
His consciousness suddenly blurred.
An overwhelming wave of exhaustion swept through him.
He felt another presence invade his mind.
His body no longer obeyed his own will.
Moments later, his consciousness fell into darkness.
Wonder Woman, one hand pressed against her bleeding shoulder, slowly approached Batman and the others lying on the ground.
Constantine.
Batman.
Harley Quinn.
Montoya.
Nightwing.
Cyborg.
She stopped beside Batman.
His armor was riddled with damage, yet he still struggled to stand.
"You won't be getting up again."
She drove her fist downward.
Bang!
Her attack never reached Batman.
A fist intercepted it.
The air exploded from the collision.
Wonder Woman was blasted backward before she even realized what had happened.
She had never expected one of her own allies to attack her.
The surprise cost her dearly.
Inside Shazam's body, Oliver had completely taken control through Deadman's possession.
"Hey!"
Barry stared in disbelief.
He reached toward Shazam.
A burst of magic immediately struck him.
Barry was blasted backward before he could react.
Clark and Adrian exchanged a brief glance before turning toward Shazam.
Both instantly realized something was wrong.
Clark charged forward.
The magical barrier surrounding Shazam stopped him cold.
Unable to push through the mystical energy, Clark was forced back.
At the same moment, Adrian vanished with Super Speed.
Crimson Heat Vision erupted from his eyes, instantly colliding with the magical blast threatening Clark.
The two attacks annihilated one another.
Without slowing down, Adrian appeared beside Shazam and threw a devastating punch.
He showed no hesitation.
Whether subordinate, admirer, or ally, anyone who stood against him would receive the same response.
His fist cut through the air with explosive force.
Inside Shazam's body, Oliver immediately sensed overwhelming danger.
Without a moment's hesitation, he shouted.
"Shazam!"
Boom!
A colossal bolt of lightning descended from the heavens.
It swallowed the battlefield in blinding white light.
Everything within its radius was engulfed by destructive power.
Violent winds exploded outward, tearing through the surrounding air.
The deafening blast left everyone's ears ringing.
Adrian stood directly beneath the lightning.
The full force struck him head-on.
Dust instantly filled the battlefield.
Everyone fixed their eyes on the cloud.
Shazam had already reverted to the form of an ordinary middle school boy.
Even he stared toward the dust in silence.
Several tense moments passed.
Finally, the dust settled.
Adrian slowly walked out.
Just before the lightning struck, he had pushed Clark out of its path.
His already wounded body had absorbed the entire attack alone.
His damaged suit was now nearly destroyed.
His injuries had grown noticeably worse.
Seeing Adrian weakened, Nightwing, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, and Montoya immediately recognized an opportunity.
Empowered by the Super Serum, they charged him together.
Their physical abilities were many times greater than before.
They never reached him.
Adrian's eyes suddenly glowed crimson.
With the Yellow Lantern Ring amplifying his power, his Heat Vision erupted at nearly maximum output.
The blazing beams sliced across the battlefield.
They struck every attacker instantly.
Even bodies strengthened by the Super Serum could not endure such overwhelming force.
Blood sprayed into the air.
All four were hurled away violently.
Their ultimate fate was unknown.
"No!"
Watching his teammates fall one after another, Batman let out a tortured roar.
His bloodshot eyes burned with grief and fury.
After eliminating the attackers, Adrian slowly turned toward Batman.
"I can see your pain, Bruce."
His voice remained cold.
"But this is only the beginning."
"You created this battlefield."
"If you're searching for someone to blame, start with yourself."
"Why?"
Batman shouted from the ground.
"Why?!"
"This is war."
Adrian answered without emotion.
"There is no reason to question casualties."
"Those who understand nothing about power inevitably learn its cost."
As he finished speaking, his icy gaze shifted toward the middle school boy who had once again become Billy Batson.
Within that body, Oliver immediately felt a chill crawl down his spine.
Elsewhere, Swamp Thing paid no attention to Adrian.
His focus shifted to a new arrival.
Doctor Fate had teleported someone directly before him.
A graceful woman with vivid red hair stood in stunned silence as she surveyed the battlefield.
She clearly had not expected to appear there.
Swamp Thing regarded her quietly before shaking his head.
"So they believe you can stop me."
He recognized her immediately.
Poison Ivy.
Pamela Lillian Isley had once been a quiet university student with a deep love for plants.
After being used as a test subject by the botanist Jason Wood, powerful plant toxins had been injected into her body.
She survived.
The toxins transformed her completely.
Much of her blood became chlorophyll, granting her extraordinary control over plant life and the ability to produce powerful pheromones.
Embracing her new identity, she became Poison Ivy in Gotham City.
She viewed plant life as infinitely more valuable than humanity.
To her, people who harmed nature deserved no mercy.
She possessed deadly toxins capable of killing with ease.
Her pheromones could manipulate both men and women alike.
Even her kiss carried lethal poison.
Victims who were not treated quickly would die as the toxins spread throughout their bodies.
In Gotham, Poison Ivy often lured her targets close before delivering what criminals feared most.
A deadly kiss.
In many ways, she too shared a connection with the Green.
Poison Ivy looked around in confusion.
"I was in Arkham Asylum."
She frowned.
"So why am I here?"