Chapter 704: The Cheetah Woman
Linda's Practical Advice
"Diana, I think you're looking in the wrong direction."
"It's understandable that you want to save her, but have you considered what she wants?"
Diana was stunned. "What do you mean, what she wants?"
Linda sighed helplessly. "I don't know much about your personal issues, but Luke once told me: 'Don't judge others self-righteously. Whether it's right or wrong, you must act according to rules and objective facts.'"
"Your friend killed people. That's understandable, given she's a cheetah now. But the problem is she ate people. Killing and eating are different."
"Even if she was forced, it doesn't change the psychological shift she's undergone. She's changed; she's no longer Barbara Minerva. If you treat her the way you used to, you're just asking for trouble."
Diana fell silent. Though she didn't want to admit it, Linda's words made sense.
Linda continued, "You can't use words to deal with a beast. You should use a knife, a gun, or an iron cage. We can't let the Justice League's cells stay empty forever, right?"
Diana frowned instantly.
"Are you suggesting we arrest her?"
"Of course you should arrest her. She's eating people, not just one. Even if she's genuinely restored, she should be locked up for a while as punishment."
Diana was left speechless by this. One of the Justice League's core principles was dealing with super-villains whose crimes were too vicious for the standard judicial system. Barbara's actions fit that description. To do nothing after she had killed so many people would be inexcusable.
"Honestly, locking her up is the best way. It'll force her to calm down, and it will give you time to talk to her, figure out the cause, and then find a solution."
"Of course, if you don't think that's right, go ahead and plead with her, perform a tearjerker of a drama. Just make sure you don't get yourself killed. Don't forget, her goal is to eliminate you."
Diana lowered her head, carefully considering the advice. The more she thought about it, the more logical it seemed. At the same time, she felt a strange curiosity—when did the Kryptonian girl, known for her arrogance and brute force, become so insightful?
Perhaps I should look at her differently from now on.
Linda's suggestion, though a little harsh, was a good way to solve the problem. The current Barbara wouldn't listen to reason. Maybe it was time to force her to calm down for a while.
The Duel
At midnight, at the North Suburb Farm in Washington.
Diana, with her longsword strapped to her hip, sat atop a small hill on the east side of the farm, quietly awaiting the stroke of twelve.
Soon after, a rustling sound came from the woods. Two bright lights—her eyes—flashed in the air. As the light source drew closer, Barbara, in her full Cheetah transformation, emerged from the bushes into the silvery moonlight.
Diana calmly observed her. Her mannerisms, eyes, and appearance had all changed. She looked nothing like the person she used to be.
Barbara spoke coldly,
"You're very bold, coming here alone."
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
Diana stood up, slowly drawing the Sword of Hephaestus. The silver-gray blade radiated a red glow—the sharp light that could cut through anything.
A crushing wave of murderous intent poured down, almost materializing, causing the temperature to drop significantly.
Barbara's heart clenched. For a brief moment, she felt an impulse to turn and run.
The current Diana was not the same person as before. Her journey to the Underworld was fraught with danger, but her gains were immense. Aside from changes to her soul, her body, bloodline, and super-abilities had all been enhanced.
During her duel with the Twin-Eyed Woman, Diana had awakened a deeper power within her bloodline. Although she hadn't learned to control it yet, her strength had ascended to a new level.
"Barbara, you often asked me what my life was like before. Now I'll tell you."
Hah!
A roar exploded in the air. The mountaintop instantly erupted. A void appeared in the pervasive dust.
So fast!
Barbara's pupils contracted. She quickly raised her claws.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing exploded in the air. An invisible shockwave caused the trees to bend.
"I have always been fighting. From childhood until now, the monsters that have died by my hand are countless—spirits, vengeful ghosts, magical beasts, dragons, angels, demons, and even the God of Death."
"You ask why I am so calm? Because I have seen too many corpses."
Diana leaned forward, slowly pressing Barbara toward the ground. Barbara's face twisted. She suddenly opened her mouth and roared. Diana took the opportunity to move back, then kicked her squarely in the abdomen.
Bang!
A figure plummeted downward, slamming heavily into a tree trunk.
Barbara spat out a mouthful of clotted blood, her face dark as she stared upward. Suddenly, a red light flashed, followed by a whooshing sound.
Her head was struck with tremendous force. The shockwave echoed within her skull, interrupting all her nerve signals and causing a momentary blank in her brain.
A series of crashes followed. Trees were snapped one after another. Looking down from above, a straight line of destruction, spanning nearly a kilometer, appeared in the woods.
A few seconds passed before Barbara regained consciousness from the wreckage. A sharp pain shot through her body, especially her head, which felt like it was splitting open.
"You are too weak. Among the enemies I've fought, you wouldn't even rank in the top hundred."
"And you thought you could fight me?"
The moonlight streamed through the canopy, leaving mottled spots of light. Diana, holding the Sword of Hephaestus, slowly walked forward. Her long hair flew in the night wind, her face was exquisite, her eyes were cold, and lethal intent enveloped her, like a fearless Valkyrie.
"Die!"
Barbara roared, pushing off the ground with her legs, rocketing forward like a cannonball. What met her was a shield.
Bang!
Her claws struck the shield, but the impact vanished like a stone sinking into the sea. All the force was absorbed and converted into a wall of white energy.
"Ricochet!"
A blinding flash hit her. A white beam of light shot out from the shield, striking Barbara in the chest, pushing her backward. She smashed through more than a dozen trees before finally stopping at the edge of the woods.
A sharp pain shot through her internal organs, affecting her breathing.
"Damn it! Damn it! Why? Why is this happening?"
Barbara screamed hoarsely, her eyes unconsciously turning blood-red.
Drip!
Drip!
Drip!
Drip!
Footsteps approached from the front, steady and powerful. Each step felt like a heavy beat on her chest.
Killing intent spread around her, steadily encroaching upon her body. Barbara struggled to stand up, her face pale as she stared ahead. As the footsteps drew closer, the figure that made her tremble became clear.
She wore a close-fitting suit of black and red armor, which showcased her perfect figure while exuding coldness. She held a shield in her left hand and a sword in her right. The Tiara of Power rested on her brow, her long hair fell behind her, and her calm face was like a still pool of water, devoid of any emotion.
"This is my other side."
"Barbara, what do you think?"
Barbara instinctively took a step back, then let out a furious roar. Before she could finish, the red light appeared again. She instinctively raised her arm.
Pfft!
The longsword pierced her body between her breasts, through her chest, and pinned her to the tree trunk.
Barbara trembled, lowering her head. Her expression twisted, finally settling into deep pain and unwillingness. She was defeated. She had no chance to fight back. The two were simply not on the same level.
"The one who gave you power is Urzkartaga, the Cheetah God of the African Sihn tribe. Her divine power is now within your body. The end is here, Barbara. Make your choice. Die with this power, or give up everything and return to your former self."
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