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***
He immediately began to be noticed by the para-demons, including the older one, and then he was also seen by Vanessa, who cast a worried glance at him.
«Will! - Vanessa shouted.
The Para-demon leader standing beside her irritably pointed a long, clawed finger at the intruder.
«As expected, we were spotted early. But it doesn't matter anymore, kill him for the glory of our Lord! - he shrieked.
And in an instant, the pile of para-demons loomed over Will like a fanged dome, ready to tear everything to shreds. But the gaze he raised at them was unwavering and full of confidence.
Will exhaled noisily, and disappeared in a bright flash, knocking down the line of enemies with a sprawling leg kick.
Two of the para-demons went sideways right as they flew, and then they snapped out of position, slamming into the burning vat, which immediately began to fall, pouring hot lava onto the crowds of demons.
The air was filled with scalding steam.
Will appeared beside the demon in charge, and pushed him off the platform with a powerful razengan kick. It was much easier, because he was using the maximum available speed and the strongest technique he had at the moment.
«Hurry up, we don't have much time! - Vanessa shouted.
«I know," Will ripped off the shackles holding Wayne down and she fell into his arms.
«I thought you weren't coming," she said worriedly, finding herself in his arms.
Vanessa had black eyes, a busted lip, and was severely malnourished. It was possible that she had fractures and hidden wounds, because she was barely leaning on Will and flinched with every movement.
"Para-demons got it pretty bad."
Will pressed his lips together, just beginning to sympathize with her, as Vanessa pushed him away from her with a proud, pained grin, and leaned on the upright table.
«Just don't get too excited, we're on a mission after all," she said.
«I'm glad you didn't lose heart," Will replied.
Show weakness? No, Vanessa and her pride didn't allow her to show weakness even in the crappiest moments. It's a Batman kind of attitude.
«We're in a shitload of trouble, aren't we? - Will asked, staring into the thickening ranks of enemies. The fanged creatures were slowly thickening.
«Pretty damn bad, and if we don't hurry up, then...
Will nodded.
«...if we don't close the portals in time, the invasion will begin.
«We don't have much time left before their Overlord arrives, but if we block all the paths, we might be able to stop them from coming to our world for good. But it won't be easy, I'm not even sure we can do that... there are too many of them.
«I know," Will said.
«You know...? You're surprisingly calm," Vanessa looked into his eyes, and what she saw made her snicker unkindly. - Look, I know things have happened between us, but that's only because I've always been driven by personal gain. You do realize that if I hadn't left you behind on the World of War, I would have been in your shoes. I don't have superpowers like you, so I would have just set myself up and could have easily died. It was a simple choice, my life or yours.
«I know, and I'd leave you if I wanted to, but it's inhuman. I'm a man," Will sighed, "though don't think I'll forgive you so easily. No one forced you to drag me to the World of War.
Vanessa grinned.
«You don't have to forgive me, I didn't ask you to. All I care about now is those bastards and whether you're going to run away with your balls down your throat," she said with an obvious sneer, but her lips tightened in fear, and she continued with trembling lips. - she said with obvious mockery, but her lips tightened in fear, and she continued to speak with trembling lips. - I just need you to hold them off... and I'll figure something out," she finished uncertainly.
«You know..." Will said distractedly, "Like I thought, you're pragmatic to the core, and you try to play it cool, but you're just a stupid girl who was lucky enough to be born smart.
«What are you talking about? - Vanessa arched an eyebrow in confusion.
«I think we'll be even if I do what I want to do myself this time too," he said.
Will took Vanessa's hand and pulled her against him before she could do anything.
«What are you doing?!
«Warn the League that Apocalypse is here, and don't forget to mention how cool I was at the end," Will grinned cheerfully.
The overturned vats of molten iron killed a small fraction of the para-demons, but many of them were still in the underground base preparing to attack Gotham City. They finally spotted the intruders and joined their brethren, albeit not immediately, but still fast enough to block their escape routes.
The Para-demons flew toward them slowly, taking their time, knowing full well that their victims were trapped in a death trap.
«What are you even talking about, come...?
A moment, and Vanessa found herself in someone else's apartment. The setting sun was shining on her through the open balcony. It was so quiet and peaceful.
«...Will?
***
When Will turned back around, he tilted his head mockingly.
«Her face was so pale, heh. Smile, dummy, it's not that bad. I'm gonna be working for two people now, by the way, as usual. With the exception of Flash, I should be faster than all the..." he said to himself and ran his palm over the table Vanessa was tied to. The hot, smooth metal burned his skin and numbed his dulled senses, an adrenaline rush and a reminder of the inevitability of the battle ahead. - In the end, you'll only slow me down here.
«You'll regret sneaking in here, mortal," growled their hideous leader.
A crowd of para-demons had already surrounded him.
«I know," he mumbled.
Will bounced backward from the claws slicing the air. His speed was such that he flashed between the cluster of huge bodies and flew toward one of the three portals. Will created a razengan as he flew, and prepared for a collision.
Just as he landed on the floor, a network of bulky silhouettes built up in front of him with an impenetrable barricade of sharp claws and fangs.
«What good is it if you can't catch me?
A flash, and Will was behind them as they came to their senses. The portal that opened before him vibrated a rectangular red cloth of space distortion, and two creatures were already emerging from it, their ugly faces showing. Will looked up at the large red sphere and thought for a moment.
«I'm no master, but this orb appears to be the core of the mother lizard. I'll hit it once and see what happens...
Just as the para-demon's mouth peeked out of the portal, just inches from Will's face, he shoved the fanged maw back in with a palm strike. At the same moment he was jumped on from behind, but with a deft move Will managed to reach the core with the Razengan before he was attacked. The collision of the Razengan and the energy carrier produced a monstrous burst of energy that was a blinding explosion that threw Will and the para-demons behind him back a good dozen meters and nearly shattered his bones. Will was slammed right into the parademons flying at him, and Will fell to the hot floor with them like dominoes.
When Will came to his senses, he found a pile of useless metal where the portal had been, and he whistled merrily. The first portal had been successfully destroyed.
«I'm on a roll today.
Except that it hurt like hell in the areas of skin that had been hit. His arms and face were burned, leaving bare, reddened skin. The couple demons chasing him had died in one fell swoop. Will grinned lowly, rising from his collapsed foes and charging himself with more chakra. His body was shaking from overexertion, he felt stuffy, and he felt like he was going to collapse from the pain, but if he stopped the flow of chakra, he could pass out.
One portal had already been destroyed. One of three that should never have been left intact. And each one of them, when destroyed, would generate a similar explosion. Will didn't know if he could survive two more, but there were no other options.
Meanwhile, new hordes of para-demons were flying out of the multiple corridors that were hidden behind the Apocalypse's large, red, disease-ridden computer. The first fangs and claws slid right across his skin in a moment of acceleration, and Will barely had time to dodge. Suddenly they began to keep up with him in a way.
"Huh... so now one speed is missing? I don't even know which one of us is at fault. Am I slower, or are they faster?" his eyes blurred more, and Will grinned wryly, throwing the creature away with a measured razengan. At least he was able to do it with ease. The fact that the technique had been invented by someone whose power he possessed... Namikaze Minato, undoubtedly one of the greatest geniuses in the shinobi world.
Dodging the new parade-demons was getting harder, and Will was already exhausted. The Fourth Hokage's incredible reflexes and his own techniques, capable of stopping entire squads of enemies single-handedly, allowed him to do so. It was a truly remarkable power that only a few could match. Will had never had so much control over the Fourth's power in his life, and it was clearly taking a toll not only on his body, but on his mind as well.
And then, when he had already put down the fortieth - or how many was it in the count? - Will straightened heavily, stopping in front of the second portal. There was a darkness of enemies behind him, but the Sense Sphere told him there would be more of them soon.
He was wrong about something, the para-demons were far from a hundred, or even three. There were a great many of them already. And if he didn't stop them, thousands would break out into Gotham City to kill them all.
Another razengan strike was ready, whirling around in his hand with immense power that made his hand tremble. It was as if the very engine of a wind machine was accelerating in his hand, shaking, whistling, twitching, ready to snap from his fingers in an unstoppable wave. Will aimed it straight at the mother box, but the creature flew out in front of him and blocked the blow with some kind of red beam that quickly absorbed the full force of the razengan.
It was the main thing. The main para-demon that was holding Vanessa Wayne hostage.
After blocking Will's failed punch, the Para-Demon-in-Chief threw him back with a powerful kick into the crowd of enemies, literally grinding Will's ribs into his own soft flesh.
«Ahem...
«You think I'm going to let you ruin my Master's plans, you miserable worm? - The skinny para-demon growled.
"Strong, creature... I don't know if I can do it... No, I have to," he thought, teleporting to the marker with his last strength before he was hit by a dozen open mouth para-demons rushing towards him.
Will had no intention of getting out alive, but intended to destroy each of the remaining portals to keep his loved ones safe.
Bowed, tired, he pounded his fist on the iron floor and roared furiously.
At this moment, an army of para-demons swooped down on him, leaving no chance to escape the trap he had prepared.
«Will!!!
And the crowd gathered above him suddenly shuddered and flew off in a fat lump straight into the boiling vat. The rest of the advancing para-demons, like flies hitting glass, began to crash into the invisible wall, their heads falling off and bursting into flames like fireworks from dark magic.
"That handwriting..."
Raven appeared in front of him with her arms wide open, and an orangutan-shaped Beast Boy stood beside her. When he noticed Will's pale form, he took the human form and grabbed him by the shoulders, helping him up.
«Hey, buddy, you're okay! We thought you were dead!
«How did you... here?
«Vanessa, it was all her. Got the whole league on edge in a matter of minutes," Raven said cursorily, the considerable tension in her voice. - Soon all the members of the Justice League will be here, we need to leave soon. Can you do it with your power?
«That... I think I can," Will said, grinning, "but what about the portals? They've already realized that we know they exist. Which means they won't wait any longer. Until the end of this day. - Will said firmly, "By the end of this day, they will be unstoppable. They must be destroyed, at any cost. There's at least a few thousand of them here already. Imagine what will happen in a couple hours?
«Stop playing the hero, you idiot. You can't take down the portals alone, so let's go! I can't hold my defenses much longer, Will!
Para-demons clustered around the magical dome Raven had created, beating against it incessantly like a hornet's darkness. Above them all towered the Chief Para-demon, who was humbling Willard Light with an angry look of pure hatred. Will grinned at him.
«It's time to get out of here, Will! - Raven shouted irritably, barely containing her magic.
«I'm sorry," Will said guiltily, but his words were immediately interrupted by a rumbling sound.
The iron ceiling sagged and then collapsed. Povergirl flew into the underground laboratory at full speed and stopped in front of the Demon Chief.
«That girl! What's she doing here? - Beast Boy asked.
«She's our ally," Will said excitedly, realizing that she was outside the portal and he couldn't teleport her now. - Karen! Get out of here! Now!
But Karen didn't listen to him, he stared uninterruptedly straight at the Chief-Para-Demon, and then said.
«What is this all about?!
«Hey, she's addressing a para-demon, isn't she? - Beast Boy asked confused.
«Yes," Raven replied coldly.
And the elongated, distorted green glow of the para-demon leader curved ugly dark purple lips in a ghastly smile.
«Oh... Karen, I'm so sorry you witnessed a little sabotage in our company," said the Chief Para-demon... Peter, who immediately took on the appearance of a regular guy with glasses, red hair and poison-green eyes, who recognized the startled Karen.
Peter lowered himself to the ground, and slipped his hands into his white robe.
«Why are you so surprised, Karen? I mean, we've worked together for so long.
«You've been... that thing all this time? - she said in disgust, "all this time you've been deceiving me?
Peter shook his head and sighed.
«It's a shame we have to come to this point. Kryptonians are always so fickle, as long as I don't remember you from the days of ripping your hearts out on Krypton. Oh, those were the good times," Peter laughed nastily, raising his reddening eyes to her and pulling the remote control out of his pocket. - Okay, it's time to stop this pathetic spectacle. Soon you will all belong to the Great Darkseid, whether you are alive or dead. And you, Karen, will be a major plaything in his hands, just like your brother Kal El!
Pressing the remote, Peter summoned an invisible pulse that at first glance did nothing, but Karen suddenly slumped and lowered her head, hanging in the air like a helpless puppet. Her body began to be covered in black metal with red stripes until the mysterious metal completely covered her skin, leaving only her neck and face exposed.
«What happened to her? - asked a surprised Beast Boy.
«I wish I could say I don't know," Will said sadly.
«Now kill them, Karen. Kill them as I killed your family and friends on Krypton, in the name of the Great Darkseid! - Peter shouted, pointing his hand at Will and the others.
The hitherto standing idle crowd of para-demons broke loose and hit Raven's barrier with renewed vigor. Karen joined them, slowly raising her head with red eyes.
«For the glory of Darkseid! - she shouted.
If hundreds of para-demons couldn't break through Raven's barrier, Pavergirl's full-throttle punch broke through it instantly. As she slammed into Raven, Karen immediately grabbed the poor girl by her cloak and tossed her into the crowd of drooling para-demons.
«She's unconscious! We have to save her," shouted Beast Boy, turning into a bird, but he was immediately intercepted by Pavergirl, her hand squeezing his shoulder and making it crunch.
-Aah!
When the Beast Boy collapsed in her hands, Karen dropped him to the floor, and turned to Will with an icy expression on her face.
Judging by the barely heaving chest, Beast Boy was on the verge of life and death, but he was still breathing. Apparently some part of his unusual body was prone to high survivability, at least that's what Will desperately hoped.
«And so..." - with a disgusted smile, Karen opened her palm as if inviting Will to a deadly dance, "now you're next, Willard Light.
«Karen, he's controlling you...
Will's words were cut short by the para-demons joining the conversation. They swarmed around him, forming a vicious circle from which there was no escape. And each of the creatures grinned, anticipating Will's blood. But none of them touched him, as if waiting for something.
«He's... controlling me? - Karen's lips curved in a mocking tone. She snorted heartlessly and tilted her head to the side, drilling Will with a murderous glare, "I have earned the great right to become one of the servants of the Great Darkseid, Beggar. Only a few can be granted such an honor, but you, of course, are destined only to die. However... I am grateful for your help, thanks to you the others lost their vigilance and now I am here, and now I should have listened to my friends," she said, putting her palm to her large chest, "you are such a good boy. Maybe you want me to reward you well before you die? - Pavergirl asked in a flattering voice, accompanying her heresy with the caustic laughter of the gathered para-demons. Will clenched his fist as he listened to her call, cursing himself for all his failures, including not being able to keep anyone safe, not Beast Boy, not Raven, not poor Karen, who had fallen into Darkseid's clutches. And he hadn't even noticed, hadn't paid attention to the fact that she had a mother box system implanted inside her body that controlled other people's minds.
«Don't think I'm sorry. If I had to choose between killing and saving a man, I would always choose the latter. Only cowards and spineless weaklings take the easy way out," Will said firmly.
«Ah that's how it is...let's see how you sing now.....
Karen snapped out of her seat, grabbed Will by the throat, and lifted him off the ground. She gave him a mocking look.
«I'll tell you this, Willard Light, nothing and no one can help you or the people of Earth anymore. This world is doomed to be an offering to the Great Darkseid. Don't blame yourself... you're too weak to make a difference," Karen said with a laugh, her lips curving into a caustic grin.
«Finish him, Kara Zor-El, and we'll start the invasion early. Darkseid will not tolerate delay," Peter commanded.
«Whatever you say...
«I won't give up that easily, Karen," Will hissed, grabbing her arm and kneeing her in the stomach.
The blow, however, hit the target, because it was difficult to compare with Wil's speed Karen, but here's the power...
Karen dropped a chuckle.
«And what kind of punch is that, Willard Light? That's how you punch..." and with a closed palm, Karen slapped Willard between the ribs.
Crackle.
Karen's fist effortlessly punched through Willard's block, and he snapped off her hand, slamming into the iron wall, leaving a deep dent behind him.
Karen hummed.
«I'm sorry that's the best you can do, Willard Light. It's so frustrating, you know... I'm going to have a good time with your wife when we start the invasion. And you know I'm gonna make sure the para-demons tear her apart right in front of me," Karen said indifferently, turning to leave.
Willard was hanging straight up against the wall, and he couldn't feel his limbs very well. All he cared about now were the last words Karen had spoken.
Her voice was soulless, confident, and there was no doubt she would get to Kara. His heart, the only thing he felt now, was a strong, painful heartbeat and anger.
"Am I really going to let this happen?" - he thought.
"But are you willing to allow it?" - with a resounding echo, echoed a voice in his mind.
Willard was drowning, drowning in the abyss of his own self, trying to find the source of the voice. His body hung in the endless void, falling... And then, right in the void, above him, there were two yellow flashes, so like eyes. And Willard Light flinched.
"Of course not, damn you."
"We'll have to kill. A lot. Are you sure you're ready to get your hands dirty with blood? Between killing and saving, you'll always choose the latter."
"...Only when there's a choice," Will replied.
Minato was silent.
"Now I understand what it was like for you. It must not be nice to have war tearing into your home."
Minato was silent.
"Look, the request is weird, but... can you do it for me? Stop them."
"It's going to be difficult even for me."
Will grinned.
"You know, of all the shinobi I know, you've always been known for finding a way out of even the most difficult situations. Like back then... Tell me, is it true that during the Shinobi War, you stopped an entire platoon of shinobi by yourself...?"
You've always been modest.
***
A sharp rush of wind hit her back, and Karen froze warily at the entrance to the underground laboratory.
«Kara? - Peter asked quietly, casting a bored look at her.
«No, nothing. For a moment, I thought I felt Superman's presence.
Peter looked thoughtfully to the side.
«His location here is impossible right now. Focus on the task at hand.
«I know," she replied uncertainly.
«I sure hope so. The Justice League will be here soon. Take care of our guests before the Overlord arrives on Earth, or you will regret your negligence.
«Do I need to be wary of any of the leaders?
«I don't know about Superman, but Barry Allen is out of action right now.
«Considering the fact that the League found out about us ahead of time....
Peter nodded.
«Not without Batman. That's why you should be prepared for the unexpected. Darkseid warned me that Batman would never let an enemy go too far without preparing a "surprise" for him.
«No matter how smart he is, Batman is only human. No mortal can change the fate of this world from the other side of the universe. Better yet, tell me what to do with them? - Karen cast an indifferent glance at Raven and Beastboy.
«I think so too, but... Never mind, these kids are no longer capable of fighting. If they survive, we'll make them into fighting units.
«All right, well, I'll go--
«Hey, guys, can I ask you something? - A voice came from behind them.
Karen and Peter turned around to the dent where Willard Light had been, but he wasn't there. Willard Light was lower, walking slowly toward them, kneading his wrists.
«What's he doing? - Karen asked Peter.
«I don't know... but there's something different about him," Peter said thoughtfully.
«It doesn't matter. Give me two seconds, I'll deal with him.
But Peter blocked Kara's path with his hand. She glanced at him irritably.
«What's wrong?!
«Wait, something strange is going on. I don't know what happened to this Earthman, but he's not the same person we knew. He's emitting completely different biotic waves.
Karen snorted grimly, jerking Peter's arm away with a jerk.
«What's that supposed to mean?
«Normally... nothing," Peter said smartly, stretching slightly, and excitedly, "but you see....
The walls and floors began to shake, and a powerful wave of force hit Karen and Peter, causing Karen to barely stay on her feet and Peter to turn into a steam-demon and take off.
«Hey, what's going on?! - Karen yelled.
«Normally, the change in biotic waves wouldn't be that important, but," The Chief Para-Demon frowned, "but this guy's degree of force fluctuation has become about forty times more powerful.
«Some bullshit," Karen said, getting into a fighting stance, "I'll deal with him, you go do what you're supposed to do.
Stretching his neck, Willard stopped, and a dense stream of air hit Karen and Peter.
«I'm sorry to disturb your conversations, but I will not allow you to leave these walls.
Willard immediately cast a cold glance in the direction of the portals.
«Stop him! He wants to destroy the portals! - Peter growled.
«I won't let you! - Karen shouted, rushing forward.
Just a step and Karen saw Willard's silhouette, and then space ripped open, hitting her ears with the sound of a vacuum collapsing, and a yellow flash zigzagged between the crowds of para-demons throughout the remaining portals, generating a series of explosions. Finishing the second step, Karen froze in place.
And then a moment more, and Willard Light was in front of Karen and Peter, exhaling hot steam from his lungs. There was no doubt that such a technique was exhausting.
«What... just happened? - Karen said.
«Hmm... he destroyed the portals," Peter snickered coldly, "no one warned us that there was another Special Threat on Earth besides Batman and Superman.
Karen waved her hand furiously.
«I won't let him ruin our plans. I'll take him on, and you take care of rebuilding the portals before the League can form a core force.
Peter threw Karen a grim look.
«No, I'm afraid it's too late for that. We need to get rid of Willard Light by any means necessary, or he'll be a serious threat in the future. You have 1,500 para-demons at your disposal. That's more than even Superman can handle. Kill him, kill Willard Light while I lead the Invasion.
And the para-demons immediately began to cluster around Willard Light. Karen lowered her head grimly and whispered:
«Okay...I'll obey your order," Karen said tensely.
«Don't worry, we'll still have a chance to get even. As long as Superman is in our hands and Batman is off Earth, humanity has no chance of winning. Remember that and follow the plan," Peter said as he headed down the hallway.
***
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