Athena knew about the Speed Force—so what?
She couldn't defend against it anyway. Even though Athena was wary of Deathstroke's moves, she still got knocked out by a black-and-yellow lightning bolt.
Su Ming stashed the golden frying pan in his hand. Now Athena and Diana, the two sisters, had received the sa treatnt.
At the sa ti, since Athena was still wearing her helt, Su Ming conveniently yanked it off before smacking her with the pan.
He discovered she was a black-haired beauty with long, straight locks.
When the helt ca off, a cascade of thick, jet-black hair spilled out from it, revealing Athena's elegant and dignified beauty at the sa ti.
Bright eyes, dazzling teeth, a touch of red on her lips—sweat had matted so strands to her snowy forehead, making her look even more stunning.
Su Ming felt a twinge in his heart. The golden pan in his hand trembled slightly.
'My dream girl has to have glossy, jet-black long hair.'
His mind suddenly flashed to an ad from his past life—a handso guy stroking a woman's long hair, pulling out so shampoo with a serious look.
But the hair of that ad's heroine, compared to Athena's, lacked charm.
Not just in terms of resilience or sheen—Athena's outshone it hands-down, like the finest silk, brimming with mysterious texture.
Like a soft mattress, or clouds at night, her locks weren't just long and shiny—they had a fluffy quality and a faint fragrance.
So, to make sure that hair didn't cushion the blow and shorten her knockout ti, he hit her a bit harder.
A sound like muffled thunder echoed through the hall, and Athena's eyes rolled back as she slumped softly onto the monster's corpse.
That monster, aside from being a bit dirty and reeking a little, had fur that looked pretty soft. She'd probably faint comfortably.
"So weak. At her level, facing Hecate would be suicide. I'm doing her a favor."
Su Ming shrugged at the group, offering an innocent explanation dripping with kindness and sincerity.
Donna glanced at Athena—a big lump was forming under her hair. That had to hurt.
She looked at Deathstroke, who acted like this was routine, and couldn't help rolling her eyes.
Athena wasn't weak, okay? It's just that the Speed Force plus your super strength is way too overpowered!
And "Godslayer" wasn't a misnor—divine artifacts' defenses were useless against it!
For so reason, ever since joining Deathstroke's squad, Donna felt like a new personality had sprouted inside her—one that constantly snarked and staged little inner dramas.
Yet on the outside, she still looked heroic and cool, all icy glamour.
Little did she know, Diana felt the exact sa way. The sisters were in sync on this, too.
"Barry?"
Su Ming nudged the Flash with a reminder.
"But Antarctica... won't it be too cold?" Barry scratched his head, wrinkling the forehead of his costu. "I an, she's still wearing a skirt."
Su Ming hooked an arm around his neck, lowering his voice. "So full of pity and charm, huh? Tsk tsk. Does Patty know? About you and Iris?"
"Don't say it... Don't tell her. I'll take Athena to Antarctica right now. Wherever you say, that's where she goes."
Barry panicked a little. Patty didn't rember anything before the Flashpoint. Back then, Barry's wife had been Iris.
But after the world rebooted, Barry still chose his first love. He and Patty were in a sweet romance now.
Now Patty, Iris, and Barry all worked at STAR Labs in Central City. Just thinking about it gave Su Ming a headache.
They got along fine now because the past was buried.
If Deathstroke spilled sothing—and since he'd brought it up, he'd definitely have proof—Barry would be toast.
"Heh heh... I also know about you and Jessica, and you and—" Su Ming's tone carried a knowing edge, elbowing Barry playfully.
Barry instantly tapped into the Speed Force, clapping a hand over Su Ming's mouth—or at least where it'd be. The lower half of his face, exposed under the mask, scread 'please don't say it.'
But all he covered was the symbiote helt. Su Ming's lips were still plenty nimble.
"Hey, we're good brothers. I won't sell you out, relax. Your little secrets are safe with ." Su Ming didn't struggle, just patted Barry's shoulder. "But you've gotta be careful. Won's intuition can be sharp. I've got a cousin who dated a bunch of girls at once—his life's miserable now. Ever heard of a 'pelvic comminuted fracture' in dical terms?"
Barry hoisted Athena up, whisked her to Antarctica, and—to keep her from getting eaten by sea lions while unconscious—built her an ice hut.
Back in the underground palace, Barry wiped sweat from his brow—whether from exertion or fear, who knew? But hearing Su Ming's promise, he breathed easier.
At least Deathstroke kept his word. He had no reason to lie.
anwhile, in the underground command room of the Justice Hall in Washington, a disabled man in all black flashed a glint in his eyes.
Through voice command, he had the main computer pull up photos of Iris and Patty, placing Barry's picture between them, studying it closely.
The more he looked, the more harmonious it seed—like Barry fit perfectly with either one.
He seed to realize sothing and fell silent.
"How didn't I know you had a cousin?" Barry changed the subject. "Pelvic fracture—that'd leave him disabled, right?"
"Best you don't know. Just know he's a jerk and a massive headache."
Su Ming shrugged, bending down to drag the monster corpse. With Venom's help, the dozens of tons felt like a sack of potatoes—easy to lug around.
He'd been fretting over how to stage a show for Reverse-Flash, and here was the perfect prop.
A fresh, warm corpse—it completed the puzzle's final piece.
"Batman, you listening?"
Batman was typing "suspected relatives" into Deathstroke's alternate-world file when he heard the question. He replied without a flicker of emotion.
"I'm here."
But Barry froze, mouth agape. He'd forgotten Batman was always listening!
His little secrets in Batman's hands? The consequences were terrifying!
Su Ming knew Batman was eavesdropping, but he wouldn't spill Barry's secrets—unless Barry turned traitor. Then Batman would go full Dark Knight on him.
But the Flash betraying the Justice League? Anyone else, maybe—but not Barry.
Even if he tried sothing dumb, his future or past self would zip through the Speed Force to stop him.
So long as Barry's secrets didn't reach Hal or Aquaman—those two blabbermouths—he was fine.
Su Ming had already figured this out. He contacted Batman for business: "I need a realistic 3D hologram rig—big one. I bet you've got one in stock."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Batman's reply was ice-cold.
"Heh, the one you planned to use on Diana—make her fight a phantom 'til she drops."
Su Ming called out Batman's bluff, though he kept his voice low and away from the others. This topic was a bit sensitive.
Dark stuff like that was best left to psychos and rcenaries.
"...You shouldn't know that."
Batman's voice stayed flat, no trace of guilt.
Su Ming rolled his eyes. If the world hadn't rebooted, the whole multiverse would know your contingency plans, dude.
Batman having sches against the Justice League—was that news to anyone?
"But I still know. I need that gear for legit work now. Set the hologram to the ugliest colossus from the Source Wall—make its expression and audio as sleazy and mocking as possible."
"...I'll send you a paired computer. Barry can learn the program fast. But you and I—we should sit down and talk soti."
"No ti for chats. Go find your Selina. I'll send Barry to pick it up."
"You shouldn't—"
Su Ming had no interest in Batman's shoulds and shouldn'ts.
He tossed the phone to Bobo. The gorilla detective was now his simian secretary—bag-carrying and odd jobs were his domain.
And they still had to push deeper into the divine mountain to set up a grand stage.
This ti, they'd settle Hecate and Reverse-Flash once and for all.
Su Ming had a hunch—Lex Luthor would definitely try sothing against him. He had to prep fast.
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