Multiverse: Deathstroke

In the past, soldiers knew that when in doubt, use C4. For the Justice League, when in doubt, they used the Speed Force.

If Barry succeeded, the problem would be solved.

If not, then after the Flash sacrificed himself, things would still be stabilized.

Barry dragged Deathstroke into the Speed Force, golden arcs of electricity flowing between them as they entered bullet time.

"You seem to have gained weight."

Now that they had some time, Barry had the luxury to make small talk.

He had long noticed that ever since Deathstroke appeared from who knows where, his weight seemed to have changed significantly.

Gaining weight was inevitable. Although the symbiote could merge with Su Ming's body, Stranglehold itself still had mass. Add the Nth Metal Gauss rifle and its ammunition to that...

Barry was probably nearing his weight limit by now.

"Oh, did you see the big gun on my back? It's Vulcan's new gear. That's probably what you're feeling."

"Is that so..." Barry scratched his head, seemingly understanding, and dropped the topic. "I don't know exactly what's going on with you, but it doesn't look good."

It certainly wasn't good. Kushna losing to Hecate was only a matter of time. Once Diana dealt with Constantine and the others, she could easily help, and the battle would be over.

"The problem with Diana is this..." Su Ming briefly explained the Witching Hour and his own suspicions. "So once we control Diana, take her to the Justice League's stasis prison. Wait, actually, why not consider the Phantom Zone?"

"Uh, the Phantom Zone is easy to enter, but almost impossible to leave. It's better not to send Diana there." Barry nearly stumbled—who sends their teammates into the Phantom Zone?

"Just a suggestion. The Justice League prison, then. Make sure to keep a close watch on her."

Su Ming reiterated, as Diana escaping from Hell had disrupted his plan.

He had brought Donna along not to watch her do impressions but to set a trap for Hecate.

Then Diana emerged, tricked by Circe into running straight into Hecate's arms.

But it didn't matter. Since Hecate herself had appeared, Su Ming just needed to cooperate with Barry, and they should be able to handle it.

The Justice League prison used a cryogenic stasis method, typically reserved for dealing with extremely dangerous prisoners.

Some less dangerous ones were handed over to the Checkmate Agency, with Batman doing a good turn for the government.

After all, to gain greater benefits, the Justice League had to share some advantages—this was the path to coexistence.

Batman understood this well: no organization or individual could bear all responsibilities and reap all benefits.

Whether good or bad, one must always share with others—have others shoulder the same responsibilities, face the same dangers, and enjoy part of the benefits.

This was the foundation for stability between organizations.

When needed, Batman could double as a businessman and a politician. It's just that with this Justice League Dark matter, the sorcerers didn't play by his rules.

Spellcasters had little regard for the power of superheroes—they could solve their problems just by speaking and didn't need the Justice League.

But now things had changed; the sorcerers were like crippled beings.

Those superheroes they had once ignored were now looking almost out of reach.

Rewind time a little—Constantine and Zatanna were hiding behind a broken wall in a garden, while Swamp Thing had turned into a large bush to hide their tracks.

Diana, her entire body glowing with purple light, was searching for them in the distance.

"Looks like today's my last day," Constantine said as he peeked out from the bushes, then slumped back down in despair.

Controlled Diana had locked down the airspace, her elevated position giving her a clear view. Any movement they made would be immediately detected.

"Shut up, you piece of crap. How did I end up with you again?"

Zatanna whispered furiously, almost breaking down. After leaving the manor, she had encountered strange things—like her father's spirit lecturing her. Then she found Swamp Thing, only for that nuisance Constantine to show up again.

Before the trio had exchanged a few words, Constantine's dirty mouth drove Zatanna to lose her composure. She tried to cast a small spell to teach him a lesson.

However, things turned out differently. Her backward spell magic was most closely linked to the Reversers.

She inadvertently opened the door again, and the Reversers arrived.

Near the Tree of Wonder, the trio fought a battle against the Reversers. Even with Swamp Thing and Constantine, the dark magic itself wounded them deeply.

Swamp Thing was directly burnt into ash, and Constantine had all the demon blood drained from his body.

It was only through the cooperation of Zatanna and Constantine that they once again tricked the Reversers and shoved them back through the door.

Swamp Thing needed time to recover his natural energy, while Constantine's body was on the verge of collapse. Just then, Deadman appeared, seeking their help to participate in the goddess dispute in Shangri-La.

Constantine initially refused—he wasn't about to help just because Deadman said so. There was no benefit, only risk.

He knew very well what intervening in a godly battle would result in.

But Swamp Thing and Zatanna insisted on helping. Even if Constantine was reluctant, he was dragged along.

And now they were here, being chased by a crazed Diana.

The witch's mark had given Diana immense power, combined with her equipment, turning her into a super-soldier any spellcaster would dread.

Constantine pulled up a sleeve, showing Zatanna. "I made plenty of preparations. My trench coat is covered with magic runes even you wouldn't think of, but now they're useless. Hecate is altering the world, distorting our magic at its core."

Zatanna glared at him. "You're Hellblazer—stop talking like that. Diana will leave soon."

"Cough, cough." Constantine coughed up blood, wiping his mouth. "Maybe some of my spells still work, but my body can't hold up. Last time, as I was on the verge of death, Satan injected demon blood into my heart, keeping me at death's edge. But now..."

He leaned against a broken pillar, wiping his hands clean on it.

The Reversers had extracted the demon blood that sustained Constantine's life, which meant his advanced-stage lung cancer would soon kill him.

Seeing him cough up blood, Zatanna panicked. She held his shoulders, looking at the bloodstain on the ground.

"No, you can't die. There has to be a way."

Constantine gave a bitter smile, placing a cigarette from his pack in his mouth. "I've tried. Whether it's God, Satan, or those angels and demons that used to come to me—none of them respond now. When the world needs heroes the most, I will die in the grass."

"Smack!" Zatanna gave him a hard slap, her favorite move, followed by a stream of curses that left Constantine dazed.

He never knew Zee could swear like that. He felt exhilarated—alive again, in a way.