"Kid Flash," Kori began, her voice steady, "your mentor is the biggest threat. Are you sure you can hold him off?"
Wally grinned.
"It's been ages since I broke the sound barrier. I still can't beat him in a straight race—but if all I have to do is keep him away from Raven? I've got that."
"Good." Kori nodded, then turned. "Miss Martian—you're our psychic shield. Keep your uncle out of our minds."
"I'll try," M'gann said, though her voice lacked confidence.
Rachel stepped in calmly. "The spell I placed on everyone will help resist psychic intrusion. You should be able to manage."
M'gann gave a small nod.
"Match," Kori continued, "you're Raven's shield. Keep them away from her at all costs."
"Got it." Match nodded firmly.
Kori took a breath. "As for the rest of us… we'll handle the Justice League."
Artemis raised an eyebrow. "When you say *Justice League*, do you mean the core members—or everyone they added last month?"
"The entire Justice League," Joseph said, rising from the ground as he finished his preparations.
Zatanna exhaled. "And I'm officially no longer whelmed."
"Don't worry," Joseph added. "We'll outnumber them."
With that, he opened a massive Boom Tube.
Out stepped his LuthorBots.
Dozens of them.
Different models marched forward in organized formation—each group distinct in design and purpose.
Six Power Rangers.
Five Bronze Saints.
Three Makai Knights.
Six Bionicle heroes.
Thirteen Kamen Riders.
And… another group.
One Joseph knew had been a mistake to unleash on the world.
He had originally planned to assign a team of LuthorBots to each country, but manufacturing androids of this complexity took time.
Of course he would make more of each group and even introduce more groups but for now, this was everything he had.
It would be enough.
"Whoa," Roy muttered. "I'm almost starting to feel bad for the League."
"These units are both intelligent and powerful," Joseph explained. "They'll obey your commands. Try not to get them destroyed—I need them for a future expo. And let me know how they perform. This is their first real field test."
Robin narrowed his eyes slightly. "What, are you planning to replace the Justice League?"
"Not replace," Joseph replied evenly. "Assist. The League isn't always enough."
Kori stepped forward, refocusing the group.
"Raven—once we subdue a Leaguer, banish the demons from this plane. And like when we fought Red Volcano, teleport us out if we're in danger."
She placed a hand on Raven's shoulder.
"If you're in danger, don't hesitate. Teleport away immediately."
Raven nodded.
Kori turned. "And Etrigan—"
Etrigan responded in rhyme, assuring them that the Justice League Dark would help protect Raven.
Before anyone could respond, a new presence filled the space.
The Phantom Stranger appeared.
With a sweep of his cape, several figures materialized beside him—Red Tornado, John Constantine… and a massive green figure.
"Swamp Thing?" Joseph said, surprised. The reclusive guardian of plant life rarely involved himself in human affairs.
The creature's deep voice answered his unspoken question.
"Trigon threatens the Green. I must act."
"Tornado!" several Titans called out, rushing toward the android hero.
"It is good to see you are all safe," Red Tornado replied calmly.
Everything was ready.
Joseph turned to Raven.
"I'm ready to retrieve the crystal. Raven—whenever you're ready."
Raven raised her hands.
"Azarath… Metrion… Zinthos."
A dark portal spiraled open.
"It's in the tallest tower," she said. "You'll see it from a distance. It's hard to miss. The crystal can only be used by me. He may have escaped it, but he can't destroy it."
Kori stepped forward and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Be safe."
"You too," Joseph replied softly.
'Nova, are the contingencies active?'
//Yes. An android duplicate will continue executing your plans in the event your return is delayed.//
'Good. And don't let Jason or Cass know I'm gone.'
//Understood, sir.//
Without another word, Joseph stepped through the portal into Trigon's dimension.
**
"Has anyone ever told you your boyfriend is scary—in a good way?" Zatanna asked once the Boom Tube closed.
"Yeah," Robin added. "He's been active for less time than me, KF, and Aqualad—and he's probably saved as many lives as the entire League combined."
Kori smiled. "Come on, he's not that scary."
Wally snorted.
"He stopped the Thanagarian plan to turn Earth into a hyperspace bypass generator, got dropped into a war and came back solo, exposed the Light, dismantled the Leviathan organization, Intergang, and a bunch of other crime syndicates—none of which have resurfaced. Something even Batman hasn't managed. He handled the entire Child dimension alone, and somehow our side took less damage than the adult world. And now he's heading solo into a demon's dimension after giving us upgrades and an army."
Wally shook his head.
"He was a normal guy a year ago."
John Constantine chuckled darkly. "You don't know the half of it. The kid's terrifying."
"That only makes him a more valuable ally," Aqualad said calmly.
Starfire laughed lightly. "Alright, maybe he's a little scary. But as much as I'd enjoy hearing you all continue praising him, we have work to do."
Roy looked around at the androids. "I'm more curious about what these things can actually do. Tornado, looks like you've got competition."
Several Titans approached the androids, testing their responsiveness. Some units struck dramatic poses as if awaiting commands.
Artemis stopped in front of a peculiar trio—three small, floating androids shaped like young girls, arms crossed confidently.
"…Okay," she said slowly. "Who are you guys?"
The blonde in pink stepped forward, a red bow perched atop her head.
"Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles! We are three—united against crime and sworn to uphold the freedoms of every man, woman, and child of the United States! One cannot be victorious without the other two—and two cannot prevail without the third! Freedom calls—and only freedom can answer!"
Artemis blinked.
"…Right."
Before anyone could react further, a massive Boom Tube tore open in the distance.
The Justice League stepped through.
Green Lanterns. Martian Manhunter. Captain Marvel. Captain Atom. Black Canary. Green Arrow. Zatara. Icon. The Atom. Plastic Man. Wildcat. Vixen. Vigilante. S.T.R.I.P.E. Shining Knight. Mister Terrific. The Question. Elongated Man. Huntress. Booster Gold. B'wana Beast. Black Lightning.
At the front—
Batman.
Flanked by Wonder Woman and Flash.
Batman held a Father Box.
Every single one of them had red skin, four glowing yellow eyes—and unnatural smiles.
The reality hit all at once.
They weren't just facing enemies.
They were facing their mentors.
The Justice League.
The possessed Batman spoke first.
"The Atlantean has unearthed the infernal shrine, Raven."
Wally blinked. "The who did the what?"
"An ancient shrine built by Satanists in Kahndaq," Raven explained quickly. "It has powerful magical properties."
"You are the shrine's final piece," Flash added.
Robin stepped forward.
"She stays here."
Wonder Woman drew her sword, stepping ahead of the League.
"You dare challenge us?"
The air grew heavy. Tension crackled between both sides, ready to snap.
Then Starfire's voice rang out—
clear, strong, and unwavering.
"Titans… Go!"
**
| Underrealm of the Six Kingdoms of Trigon - ???
The fact that Trigon was an interdimensional demon—one who had conquered entire universes and carved out his own dominion in Hell—meant little to Joseph.
Despero had conquered multiple star systems, and Joseph had still defeated him in the end.
He had fought Hellspawn alongside John Constantine and come out on top.
And now… Joseph possessed the power to conquer worlds himself, if he truly wished.
The more he learned about the universe, the more he realized just how much of an anomaly Earth was. It housed an absurd concentration of powerful beings, gods, and mystical artifacts—while most planets didn't even have one.
Of course it was easy for beings like Trigon to conquer and destroy lesser worlds.
The only places that even came close to Earth's level were Apokolips and New Genesis—even though Earth lagged centuries behind in technology, prosperity, and evolutionary development.
Azarath had been a peaceful civilization. It had known little conflict.
Its destruction meant nothing in the grand scale.
Trigon, in Joseph's mind, was just a big fish in a small pond.
Still… Joseph wasn't arrogant enough to go in unprepared.
That's why he brought insurance.
As he stepped into Trigon's realm, Joseph paused.
The moment he crossed the threshold, an overwhelming sense of hopelessness crashed over him.
This was a place where hope didn't belong.
Even the thought of it felt painful.
The atmosphere was thick—suffocating. It pressed down on him as though Trigon's will itself had weight, distorting gravity and demanding submission.
The heat was worse.
It didn't just burn the body—it gnawed at the soul. It felt as though it was trying to strip away his identity, his memories, piece by piece.
Joseph's gaze swept across the landscape.
Structures rose in the distance—if they could even be called that.
They weren't built from stone.
They were made from the remains of civilizations Trigon had destroyed. Entire mountains were nothing more than towering heaps of calcified skeletons—billions of them, fused together into grotesque monuments.
Demons roamed everywhere.
Some crawled along the ground. Others drifted through the air or lurked within floating structures that defied gravity.
Then Joseph saw it.
A towering spire of black stone, floating above the rest—taller than anything else in the realm. Raven's crystal was probably in there.
There was no sun.
The only light came from the blood-red glow of endless pits carved into the land… and from the sky itself.
Four massive eyes burned through the clouds.
Watching.
Waiting.
Joseph felt it the moment they focused on him.
A presence.
Ancient. Vast. Hungry.
He exhaled slowly.
"…Maybe you're a bigger deal than I gave you credit for."