Chapter 454: The Martian Manhunter
A Martian on Earth
The Martian Manhunter, whose real name is J'onn J'onzz, is a Martian.
Over a decade ago, while the scientist Dr. Erdel was experimenting with alien technology, he inadvertently teleported the fiercely grieving J'onn J'onzz to Earth following the death of his family. This accident saved him from the terrible plague that wiped out the rest of the Martian race.
Later, Dr. Erdel died of a sudden heart attack, and J'onn, unable to return to Mars, decided to stay. He took the alias John Jones and became the guardian of Dr. Erdel's daughter, working as a police officer in Colorado.
John Jones is no ordinary Martian; he is a product of genetic engineering. His body is no longer composed of flesh and blood but a unique organizational structure formed by some kind of high-molecular polymer chain.
This special body structure grants him numerous incredible abilities: shapeshifting, color changing, density alteration, clothing mimicry, and more. In addition, he possesses strength, stamina, speed, and regenerative abilities that rival a Kryptonian's.
Every Martian possesses telepathy; they communicate through the mind, rarely speak, and never lie.
In a sense, the Martians are a benevolent civilization, and John Jones is no exception. Since arriving on Earth, he has continuously worked as a "hunter" (a police officer). The low crime rate in Colorado is largely thanks to him.
However, he rarely reveals his true identity, always changing his form during operations. Hardly anyone knows of the Martian Manhunter's existence, including his adopted daughter, Lisa.
His Martian instincts lead him to enjoy analyzing the emotional shifts of criminals during investigations. The psychological activity of Earthlings is so complex that every operation feels like a new adventure.
John Jones liked this life—exploring others' inner worlds without influencing them—until he encountered Luke Shaw. The raging green fire brought an experience of death that penetrated his soul.
Luke Shaw was the first life form whose emotions he could not sense. Facing this young human who didn't look particularly imposing, J'onn felt a complex mix of intense emotions.
Therefore, when Luke proposed joining the war, he agreed without hesitation.
He wanted to interact with this human, and if possible, find a way to overcome his own weakness. (All Martians are highly vulnerable to fire.)
The Vulnerable Shield
The battle entered a white-hot phase immediately. Diana and Linda pinned down the Kryptonian soldiers below, while the Martian Manhunter flew up to examine the force field surrounding the shuttle.
After a few attempts to break through, he clenched his fists and punched the shield.
Clang!
The barrier rippled but immediately returned to normal.
"A powerful force field."
John Jones curled his fists and rapidly struck the shield. While attacking, he fired red particle beams from his eyes, constantly draining the shield's energy. Noticing the abnormal drain, the Kryptonian scientist quickly initiated defensive countermeasures.
Tentacles composed of liquid metal shot out from the top of the shuttle, reaching hundreds of meters long. They surged forward, blotting out the sky.
"Green skin, watch your back!"
John Jones turned, and his pupils contracted when he saw the flow of black liquid metal. He had no choice but to abandon his attack, weaving through the air to evade the tentacles.
The situation was becoming grim. Barry watched, anxious, but felt helpless.
He couldn't get involved in the fight below, nor could he penetrate the force field. All he could do was run around in the air, trying to distract the mechanical tentacles. Suddenly, Luke's voice echoed in his ear.
"Stick close to the force field. Feel its fluctuations."
"What?"
"Every defensive barrier has a unique frequency. Use the detector on your left arm to find its frequency, then use your super-speed to create a resonance effect."
"Can... can that work?"
Barry was skeptical. Resonance is a physical phenomenon, and the force field is pure energy. They shouldn't be related!
"Try it and see."
"What if I fail?"
"Then there's only one last method left."
"What method?"
"Trust me, Barry, you definitely don't want to see it."
The communication ended there. Barry muttered,
"Don't want to see it? Is he talking about a nuke?"
The thought of a nuclear explosion sent a shiver down his spine. This was Metropolis. If a mushroom cloud appeared, millions of people would die.
"No, I absolutely can't let him use a nuke. Barry, you can do this. It'll be fine!"
Barry kept encouraging himself. He dodged the mechanical tentacles in the air and stuck to the force field like a gecko. The detector on his left arm activated, beginning to scan the force field's wave frequency.
Escalation and Catastrophe
Meanwhile, six F-35 fighters and three transport planes appeared over Metropolis. The rear doors of the transport planes opened, and specialized soldiers in Tesla military armor leaped out. Spreading their limbs, they used their thrusters to glide rapidly toward the shuttle.
Leading this operation was Colonel Dregg, Captain of the Mech Corps.
"General! We've reached the destination. Awaiting instructions."
In the military base, Sam Lane, who was in charge of remote command, said sternly,
"Split into two groups. One group attacks the Kryptonian soldiers; the other finds a way to destroy the force field. You must destroy the shuttle within the time limit."
"Roger that."
Dregg contacted his troops. The armored soldiers gliding in the air automatically split into two teams. One flew toward the ground, and the other landed on nearby buildings.
Just then, a piercing roar erupted in the sky.
A pulse, invisible but powerful, radiated from the shuttle like a ring of light. Everything it passed over—buildings, cars, glass, and vegetation—first strangely floated upward, then rapidly plummeted back down.
In the blink of an eye, the gravity increased by at least three times.
The Mech Corps was completely unprepared for this. They slammed into the ground like lead weights. If not for the protection of their armor, they would have been flattened into pulp.
This time, the change wasn't intermittent; the pressure was continuously applied.
The Super-Gravity Field expanded outward. Building after building collapsed inward. Cars were compressed into iron pancakes, and civilians caught by the gravity wave were instantly crushed into pulp.
The streets were filled with screams and shrieks of terror. Crowds scattered and ran. Police officers trying to evacuate citizens held their heads, watching helplessly as the energy wave rushed toward them.
The next moment, the entire street turned red.
After seeing the news, Bruce Wayne, who was inspecting a factory, rushed to the scene without delay. When he arrived, he saw a scene of total apocalypse.
Hundred-meter-tall buildings were tilting down. Citizens, covered in dust, screamed and fled. After saving a little girl who was crying for her mother, Bruce quickly took out his phone to call Lamosi, the CEO of his Metropolis branch and a long-time friend.
Before the call could connect, an explosion suddenly occurred in front of him.
A red-caped figure burst through the floors of a building and slammed onto the street. Behind him, a figure in a black bodysuit emerged. The two fought fiercely in the street, each collision releasing an explosive shockwave.
"Superman?"
"Kryptonian?"
Bruce muttered to himself. Suddenly, a figure streaked past his head at incredible speed, disappearing between the buildings. Glass on both sides shattered in its wake.
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