*Chapter 2: Shadows Converge*
Diana walked out of the Nebula Spire, the night air cool and electric against her skin. The conversation with Nezha lingered like a whispered threat. She needed to inform the Justice League—now.
She activated her comms bracelet, and a holographic projection of Superman flickered to life.
"Hey, Diana! What's up?"
"I need an emergency meeting. The League, and Bruce. Now. We have a situation."
The projection shifted to a serious tone. "I'll gather everyone. Watchtower in thirty minutes."
Diana nodded, her mind racing. _How much do I tell them?_ She arrived at the Watchtower, the League's floating headquarters, just as the others began to assemble in the strategy room. Superman, Flash, Aquaman, Cyborg, and Green Lantern stood around the table, with Bruce Wayne—Batman—already seated at the edge, his gaze piercing.
"Diana, what's the crisis?" Superman asked.
She took a breath. "It's Nezha. The forgotten brother of Zeus. He's been imprisoned for 30,000 years, and he's out. He wants to end humanity."
The room fell silent. Flash blinked. "Whoa. Like, _the_ Nezha? As in… gods-level power?"
"Yes," Diana said. "He believes the world needs to burn to restore balance. And he's… compelling."
Batman leaned forward, his voice low. "I already knew, Diana. I've been monitoring Eternity Industries. I warned you about getting close."
Diana met his gaze, a flicker of surprise. "You knew?"
"Not the full story, but I suspected something ancient. You need to be careful. This isn't a fight for feelings."
The League exchanged uneasy glances. Cyborg frowned. "How do we stop him? We're not exactly equipped for god-level threats."
"We don't do this alone," Diana said. "We need the gods. Olympus. They have to know something."
Batman's expression turned darker. "Diana, don't rely on their mercy. They've played games for millennia. We need a plan, not prayers."
"But Bruce," Diana countered, "if Nezha's as powerful as he says—"
"Exactly why we prepare militarily," Batman interrupted. "Not diplomatically. The gods will see weakness."
The room debated, voices rising, until Superman intervened. "We need a balance. Diana, reach out to Olympus. But we prepare for war. Flash, Cyborg—dig into Nezha's tech, anything he's used. Green Lantern, scope out potential battle zones. Aquaman, alert Atlantis, just in case."
As the team dispersed to their tasks, Batman lingered, his voice for Diana alone. "Be careful. You're not just fighting Nezha. You're fighting his pain."
Diana nodded, a resolve hardening within her. _There's a way to stop this. There has to be._
*Olympus, the Divine Throne Room*
High above the mortal realm, the gods of Olympus gathered in a crescent of marble thrones. Zeus, a storm brewing in his eyes, stood abruptly.
"Nezha is free. How is this possible?"
Hera, poised beside him, frowned. "The seals of the Prison Void were unbreakable. Who could—"
"It doesn't matter," Zeus cut her off. "He'll come for us first. For me."
Poseidon, lounging on his throne, raised an eyebrow. "You think he'll be foolish enough to attack Olympus? We've crushed greater foes."
"Nezha isn't just any foe," Athena said, her voice measured. "He was… is… a master of the Seven Realms. And he has nothing left to lose."
Aphrodite shivered, her gaze distant. "He loved Nefetheri. If he blames us… he won't stop until the heavens burn."
Zeus slammed his fist on the armrest. "We will not panic. Hera, summon the *Cyclopes*. Reinforce the divine shields. Athena, ready the celestial guard. We'll crush Nezha before he reaches the mortal realm."
But in the shadows of the throne room, a figure whispered to another—a hooded messenger leaned toward Hermes.
"Zeus is playing with fire. The prophecy says _love, blood, and a soul unchained_. It won't be the mortals he targets first."
Hermes straightened, his wings twitching. "I'll warn the others. But if Nezha's resolve matches his power… Olympus may fall."
The gods scattered, their whispers swallowed by the echoing halls as Zeus, alone for a moment, gazed out at the mortal world. A storm was brewing, and he knew he wasn't the one who would control it.
Diana, meanwhile, stood outside the Watchtower, gifting the night sky a determined breath. She dialed an ancient number, the air shimmering as a connection formed.
"Olympus," a melodic voice answered.
"Diana, Princess of Themyscira," she said. "I need to speak with Zeus. It's about Nezha."
A pause. Then, "The King of Gods will not see you, Diana. But Athena will meet you at the *Grove of Oracles* at midnight. Come alone."
The line went dead. Diana's eyes narrowed. _Midnight. The hour of shadows._
The Justice League was preparing for war. The gods were panicking. And Nezha… Nezha was just beginning.