Two paths lay before Malrick. One was to gather the blood of the remaining Supermen. The other was to return and study his own genes in depth. Naturally, Malrick chose both.
"It's time to see the current state of the Multiverse," he murmured, activating his Super-Vision. His gaze pierced both the positive and antimatter universes, scanning their farthest reaches.
Surprisingly, only a single Earth remained in the positive matter universe. "The Crisis on Infinite Earths has reached its conclusion," he noted.
In the antimatter universe, Malrick saw superheroes and villains locked in battle with the Anti-Monitor. This was the final confrontation, a decisive last stand. They had reached the Anti-Monitor's stronghold directly from Earth and were engaged in a desperate struggle. Supreme Little Superman was among them. Even though his home had been destroyed, he joined the fight to save the Multiverse, standing as the team's strongest member. Yet even his immense power could not match the Anti-Monitor's might.
Green Lantern, Shazam, Superman—their attacks were nothing more than a tickle against an entity of a completely different scale. Every hero's heart was cloaked in fear, teeth clenched, ready to sacrifice themselves. But their combined strength, even over thousands of years, would barely faze the Anti-Monitor, who continued absorbing the energy of countless celestial bodies to restore himself.
Crack!
Suddenly, Supreme Little Superman, fighting fiercely, was caught by the Anti-Monitor. Only fifteen, he had yet to reach his full potential. The Anti-Monitor's grip was crushing, and a scream tore from his throat.
"Clark!" Harbinger shouted across the battlefield. "Hold on! Dr. Light will soon breach the Anti-Monitor's body and weaken him!"
Despite the encouragement, Supreme Little Superman had no energy to respond. Every muscle strained as he tried to force open the Anti-Monitor's palm. Veins bulged in his eyes from the exertion.
"I have even stronger power!" he thought desperately. His strength multiplier surged. In defiance of the Anti-Monitor's overwhelming grip, he broke through, causing the giant's palm to tremble. It seemed he might succeed.
Then a deafening roar shattered the battlefield, a sonic wave like two worlds colliding. Pain pierced every hero's mind. Superheroes screamed, clutching their heads, but an even louder, familiar cry rose above all—the Anti-Monitor's scream.
Everyone froze in shock. The mountain-like figure of the Anti-Monitor grimaced, teeth bared, as he toppled to the ground.
In his place hovered a figure in a black battle suit, cape fluttering, holding a punching stance. The crowd could hardly believe their eyes—this single punch had felled the Anti-Monitor.
"Master… Master!?" Supreme Little Superman's voice trembled.
The Anti-Monitor's grip loosened, and Supreme Little Superman escaped. Yet he remained confused, staring at the figure in midair—was it Malrick's spirit?
Malrick vanished, then reappeared, striking the Anti-Monitor with another punch. Boom! The sound reverberated across space, knocking weaker heroes unconscious. The Anti-Monitor roared in fury, attempting a counterattack, but each punch from Malrick left him dizzy and overpowered.
"Po-powerful…" Harbinger muttered, stunned, yet she quickly reminded Dr. Light, "Hurry, break open the Anti-Monitor's body! He's absorbed nearly all the energy of the positive matter universe. If he doesn't lose that power, we can't defeat him!"
Dr. Light shook his head, pointing toward the sky.
"Look… those… are those our universes?"
Harbinger gazed upward, shock freezing her expression. Countless black universe bubbles floated in the void. Through their barriers, she glimpsed Earth. These were universes the Anti-Monitor had devoured, pulled from the antimatter realm.
With each punch Malrick landed, a swallowed Earth reappeared. Realities that had been lost were restored. He was not reversing time, nor merely recreating worlds—he was modifying reality itself with his fists.
Old Superman, watching, was speechless. The former Silver Superman, now Bronze Superman after losing a third of his power, laughed heartily, recognizing Malrick's familiar figure.
Malrick's punching speed was steady, controlled. Each blow carried the momentum of a massive hammer, shaking the spirit itself. The Anti-Monitor tried to resist, but Malrick's iron fists dominated him completely. As every Earth was restored, the Anti-Monitor's strength plummeted. Finally, with a final, unwilling roar, he was pulverized.
Even as his body shattered, his essence condensed into a fireball aimed at Malrick. Another single punch dispersed it.
The Anti-Monitor, an infinite multiverse-level powerhouse, was defeated. Though his antimatter embodiment might revive in the future, all he had gained by triggering the Crisis on Infinite Earths was permanently lost.
As the ashes scattered, everyone stared at the figure in the black battle suit, cape fluttering, battle armor untouched by even a speck of dust. Shock left them speechless, unable to fully comprehend the power that had just saved the Multiverse.