J'onn J'onzz belonged to a near-invincible species, standing among the elite of that race—even gods envied them. The Martian Manhunter didn't care about New Gods or Old Gods. He was several hundred years old; in his eyes, there were only friends and enemies.
Since this was an enemy, no courtesy was needed. His right arm pulled back, and the high-molecular polymer chains inside his body restructured. A grotesquely disproportionate arm bristling with vicious teeth swept toward the Grand Warlock.
"You'll make a valuable experimental specimen," DeSaad muttered. Out of Darkseid's sight, he regained his swagger, his sinister expression returning to his face. His withered hands ignited with two masses of deep crimson flame.
"My Earth friends told me about you. You have pyrophobia, don't you? Heh heh, meeting me is your bad luck."
The Martian Manhunter's face twitched. For Earth's traitors to know his weaknesses, they had to be high-level insiders—no question. But your information is a bit outdated!
Unlike the hot-headed young Superman, J'onn had earned the term "cunning old fox." He feigned trembling all over, putting on a panicked expression.
Once DeSaad entered attack range, he suddenly exploded into action. Both hands transformed into vicious claws, striking directly at his opponent's chest. He intended to tear this guy apart.
Unfortunately, DeSaad had remained cautious. His magical shield stayed active at all times—a gossamer-thin, colorless barrier blocked the claws. Even though the Martian Manhunter used psychic power to breach the shield, he was a step too slow. His opponent had already blinked away, re-establishing distance.
"Over your fear already?" DeSaad's dead gray eyes studied the Martian Manhunter, as if trying to see straight through him.
"No, no—you haven't completely overcome pyrophobia. Your body still carries the pain." As the god of suffering, DeSaad saw through J'onn's facade despite his best efforts. He frantically mobilized his divine power, attempting to use that lingering trace of pyrophobia as a breakthrough point to shatter the Martian Manhunter's mental defenses and make him fear fire again.
"You're more than enough to deal with! You have fears too—let me see inside your mind!" The Martian Manhunter mobilized massive psychic power and began reading DeSaad's thoughts.
One possessed the divine authority of suffering, delighting in tormenting minds and playing with hearts—an evil god. The other was the strongest telepathic master in the entire universe. Their clash was a life-or-death struggle from the start.
Unlike Professor X back home, J'onn's mind control was powerful, but so was his body. Mental control didn't burden his physical form—it complemented it. According to Thea's wild theory, he was like Professor X and Thor combined! One word: strong. Two words: still strong!
"Damn it, what a strange universe. Not even a deity? A living alien this formidable!" After trying six or seven methods, DeSaad still couldn't breach the Martian Manhunter's mental defenses. Because he'd been too aggressive, his opponent had glimpsed many of his secrets.
"Sssss! Sssss!" Two beams—the Martian Manhunter also had heat vision. He forced DeSaad back, then used their psychic connection to notify Batman on the ground.
"I've seen part of the enemy's memories. The human traitor is Maxwell Lord. He has some mind control abilities and possibly subordinates. Be careful."
After speaking, he attacked the Grand Warlock again.
On the ground in the command center, Batman demanded loudly of Amanda Waller nearby, "Where is Maxwell Lord? I remember you two were close."
Amanda immediately proclaimed her innocence. On matters of principle, she refused to take the fall. "He's with Checkmate, not me. That's a United Nations subsidiary organization..."
"Stop making excuses. You were once a Checkmate member yourself. He's committed treason," Batman said darkly. Then, thinking about his available personnel, mind control was an annoying ability. Sending ordinary people wouldn't work.
He turned to the Indigo Lanterns. "I need you to capture that man."
Indigo power rings were domineering—they automatically immunized wearers against abilities that twisted values. Since Indigo Lanterns also excelled at teleportation, they were the perfect choice.
"Why send them? I'm telling you, we Green Lanterns are the strongest in the entire universe!" The one shouting this absurdly over-the-top declaration was naturally Hal Jordan.
Batman acted like he hadn't heard a thing and continued issuing orders. "Secure the Site 15 positron cannon on-site. Order Firestorm to follow ground forces in the eastern sector. Green Arrow, head to the western sector. Hercules, sir, the northern sector has the most intense fighting—that area is yours. Arthur, have your Atlantean forces circle around through the water and attack the enemy's southern flank. I have a feeling the enemy still has hidden cards. We need to annihilate them here quickly!"
He dispatched several superheroes to reinforce positions, then looked at the Flash. "Battlefield communications are yours. The enemy's tech level exceeds ours. Many orders will need you to relay them."
He turned to the colorful array of Lanterns. "You'll serve as mobile troops..." His words cut off when he saw a massive explosion near the command center.
Batman glanced at Flash, who whooshed away and returned two seconds later carrying a woman.
Sporting twin pigtails, wearing a red and blue jacket, long legs wrapped in fishnet stockings—after Flash brought her over, she initially seemed dazed, then saw Batman and her eyes lit up. "Stinky bat!"
"Harley Quinn." The two Gotham natives exchanged less-than-friendly greetings. Batman looked at Flash, waiting for explanation.
"That Maxwell Lord guy brought several subordinates and blew up Base 22. Then he controlled several oddly-dressed people. Those Indigo Lanterns are engaged in fierce combat, so I rescued this woman who was standing there in a daze. Uh... she is a good guy, right?" Seeing Batman's perpetual scowl, Flash asked tentatively.
"Heh heh." Harley Quinn laughed enticingly, the meaning crystal clear.
Batman had heard from Thea that Harley Quinn had extremely high resistance to mind control. An ordinary Earth human like Maxwell couldn't control her. But judging from Flash's words, the rest of the Suicide Squad had fallen completely under his influence.
"The rear can't fall into chaos. Lanterns, all of you advance. I'll send Academy mages to establish mental barriers for you." Batman dispatched another wave of combat forces in one sweep.
In his calculations, dealing with one mind-controlling agent plus some ordinary soldiers and a shorthanded Suicide Squad, the Lanterns should achieve overwhelming victory.
However, the situation changed faster than even he could anticipate.
Hal Jordan, who'd been holding in his frustration, immediately conjured bindings that captured Killer Croc. Meanwhile, Zatanna and Papa Midnite teamed up to apprehend El Diablo, Chato Santana.
Only the mind-controlled Deadshot and a large group of well-equipped soldiers continued firing.
Wearing a tactical vest, a pistol slung across his body, looking like any ordinary agent—this middle-aged man watched the battlefield without a trace of panic. This was DeSaad's Earth contact, the human traitor Maxwell Lord. His public identity was Checkmate's leader, codename: Black King.