[Atlantis, the Doomsday Watchtower]
The Doomsday Watchtower was a giant spire built from massive stones. Inside was a complex structure. For thousands of years, it had guarded one of the three Mother Boxes.
It was called the "Doomsday Watchtower" because once the Mother Box was taken, it would mean the arrival of doomsday.
It was an important warning sign, hence the name "Watchtower."
At this moment, there were only a few soldiers guarding the Mother Box inside the Doomsday Watchtower.
The current king of Atlantis, Orm, Aquaman's younger brother, was ambitious and busy preparing for war against the surface world.
He had no interest in the Mother Box.
Of course, that wasn't really his fault.
After all, the Mother Box had been dormant for thousands of years without any unusual activity.
After so much time, naturally no one would continue wasting large numbers of troops guarding a Mother Box that showed no signs of movement.
As a result, the number of guards at the Doomsday Watchtower had become very small in recent years.
This troubled Commander Mera and left her with little choice.
Mera was Orm's fiancee, a woman with red hair.
As a great noble of Atlantis, Mera was one of the few Atlanteans with amphibious abilities. She also possessed the power to control water.
She had been personally trained by Queen Atlanna and possessed outstanding abilities. Otherwise, she would not have been entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the Mother Box.
At this moment, Mera, inside the Doomsday Watchtower, felt uneasy.
Over the past few days, guards had been disappearing one after another, giving her a bad feeling.
Because of this, Mera had sent someone to the capital to request additional personnel and an investigation into the missing guards from King Orm.
But she had received no reply.
Just then, she got word that the guard sent to the capital had returned.
Wearing emerald-green armor, Mera immediately left the watchtower and stopped the guard.
She asked at once, "What did the king say?"
The guard shook his head.
"His Majesty believes there's no need."
Anger flashed across Mera's face, "He's been blinded by war. That short-sighted fool."
At that moment, something changed inside the Doomsday Watchtower.
The Mother Box, which had remained quiet and dormant for so long, suddenly began to vibrate. Cracks appeared in its container, and light shone through them.
Mera quickly returned to the watchtower.
Just then, a silver-white beam of light descended from above and landed beside the Mother Box.
Mera immediately made a hand signal, and the few remaining guards went on alert.
When the beam disappeared, one guard swam forward.
At that moment, lightning suddenly erupted below.
A huge figure charged upward.
Wielding a battle axe crackling with electricity, he split the soldier in two. Blood immediately dyed the surrounding water red.
Steppenwolf!
The enormous curved horns, the terrifying spiked armor, and the savage face, everything about him spoke of strength and terror.
The other soldiers immediately opened fire on Steppenwolf.
Although Steppenwolf was not skilled at swimming, he pushed off a stone pillar and charged forward.
The lightning axe seemed unaffected by water resistance. He swung it freely. Bursts of electricity exploded outward, killing and injuring the few Mother Box guards.
Once there were no enemies left, Steppenwolf rushed toward the Mother Box above.
Seeing this, Mera used her water-control ability and spread both arms wide.
The next moment, the water around Steppenwolf rapidly retreated in all directions, creating a waterless area.
Steppenwolf immediately fell downward, dropping beneath the watchtower and crashing heavily onto a stone beam.
Mera then slammed her hands together.
Rumble!
Seawater rushed in from all directions, wildly filling the empty space and forming a powerful downward current that swept Steppenwolf up.
Steppenwolf tumbled uncontrollably in the water.
Just as he was about to be carried away, he swung his lightning axe and embedded it into a stone pillar, anchoring himself in place.
Then he kicked off with both feet and shot toward Mera.
Mera quickly spread her hands apart, creating a water shield.
Steppenwolf smashed it apart by force.
He grabbed Mera by the neck and slammed her against a pillar.
Mera separated her hands.
The seawater retreated, creating another waterless area.
Steppenwolf let out a short laugh.
"Little insect, what are you trying to do?"
Mera pressed a hand toward Steppenwolf's face.
As she made a pulling motion, the moisture inside Steppenwolf's body was immediately drawn out by her.
In an instant, blood spilled from Steppenwolf's nose and mouth.
Using her water-control ability, Mera was actually extracting the blood from his body.
Mera intended to drain all the blood from Steppenwolf's body.
Steppenwolf immediately swung an arm and hurled Mera onto a stone beam below.
Her water-control ability was interrupted at once.
Steppenwolf roared and raised his battle axe high.
Wrapped in lightning, he charged at Mera.
The lightning axe, carrying a whistling sound and blazing thunder, chopped toward Mera.
Just as this Atlantean woman was about to die, someone suddenly caught Steppenwolf's axe.
Steppenwolf looked over.
It was a long-haired man.
The man had a powerful build and was covered in tattoos. He threw a punch and sent Steppenwolf flying.
The moment Mera saw him, she knew who he was.
Atlanna's first son.
A half-human, half-Atlantean.
Aquaman, Arthur.
After knocking Steppenwolf away with a punch, Aquaman rushed toward him.
Steppenwolf suddenly threw his lightning axe.
As the spinning axe flew toward him, Aquaman twisted his body to the side, letting it pass by him before embedding itself into the stone pillar holding the Mother Box.
Unarmed, Steppenwolf threw a punch as Aquaman closed in.
Aquaman rolled smoothly and moved behind Steppenwolf. Grabbing his horns for leverage, he swung himself up and drove a knee into Steppenwolf, sending him flying.
As soon as Steppenwolf regained his footing, Aquaman charged again, his fist driving straight toward Steppenwolf's face.
Steppenwolf raised a hand and caught Aquaman's punch.
Aquaman's expression changed.
Steppenwolf's strength was far greater than he had imagined.
Steppenwolf grabbed Aquaman's throat with his other hand and shoved hard.
Aquaman flew backward and became embedded in a stone pillar.
Steppenwolf then slammed into him brutally, driving Arthur deeper into the pillar and shattering it.
After that, he ignored Aquaman.
He retrieved his lightning axe and swam upward.
With his other hand, he picked up the Mother Box floating in the water.
BOOM!
A Boom Tube opened and enveloped Steppenwolf.
Just before leaving, with the Boom Tube pushing aside the seawater, Steppenwolf was able to speak.
"Atlanteans, do you know how I found you?"
"You should thank your former allies. Oh, now they're my allies."
"In fact, I suggest you learn from the Amazons. They have already submitted to the great darkness. They are already my allies."
"Now, I possess two Mother Boxes."
Amid loud laughter, Steppenwolf and the Mother Box disappeared into the Boom Tube.
The Doomsday Watchtower was in ruins. Fragments drifted everywhere in the seawater.
Only Mera and Arthur remained, staring at each other.