"Why hasn't the Legends Squad returned yet? You'd think they were actually playing time cops with how slow they are," Su Sheng muttered, glancing at Hippolyta. "You've been holding back for a while. Just say what's on your mind."
Hippolyta considered his words before asking, "Did you really come from the future? What happens to Paradise Island in the future?"
Su Sheng shrugged, sounding disinterested. "I figured you'd ask that. When Diana leaves Paradise Island and kills Ares to become Wonder Woman, Paradise Island will become a symbol. Beyond that, I'm not sure, but Steppenwolf will make a comeback. He'll come to Paradise Island to reclaim what you've kept."
Steppenwolf!
Hippolyta's face paled as she recalled the ancient war. Back then, humans, gods, Atlanteans, and even beings from outer space had united to drive Steppenwolf away. If he were to return, how could Paradise Island possibly resist?
"This is the difference between the New Gods and the Old Gods," Su Sheng continued. "Even one Steppenwolf is already a challenge for you. Steppenwolf is from Apokolips and serves Darkseid, the God of Apokolips. Sure, Darkseid is technically his nephew, but when your brother-in-law Yuga Khan gets stuck on the Wall of Origin, you end up taking orders from his kid. That's why Zeus died, why the gods died—because they couldn't win. If you don't want to die, you have to keep your head down and hide."
Su Sheng suddenly chuckled, as if an amusing thought had struck him. "I wonder, did Zeus know that the New Gods would replace the Old Gods? Maybe he was trying to compensate by having more kids—just in case one group couldn't fight, the next could? Who knows, maybe one of them would survive, like Wonder Woman."
"What is the Wall of Origin?" Hippolyta asked. This was the second time Su Sheng had mentioned it.
A Steppenwolf who could only be repelled by the combined forces of gods, Earth, and even extraterrestrial allies—what about someone stronger, like Darkseid? What about Darkseid's father, Yuga Khan? The future suddenly seemed bleak to Hippolyta.
"The source of everything."
If Su Sheng remembered correctly, the Wall of Origin was the boundary of the known universe, and beyond it lay the Source—the origin of all answers, all existence, and the force that created gods and superhumans. The primal essence of beings like the Seven Lantern Corps' entities also came from beyond the Wall of Origin. The Wall had a peculiar property: anything in the universe that touched it would be stuck to it, trapped there like a vegetative being. Yuga Khan, Darkseid's feared father, had been trapped there, as had Superman in some stories. The only one who ever escaped was Yuga Khan himself, though he later got stuck again after trying to break free once more.
Being stuck on the Wall of Origin had its perks—at least you weren't affected by the universe's reboots.
After all, when speedsters like The Flash messed things up, they'd just reset the timeline.
Who knew running fast could cause so much trouble?
Speaking of running fast, the Legends Squad was really taking their time!
"The source of everything? Then..." Hippolyta began, but Su Sheng cut her off impatiently. "Alright, enough with the questions. Even if I had 100,000 answers, bedtime reading is more appropriate for your daughter."
Hippolyta froze, taken aback. Who reads before bed anymore?
Irritated by the Legends Squad's slow progress, Su Sheng turned and headed back.
As soon as they returned, they were greeted by the sound of lively applause and the sight of Artemis sparring with Diana. Despite their differing fighting styles, one was a demigoddess newly awakened to her divine power, while the other was a newly-minted Goddess of Strife, having just obtained the Source.
"Mother."
"Master."
The noise died down as soon as they saw Su Sheng and Hippolyta.
"How's it going?" Su Sheng asked Artemis casually.
Artemis, still brimming with excitement, replied, "It's incredible! It feels like I have an infinite well of power, and I'm not even fully in control yet. I can get even stronger."
"Master, can I challenge you?" Artemis asked eagerly.
Su Sheng smiled and raised his hand.
Boom!
Artemis felt a sharp pain in her head as her entire body collapsed to the ground.
Killed in an instant!
Although she had been caught off guard, she hadn't even seen Su Sheng's movement. The sheer force behind his seemingly effortless attack left her reeling.
"You can show off in front of them, but try that with me, and I'll kill you," Su Sheng said nonchalantly, striding away under the shocked and dumbfounded gazes of everyone present.
This was how life lessons were taught. If Eris had been knocked out with a single punch, what chance did Artemis, a rookie who had just obtained the Source, stand?
Diana helped Artemis up. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Artemis replied, though she still felt a little dizzy.
"Intruders!"
A sudden shout startled everyone. Another intruder?
The sound of whirring engines filled the air as a battleship slowly descended from the sky, its powerful thrusters kicking up wind so strong that it was hard to keep one's eyes open.
Boom!
The battleship landed, and its hatch slowly opened.
Out stepped Legends Squad Captain Rip Hunter, clad in his signature trench coat, followed by Sara Lance, the White Canary, Captain Cold, and Heat Wave.
"Hello, everyone on Paradise Island! Please don't be alarmed; we mean no harm. We're here to find Su Sheng!" Rip Hunter hurriedly explained, eyeing the hostile Amazons surrounding them.
"You're the Legends Squad?" Diana asked.
Rip Hunter blinked in surprise and nodded. How did they know? Had Su Sheng told them?
Damn it, what had Su Sheng done this time?
As Rip Hunter was lost in thought, Diana suddenly charged at him.
"Don't attack! We're not here to fight; we're here to help with your problem!"
"The problem you brought to Paradise Island."
Diana snorted, taking down Rip Hunter in an instant. Captain Cold and Heat Wave were about to retaliate when Artemis quickly overpowered them as well. Seeing the Amazon warriors glaring at her, Sara Lance wisely raised her hands in surrender.
"Take them all to see the Master," Artemis ordered coldly.
"Can I ask... who is your Master?" Rip Hunter asked nervously.
"Su Sheng!"
God, what the hell had Su Sheng done this time?!