It was a new day. Glorious rays of light washed over Earth, greeting its inhabitants. Today was a national holiday. A celebration of the Declaration of Unification. This was when humanity first unified under a single government. No matter the ethnicity or nationality, all had joined hands.
The celebration would last for two weeks, festivals taking place all over the world. A lovely holiday. One that would remain for countless years. It was only right.
Val-Ul could be found in his fortress. In a room filled with shimmering crystals and dazzling runes, he floated in front of a newly constructed wall and roof. It resembled a magnifying glass, a five layered sundial.
Pure solar energy would be collected through each layer. In the center point of this futuristic contraption, an ionized beam with a temperature of over seventy thousand degrees would converge.
"Val-Ul, there is no guarantee that this amount of sunlight will even affect you. I fail to see your reasoning behind this." Hologram Faora-Ul appeared beside him.
Val wasn't wearing any clothing. His perfect figure was on full display. Rippling muscles that were just the right size, symmetrical in all aspects. Slightly tanned skin due to its love for the sun. It was almost as if there was a glow under his skin.
"It's not as if all five layers need to be active. This isn't entirely for me. Mostly for Kara. The perfect sunbath for her…whenever she desires." He stated.
He would allow his messenger to decide who else could use this groundbreaking device. With her devotion to him…she deserved it. He would give her free reign.
As if she'd heard his voice call her name, the door slid open to reveal the woman in question. A goddess in the eyes of humanity. Such a goddess was currently wearing pajamas of the finest qualities.
Upon witnessing his body free of clothing, she paused. Her grey eyes drank in his visage…wandering over each muscle. Each ripple and movement. Without any shame, she floated up to him.
"What's going on here?" Kara asked with a lazy smile. Her tone was full of flirtation.
A small grin crept onto Val's lips. His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. She wrapped her arms around him in response. Her face rubbed against his chest. There was a moment of silence as they floated together.
"I've created something for us. Mostly for you and whoever else you want to include." He finally said.
His hand tapped her pajamas, causing them to teleport onto the ground nearby. Kara was now free of clothing just like him. Her naked body was the epitome of perfection. Curves in all the right places. Their bodies pressed against each other, completely ignoring the holographic Faora-Ul.
Kara raised an eyebrow at his actions. Why did they need to be naked? If he desired it, so be it…but she was still curious.
"Made what? I only see shapes all over the ceiling." She commented. Val turned to Faora-Ul.
"Activate it." He ordered.
"Activating."
The five shapes on the ceiling began to move until three of them had superimposed on each other. Val stopped it there. They would start slow. Immediately, concentrated sunlight converged on the two bodies.
Kara's eyes widened in shock. Her cells were drinking in the radiation, forming new ones and completing. Her body grew stronger and denser with every second. Val's hand rested on her shapely bottom, casually holding and caressing.
"I've already remade you to be the best you could be. The faulty parts of your genetic sequence were thrown out. No more reactions to kryptonite. No more reactions to weaker suns. Your power is yours and it will not be taken away. I've given you parts of my genetic code. Perfected you…tell me…have you reached your peak?" He asked. Kara shook her head.
"No. I can grow stronger!" She declared with conviction.
Val nodded. His gaze turned to Faora who immediately understood. Two more layers added onto the original three. He moved Kara in front of his chest, arms wrapping around her from behind. His chin rested on the top of her head.
The surroundings began to heat up. The ground beneath them started to sizzle. After a few more seconds, the ionized sunbeam was fully converged. It quickly shot down onto her chest.
"Nnnngh!" She moaned at the euphoric feeling enveloping her body.
Power. The feeling started at the tips of her toes until reaching her brain. Solar energy poured through her body, giving her the image of a golden humanoid. She glowed with splendid brilliance.
Val's left hand rested on her stomach, the other cupping her breast. Kara was too preoccupied to even notice. Her eyes had long since closed, mouth open as she mewled a brilliant tune.
With impeccable analysis, he continuously observed her progress. The increase in her density, the activation of new cells. Saturating and dividing. Those cells evolved into something specifically tuned to her physique. She was becoming more. The creation of a higher form.
After a good 30 seconds, he deactivated it. She'd reached her current peak. A long period of time would be needed before another attempt was made. Time to digest.
Her body remained in the same position, trembling due to the uncontrollable power running through her veins. Val leaned into her ear. His voice was magnetic.
"Breathe. Assess. Consolidate."
She took several breaths, coming to terms with her strength. It took a moment. Eventually, she opened her eyes and turned to him. A tint of gold now outlined her grey pupils. Not fully there but in the right direction.
"Val-Ul." Kara spoke his name firmly. She stared at him with hunger.
"How do you feel?" He asked with a smile.
Kara's lips crashed onto his. Her arms wrapped around his neck, squeezing in a way that would mangle anyone weaker. Her legs wrapped around him. Upon releasing his lips, she breathed.
"I feel like…I need to test it out." She mewled. Val nodded.
"Then let's test it."
He carried her to his chambers. For the rest of the day, the Fortress of Solitude would quake. It absorbed most of the shockwaves but the continent would feel minor tremors for a while.
…
…
…
A Different Earth
Death, destruction, and decay. The sky was red…a reflection of the world itself. Bloody. Ruined. Parademons came in hordes, killing anything and everything in each city. Citizens could only hide in fear. There was nowhere to run.
Their thoughts turned to Superman…but it was left wanting. The Man of Steel was currently battling through the sky. The kryptonian didn't care a single bit about the results of his punches. The shockwaves that obliterated homes and the people within.
When Louis Lane died, he'd finally given up on humanity. They couldn't do anything by themselves. An iron fist was needed. It was the only way to prevent crime and greed. Acting as a dictator, using soldiers from his new regime to carry out orders. Killing anyone that disagreed. Some of them being friends he used to cherish.
In an undisclosed location, a pile of debris covered the ground. It was piled up high. Almost as if a skyscraper had fallen down. A slender hand burst its way through, pushing away the obstacles.
Wonder Woman was revealed to the world. Battered. Broken. Her body was littered with injuries. As she limped down the street, a voice stopped her cold.
"You made the wrong choice, Diana."
She turned to see the one and only Batman. He stood on another pile of rubble, his cape flapping in the wind. His eyes were cold. Diana scoffed.
"I only did what I could within my means." She said.
"No. You enabled Clark. Let him think that it was okay to kill. You brought him into the role of a tyrant. Look what it brought us. Look at the world."
There was a moment of silence as they surveyed the area. Dead bodies everywhere. Destroyed cities. Wandering parademons. Diana clenched her fist.
"I…I have failed." She finally admitted.
"We have all failed." Bruce Wayne responded.
A portal was located high in the sky. It was directly above earth. Apokolips could be seen on the other side. Superman was in battle with Darkseid. They'd been fighting for hours now.
Shockwaves that struck like thunder could be heard every few seconds. There didn't seem to be an end. How ridiculous. So this was how the world would meet its end. Death by shockwaves and parademons.
At this moment, Flash arrived in a streak of red. He slid to a stop beside Batman. His expression was stern.
"There you are…Batman. I've been hunting you for a while now." He growled.
"Do you hear yourself? When you first gained your abilities, did you see yourself doing this? Tell me the truth, Barry." Bruce said.
Barry's glare softened for a moment. He looked at his hands, a trace of sadness in them. Even if he wanted to change his mind…it was impossible. Superman would kill him.
"Of course I didn't expect this. Who would? I have to arrest you, Bruce. Clark has words for you."
"What's the rush? He's busy right now. Can't you hear them fighting?"
"Don't try to get out of this. You aren't leaving my sight."
"Barry." Wonder Woman spoke up. "You can fix this. Find help. Before this all happened."
"Diana…you're asking me to…" Barry's words trailed off. His expression was one of melancholy. Everyone he loved was already dead.
"Diana and I are in agreement. Run, Barry. Solve this problem early." Batman said.
"..." The Flash turned to Wonder Woman who also nodded.
"It's okay. You can do it. Only you can. Run."
So he did. Charging up the Speed Force in his veins, he took off. He ran and ran…reaching speeds that he normally avoided. His destination - the past.
Possibilities opened up in front of him. Picking a route, he finally disappeared. Barry Allen had vanished from his universe.
The first thing he saw after stopping was the street. Paved with a material similar to asphalt but much smoother. With his hands on his hips, Barry caught his breath. Only then did he look up…and he froze.
The buildings were futuristic works of art. Civilians walked to and fro chatting and laughing. There seemed to be a festival going on. Where the hell was he?
"Is this still Earth? Why is everything so different? I thought I went to the past, not the future." He muttered.
At this moment, the sound of heavy turbulence and thrusters resounded. Barry turned his head to the side. His jaw dropped open, witnessing something he'd never expected.
A starship the size of multiple skyscrapers was flying up toward the atmosphere. On this Earth humanity has reached space travel! What the hell?!
A hand patted him on the back. Turning his head, he saw an old man and woman who kept walking. They smiled at him.
"Thank you for your service." They commented before walking away.
"What?" He raised an eyebrow. Was it because of his suit?
Barry ran around the unknown city until he noticed a massive statue. It was a man dressed similar to a kryptonian! Definitely. There was a crown on his head…weird. While he looked different, Barry was sure that this was another Clark Kent.
'I need to find him.' He thought.