DC: Chapter 194/195

Chapter 194: Barmulodi

The Legendary Underwater Realm: Atlantis Emerges

"Female Fighting Nation Amazon Appears"

"Two 'New' Kingdoms Announced"

"Amazon and Atlantis Invite Humanity to Witness Their Birth"

Across the globe, TV broadcasts, magazines, and radio all exploded with coverage of the emergence of the two great kingdoms shrouded in mystery.

Some speculated with the worst possible intentions—this might have a miraculous impact on the world, causing massive waves that would affect global resource distribution.

With terrestrial resources continuing to be consumed, the future of resources lies in the ocean.

Atlantis, located on the ocean floor, possesses far more abundant resources than land. It is rich in oil, natural gas, and polymetallic nodules containing coal, sulfur, phosphorus, copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and other metals—widely distributed across most ocean basins. With deep-sea manganese nodules, materials, and metallic minerals, the ocean holds vast wealth.

Covering 71% of the Earth's surface, the ocean contains more than 80 chemical elements. It is inherently broader than land and holds enormous resource potential.

And now, only Atlantis has the ability to develop these resources. This is a shocking development. They don't even need to trade with humans or appear before us.

Their emergence could very well trigger a global war among land-based nations.

"A mysterious island, a paradise island, an island built by Zeus."

"Do myths and magic truly exist?"

"Is magic actually a form of science?"

"Do the gods of mythology hold real power that influences those who believe in them?"

Some optimists speculated, "This is the best era—wars are fading and technology is rapidly advancing. These peaceful nations have appeared before us so that we can build a prosperous Earth together."

Others lashed out in outrage, "Are you insane? They're not even the same species. They're sea-dwellers, fundamentally different in needs. This could very well trigger World War III and threaten humanity's control of the Earth!"

"From the moment they marched into central Rio without following a single rule, we should have realized, they consider themselves superior to us, mentally and even see us as ants."

"We shouldn't reject them with such hostility. Acknowledging their existence, coexisting peacefully, cooperating in trade, and developing the Earth together—this is what we should aim for."

"Eat shit!"

"#￥%*#￥"

The two hosts on Metropolitan TV erupted into a heated debate. Their extreme views clashed violently, and neither could convince the other.

More television stations and experts began weighing in on the birth of the two great kingdoms, predicting the direction of human civilization.

The world was instantly engulfed in a storm of discussion following the appearance of these two powers.

Metropolis!

The entirety of Metropolis includes urban zones, suburbs, and surrounding mountains and forests, covering a total area of 15,732 square kilometers. Of this, suburban plains, forests, and mountainous regions account for 80%. Even so, the urban center alone boasts a world-class scale and prosperity.

Particularly near the Atlantic seaport, 70 kilometers off the coast, lies a massive complex known as Barmulodi, spanning nearly 476 square kilometers.

The headquarters of Barmulodi, the tallest building in the world, rises here like a pyramid.

This pyramid-shaped structure stretches upward from its top half—almost 70% of its height—and pierces the sky. Its total height is 2,000 meters.

This is a full 1,000 meters taller than the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which stands at 1,007 meters.

No business group or nation in the world could have constructed such a grand edifice.

Surveyors who measured the foundation at the start laughed in disbelief, how could such a building be built? Yet in just ten years, something humanity deemed impossible was completed.

Initially, large numbers of human workers were used for the outer construction. But since 1984, human labor was replaced with Kryptonian gene warriors, magnetic particles, and Hera artificial intelligence overseeing the overall distribution, resulting in this vast, majestic structure.

From anywhere in Metropolis, looking up reveals towering skyscrapers reaching the heavens.

Every morning, as the sun rises from the clouds, the surface of this landmark building, clad in over a million panes of composite glass, glitters like a massive fish soaring toward the sky. Its "scales" open slowly, greedily absorbing solar energy. The entire morning sky is bathed in golden light, creating a breathtaking scene.

This radiant glow spreads through the sky, casting Metropolis into a dreamlike realm. Morning and sunset skies in Metropolis are the most beautiful in the world. The sight draws tourists from around the globe, who stand in awe of the Barmulodi.

Since Bardi became king, this building gradually came to be known as the Emperor's Building.

Thousands of meters below, deep within the Emperor's Mansion.

At the core of the underground research facility, the bottom floor is Bardi's most secret domain. Surrounded by sci-fi steel walls, layered with white material and multiple projection interfaces, various Hera models operate here.

From this location, the entire world is under surveillance. Over 1,700 satellites are controlled from here, and if necessary, all global satellites can be overridden—capable of unleashing pulse waves that could wipe out humanity.

In short, Earth's entire ecosystem, all life, is essentially under Bardi's control.

But the lives of ordinary people are cheap and of little value. The real focus is the strange Amazonian race, and the aquatic people of Atlantis.

Bardi has spent several years searching for them. Aside from rare traces of Atlantis spotted by fishermen that became mere rumors, the Atlanteans remained deeply hidden beneath the sea—until today. Now, they have finally emerged, alongside the Amazons.

To the average person, Atlantis's mastery over the ocean signifies control of marine resources and humanity's impending resource crisis.

But in Bardi's eyes, the Amazon female warriors are the more important factor.

Bardi had no doubt, once his Kryptonian army began its conquest of Earth, these formidable Amazon warriors would appear. Each one would be the equal of a standard Kryptonian genetic warrior, challenging him in battle.

And beyond that, the Olympian gods backing the Amazons would not simply let go of their worshippers and allow Bardi to dominate Earth. The greater challenge lies in these mysterious gods—their high technology, and even the difficulty of locating them.

Bardi's face was cold, his gaze as deep as a black hole. In the past decade, he hadn't changed at all. His face remained flawless, his body strong and imposing, radiating an undeniable dominance and the aura of a king.

His right thumb gently rubbed his left palm as his deep eyes locked onto the projected images in front of him—Ocean Master Orm and the Amazon warrior Antiope, delivering their joint speech at the United Nations:

"Land-dwellers, humans, Atlantis will stand before your eyes. You should feel honored to communicate and coexist with us."

"Paradise Island will join the United Nations, to govern Earth alongside you."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 195: Green Light, The Flash

Ocean Master Orm had long and narrow eyes, his facial features slightly sunken, giving off a hazy and elusive aura. His lips were thin, and when he spoke or smiled, he exuded an air of cruelty and arrogance that made others afraid to look at him directly.

Bardi judged solely from his appearance, manner of speaking, and behavior.

This was a man full of ambition, cruelty, and ruthlessness. At the same time, he was prideful to the point of madness and deeply paranoid. He harbored ambitions of replacing Aquaman, but his abilities were always inferior to his brother's. As a result, he lived in constant anger and hatred, burning with jealousy, which had made him neurotic and spiritually obsessed.

Such a person, as long as he's indulged in doing what he likes, is easy to manipulate.

But he was also extremely arrogant, prideful, and egotistical—unable to see himself clearly.

So...

"Your Majesty, I attempted to invite him to dinner, but he was dismissive and didn't take us seriously. He holds a strong sense of pride in his deep-sea kin, has a typical exclusivist mentality, and shows faint hostility toward humans," Mike reported, head slightly bowed before Bardi.

At the moment the United Nations meeting showed unusual developments, Mike had used full-screen lens projection to record the interaction and transmit it to Bardi.

This was a micro-communication technology. A contact lens implanted in the eye could generate a visual overlay, allowing communication, video recording, self-monitoring, and connection to Bardi's massive satellite network. It could also detect lifeforms, thermal energy, and energy levels within the body, a multifunctional combat support tool used internally.

As soon as Orm and the Amazon representatives appeared at the United Nations, more than a dozen world leaders under Bardi's control, including Lex, notified him through these contact lenses.

On the other side, the projected Lex brought good news.

"Your Majesty, Antiope of the Amazons has agreed to visit Barmulodi. Antiope is the sister of the Amazon queen. From a few words exchanged, I gathered that the Amazons hold a favorable view of humans."

Lex bowed his bald head slightly in respect.

From the moment Bardi took control of a country and became its king, the address shifted naturally to "Your Majesty," a sovereign title rather than one for corporate bosses or executives.

Bardi nodded, understanding clearly in his heart.

In every comic, the Amazons always seemed naturally close to humans, often taking on a guardian role.

That had significant strategic value.

"Extend a welcome to our Amazon guests."

After giving this order, Bardi cut off Lex's projection.

In its place...

"Mike, kill him. I'll send someone to assist you."

Bardi gave the command without emotion, causing Mike's breath to catch and his pupils to contract.

This meant... war was about to begin!

The implications were clear: the murder of Atlantis' Ocean Master by humans could trigger a massive backlash. A full-scale global war between the two species might break out.

It was even possible that the Amazons, given their closeness to humanity, would defect and ally themselves with Atlantis.

But the more likely outcome was that the Amazons, together with humans, would stand against the enraged Aquaman.

Bardi could also attempt to manipulate Orm into cooperating to start a war, but that would take too long. Orm's conceit and inability to see the reality of his situation made him a liability.

In comparison, the chain reaction sparked by Orm's death better suited Bardi's plan.

Now that everything was in place, and both Atlantis and the Amazons had emerged, there was no longer any need to delay.

It was time for war.

"Yes!"

Mike responded with a steely expression, and then the projection communication cut off.

Bardi had no intention of letting Atlantis emerge to engage in any peaceful development. What he needed was for the Amazons to step forward, defend humanity, fight Atlantis, and wear each other down.

Or, let them unite and attack humanity, giving Bardi the opportunity to rally all of mankind in a doomsday war that would shake the very Earth. To bring out and annihilate all the living forces that could hinder him, leaving nothing but death and ruin, that was enough.

Bardi stood silently, deep in thought, in the vast underground main command chamber. Around him stood many identical Hera-type biochemicals, dressed in uniform white bodysuits. Their graceful figures moved deftly as they manipulated electronic projections, carrying out his orders to collect, analyze, and compile data from around the Earth, and submit it for execution.

"Master, in the Andromeda direction, three light-years from Earth, a small escape capsule has suddenly appeared, heading toward the planet," a nearby Hera model reported clearly.

A spaceship?

An alien visitor at this moment?

Bardi frowned slightly. With Earth currently caught in a storm of conflict set off by him, any foreign interference could disrupt his plans.

In this universe, too many unpredictable forces existed that could alter a planet's fate. He wasn't sure what this one was.

"How long until it reaches Earth directly?" Bardi asked. He needed to intercept it and make use of whatever this foreign presence was.

"At its current average speed, calculations indicate it will arrive on Earth in approximately 170 hours."

"Keep a close watch on it."

...

About three light-years from Earth, inside a small escape pod.

The greatest Green Lantern in the universe, Abin Sur, lay inside. His skin was dark red, his head bald, and he wore a green energy uniform.

A massive hole about ten centimeters wide was torn through the left side of his chest. His organs had been mangled, and purple blood soaked the slightly glowing Green Lantern uniform.

Abin Sur's eyes were starting to glaze over. His tongue was dry, his body failing. Blood no longer flowed from his heart to sustain him. He was completely immobilized, holding on solely through sheer willpower and the strength of his green power ring.

His eyes narrowed faintly, his lips trembled, and the green ring on his finger pulsed slightly in response to his will.

"I... am seriously wounded... Parallax... out of control..."

"Green Lantern ring... proceed to the nearest habitable planet... begin selection process..."

"Need... the strongest will…"

...

Tesco Verier.

An island near Indonesia, shrouded year-round in electromagnetic thunderclouds. It lacked any modern technology and remained a backward island.

It was also a place where satellite signals from space were hard to receive, and the thunderstorms disrupted all electromagnetic waves.

Bruce Wayne, now 21 years old, stood tall and strong. His face was firm and weathered, his eyes filled with weariness and the wisdom of experience. His body, tempered through years of hardship, had reached the limits of human physicality.

He had endured through countless battles with "Trackers," surviving by wit and grit, forging a body honed to perfection.

Years of escape and hardship had taken a toll. His gaze always carried a sharp edge, tempered with the pain of wisdom.

On his back, he carried the unconscious Barry Allen. Barry's face and hands were severely burned, the skin charred and blackened as if seared by violent flames.

Bruce, with one strong arm still holding a heavy pack, felt Barry's faint, labored breathing. A pang of pain struck his heart. He clenched his teeth, a flicker of anguish flashing in his eyes as he stepped into the forest.

"Barry, you're going to be The Flash!"

(To be continued.)