DC Under Doom Chapter 5: I am A King, not a Man.

Chapter 5: I am A King, not a Man.

-0-

Superman’s cape billowed in the wind.

His eyes burned red, his breath came heavy, and his fists were clenched tightly enough to crush steel. Across from him, Doctor Doom stood unmoved, unshaken, unimpressed.

The throne room was silent.

Wonder Woman stood between them, tense, bracing for the inevitable.

"This is your final chance, Kryptonian," Doom stated. "Accept my terms, or I will execute the sentence."

He gestured slightly, and the floating, time-locked form of The Flash flickered in the air.

Superman gritted his teeth. “You’re not killing anyone. And the answer is no.”

Doom sighed. “I expected as much.”

Then, he raised a hand—and the world exploded into war.

Superman blurred forward, shattering the stone beneath him as he rocketed toward Doom. His fist swung forward, fast enough to break the sound barrier.

But Doom was already prepared.

The moment Superman’s fist neared him, a shimmering golden sigil materialized in the air. The impact struck Doom’s personal force field—an energy construct made from sorcery and constructed through science.

The castle rumbled from the sheer force of the attack, but Doom did not move.

Superman was already moving again.

His eyes glowed, twin beams of blazing heat vision carving through the air—but Doom merely lifted a gauntlet.

A flick of his wrist, and the heat vision was redirected.

The lasers veered sideways, scorching into the marble walls instead of Doom’s armor.

Doom countered.

He raised his left hand—and an invisible force slammed into Superman, sending him flying across the throne room.

Superman twisted mid-air, catching himself before he crashed, then charged again.

Faster.

Stronger.

But Doom anticipated every move.

For every strike Superman threw, Doom had an answer.

For every charge, Doom had a countermeasure.

Superman was the most powerful being on the planet—but Doom had fought gods before.

And he had won.

Superman attacked one last time, going all in.

He darted behind Doom at speeds no human could track, aiming for the back of his armor—but Doom simply raised his hand.

“Enough.”

A pulse of energy erupted outward.

Superman froze mid-strike.

His entire body locked in place, caught in a field of pure magical energy that negated his bio-electric field, leaving him with zero traction.

Doom turned to face him, untouched.

"You are an impressive force, Kryptonian. But force alone is not enough. It never has been."

Superman struggled, his muscles pushing against the mystical stasis—but he could not move.

He had lost.

Doom raised his other hand. His gauntlet hummed with power.

"I could kill you now."

The words were not a threat. They were a statement of fact.

Superman was helpless.

Doom prepared the finishing blow.

And then—

Wonder Woman stepped between them.

Doom paused.

Wonder Woman stood before him, arms at her sides, her sword sheathed.

"No more," she said simply.

Doom tilted his head slightly. “You would stop me? Even after I have proven I am in the right?”

She met his gaze without fear. "I will not let you take his life."

Doom studied her for a long moment. Then, slowly, he lowered his gauntlet.

“Then you will offer me something in return.”

She already knew what he meant.

“My life.”

Superman’s eyes widened.

“Diana, no—”

She turned toward him, her voice firm. “We are in Latveria, Clark. We are subject to its laws. And Doom has all the power here.”

Superman struggled against the magical force, desperate. “This isn’t right!”

Doom merely watched.

Wonder Woman looked into Superman’s eyes. "He is not wrong."

Superman froze.

“We trespassed. We broke his law. He is justified in demanding a price.”

Superman’s mind raced. “But—”

She silenced him with a look.

"We cannot afford to be seen as lawless invaders, Clark. If we fight this, the world will turn on us."

Superman hated it. But she was right.

Doom turned his gaze back to Wonder Woman.

"Your life, then. A trade."

She nodded.

Doom regarded her for a long moment.

Then, a rare thing happened.

He smiled.

"Killing you would be a waste."

She narrowed her eyes. "Then what do you want?"

Doom turned fully to face her. "You will not die, Amazon. You will serve."

Superman’s heart nearly stopped.

“No.”

Doom ignored him. His attention remained on Wonder Woman. “You will renounce your League. You will swear yourself to Latveria. To me.”

Wonder Woman’s breath caught.

Superman’s anger burned. “Diana, don’t—”

She closed her eyes.

Then, she knelt.

Superman’s world shattered.

She lowered her head, pressing her fist to her heart in the traditional warrior's vow.

“By my honor as a warrior of Themyscira… I pledge my service to Latveria.”

Doom nodded.

"Then it is done."

The magical force vanished from Superman's body.

The trap holding The Flash dispersed.

Superman, free again, immediately turned to Doom, fury in his eyes. "You manipulated her!"

Doom turned away, already walking back to his throne. "No, Superman. She simply saw the truth."

He sat down, resting his gauntlets on the armrests of his throne.

"You have your freedom." His voice was absolute. "Take your League and leave Latveria."

Superman turned to Wonder Woman, desperate. "Diana, you don’t have to do this!"

She met his gaze one last time.

“Go, Clark.”

Superman’s fists trembled. He wanted to fight. He wanted to tear Doom’s throne apart.

But he couldn’t.

Because Wonder Woman was right.

They had lost.

Superman clenched his jaw. Then, slowly, painfully—he turned.

He grabbed Flash’s still-weak body and, with one last look at Wonder Woman, he left.

The grand doors of Castle Doom closed behind him.

Doom turned to his new warrior.

"You will not regret this, Wonder Woman."

She did not respond.

Because in that moment, she was no longer Diana of the Justice League.

She was Wonder Woman of Latveria.

(Justice League Watchtower)

The air in the Watchtower’s war room was heavy with frustration and grief.

Superman stood by the window, staring out at Earth below. His fists were clenched, his shoulders tight with rage. Behind him, the rest of the League sat in silence. No one knew what to say.

They had lost Wonder Woman.

The thought felt unreal.

Finally, Green Lantern broke the silence. "So that’s it? We just let him take her?"

Aquaman crossed his arms, his expression grim. “We can’t force her to come back. She made her choice.”

Flash, still recovering from Doom’s trap, leaned against the table. "I still don’t get it. Diana would never just give up."

Superman spun around, anger flashing in his eyes. “She didn’t give up! Doom forced her into a corner! She did what she had to!”

Silence.

Batman finally spoke. "That doesn't change the fact that she's gone."

Superman’s rage turned to Batman. “And we’re just supposed to sit here and do nothing?”

Batman remained calm. “No. We wait.”

Superman stepped forward, voice rising. “Wait for what, Bruce?! Doom is always ten steps ahead! Every time we react, he’s already set the next move! So tell me—WHEN do we actually do something?!”

Batman met his glare without flinching.

“Soon.”

Superman scoffed, frustrated. “And what makes you so sure?”

Batman reached into his utility belt and pulled out a small holographic device.

With a tap, the room lit up with blueprints.

Rows upon rows of Doombots—larger, stronger, more advanced than the ones Doom had used against Darkseid.

Everyone leaned in, their eyes narrowing.

Captain Atom blinked. "Wait... where did this come from?"

Batman’s voice was low, dangerous. “The intel Barry got before he was caught.”

A heavy realization settled over the room.

Superman stared at the projections. Doom was preparing for war.

Batman turned to face them all. “Doom hasn’t made his move to conquer the world just yet. But when he does? That’s when we take him down.”

Superman looked back at the holograms, his jaw tightening.

They would be ready. And Diana would be saved.

-0-

-2 days later-

(Themyscira)

Themyscira, the hidden paradise of the Amazons, had not changed for millennia.

But today, it welcomed an uninvited guest.

From the skies, a single aircraft approached—black and green, adorned with Latverian markings.

It landed at the edge of the island, where a full battalion of Amazon warriors stood, weapons drawn.

Princess Diana stepped out first.

Then, Doom emerged behind her.

Immediately, the Amazons bristled, swords raised.

One warrior stepped forward. "You dare bring a MAN to Themyscira?!"

Doom said nothing.

He simply hovered forward.

Not stepping. Hovering.

Every Amazon paused, confused.

Diana sighed, folding her arms. "Stand down. Doom is not your enemy."

The warriors looked between her and Doom, disbelief clear on their faces.

Another Amazon hissed, "Princess, what has he done to you? We will free you from his grasp!"

She drew her sword.

Diana moved instantly.

In a blur of motion, she caught the Amazon’s wrist and twisted it—forcing her to drop the blade.

The surrounding warriors gasped.

Diana held her stance. "I am not a prisoner."

The tension was thick.

Then, Queen Hippolyta emerged.

Her regal gaze scanned the scene, locking onto Doom. “You are not welcome here.”

Doom met her gaze unflinchingly. "A poor choice of words, Queen."

The Amazons tightened their grips on their weapons.

Hippolyta’s expression hardened. “No man sets foot on this island.”

Doom let the words linger.

Then, without breaking eye contact, he slowly gestured downward.

The Amazons followed his motion—to his feet.

Or rather, to the space beneath them.

He was not touching the ground.

He was hovering.

The silence was deafening.

Hippolyta’s eyes narrowed. “You play with words. But you are still a man and-”

Doom’s voice was calm, absolute. "I am not a man. I am a King."

The Amazons shifted uneasily.

Diana spoke before her mother could. “Please mother, Doom has expressed interest in Amazonian culture. I have brought him here as a guest. The least you could do is be courteous.”

Hippolyta regarded her daughter with caution. “And do you serve him now daughter?”

Diana hesitated—but then, she nodded. "I do."

The weight of that admission settled over the Amazons.

Hippolyta stared at her daughter, at the woman she had raised to be a warrior of peace, now standing beside a most dangerous man. Or rather King.

Finally, she exhaled.

“Then let us speak, King Doom.”

Doom inclined his head slightly, as if he had expected nothing less. “Indeed.”

Together, the King and the Amazons entered the city.

And for the first time in history, Themyscira had welcomed a new ruler onto her shores.

Not through conquest.

But through Power, and Aura.