Superman - Rise of an Empire

Superman soared through the night sky, feeling the wind rush past him. It had been a decade since he had flown like this—since he had felt truly free. The city lights of Metropolis and Gotham blended together below him as he pushed higher, breaking through the clouds.

The energy of the yellow sun still coursed through his veins, repairing what had been lost. He wasn't fully at his peak yet, but he was close. Every second spent under the restored sun was healing him, strengthening him.

But with his power returning, so did the weight of responsibility.

The New Age of Heroes

The world had changed in his absence. The Justice League had disbanded years ago. Many heroes had gone into hiding, some had fallen, and others had adapted to a new way of fighting crime. The world had survived without Superman.

But now that he was back, there was a question lingering in the air.

Would they welcome him? Or fear him?

The Shadow War Continues

Back at the Batcave, Bruce analyzed the latest reports on the League of Shadows. Talia's forces had suffered a major blow, but she wasn't done. If anything, the loss had only made her more dangerous.

"She'll strike again," Bruce muttered, staring at the holographic display. "And she'll make sure she doesn't lose next time."

Diana, standing beside him, nodded. "That's why we need to act first."

Bruce turned to her. "We don't even know where she is."

"We will," Clark said, landing smoothly inside the cave. His boots touched the stone floor without a sound, his presence commanding but calm. "She wants to reshape the world. That means she'll go where the power is."

Bruce raised an eyebrow. "And you think you know where that is?"

Clark nodded. "She's not just after control—she's after legacy. If I had to guess, she's targeting the remnants of Darkseid's forces. She'll try to take what's left of his empire and use it for her own."

Diana frowned. "Darkseid's warlords scattered after his fall. Some of them still worship him."

Clark's jaw tightened. "Then it's time we remind them who really won."

The Hunt Begins

Clark, Diana, and Bruce stood together, watching as the Batcomputer displayed intel from across the world. Their first target: a hidden war camp in Eastern Europe, where a faction of Darkseid's former army had been gathering strength.

Superman clenched his fists. "Let's go."

Diana smirked. "Now you sound like the man I married."

Bruce sighed. "I really hope you're at full strength, Clark. Because if you're wrong about this…"

Clark turned toward him, his eyes glowing faintly red.

"I'm not wrong."

And with that, he launched into the air, heading toward the battlefield that awaited him.

TO BE CONTINUED...