Gotham had taught me patience. How to move unseen. How to help without drawing attention.
But the universe wasn't going to let me hide forever.
It came like a whisper in the void then a roar.
A ripple in space-time. A distortion.
Something had entered Earth's atmosphere.
And it wasn't alone.
---
I stood on top of a skyscraper, with the sky breaking.
I wasn't alone.
The League was mobilized across the globe already. Superman blazed through the clouds, a blue and red blur. Green Lantern's constructs of energy flared against the darkness, creating planet shields. Wonder Woman's sword shone in the moonlight as she prepared to fight.
And Batman?
He watched. Waited.
Always calculating.
But none of them shared what I felt.
This was not merely an invasion.
It was a warning.
Something out there knew something about me. And now, it was testing me.
I took a deep breath. No choice, then.
I had to do something.
The question was how much power would I show?
---
The initial ships ripped across the sky, dark as obsidian, their hulls vibrating with an otherworldly frequency. The city shook beneath their arrival. Humans screamed, rushing for cover as dark-clad figures leapt from the vessels.
I saw them clearly alien infantrymen, clad in dark armor, marching in flawless synchrony.
Their leader drifted above them, a giant hooded in writhing red flame. His eyes blazed like twin suns. His presence felt wrong, distorting the air around him.
Not only a conqueror. A herald.
A herald of something much, much worse.
Superman was the first to attack. He blurred forward, punching with enough power to break mountains.
The alien barely reacted.
Superman's eyes went wide by a fraction then he was blasted back, hurled through a few buildings before disappearing into the distance.
Silence.
Then the alien's eyes swept over the city. He spoke, his voice echoing through my skull without sound.
"Where is the Hidden One?"
I stood still.
That name me.
The League didn't know. They couldn't know.
But this what? He had arrived for me.
A test.
If I emerged now, if I revealed what I was , the whole cosmic order would fix its gaze upon Earth.
If I remained in concealment, thousands millions would perish.
My fists were clenched.
A decision.
I could sense time beginning to unravel before me, possibility breaking into limitless tracks.
One in which I was in the shadows. The world would pay the price, but I would still be anonymous.
One where I battled forthrightly. The League would witness my ability. Others would witness my ability.
And one in which I controlled myself just enough.
A halfway point.
Not an unseen. Not a deity.
Something between.
I jumped from the skyscraper, plummeting through the sky.
Then I stopped.
Gravity warped around me, curving to my command.
The alien spun around, feeling me now. "There you are."
I descended softly onto the cracked asphalt, my boots not quite making a sound.
I released a breath. "You wanted me?" I said quietly. My voice was level. Controlled.
The alien smiled. "Prove yourself."
He launched himself.
I met him halfway.
Our conflict delivered a shockwave into the city. Buildings shooked. Streets cracked.
I could feel the League's eyes on me.
I could feel the universe's eyes on me.
No longer hiding.
This was where it began.
---
**Chapter 9 ends**