Londyn grimaced.

“This is not going to end well.”

The Necrosaurus grinned.

“But I am a generous god. Lay down your weapons and bend your knees. Swear fealty to your new ruler and you shall have a place in the world I will build.”

All eyes turned to Londyn. The Majestic Moth rushed over to her.

“Director…”

Londyn slowly rose to her feet.

“Director, please. Haven’t we done enough? Haven’t we fought enough? We gave it our best shot, we gave it everything we got. And we lost. There is no shame in it now. What purpose is there in resisting further? What more can we do?”

Wonder Knight slowly rose to his feet.

“We can’t just give up!”

Captain Hot Devil grimaced.

“Hate to admit it but he’s got a point.”

Aurora Legion’s eyes widened.

“Captain?”

“Look, I’m a hothead, if there’s a ghost of a chance I’ll go down swinging…but right now I don’t see a ghost of a chance. And there’s people who still need us back home.”

Londyn closed her eyes. She took a deep breath.

“Yes, there’s nothing more you can do.”

Aurora Legion looked to the ground. Voidspeaker grit his teeth and pounded the dirt.

“But I still have cards to play.”

And then she pushed a button on her wrist.

The Mass Suppressor let out a piercing screech.

A massive wave of purple light surged forward.

And the dragon crashed into the ground, flattening the castle.

“Director?”

Londyn stepped forward.

“You all can surrender if you want. Nothing but foolishness to carry on and the world will need you later. Go on, run. But as for me?”

Londyn looked Captain Hot Devil in the eye.

“I. Am. DONE, with lying helpless on the ground while some all powerful being decides my fate.”

She turned to the crumbling castle and narrowed her eyes.

“Even if all I can do is put a scratch on these so-called gods, then that’s what I’m going to do. It might be pointless. He may conquer the Earth with ease. But he’s going to do it over My. Dead. Body.”

She turned to the Majestic Moth.

“Go. The world will always need more heroes. Even when it’s ruled by a madman. Especially then.”

Majestic Moth looked down and away. He gulped. He whispered in a soft voice.

“Dang it all…”

He stepped to Londyn’s side.

“I guess I can’t complain when you literally brought a god to his knees.”

Captain Hot Devil stepped to her other side.

“If you’re standing here now, how can I run?”

Aurora Legion jumped up and ran in front of her.

“We’re here too!”

“We aren’t going anywhere!”

“I’m taking this jerk down if it’s the last thing I do, bro!”

Chronolock just nodded with a frown.

Some with shouts, some in silence, but every hero stood and joined the line.

Londyn nodded, and pressed another button on her wrist.

“Then we do it together. All of us.”

The International League of Superheroes stood as one.

A bone lance shot through the air and pierced into the Mass Suppressor.

A horrific screeching pierced the air, every person clutching their ears.

Cracks appeared on the silver polyhedron, purple light shining from them.

The mighty cracking sound thundered through the air.

A purple shockwave knocked everyone to the ground, kicking up the dust.

The Mass Suppressor was gone.

The dragon rose to the sky. The Necrosaurus snarled.

“You dare to insult ME?! You will die, you will all die! And then everyone will know that THIS WORLD BELONGS TO ME!”

The dragon’s neck began to glow.

Purple fire gathered in its neck.

The mages began to chant, magic circles appearing in the air.

Captain Hot Devil lit his fists on fire.

The Icy Falcon spread his cape.

Agent Tina and the Gray Slayer took aim.

Wonder Knight and Mr. Dapper Tiger gripped their fists.

Pink Stars gauntlets began to glow.

And the edge of Londyn’s mouth curled up.

“I wouldn’t say that if I were you.”

A slight shift, the air grew still.

Footsteps from the landed helicopter.

A quiet, soft voice. Barely a whisper.

Yet everyone heard it over the din.

The dragon took a deep breath.

They heard it again, just a little louder.

There was a tiny tremor in the ground.

The heroes turned around. Their eyes widened.

“You didn’t.”

Londyn smirked.

“I did. I told you this is not going to end well.”

A second voice, joining with the first. A deep and primal rumble.

The dragon drew back its head.

The ground began to shake. The rocks of the mountain began to crack.

The dragon thrust its head forward and opened its jaw.

The world was drowned in a deafening roar as the air itself was set ablaze.

But then the sound dimmed and grew silent.

And the world replied.

““I AM ONE WITH THE EARTH, AND THE EARTH IS WITH ME!!!””

There stood Vaidehi Dayal. Feet on the ground, hands clasped in front of her chest. But her face no longer masked in serenity or twisted in anguish. Her eyes were open and narrowed and her mouth frowned as she glared at the dragon ahead.

And the Earth erupted around her.

Roots and branches the size of skyscrapers rolled and twisted from the Earth, passing the heroes and reaching to the sky.

A wave of purple fire collided with a wave of green wood.

The master of death laid claim to the Earth.

And the Earth fought back.

The dragon’s mouth closed and the blaze came to an end. Burning branches fell from the sky as fire burned.

But still the trees grew.

Massive branches wrapped around the dragon. The dragon roared and swiped its claws, tearing the trees apart. It swung its tail, shattering trunks whole. Dayal grunted and sweat but her eyes never wavered.

And still the trees grew.

The dragon cried and fired its breath once more. The canopy burned.

But still the trees grew.

They wrapped around the dragon. Wood creaked and groaned as the beast cried. The branches wrapped around its jaw with a snap.

The dragon grunted and rumbled, but it could move no more.

Branches extended down, forming a ramp in front of the heroes.

“Go! I can hold it, but you must defeat its master! The Earth is with you!”

Londyn nodded and picked up the grav-cannon once again.

“Let’s go!”

All the heroes nodded and let out a shout as they charged up the ramp. The moment they stepped foot on the wooden path energy surged through their bodies. Their wounds healed, their exhaustion vanished. With another cheer, they surged forth, climbing towards the dragon’s head.

The fight for the world entered its final stage.