The reverberations of Doctor Fate's cosmic warning still shuddered through the Watchtower. The cold visions of **Mordru's** ancient wars of conquest, the extent of his entropic hunger, stiffened the **Justice League** and the **Young Justice** with a deadly determination. They had been battling a symptom; now they knew the disease. But even as they struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the danger, **Mordru's** minions struck, not at their flesh and blood, but at the very seat of their public trust.
Over every world-wide transmission, cutting across all programming, a masterfully crafted address appeared. On screen was an unlikely, frightening trio: **Lex Luthor**, impeccably dressed and oozing insincere sincerity; **Vandal Savage**, a wielder of age-old power, eyes shining with merciless conviction; and **Klarion the Witch Boy**, hovering evilly in the background, a silent, unnerving witness to the destruction they vowed to bring.
Luthor's measured, compelling voice filled the airwaves. "For far too long, mankind has depended on unaccountable authorities. So-called Justice League and their extraterrestrial loyalties and random heroics have only caused more destruction. Consider Superboy's horrific transformation—a direct result of their arrogance!" He pointed to a slyly cut montage of League combat, casting each rescue into a collateral damage scenario. "We present a new way. A way to real order, created by human will, not by alien action or capricious magic."
Savage advanced, his gravelly voice a rumble of ancient power. "The present chaos is not an accident. It is the natural collapse of a flawed regime. I have seen empires rise and fall for thousands of years. I tell you, a firm hand must be exercised. A resolute leadership unencumbered by sentiment, to lead humanity through the oncoming tempest. We provide that firmness."
Klarion, on the other hand, gave the chaotic punctuation. While Savage talked of control, there was a subtle magical distortion across the screen – the broadcast signal breaking up briefly, a subliminal flash of clashing symbols, a shiver in the emotion of the viewers barely measurable, planting unease and suspicion of the established order. He giggled, a sound which, though unperceived, seemed to build the unease in the atmosphere.
"They're attacking our reputation, causing dissension, making us the villains," **Superman** said, his jaw set, observing the worldwide reaction. Public perception of the Watchtower fell to an alarming level.
"This is precisely what Fate cautioned us against," **Zatanna** whispered, her own magic even then resisting the broadcast's psychic signature. "Mordru is not merely a corporeal threat; he is a philosophical one. He desires that humanity make a choice for chaos, or at best a totalitarian order that will bring chaos in its wake."
"Our counter-narrative must be instant and irrefutable," **Michael** asserted, his gaze sweeping the data currents of the world's media. "They're manipulating all that exists to be feared, all that exists to be resented. We must reveal their falsehoods, not merely in words, but through actions that shout louder."
**Batman's** commands were quick, slicing through the surprise. "Young Justice, you're our front line. You have the quickness, the public profile to meet this head-on where it counts most: on the streets, in the neighborhoods they're terrorizing with fear."
**Aqualad** set to work instantly. "We have to take a deployment to large cities where their control is highest. De-escalate. Get between them. Lead them by example."
"I'll be our disinformation hunter," **Robin** declared, already frantically typing away. "Luthor's online presence is huge, but I can track down the doctored reports, the falsified data. We'll reveal all the lies, all the faked footage."
"And I'll be their worst nightmare," **Wally** smiled, a spark of his former confidence revived. "Klarion's chaos, Luthor's technology sabotage – I'll be there to stop it before it starts. A blur of anti-chaos."
"My telepathy will calm the discord they're sowing," **M'Gann** contributed, her eyes faintly aglow. "I can project calm, remind people of their common humanity, make their whispers indistinguishable."
**Artemis** fitted an arrow onto her bow, her eyes keen. "And someone has to keep an eye on the agents in the field. If they're causing trouble, I'll put them out of commission. No more behind-the-scenes architects operating with impunity."
The League, in turn, started its own titanic mission. **Superman** would continue his international outreach, his presence alone a beacon of resistance against the deceptions. **Wonder Woman** would lead diplomatic initiatives, attempting to repair broken international relations the trinity were seeking to manipulate. Michael and Zatanna were still crucial, reinforcing global magical wards against Mordru's insidious influence and carefully crafting narrative interventions meant to incrementally, painstakingly, restore the balance of public opinion back towards hope and unity.
The **emerald beast** in Gotham was still a quiet, frightening presence, its frenetic energy pent up but intensifying. It was a time bomb, a literal embodiment of Mordru's final intention. The blasphemous declaration had been started, a cacophony of lies and despair, and the Justice League and Young Justice had just set off upon their desperate, international counter-attack, battling not only for the world, but for its soul.
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