The next day, before the sun had fully risen into the gray sky of war-torn Europe, the group set out toward the fortified enemy base: a German castle turned into a command center.
Steve and Diana infiltrated the gala hosted by the German high command. Both wore formal attire, their serious expressions masking the growing tension. Classical music filled the air, contrasting with the metallic scent of weapons hidden beneath jackets and dresses.
Arthur, on the other hand, stayed behind. But not out of fear — he had a mission of his own.
While Steve distracted the officers and Diana kept her eyes on Ludendorff, firmly believing he was Ares, Arthur made his way to the village where they had stayed the night before. Something didn’t sit right with him. He had seen too many trucks going in the opposite direction of the ball. Something was being prepared.
(If I’m right... they’re going to launch the gas here.) Arthur thought, his expression hardening.
He reached the village just in time. The residents — humble peasants simply trying to survive the war — were startled to see Arthur forcing an evacuation.
"Please, you have to leave! Now!" he shouted, helping children onto carts, guiding the elderly, even carrying some in his arms.
"But what’s happening?" a woman asked, breathless.
"They’re going to release something here... something deadly."
Minutes later, from the top of the hill, Arthur looked back. And then he saw it. An orange flash in the sky. The bomb. The muffled sound of an explosion. Within seconds, a yellowish mist spread over the village. Mustard gas.
But no one was there to die.
Arthur let out a sigh of relief, but his fists were clenched. Rage coursed through his veins — if he hadn’t acted in time, everyone in that village would have perished.
---
At the castle, just as Diana closed in on Ludendorff, ready to strike the killing blow, Steve stopped her.
"Diana, not here! You’d blow everything!"
"He’s Ares, Steve! I can feel it!" she snapped, eyes burning.
"And what if you’re wrong?!"
She hesitated. For the first time, she doubted. But she held back, stepping away. Ludendorff walked off, unaware of how close to death he had been.
---
Outside, Arthur regrouped with the team at the makeshift camp. Diana arrived shortly after, her face tense — until she saw him.
"Arthur! The village..."
"I got everyone out in time," he replied with a tired smile. "No one was hurt."
She exhaled in relief, her shoulders relaxing for the first time in hours.
"We’re lucky to have you with us, Arthur," she said, lightly touching his arm. "I don’t even want to imagine what would’ve happened if you hadn’t acted..."
Arthur simply smiled and gave her a light pat on the back.
"Diana, it’s time we finish this. For real."
She nodded, resolute.
---
With the help of Sameer, Charlie, and the Chief, the team tracked Ludendorff to a secret military base. The intel was clear: dozens of mustard gas bombs were being stored there.
As soon as they arrived, Diana climbed swiftly up one of the rocky cliffs to get a clear view of the compound.
"There he is," she whispered, spotting Ludendorff heading to the observation deck.
She exchanged a look with Arthur and nodded. He responded with a calm gesture, drawing his twin pistols — Ebony and Ivory.
"All right... I’ll deal with the minions," he muttered, cracking his neck.
The soldiers noticed him. Alarm. Gunfire. Arthur moved with superhuman agility, dodging bullets with rolls and flips, striking back with lethal precision. Every shot from his guns found the skull of an enemy.
Suddenly, he fired a web from his wrist to the ceiling, pulling himself upward. Clinging upside down, he crawled like a giant spider above the stunned soldiers.
"Überrascht?" (Surprised?) he taunted with a grin. "You haven’t even seen the best part yet."
When he finally dropped to the ground, some soldiers rushed at him with knives.
"Das ist sehr gefährlich, wissen Sie?" (That’s very dangerous, you know?) he said, before dodging an attack and plunging his bare hand into a soldier’s throat. The flesh gave way like butter under a hot blade.
---
Meanwhile, Diana confronted Ludendorff on the deck. The general, pumped full of Dr. Maru’s gas, looked monstrous — nearly inhuman.
She didn’t hesitate.
"Boom!" — her fist slammed into his stomach like a warhammer.
"ARGH!" — Ludendorff flew into a table, groaning in pain.
He tried to flee, staggering up the stairs. But Diana leapt with feline grace, landing in front of him. She ensnared him with the Lasso of Truth and yanked hard, bringing him to his knees.
"I am Diana of Themyscira, daughter of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. And this is the end of your tyranny."
Without hesitation, she drove the God Killer sword into his chest. Ludendorff’s eyes widened. One breath. Silence.
"It’s over..." Diana murmured, panting.
But something was wrong. Soldiers were still moving. The bombs were still being transported.
"No... this was supposed to be over. Why is it still happening?"
Confusion. Frustration.
(I killed Ares... so why is this war still going on?)
"They don’t deserve our help..." she murmured, looking around, lost.
Then — a sound. Footsteps. A figure emerged from the shadows.
Sir Patrick.
No. Ares.
"You’re right, Diana," he said in a cold voice. "They don’t deserve help. They deserve to be destroyed."
"You... you’re...!" — her eyes widened. An aura of pure fury surrounded her.
"I’m not your enemy. I’m the only one who understands you. Who understands them — as you do now..."
"This is mankind’s true nature, Diana. Weak. Selfish. Destructive. Capable of the worst horrors."
He vanished and reappeared as an illusion atop the tower.
"All I ever wanted was to show the gods that my father’s creation was corrupted from the start..."
He vanished again, appearing now behind her.
"But they refused..."
"I am Diana of Themyscira!" she shouted, spinning in fury and launching an attack. "And I will do my duty!"
Ares blocked the strike effortlessly. The God Killer sword... shattered.
She looked at the broken blade, stunned. "The God Killer...!"
She gasped, eyes wide.
"My sweet child," he said with a dark smile. "You are the God Killer."
Diana stepped back, shocked. But she quickly gathered her strength. She threw the Lasso of Truth and wrapped it around Ares.
"I command you to tell the truth!" she demanded, her voice thundering.
"Diana..." he replied calmly. "That is the truth."
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let’s see if even your insolence can amuse a king."