AM I SUPERMAN?

Hearing Kaius's words, Eobard Thawne, the Reverse-Flash, felt a chill run through him. Panic gripped his heart as he tried to stand despite his injuries, intending to flee at high speed. However, as soon as he took his first step, a fiery red beam of heat vision struck his calf.

Sizzle.

The smell of burning flesh filled the air as Thawne collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony. His wrist was already shattered from his failed attack, and now his calf muscles had been seared through by Kaius's precision strike. If not for his enhanced speedster physiology, his leg might have been rendered permanently useless.

Kaius's voice carried a calm yet threatening weight. "Eobard Thawne, if you even think about running, I'll make sure you're stuck in this timeline forever."

Thawne gritted his teeth, clutching his injured leg, his glowing red eyes glaring up at Kaius with a mix of fear and rage.

Kaius shifted his burning gaze to Slade Wilson, who stood nearby. The Mirakuru-enhanced mercenary felt an uncharacteristic flicker of hesitation. His confidence, rooted in his physical strength and skill, wavered as he witnessed the Reverse-Flash—someone Slade assumed to be untouchable—reduced to this state.

Slade quickly pulled an Uzi submachine gun from his side holster, pointing it at Kaius. Without hesitation, he unleashed a hail of bullets.

Ratatatatat.

The high-speed rounds pelted Kaius, but they had no effect. The bullets struck him like pebbles against a steel wall, bouncing off with metallic pings before clattering uselessly to the ground.

Moira and Thea stood frozen in disbelief, their expressions a mixture of awe and shock. This display of invulnerability shattered their understanding of what was possible. Only Oliver, who had seen Kaius's powers before, remained composed, though even he felt a renewed sense of amazement.

Slade emptied the Uzi's magazine in seconds. Realizing he was out of ammunition, he growled in frustration, tossing the gun aside. He unsheathed his alloy war sword, gripping it tightly, and charged at Kaius with a roar.

The blade gleamed as it arced toward Kaius's neck. Slade swung with all his might, aiming for a decisive blow.

Clang.

The sword struck Kaius's neck, but instead of cutting, it shattered upon impact, the blade breaking into two pieces. The fragments fell to the ground with a dull thud.

Slade stared at the broken remnants of his weapon in disbelief. His mind raced for an explanation, but none came. Kaius stood unfazed, his expression calm and unyielding.

"Slade Wilson," Kaius said, his voice low and resonant, "you've betrayed everything this city once stood for."

Oliver, standing behind Kaius, frowned slightly. That's my line, he thought, though he knew now wasn't the time for quips.

Slade, undeterred, roared in defiance and swung his fist at Kaius's face. Kaius caught the punch effortlessly, his hand tightening around Slade's. The sound of bones cracking echoed through the air.

"Ahhh!" Slade screamed, dropping to one knee as pain shot through his arm. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't break free from Kaius's grip.

Kaius looked down at him, his expression cold and emotionless. "Oliver," he said, "do you want me to end this? I can kill Slade for you."

Oliver hesitated, his gaze shifting to his mother and sister, both alive and safe. The fury and hatred he'd felt for Slade began to ebb. "No," Oliver said finally. "I don't kill."

Kaius sighed, disappointed. "This time, I was here in time. Your family is safe. But if he gets another chance, I might not be. Are you prepared for that?"

Slade, still kneeling, laughed bitterly despite his pain. "Oliver, you're still as weak as ever," he sneered. "You may have saved your family today, but my army is ready. Your precious Star City will burn. You're too late to stop it."

Kaius released his grip on Slade's hand, letting him collapse fully to the ground. "If that's true, then you've already lost," he said simply. "Because we'll stop you. We always do."

The reality was clear: Slade Wilson, the Deathstroke, was a dangerous and irredeemable madman.

Kaius turned to Oliver, his expression resolute. "Oliver, I understand your principle of non-killing, but some people have lost all humanity. If your kindness gives Slade another chance to strike—if he kills your mother, your sister, or the people you love—who will bear responsibility for their deaths?"

Oliver tightened his grip on Moira's and Thea's hands, his jaw clenching as he wrestled with the weight of Kaius's words. After a long pause, he replied, "If that happens, then I'll take responsibility."

Kaius nodded, his tone calm but firm. "Do you remember what I told you about the Three Sages Tribunal?"

His eyes glowed red, twin beams of heat vision brewing within them as he fixed his gaze on Slade. "The Tribunal is a concept of absolute justice—an artificial intelligence system designed to fairly assess criminals. It judges the severity of their crimes, their capacity for repentance, and the likelihood of reoffending. I want to bring something like the Tribunal to Earth. But Slade…" Kaius's voice dropped, steely with resolve. "Slade cannot wait for such a trial."

Before anyone could react, the beams of heat vision shot forward, engulfing Slade in an intense, blinding light. His Mirakuru-enhanced body, resistant as it was, couldn't withstand the sheer heat. In seconds, he was reduced to ashes, the air heavy with the faint sound of a sorrowful cry, as if echoing from his very soul.

Oliver, Thea, and Moira stood frozen, the weight of what they'd just witnessed pressing down on them. Reverse-Flash, cowering nearby, shrank further into himself, desperate to escape notice. His entire body trembled, as if plunged into freezing water, though the air around Kaius still radiated with scorching heat.

"Kaius!" Oliver finally found his voice, though it wavered. "You can't just kill him like that!"

Kaius turned to face Oliver, his glowing eyes dimming slightly. "When the Three Sages Tribunal is established, I will be the first to submit myself to its judgment. If I'm guilty, I'll accept whatever punishment it deems fair." His tone carried an unshakable confidence, a reflection of the integrity he believed in.

Oliver hesitated, torn. He understood that some criminals, like Slade, couldn't be stopped by conventional means. The failures of the system were glaring. If Kaius could create a truly impartial and incorruptible court, then perhaps it was a step toward real justice.

Moira and Thea, though shaken, couldn't deny their relief that Slade was gone. The man had kidnapped them, tortured them emotionally, and forced Oliver into an impossible choice. His death felt like a release from a nightmare.

Kaius's voice cut through the heavy silence. "Oliver, Star City is safe for now. Wonder Woman is handling the Fortified Army. We have time."

Oliver nodded reluctantly but didn't press further. His mind was already on what lay ahead—what Slade had left behind, and the destruction he'd planned for Star City.

Kaius's Gaze Turns to Reverse-Flash

Eobard Thawne, still on the ground with his calf burned through and his wrist shattered, flinched as Kaius's fiery gaze settled on him. Every instinct screamed for him to run, but his body betrayed him. He had no choice but to face the judgment he feared.

"Eobard Thawne," Kaius said, his voice cold and measured, "give me one reason not to end you right here. Otherwise, you'll join Slade in hell."

Thawne's red eyes darted nervously. His usual arrogance and cunning were gone, replaced by desperation. "I… I can… I can make you a ring for your suit!" he stammered, raising his uninjured hand as if to shield himself.

Kaius's expression didn't change. "You've promised that before. You haven't delivered. And who's to say you wouldn't sabotage it?"

The Reverse-Flash swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he tried to plead. "No! I swear, no tricks. I'll do whatever you want. I'll follow your orders. I'll serve you, just—just don't kill me!"

Kaius stared at him for a long moment, the heat in the air palpable. Finally, he took a step back, the intensity around him lessening slightly. "You'll serve me?" he repeated, his tone skeptical.

"Yes!" Thawne nodded frantically. "I'll never betray you. I swear it!"

Kaius considered his words, his expression unreadable. "Then prove it," he said finally. "You'll rebuild what you've broken and make sure no one else suffers because of you. If you fail…" His eyes glowed faintly again, a silent warning. "You won't get another chance."

Thawne nodded again, too afraid to argue.

Kaius turned back to Oliver. "Let's clean this up and ensure Star City is truly safe."

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