| Salem - October 21
The sky hung low and heavy with rain.
Behind the Tower of Fate, a small gathering stood before a single tombstone, water soaking into the earth beneath their feet.
Representing the Justice League were Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Red Tornado, Green Arrow, Black Canary, the Flash, and Batman—several of the human mbers bearing visible injuries. Joseph couldn't help but find it idiotic.
These were people who routinely faced superhuman threats while having access to technology beyond anything Earth could produce, yet they still failed to adequately protect themselves or enhance their offensive capabilities. Batman, of all people, should not have been wearing a cast given the wealth and technology at his disposal.
The Justice League Dark was represented by Zatara, Jason Blood, and John Constantine, the latter standing a bit farther back than the others.
From the Justice Society of Arica ca the remaining living mbers: Ted Grant, the Wildcat, and Jay Garrick, the Flash, standing beside his wife Joan. The rest were either too old to attend—or already dead.
The entire Team had also gathered, all in costu. Joseph stood in his Nova suit beside Koriand'r, who had her arms wrapped protectively around a visibly shaken Raven.
He could sense that the way the other heroes regarded him had subtly shifted—there was now more respect, recognition, and even a hint of awe and wariness. Unlike the dia, which only knew that he had saved Sydney—caught on caras during his brief conversation with Red Tornado—and that he'd broadcast a ssage of hope seen by children worldwide, the League had a far clearer understanding of just how many lives he had saved in such a short span of ti. Not that he minded. He didn't do anything for sothing like recognition or praise from others.
Rachel kept her hood pulled low, trying to hide her tears from the rain. Kent had been like a loving grandfather to her during the months he had taken her under his care.
"Kent Nelson did not require a magic helt to be a hero," Red Tornado said solemnly.
Kent was buried beside his wife, Inza Crar Nelson. They shared a single tombstone decorated with an aknh. At the base, the left side read: Kent Nelson. Husband. Hero.
The right side read: Inza Crar Nelson. Beloved Wife.
Red Tornado continued, "Kent dedicated his life—gave his life—to safeguarding this world from evil. May he finally find rest beside his beloved Inza."
At his final words, everyone bowed their heads. Silence reigned for several long minutes, broken only by the rain.
During that ti, Joseph couldn't escape the thought that this death, like so many others, had been unnecessary. In his final monts, Kent had been forced to don that cursed helt, surrendering control of his own body. When Chaos struck, his possessor failed to react in ti, and Kent's frail body paid the price.
'If I'd been there…'
Joseph clenched his jaw. Damn it.
Eventually, the gathering began to disperse. Rescue and recovery efforts were still ongoing four days later, and the heroes had never been busier.
[I'm going with Rachel to the Tower of Fate to help her pack,] Kori said through their psychic link. Rachel had been granted the keys to the Tower, but the Justice League felt it was safer for her to live among others for now. She would be staying in the Cave with Conner, M'gann, and Match.
[Okay. I'll head back to work. Let's grab dinner with the kids later,] Joseph replied.
He had settled Jason into a spare room in his house. The ten-year-old was quiet but adjusting well. It would also be good for Cassandra to have soone close to her age to talk to, especially with schools shut down for the next few weeks. Staring at a screen and talking exclusively to Sebas—an android with no emotional range—probably wasn't healthy for a child.
There was a lot Joseph was working on.
The Hour of Chaos hadn't just destroyed cities—it had shattered systems. Millions were holess, and traditional construction tilines were aningless at that scale. Joseph planned to accelerate reconstruction through industrial robotics, automated fabrication plants, and modular infrastructure capable of rebuilding entire districts in weeks instead of years.
The global economy had fared no better. Banks froze, currencies collapsed, and international transactions beca impossible overnight. Rather than wait for governnts to recover, Joseph chose to act first.
He would use the collapse as an opportunity to expand BellCoin—not yet as a replacent currency, but as foundational infrastructure.
BellCoin would be distributed imdiately as ergency credit to survivors, allowing them to purchase food, dicine, and essential goods at half cost through LuthorCorp-backed supply chains. Relief organizations and reconstruction crews would be offered higher compensation in BellCoin than through traditional payroll if they opted in, and international aid from LuthorCorp would flow through it as well.
Nova had already completed a thorough investigation. Joseph was in full control. Lex had never intended LexCorp as a long-term sche against him. With that certainty, LuthorCorp formally absorbed BellCorp. BellCoin was no longer a side project—it would be implented everywhere reconstruction touched.
At the sa ti, Joseph would begin mass production of LuthorBots and introduce a new class of lower-strength androids: LuthorDroids. Governnts that could afford them would rent them. Those that couldn't would receive them regardless.
LuthorBots would serve as a defensive line against future supernatural and extraterrestrial threats, assist with natural disasters, and help clear debris. LuthorDroids, anwhile, would fill critical civilian roles left vacant by the deaths of millions—repairing power grids, stabilizing water systems, and staffing facilities abandoned after the dinsional separation.
By the end of the year, BellCoin would function as a global settlent layer—a neutral bridge between fractured economies. National currencies would still exist, but BellCoin would smooth exchange, dampen shocks, and make isolation unsustainable.
Joseph understood the risk. He was reshaping the world faster than anyone could vote on it.
But fragntation had already failed.
If the world was going to survive the next catastrophe, it needed systems that didn't collapse the mont everything else did.
And Joseph was done waiting for permission to build them.
[First Cassandra, now Jason. How many kids are you planning on adopting?] Kori asked.
[Technically, I didn't adopt them. My very reliable android, Sebas Tian, did,] Joseph replied. In Cassandra's case, he bore responsibility after killing her mother. As for Jason… it simply felt like the right thing to do. And since he could, he did.
Kori rolled her eyes in amusent. [Whatever. See you later.]
She turned away with Rachel, disappearing into the rain.
Joseph was about to teleport away when he noticed that John Constantine was still standing there, long after most of the others had dispersed.
With Kent Nelson gone, it was unclear whether Constantine would remain at all. But John was now the foremost occult expert on the planet, and the last few days had proven just how vital magical preparedness was. If soone was going to lead that front, it needed to be soone capable—and unwilling to blink. Joseph decided it was worth trying to convince him.
He walked over.
"Yo," Joseph said.
"Hm," John grunted, staring off into nothing in particular.
Silence stretched between them.
After a mont, John reached into his beige trench coat and pulled out a pack of Silk Cut cigarettes. He slid one free and held it out toward Joseph. "You mind?"
"What am I, a glorified lighter?" Joseph replied—though he still lifted a finger. A spark of Nova Force ignited the cigarette.
"If it quacks like a duck."
"You know that'll give you cancer, right?"
"I've got a plan for that," John said.
More silence. He took a drag, exhaled, then finally spoke again.
"When Kent invited , my first instinct was to take the piss. The Justice League's a bunch of colorful capes playing hero, and slapping 'Dark' on the na just makes it sound like a goth fan club."
He paused.
"Knowing Zatara didn't want here was part of why I said yes. I can't stand high‑magic types like him. And they hate right back. To them, I'm so ssy, dangerous street magician with a catastrophic luck problem."
John took another drag. "And maybe they're right. Maybe one of the demon deals I cut finally ca due. Not even a month after I join, and the world goes to shit and Kent dies. Bloody hell."
Joseph stayed quiet, letting him vent. When Constantine fell silent again—just smoking, eyes unfocused—Joseph spoke.
"For what it's worth, I don't feel any kind of curse on you."
"That doesn't help," John muttered. "If it were a curse, I could wriggle my way out of it. Can't really fight bad luck, can you?"
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