A few moments earlier…
The grand chambers of Atlantis lay in eerie silence.
Far beneath the surface, beyond the bustle of war, a solitary room held the still body of Queen Atlanna. She rested upon an ancient stone slab, her features calm—beautiful even in death. Pale coral light filtered through crystal walls, casting ghostly shadows across her form. The royal guards had long departed, called to battle alongside the rest of the able-bodied. Only the children, the elderly, and the echoes of memory remained.
Suddenly, a ripple disturbed the stillness.
A portal shimmered into existence just a few meters away. Bubbles burst outwards as a lone figure swam through.
It was Ethan Carter.
The pressure of the deep sea barely fazed him. His body had already begun to adapt—his lungs transforming, his biology shifting with effortless grace. Slits opened along the sides of his neck, gills forming to let him breathe the surrounding water. He paused and rubbed them gently with a curious smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Neat," he muttered to himself. "Adaptation never fails."
His gaze drifted to the motionless body of Queen Atlanna. Even in death, she radiated grace and dignity. Ethan paused. A flicker of admiration crossed his face before he shook his head, mentally chastising himself.
'Don't think with your lower half, man…'.he thought.
He had known this moment would come. He could have stopped Orm from killing her, but he didn't.
Not because he was heartless—but because Atlanna needed to see the monster her son had become.
Some truths couldn't be explained. They had to be witnessed. Only then could change take root.
Letting her die was cruel, yes—but it ensured that when she returned, she'd understand the full gravity of Orm's descent.
Ethan approached the altar, placing a hand above her chest, and let green, glowing lines of magic form in his palm and muttered, "Let's just say… I'm hitting the reset button."
He's preparing to manipulate time itself, the greenish hue of temporal magic beginning to swirl in his palm—when suddenly, a soft voice cut through the silence.
"I wouldn't do that so lightly, Ethan."
Startled, he turned sharply to find Didi—Death herself—standing (floating) calmly in the water, her black hair flowing around her like ink. A small, serene smile curled on her lips.
Ethan blinked, "Well, this is unexpected."
She smiled. "I get that a lot."
He raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?"
"It's not important what I'm doing here," Didi replied before slowly drifting closer. "What is important… is what you're about to do."
Ethan turned slightly, facing her without lowering his hand. "Let me guess. You're here to lecture me about the dangers of playing with life and death?"
Didi gave a soft chuckle. "Something like that. Ethan, using time magic to undo death isn't a decision you make on impulse. There are always—always—consequences." Her tone had turned serious.
Ethan chuckled, "And now Death is giving me a warning? That's rich."
"I'm not trying to be dramatic," she replied. "I'm being honest."
He met her gaze evenly. "I'm not doing this on a whim. I made my choice, Didi. And even if you, Death herself, try to stop me… I won't make it easy for you."
Her smile faded. "Why?" she asked. "Why bring her back? You didn't even know her."
"That's true," Ethan admitted. "I didn't know her. I'm not a saint who goes around resurrecting every good person who dies. I'm not doing this because she didn't deserve death either."
"Then why save her?" she asked again, more insistently.
Ethan's gaze grew steady. "Because I want to. I'm not doing it out of duty or guilt. Not for justice or revenge. Not out of obligation or morality. Not for politics or heroism. I have the power to bring her back—and I choose to use it."
"If there are consequences for my actions, I'll face them head-on. It's always better to confront the results of your choices than to waste time overthinking and doubting whether it was the right decision. Taking responsibility and moving forward is far more productive than being trapped in hesitation."
Didi floated silently and looked directly into his eyes as if searching for somthing. Her voice softened. "You've died before, haven't you?"
Ethan froze. His eyes widened slightly before he masked his reaction with a chuckle. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Didi smiled knowingly. "A reincarnated soul with intact memories. Not that uncommon in the multiverse or the Omniverse."
He said nothing.
"You're wondering how I figured it out," she continued, swimming slowly toward Atlanna's resting place. "Well, I am Death. I can see what others can't. Your soul is older than your body. Aged and strong. You carry the weight of past life. You're not the first I've seen like you. But you are one of the few who hide it this well."
Ethan's internal alarm bells went off. He had used advanced soul-concealment spell to prevent anyone from detecting the true age of his spirit. Yet she pierced through it as if it were parchment.
'I'll need to upgrade that spell,' he thought grimly but showed no visible reaction.
"You can fool many," Didi said while reading his silence. "But not me. And not other cosmic entities. Many cosmic entities would notice if they bothered to look."
"And yet, here I am," Ethan muttered. "Still flying under the radar… mostly."
Didi's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Not anymore."
Ethan said at last, attempting to steer the conversation back. "So, are you going to stop me?"
Didi swirled around with that same faint smile playing on her lips. "Most reincarnators go out of their way to avoid this kind of interference. But you—you're unapologetically reckless.They know better than to tangle with fate."
He narrowed his eyes. "And you respect that?"
"I respect choice," she said softly. "And yours is made."
She turned to glance at the queen's corpse again. "So go ahead. It seems you've made your decision."
"…Is this some kind of test?" he asked, confused. "Why are you even here? To stop me? To study me?"
Didi shrugged lightly. "Maybe I came because I was curious about you. Maybe I wanted to understand you better. Maybe I wanted to spend time with you."
Ethan blinked. "I don't know whether to feel honored… or worried that I've somehow gained the attention of Death herself."
Didi rolled her eyes. "Please. As if you could die."
"…Not sure if that's comforting or terrifying," Ethan muttered.
"Go on," she said, her voice gentler now. "Bring her back. She's waiting."
He hesitated for a brief moment, then extended his hand over Queen Atlanna's chest again. A complex green magic circle began to glow in front of his palm. He slowly gestured counter-clockwise. Time itself began to unwind.
The gaping wound on her chest began to close, muscle and skin knitting together as if nothing had ever happened. The color returned to her face.
Atlanna's eyes fluttered open. A sharp gasp tore from her throat as life surged back into her body like a crashing wave. Her vision swam, the colors and shapes around her merging in a dizzy blur of coral walls and glowing light. She sat up quickly, clutching her chest, disoriented, heart pounding and began looking around in confusion.
Ethan gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Welcome back to the land—sorry, the ocean of the living."
Her lips parted, "Who are you? Where... am I?"
Ethan smiled and placed a hand over his chest in a mock bow. "Ethan Carter. Human. Multiversal tourist. As for where you are... You're in Atlantis. The royal sanctuary beneath the palace."
She blinked, struggling to anchor herself in the moment. Her gaze drifted down to her hands—alive, warm, unbroken. No blood. No pain.
"But… I thought I died," she whispered, "Orm… he—was it a dream?"
Ethan shook his head slowly. "No, Your Majesty. It wasn't a dream."
Her eyes flicked to him, searching his face. She could sense the truth in his words—stern, regretful, undeniable.
Ethan said, "Your son betrayed you. He murdered you and declared war on the surface world and taken the Atlantean armies to the surface."
He explained the situation, including details about her other son, Arthur Curry.
Atlanna's mouth fell open slightly, horror dawning in her eyes. "No… no, that can't be."
A cold silence settled over the chamber. Floating beside them, Didi watched without interrupting—her expression unreadable, her starry eyes calm.
Atlanna slowly rose to her feet, "No… I have to stop him." Her voice, once soft and noble, now rang with royal resolve. "He betrayed me—his own mother—and now he seeks to unleash war on the surface world. I must return. I must hold him accountable. As queen… I must ensure justice is served."
But Ethan stepped in front of her, firm yet respectful. "You're making the same mistake again," he said gently, but with quiet strength.
Her eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"
Ethan raised his hand and clenched it into a fist, then slowly opened it as if miming the release of pressure.
"You're trying to seal a storm in a bottle, Your Majesty," he explained. "Hold it tight enough… and it'll explode. Eventually. Just because you want peace doesn't mean everyone else does."
He walked closer, his voice lowering.
"The truth is… most of Atlantis believes the surface world is weak. Disorganized. Easy to conquer. The resentment, the fear, the pride—it's all been simmering beneath the surface. And Orm—he's using that belief to fuel this war."
Atlanna's shoulders stiffened, the pain of betrayal flashing in her eyes again. "And you think I should just let him do it?" she asked, almost accusingly.
"No," Ethan replied evenly. "I think it's time Atlantis learned the real cost of war. I think it's time your people saw what war really means."
He met her gaze unflinchingly. "War isn't something you start on a whim. It's not glory. It's not victory parades and proud declarations. It's death. It's chaos. And it's time someone taught them that lesson before they bring the whole kingdom to ruin."
Atlanna's breath caught. Her fists clenched by her sides. As a mother, she was shattered. As a queen, she was torn. Her heart ached, but her crown demanded clarity.
"And what of casualties?" she asked finally, her voice laced with quiet pain. "What of innocent lives lost on both sides? As Queen of Atlantis, I cannot let my people die for one man's ambition."
Ethan shrugged. "Please. I literally brought you back from the dead. You think I can't handle a few more?"
He gestured at her with both hands, as if presenting evidence. "Trust me. I can handle a few casualties. I'm not just some guy in a nice suit."
Didi leaning against the wall, let out a long, exasperated sigh and shook her head. "He's not wrong," she muttered.
Atlanna glanced at her, then back at Ethan, her expression unreadable. She studied him—his posture, his confidence, the strange energy that radiated from him. There was something odd about the man. He didn't feel like a soldier. Not like a sorcerer. Not like any Atlantean she'd ever known.
He was powerful, yes. But more than that… he was different. Otherworldly. Dangerous, yet oddly sincere.
Still, her royal instincts whispered caution. "I still don't know if I can fully trust you," she admitted.
Ethan nodded. "You shouldn't. I'd be disappointed if you did. But here's what I'll offer."
He waved a hand, and with a soft whoosh, a portal opened—swirling with energy.
"You'll be able to observe everything from this dimension. Watch everything unfold. If it gets too far, and you want to step in—I'll bring you out, just say the word."
Atlanna watched the portal form, its swirling lights casting shifting shadows on the walls. "You can do this?" she asked, astonished.
"I can do a lot of things, Your Majesty," Ethan replied casually, with a wink. "But mostly, I'm just here to help."
She turned back toward him, lips parting, hesitant. "…Who are you?"
That question lingered like a ripple across still water.
Ethan offered a playful smile, "Ethan Carter. Ordinary businessman. Average human. Nothing special at all."
Didi burst out laughing, "Wow," she said while rolling her eyes. "That might be the biggest lie I've heard this century."
He gestured to the woman hovering beside him. "And this is Didi. My companion. Occasionally, the literal embodiment of Death."
Didi rolled her eyes dramatically.
Atlanna raised an elegant brow, unsure if she was standing in the presence of madmen, gods, or something far more dangerous.
But one thing was certain.
They had saved her. When all else had failed.
And for now, that was enough.
With a long breath, she stepped toward the portal and stopped just at the edge. She turned back to Ethan once more, regal and thoughtful.
"If Arthur, my other son truly stands for the surface world… if he opposes Orm…"
Ethan nodded, "He will. He's going to be one of the heroes this world needs."
Her eyes softened. "Then I will watch. And wait. But if things go too far…"
He raised a hand in surrender. "You'll have your say."
The Queen of Atlantis offered a final look—complex, cautious, but not without a trace of reluctant hope. Then, she stepped into the portal.
The swirling energy wrapped around her, and she vanished from sight.
Ethan let the portal linger for a moment longer before closing it with a snap of his fingers.
Beside him, Didi crossed her arms. "You're quite the smooth talker."
Ethan chuckled.
------------------
Back to Present Events…
The battlefield between the split ocean was a swirling chaos of broken ships, and panicked cries.
Atlantean warriors clashed with the combined forces of the surface world, and ancient creatures swam through bloodied water. But then—like a ghost rising from the past—the water shimmered, and a figure emerged.
Queen Atlanna had returned.
Her silver-white hair flowed like ribbons in the current, and her presence was commanding, ethereal—like a goddess returned from death.
The fighting slowed.
A few Atlanteans spotted her first, their eyes going wide in disbelief. The whispers began almost instantly, like ripples on a still pond.
"Is that…?"
"No. It can't be…"
"She's dead. She's supposed to be dead!"
"She was entombed! We held the vigil—how is she alive?"
"Is that… Queen Atlanna?"
"She's alive? How—?"
"But she was killed…"
Shock rippled through their ranks like a tsunami.
Every eye turned toward her as she hovered above the battlefield with the poise of a sovereign born. And then, her voice cut through the chaos like a blade through silk.
"Orm! That's enough. I've seen enough of this madness."
Orm, armed with his golden trident and adorned in his armor, turned to the voice. His face paled. For a moment, his grip on the trident faltered. "You… no," he breathed. "You're dead. I saw your body."
Atlanna stepped forward, her eyes full of disappointment, but also sorrow.
Mera stood motionless, "My queen…" she whispered, voice cracking. "You're… alive."
Atlanna gave her a soft smile. "Of course, Mera. I've been watching. And I'm very proud of how you've held yourself amidst this madness."
She turned her gaze to Arthur. Her son.
Arthur stood frozen, mouth parted slightly. His jaw clenched, but his eyes shimmered with emotion. "Mother…" he choked out.
Atlanna smiled again—warm and full of pride. "My dear son."
Arthur blinked rapidly, tears pricking his eyes. But he held them back, just barely.
Orm's eyes were wild now. "This is a trick! You should be dead! You are dead!"
He raised his trident, fury overtaking reason—ready to strike. "This is an illusion! A trick!"
But before he could swing it—
CRACK!
A golden lasso whipped through the water like a striking eel, wrapping around his arm and yanking the trident from his grip.
"Not today," Diana muttered as she reeled him forward.
And then—
BZZZZZTTT!
Cyborg appeared above him, arms lit with blue energy. "High-frequency disorientation coming up."
He released a wave of sonic disruption that rattled the water around them. Orm screamed, clutching his ears, dropping to one knee.
The trident soared through the water and landed in Atlanna's hand with a heavy thunk. She raised it high, and her voice boomed with regal authority.
"I AM YOUR QUEEN, ATLANNNA! I LIVE! AND I COMMAND YOU—ALL OF YOU—TO LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS!"
The current stilled. The battle halted.
"No more bloodshed!" she continued. "Not in my name. Not for vengeance. This war ends now."
Some Atlantean generals exchanged hesitant glances. Others dropped their weapons outright.
Orm staggered upright, still disoriented. "You think this is over?! I won't—"
WHAM!
Arthur charged in, driving a fist into his brother's jaw. "That's for killing our mother!"
Another punch. And another.
Orm crumpled, dazed and coughing, collapsing into the silt below.
Silence blanketed the battlefield—until mechanical whirring and the flapping of a dark cape cut through the quiet.
Batman descended from the sky in his armored suit, landing with surgical precision. Beside him hovered a man in sleek black armor, with glowing red eyes and a breathing mask hissing with every breath.
Black Manta.
He was furious. "No… this can't be happening," he screamed, shaking his head violently. "I worked this plan for years! I orchestrated everything!"
He took a step forward—but before he could even finish his sentence—
BOOM!
A lightning bolt screamed down from the sky, slamming into him and sending his smoking body crashing into a nearby Atlantean vehicle.
Ethan Carter floated down from above with hands in his pockets, "Not every villain gets their speech, pal," he said while landing softly beside the others.
A ripple of amusement and surprise spread through the Justice League ranks.
Anna descended right after him as she landed with a graceful thud. Diana, already on the ground, walked up beside them.
Anna noticed instantly, there's some change with the looks Diana giving Ethan.
There was a long pause.
Anna glanced toward Ethan, then back at Diana. "We'll talk later."
Flash zipped into formation beside them, Shazam floated down, Superman hovered overhead, Cyborg stood with his arm cannons smoking, and Green Lantern stood there silently.
The League had assembled.
Mera slowly approached Atlanna. Her voice trembled with emotion. "But… how is this possible? My queen… you were…"
"We'll speak of it later," she said. Atlanna replied, her gaze now fixed on Ethan. "I demand answers from you."
Ethan tilted his head. "What now?"
"You brought me back, yes. But you also killed many today."
He shrugged slightly. "To be fair… I was defending myself."
Anna groaned. "You wanted to use that move, didn't you?"
Ethan gave a mock-serious nod. "I plead the fifth."
Anna turned to Diana. "You see this shit?"
Diana crossed her arms. "Yeah, Anna. I see his shit."
"What happened to my cute, innocent Diana?"
"I evolved," she shot back flatly.
With a deep breath, Ethan stepped forward and raised his hand.
"Alright," he muttered while eyes narrowing. "Resetting the clock."
Time bent.
The battlefield shimmered. Dead bodies reversed their descent into silence. Broken machines pieced themselves back together. Wounded Atlanteans gasped awake. Ships lifted from ocean floors.
The entire battlefield rolled backward—like rewinding a film reel. Death itself was undone.
And then…
Silence.
The battle was paused, but the people were alive.
Every soldier turned toward Ethan—eyes wide with disbelief. Reactions rippled.
Shazam's jaw dropped. "Dude… you can do that?!"
Flash blinked rapidly. "I think I just watched death do a U-turn."
Superman frowned, Cyborg scanned the energy reading. "Whatever that was… it broke laws of physics."
Even Mera looked awed. "You brought them back…"
Only Batman remained stoic.
His cowl cast shadows over his eyes, but they were narrowed—calculating.
He took a step forward, silent.
Ethan turned toward him. "Something on your mind, Bats?"
Batman's voice was gravel and suspicion. "Just wondering…"
He stepped even closer. "…what kind of man casually bends death like it's a game?"
The tension grew again—thick and heavy.
But Ethan only smiled with hands in his pockets. "To be honest, I didn't bend death—she's just a good friend of mine."
---------------
Author's Note:
How was the chapter?
I was a bit sleepy while writing this one, so if you spot any mistakes, feel free to point them out. I'll make the necessary changes.
As always, I really appreciate your reviews and ideas!
Thanks for reading!