(General POV)
Location the Void of the Forsaken, Castle Nightscream; Throne Chamber
Mao is smiling at what he just done, waiting for everyone in the North Pole is a literal gauntlet of death and peril, he can hear the minions cheer like crazy, at the exploding robots, with Jinx cheering right along with the Browns, Reds, and others.
Thing are just getting started, already all group are hostile and eager to engage one another, and the fighting hasn't officially started, all this is Luthor's usual poke, before the backstab.
Which in comics, it'd be entertaining...but in real life, it's boring, Mao snapped his clawed fingers, calling some maid drones to attention.
Normally he'd telepathically called one of his Infernal Lords, but this time, he wanted to do this way, so he wouldn't get a bit distracted, as Luthor's Legion of Doom...they'll be the first to enter the Cube, and he wants a few Infernal Lords inside there, so they can have fun and make things much more entertaining...so he gave his command to the drones, as well as requested more food and drink, as this show is about to get even better.
Everyone around the Lord of the Forsaken, could feel that he has something special for them to enjoy, as Cyn speak out, "Intrigue. Rest on fist. Hubby? What do you have plan, for us now?" her smile wide and eager.
Everyone looked at the Absolute Solver, and chuckle, as like Jinx, Cyn has no filter and always said what some of them, wanted to voice out loud.
Mao patted and petted her head, careful not to mess with her bow, as he told her that "she has wait, and it'll be fun" she pouted, with her eyes turning into yellow xs, as she responded, "Annoyed. Hubby always teasing!! Can't you just tell me. Sad face. Quivering lips. Please, Mao?" Mao just kissed her, and told her to wait.
She blushed a bit, and continued to pout with her arms, and tentacles crossed, as they went back to watching things unfold in the North Pole.
Location the New Earth; North Pole, Close to the Cube
As Luthor and his team were forced to rush to the center of this frozen wastes, all because this artifact, the grand prize at the end of this childish treasure hunt, has started to once again change the entire region.
Luthor soaring through the air with the assistance of his warsuit, notice as another ice spike erected in front of him, when a black colored arrow, soared passed the massive power suit wearing man, exploding the ice spike, making Lex pleased, as he didn't need to waste his own time on pointless things.
Merlyn he is keeping up with Luthor, one of the few that Luthor has...a measure of respect towards...as the Black Archer, he felt that things are about to get much more difficult, already Luthor instructed Capt. Cold and Lady Shiva, with a number of female assassins to head on ahead, and with luck secure the target before anything else unexpected, happens.
At the same time, with Luthor attack drones are no longer harassing the other groups, that are also in pole, they were advancing through the snow, with accelerate haste!!
Meanwhile Snart adjusting his special goggles, walked behind all the coated assassins, and Shiva, cause only a fool let's any assassin have easy access to one's back.
But he couldn't help but marvel at the extreme change that happened, under his special gear to perfectly adapt and take advantage to cold environments, just like this, he was started to feel a bit of the cold, meaning that the "normal" temperature of North Pole, has dropped once again.
Into a level that even he couldn't comprehend, as his eyes shifted from the assassins, towards the massive structure that is getting closer, and bigger with every step they take, Snart, tightens the grip on his Cold Gun, knowing that he'll have to use it soon.
Location the Eastern Region of the Pole
The young heroes were doubling their efforts to reach the center of the pole, Invincible with Robot and Aqualad's insistence, told the young half-viltrimite to fly a bit ahead of the group.
So he can deal with anything, before it can become a large threat for the team, as he blurred through the snow falling air, above all white when something burst out the snow, a massive black centipede with eye on every section of the insect.
It blackish red mandibles, bite down on Invincible right leg, making him scream in pain, as this weird centipede slams him into the snowy ground.
Grunting in pain, as his leg was bleeding a bit, the centipede strike again, only Mark was ready this time, using his powers to blast forward and obliterate the insect using his superstrength and straight fists to kill the thing...only he's covered now in weird guts and black ooze.
As he's a bit grossed out, he heard the others coming to his location, a slight moment of carelessness, and another centipede emerged from the snow, smashing into Invincible sending him, skipping through the snow, thanks to Miss Martian sensing that Mark was in trouble, she used her telekinesis to stop his flight.
Placing him back on the snow, as Eve, Dupli-kate, and Robot, along with the Young Justice surrounded the wounded Invincible, as more centipedes were emerging from the snow.
Robot found this utterly impossible, not only were these centipede completely unnatural in form, they also defied natural order, as most if not all insects can't survive in such extreme cold conditions.
As he along with the rest of the young heroes, got ready to fight these new enemy, the multi-eye balled, giant black centipedes, started crawling at them to attack, not only them but the other factions in this tundra, were being attacked by these creatures.
Brief Flashback...
Location the Void of the Forsaken, Castle Nightscream; Throne Chamber
Just a hour ago, Mao sent some maid drones to summon a couple of his Infernal Lords, this time they're not meant to "win" persay, but cause chaos, make it look that he is more focus on the upcoming "game", then sent out a massive invasion force.
And right on time, three of his Infernal Lords came through main doors of the throne chamber, first being a mass of black ooze with red accents, with a blank mask for a face, Arakune the tenth, next to pass into the chamber is a giant of flesh, metal, with large claws and a engine connected to his back, Golem the seventh.
And lastly a flamboyant, mismatched clown, Kefka the fourth, who was skipping forward like a uncaring jester, once he and the other reached the center of the chamber, Kefka made a eccentric bow and spoke, "My lord!! How delighted that you'd call me, I been getting soo bored. I need something to destroy, break, and make cry!!!" Mao laughed, as he responded to Kefka, "Trust me Kefka. You, Arakune, and Golem are gonna like, what I'm gonna sent you to do." Kefka giggled, as Golem spoke next, "Me happy. Master give me, something to break. Me happy."
Kefka laughed hysterically, as he'd floated up to Golem's shoulder, telling his fellow lord, that he's completely right.
At that time, Arakune, he'd asked Mao what is it that he desires of them, Mao pointed his index claw at them, telling them to go...around 95% on the heroes, villains, and anti-villain in the tundra, the point isn't to win, but have fun, while making it seem that their too busy with the captive to continue the Nature's Heart hunt.
All three Infernal Lords understood, as Mao summoned the black fog, wrapping around Golem, Arakune, and Kefka sending them to the North Pole, as they're about to cause all sort of chaos to the Legion, Young Justice with the G.O.G, HYDRA, and the Suicide Squad, as Shego cackled a little.
Saying that her man, never fails to deliver, all her sister-wives, agreed with her, as Shego order a maid to bring her a large bottle of scotch, and a glass with ice, Mao shuke his head happily, as Shego really knows to enjoy herself, with that all characters are present and ready for the show...
Location the New Earth; North Pole, Western Region
Sin with Electro and Attuma standing beside her, upon her personal tank, watched as Rhino was leading the charge against the strange centipede monsters that emerged from the snow.
Just when they were starting to make some progress, their attacked by another type of enemy, right now Rhino crushed a centipede under his foot, as the rest of the HYDRA soldiers were firing their various weapons at the creatures, that kept emerging and sometimes tear apart a unfortunate grunt.
Blood, guts, clothes, and armor stained the snow, as another HYDRA solider was coiled around, and bitten on the head, crushing the body, as the insect tore his head off, Sin scoffed and said in accented voice, "Bunch of useless weaklings." Attuma started to laugh, as he'd agreed with the surface woman.
Electro, cracked his neck before he finally decided to join in the fight, soaring in a surge of yellow electricity towards the battle, Attuma then spoke in a clearly mocking tone, "Again you surface dwellers, prove to be amusing little things. I and my forces will deal with these insects, you start moving this meager force."
Attuma jumped off the tank, calling his forces to his side, quickly joined the battle alongside Electro and Rhino, Sin scoffed again, this time in anger.
Aside her grandfather, no one else is allowed to command her...but in this intense, the Atlantean, he was correct.
Their wasting to much time, on literal bugs, when they should be marauding and claiming their prize, turning to a HYDRA soldier using her tank, as cover to fire at the creature, Sin gave her command, "Soldier!! Gather the troops, perform a advancing assault. We've wasted enough time here." the grunt understood, performing the two fisted HYDRA salute, and went to carry out her orders.
But then Sin wondered, if these creatures have something to do with the Forsaken...if this is true, Sin is surprised, usually the Forsaken's action are more louder, bigger, and more chaotic than this.
Shaking her thoughts away, she once again branded her black and red plasma pistol, she started firing red pulse-rounds, at the multi-eye balled centipedes.
Swearing she'll not fail to accomplish a mission, bestowed to her by her grandfather, as her fanatical devotion, was fueling her will and actions at the moment.
Back in the far north, currently Capt. Cold was firing a constant cold stream at a giant black centipede monster.
Freezing it, as it shattered in the wind, all the while the various assassin women around him, were directly fighting against the other centipedes, under the guidance of Shiva.
Shiva, she was performing intricate and skilled sword moves, and motions with her scimitar, dodging the centipedes with ease, while also attacking when she spotted a opening.
Truly a trained assassin of the League, as she leap on top of a centipede, that missed bitting her, she drove her blade onto it shelled body, rushing forward slicing through the entire insect and eyeballs, cutting the insect in two vertical halves.
Snart, he kept firing his cold gun, either shooting cold stream or icicle like bursts at the monsters, as they tore through these centipedes, then as more of these insects came out the snow.
Several explosions occurred on the insects, as both Luthor and Black Archer, have finally regroup with Shiva's group, immediately Luthor crushed a bug by brutal stomp-landing on one, then reaching out his arms.
His warsuit unleashed a large stream of fire, burning and pushing back these creatures, Merlyn followed it up, with shooting several explosive tip arrows, either triggered by Luthor's flames or by impacting the bugs.
As the Legion killed more and more of these centipedes, Snart noticed something.
He called out, "Wait!!" getting everyone's attention, still holding his cold gun at the ready, he continued, "These things...their backing away." Luthor, Shiva, and Black Archer noticed what Snart is saying, the centipede are in a aggressive pose, but they're not attacking, their keeping their distance from them.
Then from the snow, right behind the centipedes a huge mass of black ooze is starting to emerge, soon several skeletal like limbs, from spider legs to a claw grabbing one of the centipedes.
Crushing it, as the mass started to sprout eyeballs, upon seeing this...thing...Capt. Cold, Luthor, and Black Archer aimed at the new creature, that's when they'd heard twisted and madness laced laughing and cackling, as a huge human like mouth, sprouted from the mass.
It laughed as the centipedes, started being absorbed into the mass, it spoke, "So these are my first prey. Hheheahhahhe. This is quite lucky find." Luthor lifted his arm, signaling the others not to attack, as he took some unbothered steps forward, he spoke in his usual superior-than-thou attitude, "My I have you're name, since it clear you're...a intelligent creature." Arakune chuckled, as he responded, "I can tell your clear insult human... Hmm, alien tech, repurposed to a power armor. Such ability...for such a envious imbecile." Luthor face was clearly showing pure anger.
Snart fought the urge to laugh, as they could clearly see that Luthor's pointless attempt of flattering manipulation, ended with him being utterly insulted.
Luthor spoke in angry and insulted sounding voice, "How dare you!!? Do you know, who you're speaking to!!!?" Arakune responded, before Luthor could continue ranting, "Lex Luthor...a human capable of soo much, but waste everything to compete with a wannabe God. The only beings, deserves that reverance is us. The Forsaken..." as Arakune transformed back on base form, with his blank mask in clear display.
Creating a skeletal arm to perform a makeshift bow...for a black ooze, as Arakune introduced himself, "I am Arakune. One of the Lord's vassal, and under his blessing. I'll kill and devour all you humans." Luthor didn't wait, blasting a green beam of kryptonite at Arakune, who easily dodge by slushing to the side.
Once Lex attack, Capt. Cold, Black Archer, and the assassins start attacking, only to keep missing, as Arakune easily evaded all attacks with his slime like form.
Leaping into the air, sprouting several skeletal spider legs, with razor sharp ends, diving at Luthor, as this is Legion's first clash against the Forsaken...