The team had returned to a stable realm, the chaos of the Void Nexus behind them. For the moment, they found themselves in a peaceful glade, where the trees whispered ancient secrets, and the skies shimmered with hues of gold and lavender. But the events in the Nexus left scars—not just on the realm, but on the team itself.Kei's Awakening

Kei sat on a rock, her frost blade resting across her lap. The weapon had changed during the battle, its crystalline structure pulsing faintly as though alive. As she ran her fingers along its edge, a vision consumed her.

She stood in a realm of endless snow and ice, the air heavy with ancient power. A towering figure approached her—a radiant being clad in shimmering armor of frost and light, holding a blade identical to hers.

Frost Sentinel: "Kei... you are my chosen, the bearer of the Eternal Frost. But your power is incomplete. You have yet to unlock your true potential."

Kei stepped forward, her voice firm. "I've fought gods and monsters. What more is there to unlock?"

The Sentinel extended its hand, and a storm of ice and snow swirled around Kei. The air itself seemed to freeze, yet she stood unharmed.

Frost Sentinel: "You carry the weight of the realms, but your heart holds back. True mastery of the Eternal Frost requires balance—resolve tempered by compassion. Only then will you become what you are destined to be: the Frost Guardian of the Multiverse."

The vision faded as quickly as it had come. Kei gasped, her blade glowing brighter than ever.

Ignis approached, her flames dimmed but steady. "You okay? You've been staring at that thing like it owes you money."

Kei smiled faintly. "I think I'm starting to understand... who I'm meant to be."

Ignis's Inner Fire

Later, as the group rested, Ignis wandered to the edge of the glade. She sat by a stream, her reflection flickering in the water's surface. Her flames danced lightly on her skin, but she could feel something deeper within her—a storm of fire waiting to be unleashed.

Closing her eyes, she focused on the heat inside her. A memory surfaced—not of her past battles, but of a dream she'd had years ago.

In the dream, she stood before a colossal being made of molten lava and glowing embers. The air around them shimmered with unbearable heat, yet she didn't flinch.

Primordial Flame: "You are the spark that can become the inferno. But you are not yet ready. The fire you wield is but a fraction of the true blaze."

Ignis smirked in defiance. "I've burned through armies. What's left to learn?"

The being roared, and the earth beneath her feet cracked and melted.

Primordial Flame: "The fire consumes all... unless it is controlled. Only when you tame the flames within will you transcend into the Phoenix Ascendant, the Eternal Flame of Creation."

As the vision ended, Ignis's reflection in the stream changed for a moment. Her eyes glowed brighter, and her hair seemed to burn with a deeper intensity. She clenched her fists, a renewed sense of purpose surging through her.

"Guess it's time to step up," she muttered, returning to the group.

Lucifer's Unease

Lucifer watched the two warriors from a distance, his usually smug expression replaced by something more serious. He leaned against a tree, swirling a glass of wine he'd conjured out of thin air.

Raven noticed and approached him. "You're worried."

Lucifer raised an eyebrow. "Me? Worried? That doesn't sound like me at all."

Raven crossed her arms. "You felt it, didn't you? Their powers. They're growing."

Lucifer sighed, the facade dropping for a moment. "Yes, and that's what concerns me. Nullus was just the appetizer. Whatever's coming next will make that little scuffle look like a playground fight."

Raven nodded. "And you think they won't be ready?"

Lucifer gave a half-smile. "Oh, they'll be ready. The question is... will the multiverse survive the cost of their awakening?"

The Justice League Returns

As the group regrouped, a portal shimmered open nearby. Kei and Ignis immediately drew their weapons, but a familiar voice called out.

"Stand down, it's us."

From the portal emerged Wonder Woman, followed by Batman, The Flash, and Cyborg. Their presence immediately shifted the air, the sheer weight of their legacy undeniable.

Wonder Woman approached Kei and Ignis, her expression a mix of relief and admiration. "You've done well to make it this far. But the battle ahead will require more than just strength. It will require unity."

Ignis quirked an eyebrow. "No offense, but where were you guys when Nullus was about to tear the realms apart?"

Batman stepped forward, his voice calm but commanding. "We were dealing with another incursion. The multiverse is unraveling at an accelerated rate. Nullus was only one piece of a larger puzzle."

Cyborg projected a hologram of a fracturing multiverse. "Every dimension, every timeline—it's all connected. And the cracks are spreading."

Kei sheathed her blade, her resolve hardening. "Then we stop it. Together."

The Flash grinned. "Now that's the kind of attitude I like."

Lucifer, standing in the background, clapped slowly. "Oh, the gang's all here. How quaint."

Wonder Woman fixed him with a steely gaze. "We tolerate you for now, Lucifer. But if you step out of line..."

Lucifer smirked. "Don't worry, princess. I'm on my best behavior."

Foreshadowing the Strongest Versions

As the Justice League briefed the team, the faint glimmers of Kei and Ignis's strongest forms began to manifest.

Kei's frost blade shimmered with an almost divine light, and her aura radiated a cold that seemed to cleanse rather than destroy. She was beginning to embody the Frost Guardian of the Multiverse.

Ignis's flames burned brighter than ever, their color shifting to a golden hue. Her every movement seemed to ripple with raw, untamed power—a glimpse of her future as the Phoenix Ascendant.

Even the Justice League members exchanged glances, sensing the change.

Batman, ever the strategist, spoke quietly to Wonder Woman. "If they reach their full potential, they could be more powerful than any of us."

Wonder Woman nodded. "Let's hope they use that power wisely. The fate of the multiverse may depend on it."

To Be Continued...