From Metropolis to Los Angeles and all across the world the message bring us the children of El was plastered across television screens, internet news sites and message boards. Those ominous words were trending but no one knew who had sent the message or who these children of El were. No one but a small group of people who had become family. Barry, Alura and Kara were gathered in the couple's apartment as Clark and Lois followed the news from the Daily Planet. Bruce and Tim were monitoring everything from the Bat-cave in Gotham. Cisco, Caitlin and Harry were doing the same from Star Labs in Central City. The Worldkillers had made a bold move in calling out their enemies, but had done nothing else in the week since they sent their message.

"They're here. They know that Kryptonians are here on Earth. What are they waiting for?"

"For you and Clark to make the first move, Kara. It's not unlike when Thawne revealed himself as the Reverse Flash. He wanted to beat me, prove he was superior in every aspect of our powers. It was almost a shell game."

"And you told me how that turned out Barry. He almost killed you."

"Because I let him get to me. I did make the first move and I wasn't ready for him."

"So you're saying we should let the Worldkillers attack first? How many innocents are going to die if we let that happen?"

"That's not what I'm saying at all Kara. The Worldkillers want you to believe you can win. They want you overconfident when you face them. If you go into that type of fight unprepared like I did, the consequences will..."

"Barry's right Kara."

"Mom?"

"On Argo; we thought we were safe. We believed that nothing could harm our small haven. As such we weren't prepared to fight. Our weapons were useless. What Barry's saying and I agree with him is for us to not let the Worldkillers gain an advantage. We meet them on equal ground, on our terms. When it does come to a fight, we'll have a chance of winning. Of protecting our adopted home the way Krypton couldn't be protected."

Two years ago Kara would have disagreed. Her first fight with Live Wire was a colossal failure. She had gone into that war with no plan except confronting her enemy with an eighty-five percent chance of punching. But she's learned a lot since then. Alex taught her to fight against the odds without her powers, Barry taught her to use her mind and outthink her enemies. And she had a feeling that everything Clark had discovered about the Worldkillers and their powers was accurate. Brute strength wasn't going to be enough.

In the week since Reign and Brainiac sent the message, she was furious at the lack of response from the Kryptonians. On Krypton she remembered that Zor-El had been overconfident and walked directly into her trap. It was the same with Argo City. She was now forced to wonder why the last children of Krypton hadn't answered her challenge.

"You promised us, Dox. Revenge on the last Kryptonians. You personally assured me that when the time was right; we would call them out. That they would not let a challenge go unanswered."

"Kal-El was like that in my last confrontation with him. This is uncharacteristic of him, Reign. I surmise that he believes he can bait us into attacking first. To make a mistake. He would not do so unless he anticipates gaining an easy victory."

"Then let us show them how wrong they are. If Kal-El is so sure he can win, then let's make them regret their choice."

Reign and her sisters each chose a specific city to target. In their time on Brainiac's vessel they had learned which cities were protected by the heroes of this planet. Deimax was tasked with attacking National City. Perrilus went for Gotham, Flower of Heaven and Reign chose Central City. Brainiac was not one to let his plan go to waste and chose to attack Metropolis. He also broadcast a message to each city revealing the attacks to come.

When the messages were played, Clark, Barry, Kara and Alura knew they had to respond. The rest of their allies agreed to be a second wave of attack should the worst happen. J'onn and M'Gann had also received the message at the D.E.O. and gave Kara their word that they would protect National while she and Barry defended Central. Alura, though she wanted to stay with her daughter, agreed to Clark's request to help protect Gotham. But splitting up was the outcome Reign had hoped for. The separation would leave them weakened and vulnerable. This was all she needed to fulfill Brainiac's plan which would lead to her plan of targeting him next.

Barry and Kara were at Star Labs when the alarms started sounding about the city being attacked. Cisco and Harry quickly pulled up the traffic cameras while Caitlin began trying to coordinate with medical personnel and first responders. Cisco was the first to locate the threats attacking on two different fronts. One was at the waterfront hovering in the air until C.C.P.D. opened fire. Through the video feed they could see as the hostile began attacking mercilessly with what appeared to be heat blasts.

Harry located the other hostile in the middle of downtown Central City throwing cars into buildings. He could tell that this one was clearly female as Iris walked in and remembered the farmer's story from a few months ago. Gray skin, red hair, this was the creature that crawled out of the remains of his truck. Barry and Kara knew what they had to do and both took off to protect the city. Barry ran straight for the waterfront to assist the beleaguered police while Kara landed in front of the other Worldkiller.

"HEY! Leave those people alone! You want a fight? How about you fight me?"

Kara's proclamation caught the attention of the Worldkiller holding a car above her head. She quickly turned and took instant notice of the crest on the blonde woman's chest. She remembered that sigil as the last time she saw it, it was covered in Zor-El's blood after she snapped his neck. Undaunted, she spoke to her new adversary in Kryptonian.

("Daughter of Krypton. Choosing to confront me was a mistake. One that will lead to your death.")

("You speak Kryptonian. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.")

("I learned your language while being enslaved to protect your people. Now my sisters and I can finish what we started.")

("I think you'll find it far more difficult this time. When you destroyed my home-world we were no more powerful than the humans we protect here on Earth.")

("We know all about your powers under the light of Earth's sun. Brainiac informed us of them in regards to his many battles with a so-called Superman. And you're even more overconfident than I am. The Worldkillers were created for one purpose and one only. I am Reign; and before I end your life, tell me your name.")

("Kara Zor-El, and I know who you are. You killed my father.")

A sadistic smile adorned Reign's face at hearing the name Zor-El again. She knew she was going to enjoy this fight more than any other she had been in before. Wasting no time she launched into the fray with a speed Kara hadn't expected. In mere seconds, punches were being thrown leaving both women bruised and bleeding. Across the city, Barry was confronting the other Worldkiller and outpacing every heat blast she threw at him. Flower of Heaven didn't bother to introduce herself as she was faced with an immediate threat. But try as she might, she couldn't even come close to hitting him.

Barry could see the damage she was causing to the surrounding area and knew he had to move the fight elsewhere. Moving faster than the Worldkiller thought possible, he dashed out on to the water to which she followed him and continued her relentless attack. Her heat blasts were causing water to erupt all around the speedster but he could still use that to his advantage. Once again digging his heels in and moving in controlled precise formations, Barry started pulling the water along with him. With his speed he created a tidal wave as he turned and ran directly for his enemy.

The Worldkiller knew that the water wouldn't hurt her, but it would enable him to stop her heat blasts so she flew higher just avoiding the water that came crashing down as Barry ran back onto dry land. She was only slightly impressed and had a feeling that he wasn't Kryptonian, but had still allied himself with them. This fact alone enraged her as he took off running again and she followed. As he ran by he could see Kara engaged in combat with the other Worldkiller and hoped that she would be all right. He was concerned for her, but had his own situation to deal with.

In National City J'onn and M'Gann were faring better against Deimax, but their fight was not without complications. Deimax was equally as strong as both of them and while M'Gann was keeping her cool, J'onn's anger at the pain this Worldkiller had caused him, had him attacking in a more brutal fashion. Deimax was enjoying her fight and soon used J'onn's rage against him. She landed a violent strike that knocked him back across the pavement and into a building. M'Gann saw red as her Uncle was sent flying and lost all control. He was just crawling out of the busted masonry as her body shifted from her Green Martian form to White.

M'Gann erupted in a vicious roar using every power she had to overwhelm Deimax. This was a situation the Worldkiller had not expected and she began to fall back. Her Martian enemy was beating her senseless, causing multiple wounds and blood to pour out of those wounds. The ferocity M'Gann fought with had Deimax know she was on the losing end and if the fight continued, she would die. Catching one of M'Gann's punches with a block, she pressed the button on her wrist controls and teleported back up to her ship. J'onn was still recovering as he trudged across the shattered ground to stand in front of his niece.

"M'Gann..."

M'Gann shifted back to her green form and looked down at her feet in shame. J'onn was beginning to feel anger brewing again as he took in his niece and the thought that she had lied to him crossed his mind. He wanted to read her mind, find out the truth but she spoke before he could.

"I didn't lie to you, Uncle. I just didn't tell you the whole truth."

"A lie of omission is still a lie M'Gann. Are you really a Green Martian, or did you just concoct that story to get close to me? Was Malefic even really your father?"

"Malefic was my father, Uncle. That part was true. But my mother was a White Martian. She hid who she was by taking the form of a Green because she really did want peace between her kind and yours. She was afraid that if the truth came out, both factions of our kind would kill her. The truth came out anyway when I was born. Your brother was enraged, and he killed her anyway when I was born with white skin. He would have killed me too if my benefactor hadn't come along at that same moment."

J'onn was still angry, but he could tell how difficult life had been for M'Gann. She was at war with the constant dueling nature of her Green and White Martian heritage. All the secrets and truths would be revealed in time, but the threat of the Worldkillers was all that mattered right now. Across the country in Gotham, Alura was still in combat with Perrilus. The Worldkiller could have used her toxikinesis to end the battle quickly but she wanted the Kryptonian to suffer.

("You and your sisters destroyed my home. You killed my husband. I will not let you take another planet.")

("You misunderstand our intentions Kryptonian. We're not here to destroy this pathetic little world. Our intention is only to complete our mission of killing you and the rest of your kind. The prophecy will not be denied. A Kryptonian will destroy this planet.")

("You lie.")

("You can think so. But events have been set in motion for that very outcome. She will destroy this world when she realizes the truth and becomes the Worldkiller she was meant to be. Her old life will be dead as she joins us.")

Alura unleashed a furious blast of heat vision at the Worldkiller across from her. Her power started to burn Perrilus' skin and she was forced to retreat from the battle. But the Worldkiller departed knowing she had done what she set out to do, sowing seeds of doubt in Alura's mind. Meanwhile in Metropolis Clark was confronting Brainiac. Clark had expected a fight but his longtime adversary simply gave him a speech.

"Time is fleeting Kal-El. You only have so much left before this world ends. Yet you stand here wanting to fight me when there are more important things to do. You should treasure the family you have and spend time with them."

"I treasure every moment with my family Brainiac. And nothing you or the Worldkillers can do will ever change that. So stop with your inane speeches. Let's get down to business so you can go back to wherever you came from this time when I defeat you."

"So confident. I am not the one you need to defeat. I am not the threat you need to beat into submission. Ironically I am not even the greatest threat you will face when the Worldkillers complete their mission. She will be and you have one chance to save her. One chance to protect her and yet you are still here waiting for me to fight you."

"She? She who? Brainiac..."

Brainiac said nothing further and turned away. Clark was confused until he felt a jab at the bond he and Kara share as cousins. He knows that it was the same pain she felt last year when he was injured at the old Cadmus and immediately flew off for Central City. Kara was still locked in battle with Reign; the fight was going her way and nearing the end. Reign for her part was bruised and bloody but she had gotten her own good hits in on Kara as well. Both were exhausted and as Kara made one more punch, she faltered just long enough for Reign to take advantage.

The Worldkiller had just been waiting for an opportunity to pull the dagger she had concealed in her boot before coming to Central City and she found it when Kara's punch missed wildly. This dagger was no ordinary blade, it had been constructed from a shard of black kryptonite from the Worldkiller's fortress. Kara began to recover and prepare to throw another punch when the weapon was stabbed deep into her right shoulder. A scream of pain exploded from her throat as Barry was running by the building with his own adversary still in pursuit.

Barry heard Kara's scream and instantly changed direction faster than Flower of Heaven could follow. He ran up the side of the building to see the other Worldkiller's hand around Kara's neck, holding her over the side of the building. Fear for his wife consumed his heart as he quickly ran around the two attempting to do whatever he could to keep Kara from being dropped. Reign could tell that the woman in her grasp meant a lot to this man, and knew that if she let go, he'd be devastated. With a twisted smile, Reign found an opening as Barry stopped running long enough to change his tactic. In that instant, the Worldkiller pulled the dagger from Kara's shoulder, eliciting another torturous scream before she fell.

"NO!"

Barry screamed in anger as he watched Kara fall and was just about to run down the building after her when another red and blue blur flew through the sky, easily catching Kara and taking her to safety. Barry knew Clark had arrived just in time as the younger hero turned his attention to the woman with blood red hair, a dark smile still on her face.

"You loved her, didn't you? Love is the greatest lie of all. Now you'll get to watch her die."

Lightning sparked in Barry's eyes as his rage exploded. The whole exchange between him, Kara, and the Worldkiller had taken less than two minutes. He was instantly throwing super speed punches at his enemy and landing every one. Reign immediately realized that he was faster than her and could do nothing to respond. She was soon down on her knees still receiving multiple hits that were fueled with electricity. Barry was relentless and only stopped when he decided to hurt the Worldkiller as she had hurt Kara.

"If she dies...there's nowhere you can go that I won't find you."

Reign heard the fury in this man's voice and she knew he wouldn't ever give up. Only a slight look of fear entered her eyes as she watched him vibrate his right hand. She wasn't sure what he was going to do and remained there frozen as his hand was soon vibrating too fast for her to see. Barry could have ended her life right then, but chose to cause her pain. His hand went directly through her right shoulder, tearing muscle and sinew from the bone.

Reign screamed in agony before falling backwards off the building. She still had the dagger in hand and was caught by Flower of Heaven before she could fall to the ground. Their ship was still cloaked in flight above Central City so the sisters made a hasty retreat. All four Worldkillers had endured severe injuries that would require time to heal, but time was all they needed as they had the means to create their own Kryptonian weapon.

Barry was still furious that the two Worldkillers had escaped but calmed himself enough to return to Star Labs. He had seen Clark fly off in that direction as it was closer than the D.E.O. or the Fortress of Solitude. Both secondary locations would be better suited to help Kara heal, but they needed answers first so they could proceed properly.

Barry arrived with Alura entering just a few short moments afterward. She had felt her daughter's scream of pain all the way in Gotham and hit her top speed to get back to Central City. They both stepped into the examination room with Barry pulling his mask down. Kara was on the bed, writhing in pain and tears filling her eyes. Caitlin was the first to approach as she had barely been able to run an X-ray while Clark held Kara down.

"Barry...there's a shard of black metal or rock in Kara's wound."

"Can you get it out?"

"I tried, but the shard is too deep for me to get with forceps. And not knowing what it is, makes the situation much more risky."

"Clark...what about burning it out with heat vision?"

"Not an option Barry. I don't know how much damage I could cause to Kara even with a controlled burst."

"Well we can't just leave it in there! We have to find a way to get the shard out!"

Barry was terrified at the thought of losing Kara like in his trip to the future. He had sacrificed himself for her, but now he thought this was the universe trying to balance it out. He wasn't going to let her die, but he was frozen until she screamed again before beginning to flat-line. In his addled state, he thought he heard someone mention phasing the shard out of her, and in that instant he knew what he had to do. In the next instant he was at her side.

"Kara...Kara! Listen to me...this is going to hurt, but I have to save you. I'm not going to let you die!"

Barry started vibrating his hand again as he prepared to reach for the shard inside Kara's shoulder. He could see the object from the image Caitlin had managed to take and knew where it was. He had little time left but knew Kara was still fighting.

"Barry...whatever you're going to do, do it fast. We're losing her!"

"Clark...hold her shoulders down...as gently as possible. Alura...do the same with her legs. Don't let her move, if she does, I could cause more damage."

Clark and Alura did as Barry instructed as the vibrations of his hand increased in velocity. Soon enough his hand was inside the open wound on approach to the shard of the dagger. When he felt the solid piece of the object, he slowed his hand and gently pulled it free. It didn't come easily, and for what felt like hours, everyone watched and waited during the actual seconds that it took him to remove the shard.

With the object out of her body, Kara's breathing began to stabilize as her heart rate started to return to normal. Barry fell back in a chair, his own breath coming in short gasps. He hadn't had to use his powers this way before and that experience coupled with Kara almost dying a second time had him emotionally beaten. He barely even noticed when Caitlin brought a washcloth over with a bowl of water and proceeded to clean Kara's blood off his right hand, the shard still clenched in his fist.

Clark had used his heat vision to cauterize Kara's open wound and departed with Alura and Caitlin after Barry finally let the shard go. All three of them knew that the couple didn't need them hovering while they recovered. During these events the Worldkillers had returned to their own Fortress where Reign's wound was already healing. All they had to do now was wait as Brainiac took the dagger with Kryptonian blood and placed it in the chamber. With the door closed, the systems activated and began mapping the D.N.A. to create the newest Worldkiller.