Superman from the comics: Starting with the Black Robe

Chapter 53 Mutiny

Amazon is undergoing a major upheaval.

The pro-war faction, led by Penthesilea, did not want to abandon Britain and retreat to Paradise Island. After all, it was her idea to Wonder Woman that allowed the Atlanteans to land on Paradise Island and fight the Amazons, ultimately triggering an active volcano and causing mutual destruction.

The purpose was to make Diana give up her last hope and instead invade the mortal world, and then fight the Atlanteans to the death until the entire land world completely belonged to the Amazons.

She will then naturally discuss with the Atlanteans how to divide spheres of influence.

But now that Paradise Island has been returned, Diana has decided to give up the land that the Amazons won with their swords and retreat back to that secluded paradise to live like a coward, which Penthesilea cannot accept.

She assembled a loyal armed force and confronted Diana when she ordered a withdrawal:

"Diana, think of your mother, my sister, Queen Hippolyta. Those Atlanteans cruelly murdered her, and we must make those sea creatures pay with their blood!"

Upon hearing this, Diana gripped her sword tighter, but recalling what Joey had once told her, her eyes, which had been burning with rage, cleared again:

"No, my aunt, of course we will not give up our revenge against the Atlanteans, but our revenge against the sea creatures should not come at the cost of the mortal world."

Wonder Woman decides to feign agreement to appease her aunt, as things may not be as simple as they seem. She should retreat to Paradise Island and make further plans.

Diana recalled the conflict between Paradise Island and the Atlanteans over the past year, from her bloody wedding after deciding to marry Aquaman, to Mera, the Queen of the Sea, with whom she had always had a good relationship, suddenly coming to assassinate her and being killed in return...

It was as if an invisible hand was slowly pushing the situation forward, gradually escalating the conflict and leading to the current situation: a full-scale war between the two races.

Wonder Woman herself doesn't approve of Joey's talk about ending the war between the two races. She herself is willing to stop the war, but it's not certain that Aquaman, who currently has the upper hand, can accept peace between the two sides.

Peace is only possible when both sides are exhausted and wounded in a war.

The Amazons were willing to accept peace because of the regaining of Paradise Island, while the Atlanteans had not yet felt any real pain.

"No, Diana, I won't stand by and watch you hand over the living space that belongs to the Amazons!"

Penthesilea pressed forward with her spear in hand, while Artemis and her guards surged into the Buckingham Palace chambers from behind.

Meanwhile, the "Nemesis" guards, personally assembled by Diana, remained largely loyal to their queen. They emerged from the corners of the palace and confronted these rebels.

Diana felt a sense of absurdity upon seeing this scene. She had read in history books about so many men fighting each other for power, even killing their own brothers. She never imagined that Paradise Island would be no exception.

Penthesilea's demands have some merit, and she certainly has a considerable number of potential supporters among the Amazons. Whether it's seeking revenge for the Queen or the fragility of the mortal world, many Amazons, including Diana before her, have developed uncontrollable ambitions.

But now that the other side has openly challenged Diana's authority as Queen of Paradise Island, things have actually become easier.

Diana waved her hand to stop the tension between the two sides, then drew her sword and pointed it at her rebellious aunt:

"What the Amazons need most right now is unity, not this pointless fighting. Penthesilea, let's solve this the Amazons' way—you and me."

As soon as Diana finished speaking, the guards of both sides stepped aside, clearing a large circular space in the center of the palace.

Now Penthesilea had no choice but to agree: "You dare challenge your own teacher? Bring it on, Diana."

Diana also entered the battlefield: "I still remember the days when you taught me swordsmanship when I was a child. When did we become so distant?"

……

Joey was waiting high above Buckingham Palace, his gaze easily passing over the rooftops to see the battle between Diana and Pentessilia.

He overheard everything, including how Penthesilea had summoned Artemis to plot the conspiracy and how she had organized her forces step by step over the previous two hours.

He didn't tell Diana, nor did he try to stop it himself.

It wasn't that he enjoyed watching beautiful women fight, but rather that it wasn't appropriate for Joey to say such things.

This was essentially an internal matter for the Amazons, and Diana wasn't stupid; she knew without being told that ordering the Amazons to withdraw would cause some backlash.

However, she probably didn't expect that the person leading this backlash would be her own aunt.

It has begun—Joey gathered his wandering thoughts and focused on watching the duel between Diana and Pentessilia.

Diana was at a disadvantage from the start of the battle, struggling to advance or retreat under her aunt's relentless offensive.

After all, her opponent was her aunt who had raised her since childhood, and she was also highly skilled in martial arts. Her spear was aimed at vital points, which made Diana's situation even more difficult as she was already restrained.

Diana parried the spear with her sword, defusing her opponent's deadly attacks one after another in a battle that was already at a disadvantage, and gradually gained a foothold in the contest of martial arts between the two sides.

Although it was entertaining, Joey kept yawning while watching it.

If Diana had shown even half the ruthlessness she displayed when dealing with Joey, this battle would have ended long ago.

Before long, Diana found an opportunity, swung her sword upwards, and forced Penthesilea to loosen one side of the spear.

Then, with a side kick, he sent Pentessilia flying and snatched the weapon from the other man's hand.

"It's over, Penthesilea."

Penthesilea wanted to get up and fight again, but Diana had already pressed the tip of her spear against his shoulder.

After resolving the internal crisis without bloodshed, Diana ordered Penthesilea and Artemis to be imprisoned and then went to where Joey was high in the sky:

"Thank you very much for not interfering in this internal farce."

The Amazonian air force had already informed Diana of Joey's arrival.

At this moment, she was beginning to believe that Joey had the magnanimity and vision to lead the two races to peace.

Joey didn't speak, but looked at Diana's waist.

The Lasso of Truth.

"No."

Diana knew what Joey was thinking, because she thought the same thing, but she hadn't done it yet.

Reason told her that she could use the Lasso of Truth to interrogate Penthes and Artemis.

The outbreak of this war was shrouded in mystery, and the two of them couldn't wait to jump out and oppose it just when they decided to keep the war away from the mortal world.

But emotionally, Diana felt she might not be able to accept the truth.

At her bloody wedding with Aquaman, who murdered her mother, the previous Queen of Paradise Island, Hippolyta?

The answer to this question now seems worth further investigation.

If the final answer is not the one that Diana and the Amazons have always believed in, then how much sin should Pentessilia bear?

All the Amazons who died fighting Atlantis, the Atlanteans who died, and even her own mother, should be blamed on her!

But this internal struggle lasted only a few seconds before Diana gripped the Lasso of Truth at her waist and made up her mind:

"I'll get to the bottom of this!"

"No."

Joey looked down at the cell where Penthesilea and Artemis were imprisoned:

"Someone will come to them on their own initiative."