Chapter 157: Chapter 155
Was Adrian Veidt, also known as Ozymandias, the smartest man in the world?
Perhaps. After all, he successfully manipulated the world using his own intellect and strategies, playing with humanity as if it were a game. Even a god-like entity such as Dr. Manhattan ultimately followed a course that Veidt had orchestrated.
With the wisdom of a mortal, Veidt had calculated everything, even foreseeing the reactions of beings beyond human comprehension. However, Kara saw a flaw in his plan—a flaw that reflected a fundamental issue.
"Lies are still lies," Kara said, her voice sharp and unwavering. "A peace built on deception will eventually crumble. Lies are always exposed, and when that happens, the destruction will be greater than you could ever imagine."
Rorschach, nodded solemnly in agreement, echoing Kara's sentiment. "If I had to choose between living in a world of lies or dying in a world of truth, I would choose the latter. At least that choice reflects human dignity."
It was, after all, the essence of humanity: the right to choose, even in the face of impossible odds.
But Kara wasn't finished. Her tone grew colder, her words sharper. "There's no need to resort to lies to achieve peace. Since you were willing to use Dr. Manhattan's power to intimidate the world, why didn't you go further? If you wanted to truly end this conflict, you could have simply convinced Dr. Manhattan to eliminate the politicians responsible for perpetuating this madness—the ones with their fingers on the nuclear trigger."
Kara's logic was ruthless, but undeniably pragmatic.
"The two world wars cost hundreds of millions of lives," she continued, "and yet they didn't prevent future wars. They didn't stop nuclear proliferation. They didn't prevent this crisis. The only reason the world united—even temporarily—was fear. Fear of Dr. Manhattan's power."
Her piercing gaze settled on Veidt. "You knew this from the beginning. You understood that his power was the only thing that could truly enforce peace. And yet, instead of using it directly, you devised the most convoluted plan imaginable, sacrificing countless innocent lives along the way."
Her words hit like a hammer, and Veidt staggered back, his pale face betraying his composure.
Kara sneered. "The truth is simple: you're not a savior. You're a capitalist. A self-serving elitist who pretends to care about the masses while only protecting your own interests."
Her words cut deep.
"The possibility of nuclear war wasn't created by civilians. It was created by the powerful, by people like you. And when the dust settles, it's always the common people who pay the price. Not you. Never you."
Kara's voice rose, and her fury became palpable. "Stop pretending to be the world's savior, Adrian. You're nothing more than a man driven by selfish desires, willing to play god to satisfy your ego."
Veidt stumbled backward, his normally sharp mind momentarily silenced by her unrelenting critique.
She pressed on, relentless. "Don't tell me your plan was flawless. Don't tell me there was no other way. If you had sought Dr. Manhattan's cooperation directly—asked him to act as the ultimate deterrent or even as a villain—he might have agreed. He doesn't care about morality in the way we do. But no, you chose a path of bloodshed. You chose a path of lies."
Kara's words rang with unassailable truth.
"And in doing so," she concluded, "you've proven that you are no hero."
Without hesitation, Kara's eyes glowed red, unleashing twin beams of blue heat vision.
"No!" Dr. Manhattan moved to intervene, but even he was too late.
The beams struck Veidt, instantly vaporizing him. His body disintegrated like butter under a hot knife, leaving nothing behind but a faint shimmer in the air.
Dr. Manhattan stared at the spot where Veidt had stood, his normally unreadable expression tinged with melancholy.
"You killed him," he said, finally breaking his silence.
Kara turned to him, her gaze unwavering. "If you truly wanted to stop me, you could have acted earlier. You've seen the future, haven't you? You know what Veidt's plan would have led to."
Dr. Manhattan remained silent, but his lack of protest spoke volumes.
"How long would his so-called peace have lasted?" she demanded.
After a pause, he answered. "Thirty years. The lies would have unraveled, and the world would have plunged into chaos again."
Kara's laugh was bitter. "So much for his utopia. He was just a mortal, no matter how intelligent. A termite, as you once called him. And like all termites, he ultimately destroyed more than he created."
Rorschach stepped forward, his voice firm but calm. "Even if his methods were flawed, even if he made mistakes, we cannot condone murder as a solution, Kara. Justice demands accountability—not vengeance."
Kara turned to him, her expression softening slightly. "I understand your ideals, Rorschach But this was not justice. It was inevitability."
For a moment, the room fell silent, the tension between the heroes thick and unresolved.
Rorschach's voice was quiet but resolute. "If you ever cross that line again, Kara, I'll stop you. No matter what."
Kara nodded, a flicker of respect crossing her face. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
Dr. Manhattan, silent as ever, turned his gaze to the stars, pondering a world that might never find peace—no matter the plans of gods or mortals.
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