The Stone King remained standing immobile. But now, surrounding him like guardian demons, another
five Stone Kings had appeared.
Before any of the super heroes could react, the doppelgangers rushed to the attack.

Meanwhile, at the pyramid, lightning flashed from the eyes of the five duplicate Stone Kings as they
launched themselves at their foes.
The Flash was first to react. In the blink of an eye he accelerated to superspeed from a standing start,
spinning around like a top, his arms outstretched and fists balled. The centrifugal force was
tremendous as his fists slammed into the Stone Kings with devastating effect, knocking the creatures
off their feet. One was sent careening into the chamber wall, sparks flying from its point of impact.
But even as the Flash slowed to a halt, the Stone Kings were recovering, springing to their feet to
renew their assault.
Superman dived headlong, his arms taking two of the figures around the waist. The momentum sent all
three crashing through the outer wall in an explosion of stone and chalk.
J'onn J'onzz pinned a third Stone King to the hard earth floor, increasing the density of his molecules
in an effort to crush the creature into submission.
Wonder Woman's golden lasso snaked out to loop over the fourth Stone King's body and slip down
over his arms. Wonder Woman pulled the lasso taut, jerking the beast off its feet again.
Batman took a couple of steps to the side, moving behind the altar stone with its covering of dried
blood and rotting animal entrails. The original Stone King
still stood in the center of the chamber, the intense pulsations that affected his body coming more
frequently now. Batman glanced toward Manhunter and saw the duplicate he was fighting suddenly
heave the Martian away as if he were made of feathers.
Green Lantern! Batman thought urgently. J'onn's in trouble!
For the briefest moment Green Lantern looked flustered, as if unsure what to do. Then a solid green
beam sprang from the power ring, its end shaped like a medieval battering ram. The beam took J'onn's
foe in the chest, blasting the creature off its feet and hurling it into the wall with brutal impact.

Outside the chamber, on the slopes of the pyramid, Superman struggled to hold the two duplicate
Stone Kings. Their strength seemed almost as great as his, and each time he tried to use a superpower
against them, they countered with powers of their own.
Inside, Batman's gaze was fixed on the real Stone King. What could be seen of his skin under the
animal hides he wore was glowing with fluorescent light. Dark flashes danced from his brooding
eyes. His muscles rippled continuously, as if raw physical power were coursing through his body.
Almost imperceptibly, the Stone King seemed to be growing.
These clones are merely decoys! Batman shot suddenly at the others. Their only purpose is to delay
us!