Chapter 65

"This is Cat Grant, providing we are still on the air in this world."

The reporter took a deep breath and looked out to the scene. Panicked people and a lot of heroes who were trying to put out the fires. Just to think, a lot of people thought that the incarnation of Lex Luthor would be the most insane thing they would deal with today.

They all were proven wrong. Something more newsworthy than the downfall of Lex took place on this day.

"Darkseid's dark army arriving into this world has left many stricken in panic. The recently reformed Justice League have taken the path to Darkseid, but….."

Wonder Woman flew backwards. Cat's eyes widened, as if she could not register what she was seeing properly. Anyone who knew the Amazon Princess could see that her looking sickly was out of character. And yet, despite the illness which was gripping her, Diana struggled up.

Determination, Wonder Woman rose to the cheers of the people watching her. The Parademons which charged Cat caused the reporter to freeze up. These monsters did not care if their targets were cape, civilian, reporter, anything. They charged anyone without any problem.

She was right in the middle of this situation. Thankfully a blur shot into the picture and knocked the Parademons out with. She noticed some kind of speedster, Flash maybe. Everything went too quick, and Cat was jolted out of harm's way.

Cat collapsed against the edge of the wall. The sounds of fighting were on. Her camera crew moved into position. The note pressed in her hand by the speedster before she ran off jolted Cat back to life.

"We understand that Darkseid has some kind of ability where whatever he touches causes a pestilence to grip it. The long-term effects of this illness are unknown. Star Labs is frantically at work on a cure, but we advise anyone to stay indoors at all times. Stay safe. The best we can anyway."

Cat did not know what to say. She did not know who else was listening.

"The Justice League is fighting the good fight. In this dark time, all we have is hope. And I….the world must be awaiting Superman. There must be a good reason why he has not shown up to save us just yet."

Cat had no answers. Superman did not appear. Perhaps his injuries during the first confrontation with Darkseid were far more serious than anyone realized before. The only solace Cat had was Darkseid did not murder Superman. Because, that would be a fate the ruler of Apokolips would trumpet far and wide if that was the case.

"This is Cat Grant, and I am with you to the end. If we can, we should get to Vicki Vale in Gotham. Vicki can you hear me?"

"Yes, Cat, I'm here, and some kind of war machine has landed in the middle of Arkham Asylum. Batwoman, Nightwing, Hawk, Dove, and Starfire are fighting Darkseid's forces. Mayor James Gordon has not allowed us close, but the chaos is intense."

Cat thought Metropolis, Gotham, and who knew where else. They could not get in touch with Iris West of Central City, although Cat had a funny feeling Iris was a lot closer.

She looked up into the sky for a sign.

Not a bird. Not a plane. Not even Superman. What was going on?

The world withered beneath the feet of Darkseid. The powers of the World Killers were all his. Superwoman in particular still fought, but did the other members of the League.

"I almost admire you for how valliant you are. But, in the end, you are nothing but fools."

Darkseid smashed the Woman of Steel down to her knees. Superwoman struggled against the power of Darkseid's pestilence attacks. It was like being drowned in Kryptonite. It was worse than being drowned in Kryptonite.

"Never going to let you have this one."

"Princess, this is out of your hands," Darkseid said. "The entire world is mine. I will burn it all down and rebuild it in my own image. There is nothing left. The Justice League is….."

Supergirl and Power Girl came down from the skies to back up the League Six with a vicious double stomp which cleared the Parademons. Diana picked up a blade and charged at Darkseid. She collapsed to one knee and breathed heavily when Darkseid just toppled her over.

Green Lantern's ring attack had been avoided. Martian Manhunter came from behind Darkseid. Darkseid took him down and caught Hawkgirl's mace in his hand. Darkseid swung both Hawkgirl and the mace and slammed her body along with the object in question into the League.

"Superman hides from me like a coward."

"No, just waiting for an opportunity, like you do."

Darkseid turned his attention to Superman. Something about him was different. Darkseid could not place what. He backed the Parademons off and they stood behind Darkseid. While Harry stood alongside the League.

"This time, you won't live to defy me."

"And yet, I'm still here," Harry said. "I'm going to make sure you stay on the ground."

Darkseid's eyes widened a fraction of an inch when he noticed the object on the Kryptonian-Human Hybrid's hand. The Infinity Gauntlet, but that was impossible. The New Gods buried it deep into the source wall. Not even Darkseid would dare retrieve it.

"You risk madness to defeat me?"

"Some things are worth the risk," Harry said. "All of the sacrifices you've made to achieve your precious Anti-Life Equation. It's all for nothing. And to think, it's been under your nose the entire time."

A second passed before Darkseid realized. He should have known this the entire time. Harry cut open his right arm to release several droplets of blood. It released a healing Aura which cured everything it touched of the Pestilence. It would not stop Darkseid completely.

Then another wave of his hand produced more added insurance. Harry clutched, in his hand, the Sword of Beowulf. Darkseid eyed the obvious.

"If my daughter could not slay me with a blade, what hope do you have?"

"Our mistake is that we killed you on Apokolips," Harry said. "If you die elsewhere, then there is no one to make you rise again."

"You assume much," Darkseid replied.

The Omega Beams deflected back at Darkseid with the Omega Stone. Darkseid screamed in agony when Harry performed an assault on his mind with the mind stone of the Infinity Gauntlet. Darkseid forced Harry's assault back onto him.

"And you talk too much."

The world would wither if Harry would allow Darkseid to do so. Darkseid's eyes narrowed and he fired the first beam of light out of his eyes. Harry propelled himself high into the air and landed him.

Darkseid circled Harry, like a shark smelling blood. Harry opened another circle on the ground and fire surrounded them before they had been drawn into the abyss.

Darkness, for a brief minute. Darkseid did not fear the darkness. He was born in it. He had been created in it. The shining lights on the Infinity Gauntlet clued him in on the presence. And suddenly, multiple copies of Superman surrounded him, all with the use of the space stone.

"Trickery."

Six copies blasted at Darkseid at once. Darkseid dodged the attacks and beamed two of them out of the air. They faded into shadows. More copies bombarded Darkseid at the same time but Darkseid blasted them out of the air.

"I'm tired of these….."

A blast with the power stone interrupted Darkseid in mid-statement. Harry jumped down onto the back of the god's head and utilized the Soul Stone. A struggle for Darkseid's Worldkiller abilities began. Harry channeled the full power of the Sword of Beowulf to weaken Darkseid and sent him flying backwards.

Darkseid could feel the powers he gained pulling out of him. No, he could not, these were the only things that could keep him together.

The attempts of the dangerous god to retain his Worldkiller abilities dragged him preciously closer into the Soul Stone. Darkseid's quivering hand reached in an attempt to grab out. He broke free from the attack and had been sent flying backwards.

The Worldkiller powers stripped from Darkseid's being. Darkseid stood up to face him.

"I will stay have this power. You won't stop me."

Harry motioned for Darkseid to move him forward. Darkseid's Omega Beams fired out. Harry utilized the power of the Infinity Gauntlet and channeled a blast of green light through his eyes to hit Darkseid's beams head on.

Something told Harry he had been in such a situation in the past. Two beams of light intersected with each other. Darkseid pushed in and Harry pushed back.

Darkseid channeled every bit of the Omega Force he could. The obsessive desire to get his hands on the Anti-Life equation resulted in Darkseid pushing him.

"You won't…."

"I will!"

Harry overrode Darkseid's beams. One more attempt to fire back did not go as planned. Harry's Infinity Gauntlet powered eye beams ripped into Darkseid's head and caused his body to slowly crumble before him. The dark shadowy soul of the Lord of Apokolips ripped from his body.

The dark cloud with red eyes ripped off from the pile of ash which was Darkseid's body. Darkseid made one last futile attempt to override Harry's will.

The soul stone activated and sucked Darkseid's essence directly into the soul stone. The power of the Infinity Gauntlet trapped Darkseid's depraved soul in it forever more.

Harry opened up the portal without another world. The entire world looked at him. Parademons locked their eyes onto him.

Casually, Harry snapped his fingers.

The Parademons just vanished into dust, along with Darkseid's invading force. The entire world which had been corrupted by the Pestilence began to turn back to normal.

"Is he done?" someone yelled out.

"Darkseid is finished," Harry confirmed.

The crowd watched and they applauded Harry. There were shouts of long live Superman and all hail Superman coming from the channeled people.

To be honest, Harry just needed a very long vacation after all of that. Very few people saw or understood the type of power Harry had to wield to take down Darkseid once and for all. Those who did, well they were rightfully terrified by it and to be honest, Harry was as well.

With this victory, Harry stopped a dismal and hopeless future from happening.

"So what did you do with the Infinity Gauntlet?"

This statement from Carol Danvers, as she showed up a couple of days later, when the chaos just finished up just caused Harry to raise an eyebrow.

"What's an Infinity Gauntlet?"

Carol stopped, and chuckled. She knew, and Harry knew she knew as well.

"Invitation for dinner with the President," Harry said. "Well, he wants to get on the people's good side this week, by shaking hands with Superman."

"Well, can you blame them?" Lena asked.

Lena, Caitlin, and Karen walked in from the hallway to meet with Harry. Harry was glad to see them. Claire was making up for lost time at the Daily Planet, although Harry did plan on joining Claire on her trip to Smallville after everything cooled down in a couple of days.

"Yeah, you just cured everyone," Carol said. "I'll be seeing you. I'll be testifying with the Guardians of Oa. About the Kree, or whatever's left of them."

"Good luck," Harry said.

"Yeah, no kidding," Carol said. "Ronan was screaming for your head last time I heard."

Not surprised, to be honest. The Worldkillers crippled the Kree. The few survivors could potentially cause problems.

"Well, you did it," Caitlin said to Harry. "Came a long way bro."

"Thanks to you, and Karen and...well everyone," Harry said.

"All of the women who touched your life and you touched in return," Karen said with a smile. "Glad to see you've come a long way. And maybe, just maybe you can learn to relax a little bit?"

Harry raised his eyebrow at Karen. Karen just smiled.

"Not that I have room to talk. But, you know."

Harry knew. He knew all about it. This brand new world, led by Superman and the rest of the Justice League, well there were going to be some challenges ahead. However, perhaps Harry could use a little bit of rest.

"Proud of you," Caitlin said. "Got some work to do, see you later."

Caitlin kissed Harry and Karen did the same. The two made their way into the lab. Harry received a text from M'gann who was enjoying a long deserved rest and Harry would be joining her and the rest soon enough. Lena put her hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Sam has made a full recovery. I'm sure she wants to see you after everything that happened."

Harry smiled. Oh, he would agree to that. Lena and Harry walked off as the sun rose on a brand new world. Which was strange, given the darkness which could have engulfed the world with one wrong move.

It was just a moment's rest before the challenges to come. But Harry would take it.

In the distant future, the doomed world faded. And had been replaced by one more full of hope. There was no destruction, no tragedy.

Esme and Zari stood outside and smiled, and that was their last thoughts as they faded from existence. They would wake up tomorrow, in a much better word.

The Plot is Concluded With this Chapter. So for those who read this story for the plot, thanks for reading. For those who are in it for the shameless smut(or both), there's five more chapters to come.