Chapter 122 - The Ties That Bind Us: Revelations, Reunions, and Family Vacation - Part 3

Donna's POV

'What is this feeling?…is this dread?'

A wave of what I could only call dread washed over me as I watched the imposing figure emerge from the mothership, flanked by two subordinates. Each step he took down the ramp platform seemed to make the very air grow heavier, his presence radiating a malevolence that made my warrior's instincts scream in warning.

His granite-like skin and those terrifying, cold crimson eyes fixed upon Superman. When he spoke, his voice echoed throughout the sector, giving off an eerie feeling to those who heard it.

"A Kryptonian," he intoned, his voice carried a hint of curiosity. "How... fascinating. A young one that has tapped into their potential." His cold eyes narrowed, studying Superman. "Tell me, son of Krypton—do you still hear the echoes of your dying world in your dreams?"

Superman's jaw tightened, but his voice remained steady. "You're Darkseid."

The moment those words left his mouth, I witnessed the two followers behind the monstrosity twist their faces in fury. "How dare you address Lord Darkseid with such insolence!" the one amongst them that resembled a muscular old woman shrieked, her features contorted with rage. "You will show proper respect to the sovereign of Apokolips!"

From my position, I felt the tension crackling in the air. I gripped my sword's hilt and shield tighter, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. But, in the next moment that monstrosity raised one hand, silencing the woman mid-tirade. She immediately quieted down, bowed deeply, and moved toward Gilotina and Stompa to regain control of her rogue fury. When the monstrosity spoke again, his voice echoed from what seemed like the depths of creation itself. "You are correct, young one. I am the end of all things. I am the death of hope. I am..." he paused, his eyes blazing brighter, "...Darkseid."

As his words settled in—grandiose though they were—they carried a weight that made them feel like an undeniable truth of our universe to everyone present.

Never breaking his penetrating gaze from Superman, he continued his descent down the ramp. "Tell me, Kryptonian—why do you stand against me? Your devotion to this insignificant world is unfathomable. These humans you protect are beneath you. Why chain yourself to their weakness?"

"This world is my home. The blood in my body maybe Kryptonian, my heart and spirit are human."Superman declared with a resolute tone.

"Interesting words for a Kryptonian," Darkseid replied as he stepped onto Earth's soil. "Not long ago, I encountered others of your kind—survivors who called themselves the Sword of Rao."

Hearing the name sent a chill down my spine as memories of Zod's invasion flooded back. Across the sector, I noticed Superman's fingers curl into fists, while my other comrades's eyes turned solemn. If Darkseid noticed our reactions, he gave no sign.

"Those survivors," Darkseid's voice carried cold contempt, "drunk on delusions of rebuilding Krypton's glory, sought their ancient weapons and lost colonies. But when their leader, in his hubris, faced true power..." His crimson eyes flared. "They learned what awaits all who oppose Darkseid. Their ancient empire's legacy lies in ruins, their people scattered to the void. Now those worlds they once ruled kneel before me." He fixed Superman with a penetrating stare.

"Yet you stand here, unlike them—a mere youngling—defending these primitives. Tell me, son of Krypton, would you truly die for this world?"

His voice then deepened as his eyes blazed with higher intensity. "I am inevitable."

Superman's stance remained unshaken. "As long as Earth needs me, I'll defend it with my last breath."

Without warning, crimson beams erupted from Darkseid's eyes, hurtling toward Superman with lethal precision. Though caught off guard, the Man of Steel twisted aside in an instant as the devastating energy seared past him, carving a molten trench into the ground.

"Superman!" We cried out in unison, weapons drawn as we rushed to aid our comrade. But, before I reach him to lend a hand, my instincts cried out in alarm.

"Not so fast," Gilotina's voice cut through the air as she intercepted my charge, her twin blades weaving a deadly pattern.

"Get out of my way!" I shouted through gritted teeth.

"Ha, not happening, little girl. Lord Darkseid's battle is not for the likes of you to interfere with," Gilotina sneered.

I met her assault with my shield, the impact reverberating through my arms. Each parry and counter-strike was met with equal skill, our weapons clashing in a deadly dance.

Behind me, the sounds of combat intensified as Stompa engaged Martian Manhunter, while Nightwing and Starfire coordinated their attacks to support him.

Stompa charged at Martian Manhunter with thunderous steps, the ground quaking beneath her boots. "None of you shall pass!" she roared.

"J'onn, on your right!" Nightwing called out, hurling his escrima sticks in a calculated arc as Starfire unleashed a barrage of energy blasts from above.

The Martian phased through Stompa's punch, his density-shifting ability allowing him to counter-attack from an unexpected angle. "Your strength means nothing if you cannot touch me," he stated calmly, materializing behind her. The impact sent Stompa staggering backward a few steps. "You ants!" she roared, launching a vicious counter-punch.

Just then, Starfire swooped down, her eyes blazing with emerald energy. "Perhaps you would prefer a target you can hit!" She launched a concentrated blast, forcing Stompa to break her focus on J'onn.

Nightwing seized the moment, his acrobatic grace allowing him to vault over Stompa's shoulder. In mid-flip, his hands moved with practiced precision, planting explosive devices across strategic points of her armor. Landing in a crouch, he flashed a confident grin. "Let's see how your armor handles some good old-fashioned Earth tech."

The detonation thundered through the battlefield sector. BOOM! The explosion engulfed Stompa in a ball of fire and smoke.

"AAAAARRRRGGGHH!" Though her armor remained intact, the concussive force sent her careening backward, crashing through trees before coming to a halt.

"Focus on your own survival." Gilotina's blades sang through the air, forcing me to pivot sharply. The clash of our blades echoed across the battlefield as I parried her twin swords, each strike precise and lethal.

My shield arm trembled from the impact of her relentless assault. She was done toying with me—each strike now carried killing intent. Our weapons blurred in deadly choreography, neither of us able to land a decisive blow.

A crash rang out from Superman's battle with Darkseid, but I couldn't spare even a fraction of attention. Against an opponent of Gilotina's caliber, a moment's distraction would mean death. I could only trust that our backup would arrive soon and would help Superman handle Darkseid.

End of POV

Meanwhile, on Superman's side

"Your speed and reflexes are admirable," Darkseid observed coldly, his attention fixed on Superman. "But ultimately meaningless in the face of my Omega beams."

Superman's response came not in words but in action. He launched forward with explosive force, breaking the sound barrier as his fist connected with Darkseid's jaw in a thunderous impact. The New God's head snapped back from the blow, but his feet remained unmoved, planted like a mountain in the earth. "Impressive." A dark smile crossed his features as his hand shot out, catching Superman's arm in an iron grip. The impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield, staggering those nearby.

"Is this all the might of an awakened Kryptonian can muster?" Darkseid's voice dripped with contempt as he hurled Superman across the battlefield like a meteor, pulverizing everything in his path. "Perhaps I overestimated your potential."

Superman recovered mid-flight, his voice cold as he faced Darkseid. "Is this just a game to you?"

In a blur of motion, he struck like lightning, his right arm moving with superhuman speed to deliver a devastating hook that made even the New God's head snap to the side. Taking advantage of his loosened grip, Superman wrenched his left arm free and immediately followed through with a crushing straight punch to Darkseid's face.

Before the tyrant could recover, Superman channeled his momentum into a powerful uppercut that finally forced Darkseid to take several steps backward. The ground cracked beneath the New God's feet as he stabilized himself.

"Impressive spirit," Darkseid rumbled, touching his jaw with something almost like respect. "But futile nonetheless."

Superman's eyes blazed crimson, realizing that physical attacks alone weren't enough to breach Darkseid's defenses. "We'll see about that." Without another word, he unleashed the full fury of his heat vision, twin beams of concentrated solar energy screaming toward his opponent.

A cold smile crossed Darkseid's features as his eyes ignited with terrible power. "Indeed we shall." The dreaded Omega Beams erupted from his gaze, meeting Superman's heat vision in a catastrophic collision that lit up the battlefield like a second sun. The very air cracked and distorted where the energies clashed, neither challenger willing to yield.

As the collision intensified, it resulted in the creation of a sphere of destructive force between the two titans. Superman's heat vision, fueled by solar energy, pushed against the corruption of the Omega Effect. Crackling tendrils of power lashed out, carving deep gouges in the surrounding terrain. The shockwaves forced the other combatants to break off their fights and seek safer ground.

Nightwing's POV

From our makeshift shelter - a hastily carved depression in the ground courtesy of Starfire's energy blasts - I watched the clash above. The very earth trembled because of their fight. "Damnit. This is getting worse by the second," I muttered, checking our tactical display. "Their clash is literally changing the terrain. This can't go on..."

"Command, this is Nightwing," I barked into my comm, struggling to keep the urgency from my voice. "Where's our backup? We're getting hammered out here!"

"Nightwing, Batgirl here," came the swift reply. "Reinforcements are en route, but we've hit a snag. ETA seventeen minutes - they're engaged with a parademon swarm, and those escort ships are laying down heavy suppressing fire. Working on alternatives."

"Copy that," Nightwing responded grimly, his eyes tracking the battle above. "J'onn, any chance you can establish a telepathic link with Superman? He needs to know help won't arrive for a while."

The Martian's eyes glowed briefly. "Superman's mind is... occupied. The intensity of his battle with Darkseid requires his complete focus. Any distraction could prove fatal."

"Nightwing," Starfire's voice sounded urgent, as her eyes tracked the unstable energy sphere above. "The energy signature is becoming dangerously erratic. If this continues—"

A deafening crack split the air, followed by a blinding flash as the sphere of conflicting energies detonated. The shockwave sent Superman hurtling through a grove of palm trees, splintering them like matchsticks. Darkseid skidded backward several dozen yards, his boots carving deep trenches in the earth. For the first time, his expression showed genuine surprise.

"He's actually managed to move Darkseid," Starfire breathed, her voice a mix of awe and concern. "But, he is still standing…"

Before she could finish, Darkseid's thunderous voice carried across the battlefield. "You continue to surprise me, Kryptonian. Perhaps I underestimated your potential after all."

"I know that wasn't enough to kill you, boy. But continuing this fight is meaningless—I've merely been testing your potential. If we proceed, you will lose and die. So hear my proposition: instead of pursuing this futile endeavor... join me," Darkseid declared. His words sent shockwaves through the battlefield, and I stood frozen, the very possibility seeming like a nightmare.

"Never," came Superman's resolute reply as he shot from his crash site to face Darkseid. My moment of relief vanished when I saw blood on his lips—to make our greatest champion bleed was no small feat and revealed the true caliber of our enemy.

Darkseid narrowed his eyes. "Are you certain, boy? Let me demonstrate what I offer." With a simple tap on his belt's command unit, the battlefield transformed—every parademon suddenly halting their assault on our heroes and defense forces.

"You stopped them," Superman said, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief.

"Consider my offer carefully," Darkseid intoned. "Accept, and I shall grant this world amnesty and protection. I will depart with what I came for, leaving Earth in your custody. You will serve as one of my generals and as my adopted son. Tell me, don't you wish to protect these primitive beings?"

Superman's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint reflecting in them. "Be your son? Your general? I know of your tyranny and conquest, Darkseid. Accepting your offer would mean enslaving the very people I've sworn to protect. Your version of 'protection' is nothing but slavery. I took an oath to protect not just their lives, but their freedom too."

Darkseid's expression remained impassive. "What of it? Submission to me is salvation for such beings. Under my rule, these mortals would find true purpose instead of squandering their existence."

"My answer is, and always will be, no," Superman declared, his voice carrying steel-like conviction. "Earth's freedom is non-negotiable."

A dark smile crossed Darkseid's features as he regained his composure. "Then you have chosen the path of destruction." His eyes blazed with crimson energy. "So be it."

The Omega Beams erupted from Darkseid's eyes with greater devastating intensity. Unlike before, these weren't mere tests from Darkseid - they now carried the full weight of his judgment. Superman weaved through the air, but the crimson beams pursued him with impossible precision, bending and twisting through space itself to track their target.

"This isn't good," I muttered, watching Superman narrowly avoid another strike. "That last energy clash must have drained his solar reserves, and those beams are impossible to dodge. He can't keep evading them forever."

J'onn's expression darkened. "Indeed. The discharge of solar energy has left him significantly weakened. I believe he is now at half strength. Superman needs support." The Martian's form began to shift as he prepared to join the battle. "I must-"

"Wait!" Just then my wrist computer chirped with an incoming signal, and a smile crossed my face for the first time since the battle began. "Perfect timing. Looks like our reinforcements have finally arrived." I scanned the outside.

Through the smoke-filled sky, familiar shadows emerged. The cavalry had arrived, and not a moment too soon.

"Nightwing, come in," Batgirl's voice crackled through our comms with urgency. "Reinforcements have arrived."

"About time," I responded, scanning the smoke-filled horizon. "What's our backup looking like?"

"Cyborg, Cheetah, Aquaman, Arsenal, Miss Martian, and Flash," she reported crisply. "Batman's coordinating the rest for the defense against their army."

I quickly assessed the battlefield. Wonder Girl was still locked in combat with the Female Furies, while Superman's energy reserves were clearly depleting against Darkseid. We needed to act fast.

"Copy that. Listen up, team," I commanded, my tactical training kicking in. "Arsenal, Miss Martian, Aquaman - converge on my position. You'll join Starfire and me in supporting Wonder Girl against the Furies. Flash, I've got a priority target for you - that powerhouse matriarch with Darkseid. She's controlling the Furies somehow. Take her down, then assist with Darkseid. J'onn," I turned to the Martian Manhunter with a nod, "you're with Cyborg and Cheetah. Superman needs immediate backup."

"Leave it to us," J'onn responded gravely, already rising into the air.

I felt Starfire's energy crackling beside me as she prepared for flight. "Ready when you are, Nightwing."

"Everyone clear on their objectives?" A chorus of affirmatives rang through the comms. "Then let's show these invaders why Earth isn't such an easy target. Move out!"

With that, Starfire grabbed my arms and we launched skyward, the rest of our reinforcements spreading out to their assigned positions. The counterattack was about to begin.

End of POV

The battlefield erupted with coordinated precision. Through Miss Martian's telepathic link, the team moved as one fluid unit. "Maneuver delta!" Nightwing's mental command carried to Wonder Girl as she faced off against Gilotina. Starfire soared upward, launching Nightwing toward Stompa with practiced efficiency. While he engaged the Fury, Starfire climbed higher, energy crackling in her palms.

"Incoming!" Her warning echoed through the link moments before she unleashed a devastating barrage, forcing both Gilotina and Stompa to break formation. Arsenal's well-placed explosive arrows cut off their escape routes, leaving them exposed and confused.

Simultaneously, a crimson blur streaked past Granny Goodness, electricity crackling through the air as Flash circled her at incredible speed, generating a swirling vortex. Her eyes widened in shock as she felt her neural control over Stompa weakening, slipping through her grasp.

"Insolent child!" she snarled, turning to track his movement. "You dare—"

"Actually," Flash's voice echoed from multiple directions as he completed his vortex, "daring is what I do best." In a single fluid motion, he materialized behind her, his precisely aimed strike finding the pressure point at her neck. As she crumpled unconscious, he added with his characteristic wit, "It's kind of my thing."

With Granny Goodness's support lost, the two Furies found themselves vulnerable for the first time in the battle. Miss Martian seized the opportunity immediately.

"Enemy disoriented! Moving to engage!" she called through the mental link, telekinetically lifting several broken trees and hurling them in rapid succession.

The massive Fury, disoriented and confused, stumbled as she tried to defend against the barrage of trees. Her usual coordination faltered, her emotions chaotic from the sudden loss of Granny's neural link. "Now!" Miss Martian signaled.

Aquaman and Nightwing moved in perfect sync, years of training evident in their fluid motions. Aquaman's trident swept Stompa's legs while Nightwing launched himself high, bringing his electrified escrima sticks down in a devastating arc. The combined assault dropped the mighty Fury to the ground, unconscious.

Wonder Girl, meanwhile, had been waiting for precisely this moment. "Gilotina!" she called out, drawing her opponent's attention. "Let's finish this!"

Wonder Girl charged low and fast, closing the distance beneath Gilotina before her opponent could react. She launched into a perfectly executed combination - a powerful uppercut that snapped Gilotina's head back, followed by a mid-air rotation that brought her leg around in a devastating axe kick.

"Stay down," Wonder Girl spat blood to the side and declared, as Gilotina crumpled to the ground, completely defeated and knocked down.

Suddenly, a massive shockwave sent the team staggering backward. When they regained their footing and looked up, their eyes widened at the scene before them.

Moments Before the Shockwave- Justice League vs. Darkseid

J'onn phased through the air, his density-shifting form becoming tangible just long enough to deliver a devastating punch to Darkseid's jaw. The New God barely flinched, but the distraction served its purpose - creating an opening for Cyborg's assault.

"Energy signature fluctuating at 51% capacity," Cyborg announced, his cybernetic eye pulsing as targeting systems locked on. His systems flickered momentarily as he approached Darkseid, the Mother Box component within him resonating with its Apokoliptian origin. He pushed through the interference, fighting the ancient connection that threatened to compromise their strategy. "Adjusting sonic frequency to match harmonic resonance!"

His cannon discharged a concentrated blast of sonic energy, the carefully calibrated frequency causing Darkseid to grimace for the first time. The New God's armor actually vibrated under the assault, microscopic fractures appearing in its seemingly impenetrable surface.

"You," Darkseid rumbled, his eyes flaring crimson. "Fascinating. My mother box has become one with your being."

The Omega Beams lanced out, forcing Cyborg to break off his attack as he raised his hand releasing his shields to defend against the incoming attack. Cheetah used this opportunity and was already moving, her enhanced speed letting her close the distance before Darkseid could track her movement. Her claws, sharp enough to draw blood from even Kryptonian flesh, raked across his armor.

"Interesting creature. But, speed alone will not save you," Darkseid declared, his massive hand shooting out with impossible speed to seize Cheetah's throat. But before he could, her eyes flashed as she channeled her Ki and jumped away. Darkseid eyes narrowed his eyes upon missing his target. This was the third person, who had piqued his interest.

Cheetah landed on her feet a distance away and communicated through the link. "His armor - there's a weak point at the shoulder joint. Cyborg's attack widened it."

J'onn's telepathic voice echoed in their minds, "Superman, your solar reserves are low. Let's make this count."

"Agreed," Superman responded. "Cyborg, can you hit him with another blast?"

"I can, but I'll be vulnerable while charging the blast, and those Omega beams pack a serious punch," Cyborg replied, deflecting another round of Omega beams from Darkseid.

"J'onn, we need to create an opening," Superman called through the mental link. "Cheetah, protect Cyborg while he charges up."

The team moved with practiced coordination. Superman and Martian Manhunter surged forward to engage Darkseid directly, while Cheetah materialized beside Cyborg. Her eyes glowed as she channeled her Ki, tapping into the Green to reshape the terrain, creating a natural barricade around Cyborg's position. Behind this cover, Cyborg's arm reconfigured into his most powerful sonic cannon, the weapon humming as it charged to maximum output.

J'onn executed their plan perfectly, phasing through the ground only to emerge behind Darkseid, locking the New God in an unbreakable full nelson hold. Superman simultaneously grabbed Darkseid's head, forcing it skyward to prevent any Omega Beam attacks from reaching Cyborg.

"Now!" Superman's command rang through their minds.

"Target locked!" Cyborg's cannon pulsed with energy. "Firing!"

The supercharged sonic blast cut through the air like a spear, striking precisely at the compromised section of Darkseid's armor. Energy collided with energy in a brilliant flash, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.

Martian Manhunter phased into the ground while Superman released his grip and dove clear.

When the blinding light faded, Darkseid stood unmoved—but his armor now bore a jagged break across the right shoulder, dark blood seeping from it. His crimson eyes blazed with cold fury.

"Impressive coordination," Darkseid rumbled, his deep voice resonating across the battlefield. "Rejoice, mortals—you are the first among all mortal races to make this god bleed. But ultimately... futile."

In the next moment, Darkseid reached out to his belt and activated his command unit, seizing partial control of the Mother Box merged with Cyborg's systems. Warning messages flashed across Cyborg's mechanical eye as his systems began to fail.

"No!" Cyborg gritted through clenched teeth, fighting against the override. Despite Orach's interference which gave him majority control over the systems, some command codes remained under Darkseid's control - a remnant of the Mother Box's Apokoliptian origin. The New God's command signal brought him crashing to his knees.

"Cyborg!" Cheetah's alarmed cry rang out as Darkseid seized his advantage. His eyes blazed crimson as twin Omega Beams lanced toward Superman's chest. The Man of Steel, his solar reserves critically low, couldn't dodge in time.

"ARRGHH!" Superman's agonized scream echoed as the beams struck true, sending him plummeting to the ground with devastating force. The impact cratered the earth beneath him.

J'onn phased through the ground, materializing behind Darkseid with incredible speed. But the New God was ready. He caught the Martian's strike with impossible precision, his massive hand closing around J'onn's throat before he could phase away.

"Your strategy was sound," Darkseid continued, casually batting aside Cheetah's lightning-fast assault with a backhand that sent her tumbling. "But you fail to understand." His eyes pulsed with terrible power. "I am not merely a powerful being. I am a god. I am Darkseid."

With terrifying deliberation, he brought his foot down on J'onn's spine. The sickening crack was followed by the Martian's muffled cry of agony.

"Your powers are impressive, Martian," Darkseid acknowledged, driving J'onn deeper into the crater. "But they pale before the might of a New God."

Suddenly the air crackled with raw power as an earth-shattering roar echoed across the battlefield. Cheetah's form began to transform, waves of divine energy and killing intent pulsing from her body in visible ripples, each more intense than the last. Her eyes blazed with ancient power as a golden aura erupted around her, its sheer force lifting debris from the ground. Her brown hair lengthened into a wild mane, her legs reshaped themselves, her claws sharpened to deadly points, and her jaw elongated to reveal prominent, gleaming fangs.

The killing intent radiating from her presence was suffocating—a primordial force that made even Darkseid's expression turn solemn. This was no mere mortal power—it was the unmistakable signature of true divinity.

"Well," he rumbled, releasing his foot from J'onn's body to face this new opponent. "Perhaps there is more to Earth's defenders than I first assumed... What manner of being are you?" Darkseid demanded, his usual arrogance tinged with genuine curiosity.

Cheetah's eyes locked onto him, her lips curling into a predatory smile, her voice resonating with both her own timbre and something far more ancient. "Someone who knows what it truly means to be a god."

Darkseid's eyes narrowed as he studied the divine energy radiating from Cheetah in waves. "Interesting. Show me this godhood you claim to know."

In a blur of motion, Cheetah launched forward, her enhanced speed now augmented by divine power. Her claws, wreathed in golden energy, slashed through the air where Darkseid had been a fraction of a second before. The New God moved with impossible speed for his size, but even he couldn't completely avoid the attack – fresh blood welled from shallow cuts across his chest.

"Your speed has increased considerably," Darkseid acknowledged, his massive fist cutting through the air. "But speed alone—"

Cheetah caught his fist with one hand, the impact creating a shockwave that shattered nearby debris. "You talk too much." Her other hand shot forward, enhanced claws aimed at his throat.

Darkseid's eyes flared crimson, forcing Cheetah to disengage as Omega beams carved through the space she had occupied. The two beings clashed again and again, each exchange creating thunderous shockwaves that rattled the battlefield.

"I sense the power of an Old God within you," Darkseid observed between clashes. "Yet your divinity bears another aspect—how curious that such power found its way to Earth."

Cheetah's only response was a savage grin as she channeled more divine energy, her aura intensifying. "Let me show you what this 'curious power' can do."