Chapter 123 - The Ties That Bind Us: Revelations, Reunions, and Family Vacation - Part 4

The earth pulsed as Cheetah channeled more Ki into the Green, her power resonating with the very soil beneath them. Small tremors rippled outward, quickly growing into deep fissures that spider-webbed across the ground.

"Interesting... this planet resonates with you. Your divinity… you are a nature god," Darkseid observed, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the building power. Without warning, his eyes blazed crimson.

Twin Omega beams lanced through the air, but Cheetah was ready. Her Ki surged into the earth, and in response, a dense wall of vegetation erupted from the ground - towering palms and thick grass weaving together in an instant. As the beams scorched through her verdant shield, Cheetah had already melted into the surrounding foliage, becoming one with the Green.

Darkseid's usually impassive expression growing more solemn as he scanned the transformed battlefield.

The vegetation rustled with unseen movement as Cheetah's presence seemed to multiply across the battlefield. Darkseid's eyes tracked the disturbances, his stance shifting subtly.

"Your connection to this world's forces is... intriguing," Darkseid rumbled, his eyes blazing as twin beams shot forth.

Darkseid's Omega Beams seared through the dense vegetation, leaving smoldering paths of destruction. But Cheetah moved like a force of nature itself, emerging from impossible angles with devastating precision.

"Tell me, Darkseid," she taunted, her voice echoing through the foliage, "how does it feel to be prey?" Each strike carved deep gashes in Darkseid's armor, drawing dark blood before she melted back into the living maze.

"Pathetic. For a Mad God who terrorized our universe, is this all you can do?" Cheetah's voice resonated with ancient power, echoing from multiple directions.

"You wretch... you dare?" Darkseid's growl thundered as he slammed his fist into the ground. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, creating a massive crater and toppling the surrounding trees.

Cheetah dug her claws into the earth, crouching low as the forest crashed around her. Her eyes narrowed in concentration as she channeled more Ki into the Green. The living force responded instantly, halting the falling trees mid-descent and sprouting new growth to replace what was destroyed.

"Aww, did my words hurt your precious godly pride?" she sneered. "Throwing tantrums like a child... You're no deity. Just a cosmic bully who preys on the weak."

She burst from cover, launching a perfectly coordinated attack. Three identical forms emerged from the foliage - two mere Ki afterimages, but the third's claws, wreathed in a layer of her Ki, found their mark, raking deep across Darkseid's back. Dark blood welled from the large wounds.

"ARGHH!" The New God's eyes blazed with fury as he unleashed his Omega Beams in a wide arc, but Cheetah had already melded back into the Green.

"Look at you now - the terrifying Mad God, reduced to flailing at shadows in my domain. Tell me, Darkseid..." Her voice dripped with cold contempt. "How many worlds have you laid waste to? How many species have you driven to extinction? How many families have you torn apart?"

Darkseid's eyes flared with murderous intent. "Your words are meaningless. You consider yourself a predator? You are nothing but an ant for me to crush beneath my heel. Throughout the ages, countless beings have defied me—and all have fallen to dust. You will be no different."

A golden blur erupted from the foliage behind him. "Then you've never faced a true predator!" Cheetah's claws, wreathed in Ki energy, slashed across his back in an X pattern. The New God's armor shattered, dark blood seeping from the fresh wounds as traces of her Ki penetrated into the gashes.

Darkseid grunted as he spun with incredibly fast speed, his massive fist cutting through the air where Cheetah had been. But she was already gone, melded back into the living maze of vegetation.

"Your hit-and-run tactics grow tiresome," Darkseid growled, his eyes scanning the shifting greenery. "Face me directly, if you dare."

Cheetah's laugh echoed from multiple directions. "A predator doesn't fight on their prey's terms." The vegetation rustled with phantom movement. "We strike..." Three golden blurs emerged simultaneously. "...when the moment is right!"

Darkseid's Omega Beams tore through two afterimages, but the real Cheetah had already slid beneath his guard. Her claws, pulsing with Ki energy, raked across his chest—shattering more of his armor. The New God staggered backward, rage finally breaking through his passive expression.

"What's wrong, Darkseid?" Cheetah's voice carried a predatory satisfaction as raw power surged through her being, under her control. 'Bloody hell, Orach was right. I should have embraced this power ages ago and trained more.' Her muscles tensed as she fixed her predatory gaze on her prey. 'But now is not the time to dwell on regrets. Luckily, for all his cosmic might, he's still just another bloke with an overinflated ego.' A dangerous smile played across her lips. "Starting to understand what real divinity feels like?"

Darkseid's eyes blazed with murderous intensity. "Real divinity? You speak of power you barely comprehend. Let me show you true godhood."

The air itself seemed to warp as Darkseid's full might manifested, dark energy crackling around his massive form. With a thunderous roar, he slammed both fists into the ground, sending a devastating shockwave that ripped through Cheetah's verdant domain. Trees splintered and earth heaved as the wave of destruction expanded outward faster than the Green could repair or replace them.

Cheetah sprang backward, her aura flaring as she channeled Ki to shield herself from the shockwave, splintering trees, and debris. The force slammed her into the earth. Grunting, she pushed herself up and shook off the wreckage and dust. "Shit. Looks like I really pissed him off." Surveying the destruction around her, she saw the soil had turned dead and lifeless from Darkseid's corrupted energy. She called to the Green, but it responded sluggishly to her will, overwhelmed by the sheer destructive force emanating from Darkseid. "Just what kind of primordial law is this?"

Suddenly, Cheetah's instincts flared in warning. Before she could react, Darkseid materialized behind her, his massive frame casting a shadow over her form.

"No more games," he growled, his fists tightening with crackling energy.

Despite her enhanced reflexes and strength, Cheetah could only cross her arms in defense as Darkseid's punch connected with devastating force. The impact sent her crashing through several ancient trees, splintering them like matchsticks.

Rolling to her feet, Cheetah spat blood and attempted to channel Ki into the Green for healing. But Darkseid was relentless - his Omega beams carved through the air, forcing her to abandon the healing process and dodge desperately.

"Every world I have conquered, every force of nature I have encountered," said Darkseid as he advanced with deliberate steps, "all were broken before my might." His next strike caught Cheetah mid-leap, the thunderous impact driving the air from her lungs. "Even gods must kneel before Darkseid."

Cheetah attempted to meld back into the Green, but Darkseid's systematic destruction had left little vegetation to work with. His fist shattered her guard completely, and the follow-up strike sent her sprawling across the ground, her divine aura flickering weakly.

"Is this all the 'guardian predator' can muster?" Darkseid loomed over her fallen form, his voice dripping with contempt. "Your connection to life itself is impressive, but without the strength to wield it properly, it means nothing."

With a defiant snarl, Cheetah attempted one final, desperate lunge. But Darkseid's hand shot out, catching her by the throat. "The hunt is over," he stated coldly, his grip tightening around her neck as he lifted her off the ground. As she struggled against his grip, a flicker of movement at the edge of her vision made her lips curl into a knowing smile. In one fluid motion, she wrapped her legs around Darkseid's arm, locking him in place.

"Your struggles are pointless," Darkseid sneered, raising his other hand to deliver the final blow. Suddenly, he felt a searing pain erupt through his chest. Dark blood sprayed from his mouth as he looked down to find a gleaming blade protruding from his chest.

"You're right, Darkseid," Cheetah rasped through her constricted throat, her smile turning predatory. "The hunt is over - but not in the way you thought."

"Your tyranny ends today, monster," Wonder Girl declared, as she twisted the god-slaying blade deeper into Darkseid's chest. Ancient runes along the blade's surface began to glow, responding to the New God's corrupted essence.

Darkseid's eyes blazed with murderous rage. "Foolish child," he snarled, dark energy crackling around his massive frame. "You think a mere blade carrying the essence of the old gods can end me?" Without warning, he released a devastating wave of corrupted omega energy that exploded outward in all directions.

The blast caught both Wonder Girl and Cheetah off guard, sending them flying through the devastated landscape. Wonder Girl's grip on the blade was torn loose, though it remained embedded in Darkseid's chest. As they crashed through splintering trees, Darkseid reached up and gripped the hilt of the weapon, dark blood oozing around its edges as he wrenched it from his chest.

Darkseid's eyes fixed on Wonder Girl with interest as he threw the sword aside. "You carry the blood of the Old Gods, child," he intoned, his deep voice resonating through the air. "Your strength is… impressive." His lips curved into a cruel smile. "Yet for all your training, you still remain unrefined. Yes, I can see the untamed and wild potential that flows through your veins. Under proper guidance, you could transcend these… mortal limitations."

Dark energy crackled around his towering form as he advanced towards her with deliberate steps.

"My Elite requires a new captain since Barda's... departure. Someone with fire in their veins." His features twisted into a calculating smile. "You shall join my Elite, child. You will become my finest Fury."

Wonder Girl tightened her grip on her shield, using it to pull herself upright. Staring right into his crimson eyes, she spat back, "I'd rather die than serve a monster like you!"

"Yes. That fire within you burns bright," Darkseid intoned. "You will make an exceptional Fury." A cold smile spread across his face as his eyes blazed, preparing to subdue his potential recruit.

Just then a crimson streak suddenly cut through the air - Flash materialized, delivering a devastating supersonic punch that sent Darkseid staggering backward. Without missing a beat, he appeared beside Wonder Girl, his voice urgent but reassuring.

"You fought well, but now it's our turn. Retreat and heal - we'll keep him busy."

Flash became a blur of motion, electricity crackling in his wake as he circled the shores at incredible speed. The air itself began to ionize, building toward a massive electrical discharge. But before he could unleash it, Darkseid's attention shifted to an approaching rumble.

The New God turned to find a towering wall of water rushing toward the shore - a large tidal wave. He planted his feet firmly, crimson eyes blazing as he unleashed his Omega beams directly at the incoming deluge.

At its source, Mera stood at the edge of one of the Atlantean vessel near the shore, with arms raised, sweat beading on her brow as she channeled more power than she'd ever attempted before. The situation had grown dire - Earth's mightiest heroes, from Superman to Martian Manhunter, from Green Arrow to Cyborg, even the surprisingly formidable Cheetah and Wonder Girl, all had been injured in the face of Darkseid's might. She knew she couldn't hold back now and give it her all.

As Darkseid's beams collided with the wave, creating massive clouds of steam, Aquaman burst through the chaos. His trident found its mark, striking true against Darkseid's legs and cracking his seemingly impenetrable armor. Aquaman immediately pulled back into the churning waters escaping, just as Flash's gambit came to fruition - a massive bolt of lightning struck the waterlogged battlefield, electricity arcing through both water and air.

Darkseid's teeth clenched as the combined assault coursed through him, his usual expression finally showing cracks. But even as electricity and water battered him, his eyes began to glow with renewed intensity. "ENOUGH!" His thunderous roar shook the very air, accompanied by a devastating pulse of omega energy that vaporized the surrounding water and scattered the lightning. "I will not be toyed with by lesser beings!"

The energy wave expanded outward in a crimson sphere, forcing both Flash and Aquaman to retreat. Even Mera, still channeling her powers from the shoreline, staggered under the sheer force of Darkseid's rage.

As the steam cleared, Darkseid stood at the center of a crater, his remaining armor smoking but his posture once again rigid. "You have merely delayed the inevitable," he growled, as his gaze settled on the Flash and Aquaman.

Just then, Nightwing's voice crackled through the comms, "Flash, Aquaman - we've neutralized the other commander. Starfire and I are inbound to your position."

"We're coming too," Blue Beetle announced.

"Batman redirected us to your location," Miss Martian added as she and Blue Beetle streaked across the sky toward the battlefield, determination etched on their faces.

Flash and Aquaman exchanged meaningful glances before nodding in silent agreement. With reinforcements on the way, they could execute a more coordinated assault against Darkseid.

Meanwhile, minutes before at the the Justice League's mobile command center, Batgirl monitored the tactical displays with intense focus, her expression grave as she analyzed the battlefield reports. Two sectors showed progress, but the third remained a precarious stalemate.

The mounting casualties weighed heavily on her mind even as she prepared to deliver her latest situation report to Batman.

"Batgirl to Batman. Sector Three continues to be critical - requires immediate backup. Multiple champions down. Superman, Cyborg, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, and… Cheetah all evacuated to medical wing by the Flash. Wonder Girl has also, taken heavy damage, being extracted now. Flash has now engaged the commander together with Aquaman."

The silence that followed spoke volumes. When Batman finally responded, his voice was eerily calm.

"Understood. I'll handle the reinforcements. Continue coordinating our forces, Batgirl. You're doing what needs to be done."

Through the surveillance feeds, Batgirl observed Batman engaging another wave of Parademons. The Dark Knight's movements in the Batwing had become more precise and lethal—each strike more devastating than the last. She understood, the news of Cheetah's condition had awakened something in her mentor — a darkness he usually kept tightly contained.

She sighed heavily as her fingers then traced across the latest casualty reports. As one of Earth's champions' tactical commanders, second only to Batman himself, every decision she made carried the weight of lives. Unlike her mentor, who had years of experience compartmentalizing such burdens, she couldn't help but feel the impact of each loss, each strategic sacrifice required by this chaotic war.

Taking a deep breath, she slapped her cheeks to clear her mind, then stepped away from her command station upon receiving notification of Wonder Girl's arrival. The medical wing needed her attention. When she reached the medical wing, the sight sent a fresh wave of frustration through her. Medical staff rushed between patients as Earth's mightiest heroes lay in their Wayne Tech mobile medpods, all of them brought low by a single devastating opponent.

Though every instinct urged her to join the battle, she knew her greatest impact came from here—orchestrating their forces and maintaining vital military coordination.

As her gaze landed on Wonder Girl's position, she pushed aside her inner conflict, and approached Wonder Girl's bed. The young hero lay surrounded by medical equipment, her face etched with pain but still conscious as the medical team worked.

"How are you holding up?" she asked quietly, her eyes tracking the vital signs on the nearby monitors.

Wonder Girl grimaced, shifting slightly on the medical bed. "Been better," she managed through gritted teeth. "Did you see the others make it back?"

"They're all here," Batgirl confirmed, gesturing to the nearby medpods. "Everyone's stable now, just need time to recover. You managed to wound him - that's more than most can say."

Wonder Girl's expression darkened. "Not enough. But Cheetah did a number on him—her power was really something."

"She sure was. I'm just glad she maintained control. Otherwise we would have had two disasters on our hands," Batgirl sighed.

"True,"Wonder Girl gazed at the medpod in which Cheetah lay unconscious. "But, even with all that power… we still ended up getting toyed with, Batgirl. If Flash and Aquaman hadn't shown up when they did..."

"Stop dwelling on it," Batgirl said firmly, her expression solemn. "The war isn't over, and we need you back in the fight—but only when you're ready. For now, focus on healing. The reinforcements are engaging him, and I need to return to my station. We'll buy you and everyone here all the time we can." She turned to leave, then added, "I'll have the medical team keep me updated on your condition."

Wonder Girl caught her arm as she turned, speaking in a solemn tone. "Barbara... even though he's weaker than my brother-in-law's echo, we've never faced anything like him—and without my sister or brother-in-law here on Earth to turn the tide..."

Batgirl's smile was grim. "I know, Donna." She met her friend's eyes, understanding the weight of the unspoken decision her friend was struggling with. "I trust your judgment," she said, turning toward the command station.

Now alone with her thoughts, Wonder Girl closed her eyes. 'Sister... what would you do?' Her thoughts drifted to her beloved big sister, her role model. Then in the next moment, she remembered the scene of her brother-in-law stepping through a spatial ripple before her during her secluded training on Themyscira, just before he, her sister, her niece and friend Rachel, departed for Oa—and the promise she made to him. When she opened her eyes again, something had changed in them. Through the windows, battle flashes illuminated the darkened sky. Their forces were buying time, but time was running out.

Gritting her teeth against the pain, Wonder Girl pushed herself to her feet. "I have to go. I can't stay here."

The medical staff's protests faded behind her as she made her way to the exit of the command center.

"Batgirl," she radioed, as she launched herself into the dark sky, taking flight. "I'm heading back out."

"Donna, are you certain?" Batgirl asked, concern evident in her voice

"I am. And... I'm using it. Whatever happens – be ready for the opening I create."

She launched toward the battlefield, resolve drowning out pain. The time for hesitation was over she had made her decision.

Present Time—Sector 3—Stand Against Darkseid

Blue Beetle's armor hummed with building energy. "Jaime, power reserves at maximum!" the Scarab's synthetic voice echoed in his mind. The plasma cannon materialized, its barrel glowing with intense blue light before unleashing a devastating beam toward Darkseid.

"Titans, now!" Nightwing commanded, launching his electrified escrima sticks in a calculated arc. Miss Martian's eyes flared green as she telekinetically lifted massive chunks of debris, sending them hurtling at supersonic speeds toward their target. Starfire soared overhead, her hands trailing golden green fire as she bombarded Darkseid's position with precisely aimed energy blasts.

The New God's lips curled into a smirk. "Impressive. You make up for individual weakness with good coordination tactics but, it's still... lacking." His massive frame blurred with great speed. One hand snatched Nightwing's weapons mid-air, crushing them. The other shot forward, catching Blue Beetle's plasma beam and deflecting it skyward with his palm.

"Impossible!" Jaime gasped, just before Darkseid closed the distance. The tyrant's fist connected with devastating force, the impact sending shockwaves through the sacred Scarab armor. Blue Beetle went careening backward, his armor crackling with damage warnings sounding in Jaime's mind.

"M'gann, evasive action!" Nightwing's warning came just as Darkseid's eyes blazed crimson. Twin Omega beams lanced through Miss Martian's telekinetically-controlled projectiles, reducing them to atoms. Miss Martian phased through the earth a split second before the beams would have struck her.

"You will not harm my friends further!" Starfire's battle cry rang out as she channeled her full power, her form blazing like a small sun. Golden green energy cascaded down in a concentrated beam that engulfed Darkseid completely. The ground beneath him began to melt from the sheer intensity of her assault.

"Now's our chance!" Nightwing signaled as the Titans' distraction gambit paid off. "Flash, Aquaman—now or never!"

The Flash burst into motion, his crimson trail coalescing into a cyclone around Darkseid. At the same moment, Aquaman thrust his trident skyward while Mera's eyes blazed with power from the deck of the Atlantean vessel. The ocean itself heeded their command—a massive column of swirling water surged upward, merging with Flash's cyclone to forge a devastating prison of wind and water.

Darkseid's laugh echoed above the roaring elements. "It's been a while since I have been this entertained." His eyes blazed once more. "But..." Omega beams exploded outward in a devastating sphere, instantly vaporizing the elemental prison.

A devastating shockwave, as powerful as a nuclear blast, rippled across the battlefield.

The Flash vibrated through the worst of it, but Aquaman took the full impact, sending him flying backward as his trident—a gift from his teacher Vulko—developed a hairline crack.

"Fall back! Regroup at point Beta!" Nightwing ordered, helping a dazed Starfire find her footing. "Damnit, this guy is a freaking nightmare."

Through the dissipating steam, Darkseid emerged without any additional injuries, his expression one of mild annoyance. "You've proven more entertaining than expected. However, I have greater concerns to attend to."

Just then, a new presence caught Darkseid's attention, approaching rapidly from above. He tracked the figure's descent as they dropped from the sky, landing with knees bent in a controlled motion. Their impact sent subtle tremors rippling through the ground.

thud

"Ah, my future Fury." When recognition dawned, Darkseid's interest rekindled in claiming her as captain of his Furies. But as Wonder Girl rose to her full height, something in her clear and resolute eyes made his intuition warn him—something was off about the girl before him.

Wonder Girl rose, surveying her battered and sprawled comrades. The sight confirmed she had made the right decision. "This has gone far enough, monster." Without hesitation, she withdrew the single blue crystal from her pocket and held it up before Darkseid.

When the crystal appeared, Darkseid's eyes narrowed at its brilliant radiance. A strange yet familiar sensation washed over him—an emotion he had experienced only once before, recently, the feeling of fear. This primal feeling enraged him, disgusted him, and challenged his very existence as a New God.

His expression turned solemn, killing intent radiating from his very being as his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "I will ask you only once, child. What is that artifact, and how did you acquire it?"

Flashback-Before Orach left for Oa

Ha Ha Ha

The sounds of a sword swings sounded on a isolated section of the island of themyscira in a cave behind a waterfall.

Donna, the second princess of the Amazons, was practicing her sword arts with focused intensity. Following a message from her sister Diana, she had thrown herself into training, preparing for her upcoming mission in Man's World where she would take up her sister's mantle as Wonder Woman during her absence.

Suddenly, a ripple in space materialized behind her. Sensing the presence, she pivoted and swung her sword backward in one fluid motion.

"Careful there, little one." Orach's voice held a mix of amusement and warmth as he stepped through the spatial tear. Effortlessly, he caught Donna's blade between his left hand's index and middle finger. A gentle smile played across his face as he regarded the young Amazon princess. "Good reflexes."

"Hmph! Brother-in-law, when will you stop calling me 'little'?" Donna lowered her sword, her initial battle stance melting into a playful pout as recognition dawned.

Orach released the blade with an amused smile. "What's wrong with 'little'? Would you prefer 'Young Princess'" His eyes sparkled with mischief as he pretended to consider alternatives.

"Please, not that one either," Donna groaned, though a smile tugged at her lips. "I get enough of that from the others from my sisters on the island already."

"Very well then, little princess it is. So this is Themyscira. Next time, I'll come here as a proper guest," Orach chuckled, earning a playful glare from Donna. His expression then turned serious. "I came to give you something before I depart for Oa." He held out his hand to Donna, retrieving a small crystalline object that emanated a soft blue glow from his terminal storage.

"What is it?" Donna asked, her curiosity piqued by the mysterious artifact.

"A safeguard," Orach replied, his voice grave. "This crystal contains a fraction of my power. Use it only in the direst circumstances, when all other options have been exhausted. It will protect you and those around you. To activate it, just call out my name and the purpose for which your require its power. However, it can only be used three times before the Ki stored within dissipates."

Donna accepted the crystal with fascination, feeling its latent energy pulse against her palm. She then with a serious expression looked straight at Orach and asked,"Brother-in-law, this sounds like you're expecting something…something dangerous."

"Let's just say I prefer to have contingencies," Orach smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. He brought his hand over her head and patted her. "This world is my family's home. Even if I'm not here, I want to ensure it has something to defend itself with. Keep it close, little sister. May you never need to use it."

"I understand," Donna replied solemnly, securing the crystal in a hidden pocket of her armor. "Thank you, brother-in-law. May the gods watch over your journey to Oa."

Orach's warm smile returned. "And may the primordial Gods protect you in your role as Earth's guardian. You'll make an excellent Wonder Woman, Donna. If you ever doubt that, remember me and your sister—and believe in us who believe in you. Diana chose well. So, soar high, Wonder Girl, and await our return." With that, he turned and stepped through another spatial ripple, returning to his ship.

End of Flashback

Wonder Girl's grip tightened on the crystal as memories of Orach's warning echoed in her mind. Looking directly at Darkseid, she spoke with unwavering determination. "This crystal was entrusted to me by someone far more powerful than you could imagine."

"A bold claim," Darkseid's eyes narrowed dangerously as he took a step forward. "Give that to me."

"Not Happening," Wonder Girl said with a solemn expression. "Today I will rid our universe of your tyranny." She closed her eyes concentrating and channeled her will into the crystal, causing it to pulse with brilliant azure light.

"YOU DARE!" Darkseid roared, unleashing twin Omega beams at full power.

In the next moment, Donna opened her eyes and called out, "In the name of Orach, Prince of..."

But before she could complete the incantation, a slender hand materialized from thin air, gently but firmly covering her mouth. Simultaneously, another figure emerged through a spatial ripple in front of her. With practiced ease, they raised an ornate staff towards the incoming attack and called out, "Vajra Barrier!"

A shimmering wall of golden energy materialized, intercepting Darkseid's Omega beams. The devastating attack crashed against the barrier in a spectacular display, yet at the end of the attack the mystical defense stood tall without a single scratch. All heroes and Darkseid too, who witnessed the scene were shocked. In the next moment, with a casual wave of his staff, the mysterious spellcaster dissolved the golden barrier into shimmering motes of light.

"Now then," spoke the mysterious figure, his ornate staff tapping against the ground with quiet authority. Behind him, Donna struggled against the unseen force that held her silent. His lips curved into a knowing smile as he addressed the dark god. "Darkseid, was it? I need a moment with this young lady, if you don't mind. So please..." He raised his staff, eyes gleaming with ancient power. "Tempus Frigidus."

At his command, azure light flashed through the battlefield. Darkseid's imposing form froze mid-stance, caught in the grip of temporal magic.

The mysterious figure then turned to face Donna, who remained firmly held in place. Despite her confusion and alarm, her eyes met his with unflinchingly in defiance. Lowering his staff, he studied her with an expression that mixed curiosity, amusement and concern.

"Tell me," he spoke softly, his voice carrying an otherworldly resonance as his eyes once more flashed azure light, "what connection do you share with Prince Orach of Sadala from the Alacrity Alliance higher realm? And more importantly..." His eyes flickered to the crystal still clutched in her hand. "Do you understand the true nature of what you were about to unleash?"

Donna's eyes widened at the mention of Orach's home world and higher realm. Few in this universe knew of Sadala, and even fewer recognized the Alacrity Alliance higher realm. These mysterious beings clearly weren't from Earth, yet they possessed seemingly impossible knowledge. The realization struck her quickly—Earth was now host to more visitors from the higher realms.