Chapter 8
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***
Watching the transformation of the once cohesive resistance army into a frightened flock of sheep, Ollie's eyes widened in amazement.
That's what a direct confrontation with one of the Apocalypse Elite meant.
They simply didn't have a chance.
A few accurate shots of Green Arrow saved the lives of the people who were caught by the Steppenwolf's axe. But because of Ollie's intervention, the monster finally noticed him.
«Listen to me carefully, Deena. Now, you're gonna gather all the men and divide them into two teams. One will go with you, and the other-- the other--
«We won't share them, I'll go with you.
«You won't do this to me," Ollie squeezed her palm and looked into her trembling eyes, "Or that monster will kill us all here.
«Ollie...I don't....
«Deena, this is not a joke. I don't-- you know that. I'll never forgive myself if you stay with me, baby, you don't want to upset me, do you? - he smiled.
«I hate it when you look at me like that," she said.
«Don't start, you know it's the only choice. I promise we'll meet a little later.
«Promise?
Their kiss seemed like an eternity before they parted, and now she was running with the others, leaving him behind. Ollie clutched his bow, grinning. He'd never sweated so much.
«My hands are shaking, but probably from excitement.
The Steppenwolf walked towards him at a leisurely gait, keeping a cold and haughty expression on his face.
«How about a little dance? - Ollie said.
«Judging by the movement of these ants around you, you are their leader," Steppenwolf said, humbling him with a look. - What an unfortunate joke of fate. It's as if a dung beetle were suddenly under my foot.
The entire difference between them was visible to the naked eye, in height, strength, and the aura that surrounded General Apocalypse.
Fear and the desire to escape pressed on, and yet a few sure shots flew at the Steppenwolf and crashed into the thick, impenetrable flesh.
«To be honest, retirement was not how I had envisioned it," Ollie grinned.
«Your courage is commendable, mortal. Yet what can a nameless human commander do when even the best of your warriors could not stand against me?
«The mere fact that you're here plays right into my hands. Especially since it's not night yet, I'll make you remember me.
«To defeat a mediocrity like you, I need only look at the battlefield and see all the mistakes you've made. One of them is the naiveté behind your cunning plan.
Ollie caught an arrow in a tree and bounced back just in time before the Steppenwolf caught up with him. Then several arrows fell from the sky and exploded on the Dark Leader's head.
«Hmmm..." brushing the smoke away, Steppenwolf looked under his feet, in which he found two pieces of arrow with spiked tips, "what a pathetic attempt to escape....
There was another explosion.
Green Arrow ran across the empty field where the wheat used to grow, in the other direction from the ships, away from Dina and the others who were trying to escape.
Then an axe flew out of the smoke, at which Ollie fired two arrows that collided with Steppenwolf's blade, but the axe flew too fast and just chopped them apart. Wally barely had time to jump aside, but his leg was caught and he fell painfully to the ground.
«Oh shit...come on a little more, old man, we can..." he whispered, grabbing his bloody leg and getting up from his seat.
«There you are," came a growl from above.
Steppenwolf appeared in the sky and landed right in front of Green Arrow, crumpling the ground beneath him and grabbing Ollie sharply by the scruff of the neck. The huge titan, three times the size of Ollie, lifted him off the ground and hummed arrogantly as he twisted in his fingers.
«I praise you for your courage to fight against me, even though you are a worm without even a drop of my strength. Out of pity, I'll kill you slowly, to further the delusion you cling to; as if the time you gain will somehow prevent me from killing your friends," his gray, alien lips contorted into a cruel grin.
«Thanks, of course...but I'm not going to die yet.
Two more arrows came from the sky, but this time Steppenwolf swept them away with his hand with a bored expression. They exploded over his head, but he didn't care enough to blink.
«Will there be any more pathetic attempts to detain me? - Steppenwolf asked.
«Is everything pathetic with you? I hope it's not some kind of complex, you know... because I can introduce you to someone I know, she's a psychologist, a bit of an asshole, but....
The Steppenwolf frowned and began to squeeze his neck.
«You'd better worry about something else," Ollie muttered painfully.
«Enough, me.
«I should have listened to the advice!
Cutting through the air faster than the sound could reach his ears, Pavergirl's fist entered the Steppenwolf's jaw at full acceleration.
***
«Karen, what are you doing here?
Karen hovered in the air and looked in the direction where the Steppenwolf had flown with a cold expression. Her fist ached from the blow, but it had been worth it.
«What do you think? Saving you from killing yourself, this guy is clearly not your level," she said.
«Ah, it's a shame I have to hear it from the mouth of a punk like you. Superman's forgivable. But as much as my dignity may suffer, there are more important things than male pride right now. You need to help Deena and the others get off this island as soon as possible. The Steppenwolf has already realized what we've done to the Tyranids, and the cannons will soon be active again. Can I count on you?
«What about you?
«I'm gonna stay here and hold this monster off.
«You don't delay, he'll kill you in a heartbeat, you won't even catch that.
«But somehow he survived until now.
«With people like us," she pursed her lips together, as if considering the words for delicacy.
«Come on, I get it, you're the kind of guy who likes to mess with wimps like me?
«No offense. When you're fighting ordinary people, it's hard to give your best. It's just laziness," Karen said with mild concern.
«Well, I'm a bit of a narcissist, which is why you're hurting my pride right now. Now I want to kick his ass even more," Ollie grinned.
«Are all men of Earth such idiots?
«Hey, don't equate me with your friends.
«All right. If you're gonna die, I'm gonna help you. There aren't many people in this world who can match my speed. I'll cover you as long as you're alive, and when life leaves you, I'll fly away.
«You're too naive," Green Arrow snarled, drawing his arrow. - If you stay here any longer than you have to, they won't let you leave.
«I like to joke around sometimes too, Green Arrow.
The next moment, there was a rumbling sound, and a huge silhouette shrouded in silver armor climbed into the sky. The Steppenwolf was coming closer.
«I'll hold him off, you go!
Karen pressed her lips together and looked up.
«It's getting late.
«Damn you, Kare...
The Steppenwolf landed right in front of them, and immediately delivered a horizontal axe strike, right at Karen and Green Arrow. Karen blocked the blow, which was meant for the two of them, and barely stayed on her feet.
«I told you he'd kill you in a heartbeat!
«Oh, what a nuisance young people are these days... distract him.
At Steppenwolf's feet, two arrows sank in and exploded, covering him in a smokescreen.
«There's no intelligence in them, only stupidity. A pathetic attempt to delay the inevitable.
Coming out of the smoke screen, Steppenwolf struck at Karen, putting up a fight with her. As she flew into the air to take the fight, he grabbed her arm and slammed her to the ground, then tossed her aside and jumped on top of her to chop Karen in two with a vertical axe strike.
«I've heard of you, Kryptonian, you're slightly inferior to Superman, but that's still not enough to pose a threat to me.
Two arrows flew into his elbow and exploded, throwing off the trajectory of the axe's strike and the blade flew past Karen's neck, the Steppenwolf's axe stabbed into the ground, creating an unthinkable rumble and leaving deep furrows in the ground... that stretched all the way to the sea for several hundred meters.
Karen lay beside a huge hole in the ground and breathed fearfully.
«This mosquito buzzing is getting annoying.
«Look here, I'm your opponent," Green Arrow shouted, firing arrow after arrow at the Steppenwolf's closing hand.
"My arrows are only slowing him down, no more, but it's enough to let the others get away," Ollie thought, working at the limits of his strength. His breathing was hitching, his head was spinning, and he seemed to have taken a bad hit to his spine, because every time he moved, his hip shot up, and his hands were shaking like an alcoholic's.
Karen pounced on the Steppenwolf, and began punching it as hard as she could. Punch after punch, powerful jerks, she forced the mighty creature, who was three times her height and strength, to powerlessly retreat step by step until her fists were stained with the turquoise blood of his lips.
It seemed like she could go on like this indefinitely, but the Steppenwolf snatched her arm in a ferocious series of invisible blows and flung her away with a careless swing.
«One of the few who has the determination to kill but not the experience to finish the job, Kara zor El. It's a shame I didn't get to deal with Kal El myself, I'm sure he would have given me a most worthy fight," Steppenwolf said, wiping his bloody lips.
«Don't you dare mention his name, it was your Overlord who dealt him a cowardly blow! - Karen shouted.
«Don't fly at him so recklessly, Karen! He's provoking you! - shouted Green Arrow.
«There are no excuses in the world of war. He who has tasted defeat once will not wash it away until he dies," Steppenwolf said, calmly intercepting Karen's blow and sending her flying with a precise kick to the stomach.
«Kha...
«Our fight has gone on a bit long, but it's time to take stock," he said.
The steppenwolf raised his head upward.
A tense buzzing took over the air, and an army of para-demons clustered around the island in a dense stream.
Karen and Green Arrow stood beside each other and pressed their backs together.
«Let me guess, they've got us surrounded?
«Everywhere, I hear them everywhere.
Steppenwolf pointed his long clawed finger behind Green Arrow's back, to where Black Canary and the remaining resistance forces were fleeing. And then he shouted loudly across the island, so that everyone could hear him.
«Kill them all, tear the flesh of every one, let none escape!
***
Steppenwolf hummed, watching as his army gradually killed and crumpled the remaining resistance. Everything was going perfectly in his plans, even despite his little game with the bugs.
«No Batman, no Superman," he sighed, "no worthy opponent. And the so-called Willard Light seems to be in our hands. No interesting confrontation.
A portal opened to the side of the Steppenwolf, and Zatanna and Damian emerged from it. He looked at them with utter indifference and boredom.
They knelt before him.
«I'm sorry, my Lord. We lost Willard Light to John Constantine, but I managed to find out that my magic can prevent him from using the Thunder God's mark.
«Did you give him my message?
Zatanna froze for a moment, clenched her fist, and replied restrainedly:
«You're not surprised? I lost him, embarrassing myself in front of you and--
«There's nothing I've been surprised by so far. Don't flatter yourself, Zatanna. I never expected anything from a piece of garbage like you in the first place. Now answer the question, don't test my patience.
Zatanna lowered her head and pressed her lips together.
«Yes... I have done everything you have asked of me, my Lord. But if you will allow me... I do not believe that someone like him can give you a decent fight. His power has been sealed by the Arcane, and now this man poses no threat to Apocalypse.
«Of the two of us, Zatanna, I am the only one who can think. Your role is one of unquestioning obedience.
«Yes! (Laughs)
«The mark of the Thunder God," Steppenwolf said thoughtfully, as if tasting the word.
"Thanks to one man, the Resistance was able to hide from us for three whole months. Human shortsightedness and blindness is one of the reasons why humans have been unable to come close to the greatness of the Apocalypse in all the millennia. And yet one of the New Gods has fallen here on Earth, causing a protracted war with the Earthlings," Steppenwolf thought.
All the while, Steppenwolf led the suppression of the resistance of Earth's strongest heroes, which included Captain Marvel, Princess Diana of Themyscira, and many others. Under his onslaught, Lex Luthor fell, Themyscira fell, and he nearly destroyed Atlantis before their King could erect that cowardly barrier.
But the real reason Atlantis survived was not the barrier.
Great Lord Darkseid has withdrawn the Steppenwolf army from Atlandita, ordering him to deal with the remaining resistance in Gotham as soon as possible.
"The Old Gods have stepped in. While most of them don't care about Earth's war, one of them intends to use it for his own personal gain. Get rid of Willard Light until then," Darkseid said.
The Steppenwolf played with the fingers of his hand thoughtfully.
Willard Light had been cleverly hiding with members of the resistance all this time, and because General Apocalypse Steppenwolf had to prepare a trap for him. The supplies, the weakened guards, and the rumors that Darkseid himself would be here soon were all the bait he needed to lure him and the Resistance here so that he could destroy them in one fell swoop.
And if this plan was entirely devised to satisfy Darkseid's will, the Steppenwolf himself hoped that one of the Old Gods would make his move sooner rather than later, or this war would be over.
«Let me make a suggestion. It's about John Constantine.
«Ahh..." said Steppenwolf thoughtfully, "the very mage you're so afraid of?
«He is one of the most powerful mages on Earth. Usually this scum is willing to sacrifice the lives of thousands of people just to save himself, but this time he risked his life to save one person. This is atypical for him, I think he might be up to something against the Apocalypse, maybe some magic or demons... he's used to using different methods," Zatanna said.
The Steppenwolf glanced at Zatanna with slight surprise, arching an eyebrow.
«You talk about him like you fear that worm more than you fear me, right when I'm standing right in front of you," the Steppenwolf said, taking Zatanna by the chin, "you know I could kill you at any moment, mortal, don't you?
Zatanna, suppressing a shudder, replied:
«Yes, my Lord.
«However... If it's as you say, we just need to finish this before that mage can interfere," Steppenwolf said, raising his head to the frowning sky where countless Para-demons were circling. It seemed like he was up to something. - How many survivors were left on the island?
«About three hundred, my Lord.
«How many of these are related to our purpose?
«One Kryptonian, my Lord. There was also... a Beast Boy, who is supposed to be his best friend," Zatanna said carefully.
«Karen...is a clone of Willard Light's girlfriend that he may have warm feelings for," Damian explained.
«I see. We've forced Willard Light to come to us. Order the ships to approach Nerose Island. We will drown him in the waves of the sea.
«You want to destroy the island...?
BDUM. Something rumbled to the side, and Steppenwolf tensed. The sound of seawater echoed in his ears, and then it darkened, and a huge shadow covered the ground.
«What's going on? - Damian asked.
«There's a powerful magic in the air. Master.
Steppenwolf interrupted her with a hand.
«The power of Atlantis..." said Steppenwolf, raising his head to the huge sea wave that covered the entire sky, "I guess I didn't notice the shark approaching while I was catching small fish.
A huge sea wave that covers an entire island has hit Apocalypse's army.
***
The army of para-demons was slowly beginning to retreat, but Karen didn't notice it because she was busy fighting Superboy. But the change in the battlefield was noticed by Green Arrow, who diligently ran to Dina and the rest of the resistance to save them from the enemy's trap.
Behind the slope, Black Canary and the others fought off an army of swarming enemies. The ground was strewn with corpses and thick, darkening blood.
«Dina!" shouted Ollie, firing several arrows.
He was flanked by a para-demon, whose jaws he stopped with his bow. They collapsed to the ground and rolled down the slope, trying hard to get away from each other.
Ollie hadn't expected that he was completely out of strength and the para-demon looming over him might be the one to kill him, just like that, after all he'd had to endure with the Steppenwolf, all those three months of sheer hell.
"I don't believe it, damn it."
However, luck smiled on him, and it just happened to be because the para-demon that was clamping its fangs around his neck was blown away by a golden flash. The Para-demon hung on the tip, nailed to the rock by the golden trident.
«This trident, Arthur?
The answer came from the sea, where the armor-clad and heavily armed Atlanteans ran out with a battle cry. And after them, as if following on their heels, a huge wave of the sea was coming towards the island, as if accompanying their rebellion.
«Let's go! Atlantis! - shouted Aquaman, - crush the enemy, strike without mercy! The sea itself is on our side!
A sea wave swept over the entire island, and flooded it from all sides. The clusters of para-demons were helplessly swept away in its wake.
Ollie heard only the sound of the sea as he closed his eyes and braced himself for death by the merciless water. But he found himself surrounded by a sea sphere that protected him from the tsunami that had struck the island.
In the stream of water, Ollie saw a man walking calmly toward him, stepping over the water barrier and out toward him. He was a tall, proud man in golden-teal armor and green pants with the thick scales of some kind of sea monster.
Ollie grinned tiredly.
«I thought this fucking war was gonna blow me away.
«She has other plans today.
They wrapped their arms around each other and pressed their palms together tightly. Arthur helped him up.
«You're late.
«The enemy left the walls of Atlantis, hoping we would cower in fear and await our fate, but he was wrong. We will never stop fighting for Oceanus' freedom," Arthur said.
«And the other people? - Ollie said.
«Don't worry, Dina and the others are fine.
«It's a weight off my shoulders," he exhaled heavily, "so how are we doing? How long is this wave going to last?
«We cornered the Steppenwolf with a surprise attack and did a lot of damage to his army, however knowing the Steppenwolf, he will soon retaliate against us. I've come to get you out, but we can't stay long. Atlantis is left undefended, we have a lot at stake. Let's hope the enemy can't recover quickly.
«And I'm very grateful to you. We'd all be dead here if it weren't for you.
«Thank Atlantis, not me. If, uh.
«Yeah, yeah, I know, God, don't be a bore for once, Arthur.
Arthur arched an eyebrow in confusion. At that moment, one of the Atlantis warriors approached him.
«I've got it. The strength of the wave is rapidly weakening, help the Resistance people before we retreat.
Arthur swung his trident, and the water separating the resistance squad and Ollie parted. The people of Atlantis helped the survivors up and escaped to submarines that came up the coast. But one blonde, instead of running, came to Ollie and held his hands.
«I thought you were gonna die.
«I thought you were dead.
Ollie grinned guiltily.
«What do you take me for? I would never leave you.
«Liar, there's not a living thing on you! - Dina said, kissing him on the lips.
«I don't want to distract you from your romantic encounter on the battlefield, but we have a serious problem," Arthur said glumly.
Through the torrents of water that Arthur had set upon the enemies, Ollie and Diana could see the clouds diverge beneath the huge black ships of the apocalypse that loomed over Nerose Island.
«He's already figured out his move," Ollie said.
«This is one of the most dangerous opponents I've ever fought. No sooner had I trapped him than the Steppenwolf figured out a way out.
«What's he planning?
«Like Atlantis, it will rain down fire on its ships. That's when Orin's barrier helped us hold out.
«And now we're going to be grilled like ribs on a grill. We have to go," Ollie said.
«I was going to, but my scouts - Arthur meant the fish that came with the tsunami wave - say there are survivors on the island. I kept them alive with the Sea Wave, but when the Great Sea Wave loses its power, I won't be able to keep them safe.
«What? I thought we got everybody out!
«Not all of them, Ollie... we didn't take them all out. We just didn't have time," said Black Canary.
Ollie opened his eyes wide, and literally froze in place.
«Not everyone, then," he said.
«I know what you're thinking, Ollie, but listen to me, look at me," Black Canary turned him around with gentle palms, "you're smart, you should realize that it's impossible to save everyone. The best thing we can do now is to retreat. At least then we will have hope.
«I will not persuade you, Green Arrow, but listen to your woman. The Apocalypse cannons from those ships almost destroyed all of Atlantis, and no one can survive under their pressure," Arthur said calmly, returning to the sea with a quiet step, "take the chance that Atlantis has given you.
«Arthur, please don't leave them. They're all part of the Resistance.
«Don't even think about it," Arthur said irritably, glaring at him angrily, "I won't sacrifice a single Atlantean. I'm taking a big risk showing up here as it is. Now Atlantis is without its Ruler.
«What? You hypocritical bastard! Then why the fuck did you come here?
«Like I said, this is a forced move to weaken Apocalypse. Now it'll be harder for Steppenwolf to get close to us without an army.
«Using us as bait?
«Don't judge me, Green Arrow. I took a chance to wrest victory from the hands of the enemy. Unlike your government, at least I kept the lives of my men and their homes intact.
«What an insufferable...asshole you are.
«Calm down and listen to what he's saying. We have to go. Come on, Ollie," said Canary.
The people of Atlantis and Arthur stopped off the coast of Nerose Island. Almost everyone had boarded the submarines, and they were the only ones left, Black Canary and Green Arrow.
But Ollie kept looking toward the island, as if trying to see something there.
***
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