Chapter 10
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***
Steppenwolf watched with a sense of sweet superiority the chaotic shots, the sharp volleys tearing the ground into small pieces. The feeling of uncontrolled destruction gave him a thrill of awe and delight - for all this power was at his command. The island was turning into an upside-down grave covered with corpses. The noisy explosions made the air shake, and the air rang and whistled with flying beams that struck the ground like sharp spears. Scraps of earth flew into the sky, forming a choking cloud of dust. Somewhere out there, the terrified screams of the people were silenced before they could escape their chests.
Victory, no matter what it is, is always a nice feeling. But the biggest surprise was ahead of him.
«My Lord...I sense Willard Light approaching," Zatanna said.
«Shut down the Tyrants.
«Disable the Tyranids? But my Lord.
«Shut them down.
«I obey," Zatanna said demurely as she carried out the order.
«Make sure your magic circles are fully operational. I don't want my prey escaping from the nets.
«Don't worry, there aren't many mages on Earth right now that can break my spells, and the strongest of them are in the ranks of Apocalypse, Willard Light is walking right into our hands and won't be able to escape," Zatanna spoke, more in an attempt to calm herself under the angry gaze of the Steppenwolf. She created magical circles in front of her. Each of them shimmered with magic, clearly indicating the activity of all the spells that blocked any possibility of movement, including the power of the Thunder God's Swords.
«My Lord, I can see the remaining men," Demian said, pointing to where the smoke was slowly dissipating.
«Is that so? - Steppenwolf asked, turning to Zatanna.
«Yes... somehow people managed to survive the gunshots, but I don't understand..." Zatanna said thoughtfully.
On the dais, Steppenwolf saw the people who should have been destroyed by the ship's shots, but they were all completely unharmed. Moreover, they were surrounded by a kind of orange energy that made Steppenwolf's eyes tingle unpleasantly.
«What's that?
«A foreign energy, something akin to spiritual energy. It belongs to Willard Light, and apparently he used it as a shield to keep people from our attack.
«Did everyone survive?
«Yeah, but, uh.
«I don't care. Just kill them. I've already accomplished my main goal.
But no sooner had Steppenwolf finished speaking than, in a sudden flash, these people disappeared without leaving a trace behind.
«What the hell is this? - He growled irritably, gripping the handle of his axe until his fingers ached, and turned to the trembling Zatanna, "You said your magic was active. Where were they going!
«It must be the Thunder God's technique, but... I've never heard of Willard Light being able to move people remotely..." she said confusedly, casting a quick, frightened glance at her spells, "I swear! I'm sure I put spells in place to block him from moving, he couldn't have gotten away!
«Which means he doesn't have to show up here now to save people," Damian finished the thought.
«Hmm... I don't know how Willard got around your spell, but he beat me. No wonder Kanto couldn't get him, apparently the brat is as cunning as they say he is. How disappointing.
«Will you give up your pursuit of him? - Zatanna asked.
Steppenwolf plucked the axe from the ground and clutched it tightly in his palm.
«Primitive human thinking," he said, giving Zatanna a scornful look, "but that's why you're so easy to control. I will not give up hunting for prey just because it slipped away once. Hunting is a long process that requires patience and a special approach to the prey.
The Steppenwolf directed his gaze to the mangled ground, there were rocks, stones, earth, ditches... people, all wrong, small bipeds, unremarkable trash, and then his gaze stopped on a hovering silhouette.
«Kryptonian, she's still on the island. Is that spell still on her? - The Steppenwolf turned to the shaken Zatanna.
«Of course, as you instructed, I took care of the deterrent.
The Steppenwolf's lips contorted into a grin.
«In that case, order the para-demons to prepare the Tyranids for restraining shots. I'll have Willard Light come right into my hands.
***
Willard Light sprang up right on the slope, beside John, who was silently watching the island.
«Apparently it didn't go as smoothly as you thought it would," John chuckled.
«Yeah... Steppenwolf leaves me no choice.
«I managed to save some people, but the island is too big. I won't be able to save everyone at once without the Thunder God's mark.
«Zatanna... she set traps interfering with the teleport all over the island, and some people got caught in them. What are you gonna do? If you go near her, she's bound to grab your ass and won't let go.
Will looked thoughtfully into the distance, of course, without binoculars he couldn't see anything, but thanks to his sensorics he could feel the presence of other people. Ten, twenty... a couple of teenagers who had nowhere else to go and went to war.
«There's nothing else for me to do," Will said.
***
Karen looked around. Everything was ruined, the ground scarred, and there weren't even ruins left of what had once been Arkham. The cannons of the Apocalypse had left no stone unturned. Harley and Beast Boy had disappeared somewhere. She'd check where, but...
... Steppenwolf, Zatanna, Demian, and Superboy stopped right in front of her, forcing her to focus all her attention on them. Around a monster like Steppenwolf, she couldn't think straight.
"Just his aura alone makes me shudder, damn monster."
«What a nice meeting," Steppenwolf said, opening his palm in her direction, "I find it highly ironic, Kara Zorl El: the one who should have escaped from Nerose Island first ended up all alone.
Karen averted her gaze.
«You torture yourself with thoughts, you bend yourself, you curse. But you're alive, isn't that what matters?
«It's not for a soulless butcher to speculate on the feelings of others," she hissed.
«That's the difference between us, Kryptonian, they are your weakness," Steppenwolf stepped forward and gave Zatanna an order. - Be ready to activate the spell.
«I know of your plans, Steppenwolf. Still hoping to find worthy prey among what you call foolish prey. There's hypocrisy in you. You can't expect him to come, he doesn't even have the powers you're looking for," Karen grinned.
«O naive child, to understand why you are wrong, you need only ask one simple question: why are you still here when you could have flown away?
Karen frowned.
«I've only known him for three months. You're naive to think Willard Light would come here in an obvious trap.
The steppenwolf shook his head.
«Sweet lies will not hide the pain on your face, child. Now we'll see which one of us is right," he said, the last words through a gambling grin.
Before Karen could react, the Steppenwolf lunged at her and sliced the air right at her throat.
The Steppenwolf took any of her blows with a slight pain, nothing more. He grabbed Pavergirl's arm and slammed it to the ground, tossing her aside like a beaten dog.
«You look more like a puppet to me than a Kryptonian. If it weren't for my exciting hunt, I'd hesitate to turn my axe on you. You don't deserve it, you should die by a lowlife like you, maybe Kal El....
«Ahhhh!" Karen lunged at Steppenwolf, punching him in a furious rush, kicking him in the stomach, face, chest, face again. With a heavy sigh, she forced him to move a few feet off the ground, but Steppenwolf continued to stand as if nothing had happened, like an unshakable rock.
Looking at Karen's arms down, hunched over from fatigue, Steppenwolf spit the blood from her busted lip onto the ground and hummed.
«What a disappointing sight. I was hoping to see a Kryptonian desperately clinging to his life, but all I see is a lowlife begging for death.
Steppenwolf grabbed Karen by the hair and lifted her above the ground.
«Say no more...
EXPLOSION. A sharp shot cut through the air and slammed into the ground, creating an explosion, and the shockwave hit Steppenwolf and those gathered. The Tyranids on the sides of the island began an endless barrage, drawing zigzags with their shots that seemed to be heading towards Steppenwolf... at breakneck speed.
The steppenwolf hummed.
«I think I was the winner in our little argument.
«He's dodging Tyranes' shots," Zatanna said, looking off into the distance.
«If I'm not mistaken, it was on Nerose Island that the Tyranids first missed their target? - Steppenwolf asked.
«Yeah... that's right," Zatanna said grimly, knowing full well that there was definitely no way to convince the Master to abandon the pursuit of Willard Light now, because the only person who had been able to keep the Resistance safe from the Tyranids last time was the same one who had made Kanto disappear.
«Let's see...what he can do.
Steppenwolf swung his axe in a quick jerk in Karen's direction... LYAZG.
The axe flew into the air, spinning in a furious whirlwind. The sudden collision sent Steppenwolf's arm flying upward, and he growled, peering through the distinct glow of the other's gaze at him.
«USE THE SPELL!
All the moments he had counted might have been enough to save the decoy and leave them with nothing. Before Willard Light could catch the falling Karen in flight, the Steppenwolf threw his arm out at him. A moment more, and their bodies moved slower than usual into each other's eyes, but both realized that it was all the result of accelerated perception distorted by the high speed at which they were moving. One mistake in this position meant defeat in a battle whose outcome was decided in a matter of moments.
Knowing this, Steppenwolf didn't aim his attack at Willard, but put everything on Karen's attack, thus forcing Willard to spend another instant more. And that instant allowed Zattana to activate the necessary spell.
No, perhaps the spell had been activated much earlier, in advance, but the Steppenwolf, being the Grand General of Darkseid himself, always tried to be at least two steps ahead of his opponent. And if, purely by chance, Zatanna's prearranged plan got out of hand... if, say, Willard Light had foreseen everything and prepared a counter-measure to her spell - Steppenwolf would not let him get away because of someone else's negligence, because in his mind the Apocalypse General could afford no excuses.
As Zatanna's spell glowed with blue light beneath Willard Light's feet, both opponents realized that everything was about to be decided.
And so it happened. The moment Zatanna's spell was triggered, Willard Light's body exploded as if it were a smoke bomb, and the spell Zatanna had cast with the blue chains hit the air.
Willard Light, however, the real Willard Light, appeared right behind Zatanna's back, clasped her hands and covered her mouth with his palm.
***
Karen fell to the ground, rising heavily on her elbows. In front of her stood a scowling Apocalypse General Steppenwolf and Willard Light, who was holding Zatanna hostage. They were surrounded by Superboy and Damian, who immediately snapped out of their seats.
«Stop!" growled Steppenwolf, waving his hand.
And Damien and Superboy froze in place. In heavy silence, they stared at each other, neither daring to move.
"He dodged the spell," Steppenwolf thought, glancing at a shocked Zatanna, "And from the looks of it, she doesn't know what happened. Clearly, he's free now."
«I admit I underestimated you, Willard Light. I didn't think you'd find a way out so soon," the Steppenwolf said glumly, studying the position of his hands, which no doubt indicated a determination to kill as soon as Zatanna moved.
"He's not killing her because there's no particular reason. If I give it to him, Willard Light can easily leave with Kara Zor El. That kindness is the only thing still keeping him on the island, but once he realizes he has no choice, he won't hesitate to get rid of Zatanna, I can see it in his eyes." - Tell me, how did you break Zatanna's spell?
«You're obviously giving me too much credit, Great General," Will said, holding Zatanna in his arms. It was no wonder, for no one in the room knew what his alternate self was capable of doing
«Here's how...
"Then I wasn't imagining it. I don't see any magical aura around him, as if Zatanna's spell hadn't even touched his body. In fact, he's completely free now, and could escape at any moment if I don't figure out how to hold him back. Struggling with his speed is useless, but I have the agility to stop him if he gets any closer," the Steppenwolf glanced at Kara Zor El lying at his feet. - "That girl, as long as she's here, he's not going anywhere."
«Let's talk like smart people, Willard Light. You have what's mine, and I have what you want so badly. I think we can compromise. In deference to your bravery for daring to stand right in front of me, I will release your girlfriend and allow you to leave. Provided you defeat me in a one-on-one duel.
«Willard...don't listen to him, he.....
The Steppenwolf grasped Karen's face and lifted her air without any emotion.
«Of course, I expect you to be smart enough to decide what to do, as befits a warrior.
«And surely you'll keep your promise?
The steppenwolf curled his lips.
«If you were a smallfolk, I would chop your head off for your insolence with the blunt side of an axe. You're facing none other than the General of the Apocalypse, the Hand of Darkseid, and the Destroyer of Worlds. I always keep my word," Steppenwolf said irritably, "or do you think that if you run away now, I won't catch you again?
«Quite reasonable," Will said.
***
The Steppenwolf's self-confidence played into Willard's hands, but the opponent opposite him was self-confident for a reason. He had a surprisingly clear aura of power and wisdom, the kind of strength and wisdom reserved for the few, the best of the best, the true rulers and commanders whom history could count on its fingers.
"If I refuse his offer, he'll probably kill Karen," Will thought, trying not to show emotion.
The Steppenwolf never took his attentive, insolent eyes off Willard, as if he were trying to find a single doubt in him, and use it immediately to destroy him.
***
But no matter how hard Steppenwolf tried to see weakness in Willard Light, not a bit of fear or doubt flashed across his face.
"He's different from most heroes I've ever met. He doesn't despise bloodshed, and he knows about valor. Not an easy opponent," Steppenwolf thought.
He waited for the moment when Willard Light would give his answer. The silence was depressing, but it also excited the General, who was enjoying the moment.
«All right. I'll give you a fight, but I'll have one condition, too," Will finally said.
«A condition... to me? - The General arched an eyebrow in surprise at first, then laughed bassistically and said coldly, stretching his words: "I'm listening.
«Keep me on this island.
Those words were not what Steppenwolf and the others expected to hear, and in the next instant Willard Light knocked Zatanna out with a blow to the head.
This action immediately changed all of Steppenwolf's plans and made it clear: only he could stop Willard Light right now.
Snapping out of his seat, Willard Light moved straight for Kara, trying to take her in his arms, but the Steppenwolf was already waiting for him.
«You dare underestimate me.
«Absolutely not, General," Will said.
And before Willard's hands reached Kara's, the huge axe cut the air between them with a silvery flash.
***
"I knew it... he won't let me take her," Will thought, bouncing back.
The speed the General had developed was tremendous, but still inferior to him. However, no opponent Willard Light had ever met before had calculated his actions so far ahead, and certainly not developed as much power as the Steppenwolf. No wonder Karen and the entire group of heroes were only a light snack for him.
The Steppenwolf's axe came at Will in a powerful blow, and he barely had time to stop it with his raised kunai. His hands shook, and he was knocked to his knee as if he'd been struck by a multi-ton hammer on a thin blade. Barely able to withstand the blow, Will channeled a considerable amount of chakra into his hands, but he was still weak.
«I expected more from you," the Steppenwolf snarled, "but you disappoint me. Meet your destiny!
Will sagged closer to the ground and breathed heavily, unable to withstand the General's pressure. At the last moment, the Steppenwolf threw out a clawed hand and grabbed his face.
«Goodbye," he squeezed his hand ... and felt a hot seal under his palm, "... what is it?
With a brief flash, Willard's body was covered in orange energy that took the form of pointed tails in a swift jerk, and they immediately struck the Steppenwolf.
«I'm sorry I keep asking you for help," Will grinned tensely, loosening the ground with his sliding feet.
"Oh, forget it...I'm used to your antics by now, you damn upstart," Kurama hummed importantly.
«Will! - Karen barely got to her feet, reaching out to him.
In a sudden jerk, Will wrapped his palm around Karen's palm and threw his chakra arm right over her embrace, and the dense energy engulfed her from head to toe as she jerked fearfully in place.
«What's this?!
«A friend," he said.
"We're leaving, Kuram," he thought.
"No problem."
The legs beneath Willard suddenly lit up, and the moving technique was interrupted on the move.
"Not again!" - exclaimed an annoyed Kurama.
«It's Zatanna... she's come to her senses," Will explained, glancing at the heavy-lifting spellcaster. She was barely chirping as she cast spells with her hands pointing in his direction.
"Turns out we got caught. She caught you in a spell, why the hell did you let that happen!", Kurama said.
«Wouldn't say so...will have to resort to plan B.
"Plan B?" - Kurama arched an eyebrow, "Minato, we've been over this many times, I can't follow your train of thought. What the hell is plan B?"
***
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