The city was in chaos, filled with the cries and screams of thousands. Although the Parademons above Metropolis had been cleared, the brief period had already caused significant casualties and devastation.
"Correction?"
David wanted to know what Clark meant by that.
"Submit to Lord Darkseid and consider it an honor to carry out his will!"
Clark roared and threw a punch, the force of which exploded the air.
His mind had been invaded and controlled by Darkseid, making Clark even stronger, like a ferocious beast attacking with unrestrained, all-out ferocity.
Boom!
But his strength was still far from David's.
Their fists collided, overwhelmed by the crushing, irresistible force. Clark was sent flying back at an even greater speed, creating a thick trench on the ground as if drawn by a giant finger from the sky.
Clark felt an unbearable pain all over his body, his bones seemingly shattered by that punch. He struggled to look up, the ferocity in his eyes undiminished.
Just as he got up to attack again.
A lightning-fast rope flew out and wrapped around his waist.
Almost simultaneously, several green lights coiled around his body, transforming into heavy chains. Along with several giant nails, they attempted to pin him to the ground.
Clang!
The chains were pulled taut, rattling and vibrating, stretched perfectly straight.
In the sky, Green Lantern Hal Jordan struggled to hold onto the hand wearing the Lantern Ring. Diana, as if pulling an enraged bull, had her strong, agile legs forced to plow through the hard asphalt.
Just as Clark was about to charge at David, a powerful gravity field descended, making him sink. His forward momentum abruptly halted, and he was then yanked back forcefully.
His body, which had been flying like a cannonball, stopped, with only the resulting shockwave spreading outwards.
Only a few dozen centimeters separated them from colliding face-to-face. David hovered in mid-air, looking at Clark, whose mind was clearly troubled, unsure of how to restore him.
"He looks controlled."
Accompanied by the sound of clashing steel, Batman descended from the sky in the Fenrir Mech.
"What should we do?"
Apokolips's attack had returned, and no place on Earth was spared. Batman, Cyborg, Wonder Woman, and others had rushed to Metropolis, where abnormal gravity readings were detected in the sky. They knew David should be here.
To be honest, David didn't have a good solution either. He raised his hand, looking at the unresponsive Clark.
"I didn't want to do this, Clark. Your parents are very worried. I can only try this for now!"
The next second, the radiation of Kryptonite enveloped Clark.
Clark's skin turned pale, and he instantly felt a scorching, sun-like pain. Veins bulged on his neck and forehead. He fell uncontrollably, losing all his superpowers, and was captured by gravity.
His eyes widened, and he lay powerlessly on the ground, his miserable screams echoing far away.
David moved closer, bringing the Kryptonite radiation even nearer.
Clark's consciousness blurred from the intense pain, but his expression gradually became less ferocious. After a few seconds, he looked as if he had been pulled out of water, his skin pale and his body drenched in sweat.
"Pain can bring clarity."
Watching the darkness and ferocity in Clark's eyes gradually disappear, David asked.
"Do you feel like your true self is returning a bit?"
"I... I can."
Stimulated by the immense pain, Clark shook his head forcefully, feeling the darkness in his heart receding. He laboriously raised a hand as a signal.
Darkseid's strength didn't lie in mind control. He had only taken advantage of Clark's extreme emotional fluctuations. His control over him wasn't that unbreakable.
Seeing Clark recover, David retracted the Kryptonite radiation simulated by the Lantern Ring and reached out to pull the weakened him up from the ground. He then looked towards the North Pole.
Now, Clark's problem was solved.
"Go and get some sun. There's going to be a fierce battle. If I'm not mistaken, Darkseid has already arrived on Earth with his minions to conquer the world."
As he spoke, Firestorm, Element Girl, Hawkgirl, Flash, and Arthur also arrived from a distance.
"Be careful, he... he's very powerful."
Sweat had matted his hair into strands on his forehead, Clark warned.
"I was subdued with almost no resistance."
In fact, David didn't need anyone to emphasize Darkseid's power to him.
He was the one present who understood Darkseid's strength the most. The most powerful New God in the universe, whose armies had conquered countless worlds. Some described him as the darkness of the universe, bringing despair and ruin wherever he went.
Facing that Dark Lord, one could not be too serious.
"Go to Themyscira and Atlantis. Darkseid must have sent people there. We must stop them from obtaining the Mother Boxes."
David said sternly.
"The combined power of three Mother Boxes can cleanse the Earth. Darkseid needs the power of the Mother Boxes to fully activate the Anti-Life Equation hidden within the Earth."
A power that could make all living beings submit. Although he had no interest in ruling the universe, he had searched for it on Earth before, but unfortunately, he hadn't found it.
"The Anti-Life Equation isn't simply etched onto the surface of Earth; it requires immense and suitable power to be activated. Darkseid and the Mother Box's power can do it, but my power is insufficient..."
David guessed it was because his power wasn't 'anti-life' enough to draw out the Anti-Life Equation.
However, he hadn't tried again since obtaining the Phoenix Force, and he wasn't sure if he needed to destroy the Earth's surface to reveal the entire Anti-Life Equation.
"Themyscira?"
Diana exclaimed, "Oh no, Mother and the others are in danger."
"Wonder Woman, we can go to your homeland to support you," Element Girl immediately offered.
"You split into two groups and provide support as quickly as possible."
Hovering in the air, David gestured to everyone.
"What about you? What are you doing?"
Batman heard that David didn't plan to act with them and was leaving immediately.
"The Mother Box is essential for Kalibak and the others, but not for Darkseid. I'm going to the North Pole to find Darkseid."
David clenched his fist.
"With his power, he likely doesn't need the Mother Box's power to cleanse the surface. If he can't resist the temptation of the Anti-Life Equation being so close and decides to act directly, the entire world will be in danger."
Just as they were speaking, Clark returned from outer space. After a few seconds near the sun, he had replenished his energy and was full of vigor. He returned to Earth, his cape billowing behind him, and sternly proposed, "I'll go with you."
David didn't refuse. The Earth was facing an unprecedented dangerous situation. Perhaps Clark could unleash his potential, and he was the only one among these people who could help him.
"Transcendent, Superman, be careful."
The situation was urgent. Everyone knew that among the three groups splitting up, David and Clark had the heaviest mission. If those protecting the Mother Box failed, Earth might be okay, but if Transcendent and Superman, especially Transcendent, failed, no one would be able to stop Darkseid.
"I'm counting on you," Batman said heavily, looking at David specifically.
Clark knew those words were mainly directed at David. He had personally experienced Darkseid's power, and David was the only one on Earth who could contend with him.
"We don't have much time. Let's go."
David and Clark sped towards the North Pole.
...
On Themyscira, a massive aircraft descended. From the ship, Granny Goodness, along with the Furies she had trained, disembarked. She faced the Amazons who had ridden to meet them and formed a battle formation, pointing her steel rod at Hippolyta.
"Amazons, hand over the Mother Box of our Apokolips."
Behind her, Lashina, wearing a black tight leather suit and a fierce expression, held a whip crackling with electricity. Desaad, a middle-aged man in a green court outfit, had a sinister aura and held a flaming laser dagger. Then there was Heavy-Foot, who was taller than average and powerfully built like an elephant, his fists clenched, letting out a terrifying battle cry that made the warhorses fearful and restless. Harriet, with a crazed, bloodthirsty expression and long dark green hair, wore sharp claws on her hands that gleamed with chilling light. Finally, Gilotina, with an indifferent expression, held a sword and saber, like a soulless killing machine.
"The enemies from beyond the stars are attacking again!"
Hippolyta scanned them, her brow furrowed, facing a formidable enemy. Each person here gave her a feeling that was no less than the most powerful legendary warriors in the history of the Amazon tribe, perhaps even greater.
"The Mother Box will never be taken by you!" she declared solemnly.
"Kill, kill them all!"
Granny Goodness's sharp and venomous voice rang out. Under her command, the members of the Furies, leading the Parademon army, charged forward.
...
Atlantis
Above the underwater kingdom's city, Desaad stood on a flying disc, his expression arrogant. The protective shield around him repelled the tons of seawater. He waved, signaling the Parademon army, equipped with underwater propulsion devices, to charge.
"Destroy this city and find our Mother Box."
He disdained communicating with the underwater race of this backward planet.
Mera, along with her father Nereus and the Atlantean warriors, stood ready.
"Charge!" Nereus shouted, brandishing his spear. The Atlantean warriors, riding sharks, dolphins, and giant seahorses, charged out under his leadership.
"Annihilate these filthy bugs invading the seabed!"
...
Above the Arctic, two figures arrived at extreme speed, one after the other.
"What happened to the Arctic?"
Clark's expression changed drastically as he looked at the unrecognizable Arctic continent.
The once frozen world was now filled with flowing lava, and poisonous gas with a sulfuric smell spewed from the fissures in the ground.
"It's clear someone didn't like the previous environment here."
David looked towards the location of the Fortress of Solitude, where a tall, terrifying figure stood with hands clasped behind its back, its cold gaze already locked onto them.
"Did you kill my son? I recall the inhabitants of this planet calling you the Transcendent?"
Standing on the ground, Darkseid gazed at David and the other, completely disregarding Clark, who had escaped his control. It was as if he were looking at two insects flying in the air, easily crushed at any moment. The red glow of the Omega Effect in his eyes illuminated.
"You seem to arrogantly believe no one can defeat you, Darkseid!"
Looking at Darkseid, who exuded an arrogant aura from head to toe, David spoke coldly.
"After today, my son won't be the only one to die by my hand!"
"Insect, you are provoking something you don't understand."
The foolish fellow dared to tell him to watch his life. Darkseid slowly sneered, and the Omega beams from his eyes shot out violently!
"After my Omega Force turns you into a scorched corpse, I will keep your skull as a footstool beneath my throne, a memorial to my dead son!"
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