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*****
The Anti-Life Equation is one of the seven fundamental energies of the DC Multiverse. To master it is to hold absolute dominion over the will of every sentient being in existence.
Over the past two years, George had interacted with various superheroes and villains, gradually coming into contact with most of these seven cosmic forces or their derivative branches. Now, he was only missing the Dimensional Hyperstructure and the Sixth Note represented by the Anti-Life Equation.
If he could master it, he would have effectively cracked the core source code of the DC Universe's laws. However, he had a nagging suspicion: the moment he truly laid hands on the power of the Anti-Life Equation, the Presence—the supreme God of this world—would likely make a move against him.
He was, after all, touching the very foundation of the world's existence.
Atlantis. Deep Sea. The Vault of the Mother Box.
A soldier clad in golden Atlantean armor reported to a woman standing before the seal.
"Commander Mera, I've reported to the King. The perimeter guards have been slaughtered, but he refuses to send reinforcements. He claims more armaments are needed in the insurgent zones."
"He is not only violent and cruel, but incredibly short-sighted!"
Mera's chest heaved with indignation. Left with no other choice, she commanded, "Go and gather all our remaining soldiers. Form a phalanx to protect the Mother Box!"
Hardly had the words left her lips when a strange, mechanical thrum echoed from the vault behind them.
"Oh no!"
Startled, Mera rushed inside with the soldier. They were met by a three-meter-tall titan encased in Apokoliptian high-tech heavy armor, wielding a massive, jagged axe: Steppenwolf. As for the elite guards stationed nearby, they had already become grisly trophies beneath his blade.
"Get away from it!"
Seeing Steppenwolf reach for the Mother Box, Mera unleashed her hydrokinetic powers, condensing a massive sphere of water and hurling it at him with the force of a tidal wave.
Unfortunately, Steppenwolf's physiology was too robust. The impact didn't leave a single scratch. Worse, the moment he recovered, he lunged forward with a burst of speed that defied the water's resistance, pinning Mera against a stone pillar with one hand.
The difference in their strength was absolute.
Just as he raised his axe to end her life, a figure tore through the water like a torpedo, slamming into Steppenwolf and sending him flying back. It was Arthur Curry—Aquaman.
Frustrated by the repeated interruptions, Steppenwolf's face twisted in rage. He righted himself and charged at Arthur. While Aquaman's strength was significantly bolstered by the ocean depths, he was still outmatched. After a few brutal exchanges, Arthur was knocked unconscious.
Seeing her opening, a recovered Mera quickly pulled the Sea King away to safety.
Steppenwolf didn't bother giving chase, worried that the main Atlantean army would soon mobilize. He stepped toward the Mother Box once more. But just as his fingers brushed the cold metal, two beams of searing red heat vision lanced through the water, leaving charred furrows on the back of his hand.
Immediately following the beams, a red-and-blue figure blurred toward him at speeds far exceeding Arthur's, burying a fist deep into his abdomen.
The sheer force of the punch nearly made the New God vomit in the middle of the ocean. Before he could regain his footing, he felt his horns seized in a crushing grip. He was hauled upward with such velocity that he broke the surface of the ocean in seconds.
Stepping onto the air as if it were solid ground, Steppenwolf swung his flaming Electro-axe upward, trying to sever the arm holding his horn. The axe met nothing but air. A heavy kick slammed into his back, and he was sent screaming like a cannonball into a nearby island.
Steppenwolf gasped for air, nursing the throbbing pain in his spine as he leapt out of the crater. He looked up, finally seeing his assailant clearly.
"A Kryptonian! You dare interfere with the business of Apokolips?"
From the crest and the suit, Steppenwolf recognized the man instantly. Only a Kryptonian could possess such raw, terrifying power.
"I knew Arthur couldn't handle this, but he just had to show off. Now he's embarrassed himself," a green-clad figure joked as he floated down to stand beside Superman.
Initially, the team had planned to dive in together, but Aquaman had insisted he could handle the "home turf" defense himself. Hal Jordan, a man of much experience and a wide social circle, saw right through it—Arthur had just wanted to look good in front of Mera.
Unfortunately, he had failed miserably, and Superman had been forced to dive in and fish the villain out.
"A member of the Green Lantern Corps!"
Steppenwolf's expression darkened. One Kryptonian was trouble enough, but a Green Lantern was here too.
"You will remember this!"
Realizing he was at a disadvantage, Steppenwolf decided to retreat. But just as he reached for his Mother Box-tethered transport device, two bolts of devastating lightning struck from the sky, cratering him back into the earth.
"George's orders were to take you alive. You aren't going anywhere," Black Adam said coldly. He and Shazam descended simultaneously.
"Curse you! I will kill you all!"
Half-charred and smoking, Steppenwolf leapt from the hole again, his flaming axe crackling with lethal energy as he let out a furious roar.
Ten minutes later, Clark Kent pulled out his communicator and called George.
"It's over. But he refuses to say where he hid the Mother Box he stole from Themyscira."
"I'm on my way."
No sooner had Clark hung up than George appeared beside him in a flash of teleportation.
"Quite the loyalist to Darkseid, isn't he?" George remarked, surveying the scene.
Steppenwolf was a pathetic sight. His horns had been brutally snapped off, his high-tech armor was reduced to scrap metal, and he was pinned helplessly under Black Adam's boot. Adam was casually sending pulses of lightning through the villain's body, causing him to convulse as his skin turned to carbon.
Yet, through the torture, Steppenwolf remained silent, his jaw set in defiance.
"Adam, let me handle this," George said, floating down. Black Adam stepped back with a respectful nod.
Steppenwolf spat out a mouthful of blood, looking at the cat with genuine confusion. The man who had just been torturing him—someone whose power rivaled a Kryptonian—seemed to treat this small animal with absolute reverence. Was this cat even more powerful than the others?
"I suggest you surrender now and hand over the boxes!" Steppenwolf snarled at George. "When the legions of Apokolips arrive, you will all burn!"
Boom!
A bolt of lightning from Black Adam's hand silenced him with a scream. "Watch your tone with the Boss, or I'll end you right now."
"Adam, don't be so irritable. We must persuade people with virtue," George said, raising a paw.
"Genma Ken! (Demon Illusion Spirit Punch!)"
Steppenwolf's body shuddered. The defiance in his eyes vanished, replaced by a vacant, absolute obedience as he looked at the cat.
George asked in a gentle tone, "Steppenwolf, tell me the location of the Mother Box, and give me all the intel you have on Apokolips."
"Yes... the Mother Box is hidden at... Apokolips is..."
Steppenwolf began to pour out every secret he knew without a hint of resistance. The surrounding heroes watched the scene, exchange glances of sheer disbelief.
(End of Chapter)