Meanwhile, in the vast and endless universe.
An expanse of darkness stretched across the boundless sky. Within it floated a burning celestial world, its surface constantly erupting with hellish flames. The fire illuminated portions of the planet's interior, but the surrounding void remained untouched, swallowing almost all light.
Deep inside the planet, long mechanical corridors stretched endlessly.
A towering figure moved steadily through them.
Occasional bursts of flame flickered along the passageways, only to fade as the figure passed through them. His presence seemed to suppress even the fire itself.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the metallic halls.
The man was broad-shouldered, dark-skinned, and wore a heavy oval helmet that covered his entire head down to his chin. Beneath it, his eyes glowed like burning embers.
He stopped before a reinforced metal door.
A moment later, it opened automatically.
Inside, a man in a yellow and black suit was suspended by precise mechanical restraints attached to the ceiling. His body was tightly secured, forcing out a low, pained groan.
Above him, multiple surgical mechanical arms hovered and operated with cold precision, performing what appeared to be a forced cranial procedure.
The armored figure stepped inside and observed him without speaking.
There was a strange satisfaction in his silence, as though he was enjoying the suffering before him.
"How should I continue this experiment, Dark Seeker?" the man asked.
His voice was deep and raspy, like it was dragged up from the depths of a dying world.
The Dark Seeker.
Death in the DC universe, a being capable of moving at light speed and ending life with a single touch.
The restrained man gritted his teeth, refusing to answer.
His eyes burned with hatred.
After a long silence, he finally forced out a word.
"Darkseid."
The ruler of Apokolips did not react immediately. He simply observed him with interest.
"Anger does nothing to reduce pain," Darkseid said slowly. "Reason, however, has value."
He stepped closer, watching the mechanical arms continue their work.
"I have always found it… fascinating to observe prey struggle before the end. Their final resistance is the most honest part of their existence."
Darkseid, ruler of Apokolips, one of the most feared New Gods in existence, a being who once brought ruin to New Genesis, stood as a cosmic-level threat capable of bending life itself through the Anti-Life Equation.
He regarded the Dark Seeker's suffering as nothing more than a passing spectacle.
"No matter what," the Dark Seeker spat through clenched teeth, "you will never achieve your goal."
Darkseid tilted his head slightly.
"You are Death itself," he said. "And yet you fail to understand your own end. That is your tragedy."
He turned away.
"But I do not merely understand death," he added as he walked out, "I also understand what comes after it."
His voice faded into the corridor.
The Dark Seeker's expression tightened in frustration.
Moments later, outside the chamber, one of Darkseid's subordinates approached and reported Kalibak's situation on Earth.
Darkseid's expression darkened slightly.
Without responding, he moved to a nearby observation room and activated a viewing system.
A holographic screen lit up.
Earth appeared.
On the display, Adrian was seen standing over Kalibak in a deep crater.
Darkseid's eyes narrowed as he watched his son kneeling before the Kryptonian.
He had sent Kalibak to Earth to test the strength of Kryptonians and evaluate humanity's resistance, expecting conflict, not humiliation.
"Kill the Kryptonians and take Earth," Kalibak had promised.
Darkseid had expected difficulty, not failure.
His gaze sharpened.
"Homelander…" he muttered.
Watching Adrian dominate Kalibak, his expression grew colder.
"I remember you."
Though he had little regard for Kalibak personally, the humiliation was another matter entirely. No one was permitted to disgrace the name of Apokolips.
Yet beneath his anger, something else surfaced.
Caution.
Meanwhile, on Earth, in Gotham City.
The battle against the Parademons had escalated.
Selina Kyle rolled across the ground as she narrowly avoided an attack, firing her pistol mid-movement. Her shots struck one of the Parademons in the air before she quickly used a grappling line to reposition herself.
Her fighting style was constant motion, never staying in one place long enough to be surrounded.
Nearby, Slade Wilson moved with precision, dual pistols clearing targets efficiently.
Then, heavy footsteps approached.
Selina turned.
A coordinated formation of armed Gendarmerie forces advanced into the battlefield.
At their head was a woman with sharp features and black hair tied back neatly. Her expression was cold, disciplined, and completely focused.
Selina recognized her immediately.
Rika.
One of Adrian's most trusted military commanders.
The Gendarmerie opened fire in unison. Their weapons were heavy caliber and highly coordinated, cutting down Parademons in controlled bursts.
Rika moved differently.
Her eyes ignited with heat vision identical to Adrian's, and she swept through airborne targets with surgical precision.
Selina paused briefly, watching her.
"What exactly is she?" she muttered under her breath.
Elsewhere, Nightwing observed the same scene, his expression tightening.
"If Adrian has people like that under him…" he said quietly, "then what chance do we even have?"
Cyborg, meanwhile, quickly accessed satellite feeds through his system and projected another battlefield.
Metropolis.
Adrian and Kalibak were shown in the crater.
Selina immediately moved closer to the display, her attention locking onto Adrian's position.
In the crater, Kalibak struggled under Adrian's grip.
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"You can still stand?"
Kalibak roared in frustration, forcing every ounce of strength into his resistance, but Adrian's grip did not move.
It was as if he was trapped in iron.
"Do you really think I would show mercy to someone like you?" Adrian said coldly.
He tightened his hold and grabbed Kalibak's throat with his other hand.
Kalibak's breathing grew strained.
"You… you can't kill me," he forced out. "I am immortal…"
Adrian frowned slightly.
"What did you say?"
Kalibak's expression twisted with rage.
"I said I am a god!"
He unleashed everything he had into one final roar.
The next instant, Adrian slammed his head into the ground.
BOOM.
The impact shook the crater violently, sending shockwaves through the terrain like a localized earthquake.