"Clang!"
The shield of strength and the red greatsword clashed, sending sparks flying everywhere.
Diana's arms went numb from the immense force, her tiger's mouth almost splitting open.
"Damn it! Can't you aim properly! Hit his kidney!"
Tel-Rol slid to avoid the axe's sweep, then kicked Steppenwolf's knee from behind.
"Bang!"
Steppenwolf's leg buckled, and his body swayed.
Diana seized the opportunity, and the sword of vulcan transformed into a golden streak, piercing directly towards Steppenwolf's throat.
Steppenwolf reacted incredibly fast, forcefully knocking upwards with the axe handle.
"Ding!"
The longsword was knocked away, and Diana had to retreat two steps to regain her posture.
"If you think you can do better, then you go! It's easier said than done!"
Diana yelled back at Tel-Rol, almost dying of anger from her unreliable teammate.
"Am I not already going for it?!"
Tel-Rol roared, his aura surging again, and he punched Steppenwolf's back, producing a dull thud.
Steppenwolf's armor dented in another spot.
Tel-Rol's state of mind was completely in disarray at this point, and his rhythm began to falter.
"Damn it! Just a little more! Just a little more!"
Tel-Rol roared frantically in his heart, his face flushed red.
Steppenwolf seemed to have noticed his predicament.
He bared his teeth in a mocking smile, and his attacks became even more ferocious.
The greatsword and battle-axe formed a storm of Death, pushing Tel-Rol and Diana back step by step.
"No, this Minotaur must be on drugs, why does he get stronger the more he fights?" Tel-Rol quickly dodged while looking for an opportunity to get close.
"Less talk! Concentrate! Your mind is in chaos, no matter how strong you are, it's useless!" Diana parried the battle-axe with a sword, then blocked the greatsword with her shield, getting pushed down to one knee.
In the sky, the batwing and Hal Jordan's green energy constructs were furiously clearing out Parademons.
Barry, transformed into a red lightning bolt, left countless afterimages on the ground, kicking away the stragglers that rushed towards Victor one by one.
The battle seemed to be at a stalemate.
But everyone knew that once Tel-Rol and Diana's side collapsed, everything would be over.
Just at this critical moment.
A blue and red figure, like a meteor, shot rapidly from the horizon!
"Boom—!"
That figure directly slammed into Steppenwolf's side face!
The immense impact sent Steppenwolf's massive body flying sideways!
He adjusted his posture in mid-air, stomped his feet, and plowed a ditch dozens of meters long in the ground before finally coming to a stop.
The entire battlefield got a moment of respite because of this sudden turn of events.
Tel-Rol and Diana were both stunned.
They watched the figure slowly descend to the ground.
The familiar blue bodysuit, red cape, the large 'S' emblem on the chest, and that brilliant golden hair.
The newcomer was Kara Zor-El, Supergirl.
"Phew..." Kara landed lightly on the ground, her fists clenched.
She turned her head, looked at the bewildered Tel-Rol, and flashed a bright, sunny smile.
"I felt a lot of commotion here even while I was at work."
"I..."
Tel-Rol opened his mouth, a complaint stuck in his throat, unsure how to voice it.
Why are you here?
Why are you joining the fun!
Diana, on the other hand, let out a sigh of relief, stood up, and nodded at Kara.
"You came just in time."
"Oh my! Kara's here!" Hal Jordan exclaimed from a distance.
"Cool! It's Kara! Three against one should be no problem!" Barry's voice rang out in the comms channel, filled with excitement.
Inside the batwing, Bruce watched the footage on the screen, remaining silent, only quietly re-locking his attack target.
Steppenwolf shook his head.
He touched his struck cheek, where the armor was completely shattered, revealing the bluish-gray skin beneath.
He turned his head and looked at Kara, his eyes no longer filled with disdain, but with gravity and excitement.
"Another Kryptonian remnant."
"Very good."
He raised the red greatsword, pointing it distantly at Kara.
"If you like to come together, then you shall all perish together!"
"So much for talk."
Kara pouted; she wasn't here to reason.
The next second, her figure charged directly at Steppenwolf.
Tel-Rol only felt a gust of wind sweep past him.
Kara's speed was even faster than his when he activated his aura!
She punched Steppenwolf in the face, simple, direct, brutal.
Steppenwolf raised his battle-axe to block.
"Clang—!"
A colossal clang, louder than any previous collision, echoed.
Steppenwolf, man and axe, was forcibly knocked back seven or eight steps by that punch!
"Whoa." Tel-Rol watched this scene, feeling a bit displeased.
Because his own strength hadn't yet broken through, he needed someone to help.
The complex emotions made his heart even more chaotic.
"Well done!" Diana praised.
Kara pressed her advantage, her offensive surging like a tide towards Steppenwolf.
Punches, knee strikes, elbow strikes.
Every one of her blows carried pure power, forcing Steppenwolf into a defensive posture.
That eerie red greatsword seemed to lose its effectiveness in the face of Kara's absolute strength.
"Damn it! Kryptonian!"
Steppenwolf roared, kicked in the chest by Kara, and flew backward, collapsing an abandoned building.
"Is that all? Is that all?"
Kara floated in mid-air, clapped her hands, looking completely at ease.
"I thought he was more impressive."
She looked back at Tel-Rol, her eyes seemingly saying: "See, learn a bit, this is how you fight."
"You..." Tel-Rol's face darkened further.
Damn it! This woman showed him up!
Just then, the ruins exploded with a "boom."
Steppenwolf's figure reappeared.
Many pieces of his armor were shattered, and he looked somewhat disheveled, but his eyes had become even more frenzied and cruel.
"You forced my hand, insect!"
He roared, raising the red greatsword high above his head.
On the blade, the magma-like patterns began to flow wildly, emitting an eerie red light.
A scorching, evil energy erupted from the sword.
The surrounding air became hot and distorted.
Kara's smile slowly vanished.
She felt an extremely uncomfortable aura.
The red light shining on her body caused her inner power to become sluggish and obstructed.
It was like... like being exposed to the spectrum of a red sun!
"This is..."
Kara's expression changed.
"Hahaha! Do you feel it, Kryptonian!"
Steppenwolf laughed maniacally.
"This is a weapon forged from the core of a red star, captured from a dead universe!"
"It is what made me invincible in my cosmic conquests!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than he transformed into an afterimage, charging at Kara.
The red greatsword in his hand, carrying an aura of destruction, cleaved down!
Kara wanted to dodge, but her strength was rapidly draining.
Her body began to disobey her, becoming incredibly heavy and weak.
She watched helplessly as the sword grew larger and larger in her pupils.
"Damn it!"
She could only barely raise her arms, crossing them to block in front of her.
"Kara!"
Tel-Rol and Diana cried out simultaneously, rushing towards Kara.
But it was too late.
"Clang—!"
The greatsword landed squarely on Kara's arm, pressing down forcefully, then striking her shoulder.
"Pfft!"
She spat out a mouthful of blood, dropping to one knee, forcefully steadying herself.
Steppenwolf pulled out the greatsword, stomped Kara to the ground, and then suddenly noticed something.
"It seems... my sword can counter Kryptonians. Hahahaha, good! Excellent! You will be the first flag I sacrifice today!"
Before Steppenwolf's words even landed, he directly stabbed the severely injured Kara with his sword.