Milk_Is_My_Drug
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Chapter 97: The Beginning of the War
🕑 Added 2025-07-14 08:00:09 +0000 UTCInside one of the halls of the Watchtower, the atmosphere was heavy with tension. Galatea stood tall and composed at the center of the command room, her arms crossed as the most powerful beings on Earth observed her with caution. By her side stood Igris, his towering form and gleaming black armor radiating an eerie calm. The shadow knight's stillness was unnerving, even for veterans of countless battles.
Superman took a step forward and addressed the room. "They will be our allies in the coming war. The Shadow Monarch’s forces have pledged their support."
Galatea nodded, her tone unwavering. "We have a little over a thousand shadows prepared to aid in the defense of Earth."
Wonder Woman eyed Igris with a mix of hate and suspicion. “I’ve already spoken with my Amazonian sisters. They’re ready and will fight beside us.”
Across the room, J’onn J’onzz stood with visible scorch marks across his green skin, his voice calm despite the pain. “I have contacted the world leaders. Their militaries are mobilizing and preparing for the invasion.”
“Get this,” Flash added, leaning against the table with a grin, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Our rogues and villains are actually prepping to fight. For once, Earth is truly united.”
In the shadows of the room, a second Superman, battle-scarred and weary, spoke up, his voice grave. “It won’t be enough. Your enemy… Darkseid has conquered dimensions. Even with all this strength, the battle will be anything but easy.”
Galatea turned toward him, her eyes sharp. “Since you’ve seen your world fall and others with it, do you know how he operates? What should we be preparing for?”
The fallen Superman nodded slowly. “Darkseid doesn’t come with subtlety. He arrives at a single city, sometimes a landmark, and then his armies begin pouring in. They spread fast, not for strategy, but as a show of force and dominance. He thrives on overwhelming fear.”
Galatea raised a brow. “Then isn’t that to our advantage? If they are in one place, we can nuke them the moment they arrive.”
The fallen Superman shook his head. “It won’t work. First, there are the civilians. Then, Darkseid’s technology, he can teleport incoming warheads and his shields can repel or absorb radiation. Any large-scale attack would only hurt Earth. The only way to defeat them… is to meet them in close quarters.”
As he spoke, Orion and a Green Lantern stepped forward and began briefing the League on the enemy forces they had encountered firsthand.
Meanwhile, in a quiet neighborhood far from the Watchtower’s orbit…
Ace adjusted her gloves as she stood beside Courtney and Rex. The sun was low, casting long shadows across the grass.
“You have no powers, Grandpa,” Ace said, turning to Rex. “Why are you coming with us?”
Rex puffed out his chest slightly. “I can’t just let you march off to war alone. I might not have powers, but I know how to use a shotgun. And besides…” His voice cracked. “I wouldn’t be able to face Ashborn if something happened to you.”
Ace blinked, caught off guard. “You’re afraid of violence, of war…”
“What kind of man lets his granddaughter walk into war while he hides at home?” Rex shot back. His hands were trembling, but he stood firm. “I’m coming. I’ll help however I can.”
For a moment, Ace said nothing. Then she stepped forward and hugged him tightly.
“Don’t be afraid, Grandpa,” she whispered. “I’ll keep you safe.”
Courtney watched the touching moment quietly. When they finally pulled apart, she crossed her arms and asked, “Is it really impossible to contact your father and brother?”
Ace looked at her and nodded. “Father didn’t leave a way to contact them as he had nothing to worry about. We’re strong, me and Galatea both. And don’t forget the shadow soldiers. They’re more than capable of taking down anything… even the Justice League. So he wasn’t worried about us in the slightest”
Courtney didn’t respond at once. Her eyes lingered on Ace. Finally, she said, “Your father… he’s connected to the Shadow Monarch. Why keep that a secret?”
Ace smiled faintly. “Because… Father really enjoys living a peaceful life.”
Courtney exhaled and shook her head. “I’ll never understand him.”
___________
Two days had passed in tense silence, Earth’s defenders scattered across the globe on high alert. That silence shattered with a thunderous roar as a boom tube cracked open in the skies above the Daily Planet building. The sudden rupture in space sent shockwaves through Metropolis. From the glowing rift poured a storm of parademons, shrieking and swarming down like a plague of steel and fire.
Within moments, the chaos spread. Explosions rocked the city. Civilians screamed as buildings crumbled, and emergency sirens began to wail across the skyline.
Far from the epicenter, standing in the command tower of Shadow Corp, Galatea narrowed her eyes, watching the destruction unfold on a large screen. Ace and Rex stood at her side.
Galatea’s voice was cold and calm. “It seems he chose our city to begin the invasion.”
Ace folded her arms, her eyes narrowed. “He chose it because Superman lives here. This is a statement.”
A portal appeared near them, the trio without hesitation walked into it and appeared moments later at the heart of the crumbling city.
All around Metropolis, heroes and villains alike began converging toward the chaos. The Justice League, the Titans, magical defenders, speedsters, lanterns, each answering the call. Even long-time foes had set aside their grudges for this single moment. Earth had only one enemy now.
Above the streets, Superman and Supergirl were already engaged in fierce combat, their fists flying through the air, tearing through squads of parademons with fury. But even as they cleared the skies, new boom tubes ripped open all across the city, vomiting out more monstrosities than before.
Giant flying cannons darkened the sky, raining energy blasts on skyscrapers and defenders alike. Paradooms twisted abominations that fused Doomsday’s raw power with parademonic cruelty crashed into buildings, leaving craters behind. Foot soldiers, elite warriors in jet-black armor, marched through fire and steel, their ranks never ending. Among them moved the generals and lieutenants of Apokolips, each one a terror in their own right.
And then, above all, he appeared.
Darkseid.
Standing a monstrous three meters tall, his body sheathed in dark blue armor engraved with symbols of conquest, this Darkseid radiated an aura more oppressive than the one they knew in their world. He stood upon one of his colossal war machines, surveying the battlefield like a god peering down on ants.
But Earth was ready.
Portals shimmered into being across the war-torn streets. From Themyscira came the Amazons, blades gleaming. Villains emerged beside heroes, scattering to their assigned positions. From the deep ocean, the Atlantean army rose, armored and armed for the depths and the surface alike. And from the encroaching shadows came the soldiers of the Shadow Monarch.
Galatea landed with Ace and Rex at the edge of the battlefield, each taking in the scale of the war unfolding.
High above, Darkseid’s voice boomed across the city.
“An impressive army you’ve gathered. Far more capable than the Earth’s pitiful resistance of the other dimensions. But your efforts are futile. You will only lengthen your suffering.”
Superman soared into the sky, stopping just beneath the clouds. His cape billowed in the wind as he stared at the tyrant, his eyes filled with steel resolve.
“Things won’t go your way here,” he said. “Leave Earth while you still can.”
Darkseid chuckled a low, guttural sound that chilled the air.
“You are more insolent than your counterparts,” he said with grim amusement.
Then he raised a single hand.
“Destroy them.”
And with that command, the sky split with the thunder of war.
Across the battlefield, as steel clashed and powers collided, Superman roared and rocketed upward like a missile, streaking toward Darkseid with all the might he could summon. The blow he landed shook the air, a fist driven by years of hope and defiance slamming into the tyrant's chest.
But Darkseid didn’t even flinch.
With a contemptuous grunt, the god blocked the punch with a single hand then responded with one of his own. A devastating strike smashed into Superman’s jaw, hurling him across the battlefield and through several skyscrapers in a trail of shattered concrete and twisted metal.
Superman didn’t stay down. From the smoking wreckage, he burst forth again, face bloodied, determination unshaken. He flew fast, too fast for the eye to follow until Darkseid’s eyes glowed red.
The Omega Beams launched without warning, twisting and curling through the air like serpents, and struck their mark.
An explosion lit the skyline, and Superman crashed to the ground, blood streaking his suit, dust swirling around his crumpled form.
Darkseid stepped forward, towering and calm, his voice booming with disdain across the battlefield.
“Is that the best this Earth can offer?”
But then the winds shifted.
A blur of shadow swept across the air like a thunderbolt. In an instant, Darkseid was struck by a crushing force that slammed into him and sent the god flying from his war machine, crashing into a skyscraper that trembled and buckled on impact.
The battlefield fell into silence.
Apokolips’ forces stared in disbelief.
Even the heroes paused.
From above, he hovered, Beru, the Ant King.
Black, insectoid wings flared out behind him, his long claws crackling with blue energy. His very presence radiated menace and bloodthirst, his gaze locked onto Darkseid as the building groaned under the weight of the god’s fall.
Beru’s voice echoed with terrifying calm, each word sharp like a dagger.
“In the name of my king… you shall fall here, invader.”
In the rubble, Darkseid stirred. His glowing eyes narrowed as he rose, fury etched into every inch of his expression.
