At the same time, the Avengers had also learned of the gathering of Darkseid's forces. However, they were not particularly alarmed by this and instead focused their attention on dealing with the Parademon army before them.
In the distance, the native army watched as the Avengers and their allies fought against the Parademons, saving their civilization. Their expressions were filled with gratitude and curiosity, mixed with a sense of helplessness and unease.
Despite their curiosity, the native army refrained from approaching the Avengers, understanding the precarious nature of the situation. While the threat had subsided somewhat compared to before, the danger had not been fully eliminated. They knew that disturbing the Avengers might lead to unintended consequences.
"Your Majesty, shall we continue the attrition strategy with the Parademons, or...?" Desaad quietly asked Darkseid, who had yet to issue any orders while observing his gathered forces.
"How are the Furies progressing?" Darkseid asked, gazing into the vastness of space. Upon learning that Earth's forces had seemingly taken the initiative to attack and were targeting the Parademons first, Darkseid felt an invisible pressure weighing down on him.
To address this, Darkseid decided to probe their strength. Based on the current combat capabilities exhibited by the Avengers, while they might be able to handle the Parademons, they shouldn't have been capable of making Darkseid feel threatened.
"Are you referring to Granny Goodness's subordinates?" Desaad promptly relayed the inquiry. Soon, an elderly woman, whose demeanor resembled that of a strict governess, appeared before Darkseid. Behind her stood seven distinctly unique women, all exuding powerful auras.
"Take a battalion of elite Parademons and lead these subordinates of yours to the front lines," Darkseid commanded coldly, his gaze resting on Granny Goodness. "If I remember correctly, you once assured me of their loyalty, that they were willing to die for me. It's time they proved their worth."
"Yes, Dark Lord!" Granny Goodness responded enthusiastically to Darkseid's orders, and the members of the Furies behind her knelt down fervently, their faces alight with zealous devotion.
This marked the first time the Furies had appeared before Darkseid himself. Despite their loyalty, the Furies were not directly under Darkseid's command but rather served a subordinate of his. As a result, they had not previously been given such significant responsibilities.
Now, this was their chance to rise above. Successfully completing this mission in the presence of so many of Darkseid's forces would undoubtedly elevate their status within his ranks.
With a sharp whoosh, a portal appeared on the invaded planet, catching the attention of the Avengers, the natives, and other onlookers. Unlike the fire-ring portals conjured by Kamar-Taj, this gateway was familiar to the native army, as it resembled the ones through which many Parademons had invaded their planet.
"Be careful! These are Parademon allies, likely Darkseid's subordinates!" the natives called out urgently to the Avengers, fearing that their benefactors might underestimate the danger and suffer casualties.
To the natives, the Avengers were not only saviors but also the embodiment of their hopes for survival. They couldn't afford for anything to happen to them.
"So, it seems a group of stronger opponents has arrived?" The Avengers exchanged serious glances upon hearing the natives' warning. Unlike the Parademon grunts, this new threat would likely be more challenging.
They doubted that Darkseid, knowing of the ongoing issues on this front, would send weak, expendable cannon fodder. Even if it was merely a test, the opponents sent would undoubtedly be formidable.
With a sudden flash, seven women emerged from the portal, followed by a battalion of Parademons whose massive, imposing forms made them stand out from the usual soldiers. Kara and a few others with sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the scene beyond the portal, their gazes locking momentarily with the oppressive figure of Darkseid himself.
Though it was only a fleeting moment, the immense pressure emanating from Darkseid left an indelible impression on Kara and the others. It wasn't just comparable to that of the Celestials—it surpassed it.
The feeling was distinct. While the Celestials were powerful and cunning, the bloodlust and oppressive aura surrounding Darkseid were far more intense, reminiscent of endless carnage and bloodshed.
To Kara, who had encountered many demonic entities from hell dimensions, the aura radiating from Darkseid surpassed even those of the hell lords she had encountered.
"Attack!" With a battle cry, the seven Furies charged at the Avengers, leading the elite Parademons into the fray.
"Leave them to us!" Kara's eyes lit up as she responded, exchanging glances with Diana, Susan Storm, Lorna, Peggy Carter, Mary, and Claire. The seven female Avengers shot forward to meet the Furies head-on.
Though both groups bore the title of "Avengers," they were fundamentally different. The Furies were an adaptation of the three Furies from Greek mythology, while the female Avengers were heroes from Earth.
However, this didn't stop the two groups of female warriors from engaging in an intense and chaotic battle.
It quickly became evident that the Furies, loyal to Darkseid, were formidable opponents. Their strength rivaled that of the strongest Eternals, and their killing intent and combat techniques were even more refined.
These women had clearly been forged through countless battles and acts of slaughter. While the female Avengers were not inexperienced, their ruthlessness paled in comparison to that of the Furies.
But Diana was not one to be outdone. As the battle progressed, she quickly adapted to the Furies' tactics, becoming even more ferocious in response.
With a powerful kick, Diana sent the Furies' leader, Koryllis, flying. In a flash, she vanished from sight and reappeared wielding her blazing sword, unleashing a strike that forced Koryllis to sense imminent death.
Koryllis narrowly evaded the strike, but when she reappeared, she noticed a deep wound on her arm. The injury was imbued with divine power that prevented it from healing.
"Curse this false god's power!" Koryllis growled with a mix of rage and disdain. To the New Gods like Darkseid and his forces, beings such as Diana were mere remnants of the so-called Old Gods or false gods—entities they deemed beneath them.
Hearing this, Diana scoffed. "A race that thrives on the slaughter of civilizations dares to look down on native deities?" she retorted before vanishing again.
Koryllis' pupils constricted. Diana's prowess had surpassed her expectations. What began as a relatively even match had quickly shifted in Diana's favor. Koryllis found herself completely outclassed, barely able to defend herself.
Though her words were defiant, Koryllis knew that without reinforcements, her death was inevitable. Despite this, she refused to retreat. The Furies had been thoroughly brainwashed, their loyalty to Darkseid absolute. Even in the face of death, retreat was not an option.
Elsewhere, Kara was similarly overwhelming her opponent, Big Barda, who ranked just below Koryllis in strength. Though Barda's initial attacks were fierce and precise, Kara quickly adapted to her patterns, overpowering her with ease.
The disparity in power was simply too great. Barda's skill, no matter how refined, was insufficient to bridge the gap in strength, speed, and durability between her and Kara. Her defeat soon followed, trailing just behind Koryllis'.
Fortunately for the Furies, the rest of the female Avengers didn't enjoy the same overwhelming advantage. The remaining Furies were more evenly matched with their opponents, as their power levels were similar.
The battle raged on, with the Furies' uniform abilities providing an advantage in cohesion but limiting their strategic diversity. Meanwhile, the Avengers leveraged their varied skills and teamwork to hold the line.
This dynamic ensured that the tide would inevitably turn once Diana and Kara were free to assist their teammates.
As for the elite Parademons accompanying the Furies, they were formidable compared to the standard soldiers but far from being true powerhouses. They fell easily to the Avengers' supporting forces, such as Tony Stark's mechanized army and the Green Lantern Corps.
In the end, the elite Parademons served only to highlight the Avengers' superior strength and reassure the natives of their saviors' capabilities.
"Dark Lord, the Furies are struggling. Many of the enemy's forces haven't even engaged yet. Should we send reinforcements?" Desaad hesitated as he addressed Darkseid.
"We should reinforce them, but not yet," Darkseid replied, his brow furrowing as he studied the battle. "Send in the Parademon warriors first. Let them probe the enemy's full strength. If they fail, then it will be your turn."
Darkseid remained cautious, unable to explain the unease he felt. Despite Kara and Diana's impressive combat prowess, they were still not enough to account for the pressure weighing on him.
This caution stemmed from Darkseid's past experience. During a previous invasion of Earth, he had nearly been slain by Ares, the God of War. Facing opponents from Earth again, he chose to proceed carefully.
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