With Darkseid's orders, another wave of forces emerged. Like the Furies already in combat, these new arrivals were not directly under Darkseid's command. They were a part of the Parademon army but belonged to a higher tier—true Parademon warriors.
The appearance of these warriors was distinct from the typical Parademon grunts. Unlike the grotesque red-eyed monsters that filled Darkseid's legions, these warriors retained much of their original racial features, with only subtle signs of modification visible on their bodies.
A sharp whoosh echoed as another space portal opened, and the Parademon warriors marched through, marking the start of a new phase in the battle.
Darkseid's subordinates exchanged confused glances. They couldn't understand why Darkseid was employing this incremental "attrition strategy" rather than sending all his forces at once to crush the opposition. This wasn't how they typically conquered civilizations. In the past, overwhelming brute force had been the go-to method, swiftly annihilating resistance.
However, none of them dared to voice their doubts. Darkseid's authority was absolute, and questioning him was tantamount to suicide—those who had ever done so were long dead.
"More reinforcements?" On the other side, the Avengers noticed the portal and the emergence of the Parademon warriors even before the native forces could sound an alarm.
This time, both Kara and Martian Manhunter froze as their expressions darkened. Among the Parademon warriors, they had spotted members of their own species.
Indeed, both Kryptonians and Martians were powerful and exceptional superhuman races. Even without exposure to the yellow sun that granted Kryptonians their immense strength, their genetic makeup was nearly perfect.
While Darkseid's primary campaigns occurred within the vast void of the universe, there had been numerous incursions into "regular" space. From Robert discovering Parademon outposts in known space to Steppenwolf's arrival on Earth, or Darkseid's ancient invasion of Earth in the age of the Old Gods, his conquests extended far beyond the void.
In a universe filled with interstellar civilizations, it wasn't uncommon for individuals to venture far from their home planets. Advanced species often spread across the stars, whether by choice or necessity. This explained how a Martian girl had ended up in the Collector's clutches, or why the Kree Empire had access to Kryptonian clone soldiers.
Even when a species' homeworld was destroyed, there were often survivors scattered across the cosmos. These remnants rarely rebuilt their civilizations but were nonetheless living vestiges of their races.
Kryptonians, in particular, were like dandelions scattered across the universe, their genetic legacy popping up in countless places. Martians, however, were far more elusive due to their species' extraordinary psychic abilities, which made them difficult to detect when they chose to hide.
The Martian girl had only been captured because of her young age and underdeveloped abilities. The Collector, a master of suppression and containment, had exploited her weaknesses.
Thus, when Martian Manhunter spotted a corrupted Martian among the Parademon warriors, his focus immediately shifted. The Martian Parademon seemed to sense his presence at the same time, their gazes locking across the battlefield.
Compared to regular and even elite Parademons, the warriors retained far more self-awareness. While they were still under Darkseid's control, their condition was similar to Thor's brief enslavement under the influence of the Mind Stone—they retained their physical prowess and instincts but had no free will.
A tense psychic clash erupted as Martian Manhunter and the Martian Parademon floated into the air, their psychic powers colliding in an intense, invisible battle.
Both hovered motionless in the sky, their bodies seemingly lifeless while their consciousnesses engaged in a titanic struggle.
The surrounding Parademons, however, were not idle. They surged toward Martian Manhunter, intent on overwhelming him.
But as they approached, an invisible force struck them down. The Parademons suddenly lost consciousness, dropping from the sky like rain, their lifeless bodies crashing to the ground.
The native forces acted quickly, taking advantage of the situation to eliminate the fallen Parademons. With methodical efficiency, they dispatched the incapacitated enemies, even as more rained down from above. For the natives, it was a rare opportunity to exact some vengeance.
"It's a psychic control field," explained Doctor Chaos, a psychic expert from Apokolips, as he observed the scene from afar. "Both of them are using their psychic powers, and the collision of their abilities has created a unique domain. Any living being caught within it suffers a double assault, rendering them unconscious."
Hearing this, Desaad promptly ordered the remaining Parademons to avoid Martian Manhunter. Sending more soldiers into the psychic domain would only result in needless casualties without any benefit.
Instead, Desaad redirected the Parademons toward other Avengers. After all, the battles involving the other Parademon warriors were not creating such anomalous conditions.
Meanwhile, Kara, who had already overwhelmed Big Barda, decided to end the fight decisively. With a surge of power, she drove her fist through Barda's chest, then followed up with a heat vision blast that obliterated Barda's head, reducing her to ash.
Normally, Kara would have turned her attention to the remaining members of the Furies, especially since most of the female Avengers were still locked in fierce combat. But seeing the presence of a corrupted Kryptonian among the Parademon warriors, she glanced at Diana, who was also nearing victory against Koryllis. The two exchanged a nod, and Kara sped toward the Kryptonian Parademon.
At the same time, Steve Rogers and other Avengers joined the battlefield. The number of Parademon warriors far exceeded the initial seven Furies, and their base combat abilities were on par with the Furies, if not superior. The Avengers could no longer afford to hold back.
"Looks like they've got more strong fighters than we expected," Ancient One remarked, her tone serious as she observed the battle from afar.
"Indeed," Robert agreed, his eyes flickering thoughtfully. "I could sense the presence of those seven female warriors earlier, but these modified Parademons eluded my perception until they were practically upon us. It seems they were in some sort of dormant state until activated."
"If not for Kamar-Taj and the Green Lantern Corps supporting us, the Avengers alone might've struggled against such numbers," Robert added.
Ancient One nodded, her expression grim. "What puzzles me is why Darkseid is holding back. With his current forces, he could crush us in one fell swoop. Why trickle in reinforcements like this? Doesn't he fear the attrition of his forces?"
"Perhaps he plans to claim everything in the end," Robert speculated, his gaze fixed on the Kryptonian Parademon and Martian Manhunter. "Apokolips clearly has advanced modification technology. If they win, the Avengers themselves could be turned into weapons for Darkseid's future conquests."
"Exactly. Judging by the appearance of the Parademons, it's likely that every conquered planet's inhabitants are transformed into his soldiers," Ancient One replied with a heavy tone. "If we fail, Earth would face the same fate."
"Darkseid's methods are far crueler than Thanos', or even the hell lords'," she continued. "At least the hell lords, for all their brutality, aim for sustainable exploitation. Darkseid razes entire civilizations without hesitation."
"Don't worry," Robert reassured her with a faint smile. "We'll win this fight, and Apokolips will be no more. The only question is whether Darkseid will provoke Earth's dimensional consciousness to reveal itself."
"That depends on what he's looking for on Earth," Ancient One replied, her gaze thoughtful. "We've long known Earth is special, but its secrets remain elusive—even to me."
As the two strategists speculated, the battle on the ground intensified.
The Parademon warriors were evenly matched against many of the Avengers. Their individual power often exceeded that of the weaker heroes, as evidenced by the stalemate between Martian Manhunter and his corrupted counterpart.
However, the Parademon warriors lacked standout champions, which became a critical weakness. They couldn't hope to challenge the likes of Diana, Kara, or Hulk—let alone Sentry, who had yet to fully unleash his power.
As time passed, the Parademon warriors began to falter. Injuries accumulated, and though they fought with relentless determination, it was clear they couldn't hold out much longer.
When Sentry finally unleashed his full strength, he began systematically annihilating the warriors, one after another. His overwhelming power turned the tide decisively, and the Avengers quickly capitalized on the momentum.
Working together, the Avengers eradicated the remaining Parademon warriors, clearing the battlefield of this wave of enemies. The battle wasn't over, but the Avengers stood victorious for now, knowing that the true challenge still lay ahead.
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/INNIT
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.