"So, you're the one lurking in the shadows?" Darkseid's eyes burned with fury, his voice simmering with anger as he confronted Robert. Watching his home of millennia, Apokolips, be obliterated would infuriate anyone—especially someone like Darkseid.
Despite Darkseid's history of annihilating countless homes and civilizations, the hypocrisy of life was undeniable: it was acceptable when he destroyed others' homes, but unacceptable for anyone to destroy his.
"Darkseid, I've been waiting for you," Robert replied calmly, showing no signs of concern as he addressed the enraged tyrant. "Ever since Steppenwolf appeared on Earth, I've been tracking you and Apokolips. To be honest, you hid yourselves well…"
Robert continued, "There wasn't a trace of you in the known universe—no mention of your name, no stories of your conquests, not even whispers among the stars. I almost believed you didn't exist in this universe at all."
"But fortunately, you're not the only ones hiding in the void of the universe. The Celestials are also hiding here. Without their presence as a clue, I might never have found you."
Hearing this, Darkseid's pupils narrowed slightly, his demeanor shifting to one of caution. "The Celestials?" he muttered, recalling recent events in the void. "So… it was you who scared them off?"
While the void of the universe was vast, the Celestials' movements had not gone unnoticed by Darkseid. Their sudden migration—abandoning an entire star system they had constructed—was unprecedented. At first, Darkseid assumed the Celestials were preparing to launch an attack on Apokolips.
But when he realized they had fled entirely, leaving no trace, he was left puzzled. Now, standing before Robert and hearing his words, Darkseid began to understand.
The realization heightened his vigilance. Darkseid knew the immense power of the Celestials. If this man had forced them to retreat, he was a threat of the highest order. Darkseid's instinctive sense of danger, which had been gnawing at him for some time, now made perfect sense.
Without further hesitation, Darkseid decided to strike first.
Whoosh!
A terrifying beam of energy shot from Darkseid's eyes. To Robert, the attack appeared similar to the heat vision used by Kryptonians and Martians but carried far greater destructive power.
Despite the attack's potency, Robert had no intention of taking it head-on. Unlike energy attacks like a Ki Blast, which could be deflected or redirected, Darkseid's beams moved in a straight line, making them easier to dodge.
But as Robert teleported to avoid the beams, he was surprised to see them bend and change direction mid-flight, homing in on him with even greater speed than before.
"So it's not just heat vision…" Robert murmured, intrigued.
This was no ordinary energy attack—it was Darkseid's infamous Omega Beams. Unlike standard heat vision, the Omega Beams were infused with the power of the Omega Effect. They could be controlled by Darkseid's will, changing direction, pursuing targets relentlessly, and even deciding their fate.
The Omega Beams weren't merely destructive—they were tied to the fundamental forces of life and death. They could annihilate a being completely or, paradoxically, resurrect them. This blending of raw power and esoteric rules underscored Darkseid's terrifying might.
"Impressive," Robert admitted, a flicker of interest crossing his face. Darkseid's power had not disappointed him. While perhaps not on par with Galactus in raw strength, Darkseid's skillset made him a more compelling adversary.
After all, when Robert had confronted Galactus, the devourer of worlds had shown no real will to fight. The moment he sensed Robert's strength, Galactus sought only to flee, unwilling to use his full power. It was an unsatisfying encounter for someone like Robert.
Darkseid, however, was different. With Apokolips destroyed and his forces decimated, Darkseid would fight to the bitter end. Even if faced with overwhelming odds, Darkseid would not retreat until all hope of victory was extinguished.
This was exactly what Robert desired. If he could push Darkseid to the brink, he might even lure him to Earth—where the tyrant was clearly after something. Whatever Darkseid sought on Earth could be the key to defeating him or understanding the planet's hidden significance.
Whoosh!
Robert raised his hand, summoning an energy disc—his signature Destructo Disc. The glowing blade of energy spun rapidly, cutting through space as it intercepted the Omega Beams.
Robert's mastery of energy had grown immensely since achieving his unique Super Saiyan God form. This transformation had not only heightened his raw power but also deepened his understanding of the universe's rules and forces.
Initially, the Destructo Disc was simply a technique known for its sharpness, capable of cutting through nearly anything. But against opponents at or above Allfather-tier, its effectiveness had waned. Wounds inflicted by the disc were quickly regenerated by such beings, rendering it less impactful than sustained energy-based attacks like a Ki Blast.
However, with his enhanced understanding of the universe's rules, Robert had begun to infuse the Destructo Disc with additional properties, amplifying its destructive power and making it a more viable weapon against top-tier opponents.
Zzzz!
Despite these enhancements, Darkseid's Omega Beams proved to be an even greater challenge than anticipated. The Destructo Disc clashed with the beams, and while it managed to hold them at bay temporarily, it soon began to falter.
The Omega Beams were continuously fueled by Darkseid's immense power, whereas the Destructo Disc was a one-time attack with finite energy. It was only a matter of time before the beams overpowered it.
But Robert didn't intend to waste time waiting. With the Omega Beams temporarily neutralized, he teleported directly behind Darkseid and launched a powerful punch aimed at the tyrant's head.
Darkseid, however, was no stranger to battle. His centuries of combat experience made him keenly aware of Robert's tactics. The moment Robert disappeared, Darkseid anticipated his move, cutting off the Omega Beams and spinning to counterattack.
BOOM!
Both fighters landed devastating punches on each other simultaneously. The impact sent them hurtling through space, neither gaining a clear advantage.
Robert hadn't yet activated his Raging Battle Fist or other advanced techniques, so the exchange ended in a stalemate. However, Darkseid felt a dull ache in his head—a rare sensation for him. Even his near-impenetrable body had been shaken by the blow.
"Not bad," Robert said with a grin, wiping the blood from his lip. "I see now why you've ruled the void for so long."
Darkseid's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he prepared to strike again.
"But now…" Robert's grin widened. "I'm going to get serious."
Darkseid frowned. From their earlier exchanges, he had already begun to doubt whether Robert was as strong as the rumors suggested. But now, hearing those words, a sense of foreboding crept into his mind.
Before he could fully process the situation, Darkseid charged forward, his immense speed making the distance between them meaningless. In an instant, he was upon Robert, aiming a devastating punch at his head to disrupt whatever transformation or technique Robert might attempt.
Unfortunately for Darkseid, Robert's transformation required no time or theatrics.
FWOOSH!
A golden-red aura erupted around Robert as he effortlessly caught Darkseid's fist with one hand. His body barely flinched, the impact absorbed entirely by his newfound strength.
"You've had your turn," Robert said calmly. "Now it's mine."
BOOM!
Robert's free hand lashed out, slamming into Darkseid's head with bone-crunching force. The resulting explosion sent shockwaves rippling through the void, but neither fighter moved an inch.
Darkseid's fist was still trapped in Robert's grasp, preventing him from retreating. Even as the explosion subsided, the two combatants remained locked in place, their auras clashing violently.
"Impressive," Robert admitted. "But it won't be enough."
As the battle raged on, Darkseid began to feel the tide turning. Robert's transformation had pushed him beyond Darkseid's raw power, and his energy seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.
For the first time in centuries, Darkseid felt a flicker of doubt.
If this continued, there would be no victory—only defeat.
Across the battlefield, the Avengers were similarly gaining the upper hand. Kara, Diana, and Sentry were dismantling Darkseid's remaining forces, while the other Avengers supported them.
The realization dawned on Darkseid: this battle was slipping away, on both fronts.
"No," Darkseid growled, clenching his teeth. "I will not lose!"
Seizing an opportunity, Robert delivered a powerful blow to Darkseid's chest, sending him flying across the battlefield. Blood sprayed from the tyrant's mouth, staining the void.
Despite his injuries, Darkseid managed to regain his composure, creating distance between himself and Robert.
"You're running already?" Robert taunted, raising an eyebrow.
Darkseid didn't respond immediately. Instead, a dark, molten-red energy began to coalesce around him, radiating an oppressive heat.
"Is this the power you used earlier?" Robert asked, recognizing the energy as the same force that fueled the Omega Beams. "Are you finally going all out?"
Darkseid's voice was low and menacing as he answered. "You face the full might of the Omega Effect."
And with that, Darkseid's form vanished, his speed rivaling teleportation.
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