At the exact moment Darkseid vanished, Robert sensed a terrifying pressure approaching his side. This pressure warned him that in his current Super Saiyan state, he might not withstand Darkseid's full-powered attack, now infused with the Omega Effect.
But if he couldn't endure it, there was always another solution…
Zap!
Crack!
It all happened in an instant. As Darkseid's fist closed in, Robert's aura and appearance underwent a subtle transformation. Lightning-like energy began coursing through his aura, crackling around him and causing Darkseid to instinctively feel a surge of caution.
However, at this stage, Darkseid couldn't afford to retreat. His fist, glowing with a dark red hue, struck Robert with immense force.
Boom!
Kaboom!
To Darkseid's shock, his strike was once again blocked. What's more, the clash of their energies showed no sign of the gap narrowing despite Darkseid's Omega Effect now being in play. His most powerful punch still failed to move Robert even an inch.
"How is this possible? Such a small change, yet his strength has increased so dramatically?" Darkseid's mind raced, filled with confusion and disbelief.
He had unleashed his full power, his trump card, yet he still couldn't overpower Robert.
It was an unacceptable reality for Darkseid. He had used this same full-powered state to dominate countless members of the Celestials in the past. If not for their sheer numbers and penchant for ganging up, he would have wiped them out completely.
Now, despite fully activating his Omega Effect, he couldn't even see the slightest hope of victory against Robert. Though Darkseid had heard about the Celestials fleeing from Robert, seeing the reality firsthand was something he struggled to process.
What Darkseid didn't know, however, was that Robert's current power was far from his maximum. During his previous battle against the Annihilators, Robert hadn't even activated his Super Saiyan transformation. Now, in addition to his Super Saiyan 2 state, he was fighting near full strength, only holding back his Super Saiyan God form and his destructive techniques.
Even without using his godly form, Robert was confident he could defeat the Celestials just as easily as Darkseid once had. What Darkseid had accomplished in the past, Robert could replicate—and perhaps even surpass.
"Don't get distracted," Robert said coldly as he noticed Darkseid momentarily lost in thought. "The next time you lose focus, I won't hold back."
With his transformation into Super Saiyan 2, Robert's demeanor had grown icier, his aura exuding bone-chilling killing intent and a fiery, unyielding battle spirit. If Darkseid couldn't push him to his limits, Robert had no reason to hold back for the sake of any broader plans.
"Arrogant!" Darkseid snarled, his fury reignited. He was a battle-hardened warrior and knew full well the mistake of losing focus in combat.
But what he couldn't tolerate was Robert's condescending tone—a tone that implied superiority. It was a tone Darkseid himself often used to belittle others, and hearing it directed at him was infuriating.
Buzz!
Darkseid unleashed another attack, this time an energy blast charged with the destructive aura of the Omega Effect. The dark red energy surged toward Robert, radiating the essence of annihilation. Even someone as powerful as Sentry would likely struggle to survive a direct hit from such an attack.
However, Robert remained unfazed.
Boom!
Channeling an immense amount of energy into his fist, Robert struck the Omega beam directly, his punch infused with an unshakable force. The beam was deflected, sent hurtling into the void of space as a streak of dark red light, vanishing into the distance.
"I hope that doesn't hit anything important," Robert muttered to himself. If the beam collided with a celestial body, it would be utterly destroyed. But given the vast emptiness of space, the odds of it hitting anything were slim.
Boom!
Kaboom!
As the deflected beam disappeared, Darkseid attacked once again. Now completely focused, he poured all his energy into his strikes, fully committing to the battle. The intensity of their collisions far exceeded anything that had come before, creating shockwaves that obliterated everything in their vicinity.
Even the remnants of the star system that once held Apokolips began to crumble under the force of their battle. Planets and celestial debris, already altered by Apokolips' presence, disintegrated as the clash of titans continued to escalate.
Fortunately, the battle was taking place far from the planet where the Avengers and Darkseid's forces were fighting. The distance, vast enough to require teleportation to traverse, ensured the planet remained untouched by the devastating shockwaves.
Meanwhile, on the Other Battlefield
While Robert and Darkseid's duel raged in the void of space, the battle outside the invaded planet entered a new phase.
Unlike the Avengers, who prioritized protecting the planet and its inhabitants, Darkseid's forces cared little for the world's fate. If the battle resulted in the planet's destruction, it mattered not to them.
However, the Avengers—seasoned heroes who had defended Earth time and again—understood the importance of preserving this planet. They shared the same sentiment as the native defenders: this planet, their home, shouldn't fall victim to the invaders' recklessness.
Thus, as soon as Darkseid left, the Avengers began luring their enemies away from the planet, ensuring the main battles took place in the surrounding space.
Though Darkseid's forces initially resisted leaving the planet, they were no match for the Avengers' superior strength and strategy.
With Darkseid gone, powerhouses like Sentry, Silver Surfer, and Galantha were completely unchallenged. While Silver Surfer and Galantha still refrained from using their full strength, even their casual involvement was enough to handle Darkseid's top lieutenants.
Additionally, the Ancient One had joined the fight, further tipping the balance in favor of the Avengers. The combined might of the Avengers, the Green Lantern Corps, and Kamar-Taj created a formidable force that surpassed Darkseid's army in raw power.
However, in terms of sheer numbers, Darkseid's forces still held the advantage. The Parademon horde, far larger than anything the Avengers had faced before, descended on the battlefield like a swarm of locusts.
The Avengers, Kamar-Taj sorcerers, and Green Lanterns were forced to adapt to the overwhelming numbers, battling countless enemies simultaneously.
Despite the chaos, the Avengers held their ground. The Green Lantern Corps, with their experience in large-scale cosmic battles, played a crucial role in countering the Parademon swarm.
On the frontlines, individual heroes like Hulk shone brightly.
Hulk, locked in combat with the green-armored monstrosity that resembled him, had fully embraced the energy of rage. His body radiated a furious red glow, his every roar amplifying the fury of those around him.
"HULK SMASH!" Hulk's voice, imbued with the power of rage energy, resonated across the battlefield.
For the Avengers, Hulk's roars inspired a surge of determination, pushing them to fight harder. For the Parademons, however, the effects were the opposite. Their minds, already clouded by Darkseid's control, were further destabilized, leaving them consumed by blind aggression.
While the rage energy's influence on powerful enemies was limited, it easily overwhelmed the weaker Parademons, causing them to recklessly charge toward Hulk and be annihilated by the shockwaves of his battle.
By now, Hulk's kill count had climbed to rival Sentry's.
As for Sentry, his dominance was undisputed. None of Darkseid's forces could withstand him. His battles resembled his past encounters with the likes of Homelander—completely one-sided affairs where Sentry effortlessly crushed his opponents.
With each strike, Sentry eliminated powerful enemies and countless Parademons alike, cementing his place as a decisive force on the battlefield.
"Things are looking grim," Desaad muttered as he observed the battlefield.
As Darkseid's chief scientific advisor and the creator of the Parademon army, Desaad had a deep understanding of his master's strategies.
Initially, Desaad hadn't understood Darkseid's cautious approach, his reluctance to commit fully against the Avengers. But now, everything was clear.
The Avengers weren't just strong—they had individuals capable of threatening Darkseid himself.
The fact that Darkseid had yet to return only confirmed Desaad's fears: Robert was stronger than anyone had anticipated.
For the first time, Desaad felt genuine uncertainty. Darkseid, who had always crushed his enemies with ease—even the Celestials—was now facing an enemy he might not defeat.
"Desaad!" A booming voice interrupted his thoughts. It was Kalibak, Darkseid's brutish firstborn son and one of his strongest warriors.
"What are you waiting for? Use Father's other weapons! If not now, then when?" Kalibak bellowed, his frustration evident.
Kalibak, despite his immense strength, was currently locked in a stalemate with a small girl in purple clothing. Each of his attacks was effortlessly neutralized by the seemingly unimposing figure, leaving him seething with rage.
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