DC: Rise of the Kryptonian Tyrant

"Trigon!"

Bardi's heart surged. His eyes locked on the sealed Trigon within the cube. As he sat on the throne, an overwhelming aura burst from him like a tidal wave, enveloping the entire temple.

The entire temple went still. The tremendous pressure descended like a dense cloud.

Scott and Orion gasped, momentarily shocked, and exchanged glances, their eyes filled with disbelief.

This immense aura was not inferior to that of their own father. This newly ascended Only God was actually stronger than both of them, perhaps even on par with the Heavenly Father.

Yet the Heavenly Father remained unshaken. Smiling gently, he held the cube and gazed at Bardi with polite eyes.

The moment Bardi saw Trigon being presented as a gift, his mind—more powerful than most cosmic supercomputers—had already calculated the Heavenly Father's scheme.

In just a few short seconds, Bardi withdrew his immense aura. He leaned against the back of the throne, lounging slightly to the side. His left hand lazily supported his cheek, his gaze falling from the cube to the smiling face of the Heavenly Father. Though relaxed in posture, he radiated the majesty of a God King.

"What do you want?"

Bardi laughed softly. His eyes were cold. He had already deduced the Heavenly Father's intentions.

It was nothing more than using him to strike at Darkseid.

Presenting Trigon, sealed by Lucifer himself, was a show of force—an implied warning. If Bardi refused to cooperate, any one of his sons could destroy Planet Barmulodi, or he could rally other powerful beings from the realm of the gods, even Lucifer, to besiege and seal Bardi himself.

"As expected of the Only God who rose from the multiverse and the end of all things."

Heavenly Father smiled. From this moment on, his body emitted a gentle yet irresistible pressure—fatherly, authoritative, and cloaked in kindness.

This made Bardi feel disgusted. Still, he remained composed, looking at Heavenly Father indifferently.

"God King Bardi, your use of Ω has already violated Darkseid's taboo. From the moment you stepped into the realm of the gods, it was fated that only one of you could survive."

"All the Only Gods in the realm of gods know that New Genesis and Apokolips are mortal enemies."

"God King of Barmulodi, let us cooperate to eliminate Apokolips. You will become the only Ω in the realm of the gods."

Heavenly Father spoke slowly.

Ω was not just about status. It represented the divine will of the realm.

One meant there could only be one.

This was a matter of divinity—of exclusivity. No Only God would tolerate another sharing that unique signature.

Therefore, Darkseid would never allow Bardi to continue wielding the Ω symbol, for it would divide Darkseid's uniqueness.

Likewise, if anyone else claimed the title of Only God under the name of Barmulodi, Bardi would have to eliminate them.

"You have no reason to cooperate with me."

Bardi responded calmly, leaning on his cheek, his tone nonchalant. His right hand, index finger clad in sharp armor, tapped crisply on the throne's armrest.

Ding...

A clear, resounding tone rang through the temple like ripples across still water. Bardi's indifferent demeanor seemed to look straight through the Heavenly Father.

Why would the Heavenly Father want to cooperate to destroy Darkseid?

Wouldn't it be better to let them fight over the Ω symbol and exhaust each other, then swoop in and seal the victor?

Why help the "mantis" in this "mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole" situation?

What did he truly want?

Bardi sensed that the Heavenly Father's ambitions were far greater than they appeared.

Was this all due to Bardi's lack of understanding of the realm of gods?

"There is a reason. Your Majesty God King, though you have destroyed countless multiverses and primordial universes, you are not a tyrant."

"You believe in order. You govern with structure. You are capable of replacing Darkseid's Ω and bringing peace to the realm of gods."

The Heavenly Father smiled and continued, "More importantly, God King Bardi, with your current power, fighting Darkseid will be too difficult."

"I could have waited for your decisive battle. At the most brutal moment, I could have intervened and sealed you."

"But I didn't."

"I am full of sincerity."

"I hope that, after you replace Darkseid, you will cooperate with New Genesis to maintain peace in the realm of gods."

Bardi's fingertips froze, and the tranquil wave of sound vanished from the temple. The lingering resonance faded.

So noble.

Such great ambition.

Peace in the realm of gods.

Perhaps the Heavenly Father's uniqueness stemmed from his pursuit of peace and stability in the realm of gods.

Bardi stared deeply at the Heavenly Father. His face was flawless, sincere, smiling, filled with good intentions, and waiting patiently for Bardi's answer.

He wasn't wrong.

Bardi truly could not defeat Darkseid at the moment. It was also true that the Heavenly Father could have waited to clean up the aftermath but instead chose to cooperate and recognize Bardi as the sole bearer of Ω.

However... Bardi didn't believe it.

It was the pure instinct of a one God—he could not trust the Heavenly Father.

He lacked knowledge. He knew too little about the realm of gods and couldn't calculate the full picture. He suspected the Heavenly Father had ulterior motives, but lack of information did not mean lack of cooperation.

"I can..."

Bardi said coldly, his eyes sweeping over the Heavenly Father and his two sons. He continued, "But I want the ultimate core technology of the Mother Box."

He had barely finished speaking when the Heavenly Father's smiling expression froze.

Behind him, Orion and Scott were both stunned with fury. Their auras erupted like climbing giants and erupting volcanoes, unleashing a terrifying wave of pressure.

"You're dreaming!"

Orion, standing behind the Heavenly Father, pointed at Bardi furiously.

The ultimate core technology of the Mother Box was the foundational secret of both New Genesis and Apokolips. Though different, these technologies had allowed them to stand firm in the realm of gods for countless years.

Apokolips existed independently of the Heavenly Father, its survival rooted in the hidden might of the Mother Box's ultimate technology.

Likewise, New Genesis stood proudly in the realm of gods due to its Mother Box's incredible capabilities—feared even among the gods.

This kind of core technology, fundamental to an entire planet's survival, was not something to give away lightly.

"There's also the ultimate core technology on Apokolips. Whether I get it earlier or later doesn't matter."

"Don't you want me to become the new Omega? Don't you want me to replace Darkseid?"

Bardi's voice was cold and commanding. His gaze pressed heavily on the Heavenly Father.

The implication was clear: you want to use me as your spear?

"That's the core technology of New Genesis. It is impossible to give it to you."

"Barmulodi, don't overstep!"

Orion and Scott scolded angrily. They had already presented Trigon as a gift, which was significant enough. But now, Bardi wanted the very foundation of New Genesis' strength—this was pure delusion!

Bardi's icy gaze swept over the furious Orion and Scott. Looking down on them from the throne, he focused coldly on the Heavenly Father. He felt that the Heavenly Father would agree.

"Silence."

The Heavenly Father snapped at his sons, his face cold and stern. After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke.

"Very well. I will present the ultimate core technology of the Mother Box from both Trigon and New Genesis to God King Bardi. Let us form an alliance and cooperate against Darkseid."

"Father!"

Orion and Scott's furious faces turned pale with disbelief.

This was too much.

Why hand over the ultimate core technology of the Mother Box?

That technology was the cornerstone of New Genesis, the key to peace and its strength in the realm of gods. Giving it away just to deal with Darkseid?

The Heavenly Father gently shook his head to silence their doubts.

"All right. I look forward to working with you."

Bardi nodded in satisfaction, though a chilling dread surged in his heart.

What could possibly make the Heavenly Father willing to give up the Mother Box's ultimate core technology?

There had to be something even greater than the foundational tech of New Genesis that he was truly after.

What is it?

What does he want?

Heavenly Father...

(To be continued.)