DC: Rise of the Kryptonian Tyrant

The lava seethed, rolling across the cracked ground beneath his feet. The stench of sulfur scorched the air.

The sky was dark and oppressive. Darkseid's phantom body stood tall, domineeringly looking down on every living being on the planet.

Beneath his feet, countless varieties of demons roamed the surface of Apokolips like locusts and ants. They drooled, their eyes flashing with cruel red light, breathing heavily.

Bardi stood alone, facing the endless demonic army. His posture was upright, cold, and solemn. His spine had never bowed in the face of this infamous dark tyrant.

"Barmulodi!"

Darkseid's eyes were red, glaring down coldly at the world as he growled. Omega rays flickered with tyranny in his gaze.

Darkseid's voice, coupled with the immense pressure of Apokolips itself, weighed down on Bardi. Even with his current strength and form, Bardi felt the force like a hurricane pressing down on him.

Bardi's eyes flashed coldly. Facing the overwhelming pressure, he raised his left hand.

Thinner than a cell, countless crystal universes containing New Genesis were released, bursting forth in the scorching heat like beads of crystalized sweat.

Pong…

The crystal universes, as tiny as sweat droplets, burst in the burning environment. In an instant, the army of New Genesis appeared behind Bardi, casting radiant light and illuminating a vast area.

Highfather descended from the sky, wielding his scepter and clad in brilliant armor, radiating a glow that lit the heavens.

In that moment, the legions of New Genesis and the warriors under Highfather confronted the demon legions of Apokolips. The entire planet was split in two—light and darkness clashing.

"Darkseid, your final hour has come."

Highfather's gaze burned like torches. He descended slowly from the sky to stand beside Bardi. As he landed, his eyes ignited with terrible rage as they locked onto Steppenwolf.

From the corner of his eye, Bardi glanced at Highfather, but his thoughts churned internally.

Final hour?

Could Darkseid be killed so easily? It wasn't that Bardi underestimated himself or Highfather, but even if ten more Highfathers joined him, it would not be enough to kill Darkseid.

Not with the traits of a One God. So what did "final hour" even mean?

"An old dog who betrayed the One God—you are unworthy to face me."

Darkseid sneered. His eyes were filled with contempt as he glanced at Highfather. Cruel Omega energy flickered as he turned to Bardi, his gaze now full of bloodlust.

Darkseid's contempt enraged the New Genesis legions. Highfather's two sons and several other unique gods roared at Darkseid, urging Highfather to strike.

The fury of war was about to explode. The thick stench of sulfur and molten rock on Apokolips merged with the scent of rising aggression, creating an atmosphere that was wild and volatile.

"From this day forward, Apokolips will no longer exist in the Realm of the Gods!"

Highfather's face darkened. His eyes flashed with fury. He raised the scepter of New Genesis high, prepared to command the full assault.

"Wait."

Bardi raised his hand, stopping him. He glanced at Highfather emotionlessly, halting the scepter mid-air.

In that moment, Highfather dared not act rashly. Only Bardi's power could stall Darkseid long enough for him to seal away the other Apokoliptian gods.

Without Bardi holding the line, if Darkseid broke free, New Genesis would be annihilated instantly.

Because of this, Bardi alone was able to halt the entire New Genesis army. The scent of battle paused, and the fighting spirit in everyone's throats froze. Every pair of furious eyes turned toward Bardi's towering form.

"Barmulodi, what are you doing?"

Highfather's face turned cold. A flicker of unease passed through his mind.

Behind him, all the warriors of New Genesis focused their fighting will and fury on Bardi.

"Haha! Now this is interesting."

Darkseid laughed. Behind his phantom form, a throne appeared. He held his head high and sat down with contempt for the world.

He looked down on Highfather with scorn. He had never acknowledged him, especially after his betrayal of the One God. Darkseid spurned him.

But when he looked at Bardi, his eyes showed only hellish cruelty.

Bardi's face was cold. He remained expressionless even in the face of New Genesis's wrath. Then he turned toward Darkseid, his expression still blank, and asked coldly:

"Before the war begins, I want to ask one thing."

"What is happening in the Realm of the Gods?"

Bardi's face was void of emotion, his eyes like black holes locked onto Darkseid.

He had traveled through the divine realm. While he hadn't seen every corner, he had explored its major domains—Hell, the Dreaming, Heaven—where many One Gods and unique gods resided. He had spoken with Krypton's god Aura, the god of Mars, King Oberon, and others. Each one had warned him of great upheaval in the divine realm of the deaths of many unique gods.

This had shaken Bardi deeply. Given the immortality of a One God, what could possibly kill one?

The change gripping the divine realm was unexplainable, unspeakable, and made every god tremble. They barely dared to speak of it, and even then, with grave warnings.

Bardi's questions had gone unanswered.

Until now.

The moment Bardi asked, Darkseid's savage, cracked face froze. The red Omega light in his eyes dimmed, weighed down by heaviness.

At the same time, Highfather fell silent beside Bardi.

All of Apokolips, all the One Gods—whether of Apokolips or New Genesis—froze as their expressions shifted and grew silent.

The legions once brimming with fury and battle lust were silenced. The tension that began with Bardi's question swept over the entire battlefield.

Only the ragged breathing of the demonoids remained. Their bloodshot eyes still gleamed cruelly, and their foul saliva dripped as they waited to devour.

Darkseid's scarlet Omega eyes stared at Bardi. In the suffocating silence of Apokolips, seated on his phantom throne, he looked at Bardi deeply.

Then came a sound like the tolling of a colossal, cosmic bell.

"The Realm of the Gods will be destroyed."

Bardi's pupils contracted. His deep eyes widened and locked on Darkseid.

Darkseid had no reason to lie. Which made the statement even more terrifying.

Who could destroy the Realm of the Gods?

Bardi had walked its breadth, and he had not even stepped through one-billionth of it. It was so vast that even a One God could not fully traverse its boundaries.

Who had the power to destroy it? What level of existence could do that?

Bardi turned his head slowly and looked at Highfather.

Highfather gave no reply. His expression remained stern and silent. But that silence confirmed everything for Bardi.

The Realm of the Gods will be destroyed.

Countless thoughts and theories raced through Bardi's mind in an instant.

He had come from Earth. In his previous life, he knew what represented the ultimate power in the DC Universe.

"Could it be… the Great Beast?"

That possibility flashed through his thoughts.

But just as the name crossed his mind, a thunderous voice echoed inside his consciousness.

"Huh? Who dares call my name?"

Bardi froze.

(To be continued.)