Marvel 1919 : Rise of an Empire

After Diana and the others had all boarded Bruce's sleek aircraft, George landed gracefully last, waving his hand to summon and release his own Flying Fox from its dimensional storage.

Bruce glanced at him with curiosity and asked, "Aren't you coming with us in the same transport?"

"Mine carries significantly more powerful offensive weapons, so its attack capability is considerably higher than yours," George explained matter-of-factly, then instantly teleported into his own aircraft's cockpit with a shimmer of magical energy.

"He'll come through for us, Alfred. I know he will," Bruce said confidently to Alfred, who stood at the cave entrance to see them off on this potentially final mission.

"What makes you so absolutely certain?" Alfred asked, genuine concern evident in his weathered features.

"Faith, Alfred. Pure faith in our team," Bruce declared with unwavering conviction, then walked purposefully into his aircraft.

Two aircraft, nearly identical in their sleek design and imposing presence, circled the lake once in perfect formation before flying off determinedly into the darkening distance.

"What's that sensation I'm feeling?" Barry asked from inside Bruce's aircraft, a note of unease creeping into his voice.

"The Mother Boxes should be approaching the final stages of their merger," George replied through the crystal-clear communication channel.

At this critical moment, everyone on Earth who possessed any sensitivity to supernatural forces felt a deep, unsettling tremor resonating from within their very souls, as if something catastrophically evil was about to unleash itself upon the world.

"Let's stick precisely to our established plan," Bruce began, his voice taking on the commanding tone of a seasoned strategist.

"Satellite imagery confirms he's constructed a massive defensive dome around the entire area. Ironically, that's actually a significant design flaw we can exploit. We destroy the central support tower, and the entire dome will collapse like a house of cards. The enemy won't expect us to launch such a direct, frontal assault."

"Yeah, because he probably didn't expect anyone to be completely insane enough to try it," Barry quipped with nervous humour.

"Bruce is absolutely right in his assessment. We must destroy that defensive dome at all costs," Cyborg stated with mechanical precision. "We need to locate the Mother Box before the three units achieve complete synchronization."

"But what happens if we can't bring down that dome?" Aquaman asked with practical concern.

"We will destroy it, I guarantee it," Diana said with fierce determination.

"Once Victor successfully integrates with the Unity, and with Barry's electrical assistance, he'll be able to break through the Mother Box's supernatural defenses."

"Remind me again, what exactly am I supposed to contribute here? The miraculous power of love and friendship?" Barry joked, though his nervousness clearly showed through his humor.

"Barry!" Cyborg's voice carried a sharp warning that this was definitely not the time for lighthearted jokes.

"I need to generate a massive, unprecedented energy burst!" Barry stated his crucial mission with newfound seriousness.

"Exactly right. You'll need to run faster than you've ever run before in your entire life to

"Then you'll make direct physical contact with Victor's cybernetic body. That concentrated energy should provide the necessary power for both him and George to successfully enter the Mother Box's consciousness."

"Victor, George, after that critical moment, everything depends entirely on you two. You must tear the Unity apart from the inside before it achieves complete synchronisation."

"George, will Barry's electrical energy have any negative effects on your magical abilities?" Diana asked with genuine concern for their team's mage.

"No, don't worry about me at all. My magical defenses can handle electrical energy without any problems," George replied confidently through the communicator. "And regarding that defensive dome, don't waste any time worrying about it. I can handle that obstacle personally."

"Excellent! We finally have a comprehensive, workable plan," Barry said with growing confidence.

"Yes, we have our strategy mapped out completely," Bruce agreed with satisfaction.

Several tense minutes later, the two aircraft arrived at their destination, hovering ominously next to the massive crimson dome that pulsed with otherworldly energy.

"Bruce, make absolutely sure to keep up with my pace," George warned, studying the intimidating red dome that stretched before them like a supernatural barrier.

"Okay, I'm ready for whatever you're planning," Bruce replied through the communication system, his voice steady despite the magnitude of their task.

"Star Network, initiate launch sequence for ten conventional high-explosive missiles," George commanded his advanced AI system.

"Ten conventional missiles launched and tracking targets," the AI responded with mechanical efficiency.

"Biubiubiu!" Ten sleek missiles streaked through the air and struck the dome in rapid succession, their impacts creating brilliant flashes of light.

"Boom boom boom boom!" Multiple explosions erupted across the dome's surface in spectacular fashion.

Although the concentrated bombardment successfully opened a significant hole in the targeted area, the dome's supernatural properties caused it to begin healing and recovering almost immediately.

"George, your conventional attack isn't going to succeed against this kind of supernatural defense. Let me handle this with a different approach," Bruce suggested through the comm.

"You want to risk flying directly through that barrier yourself?" George asked with obvious concern.

"That's exactly why I gathered all of you together, to take calculated risks as a team," Bruce explained with characteristic determination.

"It's not time for an all-out desperate effort just yet. Pull back a safe distance," George said with a confident smile that could be heard in his voice. "Star Network, prepare and arm four compact nuclear warheads for immediate deployment."

"You actually have nuclear weapons in your arsenal?" Barry exclaimed in complete shock and amazement.

"This is just a small demonstration of my capabilities. I'll show you much more impressive firepower later if necessary," George said calmly, monitoring the status of his ready missiles. "To prevent the dome from absorbing and redirecting the nuclear energy back at us, we need to execute this attack with perfect timing and maximum speed."

"Understood and ready!"

"Biubiubiubiu!" Four compact nuclear warheads, originally acquired during his adventures in the Starship Troopers universe, launched in perfect sequence with split-second timing.

"BOOM!" This time the synchronization was flawless. All four nuclear devices detonated simultaneously, creating two massive, gaping holes in the dome's previously impenetrable structure.

Without George needing to issue any additional commands, Bruce instantly piloted his aircraft through the larger breach in the dome, with George following close behind in perfect formation.

Once both aircraft had successfully penetrated the dome's interior, they could clearly observe the central support pillar that maintained the entire defensive structure. Without hesitation, dozens of precision-guided missiles from both aircraft streaked toward the pillar with deadly accuracy.

BOOM!

The massive pillar collapsed in a shower of debris and supernatural energy, and the surrounding circular defensive field instantly dissipated like morning mist.

While the two aircraft had systematically attacked the dome's infrastructure, Steppenwolf had already detected their bold presence.

However, this was the most critical phase of the Unity's formation, and he couldn't afford to divide his attention from the delicate process. What he hadn't anticipated was their actual success in breaching his supposedly impenetrable defensive field.

Upon witnessing the two aircraft breaking through his defenses, Steppenwolf roared furious commands to the nearby Parademons: "Kill them all! Move immediately and defend the Unity at all costs!"

Countless winged Parademons soared into the darkening sky like a demonic swarm, pursuing the two aircraft with murderous intent as they landed at the edge of the abandoned city.

"Excellent! We've successfully breached their perimeter. Now we just need to locate the Mother Box before it's too late," George announced with satisfaction.

Stepping outside onto the devastated ground, Bruce activated his heavily armored Batmobile and declared, "I'll attempt to draw these monsters away from the main objective and buy you precious time to reach the Unity."

"What exactly does that mean?" Barry asked, not fully understanding Bruce's tactical implication.

"It means he's planning to take on those Parademons single-handedly while we advance," George explained with an admiring laugh.

"You can't hog all the glory at a crucial time like this, Batman," Aquaman said with gruff appreciation.

Bruce immediately drove the Batmobile forward, taking point position, while Diana, Aquaman, and the others formed a protective escort around the armored vehicle. For several intense minutes, the battle raged with spectacular ferocity.

"I'll clear the path ahead for all of you!" George announced, then instantly teleported away in a flash of mystical energy.

"Where did he disappear to?" Barry asked, looking around frantically.

"I honestly have no idea," Aquaman replied after impaling a Parademon with his trident.

"Oh my God, everyone look ahead!" Barry suddenly shouted with amazement.

Suddenly, an impressive army of advanced combat robots materialized along their forward path. These mechanical warriors immediately launched coordinated, indiscriminate attacks on the Parademons swarming through the sky above them.

"Is this how modern mages conduct warfare now?" Barry exclaimed in wonder.

"Alright, Barry, it's time to run!" George's voice came through the comm as he stood casually outside Steppenwolf's imposing lair, effortlessly blowing apart a Parademon with a focused energy blast.

"You got it! Leave the speed force to me!" Barry declared, then began swinging his arms and accelerating into his legendary super-speed run.

In addition to the substantial number of Xingtian combat robots that George had strategically positioned along their advance route, he had also deployed his entire mechanical army around Steppenwolf's fortress-like lair.

The more agile and versatile NS-5 Robots specifically scaled the lair's exterior walls and engaged the Parademons in direct combat for control of the defensive weapon emplacements.

Within minutes, with the overwhelming assistance of over thirty thousand advanced combat robots, the heroes completely annihilated the Parademons defending the exterior perimeter.

Aquaman, Diana, Cyborg, and Bruce all successfully entered Steppenwolf's inner sanctum as well. Steppenwolf hefted his massive electro-axe with deadly intent, and the two opposing forces faced each other once again in this climactic confrontation.

"Time for round two!" Aquaman declared with fierce determination.

"Let's finish this!" Cyborg responded, transforming his left arm into a high-energy plasma cannon and taking the tactical lead in attacking Steppenwolf with concentrated firepower.

Aquaman also unleashed his most devastating attack, with powerful waves of pure Atlantean energy surging toward Steppenwolf like tsunami waves carrying the fury of the seven seas.

Steppenwolf, of course, had no intention of standing idly by and absorbing their attacks. He gripped his fearsome electro-axe with both hands and charged directly toward them with supernatural speed and strength.

The New God warrior took the combined force of Aquaman and Cyborg's coordinated assault immediately.

Since both heroes gave everything they had in this critical moment, Steppenwolf found himself caught momentarily off guard and sent flying backward by the tremendous dual energy blasts.

However, the ancient warrior quickly stabilized himself using his electro-axe as a brace against the ground.

"Now! Press the attack!" Diana encouraged with warrior's fire in her voice.

"Tell me, proud Amazonian," Steppenwolf snarled with cruel malice upon seeing Diana approach.

"Why did you abandon your warrior sisters and choose to associate with these pathetic, lowly creatures? You completely failed to protect them when I personally slaughtered them on Themyscira! What makes it truly pathetic is that you actually could have saved them all."

"HOOAH!" Provoked beyond all restraint by Steppenwolf's deliberately cruel words about her fallen sisters, Diana's legendary warrior rage instantly peaked to maximum intensity, and she launched herself into the first direct attack against Steppenwolf with her sword and shield.

Cyborg and Bruce maintained continuous suppressive fire against Steppenwolf using their respective energy weapons and advanced projectiles.

Unfortunately, Steppenwolf's ancient armour possessed no ordinary protection; it had supernatural properties that could disperse and redirect energy attacks, so their ranged assault could only serve as tactical interference rather than decisive damage.

The primary offensive force engaging Steppenwolf in direct combat remained Diana and Aquaman.

The main tactical reason for this arrangement was that Steppenwolf's electro-axe was also a divine artefact from Apokolips, and ordinary defensive measures simply couldn't withstand its supernatural cutting power, which was precisely why Bruce maintained his cautious distance and relied on ranged attacks.

Although George clearly remembered from his multiverse knowledge that Superman would appear at the last crucial moment to turn the tide, he refused to place the fate of Earth entirely on that uncertain possibility.

Therefore, George had carefully prepared to weaken Steppenwolf's combat effectiveness when the strategic moment was right, at least enough to hold their defensive line until Superman's hoped-for arrival.