On a satellite near Apokolips.
"Steppenwolf has failed." Darkseid sensed that the power of the Anti-Life Equation within Steppenwolf had been affected and lifted. He immediately understood that Steppenwolf had suffered another defeat.
According to his programming, only death could exempt Steppenwolf from his influence. Darkseid did not believe anyone could do it. At the very least, no one on that planet could help Steppenwolf dig out the Program Equation hidden deep within his mind and remove it.
Although he had looked down on Steppenwolf ever since reaching adulthood, Darkseid acknowledged his strength. Even on Apokolips, Steppenwolf ranked among the Upper New Gods. He possessed unbelievable power. Yet his opponent had dealt with Steppenwolf, made him suffer two consecutive setbacks, and even cost him his life. Clearly, that planet's strength was not as inferior as Darkseid had imagined.
"Hmm?"
As if sensing something, Darkseid abruptly raised his head and looked toward Apokolips. A sudden Spatial Fluctuation had appeared there.
An ink-like dark cloud began spreading rapidly beneath Darkseid's astonished gaze. In mere moments, Apokolips seemed to have gained a black eye radiating dense, ominous malice.
At the same time, an alert from Apokolips reached him.
Invaders!
Darkseid had never imagined that Apokolips would suffer such a sudden attack while he was present. Boundless fury rose within the ever-violent, cruel ruler.
The endless Parademons Army was unsealed from the satellites surrounding Apokolips, then surged toward the planet like a swarm of locusts. As the most terrifying war weapon in the universe, the Parademons had helped Apokolips conquer world after world, civilization after civilization. They were powerful, and their numbers were impossible to exhaust through slaughter. Around Apokolips lay Parademon nests after Parademon nests, capable of dragging every enemy into a sea of numbers. Even the strongest foes would lose themselves amid