Apokolips.
Darkseid's towering, powerful figure stepped out of the void, and the passage closed behind him.
His cold gaze swept the surroundings. There was no ambush waiting for him.
Only the Earthling draped in the Stars and Stripes hovered alone a hundred meters away.
"Hmph! Arrogant vermin."
Darkseid did not rush to attack.
On his own turf, he had absolute confidence.
This was his domain. Every inch of space here was steeped in his will.
He closed his eyes slightly and spread his arms.
He was about to summon the boundless dark divine power of Apokolips to bolster himself and crush this presumptuous Earthling to dust in one blow.
"Hmm—"
A deep, commanding hum rose from Darkseid's throat as his muscles bulged.
One second.
Two seconds.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds passed.
Darkseid remained there with his arms spread and his eyes shut tight.
Wind swept across the plain, lifting a few torn Parademon wings.
Nothing happened.
No surge of energy. No resonance with any divine power.
His homeworld gave him no response at all.
The silence grew painfully awkward.
Darkseid opened his eyes, a trace of bewilderment on his face.
"What's going on...?"
Refusing to believe it, he tried again. Red light flashed wildly in his eyes as he focused on communing with his homeworld.
"In the name of Darkseid, answer my summons!"
"..."
Still nothing but silence.
"Hm?"
Darkseid looked down at the ground beneath his feet, puzzled.
The power within him was still there, but he could feel no response from the planet below.
"Pfft..."
Watching Darkseid strain as though he were constipated, Homelander finally burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha!"
His shoulders shook, and his laughter grew louder.
"Sorry, sorry... I couldn't help it."
"Have you been away from home so long you forgot the password?"
"Or was that