The First Mother Box Finds Its Owner!

Steppenwolf stared at his empty right shoulder. His expression shifted from disbelief to boundless terror.

He... he can use my battle axe?

No, he uses it better than I do! That strike carried Father's purest Omega power! How could this mortal...

Steppenwolf's thoughts dissolved into chaos.

This earthly False God had displayed godlike power over the laws of strength, reality, and time. Worse, after only brief contact, he had deciphered and wielded a power belonging to Apokolips—to the Dark Lord Darkseid himself!

What terrifying capacity to learn and adapt!

Run!

I have to get away now!

I have to take this news back to Father!

A monster beyond comprehension has appeared on Earth!

Steppenwolf abandoned all thought of dignity or duty. With his remaining left hand, he frantically struck at the space before him, activating his last resort.

An unstable, miniature Boom Tube tore open behind him.

He glanced at the man standing in the square with his battle axe over one shoulder, like a demon god. Hatred and fear filled Steppenwolf's eyes as he dove into the portal.

The Boom Tube closed behind him, and silence returned.

Only the ravaged battlefield remained, along with a group of stunned Amazon Warriors who had survived by the skin of their teeth.

Link glanced toward where Steppenwolf had vanished. He did not pursue him.

Let him live and carry the news back. That'll be more interesting.

He wanted to see the look on the mighty Dark Lord's face when he learned that a "mortal" had taken his Vanguard General's weapon and severed his arm.

His gaze fell on the Mother Box hovering quietly nearby.

He stepped forward and picked it up.

It felt strange in his hand: cold and smooth, yet faintly pulsing as though alive. Link could sense the extraordinarily complex