DC: Chapter 219/223

Chapter 219: Blood in the Dark Night
In the dark night, the starry sky shone brightly.

The river beneath Aquaman's feet was blue, like a stream of starlight under the brilliant night sky, as he walked upon it, heading toward Bardi.

He could not fly. Although he could leap thousands of meters and use the magic within his body to maintain temporary suspension in the air, strictly speaking, he was unable to fly. This was the limit of his strength.

Bardi's trench coat fluttered beneath the starry sky. His cheeks were puffed slightly as the cold wind howled, and the waves beneath his feet froze instantly. The ice spread across his body and the surging sea beneath him, turning him into an ice sculpture, temporarily immobilizing him.

Immediately after, Diana unleashed her full power.

The two clashed in the sky, erupting with a massive impact, each blasted backward but quickly regaining their footing midair.

The two stood poised beneath the starry sky. Bardi's white trench coat billowed, his presence towering like a mountain, looking down upon the world.

Facing him was a beautiful figure. Her skin was crystal clear, radiating a brilliant golden glow. Under the night sky, she appeared as a peerless beauty.

They charged across the sky, cutting through the starlit night, and collided again. Each strike resounded with deafening force, their battle echoing endlessly through the heavens.

Even with Bardi's current physical strength, Diana did not dare to strike him directly with the full power of the God Killer Sword. The God Killer Sword was an artifact capable of splitting matter at the atomic level, possessing tremendous destructive power.

It could faintly suppress Bardi's formidable Kryptonian physique.

But Bardi was too powerful. Over the past decade, he had absorbed solar energy continuously every day, reaching a level of strength surpassing that of the original Superman, combined with masterful combat skills.

Even though divine power could suppress Kryptonian cells, Bardi's body alone was powerful enough to contend against such forces.

Diana's strength was formidable. No matter how hard she tried, she could not easily wound Bardi.

'Clang…'

As they fought in the sky, the sound of clashing metal rang out. Bardi seized an opportunity, striking the side of Diana's God Killer Sword with his fist. The impact produced a thunderous metallic crash.

Diana's golden expression turned fierce and stern. She gripped the sword tightly, her hands trembling from the force. The massive impact nearly knocked the weapon from her grasp, and golden blood trickled from the torn skin between her thumb and forefinger.

Bardi's strength clearly shocked her. She had unleashed the divine power sealed within her body, yet she still could not overpower him. This shook her deeply. Her eyes filled with both awe and fear.

"This is already the power of a god…"

Diana's heart trembled. Her own power approached that of the gods. She carried the blood of the supreme god, Zeus. Though she did not know Zeus was her father, she was aware that divine power came from her potent bloodline. Its magnitude and strength were undeniable.

At least on Paradise Island, within the entire Amazon race, no one could stand shoulder to shoulder with her or contend with her strength.

This was why her mother had instructed her to wear the silver bracelets, suppressing the divine power that might otherwise terrify the outside world.

Yet here, Bardi's strength was on par with hers, if not greater. She even found herself at a disadvantage in battle. This was simply unimaginable to her. This was godlike power.

The so-called gods of Olympus were only this strong.

Diana narrowed her golden eyes, raising her divine shield to block Bardi's oncoming assault.

'Boom…'

The divine shield endured the full brunt of Bardi's devastating attack, a force on par with a planet-level powerhouse.

The golden divine energy shimmering on the shield's surface shattered under the blow, the scattered starlight fading into the night. The immense force blasted Diana backward.

Her body shot across the sky like a meteor, burning red with supersonic heat along her exposed shoulders and back.

Even though the divine shield had absorbed part of the impact, the remaining force was still terrifying. It transmitted through her arms, shaking her internal organs. She felt nauseated, blood rising in her throat. Clenching her teeth tightly, she endured stubbornly. A trickle of golden blood slid from the corner of her mouth, floating in the air.

Just as Bardi prepared to pursue and finish Diana off completely—

At that moment.

Aquaman broke free from the ice. His muscular body twisted midair like a statue of Greek beauty and strength. The trident in his hand emitted a blue magical glow, screaming through the air with a sonic boom as he hurled it at Bardi.

Bardi halted in midair, his gaze cold. The trident was also an artifact, imbued with the magic to control the ocean. Its power could rival divine energy.

It seemed that magic dealt even greater damage to Bardi's Kryptonian physique. While divine power could restrain Kryptonian cells, it did not have the same fatal effect as magic.

Bardi had sensed this during his earlier battle with Diana.

Though much magic derived from divine energy, high-level divine power lacked the raw, destructive properties of magical energy.

Divine power was a higher-tier energy, attacking both the body and the will. It could destroy the flesh while shaking the spirit.

But Bardi's willpower was unbreakable. Not even Diana's divine energy could crush it. Even the Green Lantern ring had abandoned Hal Jordan and chosen Bardi instead. This alone showed how resistant his mind was to divine interference.

Magic, on the other hand—especially powerful soul magic or pure elemental magic like water magic—directly attacked his body, causing significant harm.

The trident, radiating blue magical energy, tore through the night sky once more with an ear-splitting shriek.

Bardi's heat vision adjusted to its strongest shockwave mode.

The heat vision had two modes. One could release an explosive shockwave fueled by the body's energy. The other emitted a concentrated thermal beam known for its ultra-high temperatures.

In the dark night, Bardi's heat vision collided violently with the incoming trident. A massive sonic boom cloud appeared instantly, only to be shattered by the sheer force of the impact.

The trident was knocked high into the sky again, spinning like a windmill under the bright stars.

This time, however, Aquaman was unable to retrieve it.

Bardi leapt into the air, intercepting Aquaman before he could regain control of the trident.

Aquaman's face filled with horror. Suspended in the air without the support of land or ocean, his power had dropped significantly. He had never been Diana's equal to begin with, and now, facing Bardi midair, it was nothing short of a disaster.

Aquaman tried to summon the sea behind him, hoping to reconnect with the ocean and regain his strength.

But Bardi was faster. In the blink of an eye, he was already in front of Aquaman.

In Aquaman's terrified gaze, Bardi stepped on his chest. His body caved in, the sternum crushed outward as the sea below lost Aquaman's control, pouring down like heavy rain.

The trident spun through the sky like a windmill before Bardi caught it effortlessly with his left hand.

In the darkness.

Bardi's eyes remained cold. Holding the trident in his hand, he stood atop Aquaman as if riding a surfboard, pressing him down until his sternum sank, blood dripping beneath him.

Under the dark night and the shining starry sky, Aquaman bled, utterly powerless to resist.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 220: My Heart Will Not Change!
Hal's heart felt cold, a chill sinking deep to the very bottom of his soul. He collapsed onto the ground, seawater flowing into the crater left by the crashed spaceship beside him. The water soaked his pants and thighs.

The icy seawater seeped through his skin, stinging like cold well water in the depths of winter. The chill was so intense that goosebumps rose across his skin. The freezing water spread through the tight muscles of his thighs, the cold climbing up his spine, burrowing into his bones, rising all the way to his brain.

His eyes stared ahead in disbelief, dazed, lost in shock.

The Green Lantern Ring had abandoned him. The moment Barmulodi appeared, Hal had been stripped of his qualification to be Green Lantern.

"Damn it!"

Hal suddenly clenched his fists tightly, pounding the ground in fury. His fists slammed into the cold seawater, splashing white waves around him.

A cold slap of reality struck him across the face.

Unwilling rage surged from deep within his heart. His own will, his own courage, had lost to Barmulodi. The Green Lantern Ring had fled right before his eyes, choosing a tyrant who sought to rule the Earth.

"FUCK!!!"

Hal roared, slamming his hands onto the ground repeatedly. His teeth clenched as he vented his unwilling anger without pause.

Without the Green Lantern Ring, the Green Lantern Corps would struggle to aid Earth. Against Barmulodi's army, even with Atlantis and Paradise Island standing together, resistance would be difficult.

Barry was still in Barmulodi's hands, his life and death uncertain.

Bruce remained hidden in the shadows, treading on the edge of danger.

And Hal, stripped of everything, no longer held the Green Lantern Ring. Unable to call upon the help of the Green Lantern Corps, how could he possibly contend with Barmulodi?

The night sky remained dark, the starry expanse shining brightly overhead. It was a cloudless night.

Bardi stood high above, eyes cold, holding the Trident of Poseidon in his hand. He stood on top of Aquaman, as if riding a surfboard, pressing down on him until his sternum caved in. Blood flowed beneath him. In the dark night, beneath the bright starry sky, the blood stained the scene, showing how powerless even a king of the seas was before a god.

'Bang!'

Suddenly, Bardi's expression remained icy. He pressed down harder with his foot, trampling Aquaman beneath the starlight as if crushing the world beneath his feet.

Aquaman's chest collapsed further. Blood sprayed from his mouth. His scale armor pierced into his white bones as blood burst from his chest. His internal organs were nearly crushed under Bardi's ruthless power.

His body arched backward like a shrimp under the force. Blood dripped from the air, falling into the ground below, smashing open a massive crater that cracked and spread outward.

The seawater was instantly forced back, then rushed in again. It flowed through the cracked earth toward Aquaman, as if wailing for their fallen king.

Aquaman's body convulsed uncontrollably at the bottom of the crater. His vision blurred, his gaze dull and lifeless.

Bardi had completely destroyed his body, severing all magical control pathways. His injuries were so severe that recovery was nearly impossible.

Aquaman's fingers trembled weakly as he struggled to move, but he could not.

Blood mixed with the seawater, giving off a salty, bloody stench.

"Arthur!!"

Victor's eyes widened, and he shouted uncontrollably, his voice choked with emotion.

He stepped forward, wanting to rush toward Aquaman's side.

However—

"No!!"

In the next instant, Victor instinctively reached out his hand, as if trying to stop time itself, shouting in horror.

Bardi floated in the sky, his figure striking and ominous in the blackness.

The wild wind whipped through his black hair, framing his cold, merciless face. His trench coat flapped violently in the wind.

With a flick of his arm, Bardi hurled the Trident of Poseidon down like a spear, releasing a piercing sonic boom as it tore through the night sky once again.

This was the third time Aquaman's trident had been thrown.

Like a javelin emerging from the abyss of darkness, it pierced through the night, aiming directly for Aquaman's chest, nailing him firmly to the ground.

"Ah…"

Aquaman's body jerked violently, like a fish caught on a hook, limbs flailing, but then fell limp once again. His chest had been pinned down by the trident, rendering him completely immobile.

His hands and feet twitched briefly, blood seeping out and mixing with the seawater.

His head tilted to the side. His eyes were half-open, half-closed, growing clouded.

Silent.

More seawater continued to flow into the crater, mixing with the spreading blood.

Victor stood frozen, eyes vacant, fingers trembling. His lips quivered as if he wanted to speak, his face pale as he sprinted madly toward Aquaman.

Bardi's gaze swept coldly over Aquaman's corpse. His red eyes then turned to Victor, and finally to Hal, whose own eyes burned with hatred, ready to devour him.

Bardi left behind a lingering sonic boom as he disappeared.

His gaze cut deep into Hal's heart, igniting even greater agony.

"Barmulodi!!"

Hal's fists clenched tightly, his whole body trembling. His neck strained, veins bulging, his face twisted in fury.

They had already lost too much.

Too many lives had been sacrificed on this path of resistance.

Everyone was prepared to face death. But the most unbearable pain on this journey was not dying oneself.

It was standing helplessly as one friend, one comrade after another, those who shared the same ideals, were killed right before his eyes, each flame of life snuffed out one by one by Barmulodi.

The Justice League, starting with Superman, had been wiped out by Barmulodi.

Madame Xanadu, who had helped them, perished without a trace.

Jor-El, who had split his consciousness into three parts to protect his son, died completely at Barmulodi's hands.

Barry, both legs broken, still trapped by Barmulodi.

Bruce had even abandoned his own body, his fate still uncertain, life or death unknown.

Having witnessed all of this, Hal was on the verge of madness. Each comrade's death, each sacrifice for their shared goal, every drop of blood spilled, tore at his soul.

Each loss pushed Hal deeper into despair. He longed to sacrifice himself if it meant bringing them back.

But the one responsible for this endless tragedy stood above, framed by the shining starry sky, which only made Bardi's godlike presence seem all the more towering.

This was enough to drive Hal mad. His crimson, furious eyes glared at the distant white figure.

I need power! Power to tear him down from the sky! Power to avenge everyone who has fallen!

Hal gritted his teeth, rage twisting his face, trembling violently, panting heavily as he turned to look at Abin Sur's corpse.

On the corpse's right chest, where the flesh had been torn away, a yellow fear energy glowed faintly—the energy of the Parallax entity.

"Without the Green Lantern Ring, I will still be Green Lantern, and my heart will not change!"

Hal stretched out his hand. The fear energy, like a snake, quickly slithered toward his palm, winding its way up his arm. It crawled along his veins, reached his chest, and distorted his expression.

Lowering his head, Hal let out a deep growl.

"Hal Jordan… I have the will to overcome fear. Fear… become my power!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 221: Amanda Waller
Darkness swept across the void.

Diana's bare shoulders radiated heat as her body rubbed against the upper atmosphere. Like an intruding force crashing through foam, she was struck out of Earth's atmosphere by Bardi's punch.

'Thud…'

A silent vibration echoed.

Her back smashed into an abandoned human satellite. The impact was partly offset by the atmospheric resistance and the distance she had been thrown, reducing the force somewhat. The satellite itself dented where her back struck it, drifting slowly away into the depths of space.

Diana narrowed her eyes, feeling the immense force surging through her body. Instinctively, her chest puffed out, her slender waist arched forward, and a low groan escaped from the depths of her throat. Pain flashed briefly across her beautiful face before she exhaled, regaining her composure.

Her brows furrowed slightly. Diana stared at her arm in alarm.

Her left hand, hidden beneath the divine shield, trembled uncontrollably. The muscles spasmed violently, twitching and quivering. The terrifying impact of Bardi's punch had caused her arm muscles to convulse, her bones feeling sore and numb, on the verge of snapping.

Suddenly, her left hand clenched tightly. Golden divine power flowed from her shoulders down to her arm, through her elbows and forearms, surging into her clenched fist, restoring its diamond-hard strength.

Diana's beautiful face remained tense, her eyes locked onto Bardi, who was charging up toward her from below.

Bardi's white figure was cloaked in the flames caused by his supersonic speed. Encased within the white sonic barrier, he shot upward into space, heading straight for Diana.

In the weightless environment of space, Diana flipped her body gracefully. She hung the God Killer Sword back at her waist, preparing her next move.

The Lasso of Truth glowed with golden light as she whipped it through the air. Like a snake, the lasso coiled around the thirty-meter-long abandoned satellite. In the next instant, she tightened the lasso, swinging the massive satellite overhead. With a powerful yank, she hurled the entire satellite down toward Bardi, who was rushing up from Earth.

Bardi collided head-on with the abandoned satellite, tearing straight through it. The entire satellite split into two pieces, steel fragments and mechanical debris scattering across space.

For a moment, in front of Bardi, the golden glow of the Lasso of Truth transformed into countless whip shadows, radiating divine energy. The lasso's shadows filled the space around him, aiming to slow his charge.

'Crack!'

Suddenly, one of the nooses struck Bardi directly in the chest. The tyrannical force and destructive energy instantly tore apart the surface of his clothing. His body halted midair. The fabric at his chest disintegrated into fine particles under the impact, exposing his hardened chest beneath.

A white lash mark was left across his chest, and a sharp sting spread across his skin, causing Bardi to frown.

It had been a long time since he had felt physical pain.

Immediately, the memory particles of his clothing reassembled, restoring the fabric to its original form.

Bardi's eyes burned red. He adjusted his heat vision into shockwave mode. In the vacuum of space, the crimson beams pierced through the dark starry sky, striking the Lasso of Truth. The divine-energy-infused lasso was shattered by the blast.

However, the recovery speed of the Lasso of Truth was incredibly fast. In space, it stretched and twisted like a flexible golden snake, seemingly infinite.

Just as Bardi retracted his heat vision, the lasso circled tightly around him, layering itself over and over, binding him like a mummy.

Diana's expression grew intense. She poured her divine energy wildly into the Lasso of Truth, strengthening its grip.

But in the next moment, the tightly bound Bardi forcefully stretched out his arms, tearing through the lasso's bindings. One of his large hands grabbed hold of the lasso.

With a violent pull.

Diana staggered in space. Her eyes narrowed sharply as she gritted her teeth, pulling back on the lasso with all her strength, locking herself into a fierce tug-of-war against Bardi in the void of space.

Bardi's outstretched hand gripped the lasso firmly, winding it around his palm, drawing Diana closer, coiling the lasso tighter and tighter.

"Damn you, you tyrant!"

Diana gritted her teeth so hard they felt like they might shatter. She was dragged toward Bardi, unable to resist his terrifying strength.

Suddenly, Diana released her hold on the lasso, causing Bardi to lean back slightly from the sudden release.

In that instant, Diana drew the God Killer Sword from her waist. Filled with golden divine energy, holding her divine shield in the other hand, she slashed toward the still-bound Bardi.

But Bardi's eyes flashed red once again. His heat vision shifted into shockwave mode, instantly blasting away the Lasso of Truth and striking Diana's shield, knocking her backward. She was sent flying toward the deep reaches of space.

Bardi narrowed his eyes and gave chase. Closing the distance, he struck Diana's divine shield with another punch, knocking her further into the cosmos. It was like a person chasing after a soccer ball, continually striking and throwing her farther.

The two continued to fly and collide throughout the universe, silent explosions of light and energy bursting violently with each impact.

...

Earth. An encrypted communication channel.

Fifteen nations on Earth had formed an alliance. A temporary emergency meeting had been called by Checkmate and Amanda Waller.

"Everyone, this is our opportunity."

"This kind of power is terrifying. He can move freely through space. Who exactly is fighting him?"

"The Amazon princess."

"Do we… need to take action?"

"Should we take this chance… and use a nuclear bomb to destroy him?"

"This is a good opportunity."

"With his power, he could easily rule the Earth. If we allow him to continue, he will slowly consume us, piece by piece. We cannot sit by and do nothing."

"He grows stronger under the sun. This might be the only chance we have."

"The longer we wait, the less chance we will have to resist him."

"I support using nuclear weapons!"

"I support!"

"I support!"

"America, please launch the highest-yield nuclear bomb. We all agree."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"Has no one considered… what if it doesn't kill him?"

"…"

The channel fell silent for a moment.

"We can't afford to miss this opportunity. If we wait, he will only become stronger."

"Launch the nuke!"

"Launch it!"

"Launch it!"

"America, proceed."

"Maximum yield. We fully support it!"

"Blow him to hell!"

"America, do not miss this chance. Launch immediately!"

The calls for action continued, voices echoing one after another. Amanda Waller's expression darkened, her face appearing scorched with frustration. Forcing the United States alone to bear the consequences of Barmulodi's wrath? How could that be allowed?

She remained silent for a while, then finally spoke.

"My suggestion is… all fifteen nations launch nuclear weapons together."

"…"

The channel fell silent once more.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 222: Fear
"Ah!"

Hal groaned in pain as the yellow fear energy fully entered his body, spreading through his bloodstream, continuously polluting his cells. Every cell seemed to be infiltrated, infected by the yellow fear.

Hal raised his head. His eyes were ferocious, and the veins bulging across his body glowed faintly with yellow fear energy, twisting like dragons, spreading through his swollen muscles.

'Om…'

In an instant, the yellow fear energy surged upward, reaching his brain.

At that moment, it was as if the fear of the entire Earth had shrouded his body. All the fear from around the globe was absorbed into him.

Even with his firm will, he could not help but feel the immense pain radiating from humanity every moment on this Earth.

"Please! Don't! Help!"

In one of the world's most dangerous countries for women, where a woman is assaulted every 13 minutes, six women are violated each day, a bride is murdered over dowry disputes every 69 minutes, and 19 women per month suffer acid attacks, Hal heard the cries of the weak. All these countless voices of fear gathered and poured into Hal, absorbed into his being.

"Please, don't kill me!"

In the Middle East, amidst war and terrorism, riots and conflict spread endlessly. The immense fear radiating from the region crossed the skies and was absorbed by Hal.

Even in so-called peaceful nations, fear lived on. Fear of society, of wives, husbands, fathers, bosses, criminals, governments. Every ounce of fear in human hearts, no matter how small, was drawn out by an invisible force and gathered into Hal.

All of it. The silent cries, the voices of terror, the helpless pleas—all echoed deep into Hal's heart, begging for salvation, praying for deliverance from this sorrowful world.

At that moment, Hal felt the despair, the darkness, the fear of life across the entire Earth. He could sense the fear of the Fifteen Nations Alliance as they watched the battle between Barmulodi and Diana, trembling in the face of such overwhelming power. He felt their terror as they made decisions out of fear.

One by one, Hal felt it all.

The magnitude of this gathered fear nearly destroyed him.

Hal's eyes suddenly widened, his pupils dilating abnormally. His body twisted uncontrollably. Yellow fear energy erupted from his back, fusing with his flesh and blood. Insect-like limbs burst through his skin, protruding outward, ten pairs in total, emerging grotesquely from his back.

Hal's eyes glowed like lanterns with the intense yellow light of fear. Ten pairs of grayish-yellow insect appendages jutted out from his back, their sharp ends piercing into the ground beneath him, lifting his body high into the air.

His face was expressionless. The emotional system of his nervous system had been severed. What remained was his iron will, holding onto consciousness, suppressing the corrosion of fear, forcing control over the fear energy.

He looked up at the starry sky, his head raised. The insect limbs supporting him pressed into the ground like a towering mutant form, holding his body aloft.

This was the fear entity Parallax, the embodiment of fear in the universe. Parallax itself was insect-like, with many limbs and a segmented body. Now infected by Parallax's energy, Hal, relying on his overwhelming willpower, transformed into a terrifying hybrid form, resembling Parallax itself. Such a mutation was unsurprising.

'Bang!'

Hal's grotesque, mutated body trembled violently. The ten pairs of grayish-yellow insect limbs standing behind him stretched into the air, terrifying like giant spiders crawling across an invisible web, lifting him upward as they flew toward space.

Above the starry sky, two streaks of light collided repeatedly. They flashed across the sky like shooting stars, dazzling in the dark expanse of the universe.

Rather than a battle, it was more like Bardi relentlessly chasing Diana, attacking her repeatedly, forcing her to burn through her divine energy. Once her divine power was depleted, it would mean her defeat.

Diana felt heavy sorrow in her heart. The man before her had shattered her proud princess heart completely.

Before leaving Paradise Island, she had been the strongest warrior among the Amazons, the Princess of Themyscira.

She believed that with her own strength, she could bring justice for the 50 million innocent people who had died, and execute the murderer responsible.

But reality had taught her otherwise. Even as an Amazon, here in space, she was nothing more than a ball being thrown around.

Her strength was no match for this man.

Her combat skills were inferior to his.

Even her strategies and tactics were completely ineffective against him.

She had no chance at all. All of her clever tricks were meaningless.

Diana could only feel bitter anguish in her heart. Her beautiful face was flushed with anger as she was knocked away once again. She had already lost count of how many times she had been struck down.

If nothing changed…

This would be her defeat. Her end. Death at the hands of this man.

On the ground, every nation with reconnaissance satellites watched the battle between Bardi and Diana in the skies with heavy hearts and silent dread.

Such power, capable of striking into space itself, was suffocating for all of humanity.

The superpowers of the Fifteen Nations Alliance urgently gathered their key personnel—those believed to be safe from Bardi's reach—to discuss whether they should use nuclear weapons.

The situation was too critical.

With presidents, kings, parliaments, and military commanders all weighing in, no one dared to make a hasty decision about launching nuclear bombs. But at the same time, no one wanted to bear the wrath of Barmulodi.

His power had already spread across the globe, infiltrating every inch of their nations. Many large and medium-sized corporations were already under his control. In some cases, high-ranking government officials, even presidents, had become his puppets.

The best-case scenario was that Barmulodi would die out in space.

But if he survived… there would be no hope left for mankind.

Already, much of the world had been eroded by Barmulodi. No one even knew how many nations were secretly under his control.

Their options were limited.

But just then, after a long silence.

A second voice echoed through the encrypted communication channel.

"Launch! Our country agrees. The war has already begun, and this may be our only chance."

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

"The United States. Forty-three megaton nuclear warhead. Target locked."

"Russia. Thirty-two megaton nuclear warhead. Target locked."

"United Kingdom. Thirty megaton nuclear warhead. Target locked."

"African mercenary state. Twenty-four megaton nuclear warhead. Target locked."

"Germany. Seventeen megaton equivalent. Target locked."

"Impala. Eight megaton equivalent. Target locked."

"Kahndaq. Five megaton equivalent. Target locked."

"East Alliance. Thirty megaton equivalent. Target locked."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 233: Fireworks Feast
"Ugh…"

Diana's graceful figure was sent flying backward, crashing into a nearby weather satellite. The satellite, once gleaming and stable, caved in under the impact, falling out of orbit and drifting toward deep space.

There was no air in the vacuum of space, so no sound could be heard. But the violent shock and vibrations echoed through Diana's body. Her waist felt as though it had been broken. Her internal organs shook violently. Her eyes were wide, bloodshot, with a faint golden halo mixed into the crimson. Blood spurted from her lips, floating miserably into space.

Diana had never faced such a powerful enemy. She was completely at a disadvantage, with no chance of victory.

Clenching her bloodstained teeth, her brows tightly furrowed from the pain, her eyes filled with unwillingness. This was her first time appearing on Earth. She had come here wanting to do something for its people, to protect them. Yet she was beaten down like this, struck from space without mercy, thrown about like a toy, sent flying again and again, spinning through the void like a meteor.

She clearly possessed the God Killer Sword, an artifact sharp enough to cut at the atomic level, and was armed with divine artifacts from head to toe—the divine shield, the Lasso of Truth, the guardian silver bracelets, the Starlight Crown, the Champion's Battle Helmet. Every piece of gear was an artifact of power.

Yet all of it was useless. She had not even been able to plead for justice on behalf of the people, let alone execute the sinner. Instead, she was the one being hunted down and beaten mercilessly.

She could feel it clearly. If she could land a single direct strike with the God Killer Sword on Barmulodi, she would surely be able to injure him. But not a single strike had connected. She had swung hundreds of times, landed nearly a hundred punches, yet not once had she hit him with her blade. The abundant divine energy flowing through her body only served to keep her barely in the fight. She knew that if she were careless, he could crush her to death at any moment.

A trace of grievance rose in Diana's heart—the humiliation of being beaten so thoroughly by Bardi. This was not a battle. It was torture.

But that trace of grievance quickly vanished.

Because Bardi was fast. His white trench coat whipped wildly in the air, his high nose, wide forehead, and indifferent expression illuminated under the starlight. His towering figure approached swiftly once again, charging straight toward Diana with another punch.

Diana raised her glowing divine shield. The punch slammed directly against its surface. The golden light of divine power rippled like water, quickly dispersing under the force. The violent impact traveled through the shield, through her arm, and deep into her bones. Her brows tightened in pain. Her cheeks puffed slightly as she gritted her teeth to endure.

The satellite behind her was instantly torn in half. Steel and mechanical parts scattered into space, floating amid the debris. Once again, Diana was knocked away, streaking across the void like a meteor.

In the midst of being thrown back, she adjusted her posture slightly, preparing to withstand the next attack, waiting for any chance to strike back.

But this time, she was startled.

Among the scattered debris floating in space, Bardi's white figure stood suspended. He did not continue the chase.

Instead, his gaze shifted toward Hal, whose body had transformed, resembling a monstrous insect.

Diana suddenly felt her bare back brush against something cold. The sharp, hard surface of insect appendages made contact with her skin, carrying with it a chilling, fearful sensation that crawled across her body.

The feeling made her panic for a brief moment, memories flashing through her mind—memories of her childhood, when she had faced a giant spotted python that had been larger than her, ready to swallow her whole. That same primal fear rose within her now.

But she quickly steadied herself, suppressing the panic. Turning her head, her eyes widened in shock.

She saw Hal's eyes radiating a murky yellow light, glowing like lanterns. His strong body was covered in yellow markings, as if rotted and decayed by ancient fear. Behind him, ten pairs of dark yellow insect-like limbs extended outward, clawing violently at the air.

"You…"

Diana's eyes widened, her heart trembling. Her red lips parted involuntarily.

Hal's appearance…

No matter what, this form seemed far more terrifying than even the tyrant Barmulodi.

"I don't have much time. I will assist you in restraining him. More than fifteen super nuclear bombs are on their way, heading toward this position."

"This is Earth's last resort."

"We have to keep him contained at the detonation center and kill him there."

Hal's expression remained blank. In space, where there was no air, no sound could be transmitted. But Diana clearly understood his words by reading his lips.

She looked at Hal deeply. Her divine shield lifted once again, golden divine energy surging down her arm, enveloping the shield.

She responded with action.

"Alright!"

Her expression was resolute. Her eyes remained steady, without the slightest hesitation. She sheathed the God Killer Sword at her waist. The Lasso of Truth appeared in her right hand.

The Lasso of Truth had once successfully restrained Bardi for a short time.

The exchange between the two was brief and direct. But Bardi, still watching the insect-like monstrosity Hal had become, clearly noticed their conversation.

Bardi raised his eyebrows slightly, tilting his head. His gaze pierced through the vacuum of space, down toward the Earth's atmosphere.

The number of nuclear bombs on Earth had undoubtedly exceeded any period in history. Even Hera could not fully control the nuclear arsenals of the entire world. Because of Bardi's existence, every nation felt unsafe, and many had secretly stockpiled weapons beyond any oversight. Even Hera was powerless to control them all.

Above Earth.

At Destroyer Base in Oregon, United States, a 43-megaton nuclear warhead sat atop a rocket over 40 meters tall. Flames spewed from its engine as it lifted off, ascending toward Bardi's position.

In Russia, at Red Star Base in Yaroslavl, a 32-megaton nuclear missile launched into the sky, streaking toward space.

In the United Kingdom, at Kimbreth, a 30-megaton nuclear missile rose, heading toward its locked target.

In the East, from the grasslands of Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, the No. 1 Nuclear Base launched a 30-megaton nuclear warhead into space.

In Africa, from the mercenary nation founded by Deathstroke, a 24-megaton nuclear missile was fired toward the stars.

Germany, Impala, Kahndaq… one after another, the fifteen most powerful nations on Earth launched their nuclear missiles.

All across the globe, wherever one looked, rocket flames soared into the sky, climbing toward space, converging on a single target.

That night, the flames of rocket launches filled the world with tense anticipation.

In every city, people lifted their heads, watching the skies. Across continents, they could see the rockets blazing upward, heading toward the same point, as if the entire world was coming together to ignite the most brilliant display of fireworks.

(To be continued.)