Chapter 2: A Warm Welcome to Apokalyps

location Apokalyps DarkSeids castle 300 years before the main DC timeline events (destruction of the planet Krypton and murder of the Waynes)

Apokolips is a large planet covered entirely by a city. It is a notoriously dismal place, where the slavish Hunger Dogs (low-class citizens) labour endlessly to feed the Energy Pits which supply light and power to the world.

The population is a downtrodden lot, including many kidnapped from other worlds before being 'broken.' The majority of the population are called "Lowlies", a bald and fearful race that has no sense of self-worth or value. The Lowlifes are subject to constant abuse that ends only with death.

There is never a moment where their screams are not heard but today was peculiar for the Planet echoed with the screams of the pain of a woman which was not unusual in the apocalypse but this woman's screams were not from the torture of being wiped no it was a different kind of torture one that only a woman could experience

Childbirth yes in one of the dark and dismal castles that belonged to Darkseid the god and overlord of the planet Apocalypse a beautiful woman was forced to experience the cruel pain of labour she had beautiful long golden hair and a beautiful face that was turned ugly by the pain of labour.

She was told to push by and continued for some time and at last her torment ended. She stopped screaming and lay down in exhaustion as other nursemaids wrapped the baby in cloth and then handed the infant to the new mother who mustered enough strength to sit up enough to try to hold the baby.

"It is a boy," said the nursemaid as she stepped away respectfully The woman looked at her baby boy with love and tears in her eyes she had given birth to a healthy baby boy and she was both frightened and infatuated by fear and love, on one hand, the baby was absolutely beautiful with clear smooth skin and adorable cheeks it slept so innocently and without worry or sin, but on the other, the baby was the son of one of the most if not the vilest and evil creatures in all existence Darkseid.

It was difficult to believe that a child so beautiful could be related to a monster so hideous, but still, the sins of the father are not that of the child after all she was once like the lowly inhabitants of Apokalyps she was lowly.

The Lowlifes are subject to constant abuse that ends only with death. Slightly above them are the Parademons, who serve as the keepers of order on the planet. Higher above the Parademons are the Female Furies, who are Darkseid's guard. (Male Furies also exist, but are less common.) They are blessed with unnatural strength and longevity and are allowed to develop as individuals.

This exposure to new concepts often results in them developing comical or garish personalities that contrast strongly with the immense sadism that is required to reach their position. She had been like this for some time as she rose to the position of A female fury but she eventually changed her view as she got into more and more contact with some new gods from a new genesis

Both Apokolips and New Genesis exist in a different plane of existence they are both located near the Source that originated the Old and New Gods In contrast to the industrial wasteland of Apokolips, New Genesis is covered in lush forests and grasslands filled with abundant flora and wildlife it was home to the mortal enemies of those born on Apokalips but she had been able to befriend someone who helped change her view on life but she was soon found out by The leaders of the Furies Granny Goodness.

"Well well well my dear Mudar, what do you have for granny?

The woman who was reviled to be Murdar was interrupted from her thoughts by the appearance of one of the people she hated most in the universe Granny Goodness who sports the appearance of a matronly old woman while being the most powerful of the guards of Darkseid.

Murdar instantly became alert as she tried to protect her child from the monster before her.

"Now now my dear Murdar doesn't be so worried of Granny, after all, granny was so worried after all childbirth is not easy especially if that child is that of our lord Darkseid.

Murder grit her teeth in rage as she held her child even closer "lier Darkseid doesn't even care about me or this child was it not my punishment to carry this child in the first place?

Oh dearly yes it was but you must understand you were just so valuable that Darkseid didn't want to lose your power by killing you so he in his wisdom thought to bless you with his seed and produce a child that would replace you once you were gone after all you did conspire against your home.

Shut your mouth you old hag!! Murder screamed as she threw the bed at granny Goodness who sighed as she used her metal club to smash the bed away then she proceeded to charge at Murdar about to swing her club down at her but Murdar dodged and landed a fierce kick on Granny and so Granny snapped her fingers as two parademons flew into the room.

Whoosh whoosh they came in like lightning but due to some force, they were forced to the ground by force same for Granny Goodness who began to use much more of her strength to stand "My my Granny always knew your power to control Gravity was great my dear but it seems I should have taught you to not use it on granny!

Granny then slammed her club on the floor causing it to collapse as they fell Murdar used her gravity to gently fall to the ground protecting her child but her biggest problem was now as she was now surrounded by hundreds of Parademons this would not be a problem if she had her armour and weapons and if she were in full health alone she could kill them all she was still exhausted from labour.

Granny smirked Dear Madur just hand over the child and granny promises to make your death painless well as painless as possible hmmm.

Murdar looked at the baby again and she told herself that she wanted the best life for him and that living in the apocalypse was a living hell so she held on tight and readied herself to fight as the parademons then charged at her as she was ready for a fight the baby began to laugh.

she didn't understand how he could laugh in this situation but she spared a glance at the baby noticing his eyes glowing red her face lit up in shock as Two red laser beams shot out of the baby's eyes piercing through the hordes of Parademons and monsters in the castle.

Granny Goodness was just as shocked as she was especially when the laser zig-zagged through the horde and hit her in the shoulder sending her flying she was in pain but she tried to shrug it off and got back upholding but her left arm had lost all feeling even tho she was only grazed by the laser that had already gone through multiple hordes and must have been weakened she had lost all feeling in her arm.

She looked over at a terrified Murdar and the giggling baby that continued to massacre the Hoards that continued to charge them. The baby had inherited Darkseid's omega beams just like Grayven and they were just as powerful and with time he could have enough power to be of great use to Darkseid.

Her face lights up at the thought of pleasing her master with the news of a new powerful warrior that she will train she used her one good arm to pick up her club and charged at Murder using the Parademons and lowly as shields against the baby's beams she finally reached close enough but was struck in the back by a laser that was already fired but came back to defend its master

Granny had felt great pain and torture before but this was too great she could not even get up anymore and the spots she was hit on continued to arche. She laid there in pain as Murdar looked at her child in horror she was no stranger to violence but she had never expected her child to show the same power as Darkseid so soon but she regained he focus and ran out of the now ruined castle but as she was about to live she her Granny Godness get back up she saw her former master in such a pathetic state that she couldn't help but grin as she was about to leave she felt something sharp pierce her abdomen from behind.

She turned her head to see a tall man with black hair covered by a horned helmet and a goatee wearing incredible armour. This was none other than Steppenwolf the Uncle of Darkseid himself.

He pulled out his sword from Murdas abdomen as she fell to the ground but even then she prevented her baby from hitting the ground.

Steppenwolf reached out to grab the infant but Murda tried her best to fight but it was a useless effort since Steppin wolf was just too strong especially in her condition the baby continued to cry and cry as he was stripped from his mother's arms. Granny Goodness then trotted over as she grinned

hehe well done Steppenwolf now hand over that child I must deliver him to lord Darkseid.

Murda began to try to protest and scream but Granny looked at her and slammed her club at her chest causing her to spit out blood

"Silence child Granny is talking"

Steppenwolf began to look at the crying boy who he had just witnessed eliminate hoards of parademons This truly is a son of Darkside he thought and if raised correctly could be as savage and strong as Kaliback but not as stupid.

The child could be as skilled and bloodthirsty as Orion but not held down by Morals

Or as Ambitious and cruel as Greyven but even more loyal

He could very well be the perfect son of Darkseid if he were raised by the perfect guardian, the lord need not bother himself with his children but Steppenwolf would do.

It was then that the steppen wolf was brought out of his thoughts by the screams of Murda who was currently being tortured by Granny goodness as the baby screamed and cried for its mother.

ENOUGH!! he yelled silencing the child and having Granny goodness face him She was about to speak but he continued "I will be presenting the child to Darkseid and I will request that I raise him.

What? nonsense Granny always raises the little ones you can...

"Silence this situation will not be decided by you after all you have proven that your methods are not as effective as we once thought with this ones little rebellion as proof.

Granny was about to continue to torture Murdar but felt herself float into the air and get shot by a powerful laser she then noticed it was the child that had done it in its rage. Steppenwolf grinned "it also seems like the child has no love for you Goodness better he stay with his own family I will be off.

as he was about o head off he felt something pulling his leg, it was Muda and she was in an extremely pitiful state just a foot in the grave.

Please she said as tears fell from her eyes at least let me hold him one last time and give him a name. Steppenwolf looked at her for some time Please she said I'm too weak to even fight back Steppenwolf then nodded his head Fine woman what will it be quick"

Muda hugged Her child tightly for the last time as she kissed his forehead "please be strong please be safe my child please my little "Mal Valtrex"

Mudar then slowly lost all life in her eyes as she died with a faint smile on her face and the baby in her arms, Steppenwolf then grabbed the baby now named Mal-Valtrex from his dead Mother.

Mal-Valtrex huh not bad but hopefully you grow to not be as much a disappointment as your brothers.

And so Steppenwolf took Mal to Darkseid where he was commanded to raise him from that moment onwards.

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