CHAPTER 188

In the moonlight shown across the battleground, the debris of the epic clash scattered around them, Ace faced Darkseid with an air of casual confidence, a stark contrast to the chaos that ensued. Batman, still catching his breath, observed the unfolding confrontation.

"Sorry man, but I've grown quite bored of you sending the heroes to the medbay," Ace remarked with a nonchalant grin beneath his mask, taking purposeful steps toward the imposing figure of Darkseid.

Batman, acknowledging the unexpected assistance, spoke up, "I don't know what you're doing here, but thanks."

"Don't sweat it," Ace replied without breaking his stride, turning his attention back to the cosmic tyrant who now focused on unraveling the mystery behind Ace's ability to negate the Omega beams.

"Hey ugly, you've done quite a lot of destruction to this city. I wouldn't want to imagine what you would do to this world if you were to gain control," Ace said, his tone laced with a mix of disdain and determination.

"Do not concern yourself with what I have done. Rather tremble at what I am about to do," Darkseid responded, his voice resonating with an ominous weight as he observed Ace's bold approach.

"This is the end of the road for you, buddy. I've been itching to smack that ugly face of yours," Ace taunted, creating a diversion to allow Batman a moment to find cover and tend to his injuries.

"Seeing how you dispersed my Omega beams, you clearly aren't an ordinary human. But the result is inevitable; at the end of all this, you'll beg for your life, and I will show you no mercy," Darkseid declared, his arrogance undeterred.

"Try me," Ace retorted defiantly, his words punctuated by a sudden dash toward Darkseid, signaling the beginning of a showdown that would determine the fate of not just the city of Metropolis, but the entire world.

… 

[Back at Gotham City] 

Red Hood ran along a building top as he shot at a parademon with his twin pistols in hand. He leaped off the ledge and onto the back of another, placed his pistol on its neck and fired shots into it as it descended. 

He jumped off it and rolled over as he made contact with the ground, while it crashed behind him. Batgirl was also at the scene, taking down one parademon after another. 

As they fought, they slowly closed in near each other as Batgirl found it to be a good opportunity to try reconnecting with him. 

"I know you've been through a lot and can't even imagine what it must have been like for you. I'm happy that you're alive but pissed that you couldn't even say hi." Batgirl said as she struck a parademon with her escrima stikes. 

"We don't have time for this right now." He replied before making a dive to avoid a Parademon, turned around and shot it dead. 

"No better time than the present." She replied as she continued with her fight, weaving her way through the midst of the parademons as she took them down one after another. 

"What should I have said?" Red Hood asked as he continued with his series of assaults. 

"Anything would be fine." She replied, using an acrobatic move to take down a parademon. 

"Hi Barbara, I rose from the dead and have now turned into a rogue vigilante since Bruce wouldn't go to the necessary lengths required in order to clean up Gotham." He sarcastically replied, not paying mind to the gravity of the conversation. 

She ignored him and dived into his arms, giving him a tight hug. "I missed you." She whispered with a teary voice. 

He was hesitant at first but gently placed his arm around her as he hugged her back. "I missed you too but I'm afraid I am not the same Jason you used to know." He muttered. 

"It doesn't matter, so long as you're alive." She replied. 

"If we don't want to be alien food, I suggest we continue dealing with these guys." He said as he quickly shot two down while they approached from behind, then unwrapped his hand around her.. 

"True." She replied before unwrapping her hands around him and leaped back into the fight with a flip as she struck the head of a parademon, then threw exploding batarangs at its neck and shoulder blades. 

… 

Opening his eyes, Superman was faced with a blurred vision of Batman who looked ahead. The ground shook with intense vibrations as he rose into a sitting position and his arm grabbing onto his chest. 

"You're up." Batman said, only giving him a glance as he continued gazing at the ferocious battle which took place in a distance. 

"What's going on?" Superman asked, looking around and wondering the cause of the quakes. "What happened with Darkseid?" He asked as he looked in the direction Batman had his gaze on, only to see Ace battling Darkseid by himself. 

"We should go help him." Superman said, standing to his feet. 

"No, we'll only be getting in his way." Batman said, not looking away even for a second. 

Superman observed the fight for a while and his eyes widened. "Wait, is he taking on Darkseid's blows like it's nothing?" Superman asked in complete surprise as he watched Darkseid launch a series of super fast assaults on Ace but he only drifted backwards from a powerful blow dealt by Darkseid, something that would have sent Superman flying through the air on impact.

He watched as Ace's punch lifted Darkseid off the ground and how much Darkseid reacted to the impact from his blows. "Just what is his power anyway?" Superman asked Batman who just kept watching as Ace blocked Darkseid's punch with one arm and shockwaves reverberated around the air due to the impact. 

"I don't know, but it's unlike anything we've ever seen." Batman replied before reaching for his coms to contact NightWing. "I'll leave Darkseid to him for now, I need to go help anyone who's still caught up in this mess." Superman said before flying off to go help reduce casualty. From the way they were fighting, the whole city would become their wrestling ring. 

Ace followed his block with an uppercut which sent Darkseid off his feet, then he leaped into the air directly above Darkseid, landing a solid blow against Darkseid's chest armor. 

The impact from Darkseid's back against the ground resulted in a massive crater around him, he looked at Ace with curiosity in his eyes as he mused at Ace's power. 

He slowly flew off the ground staring down upon Ace who took a nonchalant stance as he remained in one spot and with one hand in his pocket.  

Suddenly Ace flickered and disappeared out of sight, reappearing behind Darkseid. "Peekaboo!!" He exclaimed and Darkseid turned around with a hefty fist ready to plunge into Ace's face. 

His deflective field was barely above his skin and he blocked Darkseid's blow with his left hand, hitting the other to the side as Darkseid made an attempt to finish the job with it. 

In that moment he flew in and gave Darkseid a headbutt before kicking him on the side of his rib cage, sending him into a far distance and crashing through different buildings as he tried to regain his balance. 

*BOOM… BOOM…BOOM…!!!*

"What is that?" Beast Boy asked as the destructive sound resonated through the air and the ground vibrated upon each sound. 

"It's coming from over there." Raven said as she pointed in the distance. 

StarFire blasted a parademon as she yelled out to Raven. "What is it?" 

Nightwing and Superboy continued fighting off the parademons as they awaited Raven's response. She focused on the beings responsible for the collisions and she sensed both of their minds. 

One was so strong that she needed to get closer if she was to peep into their mind, while the other was so familiar, it was impossible to peep through but she didn't need to. A subtle smile appeared on her lips as she recognized her boyfriend's strange mind and soul. 

"It's Darkseid and…" She was cut off as Darkseid burst through one last building and into the perimeter where they were having their stand offs with the parademons. 

"Darkseid!!!" They all exclaimed before noticing Ace right in front of him as he sent Darkseid crashing into their midst. 

They immediately took cover, unsure of what was happening or how to react in that situation. 

Darkseid got on his feet pissed off and angry with how one sided their fight was. None of his attacks was effective and Ace was invulnerable to brute strength, something even the Man of Steel at least felt. 

"Isn't that Ace?" StarFire asked as they looked up to see Ace was the one fighting against Darkseid, before continuing to fend off the parademons. 

Ace descended to the ground as he faced Darkseid who immediately dashed in on him, grunting as he unleashed one hefty blow after another, left hook, right hook, and a solid kick. But only pushed Ace back as his feets dragged along the ground. 

Darkseid grit his teeth as he eyes glowed ominously, then shot Ace with his Omega beams. Ace didn't move an inch but dropped both hands like there was nothing he could do about them at such close range. 

"No…!!!" Raven yelled as she tried using her powers to protect him but it was too late, or so they thought. 

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