Fall of the Gods

Superman, standing behind Soren, silently watched the trembling Angemon.

His gaze shifted between Sinestro and Soren, briefly lingering on the Hargreaves couple in the cage, his expression unreadable.

The sun god's azure eyes were cold and unfeeling.

He did not utter a single word, but it was enough for everyone present to realize who held the ultimate authority here.

— It was not Sinestro, but him.

With just a word from him, Sinestro would effortlessly take the lives of this human couple at his command.

He watched as Angemon dropped its sword and shield and slowly knelt before him.

"Please… Clark, let my parents go."

For the first time, Soren was so submissive and docile before him.

Superman looked at him with a blank expression.

He felt displeased by Sinestro's overreach but was satisfied by Soren's submission.

This Soren, who always defied him, who always chose to oppose him, who always aimed its sword at him… this beloved being, his one true love in life, was finally bowing down to him in complete surrender.

The seven torn wings drooped obediently behind him, like a large expanse of loose white curtains.

His long neck bent downward, and his proud knees folded in submission.

"Soren! Don't do this!"

Charlie Hargreaves roared from within the cage, his voice desperate and filled with anguish.

A father who deeply loved his son, his pride could not tolerate his son enduring such humiliation for his sake.

He slammed against the bars with even more force, trying to break the fear-wrought cage, and indeed, the yellow prison cage shook loudly.

Soren, stunned, glanced back at him and then at Superman.

Superman extended his open hand toward him.

"Come here, Soren."

Angemon's body shifted slightly.

He was heartbroken and terrified, fearing that any wrong move would endanger Charlie and Renee.

He could not defy Superman's words, so he rose, step by step, and moved towards Superman.

Magna Angemon's armor fell from him like leaves in an autumn wind, disintegrating into intangible digital streams and vanishing into the sea breeze with each of his steps.

He shed his armor, revealing the tear-streaked face of the black-haired youth beneath the radiant light.

His eyes were filled with hot tears, almost making Superman feel a pang of sympathy.

Superman's heart softened for a moment, but quickly, that unwarranted softness was wiped away by himself.

His face remained cold and emotionless.

Charlie beat desperately against the bars, his palms turning red, "Don't go, Soren, don't do it!"

Meanwhile, not far away, the severely injured Captain America and Thor exchanged glances.

They realized this was their last chance—Superman's back was to them, and if they were fast enough, they could launch a counterattack against him.

Thor silently opened his hand, recalling the Stormbreaker to his grasp.

Captain America raised his arm and swung the Mjölnir.

The axe and the hammer collided, summoning the mightiest divine punishment lightning from the Nine Realms.

A colossal thunderbolt, as thick as the World Trade Center towers, descended from the sky like a blue-white, glowing dragon, roaring and striking towards Superman!

The thunder roared, and the earth shook.

The divine punishment thunder cleaved through the clouds and struck Superman with a deafening explosion.

The lightning instantly knocked him from the sky, and Superman was washed straight into the sea, creating massive, white, crashing waves.

For a brief moment, the battlefield of the gods fell into an eerie silence.

But then, the God of Man burst out of the water and soared into the clouds.

At the top of this celestial vault, he faced away from the brilliant sunlight.

The young and vigorous rays of the yellow sun were automatically absorbed and converted into his energy.

Every wound on his body began to heal, and every muscle tightened.

— This Apollo, favored by the sun, looked down from the sky at all those on the sea.

How dare they offend his divine might?

How dare they challenge his authority, time and time again?

The God of Man's eyes turned blood-red, and he unleashed a divine roar.

The heat vision's beams scorched the earth, burning fiercely on the sea's surface.

Thor charged forward, swinging the Stormbreaker at Superman.

Superman caught the axe barehanded, his palm sliced open by the sharp edge.

With a retaliatory swing, he used his freezing breath to ice the Stormbreaker, then clasped his hands to forcibly break the axe handle, hurling Thor away!

Thor crashed into a trench on the launch platform, and Superman advanced, raising his fist high and raining blows on Thor's face like a downpour.

Thor's forehead, brow, and cheekbones were shattered by Superman's blows, blood streaming down his face as he roared in pain and kneed Superman.

Yet, Superman's iron-clad body remained as immovable as a mountain.

He grasped Thor by the neck and lifted him up, only for his wrist to be struck by a flying shield.

The vibranium of the shield collided with the Kryptonian's hardened bones, loosening Superman's grip and causing him to drop Thor.

Superman turned his fierce gaze toward the shield's owner, his white cape billowing behind him.

Captain America, Steve Rogers, stepped forward, wielding the shield and Mjölnir, preparing for a decisive battle with Superman.

Mjölnir struck Captain America's shield, calling down a storm of thunder.

Lightning cracked against Superman's body, igniting star-like sparks on his suit.

The Kryptonian uniform, which could withstand atmospheric reentry temperatures, was now scorched, revealing Superman's sculpted physique.

They exchanged blows, with Superman almost bare-chested, delivering punch after punch to Captain America's shield.

Steve held his shield firm against Superman's attacks, his heels deeply embedded in the ground, leaving countless cracks on the surface.

— Steve Rogers, an ordinary man with super-soldier serum, stood shoulder to shoulder with the gods.

The shield buzzed incessantly as Superman saw Steve Rogers block his attack with the shield.

With a powerful grip on either side of the shield, Superman's biceps bulged as he exerted his strength, tearing the vibranium shield in half!

Steve, holding the damaged shield, with blood smeared across his face, stared directly at Superman.