A silver pillar of light descended.
Inside the pillar, Steppenwolf landed on the ground, clutching his severed arm.
"No! No!"
"Damn it!"
"I was that close!"
"Just a little bit more!"
He shouted and roared, then finally began breathing heavily.
Looking at the hand that had been cut off, Steppenwolf snorted. Then flesh and blood began growing from the stump. A moment later, a new arm had formed.
The silver spiked armor on his body immediately spread over it, wrapping around the new arm in the blink of an eye.
Steppenwolf was fully restored.
This was one of the abilities granted to him after being modified by the Mother Box. It was not flesh regeneration, but the alteration of particle states.
It could not bring the dead back to life, but regenerating limbs or even organs was extremely easy.
At this time, the metal pillar embedded with two Mother Boxes gave off sparks and began to change. The metal turned into streams of liquid, quickly outlining a figure.
DeSaad. The hooded subordinate of the dark ruler Darkseid spoke, "Steppenwolf, tell me you have already collected all three Mother Boxes."
Steppenwolf hesitated for a moment, then still knelt down. However, instead of kneeling on both knees as before, he now knelt on one knee.
"Please inform the great ruler that I only need one more Mother Box before I can begin the Trinity."
DeSaad's voice was low, "Steppenwolf, he is already losing patience!"
"How long has it been, and you've only collected two Mother Boxes?"
"This progress is far too slow."
"You should understand that if you want to redeem yourself, you must prove your value."
"He has already started doubting your ability."
Steppenwolf slowly clenched his hand and raised his head.
"DeSaad, please inform the great ruler that I have found the 'Lost World,' the world that contains the Anti-Life Equation."
"What!"
DeSaad was shocked.
"Steppenwolf, do you know what you're saying?"
Steppenwolf nodded, "Of course I do."
"Are you certain you've truly found that 'Lost World'?"
"You should know how terrible the consequences will be if you waste his time," DeSaad warned.
Steppenwolf said loudly, "I take responsibility for every word I say. I have indeed found that 'Lost World.'"
"Very well."
DeSaad said, "Wait a moment."
His image quickly disappeared, returning to the metal pillar.
After a short while, the metal pillar changed again, outlining a figure filled with pressure.
The supreme ruler of Apokolips, Darkseid.
The moment he saw that figure, Steppenwolf's entire body shook. He immediately dropped to both knees. The spiked armor on his body retracted, and he removed his helmet to show respect for Darkseid.
Pressing his head to the ground, he said in a trembling voice, "Master of Apokolips, supreme ruler, lord of darkness, honored Darkseid."
"Your most loyal servant, Steppenwolf, awaits your command."
Darkseid spoke, "Steppenwolf, you've found that 'Lost World'?"
His voice was like the wind of winter, vast and icy, enough to send chills through anyone.
Steppenwolf raised his head, "Yes, Darkseid."
"I have found that 'Lost World.' The world you once spoke of, the one containing the Anti-Life Equation, is here, on the planet where I stand."
At once, deep red flames ignited in Darkseid's eyes. Destruction radiated from them, "Are you certain?"
Steppenwolf spread his hands, "I am certain, great ruler."
"The Mother Boxes told me. There can be no mistake."
Darkseid fell silent for a moment before speakin, "Very good, Steppenwolf."
"Collect the Mother Boxes immediately. Let them become one and release the Unity."
"Once this planet has been cleansed by the fire of purification, I will personally set foot on this world and claim my prize!"
Steppenwolf's whole body shook, "You intend to come to this primitive planet yourself?"
"Of course."
Darkseid raised a hand and made a grasping motion.
"When that time comes, this planet will join the others and become part of my domain!"
Unable to hide his excitement, Steppenwolf said, "How fortunate this planet is to receive my lord's favor."
After a pause, he continued, "However, great ruler."
"This planet still has protectors."
"Not long ago, I fought them."
"Among them are two particularly powerful humans."
"The strength of those two humans is comparable to Kryptonians."
Darkseid paused before saying, "Comparable to Kryptonians? Impossible. This is a primitive planet. Such powerful beings should not exist there."
Steppenwolf tapped the spiked armor on the ground.
A silver spider crawled out from it.
It projected beams of light that formed images.
The images showed the battle that had taken place in Gotham City earlier.
Among them, Alex and Vera appeared the most, allowing Darkseid to witness the entire battle as if he had been there himself.
After watching everything, Darkseid fell silent.
Steppenwolf said in a deep voice, "Please rest assured, Darkseid."
"Although they are powerful, I have also completed my transformation through the Mother Box."
"Give me a little more time, and I will definitely take the third Mother Box from them."
"But I don't want to wait any longer."
Darkseid's voice sounded again.
"I will send you reinforcements and give you the power to oppose any formidable enemy."
"But you must collect all three Mother Boxes as soon as possible and release the Unity!"
Steppenwolf carefully hid the joy in his eyes.
The reason he had revealed the Anti-Life Equation was to gain Darkseid's support.
As for whether he would actually hand the Anti-Life Equation over to Darkseid after finding it, that was for him alone to decide.
Soon after, Darkseid's figure disappeared.
A moment later, a portal opened.
Beyond the portal stood a grand hall filled with an army of Parademons.
They covered the area as far as the eye could see.
At that moment, the Parademons split apart on both sides, and a tall figure walked toward the portal.
She was a woman wearing armor, carrying a cloak behind her, and holding a war staff.
But she was no longer young.
Her hair was completely white, and her gaze was cold as she stepped through the portal.
———
"Have you found the Mother Box yet?"
Vera looked impatiently at Victor.
A three-dimensional model of Earth appeared in front of the young Black man. He nodded, "I found it. Northern Russia, Pozharnov."
"It's a nuclear power plant. There was an accident there thirty years ago."
Bruce stood up and said, "It'll take quite a while to fly there. My aircraft will need about seven hours."
"Fortunately, Steppenwolf still hasn't obtained all three Mother Boxes, so we still have time."