During the time Clark lay dormant within the sun to heal, the Avengers Alliance never ceased to grow stronger. This unrelenting progress kept even the newly emerged extraordinary forces on Earth in check, ensuring they remained cautious.
What Robert didn't know, however, was that the Avengers' full mobilization due to New Earth had left Earth vulnerable, creating an opportunity for long-watching adversaries—not native to Earth, but an alien group that had been eyeing the planet for ages.
With a resonant hum, a portal materialized on a secluded island hidden in a mystical space on Earth. A towering figure, even larger than Hulk, stepped through. The colossal invader scanned the seemingly uninhabited island and exhaled in relief.
"It worked. Reports from the Hell Dimension were right—Robert, the Saiyan, isn't on Earth, and Superman is long dead. This is my best chance to claim the Mother Boxes!" Steppenwolf's resolve grew firmer as he surveyed his surroundings.
Steppenwolf had attempted to seize the Mother Boxes during Clark's time but had retreated, overwhelmed by the sheer pressure exuded by the Kryptonian. The difference in power was insurmountable. Instead, he had chosen to bide his time.
Then came an unexpected boon—Clark, the Kryptonian, fell. On an otherwise primitive planet, Superman's death cry had echoed across the cosmos, announcing his demise. It was a cosmic event Steppenwolf couldn't comprehend but wouldn't question.
However, before Steppenwolf could act, an even more ferocious power emerged on Earth—a Saiyan with energy that far surpassed Clark's. This forced him into prolonged observation, unwilling to take any risks.
When Robert left Earth temporarily, Steppenwolf hesitated, uncertain of the Saiyan's exact whereabouts. But now, his patience had worn thin. The instant he confirmed Robert's absence, he struck.
Cautious as always, Steppenwolf chose not to materialize in Earth's conventional space. Instead, he targeted Themyscira, the hidden paradise that was Diana's homeland. It was the very island Diana had long hoped to show Robert, but the opportunity had never arisen.
"The Amazons are vigilant, I'll give them that. Hiding the Mother Box this deeply... But it's futile. Now that I'm here, no one can stop me." With full confidence in his strength, Steppenwolf marched toward the island's underground vault. He cleaved through the barriers with brute force, invading the sanctuary.
In the palace of Themyscira, Queen Hippolyta, Diana's mother, felt the disturbance immediately. Her expression shifted as she shouted orders to her warriors:
"An intruder has breached the vault! Their target is the Mother Box—assemble immediately!"
Hippolyta led the charge herself, dashing out of the palace. Behind her, the Amazon warriors swiftly mounted their horses, galloping toward the vault with unmatched determination.
The Amazons, while superhumanly strong and resilient, were not gods. They were remnants of Olympus's era, descendants of divine favor but not divinity itself. Their enhanced physiques rivaled Asgardians and surpassed those of super-soldiers, but their essence remained mortal.
While Hippolyta ran ahead with her boundless stamina, her warriors conserved their strength by riding in. Spare mounts accompanied them, allowing Hippolyta to join the mounted ranks mid-route. Together, the Amazon cavalry thundered toward the underground vault, where they spotted the massive intruder attempting to seize the Mother Box.
Rain after rain of arrows flew from the Amazons' bows. With strength comparable to modern energy weapons, their volleys struck true, each arrow hitting its mark on Steppenwolf.
But while the arrows were powerful, they barely scratched him. His metallic skin deflected most, and only Queen Hippolyta's shot caused him to slightly tilt his head.
"Amazons?" Steppenwolf sneered. "Once I unite the Mother Boxes, I'll deal with you later. For now, I have more pressing matters. But let me leave you a little gift."
Gripping the Mother Box, Steppenwolf opened another portal. From it, a swarm of winged Parademons emerged, screeching and swarming toward the Amazons. With the Mother Box in hand, Steppenwolf vanished through the portal.
"Fire!" Hippolyta commanded, her voice steady despite her mounting concern.
The Amazons launched a fresh volley, this time targeting the Parademons. Unlike Steppenwolf, the creatures lacked his imperviousness, falling under the rain of arrows. But the Parademons, unafraid of death, surged forward, intent on dragging the Amazons down with them.
It was a grueling battle. By the time the last Parademon fell, every Amazon bore injuries. Only Hippolyta remained relatively unscathed, but her expression was grim.
"This is only the beginning," Hippolyta murmured, her voice heavy. "Inform Diana of what has happened. Tell her a formidable threat is coming to Earth."
"Yes, my Queen!" an Amazon replied, unfaltering despite her wounds.
As her warriors tended to their injuries, Hippolyta stared into the distant sky, doubt flickering in her eyes.
"The era of gods has long passed," she whispered. "That monster returns now, stronger than ever. Can Earth withstand him this time? Even at our peak, in the age of gods, victory was hard-won. What hope do we have now?"
Far away in the Louvre, Diana suddenly felt a shift in the air. Her brows furrowed as she stepped outside and took to the skies. In the moonlight, she received the Amazon's urgent message.
"Mother Box? Parademons? Darkseid?" Diana's eyes burned with anger as she processed the news. If the Amazons hadn't reported no casualties, her fury would have been even greater.
"Robert isn't on Earth? Kara's gone too? Even most of the Avengers are off-world?" Diana sighed. "No matter. I'll head to Atlantis. I can't let that creature claim the second Mother Box!"
Looking toward the Avengers' base, Diana's determination hardened. The Mother Box in question, unbeknownst to her, was already in Victor Stone's possession, being studied by his father, Silas Stone. Both had joined the Avengers after its discovery.
The three Mother Boxes had a storied history. Diana had learned from her people that they were once spoils of war, claimed during Earth's golden age of gods.
In those days, Darkseid had led an invasion of Earth, searching for some mysterious artifact. Though many of the planet's gods treated Earth as their pasture, none could tolerate an outsider like Darkseid wreaking havoc.
The gods united, even enlisting Green Lanterns, to repel Darkseid's forces. The climactic battle saw Ares, the God of War, reach unparalleled heights, critically wounding Darkseid and securing victory.
The Mother Boxes were taken as trophies but couldn't be destroyed. Instead, they were entrusted to three factions: the Amazons of Themyscira, the Atlanteans under the sea, and a human kingdom of the western continent. Each Box was hidden far from the others to prevent their unification.
In Atlantis, a secret chamber housed the second Mother Box. A portal opened, and Steppenwolf entered. The underwater environment posed no challenge to him as he strode toward the vault, ready to break its seals.
"Stop! Or I'll shoot!" a guard shouted, raising his weapon as he spotted the intruder.
Steppenwolf ignored the warning, prompting the guard to fire.
The Atlantean weapon, a high-powered underwater energy cannon, hit its mark, causing Steppenwolf to briefly flinch—on par with the best efforts of Hippolyta's arrows. But it only angered him further.
With a flash of his massive axe, Steppenwolf unleashed a devastating energy wave, cutting the guard in two with brutal precision.
As alarms blared throughout Atlantis, Steppenwolf smashed through the vault's seals. The chamber trembled as the Mother Box fell free, landing on the seabed.
In the Atlantean royal palace, Mera heard the alarms and her face hardened. Transforming into a surge of water, she sped toward the scene.
The battle for Earth's future was escalating.
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