| Apokolips – October 1

Some time after returning from her battle with Nova, Grail knelt before her father's throne, Desaad's burnt corpse lying between them.

The sheer pressure radiating from Darkseid was suffocating—enough to crush any lesser being.

"My psionic link to Desaad was severed," Darkseid said, his voice calm yet absolute. "I opened a boom tube to his location and found his mangled body. Explain."

Desaad had endured centuries of torture, death, and resurrection under Darkseid's hand. Though Omega Beams could obliterate or revive at his will, Darkseid always brought Desaad back—claiming each time it would be the last. This time, however, Desaad hadn't been killed by Darkseid's power, and thus, he was gone for good.

Grail felt the air grow heavier. Lying was pointless—he would know.

"It was my error," she admitted. "Desaad and I sought to enslave Infinity-Man, but a variable—Nova—appeared. He matched my strength, resisted my Omega Beams… and killed Desaad."

"Disappointing," Darkseid said. "You cost me a loyal servant and failed to control my uncle or reclaim our technology. You should have come to me first."

Grail lowered her head, gritting her teeth in anger. "It's inexcusable. But Nova caught me off guard. Next time he won't be so lucky. Let me lead an army of Parademons to Earth and bring you his head."

"Who said there will be a next time?" Darkseid replied. "Millennia ago, I struck a deal with Vandal Savage—then known as Genghis Khan—of the Light. I saw potential in the meta-abilities of his sons. Your defeat proves I was right.

One day, their descendants will conquer the stars as we do, and when the rest have fallen, Apokolips and Earth will meet in battle. Weak though they are now, I am a man of my word. You were never part of that plan. Stay here and reflect on your failure."

He turned his head, dismissing her.

Everything had gone wrong. What was meant to win her father's favor so she could have an easier time enacting her own goal had cost her dearly.

"Nova used a healing power linked to the Source and was able to open boom tubes at will," Grail added quickly. "I sensed a trace of a Fatherbox within him. He may be the key to what you seek. If you desire vengeance, send me."

Darkseid paused. "Interesting. If he killed Desaad, he should have inherited my servant's mantle. Perhaps I shall meet him one day—and offer him the privilege of serving me. But until I decide, you will act only under my command. You are dismissed. I will decide on a suitable punishment later."

Swallowing her frustration, Grail stood and left. Perhaps watching her "brother" Scott suffer in the X-Pit would lighten her mood.

**

| Venus – October 1

Joseph floated cross-legged, suspended by telekinesis, as Nova processed calculations. He had remained on Venus—a perfect place to meditate, in Joseph's mind.

The air reeked of sulfur and acid, like rotten eggs mixed with garlic and decay. It was revolting—and therefore ideal for meditating and training mindfulness through discomfort.

Minutes later, Nova's voice echoed in his mind.

//Complete. I have isolated the problem and am ready to apply the solution.//

Joseph exhaled, his meditative calm evaporating as Venus' stench returned in full force.

'Why was my body breaking down? Did I absorb Desaad's godhood? Am I becoming the God of Torture?'

The thought made his stomach twist. His mind replayed moments from their battle during his meditation—how he had taken pleasure in Desaad's suffering, how his pulse had quickened as energy tore through the torturer's flesh. That rush of satisfaction disturbed him.

//That was not Desaad's influence,// Nova replied. //Those were your thoughts. You have always harbored such impulses. You simply repressed them.//

'You're saying I enjoyed it on my own?'

//Correct.//

Joseph frowned but didn't argue. From his actions over the past year, it was true that he harbored darker tendencies.

//Your bloodstream is infused with Nth metal, and a thin layer shields your brain. It renders you immune to all external magical influence. I monitor your psyche constantly—there are no abnormalities.//

'Then what caused it?'

//The Source. The energy of the Source was never meant to flow through mortals. The New Gods can wield it only because their biology and spirits are mutated—woven from the very fabric of the Source itself. You are not. When you drew too much of it to counter Grail's Omega Beams and open several boom tubes, your body began to unravel.//

'So the solution is to mutate my genes—to become like a New God?'

//In essence, yes. I have already analyzed Desaad's genome and identified the sequences linked to Source conductivity. I can replicate and improve upon them, merging them with your Amazonian heritage. Those genes, already adapted to divine magic, can be modified to mimic New God structure.//

'Will I still be human after that?'

//You will always be human—just more.//

Joseph smiled faintly. 'And side effects?'

//Minor enhancements to your base strength, durability, and reaction speed compared to what you already possess. As well as a potential increase in your sensitivity to magic. In essence, you will become an average New God without a domain.//

Joseph sighed. In the past week alone, his powers had surged to new heights—and still they grew. It should have frightened or excited him, but he knew there were entire races of beings like who could possibly dwarf even his potential. Who knew what other crouching tigers and hidden dragons existed.

'Do it,' Joseph said.

A cocoon of golden Nth metal enveloped him, sealing him in light.

**

| Apokolips – October 1

Darkseid sat on his throne, thinking. Perhaps he had spoiled Grail, letting her run unchecked simply because she wielded the Omega Force better than any of his other offspring. Kalibak and Grayven, while possessing less potential, never showed such defiance.

Still, she was young—not even a century old.

Losing Desaad was regrettable but manageable. He had other capable servants to fill in for Desaad, such as Virman Vundabar.

As for Nova, Darkseid would have Granny Goodness investigate if the hero was truly the key to what he was looking for. So he would not expose the murder of Desaad to the Light yet.

His Fatherbox pinged—an incoming transmission. He accepted.

Highfather's stern visage appeared in holographic light. "You are aware of what your daughter did, I presume? What is the meaning of this? Are you trying to break our truce?"

"That was merely children's quarreling," Darkseid said. "I was unaware, but rest assured—Grail will be punished."

Highfather's eyes narrowed. "Regardless, I'm informing you that New Genesis has allied with Earth's Justice League. The planet is now off-limits. Consider this your only warning." The transmission cut off.

Darkseid frowned. Such insolence would be answered—in time. And time was something he had in abundance.

**

| Supertown – October 1

Highfather Izaya the Inheritor leaned back in satisfaction as Darkseid's projection faded.

Darkseid had lost a servant and his opportunity to retrieve his tech, yet he had been the one to be reprimanded. How fitting.

The Highfather wasn't surprised when the Forever People reported that the Earth hero "Nova" had killed while they were acting as Infinity-Man. What surprised him was that the Justice League clung to their fragile "no-kill" rule while claiming to protect their world.

Naïve. War would teach them otherwise. Still, he was relieved that not all of Earth's champions were so idealistic.

What intrigued him most was Nova's ability to open boom tubes unaided. Perhaps some New God had once visited Earth and sired a child. It wouldn't be the first time such a thing had happened—though it was forbidden.

Across the table, Orion sat stiffly, his jaw tight. Highfather studied him.

"You did well, my son. What troubles you?"

"I lost control again," Orion admitted. "When I felt Grail's Omega Beams—all I felt was rage. His rage."

Orion, son of Darkseid and Tigra, had been traded to Highfather as part of the peace treaty between Apokolips and New Genesis—while Highfather's own son, Scott Free, was sent in exchange.

Highfather knew Orion wrestled with his father's darkness every day. He had spent centuries teaching him to master it, aided by the Mother Box that tempered his fury. Orion had become the fiercest warrior of New Genesis—sometimes unstable, but noble.

Highfather nodded solemnly. "And yet, you are not him."

Highmother Avia placed a comforting hand on Orion's shoulder. "No, you never will be, my son."