Kapitel 10: Chapter 10 - The Welcome - Part 1 (Updated)

"We need to end this - now!" Superman's voice cut through the chaos of battle. The Justice League had been pushed to their limits fighting the Apokolips battalion, but a crucial opening had finally emerged. The alien's earlier intervention had weakened their primary target, and they couldn't waste this opportunity.

"Form up on my position," Superman commanded, his eyes blazing with determination. Wonder Woman, the Princess of Themyscira, took her place beside him, her sword at the ready. Aquaman gripped his trident, while Cyborg's systems recalibrated for the coming assault.

"Steppenwolf's reaction speed has lowered," Cyborg reported, his scanners analyzing their opponent. "Whatever that alien did, it's slowing the reaction speed of all hostiles. We need to strike now!"

"Then let's not waste this chance," Wonder Woman declared, her voice carrying the authority of centuries of combat experience. "Cyborg, lead with suppressing fire. Arthur, you're next."

The attack unfolded with precision. Cyborg unleashed a concentrated blast from his arm cannon, striking Steppenwolf squarely in the chest. The impact sent their adversary staggering backward, his usually fluid movements now clumsy and uncoordinated.

"My turn!" Aquaman shouted, seizing the moment. He launched himself forward with explosive force, his trident scraping the ground as he executed a powerful kick that sent Steppenwolf airborne.

"Clark, now!" Wonder Woman called out, readying her blade. Superman intercepted Steppenwolf mid-flight, muscles straining as he redirected the enemy's momentum.

"He's all yours, Diana!" Superman's voice boomed as he hurled Steppenwolf toward Wonder Woman. She stood unflinching, her eyes locked on her target. With one fluid motion, she brought her blade down, cleaving through Steppenwolf's armor and flesh, splitting him in two.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Justice League coordinated their own assault against the remaining Apokolips forces. "Hal, John - contain their left flank!" Batman's tactical commands rang out. "Hawks, provide air support! Barry, run interference!"

Green Lantern's constructs trailed across the battlefield as Hawkman and Hawkgirl dove from above, their nth metal weapons finding their marks with devastating accuracy. The Flash became a crimson blur, disrupting enemy formations and creating openings for his teammates to exploit.

When the dust finally settled, victory was theirs. The battlefield fell silent, save for the distant echoes of combat. They had won not through individual might alone, but through trust, coordination, and unwavering determination.

With their victory secured, the heroes turned their attention to the mysterious figure who had aided them. The atmosphere remained tense - this was no time for celebration. Every warrior maintained their guard, muscles coiled and ready.

Diana's instincts had been warning her about the alien's presence since his arrival. An otherworldly aura emanated from him, unlike anything she'd encountered in her centuries of existence. The question weighed heavily on everyone's mind, was he an ally or enemy? Though her divine essence suggested the former, experience had taught her to remain cautious.

The alien's most striking feature was a peculiar tail that moved with surprising animation, wrapping around his waist like a living belt. Its almost playful movements contrasted sharply with the being's stoic demeanor. The heroes maintained their positions, studying their visitor under the pale moonlight.

Green Lantern stepped forward, his vast experience with extraterrestrial diplomacy making him the natural choice. Despite encountering countless species across the universe, this being matched no known race in the Corps' extensive database. Still, he approached with measured confidence.

"Greetings buddy! I am Hal Jordan of the Green Lantern Corps," he announced formally, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "We protect this sector of space and maintain peace throughout the universe. We appreciate your assistance, but we need to know who you are and why you've come to Earth."

Silence. The alien remained motionless, seemingly transfixed by the moon above, enjoying the moonlight. Hal waited, then tried again, his tone firmer. "As this sector's protector, I must insist you identify yourself and state your purpose here."

The continued silence set everyone on edge. Superman and Batman exchanged glances, while Cyborg's systems began emitting unusual signals. His cybernetic components whirred and sparked, as if reacting to some unseen force.

Hal's patience wore thin. Pride wounded by the apparent dismissal, he manifested a massive green construct in the shape of a fist. The emerald light cast eerie shadows across the landscape.

"Last warning," he declared, authority hardening his voice. "Respond, or I'll be forced to take action."

However he was once more ignored. "You brought this on yourself!" he snapped, frustration edging his voice. With a sharp gesture, he launched the glowing fist toward the alien, determined to provoke a response.

"HAL, STOP!" Cyborg's desperate cry came too late, his mechanical systems warning and screeching in protest. "HE IS DANGEROUS!"

Just then as Hal was about to reach the alien, the world warped. Reality itself seemed to bend and twist as an overwhelming pressure descended upon them. Even Superman, with all his incredible strength, crashed to his knees. Hawkman and Hawkgirl, despite their aerial advantage, were forced to the ground. The pressure was absolute, inescapable - a fundamental force that brooked no resistance.

Diana, drawing upon her divine heritage, managed to remain partially upright. But what she witnessed next froze the immortal blood in her veins. Hal Jordan knelt before the alien, his right arm cleanly severed at the shoulder. The wound had been cauterized instantly, but blood still seeped through his uniform. To them it still appeared like the alien hadn't moved a muscle but, Hal's missing arm was now in the alien's grasp.

Fear - pure, primal fear - gripped Diana's heart for the first time in centuries. This wasn't just another powerful being. This was something far beyond their understanding, and they had gravely miscalculated. As her heart thumped in her chest, one thought crystallized with terrifying clarity, they were hopelessly unprepared for what was to come.