Chapitre 269: Chapter 269: The Ever Arrogant Darkseid
"As long as you follow my orders, you'll get what you want."
Darkseid sat imperiously on his obsidian throne, his gray, cracked lips parting as his booming voice reverberated across the surface of the neutron star.
He saw no issue in making such a statement, his condescending tone carrying an air of benevolence, as if granting a favor. The implication was clear: it was an honor for them to serve under Darkseid's command.
"·····"
Hades, his face hidden beneath the hood of his reaper's cloak, remained silent.
Darkseid had ruled this universe with an iron fist for so long that he no longer knew how to cooperate with others. His absolute dominance had left him seeing everyone else as mere chattel to be slaughtered at his whim.
Hades was aware that Darkseid looked down on him, which was why he had aligned with H'el, who shared similar interests. But he hadn't expected Darkseid's arrogance to be this extreme.
If Darkseid were truly that powerful, he would have attacked Oa with Apokolips alone, without needing Steppenwolf to drag Hades into this alliance.
In reality, Darkseid just wanted some expendable pawns to break open Oa.
Darkseid's notorious reputation across the universe meant no one wanted to genuinely help him. He resorted to using Apokolips to invade one inhabited planet after another, plundering their populations to build his vast parademon army.
But against Oa, this approach was useless. Apokolips alone couldn't hope to challenge the Guardians of the Universe, creators of the Green Lantern Corps.
While a single Guardian or even a few couldn't defeat Darkseid, he didn't dare launch a large-scale invasion because the exact number of Guardians was unknown. Individually, they might not overpower him, but they could seal him away.
If sealed, Darkseid would be finished. So, despite his formidable strength, he needed allies of comparable power to spread out the Guardians' defenses.
"?"
H'el looked at Hades with a questioning expression.
His face seemed to say, "Is this the kind of lunatic you brought to this meeting?" The disdain and skepticism in H'el's expression were evident to anyone.
Steppenwolf's breathing grew heavier, and he tightened his grip on his axe, his eyes narrowing.
Darkseid, unaccustomed to such blatant disrespect, let his cracked, stoic face harden further, his eyes glowing red with a dangerous light.
The threat of violence was palpable, making everyone uneasy.
"If you just want some cannon fodder, Darkseid, then there's no point in discussing cooperation."
Hades spoke without hesitation:
"Everyone knows of your brutal reputation in the universe. No one else would willingly ally with you. We're here because of mutual interests. If this doesn't work out, there won't be another chance."
"We only have this one opportunity."
"Or perhaps next time, we'll be enemies. I represent the Olympus Pantheon, allied with the Guardians of the Universe, alongside Athena."
Hades reminded them.
If this cooperation failed, there was a high likelihood of becoming enemies in the future.
Once Oa was attacked to a certain extent, the Olympus Pantheon would have to intervene. Then, the question of whether Apokolips could still conquer Oa would arise.
The Guardians of the Universe were already formidable adversaries, with control over virtually all resources in the universe, the most advanced technological civilizations, and the mightiest military force—the Green Lantern Corps.
Now, add to that the twelve Olympian gods, and it was nearly impossible for Apokolips to conquer Oa.
That's why Darkseid ordered Steppenwolf to recruit manpower throughout the universe. Even after preparing for so many years, Darkseid couldn't conquer Oa alone with his forces.
Darkseid felt a surge of brutality within him, his gray, cracked face resembling a volcano on the verge of eruption.
If only he had the full power of his true form or the Anti-Life Equation, he wouldn't need to cooperate with these trash.
Cooperate?
When did such a submissive word appear in Darkseid's vocabulary?
But at this moment, Darkseid suppressed his fiery anger.
Hades was right. Apokolips couldn't afford to provoke any new enemies, especially not the Emperor of New Krypton, who was not much weaker than Darkseid himself. Once he sided with the Guardians of the Universe, things would become even more difficult.
There was only this one chance, here at this fractured round table.
'When I lay waste to this universe, it will be when you insects beg at my feet, groveling in utter humiliation!'
"How can you guarantee that my plan won't be leaked?"
Darkseid's gaze swept over Hades, Athena, and then rested on H'el.
Just having two Olympian gods present here made Darkseid doubt that the Olympian Pantheon wouldn't eventually show up.
And once they did, it would disrupt all balances and ruin all preparations Apokolips had made.
"You, Darkseid, planning to attack Oa, is already common knowledge throughout the universe. Is there really a need for leaks?" H'el remarked.
H'el's words silenced Darkseid and Steppenwolf.
Especially Steppenwolf, who boasted every time a war broke out, claiming that Apokolips would conquer Oa, destroy the Green Lantern Corps, and Darkseid would rule the universe.
There was no need to hide their intentions when the entire universe was waiting to see when Apokolips would act.
Apokolips's actions were always marked by arrogance, recklessness, brutality, and cruelty. They were already considered the demons of the universe, even worse than hells itself. Everyone feared them, and it was a given that they would clash with the guardians of the universe.
"I trust that you won't leak anything. No faction wants to bear the full brunt of Apokolips's retaliation.
Since I woke up after the ancient cosmic war, I've been preparing. Failure is not an option."
Darkseid grinned, his gray, cracked lips parting slightly, and glanced at H'el, speaking in a deep voice.
With a slight gesture of his right hand, he signaled Steppenwolf to act.
H'el and Hades didn't react much to Darkseid's words. They were here for their own interests and wouldn't be foolish enough to go around proclaiming their intentions like Apokolips.
However, if the guardians of the universe personally handed over the remains of Doomsday to H'el, that would be a different story.
Everything was just for their own interests.
Steppenwolf bowed to Darkseid, placing his Axe aside, and walked to the side, opening a boom tube in front of everyone's eyes.
Boom!
The white vortex opened in the sky of the neutron star, stirring the space.
On the other side of the roaring portal, two figures began to step in.
H'el felt a stir in his heart.
°°°
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
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