Bab 10: Motherbox
"What is the essence of the soul?" -That sh*tty femboy from JJK
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Jorno stared up at the menacing figure towering in front of him. Steppenwolf, with his silver armor gleaming under the faint light of the temple, stood in stark contrast to the dark, ancient surroundings. His grip on the massive axe was tight, his eyes glowing with malevolent intent. This was not just an enemy—this was a force of destruction.
Before Steppenwolf could make his move, a sudden burst of light flooded the room as Bruce Wayne came crashing in from above. The flash grenade exploded in midair, casting a blinding white light across the temple. Jorno and Donna seized the moment, their feet already moving as they bolted for the exit.
Steppenwolf's deep, booming voice echoed through the chamber. "You won't escape, children—" His words were cut short as the flash grenade stunned him, his vision swimming in bright light. Bruce had no intention of sticking around to fight today—his mission was clear: get the Motherbox out of here and to the Batcave. Fighting Steppenwolf was a battle for another day.
As they tore through the plains outside the temple, Donna ran alongside Jorno, still shaken by the encounter. "What is that thing?!" she asked, her voice tight with fear. She had known threats, but nothing like this.
Jorno didn't seem nearly as rattled. "The scary silver dude? Dunno, but he's probably some general or warlord." He pointed to the sky, where the buzzing sounds of Parademons filled the air. "Those flying gargoyles? Those are his soldiers."
Donna's eyes flicked upward. The Parademons were circling like vultures, and the ground shook as Steppenwolf relentlessly pursued them, quickly closing the distance. "Wait a sec," Donna said between breaths, "can't you fly?"
Jorno smirked but kept his focus ahead. "Yeah, I can fly. But if I do, those flying pests will zero in on me."
Behind them, Steppenwolf's gravelly voice echoed, closer than ever. "Give me the box, children, and I will spare you!" He was nearly upon them, his massive steps thundering through the ground. But just as he reached out to grab them, his forward momentum came to a sudden, jarring halt.
Steppenwolf grunted, confused. His hand swung forward, but there was nothing there—nothing visible, at least. He punched the air a few times, his fists colliding with an unseen barrier. "What is this?" he growled. He examined the space in front of him and realized: "Air... magic once again..."
The wall of air Jorno had conjured had been invisible, but its force was real. Steppenwolf, now aware of the trick, crouched low before launching himself forward in a mighty leap, soaring over their heads.
He landed in front of Jorno and Donna, blocking their path. His massive frame towered over them as he planted his axe into the ground with a heavy thud. "This is your last chance. Drop the box, and leave."
Donna's breath hitched, but before either of them could respond, Steppenwolf's hand shot up, catching an arrow mid-flight. His eyes narrowed as he turned to face the shooter.
Standing tall, her armor gleaming, Diana Prince lowered her bow and drew her sword and shield. Her voice rang out clear and defiant. "I, Diana of Themyscira, shall be your opponent. Face me!"
Steppenwolf sneered, tightening his grip on his axe. The name rang familiar in his ears, sparking memories of the first invasion of Earth. The humans, gods, Atlanteans, and the Green Lanterns—those who had fought back against Darkseid's forces and stolen the Motherboxes.
His voice dripped with malice. "I'll make your death swift, godling."
Diana and Steppenwolf clashed with a thunderous crash, the force of their blows shaking the ground around them. Donna and Jorno could only watch, stunned by the intensity of the battle.
"Let's go!" Jorno urged, snapping Donna out of her daze. They turned and ran, the sounds of battle fading behind them. As they fled, Jorno looked over at Donna, who was still trying to process everything. "Mind checking the view for me?"
Donna blinked. "The view?" she asked incredulously. "What are you talking about?"
Jorno wasn't speaking to her. His Stand, King of the Clouds, shifted its focus, its ethereal eyes narrowing as it scanned the horizon. "Mudada, Muda, Muda," it muttered.
"King found something," Jorno said, changing direction mid-run.
"What now?" Donna asked, more than a little exhausted from all the running. "Where are you even going?"
Jorno handed the Motherbox to his Stand as they ran. "King's got this," he said casually, clearly enjoying himself. He didn't explain further, and Donna, frustrated, sighed loudly.
"I wish I paid attention in magic class," she muttered.
Jorno chuckled, his voice light. "Oh, it's not magic. Anyway, see ya, Troy." Without another word, Jorno signaled to King of the Clouds, and in a flash, the Stand cocked its arm back and hurled the Motherbox with a speed that shattered the sound barrier. A sonic boom echoed across the plains as the box shot through the air, heading far away from the battlefield.
Donna watched in awe, stunned by the display of power. "What the—" she started, but then realization hit her. As they had been running together, something had shifted in her. She wouldn't see him again. Jorno was leaving—just like her sister had, once upon a time.
She stood there, feeling a strange sadness creep over her, but she quickly shook it off. There was still a battle to be fought. "Right… I've got work to do."
With a final wave to Jorno, Donna turned and sprinted back toward the battle. The air was thick with the shrieks of Parademons and the clash of steel. Diana needed her.
At the Shoreline
Far from the battle, on the shores of Themyscira, the sleek form of the Bat-Submarine bobbed gently in the water. Inside, Alfred Pennyworth sat calmly, his hands resting on the controls as he monitored the ongoing chaos. His sharp eyes caught sight of something—an object soaring through the sky at an impossible speed.
The submarine's AI beeped, identifying the object as it neared. "Item of importance detected." A miniature hook extended from the sub, catching the black, shifting Motherbox with precise timing.
Alfred stepped out of the sub, retrieving the Motherbox and examining it with his usual composed curiosity. The box shifted in his hands, its smooth black surface pulsing with a red glow, its form constantly changing.
"Interesting…" he murmured to himself. "Master Wayne will undoubtedly want to examine this."
With care, Alfred placed the box into the secure compartment of the sub, glancing toward the horizon. "I suppose it's nearly time to retrieve Young Master Jorno and Master Wayne."
The battle for Themyscira raged in the distance, but for Alfred, this was just another mission—one more piece in Bruce Wayne's intricate puzzle.
...
As Jorno flew through the skies, the gleaming outline of the Bat-Submarine came into view, floating just off the coast of Themyscira. He descended, his body surrounded by a swirling aura of wind, and touched down lightly next to the sub. His face lit up with excitement when he saw Alfred Pennyworth waiting by the hatch.
"Hi, Mr. Pennyworth!" Jorno called out, waving as he floated down, his expression unusually lively.
Alfred, ever the composed gentleman, raised an eyebrow at the boy's newfound energy. "Ah, looks like a little vacation was enough to make you talkative, huh?" he said with a hint of amusement, watching as Jorno climbed aboard.
Jorno paused, surprised at himself. He had become more expressive since arriving on the island, and now that the mission was nearly over, he realized just how much he'd let his guard down.
"Have you made any friends?" Alfred asked casually, guiding Jorno inside the sub.
Jorno shrugged, thinking back to his time with Donna Troy. "Oh, just one," he admitted. "She's not the nicest, though… and honestly, she was pretty weak." Jorno's tone was dismissive, but there was a hint of something else there—maybe a quiet respect. Miss Troy had been useful, though Jorno doubted he'd ever see her again. Still, her determination stuck with him, even if he'd never admit it out loud.
"Well," Alfred said with a wry smile, "it sounds like quite the adventure. Care to explain the full story?"
Without hesitation, Jorno began recounting everything: the trial by combat, the arrival of Steppenwolf, the chaos of the Parademons, and how he used King of the Clouds to escape. Alfred listened carefully, nodding at all the right moments, though inwardly he marveled at how much the boy had changed.
Meanwhile, Back in Themyscira
On the battlefield, Bruce Wayne stood just behind the frontline, watching the fight unfold from a distance. His mind, as always, was focused on analyzing the situation, not just surviving it.
He glanced down at his gauntlet, the screen flashing with a notification—Jorno had reached the Bat-Sub. That was one less thing to worry about. His eyes returned to the fight in front of him. Diana was locked in a fierce battle with Steppenwolf, her sword clashing against his massive axe with a series of ringing blows. Each impact shook the ground, but Diana held her ground with unwavering strength and precision.
Bruce adjusted his goggles, scanning the field and noting something important. The red portal that had opened earlier—the one that had brought Steppenwolf and his Parademon army—had closed.
That means there's only one way out for him now, Bruce thought, his brow furrowing. "There's more than one of these creatures. But why send only Steppenwolf and an army of foot soldiers? Why not overwhelm us with more?"
The answer wasn't immediately clear, but Bruce's mind worked through the puzzle quickly. Steppenwolf was powerful, but Diana was holding her own. Bruce had no doubt her mother, Queen Hippolyta, was similar in strength—if not stronger. These Amazons were warriors forged over thousands of years, and yet, they had only sent one general.
The conclusion Bruce reached was simple but unsettling: They can't send more.
Some force, some universal law, was preventing Darkseid or whoever Steppenwolf served from sending a full invasion force. Something was stopping them from swarming Earth. That was good news, but it also meant Steppenwolf had to be stopped here and now before he could retrieve the Motherboxes.
If we kill Steppenwolf and secure the three Motherboxes, we might buy ourselves more time.
Bruce's mind snapped back to the present, realizing the battle needed a more immediate solution. Reaching into his utility belt, he pulled out a small radio device—a contingency plan he had developed after analyzing the way Parademons perceived their enemies. He flicked a switch, activating a high-frequency sound that would only be detectable to the Parademons. To them, it was akin to a dog whistle, unbearable and disorienting.
Bruce pressed the button, and a silent pulse radiated outward. Within moments, the Parademons above reacted violently, their flight patterns becoming erratic as they veered off course, swarming toward the source of the sound. It worked like a magnet, drawing them to a specific point Bruce had rigged in the distance.
Bruce didn't wait. He moved quickly, gliding away from the area as the Parademons converged on the receiver.
The distraction gave him enough time to press another button on his gauntlet, detonating the device with a powerful explosion that ripped through the swarm. The force of the blast sent a shockwave through the battlefield, killing many of the Parademons instantly and leaving others injured. The rest, who had been arriving, were now disoriented, their numbers severely depleted.
"That's another $500,000 down the drain..." Bruce muttered, watching the wreckage from a safe distance. Lucius Fox would give him hell for wasting tech like this, but at least it had worked.
The Turning Tide of Battle
The explosion echoed across the battlefield, drawing the attention of Queen Hippolyta. She spotted Bruce from afar, her eyes narrowing as she realized what had happened. She raised her voice, commanding her warriors with renewed fervor.
"PRESS THE OFFENSIVE!" Hippolyta's voice rang out across the battlefield like a war horn. Her warriors responded immediately, their arrows flying true as they picked off the remaining Parademons. Victory was within reach now.
Diana continued her intense duel with Steppenwolf, their strikes sending sparks flying with every clash. But with the Parademon horde weakened, the Amazons now had the upper hand. Hippolyta herself began to move toward the fight, intending to support her daughter in the final push. Her arrows struck down the last of the aerial invaders as she charged forward, a silver blur of destruction.
Victory, Bruce thought, was looking more and more inevitable. But he knew better than to celebrate too early.
Steppenwolf was dangerous, but the real threat lay beyond him. Whoever was pulling his strings had sent him for a reason, and Bruce knew they would come again. This was only the beginning.
As he watched the battle unfold, Bruce remained ready—ever the tactician, ever the strategist. The key to Earth's survival wasn't just in brute strength; it was in understanding the enemy.
And Bruce Wayne would make sure to do just that.
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[Auther: Yo!
I know...I put Darkseid's name here. And I won't remove it. Why? Because I want that comment about someone crying about it, because comments are good. They are stats, and I need them. Badly. So go ahead and comment on my 1 mistake.]
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