The calm was shattered by a sudden, overwhelming presence.
The skies above Metropolis turned from the golden hues of a peaceful day to a deep, foreboding red. A chill swept through the city, and a quiet murmur of unease spread across the streets. No one knew what to make of it—no one except for Superman, Bruce, and Jonathan Kent.
Far above, in the reaches of space, Darkseid's ship appeared in the sky. The massive, looming figure, dark as a black hole, cast a shadow that stretched for miles. A silence hung in the air, as though the entire world was holding its breath.
For fifteen years, Darkseid had remained dormant, his forces scattered and his ambitions quiet. But now, he had returned. And his purpose was clear.
Superman stood on the rooftop of the Daily Planet, his eyes fixed on the sky. Bruce, in his civilian attire, stood beside him, his sharp eyes already analyzing the situation.
"It's him," Clark muttered, his voice low but filled with a cold certainty.
"I thought he was gone," Bruce replied, his brow furrowing. "This isn't just about taking control again. This feels different."
As the ship descended, the unmistakable form of Darkseid emerged from the shadows. His towering, godlike figure, covered in black armor, stood as a living embodiment of terror. His eyes glowed a fiery orange as he surveyed the Earth below, his presence more overwhelming than ever before.
Superman's fists clenched at his sides, the familiar rage stirring in him. But there was something else too—an unfamiliar feeling of dread. Darkseid had always been a threat, but now, after all these years of peace, Clark felt the weight of what was to come.
Without a word, Clark turned to Bruce. "I'll handle this."
"No, Clark," Bruce said, his voice unusually steady. "We don't know what he's planning. He's been watching."
Clark nodded, knowing that Bruce was right. Darkseid had always been calculating. This was no mere conquest—it was something more insidious.
Jonathan appeared beside them, looking up at his father with concern. "Dad, what's happening?"
Clark placed a hand on his son's shoulder, a reassuring smile crossing his face. "It's going to be alright, Jonathan. But you need to stay back. This isn't your fight yet."
Jonathan's eyes widened. "I can help. I'm ready."
"No," Clark said firmly, his voice carrying a weight of experience. "Not yet. You don't fully understand what Darkseid is capable of."
Bruce stepped forward, eyeing the situation with grim calculation. "Clark's right. We've trained you well, Jonathan, but this is a different kind of war. One you're not ready for."
Jonathan hesitated, his fists tightening in frustration, but he nodded slowly. His time would come. But not yet.
In the distance, Darkseid's booming voice echoed across the city, amplified by his ship's technology.
"Earth," he called, his voice like thunder. "You have been allowed to live in peace long enough. I come to claim what is mine. You will bow before me, or you will cease to exist."
Superman's gaze hardened, and with a single leap, he was gone—shooting into the sky like a comet, his cape fluttering behind him.
Darkseid didn't move as Superman approached, his eyes never leaving the Kryptonian.
"I've been waiting for this moment, Kal-El," Darkseid said, his voice filled with malice. "The time for your reign is over. You are not a god—you are a tool, and I will break you."
Superman landed before Darkseid, the ground beneath him cracking from the force. His eyes blazed with power.
"You underestimate me, Darkseid," Superman said, his voice calm yet filled with deadly certainty. "You may have your armies, but I've built something stronger than any force you can send. And I will stop you. Again."
Darkseid's lips curled into a sneer. "We'll see, Kryptonian. We'll see."
The tension in the air was thick as both forces stood ready to clash, the fate of Earth hanging in the balance.
As the battle began, the ground shook, and the skies darkened. The fight that was about to unfold would decide more than just the future of Earth—it would decide whether Superman's reign could survive the threat of a true god.
End of Chapter 37.