The battlefield was bathed in the dying light of a shattered world. The once-glistening spires of Metropolis lay in ruins, reduced to rubble by the brutal war between Superman and Darkseid. The ground was scorched, the air thick with smoke and the scent of burning metal. Darkseid's forces had poured in, overwhelming the planet's defenses, and the city that Superman had worked so hard to protect was now on the edge of annihilation.
Superman, battered and bruised, hovered above the battlefield. His once invincible strength was waning, the effects of the brutal assault taking their toll. His suit was torn, and his face showed signs of exhaustion that had never before appeared. But in his eyes, there was something undying—a fierce, unwavering determination to protect his world, even if it cost him everything.
Across from him, Darkseid stood tall, his eyes glowing with fiery intensity. The warlord's power had only grown since his return, and he was now more dangerous than ever. His army had decimated much of Earth's resistance, and now it was time for the final battle. He had come to break Superman, to end his reign, and to reclaim what he saw as rightfully his.
"You're weaker than I remember, Kal-El," Darkseid boomed, his voice carrying the weight of a god's arrogance. "This world cannot be saved. Your people will fall, just as you will."
Superman wiped the blood from his lip, standing tall despite the weariness in his body. "I've been fighting my whole life to protect this world, Darkseid. You don't get to take it. Not now. Not ever."
With a roar, Darkseid summoned his Omega Beams, unleashing them with devastating force. Superman barely managed to dodge the first blast, but the second one clipped his side, sending him crashing to the ground. His body slammed into the concrete, leaving a massive crater in its wake.
Darkseid descended slowly, his heavy boots creating deep imprints in the rubble. "You can't stop me, Kryptonian. Your strength has limits. And I… I am endless."
Clark struggled to rise, his breath shallow, but there was no quitting him. Not in this fight. Not when so much was on the line. He pushed himself up, his body protesting every movement.
"You think you're the only one who knows pain?" Superman said, his voice ragged but resolute. "You think you're the only one who's lost everything? I've seen destruction, I've seen death, and I've buried the people I loved. But I don't give up. Ever."
Darkseid sneered. "You should have, long ago."
The ground trembled beneath them as Superman and Darkseid clashed again, the force of their blows causing shockwaves that rippled through the city. Superman's speed and precision, though diminished, still held a dangerous edge. But Darkseid's power, his cosmic might, was overwhelming. The fight was becoming more desperate with every passing second.
Jonathan Kent, now 16, watched from a distance, his fists clenched. He had trained for this moment, but his father—his Superman—was faltering. The time had come for him to step up.
He looked to Bruce, standing nearby with a grim expression. "What are we waiting for? We can't just stand here!"
Bruce's eyes were fixed on Superman, his face filled with both pride and concern. "Your father made it clear, Jonathan. This fight is his. He's doing this on his terms. We don't interfere."
But Jonathan's resolve hardened. He couldn't stand idly by while his father fought for his life—and the life of everyone on Earth. "He's my father too. And I'm ready."
Bruce looked at Jonathan for a long moment, the weight of the situation sinking in. Finally, he nodded. "Then go. Make it count."
Jonathan wasted no time. His feet hit the ground like a flash of lightning, and he sped toward the battlefield, a blur of motion. As Superman and Darkseid locked in a brutal struggle, Jonathan dove into the fray, summoning every ounce of power he had within him. His fists struck with precision, the force of each blow shaking the ground beneath them.
Darkseid roared in frustration as he turned to face the young hero. "You think you can stop me, child?"
Jonathan's eyes blazed with an intensity that matched his father's. "I will stop you."
Superman, seeing his son join the battle, felt a surge of strength. It wasn't just for him anymore—it was for his family, his son, the future of Earth. With renewed vigor, he lunged at Darkseid, his fists crashing into the warlord with the force of a meteor.
Together, Superman and Jonathan fought side by side, striking Darkseid with a fury that had been building for years. But Darkseid wasn't finished yet. With a final, earth-shattering roar, he unleashed a blast of Omega energy that sent both Superman and Jonathan flying backward.
As they lay on the ground, struggling to rise, Darkseid loomed over them, his Omega Beams charging for the final blow.
But just as Darkseid prepared to strike, a shadow loomed over him.
Bruce Wayne, now suited up once again, stood between them, the Bat symbol glowing brightly on his chest. "Not today."
Bruce threw a device toward Darkseid—one of his last secret weapons, a Kryptonian-tech-based energy disruptor. The device activated in an instant, striking Darkseid's chest with a brilliant explosion of energy. Darkseid staggered back, his powers briefly flickering.
Clark, Jonathan, and Bruce took that moment. Together, they launched a final, unified assault. Superman and Jonathan punched Darkseid simultaneously, their combined strength overpowering the dark god's defenses. In a devastating climax, Superman drove his fist through Darkseid's chest, and Jonathan delivered a crushing blow to his head.
The dark god crumbled, his body disintegrating into ash as his reign came to a fiery end. The war was over.
Superman, breathing heavily, knelt next to his son, who had fallen to the ground. Jonathan, though battered, smiled weakly. "We did it, Dad."
Clark pulled his son into an embrace, pride swelling in his chest. "We did it, together."
As the dust settled, the world looked on in awe, the people of Earth witnessing the end of an era. Superman and his family had fought to the death, and they had won. But the victory came at a cost.
Superman's powers were gone. The strain of the battle had drained him, leaving him powerless and vulnerable. His immortality, a gift that had allowed him to protect the world for so long, was now fading. But even without his powers, Superman remained the symbol of hope—a beacon for future generations.
And as he stood, leaning on Jonathan for support, the world knew that even without his strength, Superman's legacy would never fade.
End of Chapter 38.