[color=gray][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019ad474-877c-73cc-99c2-3761fbdcefd0.webp[/img]

[color=c44365]"My lord, our scouts have triangulated the artifact's position."[/color]

[b]The Source Wall.[/b] 

Legends had spread throughout the cosmos about the celestial barrier's origins, with some even bold enough to speculate that it was where Perpetua herself had been exiled by the will of The Living Tribunal for the crime of trying to remake the multiverse in her image at the galaxy's dawn. The being once known as Uxas remembered such tales from his youth, so many untold centuries ago. A cautionary tale that served as a warning against following in the Mad Goddesses' footsteps, to try and bend the very foundations of reality to the whim of the individual. The ruling class of Apokolips had once known such folly to be impossible. But gazing upon it now, its rock formations spread across the stars before him like a river of molten lava flowing over the seared flesh of his kingdom's willfully defiant carcass, Darkseid could only wonder if whoever told such tales would ever be able to comprehend the glory of Anti-Life.

[color=c44365]"It seems to have rested within the very stone itself for [i]millenia[/i]."[/color]

Or indeed, the Infinity Stones. The Dark Lord of Apokolips had seized the opportunity to find one of these supposed artifacts for as long as he sat upon the throne, an unspoken ambition that had irked him as he went about enacting his reign, commanding his armies, bringing untold horrors to those who would refute submission to his life's glorious purpose. The stones had proven difficult to find, yes, but the truth of their existence could be easily verified by those ageless ones whose twilight was at hand - with enough force. An aging high priest of the planet Xandar had been the one to be tortured into giving Steppenwolf the location of this gem of untold power, broken after repeatedly asking his Gods to spare him from the galactic hunter's cruelty. 

His prayers were met with silence. Steppenwolf merely mocked his fading resolve as chilled blades slashed into flesh that was actively melting; the location would be given straight after. And now, watching with intent from the other side of an open boom tube, Darkseid could easily feel the power reverberating off the gravel that surrounded it like a casket. With a wave of his hand, the Master of Darkness sat back and allowed a group of Parademons to step forth with weapons charged, crackling with electricity. The near-mindless beings roared with eagerness to pulverize The Wall's exterior shell, their mechanical wings activating and propelling them forward, breaching the circular portal.

[color=c44365]"[i]Yes[/i]..."[/color], Desaad hissed, gleefully. [color=c44365]"Yes, that will do, sire. In mere moments, your loyal soldiers will deliver the artifact to your worthy hands. I can hardly wait for you to channel your desire for Anti-Life into it, and see the wretched equation be revealed at last."[/color]

Tufts of crimson fire lurched from Darkseid's eyes, steadying Desaad's enthusiasm. 

[color=ca393b][b]"Silence, worm."[/b][/color]

Instantly, the lesser being fell to his knees, obediently quiet and head lowered as far to the ground as Desaad could manage. 

[color=ca393b][b]"That [i]wretched equation[/i] will yet be the salvation of existence. Only through my will can it be shaped to end all transgression, all war. All suffering at the random whims of a merciless universe. This is what I have dedicated my being to realize. And you would so casually insult it?"[/b][/color]

The effortless malice of Darkseid's voice struck at Desaad with the fury of a thousand comets - merciless, yet undeniable. He was immediately grovelling for his God's forgiveness, debasing himself with no hesitation, giving no thought to the audience of the Apokoliptian court that had been assembled. Granny Goodness grinned from the far side of the room, hoping against hope that the Dark Lord would make an example of this cur's insolence. But Darkseid's focus lay elsewhere, and as his gaze met The Source Wall yet again, his eyes narrowed with dissatisfaction. 

Steppenwolf recognized the same, approaching the boom tube himself.

[color=809ec2]"It would seem as though the Parademons' attacks are ineffective, sire. The stone of it doesn't even seem scratched, despite reining blows that would put down even the fiercest [i]Kree[/i]."[/color]

Removing a massive sword from the back of his dark armor, Steppenwolf cracked his neck and smirked, ever determined to prove his capability in the face of a challenge. 

[color=809ec2]"No matter. The stone shall be yours, lord Darkseid. Even if I have to shatter the very stars to deliver it."[/color]

But before Steppenwolf could pass through, an unexpected reaction occurred from the Wall itself. The Parademons, tirelessly hammering their energy weapons against the stone, were forced back with a massive pulse of unseen intensity. Shot in all directions through open space, sent helplessly flying into the void and beyond Apokolips' reach. It seemed as if the Source Wall were protecting itself, doubtlessly infused with a manner of countermeasures against those who would seek to disturb the rock. Steppenwolf hesitated for a moment, but prepared to embark anyway.

Until Darkseid's hand landed hard against his shoulder. 

[color=ca393b][b]"It would be a useless gesture. As much a waste of your efforts as theirs."[/b][/color]

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[color=ca393b][b]"Step aside."[/b][/color]

Placing his hands behind his back, Darkseid calmly moved past his uncle, prompting Steppenwolf to abandon his bravado and kneel aswell. If the Wall itself was unwilling to part with the artifact that lay buried within it, then the Lord of Apokolips saw no other recourse but to face its defiance personally. The Dark Lord closed his eyes and, with what seemed to be careful consideration of his next move, Darkseid faced the portal for what seemed like an eternity. In reality, it was only a moment's pause, allowing the energies within his body to build enough to deliver a truly horrifying display of power.

Opening his eyes, Darkseid stood emotionless as a radiant blast of Omega energies surged ahead, zig-zagging their way through the boom tube and colliding with the Source Wall with the violence of a missile strike. The Source Wall shook, its latent energies unsure of how to react to a beam of such power. Slowly, cracks began to form in the gravel, glowing with a brilliant orange aura. But as Darkseid focused the Omega Beams, a realization dawned that nearly shook him to his core. Even in the midst of his attack, the cracks were actively [i]healing[/i]. Steppenwolf also appeared shocked, approaching from behind.

[color=809ec2]"Impossible. None has ever withstood the energies of the Omega Sanction!"[/color]

Darkseid's anger was apparent. With teeth grit, he pressed on with the blast, determined to outlast The Source Wall's apparent attempts to maintain self-preservation. Desaad finally rose from his shameful display, seemingly affected by his lord and master's inability to capably affect the stone. It had been said that The Source Wall was older than time itself, older even than the very galaxy that housed it, but to be able to heal itself from [i]this[/i] level of onslaught? That was a sign of an unspeakable power. 

So much power that even Darkseid, whose will was unmatched, was forced to relent. Closing his eyes with great effort and allowing the beam to dissipate, the Dark Lord's frustration was more than palpable. Momentarily losing his composure, looking as if he would gladly murder every corrupted soul that stood assembled in his royal court, it took only seconds for him to regain it. There was another way, a solution that could potentially weaken the Wall long enough for the Omega Sanction to penetrate, but he had hesitated to rely on such a weapon for this task. But with the prospect of success so tantalizingly close, Darkseid saw no use in that uncertainty.

[color=ca393b][b]"Desaad."[/b][/color]

The purple-cloaked figure placed his hands together and solemnly closed his eyes, awaiting whatever punishment his master had yet to unleash for his earlier infringement. Perhaps it was fitting that it came after Darkseid's rage had been properly agitated, allowing the inevitable torture to be that much more of a fulfilling use for his God's efforts. Instead, Darkseid simply turned and pointed toward him, as if a stern parent who was chiding its disobedient offspring.

[color=ca393b][b]"I will grant you this one opportunity to reclaim your worthiness. Do as your lord commands, and your insolence this day will be forgiven."[/b][/color]

Desaad bowed. [color=c44365]"I eagerly await your instruction. What would my lord wish for me to do?"[/color]

Darkseid smiled, wickedly.

[color=ca393b][b]"Awaken the World-Eater."[/b][/color]

The Lord of Anti-Life's will be done. For just beyond Apokolips' atmosphere, a planet-sized craft hovered in the infinite of space, devoid of color or discernible shape. It appeared older than time, even older than The Source Wall that it now floated opposite. But after receiving a signal sent from the cosmic machinery inside Desaad's chambers, the craft suddenly came to life with an array of massive faded lights and the whirring of moving parts. This had once been known as Taa II, the Worldship. Dominion of The World-Eater itself, the only home that could be considered as such by a being that regularly towered over entire solar systems' suns, not to mention one that could easily extinguish them. 

Taa II's hide had been scarred by a massive symbol, signifying its turn from unparalleled force to obedient dog of the one, true power in the universe. The seal of Omega burned brightly upon the Worldship's activation, and it took little time for the being that lingered inside to be stirred from its slumber. Taking no time to question the nature of its new master's commands, having had any vestiges of a will of its own programmed out of it whenever Darkseid managed to tame the rampaging storm, Galactus rose from Taa II's impossibly massive hull and stepped forth, blocking out the light of the stars. Casting its shadow upon The Source Wall, a visible harbinger of the end of all things.

Appearing on the balcony of his Apokoliptian castle, Darkseid stared up at moon-sized eyes that emerged in the smog-filled clouds of the eternally burning heavens, stark white and pulsating with energies that would make other Gods quiver with fear. But not he who would remake the universe in his own image, as his elders had long warned against. Perpetua be damned, for she would ultimately not see the day when Anti-Life would subjugate all life in the known universe, and extend into even the multiverse beyond it. Darkseid would see this and more, bending the Infinity Stone to his will as easily as the World-Eater itself. It would reveal the location of the Anti-Life Equation to him, and prosperity could then begin in earnest.[/color]

[color=Gray]But for Galactus, Darkseid had only one command, directing its attention towards the obstinate Source Wall.[/color]

[color=ca393b][b][i]"Feed."[/i][/b][/color]