Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.

A special thanks to Bruce Timm and his team for making the world of heroes come alive. Another thanks to my on-line friend Geeky BMWW Fan for all her help.

The Beginning of the Anti-Life Equation Prophecy

Chapter One

Destroyer

His might was powerful, absolute, ruthless, unending for his foes. The one in black dared to strike at him and remarkably survived what all could not. The other, a coward but wise enough to flee against him. With a kick to his shortly recovering foe, Darkseid followed him downward with a leap. The drop was nothing for his body to stand. He was reborn power unlike anyone has ever known. The footsteps taken were slow and steady with thuds.

"Your friends have abandoned you or fallen before my might." A punched delivered that pushed Superman back and again that followed a sharp knee strike with Darkseid's hands combined and shot down the Man of Steel to the floor.

The pain inflicted was not enough. More was required to satisfy an entity such as he who was struck down by a mere mortal in tights. It was insulting to him. Hardly any strength was required to picked him up.

"Super or otherwise," Darkseid looked up at him. "You're merely a man. And I....am a god!"

Superman screamed out in pain feeling his back nearly broken in every way possible. The heart within him beat with a lesser tune at the end of his courage. Powerless to counter against such might he was dropped to the floor afterwards and wanted nothing more than to stay there. Though the ground was rough and lacked any comfort, it felt bitter sweet to the Man of Steel's aching body.

None of this was asked by him. To be on the frontlines of humanity's defense. He wanted to help people with his powers down the journey of life not become their savior. Rising back on two feet again was heavy and difficult but nonetheless the slug-fest between the two powers continued. The Man of Steel's fists drove for Darkseid but counted for nothing with his breaking spirit. Darkseid was evil and the lore he gave off bred dismay to those of whom he wished it to. A being of which was sorrow and suffering in physical form.

Powerful these elements of life were that fueled the dark lord. It chocked what joy found within, what love that could be stored in one's heart. Thoughts and the weight of it all were consuming and devastating the Man of Steel who was breaking under the stress. Darkseid was right, he was more powerful than ever.

The attacks he gave were nothing for Darkseid to endure and counter as he picked up Superman, turned and slapped him away.

What drove him to rise up again against the storm was beyond Clark's own understanding. He wanted to go home, wanted to roam the halls holding memories of times before the world needed him. To be young and naïve about things still yet to come. To be with family and friends all the time and to be without the pressure of a life that could not allow a failure.

Days of bliss back on the farm, how they are missed.

Punch and another punch and Superman fell back. The waves of emotional defeat were so foreign and unfamiliar to where he simply couldn't handle it. Lost in a void of darkened despair not felt since leaving the Black Mercy's world behind.

Another punch and it sent Clark to the ground once more.

Everything was lost.

The grunts were heard and to the dreary Man of Steel's eyes as he looked up, Bruce, his friend returned to his aid. A man of great strength but nonetheless of human strength continuing to fight as if he could stand a chance against such a tide.

Couldn't he?

Beginning with a warmth in his heart, Clark could feel it again. The shimmering hope he carried within himself -a hope all carried within them- surfacing against its burial of anguish refusing to die. More powerful than whatever strength the light of the sun could feed him, the heart of the Man of Steel was renewing.

"You still try to fight?" Darkseid questioned. With but a mere grab and toss he was ride of the annoyance on his back. It was bothersome to see such resistance in someone with no hope of victory. He was the ultimate being of fear and discord. How could any resist against his likes?

"Can't you see that its hopeless?"

As quickly as the words fell off his tongue, Darkseid's bitter expression turned into one of shock as a fist came flying at him. He skidded against the ground against such force not felt before.

A fire was burning within Clark. The fear given to him by Darkseid was replaced with a righteous fury. He swung until Darkseid fell against the wall at which Superman grabbed at his throat. He wasn't going to allow this devil win.

"That man wont quit so long as he can still draw a breath, none of my teammates will!" He stared coldly. "Me? I got a different problem."

A fist went back and launched forward and again until Darkseid broke through the wall.

"I feel like I live in a world made of cardboard," he spoke to the downed foe as he approached. "Always taking care to not lose control even for a second...or someone could die."

A confidence Darkseid scorned at as he made to attack again. His offense was easily dodged and returned in kind that sent him back to the ground.

"...But you can take it can't ya big man?" Superman asked mockingly.

He stopped and boldly stood against the turning of the storm. "What we have here is a rare opportunity for me to cut loose and show you just how powerful I really am."

Weight shifted from his backed leg and lunged forward as the Man of Steel took flight. A stray thought caught him that powered Superman's anger towards the dark lord.

Lois, Dan, Van....

It was because of beings like Darkseid that the lives of those Clark cared for were either stripped of it or forced away from him by the wedge the never ending battle created. The controlled fury found its way into his arm and fist and it collided with Darkseid. The energies of the world around them shifted against the force and without fail sent Superman's foe into the sky. Crashing through building after building until Clark zoomed ahead with arms folded across his chest.

Darkseid flew powerless to resist as Superman lifted his arms together and hammered down on him. The fall was great and the impact left a wound in the earth. Darkseid felt the weight of the assault on him as his body stiffened.

"Had enough?" Superman flew down to him.

Darkseid rose to face the challenge. "Not...quite...yet."

Superman charged forward.

The energy of it was unleashed before Superman could realize and was caught in it.

"Ahhhh!" he screamed and flew back powerless on the ground.

Darkseid stood tall against the in pain foe.

"It's called the Agony Matrix," he began to approach. "Direct neural stimulant of pain receptors...all of them." His domineer was as calm as every in the face of great suffering. "Imagine the worst pain you've felt in your life times a thousand. Now imagine that pain continuing on...forever."

His foot stopped just short of foot away.

"Oh, that's right. You don't have to imagine."

The moments passed by quickly for one of them and was as slow as any lifetime.

"Still alive?" He paused. "you impress me kryptonian. More, your valor has touched my heart. Oh yes, there is still some small part of me that knows mercy. I will end your pain." he reached for his arm and removed a small device.

He drew its green blade out. "With something I've been saving just for this occasion," he paused to listen to the man's screams that were growing quieter.

"I'm going to carve out your heart and stick it on a pick in my throne room."

He stepped forward, suit and all. It was time to make the deal that will end all deals.

To be Continued...

Author's note: The hopelessness Superman was feeling was something I came up with. When I watched the fighting again between the two powers, I don't believe it was mere tiring that caused Superman to fight so poorly for the most part. It said that Darkseid feeds off of the despair or something and that it powers him. Given his new rebirth, I figured it can be a reason why so many fail to beat him. He gives off waves of hopelessness and breaks the spirit that effect those around him. Batman was uneffected because he is use to such things as to being weary and poor in spirit.