...

He turned over an impassive look all across the gathering of his legion before him. His scarlet eyes taking in every warrior, from the lowest of the parademons, to the highest of generals as he allowed himself the satisfaction of a smile.

It had taken a long time to prepare, but soon enough, his war against the rest of the universe would come about. His rematch against the last Kryptonian and earth's feeble heroes was on the horizon. And most important of all, his search, for the most powerful secret in the universe would finally be in his hands.

It had taken him far more time than he'd expected to deal with the insurgence of some of the newer worlds that had dared to think themselves powerful enough to oppose his rule- His defeat at the hands of the Kryptonian giving them the very courage he had long since thought he'd rid of them, but after scouring every world under his empire, he'd made certain that none would ever dare rebel against him again.

It would be a rather poor showing if, during the start of his own war, his very kingdom would start burning alone.

Apokolips may never attempt such... Blasphemy, but the rest of the worlds were a different matter.

Even still, the last time he'd made an attempt at the crown of the mightiest in the universe, he'd gone in unprepared. Gone in during the height of that Kryptonian brat's power, and gone in through their very front door, inviting every soul against him. Souls that, under any other scenario, would've torn each other apart.

His gaze scoured through the hall once again, the pleased feeling inside of him taking hold as he felt the fear hidden inside of his own warriors. The fear that, in truth, showed exactly how much his troops respected him for his power-

Yet, for whatever reason, the moment his gaze scoured over Steppenwolf... Only to find that same, exact, fear on his greatest generals face-

Darkseid's eyes, briefly narrowed, before his impassive expression once again took over.

Sensing his displeasure, his general stepped forward, and fell to one knee, his expression shadowed.

Perhaps... Darkseid's mind warred with itself, he had been gone too long after all. For the second emotion that poured out of his once-proud warrior's face, was shame.

"Speak." Darkseid's voice rumbled through the hall. The word was enough to shake the very skin on his warrior's back as his general shuddered.

Briefly going through his subject's faces, Darkseid couldn't help but wonder what it was that had set them all on edge, if not himself personally... Yet despite his searching, he couldn't find anything different in their ranks... Nothing out of place- Meaning there hadn't been any war in his absence.

Which meant whatever it was... Personal- Yet, enough to torment his entire court...

He had not set many tasks once he began his journey, but to keep the world stable for his return. For the first time in centuries, the bloodshed in his world had been halted with the sole purpose of throwing those lives against his true enemies, as opposed to each other.

Even if the cost of it all was his troops growing the slightest bit complacent- In the end, should they fall due to such a thing, then their purpose will simply be another body.

Yet... as he took in them all... His frown etched itself onto his face once again. None of them looked complacent- If anything, their expressions, their bodies, their minds, spoke of struggle. Spoke of combat fit for war.

"Forgive me, my lord..." Steppenwolf's voice brought his attention back towards his general, Darkseid merely taking a single step forward as he raised his head higher. "We have failed." His eyes narrowed at the word.

He could count the number of tasks whose responsibility encompassed his entire court in one hand.

"The Black Racer..." His eyes briefly flashed a red hue at the name of the prisoner. As the task filled his mind. Yet, before he could fire- The glow before his eyes vanished as bemusement filled him once again.

For the Black Racer hadn't escaped. He could feel his presence in his cell, even now.

"He has spoken once again."

The confusion in his mind only grew, as his feet turned around on the spot, his destination clear.

His court didn't waste a moment as they cleared a path for him, Steppenwolf the only one brave enough to follow him, his head bowed low.

"The torture has finally broken through."

His general's words did not soothe the blossoming fury in his heart. For if the centuries-old task had been a success, none would fear his retaliation...

"We had gone too far. Its mind is too broken to salvage."

Preposterous.

None could break a weapon of Death.

He had certainly tried.

And as he entered the designated tower. As he entered within the vicinity of the Racer. As his ears finally picked up the sound of its laughter.

Gone was the fury in his heart, as his gaze took on the manic, laughing visage of Death's Aspect.

The Black Racer turned its deformed face, its mask gone, towards him, its manic grin splitting even wider as its laugher turned louder and louder.

He had never once thought the Black Racer to be capable of such a thing as laughter. The void of death shouldn't have had the slightest clue of it.

"We followed your rules, my lord... We never touched its mask. It came apart on its own." Steppenwolf's voice was ignored.

And in sight of it, gone was the fury burning inside, now replaced by fear.

For his Oracle's words filtered through his mind at that very moment. Pythia's long-ago warning coming to fruition, as he finally understood her words. A warning he'd long thought he'd avoided by virtue by capturing the Aspect before him.

'The God-of-Death's mask shall fall, its sanity crumbled. The Source shall weep, it's secret stolen by a Pirate of the Sea. The Dark God shall fall once the Laughing Tree sings its song.'

Pythia's warning, at the sight before him, returned. As the words of that long-forgotten prediction, one he'd thought himself truly past, filled the forefront of his mind. His oracle's warning once again echoed through his soul.

Every prediction came with a warning. And unlike the rest of which he could barely understand, let alone use before it was too late, the one for this particular prediction was as clear as day- Even if he had yet to meet the one in question.

'Uxas... Never cross paths with The Black Sorcerer.'

Steeling himself, Darkseid prepared to find the others mentioned in the prediction- For if the God-of-Death before him had lost its wits... Then there was a pirate with the knowledge known only to that which was above him in station and power... And there was a Tree whose song, he intended to forever quiet.

Perhaps the others... May even know who this fabled Black Sorcerer was? His eyes briefly appraised the aspect of Death before him. Perhaps he knew himself?

As he questioned the Racer before him, if only for the sake of it-

The Racer's growing laughter, and even more hysterical expression only made the fury in his own expression clear- Even if the dread in his stomach shifted all the more.

It was, frankly, as good as a confirmation he was going to get.

Yet, the moment he turned his gaze away, his orders to continue their work on the aspect of Death at the tip of his tongue, he briefly froze as the Black Racer's laughter suddenly, and instantly, stopped.

The Black Racer, instead, chose to say three words to him in the laughter's place.

"YOU! WILL! FALL!"

He didn't deign to turn his gaze, even as the Black Racer's laughter returned, louder and more hysterical than before, as he walked away.

His orders to triple their efforts on the damned thing at the forefront of his mind.

...

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For those not in the know regarding the DC comic characters mentioned:

Oracle, Pythia: Pythia III (New Earth)

Black Racer: Black Racer (Prime Earth)

Darkseid's original given name was Uxas.