Darkseid.

Lord of Apokolips.

The God of Evil.

The greatest evil to ever exist. Evil Incarnate.

A being that is feared throughout his Omniverse. The ultimate villain to many. There is no evil greater.

Darkseid was in the process of conquering all life and ruling the multiverse. That was his goal. That is what he wants.

But there is one thing Darkseid didn't know: there was more to reality and existence. More to the Multiverse than what he thought there was. Or rather, another Multiverse out there. Another Multiverse outside of his existence. Outside of the existence of his own Multiverse.

He would soon discover it. A whole new existence outside of the Omniverse. A whole new existence. One with its own multiverses and its own realities and dimensions and universes.

It was one that had a lot of worlds. A lot of universes and dimensions. A very vibrant place, it had a variety of different worlds, planets, dimensions, realms, and the like.

Darkseid soon learned of this place, a place that had been unknown to him. It was an entire existence that existed outside of the infinite multiverses and outside of all existence. It was an existence that had never been known about and that no one in the Omniverse knew of. An existence outside of the existence of the multiverse that he was a part of.

"So. There are certainly not fewer multiverses out there that even I have heard of." The God of Evil stood with his arms behind his back. He had heard of this existence, and he had heard of a place. A place that existed in a whole other multiverse. An entirely new multiverse that was separate from the one that Darkseid knew.

"Desaad. What information has been gathered from the probes we've sent into the unknown?" Darkseid wanted to know. Desaad, the master torturer, the right-hand man of the Lord of Evil, approached Darkseid and stood in front of him. He was holding a holographic tablet of sorts. On it was an image of a universe. The image was a starfield of sorts, a universe.

"Well. It would seem that there is a universe out there. It has no known name. A Multiverse that exists outside of the one that we exist in. And the 'Multiverse' we speak of. Is one that has an infinite number of universes in itself." Darkseid narrowed his eyes. Infinite multiverses? And it's outside of the Omniverse?

"This Multiverse has no known name, but we have designated it as the 'Nintendo' Multiverse." Due to an odd resonance that seems to hum a sound that sounds like 'Nintendo.'"

Darkseid narrowed his eyes even further. He didn't care much for the name, but the idea that there was an infinite multiverse beyond the Omniverse intrigued him. The fact that there was a place outside of all existence that he could rule was a thought that intrigued the Lord of Apokolips.

"The name matters not. What matters is its usefulness. Every existence has its own set of constants, yet every item is a variable. A tool, a weapon, or a catalyst for destruction. Or even beings of such great power to control. That is what matters. This existence will have many things of great value for me. Even this multiverse will fall to my might. It shall become mine." Darkseid said.

He wanted to conquer the infinite multiverse, no matter what was there.

"Well, our scanners have recently picked up someplace that could be of wonderful use. This Universe is numbered 1992. The greatest place of interest appears to be a realm known as the 'Angel Land'."

"Hmph. Yet another realm of angels. It seems that they are present no matter where I look." Darkseid snarled. He was not fond of the heavenly hosts and their doings, and he would have nothing of them.

"Show me what we know."

Desaad brought up an image. An image of a planet. "The Angel Land. The main realm that is ruled by the Goddess, Palutena, who is a deity that controls and maintains Light." Desaad explained. Darkseid narrowed his eyes.

"A goddess of light?" he said. That was something that interested him. He had an interest in deities of all kinds, especially those of the light. They were his enemies. The New Gods of New Genesis. Those of light and life. It would only be fitting to have this goddess fall before him.

"We've found a place of great interest to us. A heavenly city, known as the Skyworld." Desaad showed Darkseid a holographic display of the Skyworld. A place of great interest for the Lord of Evil.

"That city will fall. The city of angels will bow before the Lord of Evil. And I will make it happen." Darkseid said with a smile.

"We've also picked up readings from the place that we could use. There seems to be some kind of relic or artifact within this city that is a source of power. This item, the Three Sacred Treasures. Is said to be the power of the Gods, given physical form."

"Yes, My Lord. And this power could be a great asset for us, for it is an artifact of power. The power to control the fabric of the universe and the fabric of all life." Darkseid's interest grew. An artifact of power that could control all of creation. He was definitely interested.

"Tell me more." Darkseid wanted to know.

"It would appear that the three sacred treasures were forged by Palutena herself. They are an Arrow of Light, a Mirror Shield, and the Wings of Pegasus. And beyond that is the Great Sacred Treasure. A divine superweapon created by the gods, capable of immense destruction. Among many other items that would interest you, My Lord."

"Hm. Interesting." Darkseid's interest was peaked. "Then it would appear that I will have to conquer that realm."

Darkseid thought to himself. The power of the three sacred treasures and other items was something he wanted, but it wasn't the reason he wanted to go. He wanted to conquer the realm of Palutena because of its divine status and the fact that it had angels.

Angels were not a favorite of the New Gods of Apokolips, for they were a symbol of all that the New Gods of New Genesis stood for. They were the antithesis of what Apokolips was, and the very symbol of all that was good, and that is what made them such a hated thing.

If he could destroy this realm of angels and make Palutena bow before him, then that would be a technical insult to all the forces of New Genesis.

Darkseid's conquest had begun. The conquest of this entire multiverse had just begun.

He decided that he was going to begin his invasion. He was going to invade Angel Land and bring all the forces of Apokolips to that world.

And then he was going to enslave the goddess, Palutena. She will be his trophy.

The New Gods were going to invade. And they were going to do it with everything they had, and with everything they could muster.

They would show this multiverse that the New Gods were the superior beings in the cosmos, and they were going to show the gods and angels of this world, and this multiverse that the New Gods were the superior gods and goddesses.

Darkseid, in his mind, saw the Angel Land falling to the forces of Apokolips. He saw the Goddess, Palutena, enslaved. And he saw himself, sitting atop her throne, as the ruler of that realm, and this entire multiverse. He was going to show these gods and angels what true power is, and he was going to show the Goddess, Palutena, what true fear was. Fear of the New Gods.

Darkseid's eyes glowed red. "This multiverse will fall to Darkseid. All of it." he declared. He was determined, and his mind was set on conquering the place, no matter the cost. This was an entirely new Multiverse that he could conquer, and that was a fact that he could not ignore, no matter what.

This was his first conquest, and it was going to be a good one, and a good beginning to the invasion. This would be a good beginning to the conquest, and the beginning to a long campaign of conquering the infinite multiverse.

The Lord of Apokolips was going to make the entire infinite multiverse fall to the forces of Apokolips.

The Heavenly Land of Angel Land.

Skyworld

Ruled by Palutena, it is a realm that encompasses the Underworld, the Overworld, Skyworld, and the Palace in the Sky.

In the Palace in the Sky, Pit, a young angel, and the captain of Palutena's Guard, sat on his throne. He was the leader of Palutena's army. The Palace was beautiful, the throne room was beautiful. It had pillars of marble and a marble floor, with statues of angels on each side of the throne, with a giant golden statue of Palutena in front of it.

"Hah...Can't we go back to Smash already?" A bored Pit asked. He was sitting on the throne of the goddess, with a bored look on his face. It was an average day, and he was not having any fun at the moment.

"Oh, Pit, you're just sitting here bored and thinking of the days when we went to that endless tournament in another dimension." A woman's voice was heard from the statue. The statue had the power of the Goddess, Palutena.

It was an odd sort of magic that she used, and she was using it to talk to him. She had a sort of connection with him that allowed her to communicate with him.

"Well. We haven't had anything to do in quite some time, so I've just been sitting around doing nothing." he replied.

"Well, we'll be back at Smash one of these days." She assured him. She was the goddess that he served, the one who gave him his mission, the one who guided him.

"I guess so." Pit said. "No one's really been gathering up recently for Smash. It's been pretty lackluster, if you ask me."

"We had our fun there. They all did. When that boy with the key showed up, it felt like a sort of curtain call." She said to him. "All good things must come to an end after all. Well, most things, anyways. Some things are just never-ending."

"You think so? You think that this will be the end of the Super Smash Bros. tournaments?"

"Well, maybe not, but it seems like the tournaments may be on a temporary hold, or they may be coming to a close." She told him.

"Kind of a bummer. It was nice to see everyone else, even when there's so many fighters now."

"Well. Things are not the same as they used to be."

Pit sighed, as the statue of the goddess glowed.

"It was a good time, and I think it is a shame that they're not gathering as often." Pit said. The tournaments had been fun, but now it seemed that the tournaments were on hold.

"Who knows, maybe we'll have another tournament one of these days. Oh!" It was at this moment that Palutena had an idea. It was so bright that even the statue showed off an expression that represented that brainstorm "I just had a wonderful idea! Why don't we just have a tournament here?" She asked. She sounded excited by the idea. "That could be a lot of fun! A lot more fun than sitting around doing nothing!"

"Our own?!" Pit jolted up from that idea, promptly falling out of his seat, "Oh, that sounds like it'd be fun!"

"Yes, a lot of fun." The Goddess replied, and she sounded like she was smiling. "It could be a great way for everyone to meet again. Everyone, even the villains. Even Bowser. A nice get together."

"That would be a lot of fun!" Pit was enthusiastic. He got up and walked around the room. "What kind of tournament should we have?" He asked, and he was excited.

"Well. We could have a lot of fun. It would be fun to see all the fighters come here. I mean. I do have a nice arena." She sounded like she was thinking of an idea. She sounded like she had a plan. A plan to have some fun.

"True." Pit said.

"It's a big arena. I mean, it's a place where I hold competitions for my angels. So it would work perfectly." She sounded like she was getting ready to get the ball rolling on her idea. "It would work out well."

"I'd love to see the others again!" Pit exclaimed, and he sounded like he was getting ready to have some fun.

"Viridi's here right now, so I'll let her know about-" But before anything else could be said, Palutena's senses went off like a warning. "Wait. Hold on. Pit, there's something wrong. Something is wrong with the atmosphere of Skyworld. It's..." Palutena went quiet for a second. She couldn't sense anything.

"What? What's going on?" He asked. Pit looked concerned, and he sounded like he was getting a bit worried. "What's wrong?"

"I can't feel it. It's like there's a strange presence here in the air." She said, and she sounded like she was worried. "It's something...unusual. I've never felt this presence before. Something that I have not sensed before."

What Palutena was sensing should not exist here. Not even for a moment. The concept of it shouldn't even exist here, but it does.

That something, or rather someone, was Darkseid.

Appearing high in the skies was a portal of unbridled power, letting out a haunting sound, almost as if the very skies were wailing in terror, in a booming, thundering sound of a god. The portal, known as a Boom Tube, was one that led from the DC Universe, or rather the Omniverse, the infinite multiverses, into this universe, into this existence.

Darkseid's invasion had begun.

The residents of Angel Land were all fixated on the azure skies as they began to open up, as a portal formed, a portal that looked as if it was made of raw, cosmic power. All activities and actions were ceased by those below as the sky began to open. The people of this land stared up at the sky in horror and wonder as the skies opened, and as an army of flying vehicles came flying through, as an army of warriors and monsters came through the portal.

The people were terrified at what was happening, but the angels and centurions, the defenders of this land, were not terrified. They were enraged. This was a land of peace, and a land of the heavens, and the skies should not open like that, and a horde of warriors and monsters should not be flying through the skies.

Appearing from the Boom Tube were creatures of a horrifying disposition and build. Parademons is what they were known as. Winged monsters with glowing yellow eyes and green skin. Monsters of Apokolips. Monsters of Darkseid.

Parademons were creatures of an infernal sort of evil. Creatures of a sort of hellish disposition and nature. These were not the sort of creatures that you would see in a place such as Angel Land, nor would they have any place here. But these monsters were invading the land. Invading the realm of Palutena.

Behind them, behind the Parademons, was a host of other beings of great evil.

They were flying on disks that floated through the sky, with the Parademons flapping their wings as they flew through the air.

They were all led by one figure. A towering man. He was a dark-skinned man, with an appearance that looked like it could have been chiseled out of the darkest of stones.

His features were that of an imposing man, a powerful man, a being that radiated darkness. His eyes were a dark red and glowed with a fiery light. He was dressed in dark grey, almost black, robes, with the insignia of a Greek Omega symbol emblazoned on his chest, with a silver belt and silver bracelets. His head had a strange metal ring on top of it. The being that led this invasion was the Lord of Evil himself.

It was Darkseid himself.

The God of Evil.

His face was that of a being of a hellish disposition. A face that was a mask of cruelty, and a face that was a mask of hatred. It was a mask of anger. His eyes glowed with the light of hellish fire. The eyes that were filled with the flames of hell. The God of Evil, Darkseid, looked upon this world, this universe, and the entire Multiverse of Nintendo with his fiery red eyes, with a look of disdain. He looked down upon the world, and he looked upon all the people of the land that were below.

They were looking up at him with fear, with wonder, with horror. Darkseid's gaze fell upon all those that were below him. They were all terrified of him. Darkseid knew this. He knew that they were all afraid of him, that they all feared him. That is why he was here. This is what he wanted. And to fear him. That is what Darkseid desired.

"What the...!" Pit ran out to witness this terrifying sight as the Sun itself was blocked by the abundance of Parademons and soldiers. The sky was full of them. They were all flying through the air, all coming from the Boom Tubes that had opened, and all heading down to Angel Land. "What in the name of..."

"Let the Universe Howl in Despair. For I, have arrived." Darkseid spoke while hovering casually. His words echoed and reverberated with power, with force, with the force of the Omega. He was the voice of evil. The voice of Darkseid. The God of Evil. And his words were filled with power. The Omega.

And that voice was heard throughout Angel Land, throughout Skyworld, and throughout all of the lands of the Nintendo Multiverse.

Pit and Palutena looked up and heard the echoing, powerful voice of the Lord of Evil.

"What was that voice?" Pit asked. Palutena couldn't feel the being in the air, the being that was there. The one that was speaking to them all.

"I have never felt a power like that. It is as if a new entity has been brought into this land, and it has no place in it." Palutena said. Pit was looking at her and he looked concerned, and he looked scared. "An invader!"

The forces of Apokolips, Darkseid's army, the forces of evil, began to rain down on the ground of Angel Land. Explosions, bursts of flame and fire, the cries of terror and fear, the screams of anguish and agony, all were heard. The forces of Darkseid were attacking Angel Land, and the forces of Darkseid were conquering it.

The Parademons swarmed the skies and the ground, their claws locked onto the residents with the intent of capturing and subduing them.

And if they resist, destruction will come their way, but that option is always something these ruthless creatures tend to go for. Swooping down, they latched their sharp claws and talons onto the people.

They were like vultures. They were like harpies. They were like demons, and they were like monsters. They were like the beasts of the underworld. But not the underworld Palutena knew of. They grabbed onto the people, and they dragged them off.

But just as quickly as they attacked the place, Angel Land's forces were quick to take action. They were quick to attack.

The Centurions were the first to respond to the attack, flying into battle to stop the Parademons from taking over the land.

The Centurions were like the angels of old, with their wings and their armor. They had their weapons in hand, and they were fighting the Parademons.

The Centurions fought with their swords and spears and arrows, and they were fighting with all their might.

The Parademons hissed at the Centurions as they flew towards them, and they tried to fight back. But the Parademons were much too fast, and much too agile, and the Centurions were too slow to keep up with them.

The Parademons were too fast to be stopped, and the Centurions were too slow to keep up with them. The Parademons were too strong, and the Centurions were too slow. The Centurions were too slow to stop the Parademons, and the Centurions were too slow to stop the Parademons.

Whatever attack they tried wouldn't be enough to slow down or even push back the invading Parademons. The Centurions would be slaughtered and torn apart by the Parademons as the winged beasts tore them apart.

There were those that were trying to fight back against the Parademons. The forces of Darkseid. They were trying to fight back. They were fighting with all the strength that they could muster. They were fighting back with the force of a hundred angels. They were fighting back with the force of a thousand angels. But they were being overwhelmed.

"Who are these guys?!" Pit asked, witnessing the carnage and the destruction of his people. "What's going on?"

"So much evil...It's unreal. Not even Hades had this much pouring out of him...Not even Dharkon." Palutena said, in disbelief that such evil could exist. An evil she was struggling to comprehend.

A Parademon flew down to the ground, where it landed next to a group of people that were trying to escape. The Parademon's wings folded and it walked on the ground, like a human. Its arms and hands were human-like, but they were not human arms and hands. They were clawed and scaled, with sharp talons. Its eyes glowed a sickly yellow and its skin was green and scaled.

It turned to look at the group of people that were fleeing, lunging right at them. It pinned down these people with its superior strength, preventing any escape. Other Pardemons began to touch down, doing the same to anyone that would dare try and escape.

The Centurions and Pit were doing their best to fight off the Parademons, but it wasn't enough. The Centurions were being killed by the Parademons, and Pit was being pushed back.

This war was being waged in the skies, and the ground was being torn up by the Parademons, but the worst has yet to come. The Parademons were simple troops to Darkseid. Absolutely standard. The bigger threat came from Darksed's Elites. The forces that were far stronger. Darkseid's Elites were coming, and they were coming fast.

One Elite came flying down from the sky, his feet touching the ground. This was the New God of Strength, Kalibak. He was the son of Darkseid, the son of the Lord of Evil. He was the strongest of the New Gods. His body was a mass of muscle, and his skin was the color of stone. He was dressed in green and black, and his eyes glowed with a yellow light.

"A new existence to conquer. But these people don't look like a worthy challenge at all." Kalibak spoke. "So fragile and pathetic."

"Nnhhh!" One of the Centurions shivered in fear as Kalibak looked at him. "M-monster...!"

"Monster? That is a compliment!" Kalibak laughed. "Now, face the wrath of Kalibak!" he shouted as he charged at the Centurion. His fists slammed into the Centurion's body with such force that the Centurion's body was rendered motionless. This one strike made him go limp as he slid across the ground, crashing into a pillar that would soon crumble The New God of Strength laughed at the carnage that he had caused.

Other Centurions and Pit heard the sound and they turned to see the carnage that had been caused. Kalibak laughed at the sight of the carnage, continuing his rampage.

"Who's next?" Kalibak asked as he walked forward, stepping on the body of the Centurion. His foot crushed the body of the angel, blood oozing from beneath his foot. His feet were the size of a small car.

Another soldier of Apokolips dropped down, making his grand entrance as he kicked a centurion away. A large beastly humanoid wearing armour, it was Glorious Godfrey. One of Darkseid's generals, his ability was the power to sway and corrupt the hearts of men to the will of Darkseid, the Lord of Evil.

"Heed my call, foolish inhabitants of this land. Your savior and your leader have come. Now embrace and become part of something greater. Join us! Embrace Darkseid! Embrace Apokolips! Submit yourselves! Be subjugated by the greatest power in all of existence! Join us!"

Godfrey raised his arms to the heavens, yelling as loudly as he could. Godfrey's powers worked to sway the hearts of the people, to subjugate their minds. Godfrey was using his powers to convince the people of Angel Land to join Darkseid. To follow him, to obey him.

"This isn't good!" Pit yelled, seeing that one of his men had fallen prey to the words of the man. "Knock it off!" Pit was going to charge into battle and rescue the Centurion, but Palutena's statue started glowing as she stopped him.

Palutena shot a beam of blue energy out from the statue, hitting the corrupted angel with a beam that caused his mind to go numb and fall unconscious.

It did not kill him, but it rendered him completely incapacitated and unable to act. Pit then saw the two Generals begin to fight each other as Palutena explained the situation to him.

"Pit...I'm trying to look into these invaders and what they're all about, but I can barely grasp anything from them! Whatever I can grasp makes absolutely no sense! What I'm getting from them is stuff that feels impossible. Worlds clashing into each other, the concept of life itself, beings and entities that simply should not exist, gods that aren't actually gods, beings that seem like they shouldn't even be able to be grasped...just, I don't get it. Their reality, it makes no sense. They aren't actually Gods at all...they're some kind of New God species..." Palutena didn't know how to explain it herself, she couldn't put it into words.

Pit frowned as he dodged another Parademon that swooped by him. "Just what are we dealing with here?" he said

The Parademons screeched as they continued to fight, and Darkseid remained unmoving above the world, watching over the world, as it burned. His forces continued to swarm and ravage Angel Land and its people. The Centurions were fighting back, but the odds were not in their favor. The numbers of the Centurions were diminishing rapidly.

Suddenly, a mighty explosion happened near the palace of Palutena. An explosion that shook the very foundations of Angel Land.

"An explosion!" Pit gasped as he saw it happen. Palutena's voice became audible in his ears once more.

"The Sky Palace is under attack!" she said.

"Palutena!"

"Head over there, NOW!"

Darkseid, meanwhile, stood still as a statue in the air. Hovering silently, the God of Evil watched as his forces devastated Angel Land. The skies were filled with the cries of people, the sounds of battle, the sound of death, the sound of destruction, and the sound of suffering. Darkseid simply smiled at the chaos, and he began to float downward, his descent towards the city slow and deliberate.

He reached the ground, standing among his Parademons and his New Gods. His Elites. As he descended, the very sky seemed to scream. A horrible scream of fear, a scream of pain, a scream of anguish. A scream of terror. The sky seemed to scream as if the sky was a living thing, screaming in horror at the sight of Darkseid. The sound echoed through the heavens, and it caused fear in the hearts of everyone. Everyone that heard it.

"Hmph. There seems to be no real resistance at all in this land." Darkseid thought to himself.

The God of Evil descended and walked over to his generals.

"Lord Darkseid." Virman Vundabar was a short and stocky man, dressed in black and orange armor. He wore a helmet on his head that was made of the same material as his armor, and he had a small and sinister grin on his face. He bowed before Darkseid. "We are crushing this worthless place like paper mache!"

"Yes. My conquest continues as smoothly as ever." Darkseid spoke as he approached Vundabar. "Tell me, who are the main rulers of this land? What resistance should I expect from this land?" Darkseid asked him.

Vundabar stood up. "From what our intel tells us, there's a goddess known as Palutena who controls this place." he said. "We have sent Lashina to invade her palace and retrieve these powerful items. That worthless hunk of architecture will serve us better."

"The Three Sacred Treasures." Darkseid spoke as if he knew. "Yes. It shall belong to me."

"That goddess will be reduced to a crying, blubbering, groveling slave before you, My Lord." Vundabar bowed before the God of Evil. "Her fate shall be yours."

"Indeed." Darkseid said.

"Lord Darkseid, what is your command?" Another servant, Bernadeth, asked him.

"You two lead the charge in conquering this realm, taking slaves and subduing others." Darkseid ordered. "Those of power, you will seek and bring to me. Those without value are to die." Darkseid's red eyes narrowed as he spoke to them.

The two Female Furies, the ones known as Bernadeth and Stompa, bowed before him.

"Glory to Darkseid!" they spoke together, and they ran off, rushing to take part in the attack.

"The rest of you." Darkseid addressed the rest of the servants that were in front of him. "You are to destroy every enemy that gets in your way." Darkseid told them, and they nodded and took off after them.

Darkseid walked forward and observed the burning city and the destroyed landscape, as if he was admiring art or a beautiful sunset. His eyes narrowed as he watched the scene. "In the end, everything bows to the will of Darkseid." He spoke. His red eyes glowed with evil intent.

Pit ran as fast as he could, passing by the battles, past the wounded angels, past the dying Centurions, past the soldiers of Darkseid, past the Parademons, past the New Gods, past the warriors, and past the women. Past the ones that were fighting and those that were fleeing.

As he passed by, Pit saw the faces of despair, and he saw the faces of hopelessness, and he saw the faces of anger, and he saw the faces of rage, and he saw the faces of anguish, and he saw the faces of sorrow, and he saw the faces of pain, and he saw the faces of resignation. And he saw the faces of resignation, and he saw the faces of determination, and he saw the faces of hope, and he saw the faces of passion, and he saw the faces of love, and he saw the faces of faith, and he saw the faces of friendship, and he saw the faces of courage, and he saw the faces of courage, and he saw the faces of resilience. The faces of his friends.

"Hey, Lady Palutena?" He called for the goddess. "Are you sure I can beat these guys? I mean, I know that I'm supposed to protect you from whatever comes at us, but-"

"No doubts now. Get to the Sky Palace before things go from worse to cataclysmic." She ordered.

Within the walls of the Sky Palace, within the temple, all was dark. Within the sacred chambers of the sacred treasures, the only illumination came from the flicker of flames and torches. The only illumination in the chamber came from the flickering glow of flames, as if a candle had been lit and the wind blew it out, leaving a faint ember of light.

Shadows moved about in the darkness. Large shadows moved in the darkness, shadows that were larger than humans. Shadows that moved as if they were alive.

A group of beings suddenly rushed through the halls of the sacred temple, rushing as if they were being pursued.

These beings were the guardians of the temple, the guardians of the relics, and they were the guardians of the Goddess. They were the defenders of the holy place, the sanctum of the Three Sacred Treasures. The Temple was the last refuge of the divine and the pure, the last sanctuary of the holy. It was the last defense against the forces of evil, the last line of protection from the wicked and the corrupt. This is why the Guardians had to keep the Three Sacred Treasures safe from the vile hands of the intruders. These invaders, these desecrators, were the enemy of the just. They had no business here. No right to be here.

But they forced themselves here regardless.

Such as the woman known as Lashina, who had the grace of a ballerina and the strength of a bull, was one of the elite. She was a member of Darkseid's elite team, and she was also one of his most ruthless, most deadly enforcers. She was a leader of a band of warrior women known as the Female Furies, a group that was led by a cruel, brutal, and sadistic female named Granny Goodness. Lashina's whip wrapped around the neck of the guardian, pulling him to her, and her foot connected to his jaw in a hard, bone-shattering punch.

"Gah!" the guardian was knocked to the side, hitting the wall, his armor trembling, his face swollen from the hit, his eyes glazed over, and his teeth shattered from the force of the impact.

Lashina didn't bother to finish the job, turning her attention to the other guardians. She had her orders, her mission. Retrieve the three sacred treasures. Destroy all opposition. Nothing else was relevant, so long as her master's will is carried out. The treasure belonged to her and her lord, the ruler of the multiverse, the god of the new universe, the god of the old universe, the god of the new age, the God of Evil, the destroyer of the cosmos. Darkseid!

One of the guardians was struck from behind, the impact of the blow causing him to stumble forward, his feet tangling in each other, his arms flailing, his head jerking backwards. His body went flying, crashing into the wall, and sliding down the cold stone floor. The Guardian's skull cracked, and his brain was scrambled, his eyes rolled into his head, his mouth hanging open. His heart was beating, his lungs were breathing, and yet his mind was gone. He was dead.

"Pathetic." Lashina snarled, spitting at his corpse, walking away, leaving the corpses to rot. Her boots made a soft crunching sound on the stones of the hall, echoing in the empty corridors.

It didn't matter that she killed them. All of her actions were justified. Her master was pleased, and that's what mattered. "Come on, boys. Won't you be so kind to let a lady through?~" Lashina gave a smirk and a chuckle. The rest of the guardians were ready to give her the same treatment, but they had no idea of the threat they were facing. They didn't realize the extent of the evil that was coming.

With absurd agility, Lashina jumped to the side of the corridor, rolling on the balls of her feet, her hair trailing in a black and white streak. She was no longer visible, a shadow in the dimly lit hallway. With a sharp crack of her whip, the guardians that tried to stand in her way were whipped to submission, the lash tearing apart their armor.

She was far too nimble for them to properly hit, moving with a grace and dexterity that was far greater than any of them could muster. Before the Guardians could react, they found themselves in a heap, broken bones, and bruised bodies.

Some were already deceased. In the span of seconds, the battle had turned in Lashina's favor, and she was free to roam the halls, looking to complete her task. To retrieve the treasures of the goddess.

Meanwhile, a certain Angel Captain had just arrived at the scene, seeing the destruction in full detail. "What is happening?! Where is Lady Palutena?"

"We are in need of assistance, Sir Pit!" a Centurion said to the young man, running to meet him. "Someone's invaded the Palace of the Goddess!"

"I'll handle it." the angel replied, holding a golden bow. His name is Pit, the Captain of the Guard, the one and only hero of Skyland, and the champion of the goddess Palutena. "Don't worry. They're going to pay for hurting the people of the Goddess."

Pit charged in, rushing through the corridor and jumping to the top of a large pillar, using the higher position to get a good shot on the invader. Pulling his bow string, a glowing blue arrow formed on the string. Letting go of the drawstring, the arrow launched and soared straight towards its intended target. It was a perfect shot.

The arrow flew straight, the projectile shooting toward the target. Unfortunately, its flight was cut short, the shaft of the arrow severed in two. Lashina had used her metal chain-whip to slice the arrow in half, stopping the attack before it could even reach her, her reflexes and timing almost superhuman. Pit was stunned, surprised, shocked, and impressed.

"Hm? Are you challenging me, little boy? "Lashina eyed him up and down. To her, he was just a child from the way he looked. He had no business being here and she was a veteran of war, having seen and endured much more. She had no time to waste on an amateur. But she was intrigued by his boldness and recklessness. A child playing soldier. How amusing. "You think that a simple toy will harm the likes of me?" the female Fury laughed. "Do not make me laugh. I will crush your bones beneath my heels. Choose wisely, boy."

"Nice words from someone breaking and entering." Pit remarked, drawing his bow once again. Another arrow was drawn and fired. And another. And another. And a third, a fourth, and a fifth. Each was blocked, swatted aside, and deflected. Lashina's speed and precision was unmatched. Even when faced with an onslaught of projectiles, she stood her ground, whipping her chains, and deflecting the arrows. When her opponent's barrage slowed down, the whip lashed forward, wrapping itself around his bow and yanking the weapon out of his hands, sending the item to the ground.

"Man!" the angel exclaimed. Without the bow in his hand, he was helpless. Defenseless. He needed to act quickly, and grab a weapon from the nearby room. There were plenty of spare weapons in that room. Rushing to the armory, the captain grabbed the first thing that could help. One of his favorite sets of weaponry.

The Insight Staff.

"You want to dance, boy? Then come and dance." She motioned, beckoning him to come closer. The staff and her own chained weapons, clashing against each other. Metal rang against metal, the clang of the weapons reverberating throughout the corridor. Sparks danced in the air. The force of the impacts was strong, but the weapons were durable, and the combatants were strong. Neither yielded to the blows of the other, and both fought with the strength of the gods.

"Haah! You're stronger than you look!" Pit commented. For such a skinny, young looking fellow, his fighting spirit and power was impressive, and his skill and finesse were on point. The fight was intense and the movements were fluid and quick. Yet neither was gaining the upper hand. Both were skilled and experienced in their fields of battle, and their respective strengths and weaknesses were being exploited and countered.

"Tch. Don't flatter yourself." she grumbled, as the tip of her chained whips grazed the cheek of her adversary. The attacks were fierce and vicious, and the damage inflicted was considerable, but not fatal. She was a trained and hardened soldier of Darkseid, after all. "Your praise means nothing to me, and will do nothing to save you from defeat, or from death. So why don't you just accept the inevitable and die like a good little boy." her lips curved upwards, forming a sinister smile that could chill the blood of any mortal.

"I can't afford to. Not while Lady Palutena needs me." the captain responded. The clash between their weapons became fiercer, the blows harder, the strikes quicker, the swings more precise, the clashes sharper. Both of them were putting their everything into the fight, and their muscles and limbs ached from the exertion, their bodies screaming in protest, their breaths becoming labored and ragged. But they kept on, not willing to stop until the other was defeated or killed.

"Is that right?" the leader of the Furies asked. "Then that's the first place we're going. Once we're done with this pointless scuffle, I'm going to destroy her and that useless statue of hers." Lashina stated. Pit could see in her eyes the intention to carry out that threat. He wasn't about to let that happen, though. That wasn't going to happen on his watch, not on his life. If they wanted to hurt the Goddess, if they wished to harm his friend and companion, they'd have to get past him first. He'd protect her no matter what, no matter how many foes came to try and kill her or capture her, he would never allow that to come to pass. Never!

He would fight, and he would win, no matter what the odds, no matter what the consequences. No matter what, no matter where. Whether the enemies were monsters or demons or beasts or angels or deities, he'd keep fighting and he would prevail. Whatever it takes to defend his home and the world of mortals and his beloved goddess.

Whatever the cost, he'd gladly pay. This was the resolve of a true warrior, a protector, a champion. An absolute will that cannot be broken. Unyielding faith that will not falter. The courage of the divine. The dedication of the loyal. These are the traits of a hero. Of a legend. And Pit was that legend, and that is exactly who he was.

Back outside, the onslaught from the forces of Darkseid continued, aggressively beating down Palutena's forces every step of the way. Though her centurions were brave, the sheer numbers and ferocity of the enemy were too much for them to overcome. Every attempt to repel the attackers was met with failure and the death of more and more of her warriors, and eventually her centurions began to fall back. Their retreat was orderly, disciplined, and dignified, not in the manner of panicked and demoralized soldiers, but of the sort that was expected from a well-trained military unit.

And as the centurions retreated, a figure appeared, descending from the heavens above. The figure of Darkseid himself. As the sky parted, the God of Evil descended. He was an imposing figure, his dark robes billowing in the wind. His eyes glowed a deep, blood-red hue and his skin was pale, giving him the appearance of a corpse. On his head was the crown of Darkseid, and his sceptre in hand was that of the ruler of the cosmos, the conqueror of galaxies and worlds, the supreme tyrant, and the ultimate oppressor.

His gaze was upon the retreating centurions and his face showed no signs of anger, or of frustration, or of rage, but merely a calm and calculating demeanor, as if analyzing the battlefield and his opponents, studying their strategies, tactics and formations, observing the terrain and their fortifications and positions, gauging their strengths and weaknesses. It was the countenance of a general, a tactician, a leader, a strategist, an emperor, a despot. An overlord and a king of kings.

Darkseid's presence filled the skies of Skyworld, and his eyes were fixed on the palace of the Goddess. Within that building, within that temple, there were things that interested him greatly. The relics of the Gods. Three Sacred Treasures, that is what was inside of that place.

Powerful artifacts of great significance to the beings of these worlds. Weapons and items of the highest order, and his army had to seize those. If not to use, then to keep them away from the hands of the opposition.

To deny the enemy resources, to weaken their strength and diminish their ability to resist. That is what a commander does, and Darkseid is a commander, and a master of war, a being of strategy, a planner and thinker of cunning, an intellect of brilliance and genius. A god of conflict. A deity of domination and control.

Thus, he had ordered his minions to storm and assault that stronghold, that bastion of the gods. That fortress and citadel and temple of the heavens, and to pillage that vault and take that treasure, to bring him the wealth of the deities. To deliver him the riches and fortune of the immortals, and the rewards and the bounties of the infinite, of eternity.

Below him, his son Kalibak continued his rampage, seemingly untouched by all those who approached him. In his hand, he held a defeated Centurion, cackling with pride. "Bah! What a pathetic existence so far! Is there no one that can challenge the might of our forces, let alone me?!"

"Right here!" A voice roared out to Kalibak. That voice was Magnus, a human warrior and mercenary. Tall and broad, and a mighty, fearsome foe to anyone, no matter their size or status. He had a massive blade in hand. A legendary sword. "I thought I was gonna have a good time up here today, then you all showed up. I'll show you a real fight!" he charged, ready to swing his sword.

Kalibak was amused at this display. Someone that wasn't a pushover, someone that could actually provide him some amusement and entertainment. Finally. Something worthy of his time, and something to sate his thirst for carnage, his hunger for destruction. "So, you're not just another worm, are you? Well then..." his grip on his Beta Club tightened. "Let's play."

"Playtime is over." Magnus replied, and swung his sword, a strike of tremendous power. The two clashed, and their weapons, the bludgeon of Kalibak and the long blade of the Human warrior. The sound of metal on metal was deafening. Kalibak's weapon, the club was heavier, larger, and more brutal in its construction. It was a blunt, savage, and cruel implement of war. Its design was simple, its purpose clear: to break and batter, to smash and pound. It was not elegant, or refined. But it was effective. It was deadly, and that is all that mattered to him.

Magnus slid back from the clash, his giant sword vibrating in his grip. "Hmph. Not bad." He gripped the handle of his weapon tighter. His fingers clenched around the hilt, squeezing the leather and wood, feeling the weight and the balance. Preparing himself for the next blow, the next attack, the next bout, the next skirmish. "Now I'm really getting warmed up."

He rushed in, charging his adversary, his feet pounding on the marble floor of the halls, his legs pumping, carrying him forward. The two of them clashed once more, their weapons reverberating, the impact of the strike shaking the walls, the ceiling, the entire temple, and the earth and sky.

Their arms were straining, their bodies were tense, their muscles were taut, and their limbs were rigid, locked in the struggle, in the test, in the trial of their abilities and prowess.

"Hahaha!" Kalibak laughed, going for an overhead smash with his mace, aiming to crush and pulverize. A heavy, hard-hitting strike. One that could shatter the strongest of metals and stone. A powerful, devastating, lethal, finishing move. One that would obliterate, demolish, and decimate, a single, fatal, killing blow.

But not one that would work, not this time, not on this day, and not on this opponent.

This is no ordinary man, this is no weak or frail, or common or mundane mortal, no average or mediocre or feeble or pitiful, no lowly or inferior or unimpressive or unworthy creature, but an exceptional and outstanding, a remarkable and excellent, an exemplary and extraordinary individual, a being of incredible strength and resilience and determination and willpower.

"Grrrrh!" That didn't mean he wasn't struggling. Magnus's knee dropped and hit the ground hand, his palm pushing against the flat surface of his large sword, his other holding the hilt and keeping the blade level, preventing the crushing strike of his enemy's mace from hitting its target.

"Hmm. I suppose you aren't a fragile weakling like the rest after all. However!" Kalibak would throw his Beta Club into the air before suddenly having his hands glow. He unleashed his Psi Beams at the defenseless and vulnerable human, who was still trying to regain his footing and stance, and was caught completely off guard.

There was a bright flash of light and a burst of heat, a blast of energy that slammed into the chest and torso, and the head and neck of his adversary, knocking him backwards, the momentum of the beam sending the him rolling across the floor and tumbling, his body crashing, slamming, banging, and thudding. Landing on the hard, smooth, and polished white tile, a sharp pain shot through his spine and backside, a sudden, sharp, intense jolt, and he groaned in agony, his teeth grinding together. "Agh!"

"Ahhh, yes." The Son of Darkseid grinned wickedly, retrieving his Beta-club, now looming above him. "Cry, scream, moan in anguish." he gloated, mocking, ridiculing, taunting, insulting, and demeaning the defeated man.

Magnus grunted, clenching his jaw, his fists, his whole frame. Anger and resentment burned in his heart. Rage and hate flaring up, a flame, a fire, a blaze. Wrathful and furious, and vengeful and vindictive. Biting, seething, bitter, spiteful. He refused to be beaten, to surrender and submit, to yield and give in, to concede and forfeit, and to quit and lose.

"You wish I would!" He grabbed the shaft of his blade and lunged forward, swinging wildly, recklessly, and madly, his actions driven and controlled solely by fury, wrath, ire, and outrage.

"Hm?!" Kalibak, while taken by surprise, dodged the swing, jumping backward. "Looks like the beast is enraged, and a rabid animal is dangerous. But even wild animals know when they're bested. And you, human, have been bested."

"You haven't beat me, not yet!" The warrior declared, rising to his feet, and standing tall, his shoulders squared, his posture proud, his chin raised. "You're no better than the Underworld Army, a bunch of thugs that think that just because they have power, that makes them strong!" h

"Against my might and the forces of my Father, that means nothing!" Kalibak shut it down promptly before lunging at Magnus. Magnus too would lunge at him, the arms of Kalibak raised and the sword of Magnus being pulled back to great lengths. The two of their attacks would collide, a shockwave of force and a thunderclap of sound. Two titans battling each other. Two mountains colliding. Two planets on a course of destruction and annihilation.

The initial impact was an eclipsing shockwave of light that formed around them, breaking down many tiles and pillars near and far.

Back at the temple, the angel was engaged in fierce battle with the Female Fury, Lashina. His staff and her electrically charged whip clashed and sparked in a series of lightning fast blows. Neither could land a decisive strike on the other, and neither were giving an inch. But Pit was starting to get a good grasp of what Lashina was capable of.

"She's fast, sure. But I think I'm starting to figure out how to counter her." Pit already knew that her style of combat relies on overwhelming her enemies with speed and brute force, and she prefers to fight at range, striking quickly, then pulling back and attacking again. But, her focus on ranged combat and quick attacks leaves her open to an attack that's slower and harder, an attack that can take advantage of her lack of defense.

That is what Pit was about to take advantage of and right no, the Insight Staff wouldn't do the trick. But he knew of a weapon that could, and he needed to make his way to the room. Dodging a slash, and a stab, and a swipe, the young captain made his way to a wall. Running on that very wall, he jumped, landing on the opposite side, his feet skidding to a halt. "Over here!"

Lashina snarled as the angel fled from her, her anger growing, her temper rising, her blood boiling, her veins pulsating. How dare that child run away from her, from her and her whips. She would not stand for that. Her face twisted into a scowl, and her eyes narrowed. With a loud and shrill yell, the New God pursued. Rushing, chasing, hunting her prey, and her quarry.

Pit, meanwhile, was in the room, looking for the weapon he needed to put a stop to this New God. And he found it, the Tiger Claws.

"With this, I can stop that lady. All I have to do is grab her, and I'll have her beat. I just need to grab her." he said, grabbing the palm. Pit turned to face the door, waiting for the moment. Then, it happened. Lashina came in, rushing at him with the speed of a bull. This was his chance. Pit rushed at her, and with a swift motion, grabbed the wrist of the hand that was about to strike. Lashina's eyes widened, realizing that the angel had managed to grab her. "Gotcha!"

With all of his strength, the young angel flipped her overhead, throwing the female Furies member overhead. The force of the throw sent her tumbling to the ground, landing with a hard thud, a loud crack, and a sickening crunch, the marble floor shattering beneath the force of her weight, and her body hitting the cold, hard ground with a sickening smack. Lashina groaned in pain, the force of the impact knocking the air from her lungs, her head swimming in a daze, her body aching and sore, and her limbs heavy and weak.

"Not bad, little boy." she groaned, her voice hoarse, her tone strained, her words slurred. "But I'm far from defeated!" her face contorted in fury and rage. Rising to her feet, Lashina charged at Pit, her whip raised high. This time, she was aiming to kill, her eyes filled with a murderous gleam. Her hand was poised to strike, and her arm was moving quickly, the weapon arcing through the air.

"Sorry, lady. But you're through." Pit declared, dodging the attack, the whip barely missing him.

He then increased his speed with the claw, and struck the woman's side, sending her reeling. She was sent hurtling across the room, her body crashing into the wall, and she slid to the floor, her head hitting the marble with a loud thump, and she was motionless, and unconscious.

"Wow." the angel exclaimed. "I can't believe I was able to beat her." Pit was surprised that he had been able to defeat such a skilled opponent, even with the help of the Tiger Claws.

Successfully, he managed to protect the treasures. For now, at least. There was still much left to do for the young angel. Everyone else is fighting hard to protect the home they love from these invaders, so he had to put in the same amount of effort.

Pit looked at the unconscious body of the woman and thought that it would be best to restrain her somehow. She was a dangerous opponent and he didn't want to have to deal with her again if she regained consciousness. He looked around the room and noticed the large, heavy chains that were attached to the walls. He went over to one of the chains and began to drag it towards the woman.

She was heavy, but Pit managed to get her onto the chain without too much difficulty. He then wrapped the chain around her, binding her arms, legs and body, making sure she wouldn't be able to move.

He also used a smaller chain to wrap her hands together, ensuring that she wouldn't be able to use her weapons, and a chain around her neck as a safety measure, just to make extra sure she wouldn't escape.

Once he was finished, Pit stepped back to admire his work. She was now bound and secured, and he hoped that she wouldn't be able to break free. He felt relieved, knowing that the treasures of the gods were safe for the time being.

Then, a voice called to him. A familiar voice. The voice of his Goddess. "Pit, can you hear me?"

"Yes, Lady Palutena?" the angel replied.

"I'm glad you're safe. I was worried that those creatures might have gotten to you. I need you to go to the city, to defend the people from Darkseid's army. His army is already invading, and the Centurions are doing all they can to defend Skyworld. I'll meet up with you later, okay?" Palutena said.

Pit nodded. "Got it."

"Be careful, Pit."

"You got it. I won't fail you."

"I know you won't. Now go." With that, the communication ended. Pit took off, heading out of the temple, and to the city, where the battle for the fate of Skyworld was taking place.

But he wouldn't get that chance. Not after a blast would suddenly obliterate the walls near him. Pit would be flung back into another wall, the air knocked out of him. The young angel groaned, perplexed by that devastating blast as he got on his knees. The one responsible for that blast was the God of Evil himself.

Darkseid.

"Hello, Boy."