Chapter 20
DxD Universe-23 - Erebos Demon Capital
Rias was starring at what she had just done.
Behind her Kiba, who had been closely following her through the corridors, came running into the room. He took a look at the large whole in the wall and then on the Venelana counterpart sitting on the ground and the state she was in and could more or less put together what had happened.
"Rias," he said... not really knowing what to say. "We need to meet up with the others."
"Yes," she replied. "I have really messed it up, haven´t I?"
xxx
In another part of the castle, the group consisting of Raynare, Gabriel, Akeno-23 and the two Exorcists had heard and sensed the explosion as well.
"Something must have gone wrong," Akeno-23 said.
"Rias, she had powered up for a short moment," Gabriel noted. "Everyone around here has to have noticed this."
"Yes - but she wouldn´t have done that without a reason, right?" Raynare stated.
"We should better get out of here," Akeno-23 told them.
The entire garrison of the palace would be in alarm within minutes. And even if they were no real threat to them, the entire rest of the Demon Empire would react very soon too. There was no way they had not noticed this outbreak of power here at the edge of their Capital.
xxxxxxx
The others at the outside reacted as well.
Issei and the rest of their team, including the Female Vali and Serena instantly moved and appeared right before Meloch´s palace a split-second later.
They instantly saw the large hole in the castle walls. And they sensed Rias and Kiba close by.
And they saw, in some distance to the palace walls, the badly burned up body of a person, lying inside a small crater on a large speck of scorched ground and between some parts of debris.
It was however not one of their friends, but a Demon, they realized instantly. And a very powerful one as it seemed. They actually still sensed his life-energy, after he had been as it looked hit directly by a blast of Rias Power of Destruction. Most beings would have been disintigrated.
But what had this guy done to her to cause her to break cover like this?
"Rias," he called out.
"I am here," she responded.
Kiba grabbed this world´s Venelana who had been cowering next to them, looked at Rias and nodded downwards to the others.
"Come on," he said and jumped.
Rias followed him and they landed right in front of Issei, Asia, Irina and Xenovia. The last two had their swords drawn and were watching the place around them.
"What has happened?" Issei asked her.
"I - ... I messed up," she said. There was no other way to say it.
She gave a short glance to her `mother´ who was still held by Kiba.
Issei and the others saw the disleveled state of Venelana-23´s dress and started to more or less put together what must have happened. They remembered that both she and Rias own counterpart were held as slaves in this palace... as pleasure slaves.
"I see," Issei said.
"I saw them," Rias told them, "when we came into that room to look for information. I saw how he was treating her. And I just could not hold myself back."
He looked from Rias to the scorched body of the half-dead Demon and back. So this was obviously Lord Meloch himself, he thought.
"I understand," Issei said.
"We all understand why you did it," Xenovia assured her. "Even if your timing was really bad."
In this moment two things happened.
Raynare, Gabriel, Akeno-23 and the two Exorcists came flying outside. With Akeno and Gabriel each carrying an Exorcist and Raynare guarding them from possible attacks.
They too landed right in front of Issei and the others.
And second, the guard garrison of the palace became active. Demon guards were swarming out.
Some of them were coming though the gate, that had just been opened. Others were just flying out of the windows, just like Raynare, Gabriel and Akeno had done it less than a minute before.
And of course they were noticing the group of strangers standing in front of the palace.
xxx
Another group of Demon guards was just storming into Lord Meloch´s office where the explosion had happened and saw the entire back-part of the room being blown away and the large hole that was left.
And they saw their `guests´ standing down at the place in front of the palace. Together with a few people that obviously included the infamous rebel Vali Lucifer, Kuroka and Issei Hyoudou (even if the last one had been reported to be dead a couple years ago).
"There they are. Get the intruders," the leading officer of the guards called out.
Not that his order meant much at this point. The Demons who had already left the palace and were now flying over the place had already noticed Issei and the others and were already targeting them anyway.
xxx
Their just reunited group had a large number of flying Demons above them, coming from all directions. And it were becoming more and more by the second.
But it was not as if they were even actually able to hurt them. They did not even need to actually fight back, just protect themselves with their powers. None of the Demons currently attacking the was above the equivalent of a Middle-Class Devil or Angel.
They might have probably been a serious threat to Akeno-23, Serena or the two Exorcists with them. But they were all shielded by Issei, Gabriel, Raynare and Fem Vali.
They sensed one nearby who was around low Ultimate Class, probably Meloch´s second in command, but even he should not be a problem.
But the guards were not the real problem in the first place. The outbreak of power that Rias had just shown during her attack could be sensed over this entire region.
"We need to get away from here," Female Vali said.
She was speaking out what they all knew. Darkseid should have been able to sense it as well. Just like the other Erebos Highlords and any other powerful individual in hundred mile radius.
If they did want to risk having yet another major battle right now, they needed to get out of here.
But it was already too late. They all sensed him appearing.
The creature that had just teleported before them was still mostly looking like Vali Lucifer. Except for the deep red color of his eyes and his normally already pale skin, that looked now looking even paler, nearly completely white, like he was no longer looking human. His silver hair had developed visible grey strands.
To that came the black sinister aura that surrounded him now.
And he was not alone. Standing next to him was Gabriel, the one from this world. She was clad in an outfit that looked very similar to the one their own Gabriel was currently wearing. A black dress with a cleavage that showed off her giant breasts, a skirt with a slit that showed her legs and high heeled black shoes.
"I see you have come back," Darkseid/Vali said. "And to this place. Probably looking for some information about what I am planning, right? Not that this fool here knows much valuable in the first place." He looked down at the scarred half dead and barely conscious Lord Meloch next to him.
They heard a noise coming from the injured and crippled Demon Highlord lying on the ground. They realized that it was a weak call for help.
"Defeated so easily. What a disgrace," Darkseid stated, looking down at him for a moment.
He lifted his foot and placed it on the head of the helpless Demon Lord... and pressed it down. Not with too much force at first, but then using more and more strength.
The nearly whimpering plea for help was replaced with a terrible scream of pain, until... they finally heard the sound of the skull cracking and the entire head being reduced to red bloody mush.
They all had watched the gruesome display silently. Only a few of them, like Gabriel or Asia let the horror and disgust show on their faces.
This guy Meloch deserved to die many times over, even they admitted. But it was still more than unsettling that it was his supposed own leader who finished him off like this, looking like he was just crushing an insect. And in front of not only them, but also hundreds of his own allies that were surrounding them. Seemingly not caring at all.
The native Gabriel of Universe-23 also showed a few short moments of uneasiness. But probably not because she felt sorry for Meloch, but because she knew how easily something similar could also happen to herself.
"Akeno Himejima," Gabriel-23 said, "the fact that you are here with this people means that you are a member of the Resistance. Don´t even try to deny it. Is your father one too? I admit I had secretly suspected Old Baraquiel for a long time. But he is just too high-ranked and important to accuse him without proof and risk a schisma in our Faction," she stated.
"And who we have here?" she looked to their Gabriel. "Another me? One who is still a good little Angel. Friendly to everyone, always does what she is told and always keeps her legs closed," the Fallen Seraph of Universe-23 commented sarcastically.
They had not longer bothered to hide their Gabriel´s holy blessing. It would have simply been wasted efford. So her traits as an holy Angel had become visible again.
Issei and some of the others registered somewhere in the back of their minds that she was looking ridiculous like this. Here she was, clad in this lascivious, highly erotic dress. But with her halo shining above her head at the same time. If they had not been in the most dangerous situation, they would have laughed out.
But none of them really gave more than a single thought about it. They had serious problems and their minds were concentrated on it.
Darkseid/Vali turned back to them.
"So you are here again?" he said. "You seem different," he addressed Issei. "Having taken one step more to greatness, haven´t you? Or maybe one on the way to your doom? You know the risks involved, don you? But you seem to have made it, haven´t you Issei Hyoudou? But don´t misunderstand, it could still happen to you."
"The same could be said about you, right?" Issei replied. "What happened? Has something gone wrong with your new vessel?" The last time he had not really noticed - given last time he and the others had been too busy to survive - but Darkseid´s powers, no - his entire being, was clearly unstable.
He could sense the minds and souls of this alien god Darkseid and the ones of Vali Lucifer clashing with each other. And not only that, there was also something else, a third soul burried between them.
What exactly had happened? Issei and the others asked themselves. If Darkseid had wanted to possess Vali, where did the third soul come from? Had someone interferred?
"I finally have a vessel that is worthy of me," Darkseid stated. "Of course one like this would not be easy to `synchronize´ with... and put up some level of resistance. `Vali´ will be made to cooperate, in one way or the other. And soon the problem will be solved either way."
"if you say so," Issei responded.
"A child like you, who has merely tapped into some greater power will never defeat me," Darkseid/Vali stated, "... even backed up by other children." He looked around at the others.
"But there is one `adult´ under you, isn´t it? he said. "Gabriel," he addressed her.
Suddenly Gabriel felt Darkseid´s power being focussed on her. And she suddenly felt herself lifted off the ground and an enormous pressure on her body, threatening to break her bones and tear her apart.
"Gabriel," Issei, Raynare and Rias called out.
"Gabriel - A Seraph - many thousands of years old, one of the most powerful Angels in your version of Heaven... pathetic," Darkseid/Vali said with disdain. "If it were the Gabriel of my old universe, who was a man by the way, he might at least have entertained me for a minute."
"Let her go," Issei said.
"Make me," he replied. "Show me this new level of power of yours," he challenged.
"Or maybe you need a bit more motivation. How about one of your lovers as well?"
And Rias suddenly found herself in the same situation like Gabriel. Gripped by their enemies power and hanging in the air.
"It was your power that led me here, was´t it? How careless of you," Darkseid commented.
He begann to charge up what they all recognized as a small Omega Beam in his right hand.
But Issei reacted. He cut off the power that suspended Rias and Gabriel with a burst of his own. And they both fell down to the ground, freed now.
"Very good," Darkseid/Vali said. "But now, how about a serious test?"
He used the Omega Beam he had prepared... and fired it at Issei instead. In the moment he did that, the power of the Omega attack suddenly seemed to increase drastically.
But Issei once again responded with his own abilities.
There were very few things in this universe and others that could resist an Omega attack... and very few beings who could survive one. They were basically a more potent and concentrated version of the Power of Destruction that his world knew. It existed to erase everything from existence.
But Issei did something that only very few beings would ever be capable of or even comprehend. He used his ability to manipulate reality.
The Omega Beam vanished just before it reached him.
This was however not the so called `reality manipulation´ of Devil Magic and some other Supernaturals powers, that ultimately just came down to simply letting useful objects appear when you needed them or magically redecorating your appartment. This was much more than just creating or changing stuff from nowhere.
To put it very simple, Issei just wanted - willed - the Omega Beam not to exist. So it did not... and was erased from existence.
The actual process was of course far more complicated. Since in a sense it was Darkseid´s mind that brought the Omega Beam into existence in the first plance, it was technically a contest - Issei´s will against Darkseid´s. To Issei´s luck however he did not seem to have much of his will behind this particular beam. So it had been quite easy to erase it.
"Not bad," Darkseid/Vali admitted. "This time you are actually worth killing."
`Flee,´ Issei told the others telepathically. `I am holding him off.´
The others hesitated for a moment. Of course they did.
"Have you just telepathically told your friends to flee?" Darkseid/Vali asked him somewhat bemused. "I actually have no problem with that," he told him. "As long as they agree to stay out of my way and return to your world."
They all looked at him with some disbelief. The Demon soldiers and the native Gabriel included. But nobody said anything.
"You should remember, you are the ones who came here twice. I would have no reason to want you dead, if you hadn´t come to disturb my plans. And I am still willing to let you go."
"We came in the first place because your allies the Erebos Demons have targeting the Underworlds of offer universe and especially the Devils, you should know that perfectly well," Issei responded.
"Yes, I know. But that were their plans and their ambitions, not mine," Darkseid stated. "My plans currently only involve this universe here and to reform it to my image, at least for the moment."
"And you expect us to believe that?" Rias burst out..
During the entire conversation, the slave counterpart of her mother was still standing next to her, with everything what was going on clearly completely over her head. And looking horrified at her `daughter´, shocked that she would even dare to open her mouth in front of a creature like this.
"I will not lie. After I have raised up my new Apocolypse here and made this world mine, I will probably be interested in further conquest, yes. But until that moment comes, it might be some time. So think about it. I would even let you go Issei Hyoudou."
"Did you not just want me to demonstrate my power?" Issei asked.
"Yes - and your small demonstation was very satisfying. I guess that is Vali´s influence on me. But you know as well as me that a direct fight between us might destroy this planet. So why would I take this risk when I can just let you go?"
"Issei?" The female Vali looked at him quite insecure. Akeno, Serena and even the two Exorcists had similar looked. They were not sure if their allies would simply leave them.
But, on the other side...
"We have no right to ask them to fight our battles for us," Akeno-23 said.
It was true. Issei and the others had come here willingly to assist them. And if their version of Earth was truly not longer threatened? If they decided to leave, what right did they have to stop them? Especially against this seemingly invincible enemy. This was their world, not theirs.
But, what chance did they have without them?
"Battles? You make it sound like there would be any contest between me and your kind Akeno Himejima," Darkseid stated.
"You natives of this world of course are another matter," Darkseid/Vali continued. "You can not simply leave. But there is also a choice for you. For you it is to either join me and my new Empire and become my Servants - or die. And that is also the message you can bring to your leaders when you leave now. They have once week to decide to surrender."
"But your Majesty," the Captain of Meloch´s Demon guards said, "this people are rebels, we can not allow them too..."
Before he could even finish his sentence, the Demon´s head was suddenly blown off his shoulders, along with the heads of the two soldiers who just happened to stand next to him and blood flying all around them.
"Does anyone here question my decisions?" Darkseid/Vali asked.
Nobody else said anything.
It was this single move that made Issei shiver more than anything else. Not because of the absolute callousness and disregard for the lives of his subordinates. Even if that was certainly part of it.
But because of the reactions and wild fluctations in the structure of his opponent´s supernatural energy at that moment. And because of the few short glympses behind Darkseid´s/Vali´s mental shields he could take at this short moments. Both were showing him the same thing - absolute malicious chaos.
He was mad, truly mad. He could just as easily decide to kill all of them at any moment just for fun.
"You all heard what I said," Issei addressed the others, "leave. All of you."
The others gave in.
Rias, Gabriel, Akeno-23 and Vali-23 teleported away, taking Asia, Irina, Murayama, Xenovia, Kiba, Serena, their two Exorcists and even the slave Venelana with them.
xxx
Raynare followed a few moments later. She however just saw or rather sensed something.
In some distance to them, a group of slaves were just being led out of the castle, watched by a three Demon guards. And under this slaves there was one person she instantly recognized. While most of the slaves were covered in rags, this one was wearing a well made nightgown - Rias counterpart from this world.
Raynare reappeared right in front of them and their guards. She made a gesture and the three Demons watching them simply lost consciousness and passed out.
Then she teleported herself and the entire group of slaves away, to the same spot the others had moved to.
Darkseid/Vali let it happen. Or rather said, he did not care.
xxx
"So - does that mean you accept my offer?" he asked Issei, the last one of them who was still there.
"Let us say we are thinking about it," he replied.
With this words Issei teleported away as well.
Darkseid/Vali was left behind, with the native Gabriel in some distance beside and hundreds of Demon Warriors standing or flying around them.
He however was for a few seconds just starring at the empty spot where Issei had just left. Had this been the right decision? he questioned. Parts of the personalities in his subconscious wanted to fight and destroy this new enemies. Some parts to keep them from interfering further, others simply for the challenge.
But no, he reminded himself, a fight like that would likely destroy this planet and more importantly, the Demon´s technology here and derail his plans. Even he was not able to open a stable dimensional portal in the size neccessary under only his own power.
And the group around this Hyoudou, they knew this as well. They would not risk the destruction of this planet. They would made the wise choice and leave. At least for the moment.
`Kill them. Rip them apart,´ the voice of something inside him shouted.
No. It was better to get them away without a fight until he had reached his goal, another part of him thought.
Soon he would have everything back what he lost. When he had regained his Empire, then. He could still kill them later... and he would, soon.
"Now - shall we return?" he said to Gabriel-23, who was standing next to him.
"Of course My Lord," she replied. Trying successfully to keep her voice from shaking.
xxxxxxx
In some distance away
Issei reappeared a moment later at the meeting point they had agreed to earlier.
"We need to get back to the Vatican as quickly as possible," he said to the others. "We have to warn them about this creature."
"Raynare?" Rias said meanwhile, looking at her Fallen Angel friend.
She had just seen that she had brought her own counterpart, along with a group of other slaves here along with them.
"Let us say it was a snap reaction," Raynare said.
"Thank you," Rias replied.
"Mother?" the native Rias-23 said, looking from Venelana-23 to her own double and her teammates, visible insecure.
"You don´t need to be afraid of us. We are with the Resistance and the Vatican," the Female Vali said to them.
"Well and some allies," Irina commented.
"We will bring you to a save place," Akeno-23 told them.
As save as a place can still be on this planet, Issei thought in his mind. Remembering what he had sensed from the creature who had once been the alien God Darkseid and the Leader of the Devil Hunters.
They teleported once more, this time directly back to the Vatican of this world.
xxxxxxx
Rome, Vatican - DxD Universe-23
The two native Seraphs Michael and Azazel were sitting together with Issei, Gabriel, Raynare, Rias and the native female Vali-23 and Akeno-23.
"Let me make this clear - are you asking me to evacuate the entire world?" Michael asked incredulous.
"No," Issei responded, "I am just asking you to send as many people off this planet as possible," he said. "I know this sounds crazy, but every person we get off this planet is one life saved," he explained.
"You wanted us to bring you information. And we found out that we are dealing with what can only be called an insane Super God.
I sensed it. Whatever has gone wrong with his attempt to `take his new body´, it has left multiple souls and minds unbalanced trapped inside one being. This creature is barely holding itself together. He is the equivalent of a living time-bomb and that with a power that rivals the strongest Top Ten Beings.
As it is, he can snap completely at any moment and blow up the entire star system... or worse," he stated.
"Heaven and the Underworld are not safe either."
"I... understand," Michael said with more than a bit hesitation. "But what you ask for is impossible. In opposite of the Demons we simply don´t have this ability."
"The problem is," the Seraph Azazel said, "the Demons have never shared the technology to travel to other realities or other star systems even with their Fallen Angel allies. And even under the Demons themselves only a small circle has actually access to it. Believe me, we tried to get our hands on it many times. But we never managed to replicate it."
"I can open dimensional portals for you," Issei stated.
And then what? he even asked himself. Letting the entire population of this Earth walk through them? The thought alone seemed absurd. Even if it were possible, how long would it taken to move even the population of this single town?
And to where? As members of the Guardian Organization they knew the `interdimensional coordinates´ of a few empty parallel Earth´s where life was possible, but with none or only very little civilization and Issei should be able to make a connection to one of these worlds.
But that didn´t change the problems involved.
"Portals? For billions of people?" Michael asked in disbelief as well, "I doubt that." Completely rightfully, Issei admitted.
Yes - there was no way he could transport even nearly as many people, even now with his evolved powers. Especially not in a short time. Evacuating the entire population of this Earth, the entire idea sounded like sheer lunacy.
Issei knew that perfectly well himself.
A years ago he would have found it crazy to even mention the idea. But by now it seemed he had seen so many crazy things that he actually considered the idea for a moment.
"We have also found out that this Darkseid is planning to open another dimensional portal," Gabriel stated, "a very big one. And nobody knows where to? Or what the consequences could be."
"Is there no way you can stop him?" Akeno-23 asked.
"You have seen some of what he can do," Issei stated. "If we fought him and even if we don´t loose, this planet would for sure been devastated through the fallout alone."
"We should go and inform the Older Guardians about this," Raynare suggested. "It is clear that we are in over our head here."
"So you want to leave?" Vali-23 said. "I can not hold it against you," she commented.
"Just for a short time, until we got help," she replied.
"Than it could be too late," Rias said. "Besides, the others had already informed us that they currently have their hands full."
"There must be at least something they can do," Raynare argued. "A few of them at least have to be able to help. Besides, do you have a better idea?"
"No but..." Rias responded.
"I will stay here," Issei said. "I will do everything I can to help here until you return," he told Raynare.
"And the rest of us?" Rias asked.
"It would be better if you all go with Raynare," Issei stated. "Or you can stay here and assist this people with me. You all can decide this on your own. But honestly, I wish you would leave with Raynare."
In the end Rias, Asia, Irina, Kiba, Xenovia and Murayama decided to go with Raynare and return to their own Earth to contact the other Guardians and ask for help. Mostly only because Issei had asked them to go.
While Issei himself staid on DxD Earth-23 until they would return.
xxxxxxx
Erebos Capital Kyoto
Darkseid/Vali had returned to `his´ palace, along with this world´s Gabriel-23.
He could easily sense the fear and insecurity she felt about him. He could not really hold it against her. At some level he was aware that his mind was unstable. This should also be no real surprise after all what had gone wrong when he had taken this host.
But that too was something that would be solved very soon. When he would have another version of Darkseid - of himself - as a vessel.
He entered the Palace, with Gabriel-23 still walking at his side. Playing the role of the perfect ally and minion.
The time had come.
Inside they went towards the center of the large building and there to the stairs leading upwards. They could have just teleported, but you could say out of a mood he decided to walk the distance to the top.
A short time later they had reached the roof of the palace. And the machinery that had been build up here. It consisted of a large metallic wall that surrounded the entire roof in a large circle, with four large pillars standing at the edges, several control consoles and metal beams connectiong the different parts of the construction.
The entire apparature was, roughly said, a large collector of supernatural energies. Energies that came from different sources.
One of them would be Darkseid/Vali himself. Then the three - or now rather two - Highlords, who were waiting for them here and several other powerful Demons and of course the Fallen Angel Leader Gabriel-23, who had volunteered - more or less willingly - to supply some of their energy to the energy syphon.
"I guess Meloch is gone?" Lord Pazuzu stated.
They all had sensed the large outbreak of energy at the location of his castle and now they appeared here without him. The conclusion was not difficult.
"As it turned out he was not worthy to take part in our plans," Darkseid/Vali stated. "We will just have to make up for his loss by supplying a bit more energy for the process."
"Shall we bring in a few more slaves?" Lord Ninlil suggested. "It should not take long to gather a few more, maybe a half hour."
This was the third source of energy. In a close distance to the palace they were holding large numbers of slaves, tens of thousands of them, Devils and a few other supernatural beings, locked up together in very large halls.
In opposite to the participating Demons however, their entire energy would be used. The caged slaves would be automatically executed in the moment the process started and their magical- and life-energy transferred directly into the machinery. From the point of view of the Demons not even a sacrifice, since it was the purpose of these slaves to advance their goals, with their lives or their death.
"Your Majesty," the Chief Engineer of the palace addressed him. The Demon tried his best not to show his fear and nervousness. But did a very worse job of it than Gabriel or the Highlords and it visibly showed.
"I must remind you that we have never opened a portal even close to this size. And this, transporting an entire planet here though the dimensions. I - I admit that I am not entirely sure about the risks. And if anything goes wrong, it could have catastrophic consequences," he pointed out.
"If you would give us just a few more weeks to run simulations and maybe test the process on other planets, we..."
"Oh yes Chief Engineer - but I don´t have weeks," Darkseid/Vali replied. "I am not sure if I have days either. Because in that time my enemies might interferre with my plans again. And you don´t have that time either. In fact you only have seconds. So I guess if you want to live past this moment, you will just have to take that risk and start the process, right?"
"Yes Your Majesty," the Chief Engineer replied.
The two Demon Highlords Pazuzu and Ninlil exchanged a short look at this words. They also looked at the Fallen Angel Gabriel, who like them did her best to conceal her fear and her doubts about this. But it was far too late to stop this. Their new `ruler´ could destroy them all easily if he wanted.
Maybe they should have never allowed him to take a new body. Maybe they should have never allied themselves with this creature in the first place.
They begann the process.
While the few hundred Demons gathered around - with the two remaining Highlords and the Fallen Angel Leader Gabriel demonstrately being the first - donated a recognizable part of their energy, leaving them all somewhat exhausted...
... a few kilometers around them ten thousands of slaves died a quick but brutal death, as the machinery they were trapped in, each of them strapped to a part of a device that was absorbing their supernatural energy and then when they are `empty´ automatically send a shock though their bodies that killed them, to absorb the rest of their lifeforce as well. This slaves, who had been held captive and had their powers restrained for in most cases their entire lives, did not had much energy individually. It was their mass that made the difference.
And then finally, as all this power was being channeled, collected and concentrated, Darkseid/Vali added his own, which made the greatest part of it... and he directed it all up into the sky.
He used his supernatural senses, that were now directly connected to the Erebos Demon´s interdimensional technology, to look through the layers of the Multiverse to search what he was looking for.
And finally he found it. He sensed it... Apocolypse. Not his own Apocolypse, that had been destroyed in the war with the Guardians and the Gods of New Genesis centuries ago, but another version.
A version trapped in a pocket dimension, cut from it´s normal universe and it´s natural space and time. Yes - that was ideal. So he didn´t have to worry about bringing back New Genesis into this world as well.
He used all the power to open a dimensional portal, a giantic one that would be ten thousands of kilometers in diameter when it was fully open... to bring this Apocolypse here.
He opened the portal far away enough from this planet to allow a stable orbit, at least for the time being. In the long run he would stabilize both planets artificially. Not that he cared much if this Earth would be thrown out of it´s orbit. But it belonged to him, like any other planet in this universe would soon.
He again reached out with his senses, through the opened portal in space above them, to find the other version of himself that existed on this Apocolypse and contact him. To convince him that they could merge and become an even more powerful version of themselves.
But in this moment Darkseid/Vali realized that he had made a terrible mistake. He could not find another version of Darkseid on this planet. In fact this Planet Apocolypse seemed nearly entirely lifeless... nearly, with one exception.
He sensed a single malevolent presense on the other planet, one whose power might equal or surpass even his own. It was in fact a presence he had encountered before, a name he remembered.
A monster even by his standards. Could this being have killed his counterpart and all life on this Apocolypse?
And he realized that this other being had noticed him as well. Hastily he cut the mental connection and tried to close the portal. But he did it too hastily. The energy already unleashed became unstable.
The Demon Highlords Pazuzu and Ninlil noticed this as well and teleported away in the last moment, just like Gabriel-23.
The unstable energy meanwhile caused a backlash, both up in space and here down on Earth. In the sky it caused a crack in time and space, a rift in the universe.
And down on Earth the gathered energy that was not yet send up into space caused a giant explosion, an explosion that swallowed the Demon Emperor´s Palace, the town of Kyoto and everything in thousands kilometers around them... practically the entire country of Japan.
xxxxxxx
The two Devil Hunters Kuroka and Koneko were watching the disaster from a distance. They were currently on a small island in the Japanise Sea, not far from the Chinese Coast.
And as they sense the outbreak of energy and saw the light of the giant explosion in the distance that seemed to cover at least most of Japan, they were more than happy that they had decided in time to flee.
"It seems we made the right decision to leave," Koneko said quitly.
They were not sure how exactly this explosion was caused, but given the bits they had heard about Darkseid´s plans, they had a good idea.
Vali, what had become of him? Was there even still anything left of the man they loved?
"Yes," Kuroka replied in a similar tone.
xxxxxxx
Europe, Italy - the Vatican
Halfway around the planet, they sensed the catastrophy as well. Millions over millions, humans and supernaturals alike died within seconds.
And by what Issei and the others had told them, this might just be the beginning.
Issei meanwhile had started to actually realize the insane idea he had suggested a short time earlier.
He had opened multiple dimensional portals to an unpopulated alternate Earth he and his team had shortly visited once over two years ago. And they were using it to evacuate both Angels and members of the Vatican and citizens of the town Rome itself.
He planned to help out in other cities as well. He did not know how many people he could get off-planet before something even worse happened. But he would continue until Raynare and the others returned with help.
xxxxxxx
Japan - the area of Kyoto
As a few minutes later the explosion calmed down, in the place of the center of the catastrophy, there was nothing left but an seemingly endless wasteland and a single being standing in the middle of it.
A humanoid-shaped shadow-like being that was now struggling somewhere between living sentient energy and physical lifeform.
A being that was not longer quite sure itself if it was Darkseid, Vali, the Demon Emperor... or something else.
Side-not: The alternate version of Apocolypse mentioned here is based on the one from the DC Animated Universe and the ending of the film Justice League Dark: Apocolypse War. And the presence Darkseid sensed was of course Trigon.