The battlefield stretched across the ravaged landscape of ancient Earth, a war-torn theater where the forces of Apokolips clashed with the united armies of humanity, Atlanteans, and Amazons. What was once lush and fertile ground now lay scarred and barren, choked with smoke, ash, and the echoes of a conflict beyond mortal comprehension. The armies of Darkseid sought nothing less than total annihilation.
The Parapredator Berserkers surged forward first, cloaking themselves and appearing within the allied ranks, sowing chaos. Savage's warriors countered by forming phalanx formations, locking shields and driving spears into the berserkers' exposed flesh. But the predators' plasma weaponry tore through these lines, leaving trails of carnage.
Atlanteans swept in from the flanks, water surging around them as they summoned tidal waves to drown the berserkers. General Kael hurled his trident, impaling one of the beasts and sending it crashing into a group of Parademons.
Overhead, Paraxeno Juggernauts lumbered forward, smashing through Amazonian shields with their immense tails. One juggernaut roared as it was tackled by a group of Amazons, their enchanted blades piercing its armored hide. The creature thrashed, acid blood spraying across the battlefield, melting flesh and armor alike.
The Paraxeno Brood, swarming like locusts, overwhelmed Vandal Savage's mortal forces. Screams filled the air as their acidic bile dissolved warriors and left gaping holes in the earth. Savage himself waded into the fray, wielding a massive war axe. With one swing, he cleaved through a brood queen's armored head, rallying his troops.
Big Barda and Queen Hippolyta finally clashed in a battle of titans. Barda's Mega Rod met Hippolyta's divine sword in a shower of sparks. Their blows sent shockwaves across the battlefield as they traded strikes, neither giving an inch.
Kilometers away from the main battle, Lashina engaged a group of Amazonian griffin riders. Her whips lashed out, snapping necks and cutting through wings. One Amazon dove toward her, spear raised, but Lashina caught the weapon with her whip and yanked the warrior from her mount, slamming her into the ground.
Meanwhile, Bloody Mary descended upon Atlantean ranks, her vampiric abilities allowing her to drain the life force from her enemies. A group of Atlantean mages attempted to stop her, summoning barriers of water. But Mary, unfazed, phased through the barriers and left a trail of drained corpses in her wake.
Kalibak, at the center of the Apokoliptian forces, was a whirlwind of destruction. His Beta-Club unleashed explosive energy with each swing, scattering mortal warriors like leaves. He roared triumphantly, grabbing an Atlantean and crushing him in his massive hands.
From the flagship in orbit, Mastema observed the carnage below. His violet eyes flickered as he monitored every skirmish, noting the strengths and weaknesses of the allied forces. His floating throne hummed with power.
As the war raged on Earth, Mastema sat in quiet contemplation on his floating throne aboard the Apokoliptian flagship, his glowing, violet-tinged eyes surveying the carnage below. The faint hum of the ship's systems surrounded him, a constant rhythm of dominance and control.
Suddenly, his throne began to pulse with warning lights. The air around him shimmered as Desaad's hologram materialized.
"Lord Mastema," Desaad hissed, his gaunt face twisted in apprehension. "A squadron of Green Lanterns is approaching the fleet. Their leader appears to be Kilowog."
Mastema's expression didn't change, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "A predictable nuisance. Inform my father."
Moments later, Darkseid's deep, unyielding voice reverberated through the room. "Eliminate them. Let them understand the futility of opposing Apokolips."
Mastema rose from his throne, the glowing sigils on its surface dimming as he stepped forward. "It will be done."
The void of space crackled with energy as the emerald glow of the Green Lantern squadron pierced the dark expanse. Five Lanterns, each radiating unique brilliance, floated with determination as their formation tightened. Ahead of them loomed Mastema's flagship, a colossal structure bristling with apocalyptic weaponry, its surface swarming with squadrons of Parademons. At its helm stood Mastema, seated on his blackened, celestial throne, a terrifying fusion of power and authority.
The son of Darkseid observed the approaching Lanterns with cold interest, his glowing red eyes gleaming like twin suns. A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he rose from his throne, his obsidian armor reflecting the distant starlight. The parademons parted like an obedient swarm as he stepped forward, standing at the prow of his flagship, his cape billowing in the void.
"They send a handful of Lanterns," Mastema said, his voice low and resonant, carried across space by the Lanterns' rings. "The Guardians insult me. Do they think such meager light can extinguish the will of Apokolips?"
Commander Rylis Vand, at the forefront of the Lantern formation, clenched his fists. "Mastema! Your tyranny ends here. We've faced gods and monsters before. You're nothing new."
Mastema chuckled, his laugh vibrating through the void. "Brave words, Lantern. Let me show you the weight of your arrogance."
With a snap of his fingers, the space around the flagship twisted unnaturally. Stars bent and distorted, the fabric of reality warping as Mastema's mastery over space took hold. The Parademons swarmed forward, a tide of death, their cybernetic wings humming and glowing eyes blazing with bloodlust.
"Lanterns, hold formation!" Rylis commanded, his voice sharp and unyielding. He raised his ring, and a wave of liquid-like constructs flowed out, forming a defensive barrier around his team.
Shia T'Vorak roared, her crystalline body glowing as she conjured massive spiked clubs from her ring. "Let's smash these tin cans!"
The battle ignited in a chaotic explosion of light and fury. Rylis' fluid constructs danced and shifted, slicing through Parademons with precision. Shia barreled forward, her crystal body crashing into the swarm like a wrecking ball, scattering Parademons in every direction.
Above, Klyra Vos darted through the chaos, her wings shimmering as she fired emerald arrows with surgical accuracy. Each arrow detonated on impact, tearing through clusters of Parademons.
Zekk Traal, the engineer, unleashed mechanized constructs: drones, turrets, and artillery that hovered around the Lanterns, providing cover fire and adaptive support. Dhol Urax anchored himself in the center, a glowing fortress of shields and barriers, protecting the squad from the relentless onslaught.
Mastema watched impassively, his expression unreadable. "Impressive," he muttered. "But futile."
With a wave of his hand, Mastema unleashed his power. The space around the Lanterns buckled and fractured, forming pockets of crushing voids and spatial distortions. Constructs shattered as the Lanterns struggled to adapt to the shifting battlefield.
"Stay together!" Rylis shouted, his constructs flowing to counter the distortions. But even he struggled as Mastema manipulated the battlefield with effortless precision.
Shia roared, charging directly at Mastema. "Come here and fight me, coward!"
Mastema smiled coldly. He raised a hand, and Shia's momentum was suddenly redirected. She hurtled sideways into a spatial rift, reappearing moments later in the path of a swarm of Parademons. They overwhelmed her, clawing and striking, but her crystal body glowed brightly as she shattered them with a burst of energy.
Klyra hovered above, firing a volley of arrows at Mastema. Her speed and agility allowed her to evade the distortions, but Mastema's eyes locked onto her. He raised his hand, and the space around her folded inward. She twisted and turned, her wings beating furiously, but a sudden spatial fold redirected one of her arrows back at her. She barely avoided it, but the close call left her breathless.
Zekk's constructs analyzed Mastema's distortions, recalibrating to adapt. He deployed swarms of mechanized constructs, each targeting Mastema's spatial anomalies. "I'm pinpointing his distortions! Keep him busy!"
Dhol stepped forward, his massive frame glowing as he conjured a gravitational shield. "I'll buy you time."
Mastema's smirk widened. "Admirable. But pointless."
He unleashed his omega beams, the searing red energy carving through the void with impossible precision. The beams weaved and curved, targeting multiple Lanterns simultaneously. Dhol's shield held for a moment before the beams pierced through, sending him reeling.
Rylis, desperate, conjured a massive tidal construct, a wall of fluid energy that surged toward Mastema. "This ends now!"
Mastema raised both hands, the space around him collapsing into a singularity. The tidal construct was drawn inward, spiraling into the void and vanishing. The Lanterns froze, their hope wavering.
"You've fought well," Mastema said, his tone almost respectful. "But the light of willpower is no match for the infinite reach of space."
He raised his hands, and the battlefield collapsed. The stars themselves dimmed as Mastema's power consumed the area. The Lanterns fought desperately, but one by one, they fell. Rylis made a final stand, his constructs flaring brightly, but Mastema's omega beams pierced through him, extinguishing his light.
As the last ring flickered and faded, Mastema floated alone, his red eyes glowing in the void. He turned and returned to his throne, the silence of space his only companion.
"Even the brightest light," he murmured, "cannot escape the shadow of Apokolips."
Space folded around him and he back on his throne observing the war below. The event that just occurred an after thought.