Darkness swept across the void.
Diana's bare shoulders radiated heat as her body rubbed against the upper atmosphere. Like an intruding force crashing through foam, she was struck out of Earth's atmosphere by Bardi's punch.
'Thud…'
A silent vibration echoed.
Her back smashed into an abandoned human satellite. The impact was partly offset by the atmospheric resistance and the distance she had been thrown, reducing the force somewhat. The satellite itself dented where her back struck it, drifting slowly away into the depths of space.
Diana narrowed her eyes, feeling the immense force surging through her body. Instinctively, her chest puffed out, her slender waist arched forward, and a low groan escaped from the depths of her throat. Pain flashed briefly across her beautiful face before she exhaled, regaining her composure.
Her brows furrowed slightly. Diana stared at her arm in alarm.
Her left hand, hidden beneath the divine shield, trembled uncontrollably. The muscles spasmed violently, twitching and quivering. The terrifying impact of Bardi's punch had caused her arm muscles to convulse, her bones feeling sore and numb, on the verge of snapping.
Suddenly, her left hand clenched tightly. Golden divine power flowed from her shoulders down to her arm, through her elbows and forearms, surging into her clenched fist, restoring its diamond-hard strength.
Diana's beautiful face remained tense, her eyes locked onto Bardi, who was charging up toward her from below.
Bardi's white figure was cloaked in the flames caused by his supersonic speed. Encased within the white sonic barrier, he shot upward into space, heading straight for Diana.
In the weightless environment of space, Diana flipped her body gracefully. She hung the God Killer Sword back at her waist, preparing her next move.
The Lasso of Truth glowed with golden light as she whipped it through the air. Like a snake, the lasso coiled around the thirty-meter-long abandoned satellite. In the next instant, she tightened the lasso, swinging the massive satellite overhead. With a powerful yank, she hurled the entire satellite down toward Bardi, who was rushing up from Earth.
Bardi collided head-on with the abandoned satellite, tearing straight through it. The entire satellite split into two pieces, steel fragments and mechanical debris scattering across space.
For a moment, in front of Bardi, the golden glow of the Lasso of Truth transformed into countless whip shadows, radiating divine energy. The lasso's shadows filled the space around him, aiming to slow his charge.
'Crack!'
Suddenly, one of the nooses struck Bardi directly in the chest. The tyrannical force and destructive energy instantly tore apart the surface of his clothing. His body halted midair. The fabric at his chest disintegrated into fine particles under the impact, exposing his hardened chest beneath.
A white lash mark was left across his chest, and a sharp sting spread across his skin, causing Bardi to frown.
It had been a long time since he had felt physical pain.
Immediately, the memory particles of his clothing reassembled, restoring the fabric to its original form.
Bardi's eyes burned red. He adjusted his heat vision into shockwave mode. In the vacuum of space, the crimson beams pierced through the dark starry sky, striking the Lasso of Truth. The divine-energy-infused lasso was shattered by the blast.
However, the recovery speed of the Lasso of Truth was incredibly fast. In space, it stretched and twisted like a flexible golden snake, seemingly infinite.
Just as Bardi retracted his heat vision, the lasso circled tightly around him, layering itself over and over, binding him like a mummy.
Diana's expression grew intense. She poured her divine energy wildly into the Lasso of Truth, strengthening its grip.
But in the next moment, the tightly bound Bardi forcefully stretched out his arms, tearing through the lasso's bindings. One of his large hands grabbed hold of the lasso.
With a violent pull.
Diana staggered in space. Her eyes narrowed sharply as she gritted her teeth, pulling back on the lasso with all her strength, locking herself into a fierce tug-of-war against Bardi in the void of space.
Bardi's outstretched hand gripped the lasso firmly, winding it around his palm, drawing Diana closer, coiling the lasso tighter and tighter.
"Damn you, you tyrant!"
Diana gritted her teeth so hard they felt like they might shatter. She was dragged toward Bardi, unable to resist his terrifying strength.
Suddenly, Diana released her hold on the lasso, causing Bardi to lean back slightly from the sudden release.
In that instant, Diana drew the God Killer Sword from her waist. Filled with golden divine energy, holding her divine shield in the other hand, she slashed toward the still-bound Bardi.
But Bardi's eyes flashed red once again. His heat vision shifted into shockwave mode, instantly blasting away the Lasso of Truth and striking Diana's shield, knocking her backward. She was sent flying toward the deep reaches of space.
Bardi narrowed his eyes and gave chase. Closing the distance, he struck Diana's divine shield with another punch, knocking her further into the cosmos. It was like a person chasing after a soccer ball, continually striking and throwing her farther.
The two continued to fly and collide throughout the universe, silent explosions of light and energy bursting violently with each impact.
...
Earth. An encrypted communication channel.
Fifteen nations on Earth had formed an alliance. A temporary emergency meeting had been called by Checkmate and Amanda Waller.
"Everyone, this is our opportunity."
"This kind of power is terrifying. He can move freely through space. Who exactly is fighting him?"
"The Amazon princess."
"Do we… need to take action?"
"Should we take this chance… and use a nuclear bomb to destroy him?"
"This is a good opportunity."
"With his power, he could easily rule the Earth. If we allow him to continue, he will slowly consume us, piece by piece. We cannot sit by and do nothing."
"He grows stronger under the sun. This might be the only chance we have."
"The longer we wait, the less chance we will have to resist him."
"I support using nuclear weapons!"
"I support!"
"I support!"
"America, please launch the highest-yield nuclear bomb. We all agree."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Has no one considered… what if it doesn't kill him?"
"…"
The channel fell silent for a moment.
"We can't afford to miss this opportunity. If we wait, he will only become stronger."
"Launch the nuke!"
"Launch it!"
"Launch it!"
"America, proceed."
"Maximum yield. We fully support it!"
"Blow him to hell!"
"America, do not miss this chance. Launch immediately!"
The calls for action continued, voices echoing one after another. Amanda Waller's expression darkened, her face appearing scorched with frustration. Forcing the United States alone to bear the consequences of Barmulodi's wrath? How could that be allowed?
She remained silent for a while, then finally spoke.
"My suggestion is… all fifteen nations launch nuclear weapons together."
"…"
The channel fell silent once more.
(To be continued.)
***
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