"Ugh…"
Diana's graceful figure was sent flying backward, crashing into a nearby weather satellite. The satellite, once gleaming and stable, caved in under the impact, falling out of orbit and drifting toward deep space.
There was no air in the vacuum of space, so no sound could be heard. But the violent shock and vibrations echoed through Diana's body. Her waist felt as though it had been broken. Her internal organs shook violently. Her eyes were wide, bloodshot, with a faint golden halo mixed into the crimson. Blood spurted from her lips, floating miserably into space.
Diana had never faced such a powerful enemy. She was completely at a disadvantage, with no chance of victory.
Clenching her bloodstained teeth, her brows tightly furrowed from the pain, her eyes filled with unwillingness. This was her first time appearing on Earth. She had come here wanting to do something for its people, to protect them. Yet she was beaten down like this, struck from space without mercy, thrown about like a toy, sent flying again and again, spinning through the void like a meteor.
She clearly possessed the God Killer Sword, an artifact sharp enough to cut at the atomic level, and was armed with divine artifacts from head to toe—the divine shield, the Lasso of Truth, the guardian silver bracelets, the Starlight Crown, the Champion's Battle Helmet. Every piece of gear was an artifact of power.
Yet all of it was useless. She had not even been able to plead for justice on behalf of the people, let alone execute the sinner. Instead, she was the one being hunted down and beaten mercilessly.
She could feel it clearly. If she could land a single direct strike with the God Killer Sword on Barmulodi, she would surely be able to injure him. But not a single strike had connected. She had swung hundreds of times, landed nearly a hundred punches, yet not once had she hit him with her blade. The abundant divine energy flowing through her body only served to keep her barely in the fight. She knew that if she were careless, he could crush her to death at any moment.
A trace of grievance rose in Diana's heart—the humiliation of being beaten so thoroughly by Bardi. This was not a battle. It was torture.
But that trace of grievance quickly vanished.
Because Bardi was fast. His white trench coat whipped wildly in the air, his high nose, wide forehead, and indifferent expression illuminated under the starlight. His towering figure approached swiftly once again, charging straight toward Diana with another punch.
Diana raised her glowing divine shield. The punch slammed directly against its surface. The golden light of divine power rippled like water, quickly dispersing under the force. The violent impact traveled through the shield, through her arm, and deep into her bones. Her brows tightened in pain. Her cheeks puffed slightly as she gritted her teeth to endure.
The satellite behind her was instantly torn in half. Steel and mechanical parts scattered into space, floating amid the debris. Once again, Diana was knocked away, streaking across the void like a meteor.
In the midst of being thrown back, she adjusted her posture slightly, preparing to withstand the next attack, waiting for any chance to strike back.
But this time, she was startled.
Among the scattered debris floating in space, Bardi's white figure stood suspended. He did not continue the chase.
Instead, his gaze shifted toward Hal, whose body had transformed, resembling a monstrous insect.
Diana suddenly felt her bare back brush against something cold. The sharp, hard surface of insect appendages made contact with her skin, carrying with it a chilling, fearful sensation that crawled across her body.
The feeling made her panic for a brief moment, memories flashing through her mind—memories of her childhood, when she had faced a giant spotted python that had been larger than her, ready to swallow her whole. That same primal fear rose within her now.
But she quickly steadied herself, suppressing the panic. Turning her head, her eyes widened in shock.
She saw Hal's eyes radiating a murky yellow light, glowing like lanterns. His strong body was covered in yellow markings, as if rotted and decayed by ancient fear. Behind him, ten pairs of dark yellow insect-like limbs extended outward, clawing violently at the air.
"You…"
Diana's eyes widened, her heart trembling. Her red lips parted involuntarily.
Hal's appearance…
No matter what, this form seemed far more terrifying than even the tyrant Barmulodi.
"I don't have much time. I will assist you in restraining him. More than fifteen super nuclear bombs are on their way, heading toward this position."
"This is Earth's last resort."
"We have to keep him contained at the detonation center and kill him there."
Hal's expression remained blank. In space, where there was no air, no sound could be transmitted. But Diana clearly understood his words by reading his lips.
She looked at Hal deeply. Her divine shield lifted once again, golden divine energy surging down her arm, enveloping the shield.
She responded with action.
"Alright!"
Her expression was resolute. Her eyes remained steady, without the slightest hesitation. She sheathed the God Killer Sword at her waist. The Lasso of Truth appeared in her right hand.
The Lasso of Truth had once successfully restrained Bardi for a short time.
The exchange between the two was brief and direct. But Bardi, still watching the insect-like monstrosity Hal had become, clearly noticed their conversation.
Bardi raised his eyebrows slightly, tilting his head. His gaze pierced through the vacuum of space, down toward the Earth's atmosphere.
The number of nuclear bombs on Earth had undoubtedly exceeded any period in history. Even Hera could not fully control the nuclear arsenals of the entire world. Because of Bardi's existence, every nation felt unsafe, and many had secretly stockpiled weapons beyond any oversight. Even Hera was powerless to control them all.
Above Earth.
At Destroyer Base in Oregon, United States, a 43-megaton nuclear warhead sat atop a rocket over 40 meters tall. Flames spewed from its engine as it lifted off, ascending toward Bardi's position.
In Russia, at Red Star Base in Yaroslavl, a 32-megaton nuclear missile launched into the sky, streaking toward space.
In the United Kingdom, at Kimbreth, a 30-megaton nuclear missile rose, heading toward its locked target.
In the East, from the grasslands of Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, the No. 1 Nuclear Base launched a 30-megaton nuclear warhead into space.
In Africa, from the mercenary nation founded by Deathstroke, a 24-megaton nuclear missile was fired toward the stars.
Germany, Impala, Kahndaq… one after another, the fifteen most powerful nations on Earth launched their nuclear missiles.
All across the globe, wherever one looked, rocket flames soared into the sky, climbing toward space, converging on a single target.
That night, the flames of rocket launches filled the world with tense anticipation.
In every city, people lifted their heads, watching the skies. Across continents, they could see the rockets blazing upward, heading toward the same point, as if the entire world was coming together to ignite the most brilliant display of fireworks.
(To be continued.)