27 Steppenwolf 2

[Arnold POV]

15 minutes later.

It had been a good bit since Steppenwolf decided to start his phase two, and I gotta say, we were not having a good time.

For some reason his speed and strength had doubled from taking of a pair of armbands, while even his reflexes somehow got better.

Whenever I clapped to switch places, his axe would somehow find me, and this time, even if it missed, a painful surge of lightning would still course through my body.

The fact that he also built like a tank didn't help the situation, as nothing we did seemed to work against him. The only visible damage he was receiving came from Wonder Woman as my sword didn't even scratch him and Cyborg's energy blasts weren't even properly acting as distractions anymore as he would simply brush them off. Batman was also pretty much useless, although he did save our asses a couple of times with some well placed tasers and smoke pellets.

But the worst part was definitely his axe. Holy shit that thing was way too powerful. It had a homing function, it could be recalled at any time, and holy shit the lightning hurt, it was basically an electric chair on steroids. If not for «Itadori Yuji's physical prowess» combined with cursed energy, just one second of exposure to it would kill a normal person.

While he was actually looking relatively unharmed, we were in a bad place. Both Batman and Cyborg looked exhausted and Wonder Woman was bruised all over with minor cuts.

I however, had it the worst. I was bleeding all over and looked like someone had emptied an entire wine bottle on the top of my head. He seemed to have singled me out. Even calling for help didn't work as we could connect with any of the other leaguers.

I wondered 'How is he this strong? I swear he wasn't this powerful even in earth prime from what I had read.'

Currently, Wonder Woman was getting a beatdown by Steppenwolf as Cyborg was trying to use his blasters to buy her a moment to escape.

'Shit, we're gonna lose at this rate, and I need to use an RCT coupon to heal myself and fast, or I'm gonna bleed out.' As this thought ran through my mind, I realised I only had one option left.

I had to make a decision, 'If I don't do this, we all die here.'

'What had Leo told me about being reckless? Ah fuck it, that doesn't matter anyways, I'm going to do this.' I decided on my plan of attack.

I call out to the others "GUYS! I have a plan to beat him, but I'll need you to trust me on this."

"I'm open to suggestions" Cyborg said as he used his thrusters to barely dodge Steppenwolf's axe.

Batman simply questioned "What is it!?"

I began to tell them my idea "Go on ahead and leave me here. I'll deal with him alone. I have a plan but I can't execute it with others here"

Wonder Woman quickly slammed Steppenwolf into a wall, after which she immediately disagreed "Absolutely not! We are not abandoning you here."

"Yeah, it's a terrible plan. I mean what're you alone gonna do against that? We can barely survive against him together" Cyborg added, as he pointed at Steppenwolf, emerging from the rubble.

I still insisted "I have a Trump Card, all right! Just trust me on this, leave me here and move on."

As this was happening Cyborg found a way to stall our foe by firing both energy cannons at him. But I knew this was taking a lot of energy to do and it would not work for long.

Batman also doubted my proposal "And how do you know this Trump Card of yours is going to work"

I had no energy for this argument so I just insisted, saying "Just trust me, I can beat him. You guys need to move forward and get to the portal. If we don't stop the invasion, even if we manage to beat that guy, it'll be pointless."

On hearing this, Batman didn't respond, instead looking me straight in the eye, staring me down. I didn't stand down either, responding in kind by not breaking eye contact with him.

This lasted for a solid 10 seconds, before he said "Very well, I trust you to hold him back. Just make sure to get out safely."

I responded with "That I promise."

He then turned towards the others and yelled "Cyborg, Wonder Woman, we move on and leave Steppenwolf to him."

Wonder Woman did not take this suggestion, saying "I shall not escape like a coward while leaving a comrade to die."

Cyborg also didn't like this idea, saying "I'm not letting someone die because they chose to help me"

I tried convincing them again, arguing my point "You're not running away, just changing your battlefield, Wonder Woman. Cyborg, I won't be dying here, my plan is full-proof."

This argument seems to have effect, as both of them, although begrudgingly agree to retreat and move on ahead.

But this was no victory, as Steppenwolf spoke up "You mortals plan to escape as if I'll just let you walk away. I am baffled at your audacity."

He then proceeded to rush at Wonder Woman while he threw his axe at me.

I clapped my hands, switching places with him, and then telling the heroes "Just Go! I'll make sure he won't follow you."

The heroes then began to retreat as I engaged Steppenwolf, all while imbuing my entire body with cursed energy.

The heroes soon left the room, leaving just the two of us.

"You fool! Do you honestly think that you, a mere mortal, can best me? I am a god and you are nothing but a pest before me!"

I simply respond with a single phrase, accompanied by a hand sign.

"Domain Expansion: Malevolent Shrine"