"Stand down" came an authoritative base voice from above making both of them to instantly kneel down in submission. Barda also bowed and knelt down as a show of respect and submission to her master who for some reason deemed these people were worthy of his presence in battle, a thing that rarely happened in all the wars they had been involved in.
"Sire, forgive me" came Steppenwolfs desperate plea.
"Father,I humbly ask you to let us handle these miscreants for you. We will bring back their heads. None shall oppose the will off-"
"SILENCE!" Darkseid cut his son off floating above them with Stompa and Lashina on two hovercrafts behind their master.
Nebula, the Maw and a now healed Obsidian watched what was happening with great interest and wariness and on high alert. Something about the people who joined the fight was making them feel uneasy and worried, something they hadn't felt in a long time. Floating above their opponents was a hulking figure easily matching their masters physique. He was tall with a cracked rock-like skin covering his entire body, wore blue armor with gold highlights and a red chest piece in the middle. The most distinguishing aspect about him was not the cracked rock-like body or the bald head but was his fiery blood red eyes that seemed to be on fire which was watching them with interest.
"Not many people in my many years of conquest have peaked my interest like you lot have. I admire your spirit. With proper training you could join my legion of destroyers. All you have to do is bow." Darkseid said with a threatening low voice looking at Nebula, the Maw and Obsidian.
Instead of trembling with fear or considering his proposal, the trio stood their ground then Nebula stepped forward clenching her fists in fury at this creatures offer. She serves no one but her father.
"We are going to cleanse this pitiful world in the name of my father. You shall surrender now so that your deaths may be quick and painless." Nebula announced with a calm voice looking Darkseid dead on in his fiery flaming eyes. She had seen so many warlords and emperors who resisted her fathers cause only to be forced into submission and she won't cower to another self proclaimed god not that she was afraid to begin with. Subtly looking at her brothers, she saw they were also filled with anger at the being's claim especially the one of being given the chance to be better trained. Silently communicating with the Maw, she extended her hand towards their opponents making the remaining chitauri attack before their back up, which she knew wasn't long now would descend upon this pitiful planet.
Darkseid watched the trio communicate silently before the mechanically enhanced female warrior commanded their soldiers to attack. It's a shame that such useful talent has to be banished from this existence, no matter, I shall put their heads on a spike in space as examples he thought as he watched the creatures near their position. None of Darkseid's minions moved an inch from where they were kneeling face down or standing as in the case of Stompa and Lishna.
Ebony Maw watched for any reaction from their opposing forces when the chitauri were charging at them but found none which made him weary of the situation and looking at Nebula who had apparently noticed the same thing tensing a little.
Darkseid waited until the first creature was a stone throw away from him before unleashing a low but intensified wave of omega beam aimed to destroyed the creatures and possibly kill the trio while the one who survived would undergo bio mechanical enhancements which would submit them to his will by sheer force. Darkseid could alter the intensity of his omega beams to perform a variety of actions, that was what made it more dangerous.
The trio watched Darkseid's flaming blood red eyes emit a beam that moved way too fast executing corners slicing through and disintegrating the chitauri while never loosing intensity heading for them. It moved so fast for any of them to actually make a move before the beams collided with them eliciting steam from the constant supply of omega beams which turned into a small fog covering the area the trio were standing at before the omega beams receded.
Kalibak, Steppenwolf and Barda raised their heads to marvel at their sires once again victory but were not prepared for what they saw.
They saw a hulking brute physically the size of their sire, he wore gold plated armor over his body and a helmet of sort on his head. His skin was purple in color while his eyes remained calm and stoic. His hand held a large double sided edged sword which was extended infront of the trio stopping the omega beams in place while the trio had merely backed away abit from the force of the hit. The edge of the sword where the omega beam hit had a few scratch marks from the hit but other than that it was completely unfazed from it as its user was.
Thanos looked back at his children scanning if they were harmed from the hit of the beams. He retracted his hand and the sword then fully turned to face Darkseid and his forces. He felt the power behind the beam fired at his children and knew should it have connected with its intended target non of them could have survived such a hit. That hit alone told Thanos all he had to know. This being rivaled him in sheer power evidenced by his cool demeanor at his beam being stopped by him. No matter, this world shall fall like the rest of them.
The two powerhouses studied each other for minutes, all of them encased in silence with only the roaring flames from the pits being heard from a distance. Kalibak, Steppenwolf, Barda, Stompa, Lishna, Nebula, Ebony Maw, Cul Obsidian, Gamora, Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive all stood silent waiting for their respective masters order to attack.
Darkseid watched Thanos with interest. The omega beam destroyed everything in its path to the target yet this being seemed unfazed just like the sword he wielded giving him a revelation that the being was as powerful as he is even if by a less percentage which he wasn't sure. But all who invaded Apokolips never left alive and that was not about to change any time soon.