The chapter opens with the world around Mori and Darkseid continuing to unravel as their intense battle raged on. Mountains had crumbled to dust, oceans surged with titanic waves, and the very sky above them seemed to twist and distort under the pressure of their god-like blows. Mori darted through the air, trading furious strikes with Darkseid, each one accompanied by explosions of raw energy that shook the earth to its core.
Darkseid's fist glowed with Omega energy as he swung at Mori, who dodged effortlessly, countering with a roundhouse kick that connected with Darkseid's side. The impact sent shockwaves through the landscape, splitting the earth beneath their feet. But Darkseid absorbed the blow, turning with unnatural speed and delivering a massive backhand that sent Mori crashing into the ground, carving a deep trench as he skidded across the shattered battlefield.
Mori rose to his feet, brushing the dirt from his shoulders as if the hit barely phased him. His aura flickered with golden light, a testament to his vast power. Darkseid floated above him, his eyes glowing with malice.
"You are resilient," Darkseid said, his voice cold and authoritative. "But this battle is pointless. Your strength cannot compare to the Omega Force. You are delaying the inevitable."
Mori's eyes narrowed as he sensed the devastation their fight had already caused. The entire planet trembled under the weight of their power, and cracks were beginning to form in the atmosphere. He could feel the tectonic plates shifting, the planet itself nearing its breaking point. His mind raced, realizing that if this fight continued, the entire world might be reduced to ash—along with everyone on it.
For a moment, Mori hesitated, his gaze flicking to the distant cities where humans were still trying to evacuate. He could feel their fear, their desperation. The damage was getting out of hand.
He clenched his fists, his aura flaring even brighter. This needed to end, and soon. But just as he was about to make his move, something caught his attention. Darkseid wasn't calling him "insect" anymore. No, this time, Darkseid's voice echoed with something new—a recognition of sorts.
"You fight well… *Mori*," Darkseid said, his deep voice carrying a weight of respect. "You have earned the acknowledgment of a god."
Mori froze for a split second, surprised by the shift. Darkseid had never addressed him by name before. The acknowledgment, the respect—it was a subtle change, but it meant something. A smirk spread across Mori's face, the gleam in his eyes growing more intense.
"No," Mori said, his voice carrying a dangerous edge as he raised his head, locking eyes with Darkseid. "Not Mori."
Darkseid's expression remained unreadable, his red eyes glowing brighter as he prepared to launch another assault.
"I am the *StarScourge*."
With those words, Mori's aura exploded outward, his energy spiking to a level he had yet to reveal in this fight. The ground around him disintegrated as he floated into the air, now glowing with an intense, otherworldly energy. The sky darkened, and the winds howled as if the entire universe was reacting to the unleashing of Mori's full power. His once golden aura now burned with an eerie, swirling mix of gold and crimson, as if the stars themselves had ignited in his veins.
Darkseid's eyes narrowed. He could feel the shift, the overwhelming pressure emanating from Mori, but he didn't falter. Instead, he raised both hands, gathering the full force of the Omega energy into his palms, preparing for a final, devastating attack.
Mori, now fully embracing his identity as the StarScourge, gave a final smirk. His eyes glowed with determination as he raised one hand toward the heavens, gathering an enormous ball of Ki that swirled with crackling energy, growing larger and larger until it blotted out the sky.
"You've had your fun, Darkseid," Mori said, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "But this ends now."
Darkseid unleashed his Omega Beams, their fiery tendrils homing in on Mori with the intent to obliterate him. But Mori, with a single sweep of his hand, dissipated the beams as if they were nothing more than a breeze. The blast in his hand continued to grow, pulsating with raw, destructive energy—enough to wipe out an entire planet if left unchecked.
"Your reign ends here," Mori declared, his voice filled with finality. "And I'll make sure you never crawl back from the ashes."
With a roar, Mori unleashed the massive Ki blast toward Darkseid. The beam tore through the air with incredible speed, its sheer force warping the fabric of space around it. Darkseid, realizing the danger too late, raised his arms to defend, summoning every ounce of the Omega Force within him. The clash of energy was blinding, an explosion of light and power that shook the cosmos.
For a moment, the world stood still.
Then, as the dust settled, Darkseid's form began to falter. His once towering, invincible presence flickered as cracks spread across his body, his Omega energy failing to contain the devastating power of Mori's attack.
"Impossible…" Darkseid muttered, his voice weak as his form disintegrated, his body consumed by the overwhelming blast.
Mori hovered in the air, his eyes cold and unwavering. "No, it's inevitable."
With one final surge, the energy overwhelmed Darkseid completely. The ruler of Apokolips was engulfed in the light of the StarScourge's blast, his body disintegrating into nothingness. In the span of a breath, Darkseid was no more.
The battlefield fell silent. The once invincible New God had been reduced to ashes.
Mori landed softly on the ground, his aura fading as he released the last of his energy. He stood still for a moment, staring at the spot where Darkseid had once stood, his smirk fading into a contemplative expression.
"I warned you," he whispered to himself.
As the dust settled and the winds calmed, Superman and Wonder Woman appeared in the distance, having broken free from Mori's earlier Ki barrier. They looked around, stunned by the sheer destruction left in the wake of Mori's final attack. Superman's eyes widened as he realized what had happened.
"Did you…?" Superman started, his voice filled with disbelief.
Mori turned to face them, his expression calm, but there was something new in his eyes—a weight, a cold finality that hadn't been there before.
"Darkseid is dead," Mori said simply, walking past them. "I ended it."
Superman and Wonder Woman exchanged a look, unsure of how to respond. The threat was gone, but the price of that victory was still sinking in.
Mori, however, seemed unfazed. He glanced back at the horizon, where the remains of Darkseid's forces were retreating, leaderless and broken.
"Remember my name," he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to anyone else. "I am the StarScourge."
And with that, Mori vanished into the sky, leaving the shattered battlefield behind.