The crimson lances of Darkseid's Omega Beams hurtled towards Michael, carrying the full weight of the tyrant's wrath. Time seemed to slow as the destructive energy, capable of erasing existence itself, bore down upon him. Instinctively, Michael threw up a shield of pure primal energy, a swirling vortex of emerald light fueled by his rage and his unwavering determination to protect Kara.
The impact was cataclysmic. The Omega Beams slammed into the primal shield with a force that shook the very air. The emerald light flared violently, momentarily eclipsing the crimson glow, but the sheer power of Darkseid's gaze was undeniable. The primal energy buckled and strained, the shield beginning to crackle and dissipate under the relentless assault.
Michael gritted his teeth, channeling more and more of his life force into the barrier, drawing upon the deep wellspring of primal energy within him and the resonant power of the Earth itself. He could feel the burning intensity of the Omega Beams seeping through the weakening shield, a psychic pressure attempting to crush his will, to break his defiance.
"Insolent mortal," Darkseid's booming voice echoed in his mind, a cold, tyrannical command. "You dare to defy the will of Darkseid?"
"I dare to protect what is mine," Michael retorted mentally, his primal defiance burning as fiercely as the energy shield before him. "You have no dominion here."
While Michael held the line against Darkseid's devastating gaze, the momentary severing of the tyrant's control over Apocalypse created a window of opportunity. The Apokoliptian warlord roared in a mixture of pain and confusion, his red eyes flickering erratically as he struggled against the sudden absence of his master's influence.
Batman, ever the master strategist, pressed the advantage. He unleashed a barrage of kryptonite-laced batarangs, striking Apocalypse in his exposed joints and pressure points. The green energy weakened the tyrant, slowing his movements and disrupting his coordination.
Superman, recovering from Apocalypse's earlier blow, rejoined the fray, his fists a blur of motion as he rained down powerful blows on the disoriented Apokoliptian. Supergirl, though still reeling from Darkseid's psychic assault, saw her opportunity. Fueled by a surge of adrenaline and her own indomitable spirit, she unleashed a focused blast of her heat vision, striking Apocalypse full force in the chest.
The combined assault staggered Apocalypse, momentarily driving him back. Lyra, sensing the disruption, seized the chance to reinforce the severed connection, weaving intricate patterns of primal energy that further weakened Darkseid's hold over his servant.
"The leash weakens," she communicated telepathically to Michael. "Keep his attention!"
Michael, his primal shield flickering precariously under the continued assault of the Omega Beams, knew he couldn't hold out much longer. He needed a distraction, a way to break Darkseid's focus entirely. His gaze fell upon Batman, who was expertly maneuvering around the weakened Apocalypse, deploying a series of sonic emitters and kryptonite restraints.
"Batman!" Michael yelled, his voice strained. "The eyes! Hit him in the eyes!"
Batman, understanding Michael's desperate gamble, adjusted his strategy. He launched a specialized flash grenade, emitting a blinding burst of kryptonite-infused light directly into Apocalypse's face. The Apokoliptian roared in pain and fury, momentarily blinded and disoriented.
In that instant, as Apocalypse recoiled, Batman launched a final, precisely aimed kryptonite batarang, striking the tyrant directly in his left eye. Apocalypse shrieked, clutching his face, the red glow in his remaining eye flickering wildly.
The sudden surge of pain and disorientation from Apocalypse seemed to momentarily disrupt the flow of Darkseid's concentration. The Omega Beams faltered, their crimson intensity wavering for a crucial fraction of a second.
It was all Michael needed. With a final surge of primal energy, fueled by the unwavering support of Lyra and the desperate hope of his allies, he unleashed a counter-wave of pure life force, pushing back against the weakened Omega Beams with all his might.
The clash of energies created a blinding emerald and crimson explosion, momentarily obscuring the battlefield. When the light subsided, Darkseid's Omega Beams had dissipated, his focused gaze broken. The colossal tyrant remained looming in the sky, his dark aura radiating an incandescent fury.
"You will pay for this… insignificant world," Darkseid's voice boomed across the planet, now laced with a cold, seething rage.
Before he could unleash another assault, however, the Keepers of the Primal acted swiftly. They channeled their combined energies, creating a swirling vortex of primal light around Darkseid's vessel.
"You are not welcome here, tyrant," Elara's mental voice resonated with an ancient power. "This world is protected."
The primal vortex intensified, buffeting Darkseid's massive ship. With a roar of frustrated power, the tyrant's vessel began to recede, the crimson glow of his Omega Beams fading into the darkness of space.
Apocalypse, still reeling from Batman's attack, was quickly subdued by Superman and Supergirl, now freed from Darkseid's direct psychic assault. The immediate threat had been contained, but the chilling presence of Darkseid and the fractured trust with the Keepers left a heavy silence in its wake. The cost of defiance had been high, but for now, Earth had stood its ground. The knight, fueled by primal fire, had met the gaze of the tyrant and, against all odds, had not blinked.