As the team emerged from the Chasm of Eternity back to the Watchtower, an uneasy silence filled the air. The glow of the Shard of Eternity provided little comfort, its pulsating light serving as a constant reminder of the trials they had just endured.

Lucifer's cryptic words hung in Kei's mind like a shadow she couldn't shake. His flippant dismissal of the trials had been unnerving, but his parting words had planted a seed of distrust.

The Watchtower's Tensions

Back at the Watchtower, Batman wasted no time analyzing the Shard, its energies feeding into the holographic map to pinpoint the next artifact's location. The team gathered around the central console, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and determination.

Kei, her arms crossed, finally broke the silence. "We need to talk about Lucifer."

Lucifer, lounging on a chair at the edge of the room, raised an eyebrow. "Oh, by all means, let's talk about me. I do so love being the center of attention."

Superman, his tone measured but firm, addressed Kei. "What's the issue?"

Kei turned to face him, her icy gaze locked on Lucifer. "He didn't face a trial in the Chasm. Everyone else had to confront their fears, their failures. But not him. Why?"

Lucifer smirked, his usual arrogance on full display. "As I said, darling, I've already faced my truths. The Chasm had nothing new to show me."

Wonder Woman, ever the voice of reason, stepped in. "If that's true, then what truth have you faced, Lucifer? What did you learn that we haven't?"

Lucifer's expression darkened for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "Let's just say I've seen the end of things. And I've made peace with it."

Flash, ever the optimist, tried to lighten the mood. "Well, that's cryptic and totally not unsettling. Can we maybe focus on the next artifact?"

Batman, who had been silent during the exchange, spoke up. "The next artifact is on Apokolips."

The room fell silent.

Ignis, her fiery aura flaring in response, growled. "Of course it is. Because we weren't already dealing with enough."

The Road to Apokolips

As the team prepared for the mission, Kei found herself in the training room, venting her frustrations on a holographic training dummy. Each strike of her icy blades sent shards of frost cascading through the air.

Ignis entered, her fiery presence filling the room. "You're worried about Lucifer."

Kei stopped mid-strike, turning to face her friend. "Aren't you? He's hiding something. And I don't trust him."

Ignis shrugged, leaning against the wall. "He's definitely hiding something. But let's be real, Kei—so are we. You think Superman or Wonder Woman completely trusts us? We're the new ones here. They're still figuring us out."

Kei sighed, lowering her blades. "I just... I feel like we're walking into something we're not prepared for. The artifacts, the trials, Lucifer—it's all connected, and it's bigger than we realize."

Ignis nodded, her expression uncharacteristically serious. "Then we stick together. Whatever comes next, we face it together. Agreed?"

Kei managed a small smile. "Agreed."

Apokolips

The team's arrival on Apokolips was met with immediate hostility. The fiery, desolate planet was teeming with Parademons, their shrieks filling the air as they swarmed toward the team.

Batman, piloting the Batwing, provided air support as the team engaged in battle on the ground.

Superman unleashed a blast of heat vision, cutting through a wave of Parademons. "We need to move fast. Darkseid's forces won't give us a warm welcome."

Wonder Woman, her lasso glowing as she lassoed a Parademon and flung it into another, replied, "Let's hope he's not here. Facing his forces is one thing. Facing him is another."

Kei and Ignis fought side by side, their combined powers carving a path through the enemy forces.

Kei's icy blades slashed through Parademons with precision, her movements fluid and deadly. "I hate this place. It's like the Chasm, but worse."

Ignis laughed, her fiery whip crackling as she took down another wave. "At least it's not boring!"

The Artifact of Dominion

The artifact they sought was located in the heart of Darkseid's Citadel. As the team fought their way inside, they encountered resistance at every turn.

In the throne room, they found the Artifact of Dominion, a massive orb pulsing with dark energy. It was guarded by none other than Kalibak, Darkseid's brutal son.

Kalibak roared, his mace glowing with destructive energy. "You dare trespass in my father's domain? You will all die here!"

The ensuing battle was fierce, with each member of the team pushed to their limits.

Superman clashed with Kalibak in a display of raw power, their blows shaking the very foundations of the citadel.

Wonder Woman and Ignis worked together to take down a horde of Parademons, their combined might an unstoppable force.

Meanwhile, Kei found herself face-to-face with Lucifer, who had been watching the battle from the shadows.

"What are you doing?" Kei demanded, her icy aura flaring. "We need your help!"

Lucifer smiled, stepping forward. "Oh, I'll help, my dear. But only when the time is right."

Before Kei could respond, Kalibak unleashed a devastating attack, forcing her to join the fight.

The Turning Point

As the battle raged on, it became clear that Kalibak was more than a match for the team. Even Superman struggled against his immense strength.

Just when it seemed the tide might turn against them, Lucifer finally intervened.

With a wave of his hand, he unleashed a burst of celestial energy that stunned Kalibak, giving Superman the opening he needed to deliver a knockout blow.

The team quickly secured the Artifact of Dominion, its dark energy dimming as it was placed alongside the others.

Aftermath

Back on the Watchtower, tensions flared once more.

"Why didn't you help sooner?" Kei demanded, her icy gaze fixed on Lucifer.

Lucifer shrugged, his tone nonchalant. "I told you, I help when the time is right. And clearly, it was."

Batman, his expression unreadable, interjected. "We don't have time for infighting. The final artifact is within reach. We need to focus."

As the team prepared for the next leg of their journey, Kei couldn't shake the feeling that Lucifer's motives were far from altruistic.

To Be Continued...