The DCEU's Most Frustrating Plot Holes

Justice League Parademons are pretty scary enemies. In the rare scene that works better in the theatrical version than the Snyder Cut, we see their creation: captured enemies are zombified and given cybernetic enhancements. They are much like the Borg from "Star Trek" in design, if not in adaptability. In the theatrical version of the film, they also sense fear, which draws them to their prey.

This ability proves key to the theatrical cut's climax, in which the leader of the Parademons, Steppenwolf, takes fright, forcing his soldiers to betray him. Sounds like a good way to turn things around, but how exactly does it work?

To recap: Steppenwolf just threw the Flash into a wall. Superman and Cyborg have separated the Mother Boxes, which they fear will kill them. Afterwards, Wonder Woman and Superman break Steppenwolf's axe. Somehow this makes the fear of Steppenwolf stronger than that of the heroes who nearly died?

Maybe Steppenwolf is just a super coward. Even so, however, he's both nearly indestructible and, in the Joss Whedon cut of the film, he must be reasonably aware that these superheroes don't kill. At worst, he faces a tactical retreat. In contrast, humans in the Parademons' path face violent deaths and possible zombification. This level of fear should cause creatures to swarm all over the world and pay no attention to Steppenwolf. The only reasonable conclusion is that every fear level of Steppenwolf's species is somehow extra-stinky.