Chapter 1: Into Kahndaq

"Make sure you're getting this down Jimmy, I want to get this up on the webpage right away!"

"Sure thing Ms. Lane!"

"The warring factions reached Kahndaq at early dawn. On one side a group of Muslim freedom fighters and the other group a renegade faction of white supremacists looking to stake the small country of Qurac. The supremacist group was lead by Captain Nazi, a World War II experiment whose age virtually stopped in his mid 20s. The Freedom Fighters have been giving as good as they got, showing that they too have a metahuman fighter of some power. His name in Arabic translates to 'Allah be Praised' and he's kept Capt. Nazi at bay. As they reached the borders of Kahndaq, the ruler of this small nation stood hovering in the distance and the fight broke the borders and entered and he went straight to work."

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The gunfire and battling metahumans created such a noise. The human factions were running purely off of adrenaline trying to eradicate the menace that was in front of them. Captain Nazi's group was more focused on doing what he felt that the Americans wouldn't do. Nazi was going go escalate matters and take over. Rather than take out a dictator, he was going to replace one and be ruler of what he felt would be the new Motherland, and once he had those land and killed the American contingent that refused to join his ranks, he could invade Africa. He could've tried to do this single-handedly, but instead the idea to create soldiers and give him an entourage of new Nazis would give him something to believe in. Make them a uniform group looking to give a world order to the chaos that inherited the Earth. At least that's what Nazi had told them….

The Quraci Liberation Army had decided to use Qurac as their base of operations. The small country could be used to invade Iraq and remove any sort of American resistance without much difficulty. The orders came from their higher ups that they wanted to start finding metahuman contingents just in case the American heroes were ever to escalate the war effort. This man they got was super strong, and had the ability to cause energy blasts of such great magnitude he could make himself explode like a nuclear weapon. He was not the only meta in their ranks, but he was by far the most powerful in this motley group.

When Nazi's group, calling themselves 'the Supremacists', entered Qurac the fighting started immediately. They were unexpected and Nazi's appearance on the battlefield caused an uproar. Nazi walked up to the first line and killed them in an experts fashion. He broke their necks, their spines, and ripped the heart out of their leader. He told his men that he wanted this sort of dedication from them. The ability to look into a man's eyes and take their life as if they were nothing more than animals. They, after all, were unclean, rabid, and the acts of cowards. These and their sympathizers had but one place in the world, they should all be dead. His devotees stood their motionless until he ended his speech then gave him a uniform Sieg Heil, His face was that of pleased evil as he saw faced devoted to live and die for the cause that he'd lived by since his creation by Hitler's hands.

The Supremacists marched through the streets, where hovels stood out of destruction thanks to years of abuse that it had been put through thanks to all sort of invasions by different militaries. Capt. Nazi's force examined the ruins of many places looking for any signs of hidden invasion. They found a few pockets of resistance, but nothing cohesive. Nazi knew that meant that they'd not stumbled on to the truth threat that he knew Qurac held. He would have them, and once he had them, he would execute them with such ruthlessness that he hoped to make the enemy squeamish. The Americans were fools to him. They screened for metahumans and kept them for special needs. If a metahuman entered the battlefield then the Americans would call one of their ranks in to take them out. He told his men of this possibility, but left them thinking if they struck hard and fast they could wipe out those that didn't believe in the cause and swell their ranks with those that would willingly go. A united front would keep them from too extreme of action. Nazi knew that such a new power could not be ignored and as the Americans seemed unwilling to use nuclear armaments since this war had started, who would stand opposed to him? Superman? He said in his very first interview that he refused to take part just in case of escalation. Captain Marvel? He was too focused on keeping the home front free of terrorists. The military would eventually send in Captain Atom and Nazi knew he could easily destroy his metallic hide causing an explosion so great it could wipe out a nation easily. After all, the one group that could oppose him, the Justice League, was too afraid to step into these matters. Not that they couldn't, but the governments of the world never recognized their authority. Of the two world powers that are present among the League, the only one that ever held a voice within the United Nations walls was Wonder Woman. Aquaman felt little need after a time as they never showed any real concern for his agenda. His kingdom was three-quarters of the world, but the land walkers were less than impressed by that. They never took him or his powers seriously despite his warnings to beware the time when he had to make them realize just what sort of man he was. Nazi kept up with such politics and world news in general. The power vacuum that both the United States and certain Arabic nations were feeling left room for another faction to come in and seize control. Nazi let that be his ultimate reason to the people, the truth was far more grand.

During World War II, the Germans were known to have great knowledge of science and the occult. Captain Nazi was a great believer in the occult world, and how could he not! He saw such creations as Doctor Fate, Green Lantern and the Spectre. The men that used magical powers of such magnitude that even their own teammates could not comprehend the power they wielded. Such people were hard to combat. If not for the Axis Barrier, the war would have ended quickly. This is why the United States put a moratorium on allowing metahumans into a combat zone until they could be sure as to what would happen. The Spectre was the vengeful hand of God, by all accounts. The Axis barrier made superhumans turn against their natures and into the thrall of those that commanded it. A Nazi powered hand of vengeance was the last thing anyone wanted to deal with. Capt. Nazi took this all to heart and decided that in the years following the war he would search for an artifact that would make him more powerful and rise a grand army of humans and metas alike that would allow the domination of the world. He would see Hitler's dream of the master race come to fruition. Perhaps with the right combination of artifacts he could resurrect his dead leader. Today however, his army looked for one artifact. It was an artifact meant to give the person wielding powers of the Egyptian God, Ra. It a gold medallion of the Eye of Ra.

In a scroll found in an ancient temple, the eye was forged by the hands of Ra's priests in his honor. When an attack by the sect of Apep was discovered the priests prayed for a solution. Ra answered; he blessed the eye with great gifts. The wearer of the eye would have the powers of the sun at his disposal. The high-priest wore it as he felt he might be the only one worthy enough to do so. The power surged through the priest and was able to destroy the onslaught of Apep's sect. The priest felt so empowered by this that he decided the best recourse of action was to keep it on at all times. Ra came to him and warned the priest that such power could easily corrupt him. The priest said that he would not allow the power to go to his head, because he knew that his power came from Ra. He would always serve his God. However, Ra's prophecy came true. After several years of wandering the kingdom on a crusade to make sure that Egypt would be safe from outsiders the power eventually went to his head. Slowly he allowed himself to slip into the mindset of ultimate power. Many years became centuries and the madness of these years took their toll on his mind until he too thought himself to be a God. He flew unto the farthest regions of the Egyptian Kingdom and tried to destroy their defenses. He swore that he was the living avatar of Aten. The God that Akhenaton brought to being as the only one true God. His delusion brought him to believe that he was not the wielding Ra's power, but he was always the avatar of Aten awaiting someone to awaken his true potential. In this far part of the kingdom, after a slaughter of people that cursed the Pharaoh's name, he screamed to the heavens that he was Aten. One survivor of this massacre wrote further scrolls about this man . He said that in the moment he made his declaration the visage of Ra appeared. He told the newly claimed Aten, that if he wished to challenge where such power came from, then he would have to be shown. The eye glowed with such power that it burned the priest to cinders. His screams were heard for miles. The eye dropped into the sands and Ra told the few survivors that they were meant to keep it safe until someone who could wield such power made themselves known. After 60 years, Nazi triangulated it to be somewhere between Qurac and Kahndaq. He knew if the legends were true, he could have such abilities to add to his own that no one would be able to stop him. The legend had some substance to it, as evidence of these magical heroes of then and now. He had to find it, and if it cost him his men to do it at least he would've had a distraction long enough for him to conduct his business.

As they reached the capitol of Qurac, Abu Dhabi, they met with the biggest pocket of resistance ever. The Liberation Army shot at the invaders with abandon. The screams they gave were war chants. The sounds of them telling their comrades to kill the infidels covered the streets. Rockets blared into the air at Captain Nazi which exploded violently across his chest. "It will take more than that to bring me to my knees, dogs! Surrender you and your leaders and your deaths will be quick and painless!" His response was more explosives sent towards him.

He flew towards them and scattered them into the gunfire of his army. As he approached the citadel in the middle of the city a forceful blast took him out of the sky. He met the ground with such force that he cratered a small piece of land. As Nazi crawled out of the hole he looked to see a very tall and well built man with a jet-black beard standing over him. The man laughed as he said something in Arabic that Nazi could not translate, but understood nonetheless. The man's intention was to kill him, with no questions asked. He grabbed a death grip around the meta's ankle and tossed him into a ruin of one of the buildings. The dust flew as Nazi raised from the ground, hovering there. "Is that all you have?" Another blast came out and Nazi flew backwards into another set of ruins. The two quickly rushed out and the two gladiators met face to face in combat.

The fight raged for days across the 200 mile expanse between Qurac and Kahndaq.

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Within Kahndaq's borders, a tall man in black and gold stood within a rather lavish palace looking outside towards the market place. He stood proud seeing the prosperity of his people. His name was Teth-Adam, but most the world referred to him as Black Adam. They outside world thought him to be a power-hungry despot. Another supervillain that only wanted to add another conquest to his name. They knew precious little about this man. He was an enemy of Captain Marvel, he was also supposedly Theo Adam. Maybe at one time that was true, but Theo Adam was long since dead.

On an archeology dig, C.C. and Marilyn Batson were murdered by Theo. Theo was hired by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana to steal artifacts that were rumored of great power. Though Sivana didn't expect him to kill the Batsons. However, Adam's goal was accomplished. He retrieved a necklace from a mummy he expected was the Wizard, Shazam. However, such was not the case. What was in his hands was a lock that held the powers and soul of Black Adam. Should he say the wizard's name he would have access to them. With a little prodding, he found the word and Black Adam was reborn! Theo enjoyed the benefits that this newfound power gave him. The voices that spoke inside his head told him what sort of power he had access to, he felt like he could take on Superman and win!

His newfound power was to be shortly unchallenged. Soon after Black Adam's appearance, another person dressed in a similar garb to his own appeared. His uniform was red with a white caplet and it was all trimmed in gold, especially the lighting bolt blazoned on his chest. This individual called himself Captain Marvel. Marvel himself disconcerted Theo as not only did he have the same powers as he, but he wore the face of C.C. Batson, the man he killed! The battle between the two is remembered well in Fawcett City, the destruction was massive. However, Marvel brought him down and rendered him powerless. It was not forever, however. Eventually Theo Adam found a way to regain the powers of Black Adam.

Theo found it difficult to change back and forth between Black Adam and his normal mortal form. He knew, like Teth-Adam before him, that his power form was where it was best to stay. In doing so, the soul of Teth eventually found himself in the back of the subconscious of Theo. At first Theo's control was absolute. The few times when Theo had to power down Teth would be there to taunt him. Theo would beat him senseless, but the soul of Teth got stronger. Eventually his voice became as prevalent as those of the Gods that spoke in his head. At one point Black Adam disappeared for what seemed to be months. Inside the shell, two souls fought for control. Theo fought as a madman trying to keep the experienced warrior back. However, Teth and gained much strength and brought Theo to his knees.

"You are my descendant? I do this world and my family a service by destroying your Ka once and for all. I am ashamed at the petty killer that has come from my lineage!" With a final motion, he had vanquished the soul of Theo Adam for good. In that moment, the true power of Black Adam was unleashed.

His thoughts were interrupted in the blink of an eye as one of his palace servants broke the silence. "Sire! There is trouble to the north!"

"Speak, Admir. What sort of trouble would dare show itself in this kingdom?"

"Two war parties battle each other, they will cross the borders in mere hours sir. They battle as men possessed."

"Tell the armies to stand ready, but not to take any action without my expressed say. I will come and witness these fools myself. If they dare cross the borders, they will answer to me!"

"Yes, sire. May Adam and Kahndaq live forever in glory." He bowed out gracefully.

Adam returned to looking outside and his expression had changed a great deal. The anger lines were hard and he raged like a lion in a cage. 'How dare the outside world believe they can bring their problems upon my lands! I have kept my word and not entered their domains! This disrespect will not go unpunished or unheard of. There has been an assembly of world press outside the borders waiting to get some sort of glimpse of me. They shall finally have their wish!" he thought to himself.

He allowed the time to pass while angry thoughts ran through his mind. He asked for the wisdom of Zehuti as to what he might do. The voice told him that if his true intent was to protect his lands then the course was clear, they have not learned by example what happens to those that dare bring these injustices upon the helpless. However, how he chose best to deal with such a situation was left to him, he had a crossroads in-which he must make a choice. He knew what that choice would be. The one he'd followed since his days as the warrior Teth-Adam. With his mind made up he took to the air and waited at the borders. 'Come, trespassers, meet your fate!'

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"Go ahead, Ms. Lane. I've caught up with you."

"Thanks, Jimmy. In the mere moments since the fight between the Quraci fighters and Captain Nazi's army crossed the border into Kahndaq, Black Adam has been gone to action. The US Military contingent here has kept us back while the fighting has continued. While they've engaged the enemy on this side of the border, once they've crossed over no bullets from American weapons have been fired. The horrific imagery of men being ripped asunder by the hands of the Kahandaqi leader turns even the most experienced soldiers stomachs. Captain Nazi has disengaged the fight and broke Mach speeds into the lands. Adam is dealing with the Quraci metahuman. Wait, Jimmy… don't type out this part. Adam has just put his fist through the man's skull. The body's twitching. My God…"

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Adams turns his attention back to the dust cloud where Nazi once was. He takes off breaking the sound barrier himself aiming to catch up with the errant man. 'What possesses him to believe that I would not catch up to him?' With each moment it takes him to cover the distance, his anger grows.

The cloud settles at a ruin 40 miles outside the capitol city. Here stands a ruin with the mark of Thoth on it. He looks strangely at the ruins which have been looted several times over. It was said that the short lived Pharaoh Amentep once traveled here and he had a temple to the God Thoth built. Impressive as the architecture was, he didn't understand what would interest a man like Nazi. He walked boldly to the opening and started searching.

He didn't have much trouble finding Captain Nazi as the rumbles of punches started. Walls started to crack and the dust flew. The smell of ancient times filled the rooms. "Such boldness invading my homeland, Nazi"

"Fortune will favor me for my boldness! And soon you will find that your homeland will be nothing more than a beginning of a new Motherland for me and mine!"

"Motherland? Why do you come here for that? This is not Berlin."

"No, but this land offers me opportunities of resources that Germany does not! Such as this!" Nazi held up the Eye of Ra. Adam looked over the artifact. He nods.

"Then you wish the power of Gods to course through your body! Allow me to make your wish come true." Adam rushes Nazi and yells "SHAZAM!" He moves gracefully out of the way as the lighting bolt hits Nazi. The power of the artifact starts pulsing as the magical current from the lighting bolt surges through it and Nazi. He starts to shake uncontrollably as Adam makes another pass saying his magic word again. Three more bolts of lightning strike Nazi with great force eventually the eye explodes with energy and engulfs Nazi. He start to burn to a cinder as Adam stands triumphant. The eye and Nazi's body drops at the same time. Grabbing both, Adam flies back to the border.

In the short time he had been gone his army had engaged in battle with the Supremacists. Nazi's men go to grab a rocket when a body comes flying from the sky at them. The smoking corpse of their leader was lying in front of them. Both sides ceased fighting. "There lies your leader! If you wish to join him you will stay and fight! Make your choice, NOW!" What's left of them drop their weapons and run into the desert.

Adam within some distance to the media parked outside of the lands. "I trust that this will make my intentions understood. All are welcome under peaceful terms! You will pay the penalties for their aggressive trespasses, on pain of death!" He turns to leave.

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE BUSTER!" A woman's voice shrieks out behind him.

Adam turns to meet the eyes of this bold woman. "Who dares…?"

"I do! Lois Lane, Daily Planet! Mister, you just drop God knows how many bodies on the ground, leave this ultimatum to people to stay out unless they cross you and then let us come to our own conclusions. You've got some real stones!"

"Your Superman's concubine, are you not?"

"Superman's… LISTEN SPOCK, I WANT A REAL INTERVIEW HERE!"

"I do not give interviews, Lane. I have said my peace, now you will leave."

"I'm outside your borders, mister! And I have a question for you!"

The anger burned across his face, "Ask your question, then still your tongue woman!"

"What do you say to the accusation that a known murderer and possible delusional supervillain has been allowed to become the ruler of a land with little to no resistance from either the Justice League nor Justice Society, despite your direct betrayal of the latter group?"

"Delusional and murderous? How dare you accuse me of this!"

"I've got every reason. According to Captain Marvel you were Theo Adam, a thief and murderer for hire. You were able to tap into your superpowers because of something found on a dig with C.C. and Marilyn Batson, whom you were suspected of murdering. However you've made claim that you were the ancient Teth-Adam and thanks to peculiar circumstances of other superhumans they've had to take it as a real possibility that you weren't Theo Adam. However, such has never been fully confirmed as you've never turned yourself over to questioning by authorities."

"So you believe me to be a liar."

"I'm saying that these aren't good qualifications for a leader to have. Didn't seem to work out for Saddam anyway. You're for all intents and purposes metahuman-like and you run an entire country. With a history like yours, under so much suspicion, your word is under a lot of scrutiny. You say, you come in peace and you will have a good stay. How do we know it's not all a ploy to lull people into a false sense of security until you make your ultimate move?"

"What would your judgment say I should do to convince you that I am true to my word?"

"The UN has been begging to come into Kahndaq. Your country is a member of the United Nations, so allow them to conduct an investigation. Allow people to see what it is that you've done for these people and your future intentions."

"And why do I wish to listen to you?"

"Because if turns out that you do care about your people, and something does happen, they're going to look at you as being solely responsible for the deaths of the innocents under your care. It'll be Iraq all over again, but this time with a metahuman contingent."

"You speak your mind, Lane. Few dare to, and I respect that. Fine, the United Nations wishes to come in, then I will choose one delegate to meet with me. That delegate will tell the others if my intentions are pure or not! I choose Diana of Themyscira to investigate me and my lands. She and small entourage of no more than four may come. I will await their answer." With those final words Adam took off towards his palace leaving the media corps and their military escort stunned.

Lois Lane stood there watching the dark figure disappear into the sands and thought to herself, 'Diana, you're gonna owe me an interview for this!'