Arc 2 – Chapter 20: Big Man = Big Problem

(Other Words - Round 6...WAR!)

Space Between Universes/Narrow Hallway

Three groups of heroes continue to travel onward to reach to the next room. As they head down this small, average hallway, Ruby asked Iron Man "Can you explain who is that robot?" Iron Man turned his head towards Ruby and said "That is Arsenal. He was one of my father's creations that he built for me. Arsenal is programmed for my personal protection, energy containment, flight and techniques of sports ball recovery. Since my father haven't spent much time with me, he created him to be my friend and a way of telling that he is sorry." Ruby gave an awkward smile and said "That is...cool, I guess. But why the energy absorption part?" Iron Man chuckled for a bit and said "That part I'm still trying to figure out, but I just let that slide." Ruby turned her gaze towards her front and said "Suit yourself."


Space Between Universes/The 2nd Battle Room

Big Man was deep in meditation and waiting for our heroes to enter the large, empty, concrete room that is the same as the last one. Then the door opened up with all the heroes entering the room. Yang said while pointing "There's one of them!" then everyone took battle positions. Big Man snapped out of his meditation, got up and said "About time." He then pulled a spatha out from his sleeve, raised it in the air with electricity shooting through the air, then said "Now let's get the fight started!"


The Battle

All the heroes of both universes have gathered at one place with the majority of the invaders annihilated. As they plan for the offensive and getting things back to normal, something happened. All the color from the world was sucked out leaving everything black and white except for the heroes. Not only that, everything seems to have stopped. As everyone wonders what is going on, there was lighting all around that teleported them to parts unknown.


Space Between Universes/2nd Battle Room

As the heroes prepare to fight, there was a massive gust of wind swirling around the room. As the gust intensifies, there was a huge flash of light that nearly blinded everyone for the moment. They opened their eyes to see that they are in a vast desert along with all the other heroes who were at the battle. They look as far as the eye can see across the desert dunes and hot sun and they noticed that all of their injures have been healed. "As you can see," shouted Big Man "this is our battlefield!" Everyone turned to face the Initiate and get ready to fight. "Seriously," said Thor "all of us against you. You clearly are outmatched and misjudged our character man in dark clothes." Batman said "I don't think he's alone." "That is correct," shouted Big Man "a king is never alone!" They gazed out into the distance as they heard marching sounds of metal. As the sound gets louder and closer, they saw a large army of what appears to be men dressed as hoplites from ancient Greece. "Their bodies may return to ash, but their spirits hear my call! These men are my legendary heroes - my loyal followers! They are my true friends - breaking the rules of time and space to fight by my side once more!" The army stopped as the large Initiate unveiled his clothes and shouted "For I am Iskandar, King of Conquerers and this is my great power, Ionioi Hetairoi!" [It is Rider from Fate/Zero and if you have seen the anime, you probably know what he looks like. If you haven't, watch it, it's awesome!] Then the army gave off a loud cheer in admiration for their king.


*static* Red Hulk: "Who ever this guy is, I like his style. Don't know about the whole king of conquerers bit.

*static* She-Hulk: "So we are facing against Alexander the Great? Awesome!"

*static* A-Bomb: "So the Initiates used to be famous dead people who come back to life to cause trouble. Who's next, George Washington? Hahaha!"

*static* Skaar: Scratches his head "Skaar don't understand."

*static* Hulk: "A bunch of superheroes against dead spirits? Hehe, bad move of his part."


A black horse came and walked right up to the large red-head. It stopped with the King of Conquerers saying "Hello, Bucephalus, my old friend." He pats the horses neck then gets on the saddle. Iskandar raised his sword and pointed at the army of heroes and said "Alright my fellow soldiers...CHAAAAARRGE!" Iskandar and his horse galloped across the desert sands with the army following behind. Yang said "Well, this is something different." then loads up her Ember Celica and prepares to fight along with everyone else. Superman said "Since their dead already and are spirits, let's put a stop to them." Then all the heroes charge right at the opposing army. Captain Marvel and Iskandar were the first to exchange blows with Captain Marvel delivered the first punch to the face that causes him to be knocked off his horse. A few of Iskandar's men threw their spears at some of the heroes with Captain America deflected one with his shield, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) shot one with his ring, and Nick Fury just shot one with his blaster. Everyone fought for their lives inside the reality marble with everything they got.

Captain Marvel tries to beat Iskandar in terms of strength till he caught him in an arm hold. Then Captain Marvel shouted "SHAZAAM!" then a huge bolt of lightning came crashing down that struck both of them. 15 year old Billy Baston was holding on to Iskandar who appears to be immune to his lightning power. He grabs Billy by the arms and looks at the young hero all confused till Billy said "Yeah...that was a bad idea." Iskandar smiled and laughed and said "So a strong hero is a mere child? Hahaha! This is a surprise indeed." Then throws Billy towards Weiss which knocked her over. Weiss and Billy got back up with Weiss saying with agitation "What it!" then looked at Billy all confused saying "Wait, who are you?" Billy just shouted "SHAZAAM!" then turns back to Captain Marvel and charges right back at Iskandar. Weiss was a little confused saying "What the hell?"

Everyone managed to finish off Iskandar's army with ease then Iskandar vanished. Spider-Man being optimistic said "Alright, we defeated a bad guy." Batman, being suspicious said "Then why isn't everything going back to normal." Then everyone looked towards the opposite direction and see the army has returned to fight. Martian Manhunter, Miss Martian, Aquaman, Aqualad, Aquagirl, Tempest, Triton, and Lagoon Boy are exhausted because of the desert heat and looked like they are ready to pass out because of their physiology. Hulk then said "Fate! Strange! Form a barrier around us and yourselves except Black Bolt. He's gonna use his special power to stop this." Both Fate and Strange casts their spells to form barriers around everyone to protect them from Black Bolt's power. Black Bolt stepped away and ready to use his power by saying only one word: "Dispel." Then the reality marble started to crack and crumble down. Iskandar on his horse noticed that his Ionioi Hetairoi coming apart and said "Oh no. Not again." However, the heroes that were summoned were sent back to the battlefield on the combined city of Metropolis and New York City.

Iskandar on his horse jumped over a large crack that appeared on the ground yet his army falls down. He still charges on with his men falling down from the ground being torn apart. Screaming while turning into golden dust. Then the reality faded back to normal yet still charges on with his horse. That is until Ruby fired a shot at the horse's leg that caused it to tumble and disappear. Iskandar still charges after the group of heroes until Spider-Man shot some webs on his legs that stopped him. Iskandar struggles to break free until his sword was knocked out by Batman's batarang then got wrapped by reinforced metal rope. Hulk then charges in to hold Iskandar down with Iskandar saying while struggling to get free "Don't think...you've won yet." Blake approached and said "I have a quick question: Why did you summon our friends when you could've just defeated us with your army?" Iskandar calms down, smiled and explained "That is because if I was to be defeated, I would rather have it done my way: in glorious battle." Ruby approached Hulk and asked "Why didn't you have that Black Bolt guy do the echo-whatchamacallit?" Hulk explained "That is because his voice is so powerful that it would blow up a city with a single word." Ruby was shocked to hear that and said "I thought Weiss could do that." "Hey!" Yang approached and said "Can you at least tell us why are you guys are causing problems?" Iskandar smiled and said "Ha, very well since you have beaten me in battle."

Then a Type-0 Soultaker appeared and stabbed Iskandar right in the chest. When that happened, the dagger glowed red and Big Man have disappeared and return back to the Initiation Prep-room for...repurposing...again. Spider-Man said all confused and shocked "What just happened? And what was that dagger?" Batman said "I don't know but we just lost our only source of information." Martian Manhunter looked at the featureless bronze door and said "Then we need to get going. The sooner we can end this, the sooner we can save our universes."