Chapter 48

Two months later…

Brutus was smiling a wicked grin. He has been waiting months for this duel, despite Gaia insisting he should back out of it. "It has nothing to do with proving yourself. Brutus, think clearly for once." She demanded of him. "I am regretting making you a demi god, for you do this to all other demi gods who go against you!"

He shrugged off the notion, but was looking forward to the new legions he is going to acquire. So, for the months he had to wait, he trained his army. Monsters of myth and legends were push to the brink. Some are even going into the battle with wounds that have yet to heal. One of his favorites a Nemean Lion walked next to him but was limping and panting heavily.

"Suck it up!" he demanded of it. "The sooner this is over, the sooner you rest."

They took to the streets of the long abandoned city Z. There, with supernatural power, the abandon buildings cleared, giving a level playing field. Brutus smirked as he saw something coming towards him from a distance. But he was rather confused at the sight.

A young man, with features similar to Bad came forward. He carried two younger children. One on the front of his chest, one on the back, yet held the hands of two small children, a young boy and young girl. The young boy on his left was holding the hand of an even younger brother. "Who are you little piss ons?" he demanded.

The boy smirked. "Piss ons?"

"Now, now Mangus, this isn't your fight…" his older brother gently scolded. He then turned to Brutus. "I would suggest you cut your losses and surrender. My dad may even let you keep your legions if you do!"

"Dad?" muttered Brutus. "You cannot be the product of a demi god!"

"Suit yourself…" the boy named Magnus muttered. He looked remarkably similar to the son of the Crimson plague. "Let's go sit over here…" he called as his brother agreed. There was an abandoned bench that somehow made it through the battlefield change. But Brutus ignored it for the moment.

But something was happening.

Looking to his legions, they appeared scared!

Monsters… what do they have to be scared of?

Then, he saw him.

Walking down, and along side the son of the crimson plague. Brutus smirked, as Metal Bat appeared to be in peak fitness. He wasn't fat like the last time he saw him. "So, you needed to lose that weight to face me huh?"

Bad smirked back. "It was so I had the arm length to punch your ugly ass mug!" he was smiling with anticipation, but Brutus has seen the look all before. He has dealt with other demi gods of felt they could hold a candle to him in power. The smirk is quick to vanish off their faces once they see the power difference. "So, you wanna back out? You do, I won't hold this over your head, also I won't hurt your legions…"

"Legions can be rebuilt." Brutus growled. "You think this is the first time I made an army?"

Bad however paused, he looked at them, and then he appeared worried. 'Finally, the boy is realizing he's in over his head…'

"This… ain't fair," he protested.

"Chickening out are we…"

"Half of your army is wounded!" he protested.

The son of the plague paused as he smelt the air. "Yeah, I can smell blood coming from a few…" he paused and looked at the lion. "Your lion there is bleeding internally, it's going to die if you let it fight,"

Brutus smirked. "Let me show you something…"

KICK

Without warning or hesitation, he punted the lion! It shrieked out in pain before dropping to the ground! Brutus smirked as he saw the horrified look on Bad's face. "THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR!" the young boy, Magnus shouted.

"You need to stay here!" his older brother protested, but he squirmed out of his grasp and rushed on to the battlefield.

"HA! YOUR KID IS NOW PART OF THIS WAR! GET HIM!" he ordered.

But none of the legions moved.

The boy kept close to the lion as it suffered. "Hold on okay… it's going to be okay…" he said in a comforting tone.

"Fuck this…" Brutus's hand hovered over the ground, he summoned a massive root and aimed it for the boy!

"NO!" shouted Bad as he jumped into the path of the root.

There was a loud clash! The dust kicked up and then settled again. The root destroyed as Bad glared at Brutus.

"How could you have destroyed that so easily?..." but then froze.

Standing behind Bad was his son… and a massive Nemean lion that looked like it was forged of black fire.

Brutus paused more as he heard a haunting battle chant. Like soldiers marching in place, stomping their weapons to the earth making it trembled as they did. "What… what's going on?" Brutus demanded.

Bad however continued to glare at him. "There's a reason why I didn't unmask myself you asshole… But now… I ain't got the choice…"

He started smoldering, the black smoke intensified around his body until he became enveloped into it! Yet, as it cleared, Brutus froze as he saw what he became.

He wore thick black armor, forged from dragon skin. Under it was a black suit made of Arachnid silk with a gold trim. His eyes darkened, yet shined in the dusk. His hair, once combed back, fell out of place and came down the sides of his face. "You pissed off the wrong guy you bastard!"

The sky became dark, as a massive black cloud covered what little light there was to be had in the night, Brutus froze as he saw all flying creatures come from the cloud, then, the smoke on the ground built up as creatures, Others and monsters formed!

It was as if a smoldering hell erupted from the earth and sky!

"No… not this can't be… you… you're the Shadow King!?"

"Fuck yeah," Bad said and smirked. "You had a chance to back out…" his legions stood behind him, the lion he scarified stood before the boy, and refused to back down.

After all, the lion was no longer his to command.

"Wait, can't we talk about this?"

"The contract you made is binding. The fight goes on whether you want it to or not…" said the son of the plague. "Also, you just attacked our son…" his knuckles cracked. "I am going to enjoy this…"

'My king, your command?' came the voice of Jima.

'You get a clear shot at Brutus, you are more than welcome to take it, but leave some for Garou and I. As for the legions, they fight back, defend yourself. But don't kill any of them… they ain't looking to fight us. They fear him and are only here because he forced them'

'As you wish,' came the voices of the soldiers.

They marched forward. Bad didn't hide behind his legions, Garou began to smolder as his Shadow Lord form was soon replaced, he became darker looking, his hair solidified into horns, his body wrapped in darkness. Bad paused as Garou looked at his own hands. "Huh, never thought I would become this again… Neat" he said.

Brutus however began to try and hide behind his legions. Bad shouted to them. "Yield, and no harm will come to you, fight back, and we will defend ourselves!" he called.

He watched as the legion of creatures and monsters lowered their heads, they refused to fight. Which brought a smile to Bad. "Alright you son of a bitch… let's dance!"