The Watchtower had never been this full before. At most, seven people had ever shared the space station at any one time.
Now there were at least twice that many.
The new class of superheroes counted up to nine, giving them an even number of sixteen if you counted the missing presence of Batman. He hadn't shown up for the introduction ceremony, once again blowing it off.
While that wasn't a professional way to look at it, it was pretty much what was happening.
The new heroes were mingling in what the inaugural class had named the Lounge. It was the first room any of the original seven had stepped in when it had first opened, with large windows revealing the vastness of space, the comfortable furniture, and so forth. It seemed as good as any room for this ceremony.
Superman cleared his throat, cutting through the murmurs of all the heroes present. They fell silent, all of them staring at him expectantly. "Thank you everyone that showed. It seems everyone is here, so let's get this started.
"After an exhaustive process, each and every one of you has demonstrated the very things we were hoping to find. From this point forward, each and every one of you is a member of the Justice League."
Clapping rang out, from the new members to the original ones. "I apologize that we don't have champagne up here for the occasion," the Man of Steel joked, a boyish grin on his face. "Someone forgot to add it to our shopping list."
"And for the hundredth time, I said I was sorry!" Flash called out.
That earned some chuckling. Surveying them, Superman immediately spotted one of their front runners, Black Lightning. He seemed to be enjoying himself so far. And over there was Black Canary and Green Arrow, the two staying close to each other.
Very close to each other. Hmmm.
There was also Captain Atom, his muscular arms crossed over his chest as he stood with rigid posture. Nearby was someone that Superman was happy to see and was glad to have made the cut. The man was encased in steel, a large hammer in hand. The Kryptonian S was on his chest, but it stood for something other than Super. This was Steel, a hero he had worked with many a time in Metropolis. He was one of a few he could trust to have his back at any time.
He appeared to have been talking with the Firestorm, who's application had admittingly been a little bumpy, but his potential was there. It seemed odd considering his overall experience, but it was also possible that he just didn't interview well. That was a common thing.
However, it wasn't just all men. There were some women that Diana and Hawkgirl were happy to have included. Two of them were standing next to each other, one dressed in green with flowing green hair oddly enough. The other was in blue with short white hair. They were Fire and Ice of Brazil and Norway respectively. Their powers were right in line with their names, opposites of each other who seemed to be hitting it off.
Then there was their most high-profile member, a supermodel by day, a fierce hero when called upon. Her name was Mari McCabe, going by the name Vixen. Flash had spotted her the moment she arrived and there was little hope of her keeping her secret identity. Vixen, to her credit, rolled with it, owning to the knowledge she had been identified. It had left an impression on the rest of the League.
Though, for some reason it felt incomplete. They had quite a roster here, but there were a couple blind spots. The biggest one he could see was magic. They had sent Zatanna a membership offer, but she had declined. According to J'onn, she was on a pretty big tour in Europe, one that was doing very well. She couldn't just leave it was what she said.
Regardless, if they needed further expansion, they knew what areas they would need to work on.
"Seeing as this is a first for us too, we wanted everyone to meet each other," Superman continued, "new members and old members. We're all going to be working with each other going forward and getting to know everyone will be beneficial. Just understand that secret identities are off limits unless someone wants to reveal themselves. Do not, under any circumstance, try to force anyone to expose themselves. That will lead to immediate termination. Understood?"
Just about everyone needed their heads, Vixen giving a bemused look at the announcement. Hmm, perhaps it was a little late for her; they would need to do something to remedy the situation there.
"Now, I think a tour of the Watchtower is—" he began.
Only to be cut off as an alarm went off.
"Well, that was the only way this was going to happen," Flash said as he looked up at the flashing red klaxon. "Of course a baddy was going to act up during this."
J'onn had moved over to a nearby computer terminal, turning it on and accessing the main computer terminal in the Monitor Room. With his back to everyone, it was impossible to tell what he was seeing. "It seems we have a situation in Gateway City," he announced.
Diana was immediately at his side. "What's going on?" she demanded, looking at the screen.
"From what I can gather, there's a meta-human threat. There has been some damage to the infrastructure thus far, but no reported casualties as well."
"I will handle this," the Amazon declared as she turned to head for the teleporter.
"Actually, I think this will be a good time to test our new group dynamic," John suddenly spoke up, causing the dark-haired woman to stop. "We send a five-man team down there, two founders and three new members."
"Uhh, are you serious?" Green Arrow interjected. "We haven't even had trust exercises yet. You sure you want to send a group of people that haven't worked with each other before into one of these emergencies?"
"Green Arrow does bring up a point," J'onn acknowledged.
"And if we hold ourselves back every time there's a League-level threat, then we're defeating the purpose of the expansion," the Lantern argued. "Five of us should be more than enough for whatever is going on down there."
Heads instinctively turned to Superman. Apparently the Kryptonian was expected to have final say. "I agree with John," he ruled. "With two of us founders and three new members, that should be enough to handle what's going on there."
"Is there any kind of intel on who, or what is causing the emergency?" Black Canary then asked. "Surely there's more than someone blowing up buildings, or something."
"Some buildings have been defaced," J'onn acknowledged, "as well as the street. The means has not been determined, however."
"Then you're going to need someone that can do some kind of investigative work," Green Arrow said. "I'll volunteer for this."
"So will I," Black Lightning added.
"That's three," John counted out. "I'll go as well." His green eyes then scanned the rest of the League. "And Firestorm. That should round us all out just fine."
"Is that acceptable, Diana?" J'onn then asked. "This is your city after all. You have a say in this."
"I will welcome all help," she declared. "I'll take point."
The Gateway Team nodded their acceptance of this. "Alright, we'll beam you directly to the scene," Superman told them. "Be careful and good luck."
The brightly slowly dimmed and gone was the Watchtower. In its place was the familiar sight of downtown Gateway City.
And it looked as if someone was in the middle of demolishing it.
The few, scant details J'onn had been able to tell them were apparently true. The street was nothing more than crumbled pieces of asphalt. The faces of the surrounding buildings looked as if they had been ripped off, revealing damaged rooms within. It was destruction for the sake of destruction.
Diana hated the sight of it. Most of the issues plaguing Gateway were street crimes and the occasional terrorist threat. Nothing like the mass destruction that happened in Metropolis, or the psychopaths that infested Gotham. While there was a surprising entry portal to other realms here, Gateway was spared much of the problems her sister cities suffered.
Seeing this destruction angered her.
"So, any clues on which way the wrecking crew is heading?" Green Arrow asked, bow in hand, though he had no arrows notched. "Because I think they missed a spot."
"That's what we're here to find out," John replied as he surveyed the damage. "Where are we exactly, Diana?"
"Downtown," she told him. Taking in a deep breath, she smelled the air. There was a breeze and if she could pick up the smell of smoke and fire, she could better pinpoint where the perpetrator went.
"One second." The Lantern glowed green before he rose up into the air. He stopped when he reached a vantage point and began slowly spinning around. Then he came to a stop. "There!" he shouted down to them, pointing a finger to the south. "I can see something happening!"
"Firestorm, on me," Diana immediately ordered. "Green Arrow, Black Lightning, follow along with Lantern." She then lifted off of the ground and took off flying down the street, following the trail of ruin, Firestorm following her.
While they probably shouldn't have split up, there were only three of them that could fly. John could transport the other two, be their backup. Diana wanted to find who had done all of this and put an end to it as soon as possible.
As they continued down the destroyed street, the Amazon couldn't help but notice various changes to how things had been ruined. Chunks of the road were now raised high into the air, pillars of compressed dirt holding them up there. A fire hydrant was enlarged to absurd proportions and a blue mailbox was now sentient, snapping at the two heroes as they flew by, its drop-off slot full of sharp teeth.
Something about this was familiar.
"So, is this normal stuff to you?" Firestorm asked her as he kept up with her increasing pace. "Cause some of this just looks weird."
Diana promptly slowed to a stop, hovering in midair, the nuclear man stopping as well. "I've seen this before, recently even," she answered.
Then, as if to confirm this, spikes began erupting out of the street. They started a city block in front of them, but closed in on the two as the spikes ate up the ground. Immediately, the two flew upward to avoid them, even longer spikes growing up from the street beneath them. The spikes chased them upward even as they rose higher and higher.
That was when large hands formed out of the faces of the buildings on either side. Palms open, fingers pressed together, the hands then rushed towards each other, looking to crush the two heroes between them. There was no time to move, to dodge, so Diana did the only things he could and stretched her arms out as far as she could.
A moment later, the hand clapped down on her. Her hands pressed into the stone palms, her legs spreading out to push her feet against them as well. Immediately, her arms bent from the force she was hit with, but she stopped them before she and Firestorm were crushed between them.
Oh yes, she had definitely seen this before.
"Move!" she shouted to her teammate, the man with the burning torch on his head immediately flying out from between the hands. Diana stopped her flight and then promptly drew her arms and legs into her body, dropping downward through the air. The hands then collided with each other, the sound of cracking stone filling the air.
Stopping her falling soon after, Diana then shouted, "Come out! I know you're out there!" She spun side to side, going left, then right as she searched the area. "There's only one person that could make these formations as quickly as this!"
As if in hands, a pillar suddenly shot up out of the ground, the asphalt forming a fist. However, it wasn't directly beneath the Amazon, but rather several yards further. It came to a stop when it reached her altitude and only then did the fist loosen up, the fingers spreading out to reveal Dr. Alchemy standing on its upraised palm.
"Greetings, Wonder Woman," the former god called out to her, his green cloak fluttering in the breeze. "We meet again."
Firestorm appeared at the Amazon's side. "Friend of yours?" he asked.
"Careful," she warned him. "This is Dr. Alchemy, a recent foe of the League's. He and a number of others were able to turn themselves into Gods, granting them incredible powers. However, that should have been undone when we defeated them."
"I guess they kept their powers," Firestorm responded.
"Tell me," she called out to the green-cloaked man. "How do you still have your powers? You should have been returned to your original self."
"I was," Dr. Alchemy answered her mildly. "It wasn't a pleasant experience I admit, but there are other ways to restore one's divinity."
"You're performing the Desmeftikós Theós again, aren't you."
"No, there is no need of that for now. Recovering my powers was a simpler, less bloody affair."
With that, he held up his hand, revealing a glowing red stone. Diana's eyes widened as she realized what it was. "The Philosopher's Stone!"
"You mean that thing is real?" Firestorm asked incredulously.
"It is very real," Dr. Alchemy assured him. Then he stared at Firestorm as if he were uncertain. "Whomever you are." Ah, he clearly didn't know the young hero. "Right now, I have to speak with the Amazon—alone. If you would be so kind as to extricate yourself from here, the sooner the better."
"I don't think so," Firestorm rebuffed.
"I had a feeling you would say something like that."
Suddenly, a rush of darkness swept over the Nuclear Man, causing him to cry out as he vanished within it. The darkness arched through the air before heading straight for the ground, slamming right down on it.
Jerking her head around, Diana soon spotted the only man that could have done such a thing. Standing on the roof of a building, thin and sleek, black all over save for his pale face, was the Shade, holding up his cane. A smirk appeared on his face as he then moved his cane, resting its shaft on his shoulder.
"You took our divinity from us," Dr. Alchemy called out, causing the dark-haired woman to return her attention "But we were wise to create artifacts that focused our powers. Though we are not gods, we can still wield our divine powers."
The Philosopher's Stone began to glow. "Now, let's see if we cannot take your divinity from you."
Luthor was not one to sit in darkened rooms, eyes glued to a glowing monitor. The luxury of his office atop the LexCorp Tower was more than enough and came with a better light source than a small computer screen. It was so cliche and beneath a man of his status.
With sunlight beaming in through the large windows behind him, the billionaire watched through a monitor on the goings on in a certain city of Gateway. The rampant destruction was more than enough to get on the news, breaking news naturally, but that was not what he was watching that for. Catching sight of the arrival of the Justice League, on the other hand, was.
It was a matter of switching views then, leaving the reporters and media heads and turning to his own surveillance system recently set up. By his count, there were five of these "heroes," and they were predictably heading to ground zero.
The mogul had kept him informed with as much as he could on the League. Committed to memory were the six public members of the group and that included their appearances. Immediately he recognized Wonder Woman and Green Lantern, but that was it. There were three others with them and that was curious. That, however, could be chalked up to the news that the League was expanding its roster. These were either new members, or candidates getting a test in the field.
Did he have some concern? Yes, he did, and that was primarily because much of his planning was on the six founding members. New additions would complicate things, especially without relevant intel on them. However, he was a businessman through and through, and anticipating the unexpected was a requirement to get far.
Thus his own recruitment drive. Three individuals with working relationships with one another had been handpicked by him. Wonder Woman and the red-colored recruit she was babysitting were encountering Albert Desmond and his colleagues. Green Lantern would be arriving soon enough with his charges.
This was all according to plan. It did not matter who engaged who. This would be fact-finding and no more. Well, that wasn't entirely true. He always had more than one motive and every action he took would profit him in one form, or another. How Desmond and his flunkies fared was inconsequential.
It would be great if they pulled a victory. That would mean further use. If they failed, well, there were plenty of others he could draw on to meet his needs. In the meantime, he would observe and see what he could use. If anything, this could be considered the true interview for Desmond and company.
Superman and his boy scout club had their recruitment drive. Why should Lex Luthor not have one of his own? Now that was an entertaining thought.
Settling back in his seat, he prepared to watch and profit.
Massive stone hands shot up through the air, reaching for Diana as she hovered in midair. Calling upon her gifts, the Amazon launched herself higher into the air, the hands giving chase. As one grew closer, it grabbed at her, the dark-haired woman moving out of its way, only for the other hand to appear close by and snatch at her.
Side to side, back to forth, she evaded the grabbing hands, certain that if they caught her it would not be good. Suddenly, she changed course, angling downward. She saw the exact location where the towering hands emerged from the ground below, the tan stone at odds with the black asphalt from which they grew from.
Flying right for the body of one of the arms—so to speak—the Amazon drew a fist back and then threw it, slamming it right into the arm. The stone hardly resisted her blow, crumbling before shattering into pieces. The corresponding hand lost its base and plummeted to the ground below.
That was one down, only one to go.
However, before she could go anywhere, the crumbling end of the arm lost its shape, becoming malleable before two smaller hands formed, each one lashing out at her as they made to grab her. Jerking away, Diana tried to put as much distance as she could, only for the remaining large hand to close in on her. Balled into a fist, it rammed into her, sending her streaking downward through the air. She was careening at an angle, however, and she crashed into the face of a building. She tore a trench through it until she slowed to a stop a few stories down, entering the building at that floor, and finding herself lying in a heap of rubble.
Shaking her head, Diana warded off any daze she felt. Seeing the hands rushing towards her again, she pushed herself out of the pile of rubble she had created and launched herself at them. Rising up through the air at first, the moment she was within grabbing distance, she changed course and went down, avoiding another grabbing motion from the hands. Heading for the arm of the large one, she rocketed towards it as fast as she could and plowed through it. Severed, the large hand went to join its brethren lying in the streets.
Then, like the first arm, two more hands grew out of the remains and Diana was beginning to have a sense of deja vu.
"Attack all you like," she heard Dr. Alchemy call out from somewhere. "I will only form more until I have captured you."
Was that right? Pondering what her next move should be, she suddenly spotted a blast of darkness rushing through the air until it hit a building. Fading away, Firestorm was revealed to be embedded into the building.
It seemed the new recruit was having difficulty with Shade. Though she thought it odd considering the young man had fire emerging form his head, perhaps the divinity of darkness of Shade's power was giving him trouble.
Reaching to her comm link, she hailed the hero, "Firestorm, are you having trouble?"
"Just a little," he replied. "I'm starting to think of a way to fight this guy."
"How are you with matter?" she questioned. "I understand you have some abilities in that realm."
"What, you want to switch?"
"I can deal with Shade quickly and then it will be two-on-one against Dr. Alchemy."
"You're the boss." Prying himself from the building, Firestorm took flight once more, but this time heading right for the stone hands. Arriving at the split where the original column formed the two smaller hands, he slowed down and placed a hand there. It was a few seconds before the stone darkened before losing its solidity. The darkening stone crawled up and down the arms' base until it could no longer hold its form, falling apart into blobs of slop. Perhaps mud was a better description.
Seeing as Firestorm was on the job, Diana turned her attention to Shade, immediately rocketing towards him. The thin man held his cane up and fired a burst of darkness at her. The dark-haired woman easily dodged it.
Undeterred, Shade fired blast after blast at her. While it made her change course ever so slightly, she avoided the darkness until she landed on the building her new foe stood on. Turning his head to keep her in sight, Shade raised a hand to the brow of his hat and he tilted it down in greeting. "Wonder Woman," he acknowledged.
"Shade," she returned evenly. "Why are you here?"
"It's what the job called for," he responded. "Not to mention I couldn't resist having this cane of mine back." He then pointed its end at her. "You'd understand if you ever lost your powers."
He then fired a much larger blast of darkness, one that looked as if it could swallow up her and the entire building she stood on. Immediately, Diana grabbed her lasso and held it out in front of her, the golden coils glowing brilliantly.
The moment the darkness approached the Lasso, it flinched back, shrieking as it did so. Taking a step forward and then another, Diana marched towards Shade, the light of the Lasso of Truth warding off his darkness.
A shocked look appeared on the thin man's face as he saw the approaching Amazon. He increased the amount of darkness from his cane, the darkness surrounding her, but unable to touch her as the Lasso's light washed over her, protecting her.
That was when something else rammed into her, burning and searing her skin. Crying out, Diana found herself being tossed through the air, calling upon her gift of flight to stop herself. Realizing she was hovering over the street again, she searched for her latest attacker.
She found him even as Shade recalled his darkness. Standing on the same roof as Shade was Felix Faust, a glowing book in hand, opened to some random page. "It seems you needed some assistance," he remarked to his comrade.
"I was handling it," Shade grunted. "Aren't you supposed to be working?"
Working? On what? What were these former gods up to?
"Quite," Faust responded, "but I sensed you and Alchemy were having difficulty, so here I am." The two men then looked to where Dr. Alchemy was, Diana following their gaze.
It seemed it was wise to change opponents as she spotted the former God of Alchemy forming a barrier of rock in between him and Firestorm. The Leaguer was undeterred as he closed in on the shield, hands in front of him. The rock gave way to his power, changing into water and falling to the ground, effectively removing it.
"Duratus in loco," Faust suddenly chanted and Diana's arms pressed into her sides, her legs together. Immediately, she tried to force them back, but found she could not.
"And now, the new one," the magic user said as he aimed a hand at the recruit. "Divisiones aquarum."
A torrent of water erupted from Faust's hand, racing towards the unsuspecting Firestorm. Diana tried to call out, to warn him, but found she could not speak.
Thankfully, she did not have to. A green wall suddenly darted between Firestorm and the approaching water. The water collided with the construct, unable to pass through.
"Great, there's more of them," Shade grunted as he looked up. Following his gaze, Diana saw John floating high in the air, a beam coming from his ring to form the wall construct. "And if he is here then…"
"You two might want to let the lady go." Faust and Shade heard the warning and they turned to face the one that called out to them. An instant later and a large boxing glove attached to the end of an arrow rammed right into Faust's face, causing him to cry out as he stumbled into his thin comrade, who was forced to catch him.
And there was Green Arrow, taking aim with another arrow, this one with a blunted end. Releasing it, the arrow flew at the two former gods, hitting the robed mage in the chest.
There was a detonation as the blunted end exploded into a wide glob of putty. That was the best way Diana could describe it. The blob glued itself to the two men, their heads and feet the only parts of them visible.
"Hey, it worked!" Arrow exclaimed. "And Canary said a Glue Arrow wasn't practical at all."
The spell that had paralyzed Diana suddenly faded and the Amazon found she could move again. The tide was turning once more.
"Libera nos!" Faust cried out and the glue that held him and the Shade tore apart, freeing the two. "We have delayed ourselves for too long here," the robed man proclaimed. "It is time that we finish what we have come here to do."
He then waved a hand. "Lanuae Magicae ad nos portal." In an instant, the three Pantheon members vanished from sight. There was no flash of light, or a puff of smoke. Just one moment they were there, the next they were gone.
"Where did they go?" John demanded, immediately looking all around him.
"I see them!" Heads turned, finding Black Lightning further down the street. He was pointing down it, to where the road became a large circle, encircling a tall statue of two horses. The horses were on their back legs, their fronts kicking at each other, their mouths open in silent neighs. They were the fighting horses, something that had existed in Gateway long before Diana had come here as its protector.
And standing at their feet were the three former Gods.
Even from this distance, Diana could not make out what was said between the men. She did, however, see Faust wave his hand at the statue and the horses suddenly exploded into pieces. A cloud of dust was sent flying high into the air. It took some time before it dissipated, revealing a flat surface.
That's when Faust stepped into the circle, holding up his glowing book with one hand. Whatever he was up to, it involved that point. Not willing to allow the man to have his way, Diana took off, flying straight for the ruined plaza.
John and Firestorm were right behind her, the three rocketing through the air. Green Arrow and Black Lightning would find their way there, the Amazon had no doubt; it would just take them longer.
Shade was the one to spot their approach. "Incoming," he said, his voice low, but just loud enough for Diana to hear him.
"Hold them off," Faust ordered. "I need time to open the portal."
Portal? Hera, no. Diana picked up her pace even as she sent out a message to the rest of the team on their comm link. "Faust is trying to open a portal," she told them. "We have to stop him."
"What kind of portal is this?" John asked back.
"To another plane and one we will not like."
"Couldn't they do this somewhere else?" Firestorm asked. "I mean, this is a city with an active Justice League member watching over it. And that one guy looks like he can use magic. Why not do this where there wouldn't be anyone to stop them?"
"Gateway is a nexus, or rather a gateway to many dimensions," Diana answered him. "If there is one place in the world where someone could successfully summon a creature from another world, it is here."
"I guess Gateway lives up to its name," Green Arrow joked.
As they drew closer, the Pantheon reacted. Dr. Alchemy held up the Philosopher's Stone before him, large spikes growing out of the ground in front of him. All of them were pointed at a diagonal angle in the direction of the approaching League.
And then they were launched as one wave, the large spikes closing rapidly on the heroes. "Evasive maneuvers! Now!" John shouted and the three flying Leaguers moved, dodging the spikes as they passed by.
That wasn't all though. Dr. Alchemy summoned more spikes and fired them, wave after wave flying through the air. Back and forth, side to side, the heroes avoided the spikes, Diana hearing the large projectiles hitting the street and buildings behind them.
"This isn't working!" Shade shouted. "Do something else!"
Dr. Alchemy looked to his comrade before he accepted his suggestion. Diana knew this as the green-cloaked man created something else. At first it looked like another row of spikes, but they grew longer, their bases wider. Sharp tips were replaced with barrels, round openings at their mouths. Soon, a series of large artillery guns stood there.
And then they fired.
John was immediately out in front, his ring hand thrust forward as he fired a green beam. The beam widened, forming a shield that stretched from one side of the street to the other. An instant later and the artillery shells slammed into it, a large explosion erupting.
The three airborne Leaguers came to an immediate stop as flames and smoke blocked their path. "Goddamn, that was powerful!" John exclaimed, his face showing the strain from resisting the blast.
There was another booming sound and another round of artillery hit the Lantern's construct. Windows shattered around them, cracks forming in the stone and bricks of the surrounding buildings. More worrisome was the cracks that appeared in the green construct. Some serious firepower was being used. If not dealt with, it would overwhelm John.
"Firestorm, can you do anything from this range?" the Amazon questioned.
"Not without seeing where they are," he answered. "I can always fly out of the way of the smoke, but then I'll give them another target. Sad to say it, but I'm not faster than a speeding bullet, or in this case an artillery shell."
Another barrage hit the construct, more cracks forming on it. It was asking too much for John to do something about it, not when he was their only defense. Looking back the way they came, she didn't see Green Arrow, or Black Lightning anywhere. They were probably trying to reach the plaza unseen, especially in light of the artillery.
Damn it, there had to be something they could do.
"Listen," John said through gritted teeth. "We'll only have one chance at this. After the next shelling, I think I can plug up those guns. I'll have to drop the shield, however. When that happens, you two get out of here."
"That's too much, even for you," Diana protested. "There must be another way."
"Gotta risk it. I can't hold out against too many more shellings, so this is our only shot. If I fail, you and Firestorm take cover and find another way. That's an order."
She didn't like it, but the dark-haired woman couldn't think of anything else they could do. So she nodded. "Be careful."
The moment another barrage hit the shield, Diana shot to one side, Firestorm in the other. The Amazon went right for the roof of a building, using the smoke from the latest shelling to hide herself from sight. The moment she arrived, she landed and took off running across it, keeping low so that she wasn't easily spotted.
By the time she reached the end of the roof, John went into action. He dropped his shield construct and charged right into the smoke cloud. For a moment, not even his green aura could be seen through the thick cloud. He erupted out the other side moments later, his ring fist drawn back.
With a war cry, he thrust his fist forward and fired several beams of light. Each beam raced towards the artillery guns, fast as light. That was the only reason each beam arrived before Dr. Alchemy fired another barrage.
Each light grew larger and rounded as they closed in the barrel of each gun. It took Diana a moment to realize each one was a plug, which shoved itself into the barrel of the artillery gun.
Then Dr. Alchemy fired. The result was just as instantaneous as the light flowing from Lantern's ring. The artillery guns bulged out from the gathering pressure within them before they all blew apart in a deafening roar.
A powerful force rammed into the surrounding buildings. Diana ducked from the ledge, even as she felt wind pull on her body and hair. When it lessened, she peered out over the ledge to see smoke rising in the plaza.
Taking that opportunity, she leapt off the building she was on. The one next to her was several stories below, so she allowed gravity to drop her to it. This was her chance to get closer without the Pantheon knowing she was there. Hopefully the others were doing the same.
Once she landed, she was on the running again, crossing to another building shortly after. As she reached the ledge of that one, she could see the smoke dissipating in the plaza.
And what she saw was good news. Both Dr. Alchemy and Shade were lying on the ground, having been thrown back by the explosion. Neither one looked as if they were trying to get up, so it was possible they had been knocked unconscious. That was great.
However, Faust was still kneeling in the center of the plaza. He was in the middle of a circle, right where the horse statue had once stood. The circle was glowing a blue light. Seeing as the sorcerer didn't look displaced by the explosion, there must have been a shield there that weathered the blast.
From this distance, Diana could pick up some of what Faust was saying, or rather chanting. He was performing a summoning spell, that much she knew. She clenched her fists tightly. There was no telling what demon he wanted, but if he had any sort of residual power from his godhood, then he could keep it under his control.
Like Tartarus she would let him.
Giving up on stealth, the Amazon launched herself from the building she stood up, flying straight for Faust. This needed to end now.
"Venite, resurgant mortui, et serve!" the robed man exclaimed, holding both of his hands above his head. The light grew brighter, swallowing him up in its glow. Diana found herself slowing down until she came to a stop, hovering in midair. John joined her a moment later.
"I don't think that was a good thing," the Green Lantern said.
"No, it wasn't," she agreed.
The light began to recede then, revealing Faust as he knelt on solid ground. Staring, the dark-haired woman found herself looking around, trying to spot what had been summoned, but seeing nothing.
"I'm not seeing anything," John said after a few moments. "Did whatever Faust did work?"
"I'm not certain," Diana replied. "I'm not seeing—"
A tremor ran through the plaza then, cutting her off. Everything went still before another tremor happened. From where he knelt, a knowing smirk appeared on the sorcerer's face.
"He comes," he proclaimed. "Drawn over great distance and time. He cannot and will not sleep. His strength is a force of nature that even you heroes will find difficult."
"What did you do, Faust?" the Amazon demanded. "What did you summon?"
In answer, a fist suddenly erupted out of the ground a short distance in front of Faust. Just its size was absurdly large. It was pale as well, almost bluish in color.
The fist then opened up and pressed down on the ground. Crack began forming around the hole it had made. It wasn't long before the cement gave way and an arm tore through it, followed by a shoulder and then the rest.
Diana's eyes widened. What was this thing? A monster? It looked like a man, one larger than life. It was easily ten feet tall, heavily muscular as well. Old, tattered clothes hung on its body, covering it at least. There was a dull look on its face, as if it were unaware of its surroundings.
And then it spoke.
"Solomon Grundy," it grunted, taking a lumbering step forward. "Born on a Monday. Christened on Tuesday."
"What is that?!" John exclaimed. "It looks half-dead!"
"Married on Wednesday. Took ill on Thursday." Its head dropped down for a second before it jerked it back up. "Got worse on Friday.
"Died on a Saturday."
"Allow me to introduce the newly revived," Faust proclaimed then. "Amazon, Green Lantern, bear witness to the undying Solomon Grundy."
"Buried on Sunday."
"I don't know what this Solomon Grundy is, but it is in my way," Diana growled. She then shot forward, flying right towards the towering undead man. Leading with her first in front of her, she rammed right into the creature's chest, the force of her blow lifting it off its feet. She pushed it back through the air, crossing over the plaza.
But then she found herself slowing down. There was a scraping sound, one she realized belonged to Grundy as his feet touched back on the ground, skidding across the cement until they had slowed down. Once they stopped, she pulled back, seeing the imprints of her fists in the monster's chest.
What was this thing?!
"That was the end…" Grundy grunted as it raised up a fist, "of Solomon Grundy."
It then threw its fist, slamming it onto Diana. The force she was hit with was incredible, astonishing even. One moment she was hovering in front of the zombie man, the next she was sent sailing through the air until she crashed into a building. The brick wall gave way and she tore into the structure, walls giving way one after the other until she burst out the other side.
Felix Faust had done his research. He had read the lore surrounding the source of the nursery rhyme. To see it in action was...unexpected.
He had watched as the Amazon Princess was sent flying through the air with a single blow; a feat of strength he would have saved for only the most powerful, like Superman. Hell, it had taken a blow from the same Amazon and didn't look the least bit winded from it. Even now, Solomon Grundy was lumbering over towards him, a servant heading for its master.
That was until a set of green bars appeared around the zombie, forming a jail cell. "That's as far as you go," the Green Lantern ordered.
How typical.
To his luck, the Green Lantern was focused on Grundy and not him. A spell would be highly effective. The undead man was staring at his cage dumbly, not sure what to make of his surroundings. It would need to be guided, but that could wait.
As he raised his hand to chant a spell, a crippling fatigue fell over him, staggering him.
What...what was this…?
He was tired, oh so tired. Faust had never felt this way before. He could barely keep himself standing, much less launching an attack. He was...so...fatigued…
"Uuuuugh," the Shade groaned as he slowly pushed himself up nearby. "Why do I feel like I got hit by a train?"
"Shade…" Faust gasped. "You must...spirit us...away from here…"
The thin man looked up at him, rubbing a hand over one of his ears. He looked past the sorcerer, seeing Solomon Grundy and the Green Lantern facing each other. "Us and the ugly guy, right?"
"Yes...the four...of us…"
The Shade held up his cane. "One quick escape coming up." Darkness poured out of the end of the cane, washing over everything. Faust felt its coldness wrap around him, watched as it consumed the nearby Dr. Alchemy and reached out for the trapped Solomon Grundy.
The sunlight vanished from sight then and all Faust knew was darkness.
I felt the need to explain the end of the chapter for those that are surprised by its abrupt ending. The unexpected fatigue Faust is experiencing is magical fatigue very much like what Zatanna felt during her training in Realm of Magic. The reason Faust is surprised by it is because he was using the power of a god in Pantheon, with its nearly unlimited power. Without it, Faust is now drawing upon his own energies, thus the fatigue. I hope that explanation helps.
To Guest: Thanks!