To Angel lara451: Well, I have plans for Volt, but I do admit, that I should have handled it better.
To Wonderbee31: Thanks.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Claudia, Maia, and their army are waiting for Superman to arrive.
Claudia has heard Volt and his army have last been seen in the Cunning Emptiness from Celestine and she immediately volunteers to see if the rumors are true. Maia was in the room also and immediately jumped at the opportunity to join Claudia. She has tales of Claudia's fighting prowess and she always wonders if Claudia lived up to her reputation. Maia wanted to spar with Claudia, but the war got in the way of that. Not only is she here to see Claudia's fighting skills, but she is also here to see this legendary Superman.
She has heard rumors about the Man of Steel and she is awed by the man and wonders if he is even human. With the ability to fly, heat things with his eyes, freeze things with his breath, and have senses that surpass anything in the kingdom, he must be some kind of god, right? She doesn't what Superman is, but she going to find out.
Claudia's eyes shifted to the sky. "Right on time, Superman,"
Maia looks up and saw Superman descending to the ground with Chloe in his arms.
"We got here quickly as we could," Superman said as he lands on the ground
Maia eyed the Man of Steel up and down and she likes what she see. She is not the only one as she hears the female knight begins to whisper about how handsome Superman is. She narrowed her eyes at the dark elf. She has heard rumors about how he is friends with the dark elves. She didn't believe it was true as she knows that Olga and her loyal knight despise humans and deemed it impossible that a man managed to be friends with those two. Now, she knows the rumor is true and looks at the Kryptonian with an awestruck expression.
Claudia flashed Superman a small smile. "We glad you are here,"
"What the plan?" Chloe asked, she wants to bring Volt down quickly as possible.
"We came here to investigation this base," Maia answered. "Our scouts say Volt was last seen here. However, I have worked with Volt before and if I know one thing about him is that he doesn't stay at one base for long. So all we know is that we can be investigating an empty base or this is a trap."
"Well, let's see," Superman activated his supervision and scan around the base. He sees a couple of guards around the base, but Volt is nowhere to be found. However, his eyes landed on something peculiar. It was a massive cage covered with black covers and his superhearing picked up sounds and roars that the beast. He leans in to get a better look and his eyes widened once he saw what it was. It was a basilisk. Kal-El has read creatures of this world and the basilisk is the strongest creature on this planet. They are dangerous enough to ruin whole ecosystems and have no fear of humans or any creatures that get in their way. Superman turns to the group. "You're right, Miss..."
"The name Maia, stud," Maia told the Man of Steel as she flashed Kal-El a sultry smile. "Or your future wife will work also~."'
Chloe rolls her eyes and muttered 'Typical humans.' under her breath while Claudia just shakes her head.
Superman is taken aback by Maia's boldness but regains his composure. "Well, Maia you were correct as this is a trap,"
Chloe frowns. "Of course, he isn't,"
Claudia sighs. "It never easy for us. What could he be planning?"
"To take me down once-for-all because a basilisk is in that base," Superman answered with a serious tone.
Everyone's eyes widened at the news.
"How in the hell he managed to capture that beast?!" Maia asked in shock and horror. "I know Volt is a great hunter, but even he wouldn't be able to capture a basilisk!"
"Must have caught it when it was sleeping," Chloe guessed. "It is the only answered that makes sense as it is the only time they are vulnerable."
"True," Claudia said before looking towards the Kryptonian. "What state is it in?"
"It's angry," Superman answered
This causes everyone to groan.
"Of course it is," Claudia said, she unsheathes her sword with the others following suit. "What the plan Kal-El?"
"All of you will handle the guards while I handle the basilisk," Superman stated as he levitated off the ground.
"Are you sure you will be handle that beast, big guy?" Maia asked with slight concern. "I know you are strong and all, but basilisks are on another level on their own."
Superman gives her a reassuring smile. "I can handle that basilisk as I faced bigger threats than that in my lifetime. We meet back here once we are done here," Superman takes off to the basilisk's location.
"You heard the man," Chloe said as everyone's heads turns towards her. "Let's finish here and meet back here!" Chloe charges toward the beast
Claudia firmly nods and followed suit while the others reluctantly nod as they didn't like being ordered by this dark elf, but since she with Superman, they followed her.
Hicks is guarding the front entrance with Shamuhaza.
It was another boring evening as Hicks is sharpening his knife and Shamhaza is just...staring into the distance.
"Do you think that Superman guy will ever show up?" Hicks asked the scientist. "We've been guarding this place for three days and he hasn't shown up once."
"Patience, Hicks," Shamuhaza replied. "He will be here sooner or later. We just have to wait."
Hicks groans. "That's all we have been doing! I'm tired of standing around and doing nothing! I should be out there fighting on the frontlines and enjoying the pleasures of women! Not out here and being stuck here with that thing in there!"
"I understand your frustration. Think about it this way, imagine you're the one to defeat Superman," Shamuhaza suggested.
Hicks was about to respond, but he thought about what the scientist said. If he does defeat Superman, Volt will give him the biggest reward of his life and he will be known as the one to defeat the Man of Steel. Hicks heard what Kal-El can do, who hasn't it? He basically a god amongst men, but for some reason, Superman doesn't see himself that way as Hicks heard that the Kryptonian treat everyone like equals even his enemies. From Hicks' perspective, he is just wasting his power and that power needs to be in someone else hands that actually going to use it.
Hicks looks at Shamuhaza and flashed him a nasty grin. "Thanks. I never thought about it that way. This will be worth waiting after all," Hicks went back to sharpening his knife and starts whistling.
Shamuhaza sighs in relief. 'I managed to calm him down. I can think in peace. This Superman's fellow. He gonna be an interesting specimen to study. Maybe there is a way I can take that power from myself and starts to explore the universe for more species of insects. Or take over the universe. There are infinite possibilities of what to do with his power,'
He was soon brought out of his thoughts as he heard a loud BOOM! He turned and saw a blur of red and blue grabbing the basilisk and he was hit in the right shoulder by a throwing dagger.
Hicks is caught off guard by this and narrowly dodges a throwing knife from Maia.
Maia scoffs at this. "Come out and surrender now! It will be easier for you and your men!"
Hicks snickers at her suggestion. "Sorry bitch, but I don't plan on losing to a bunch of women!"
"Have it your way then!" Claudia said as she immediately charges Hicks as the others faced his men. She swings her sword at Hicks' side.
Hicks immediately blocked and is surprised by Claudia's strength. 'Holy fuck! They said she was one of the strongest fighters in Eostia, but I didn't imagine she be this strong!' Hicks tries to push her back, but Claudia didn't back down and pushes Hicks back. She thrust her sword into Hicks' abdomen, but Hicks blocked it and sends a backhand punch at Claudia's cheek. Claudia stumbles back a bit and she didn't have time to react to Hicks' strike as the attack graze her cheek. Causing a small scar to form. Claudia hiss in pain and retaliated by striking Hicks diagonally down. A diagonal scar form on Hicks' body and blood spill out. Hicks's eyes widen in horror as he drops to his knees and he begins to lose consciousness. He sends Claudia a glare of rage. "You...bitch..." Was the last thing he said as he passes out from the blood loss.
Claudia gives one last look at Hicks' unconscious body before joining the others.
Chloe throws a dagger at the man's head. Killing him instantly. From the corner of her eye, she saw a man coming at her and he swings his great sword at Chloe's head. Chloe ducked under the blow and using her dagger, she cuts the man's stomach and jams it in the man's back, and took it out. The man falls to his knees. He grits his teeth and tries to stand back up, but Chloe kicked him back down and put her foot on the man's chest to hold him down. "Any last words, human scum?" Chloe asked her voice laced with venom. The man just spits at her leg and looks at her with hatred. "May you rot in hell!" Chloe thrust her dagger into the man's eye. Causing him to scream before dying. Chloe took out her dagger and clean it before engaging with more soldiers coming her way.
'Insects. Why did it have to insects?' Maia thought as she cut down a dozen insects to get to Shamuhaza. Maia got really unlucky with her opponent as insects creep her the fuck out and this battle just increase her discomfort towards insects. Maia was close to Shamuhaza and thrust her knife at Shamuhaza's forehead, but a wall of insects blocked her attack. "Try all you want. Your efforts will be wasted as my insects will protect me no matter what!" Maia scoffs. "Oh? Let's test that theory then!" Maia jumps away to create some distance and took out a magic bomb. She throws at the insects. Causing an explosion of fire to engulf the insects. Shamuhaza smirks. "Do you think a little is going to affect them? I trained them not to be affected by such simple things," Maia flashed him a mischievous smile. "Oh, it's not just fire," Shamuhaza is confused by this and was about to ask what she means by that, but he soon got his answer when he sees his insects breaking formation and scattering towards the forest.
"W-what did you do to my insects?!" Shamuhaza asked, outraged by this and backing away from the mercenary.
A smirk formed on Maia's lips. "Kaguya give a chemical called 'Rurqur'. She told me the chemical cause a strong smell that disturbs the insects so much that they run off to escape the smell. So now, it's just me and you," Maia lunges at Shamuhaza and stabs him in the leg. Shamuhaza screams in agony and he falls to the ground. "I would kill you, but you would be more use to us alive than dead." Maia took out some ropes and begin to tie him up.
"Y-you will not get a-away with this!" The mad scientist started to say in a strained voice. "V-volt will f-find y-you and make you his slaves!"
Maia punches him. Hard. Knocking him out. "He better try harder as this operation is a bust for the Black Dogs!" Maia throws Shamuhaze over her shoulder and walks back to her group.
With Superman.
Superman is taking the basilisk far away from any life forms. The basilisk tries to fight back, but Superman isn't bulging as his strength vastly outclasses the basilisk. This makes the basilisk more enraged and aggressive.
Superman made it to an empty tundra with no life forms. Superman drops the basilisk to the ground.
"This should be a good enough spot for you. You will not harm any innocent creature here," Superman said. Superman started to fly, but the basilisk lunges at the Man of Steel and bit into his cape. Seeing that it got his prey, the basilisk slams Superman into the ground. Breaking the ice and putting Superman into the freezing water. The basilisk followed after Superman. The basilisk opens his mouth wide open and engulfed Superman. He closes his mouth and tries to swallow Superman, but it not working as Superman easily pries the basilisk's mouth open. Superman flew out of his mouth and flew to the surface. The Basilisk roars and wraps his tail around the Kryptonian's body. The basilisk tries to squeeze Superman, but it didn't faze as the Man of Steel broke out of the basilisk's grip and looks at the basilisk. "I'm giving you one last chance, leave." Superman sternly warns. The basilisk didn't listen as he roars and charges at Superman at hypersonic speeds. Superman cocked his fist back and waited for the basilisk to get close enough. Once the basilisk was in range, he launched his fist at the basilisk's face. Sending a shockwave that shook the continent. The basilisk whines and swam away once he realizes that he is outclassed. Superman flew back to Claudia's group.
"Is that all of them?" Claudia asked as she wipes the blood off her forehead.
"Yes ma'am," One of her female knights answered. "Although a few of them did retreat, but I doubt they are gonna problem for a while."
"I see. We catch them later. Right now, we leave and report back to the queen," Claudia said.
Chloe walked to Claudia and wipes the blood from her daggers.
"I have seen you out there. Good work. They say you were a good fighter, but they downplayed your combat prowess," Claudia praised.
"Thanks. I could say the same about you. I doubt that I could defeat you in a fair fight as much as I hate to admit it," Chloe said.
Claudia gives her a small smile. The two see Maia in the distance with Shamuhaza over her shoulder.
Maia throw the mad scientist to the ground. "Here you go, Claudia. Brought him alive as you said,"
"Excellent work, Maia," Claudia said.
Maia shrugs. "Eh, it was no biggie. The only thing that was a problem was the insects he controlled,"
Claudia nods. "I see. Now, all we need to do is wait for Kal-El,"
"We don't have to wait for long as he is already here," Chloe said, pointing to the Man of Steel who is descending to the ground.
Claudia turns to face him. "Fast as always. What happened to the basilisk?"
"I took him to a place far away from any life forms," Superman answered as he landed on the ground. "So we don't have to worry about that thing ruining any ecosystems any time soon."
Claudia sighs in relief. "Thank the Goddess. I knew we can count on you,"
"So you really are strong? Keep this up and I might have to propose soon," Maia winked at Kal-El.
'She sure is bold,' Superman thought as he shakes his head.
Claudia lightly giggles at Maia's antics while Chloe just sighs.
"Anyway, now that we're done here, let's head back and report back to the queen," Claudia said as she and the knights loaded up the carriages and rode their respective horses.
"Right behind you," Chloe said as she walks to Superman and wraps his arms around her.
Superman levitated off the ground and flew after them.
Kingdom of Feoh, Celestine's palace, the throne room.
Celestine is sitting on her throne and is patiently waiting for Claudia to get back.
She knows that Shamuhaza has valuable information that would help them take down the Black Dogs once and for all.
Celestine also knows that Superman is with the group.
She has always been curious about the Man of Steel ever since she meets him. He has the strength that could rival the Goddess and maybe even surpass her. He has many abilities that make him a god among men. Celestine doesn't know what Superman is, but all she knows is that he isn't human. So she uses her magic to discover the origins of Superman and what she found out about the Kryptonian shook her to her core. He isn't from this planet or even this universe. He from filled with superheroes like him and villains that make the Black Dogs look like puppies compare to the villains from Superman's universe. She has found out a little bit about his past and it made her feel for Superman. To be the last of your people must be depressing. She also saw the villains he has faced in his lifetime. Doomsday, Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Mongol, Darkseid, Lobo, General Zod, and Parasite are some of the villains she saw and all of them made her relieved that none of them follow Superman here.
She was soon snapped out of her thoughts when she heard footsteps approaching her. She saw Claudia and her group walking towards her with Superman and Chloe flying behind them.
"The mission was successful my Queen," Claudia said with a bow of her head.
Celestine smiles. "Good. Where is Shamuhaza?"
"Right here my lady," Maia said from the distance as she walks to Celestine with Shamuhaza over her shoulder.
"Excellent. Take him to the cells. I investigated him later," Celestine stood up from her throne and looked at Superman. "Right now, I want me and Superman to be alone. I need to talk to him."
"As you wish," Claudia obeyed as she and the others left while Maia took Shamuhaza to the cells.
Leaving Superman and Celestine alone.
"Is something the matter?" Superman asked in a concerned tone.
"Nothing the matter Kal-El," Celestine said. "Or should I say Clark?"
Superman's eyes widen and his body tenses. "How did you know?"
"Relax, Kal-El," Celestine said. "Your secret is safe with me. I was curious about your origins and find out you are not from this universe. Is it true?"
Superman relaxes a bit as h knows that Celestine is a good woman. "Yes, it is true. I guess you know that I'm not a human,"
Celestine nods. "I do. How did you end up far away from home?"
"It's a long story, but I can shorten it. Darkseid invaded Earth with his army and this time, I had enough. So I went straight to him to end this. I gave him my all and he keep getting back up. I decided to end it with my heat vision and he uses his Omega Beams. When our attacks clashed, we put all our power into them and it opened up a portal that sucks us up. I ended up here." Superman summarized.
"Wow... that's quite a story," Celestine said in awe as she regains her composure. "Well, I meant to keep a secret until the war is done for good, but I've been working on my magic to send you back to your universe."
Superman looks at her with a shocked expression. "Really?"
Celestine nods. "You've earned it for helping us so much. Although, I will miss you as you have been a wonderful hero to my people and a good friend to me,"
Superman pulls her into a hug and smiles. "Thank you. I will miss you too,"
Celestine returns the hug. "You're welcome," The two separated. "Anyway, that's all I wanted. I see you soon, Kal-El."
"Take care, Celestine," Superman gives a warm smile before taking off to find Chloe.
'Kal-El sure is a handsome man,' Celestine thought with a smile. 'I wonder if he is single. Oh, what am I thinking? He is probably with Olga by now given how close those two are.' Celestine walked to the cells to interrogate Shamuhaza.