This is Part II of the 40th Story Special. Last time, Starfire finally entered the chat and, after learning about the basics of the Republic's formation, agrees to help the alliance of them and the Legion, by blowing a hole into the Empire's headquarters in the Nameless City. Darkblood then orders his forces to stop them while he starts his ritual on Belial Aether. So, how's this going to go down? Read on to discover...

(As the scene opens, Enchantress and Raven are standing ready for the ritual they plan to conduct on Belial Aether, and just as they're about to start into some kind of discussion, the door to the room flies open and Darkblood runs in)

Darkblood: We need to get this done! Now! The enemy has breached the city!

Enchantress: What?!

Darkblood: The others should be taking care of them for now, but we need to get moving!

Raven: Agreed.

(And with that, Darkblood settles into his position at the back of the ritual circle, with Raven and Enchantress at the center. Each of them contributes some magic to activate the circle, and then before long, a strange green energy is drawn from Belial, and it causes him much pain. But just as a sizeable amount of this energy has entered the center of the ritual circle, the interior door is busted down, allowing for Blaze, Vandal Savage, Aero, and Starfire to enter the scene)

Blaze: This stops here, Darkblood!

Darkblood: Just try and stop us. (Sees something behind the heroes) Besides, I have a feeling you'll be quite busy in a moment.

(And in that moment, a stream of ice encircles the four heroes, containing them while Darkblood resumes the ritual)

Darkblood: Excellent work, Caitlyn.

Killer Frost: Gladly.

Darkblood: Now then, if we can finish without interrupting.

(With their enemy subdued for now, Darkblood resumes the ritual. Having had enough of this, Blaze starts breathing fire onto the ice binding them. Starfire, catching the drift, applies heat from a Starbolt to finish the process, and soon enough they have the ice broken, but Aero sweeps it up into a cyclone from his hands and throws it at the three dark magicians, disrupting the ritual just as they get a chunk of Belial Aether's energy. As they get up from the ice barrage, Blaze and Starfire free Belial Aether from his confines, at which point he actually looks at Starfire, and is instantly enchanted)

Belial Aether: By Anubis... am I dreaming this beauty before me?

Starfire:(Equally enchanted with Belial Aether) I am very real, good sir.

Belial Aether: By the rhythmic Nile...

Blaze: Um... I hate to be the third wheel here, but can we focus on stopping them?

Belial Aether: (As both he and Starfire snap back to reality) Oh, yeah, right. Let's do this.

Starfire: Agreed.

(With that, the five heroes rush at Darkblood and his associates. But even when the three villains are distracted by ice in their faces, they still manage to roundly kick back all but Belial Aether and Starfire, who are apparently a very efficient double team, firing Starbolts and sandstorms everywhere. But while Enchantress and Raven are taken down pretty easily, Darkblood isn't and manages to blow the two of them back with a blast of Dark Aether.)

Darkblood: (Casting a sphere of Dark Aether to contain the energy he's already collected) Now then, I am giving you one last chance to get out of here, before I obliterate all of you.

Belial Aether: Like hell I'm letting you use that power! It was not meant for mortals!

Darkblood: (Now enraged) YOU DARE CALL ME MORTAL?! I AM A GOD!

Belial Aether: Bring it on, false god.

(With that, the two start fighting each other again. And for some reason, this time, Belial Aether is making better odds against Darkblood this time. But ultimately, it's still not enough and Belial is knocked back, but not before managing to cut Darkblood's lip, drawing some blood)

Darkblood: (Wiping the blood from his lip) All of that for a drop of blood. I'm impressed actually. You have a talent, yet you waste it with these fools? You could rule the world!

Belial Aether: Now you're starting to sound like a Saturday morning cartoon villain.

Darkblood: You could. But not on your own. Join me, and I can show you what you lack to truly fulfill your destiny.

Belial Aether: Nice try, Vader. I'm not some power-hungry lunatic.

Darkblood: Very well then, you have made your choice.

(But just as Darkblood is about to charge up his Dark Aether, Belial Aether realizes they have no chance of winning this battle, and summons a sandstorm to teleport them out of there.)

Darkblood: Just as I expected.

Enchantress: You're just going to let them get away?!

Darkblood: (Motioning to the sphere of Dark Aether) We have what we came for. But now, I'm even more fascinated by the Son of Anubis. He has the potential to be one of the greatest conquerors this world has ever known.

Enchantress: So what? You want to bring him to the dark side?

Darkblood: I want to take him under my wing, as an apprentice. And he shall know, I will not be denied. (Looks to the sphere of Dark Aether) But for now, we have better things to do...

(And as the group looks on at the sphere of Dark Aether, our tale ends for today)

This concludes Part II of the 40th Story Special. For the Finale, head on over to The Violet Riddle, things are about to heat up there. So, it looks like Darkblood is impressed with Belial Aether, and wants to take him on as an apprentice. Though Belial is obviously having none of that. I know last time I said we would reveal where Starfire would join up faction wise. I didn't quite reveal it boldy, but there's a hint. That's next time. As well as why Darkblood wants the power of Anubis. So for those answers, tune in next time! Same time... same channel!