After a lot of scrubbing and dusting and mopping to get all of the dirt out, and fixing up what appliances that were left (and boy, was a lot of work, and gods did he thought de-weeding the Duel Sanctuary a lot of work). Him and Billy managed to score some second hand furniture for the base. Everything was nearly done.
They were having some security system issues, mostly because Billy didn't have enough free time to set it up, and the underground garden was a work in progress.
But it was homey enough.
They invited Dudley to the housewarming party but the man declined so it was just the two of them and a big dutch pot filled with enough food to feed an army. Or so Billy said.
Yuma had no idea what he ment.
The hot pot wasn't anything too fancy. Just vegetables, some shrimp and sliced meat. Nothing compared to what Grandma used to make but Billy seemed to enjoy it well enough.
Yuma was in the middle of convincing Billy to try his spicy dipping sauce when the boy just froze. The boy paled and his hand began to shake.
"What's wrong?" Yuma asked, dread began to fill his stomach.
"Black Adam, he's coming." Billy whispered, putting down his chopstick.
Yuma frowned and turned off the portable stove. "Your arch nemesis? Didn't you say he was busy with his own country. Why is he coming to Fawcett?"
"I don't know but it can't be good." Billy stood up, one 'Shazam' later Captain Marvel was here.
Yuma followed suit and put on all of his gear with a snap of his fingers but the Captain just shook his head.
"You should stay behind, Black Adam is dangerous."
"More reasons why I should go." Yuma protested. "You said the last time you guys fought, you only won because Black Adam underestimated you. This time he's not going to go down that easily, you'll need all the help you can get."
Captain Marvel quiet for a moment. "No. He's too strong. I'm the only one with enough power to face him."
"But that doesn't mean I can't help." Yuma protested.
Solomon hissed but Billy ignored him. "You can help me evacuate people but promise me you won't engage with Black Adam."
"No promise." Yuma told him and Captain sighed. He knew he could not persuade the teen and time was off the essence.
[-.-]
Black Adam was prepared for their fight, Captain Marvel had expected that but what he didn't expect was for him to brough people with him. 50 trained mages circled them as they fought high in the sky. Words were chanted and Captain Marvel could feel his own magic being slowly drained.
One second of faltering allowed the older man to pummeled Marvel into the ground. Black Adam gloated but Marvel found it hard to make out the words when his grip on this form was forcefully taken away from him. All his magic redirected right back at Black Adam, empowering him.
As he struggled to to stand up, he was vaguely aware of Black Adam raised fit. Another hit and Billy would be all that left. Then Black Adam would snap his neck. Then Black Adam would take over the Rock of Eternity. Then not even Superman would be able to stop him from conquering Earth.
"Billy!" Yuma called for him from outside the magic barrier Black Adam erected. It was meant to keep out the Wizard (or his ghost) from interfering but now worked as a viewing window for Yuma to see him die.
Black Adam brought down his fist, filled with all the power he stole from Captain Marvel, and suddenly Chaos erupted.
Everything happened at once, Chaos roared, the barrier evaporated, Yuma screamed and reached for him.
His hand weaved through the magic and down to the soul of Billy. His touch was warm and Billy found himself reaching back.
Then Billy found himself floating, finding himself harmonizing. And he allowed it.
"Let's build the overlay Network!"
The Marvel form gave way to something else, for a moment Billy was pure magic. He danced with the scarlet chaos that was Yuma as the two forces of their being formed something new.
When his sight cleared once again, Billy was himself and yet something more. This form felt like a hug, it felt like laughter unlike the pure energy of Captain Marvel. Yet no less powerful.
He was Chaos and Magic. Eternity in its purest form.
"Pretty cool huh?" Yuma said. Billy turned his head to see the older boy ghastly figured right beside him. "You know you're taking this better than I did the first time this happens."
Billy was about to reply when Black Adam angrily demanded. "What did you do?!"
The mages began to chant as Black Adam rushed at the newly created Zexal.
Zexal unleashed a wave of pure Chaos, knocking out all the mages before waiting patiently for Black Adam to reach him.
The man never did.
At some point Black Adam realized no matter how fast he moved he could never reach the replacement, now taking the shape of a teenager.
"What did you do?" He repeated his question, finding his own body suspended in space. No amount of blessing from the gods could make him move.
Wings, with gold skeleton frames and bright light beams as feathers, raised behind the champion. Deep scarlet and sky blue eyes stared down at him.
"You have two choices." The boy spoke, cracking his knuckle. "Either get the fuck out of Fawcett and return to Kahndaq or I'm finishing this fight."
"Do not underestimate me, child!" Black Adam growled and was met with a fist his stomach.
"Kinda figured you would say that."
When the mages woke up, they looked in fear at the sight of their king being beaten by an angelic teen. The boy dragged the unconscious man by the arm and tossed him at the men.
"Take your ruler and leave." He said, voice soft and laced with an overwhelming power. It sounded like two speaking at once. "Tell Teth Adam that I do not wish to fight him but if he comes for my title again, I will have no choice but to strip him of his blessings. ALL of it."
With a wave of his hand the boy opened a portal for them. Behind it was a city nestled in the desert. Fearfully the mage obeyed the orders.
Zexal watched as the last men stepped through the portal before closing it. A lightning strike and they were home safe. Yuma tugged at their bond and Zexal became undone. While the teenager landed on his feet, Billy, new to this transformation, stumbled to the ground and was caught by Yuma.
"That was…" Billy began but unsure how to phrase it.
"The power of Zexal. 'When two distant souls come together. A miracle will be created'." Yuma recited. " This was something I used to do with my partner. Although I didn't know that I could do it with other people."
Billy nestled closer into Yuma's chest, trying to recapture that feeling of warmth when he was in Zexal. "It must have been wonderful."
"It was." Yuma admitted wishfully before adding. "It is. Forming Zexal with you I mean."
Later Billy would learn that Zexal was born from trust and understanding. Later he would meet Astral. Now?
Their stomach grumbled simultaneously and the celebration was right back on track.