Chapter 73: An End Once and For All Pt. 3
Authors Note: Okay, this was a doozy it is easily my longest chapter and I might have rushed a few scenes. I am exhausted and…yeah.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Justice League.
Star had just dodged Blackbeard's sword and swung her leg across his face. She felt his nose break on contact but he looked back at her as if nothing happened. His yellow teeth broke shone in his grin but that isn't what startled the young girl. It was the fact that he had no skin or eyes that sent chills down her spine.
His skin disappeared and his beard turned white. The red 'S' on his head was carved in his skull and glowed red, whispers of an unknown chants inside her mind.
"You should be careful kiddo." Blackbeard chuckled in a demonic voice. "Last kid I tangled with made the mistake of underestimating me."
"According to the records you were killed by that kid." Star retorted. She pulled her whip out and snapped it. "Time to send you back to Trigon."
She snapped her whip at him, but he grabbed it with his skeletal hand and sent a pulse of dark energy through it and into her body. She felt her blood run cold and started shaking uncontrollably before falling to the ground.
Thanatos was fighting Double J who had transformed into a vicious bat mutant. Her skin had turned pale and her limbs cracked and stretched into long bony limbs and her jaw outstretched with fangs jutting out of her lower jaw. Thanatos grimaced under his helmet at the disgusting creature before him.
He quickly fired a few plasma bolts at her striking her in the chest and head sending her back against the wall. He left burn marks on her chest and the side of head but they quickly regenerated and healed as if they were never there.
Double J grinned at her newfound power before letting out a loud screech. Thanatos's scanners started to go haywire and tried to fix them when a force tackled him to the ground and started scratching his armor.
Two nails broke through his visor and ripped his helmet off revealing his face. He brought his arms up and gripped the former mob boss by its bony shoulders trying to pry her off. This proved impossible as her claws had sunk in deep into his armor. He quickly activated his pod missiles and opened fired on her finally knocking her off him.
She flew back onto the ground with a few of her limbs blown off. Thanatos grinned at the damage he had caused but his grin soon turned to a frown when her limbs started to heal once again. She hopped to her feet and flexed her razor sharp claws while drool dripped through her fangs. It was at this point Thanatos was truly afraid of Trigons power.
Phantom was casually fighting Breeze as if he were fighting a child. She struck him hard and fast but he casually ducked away from her staff or blocked her kicks. He stood in his white suit and held his silver knife in his right hand perfectly calm while Breeze struggled to stay on her feet.
"Having a bad day huh love?" He chuckled as his green eyes glowed red from Trigons power.
Breeze let out a snarl and charged at Phantom and charged at him with her staff. She swiped it across his face at his feet and jabbed it towards his chest and he dodged every last one of them. She swung it hard again at his head, but he caught it with his left hand and swiped his knife across her cheek.
Breeze fell back in shock while pressing her palm to her bleeding cheek. She stumbled on the ground and looked up to see Phantom standing over her. He licked his blade clean of her blood making the girl cringe in fear.
"You taste good love." He snickered. "Be sure to tell daddy I said hi."
He twirled his knife around a few times before raising it over his head. Breeze looked away afraid of what was to come. Only it never came. She looked up at Phantom and was shocked to see a curved blade of a scythe through his stomach. Phantom let out a chuckle and looked behind him to see his old friend Reaper, scythe in hand.
"Nice save Flynn, but you can't kill me." Phantom stated cynically. "I'm already fucking dead."
Reaper looked down and saw what he meant. His blade went through his stomach and yet there was no blood. Suddenly Phantom's whole body turned into ghostly demon freeing him from the scythes blade.
Reaper flew out of the way and tackled Breeze to the ground. Thanatos was soon thrown to the ground along with Star. Jayden and Red Saber continued clashing blades before Saber got the upper hand and kicked Jayden back with his friends.
Saber strutted forward with both of his blades resting on his shoulders as the rest of the soul eaters showed up.
Bruticus was now cladded in black armor that glowed dark orange around the chest and shoulders. Damian Cole was still the mutation he was when Phoenix had defeated him. Javier and Johnson were both glowing red presumably under a fire spell.
Lotus was constantly growing spikes out of her arms and hands same as Frost whose skin was ice blue and eyes blood red. Seth Gallagher of course had his sadistic grin as his shadow hovered over him.
"You can't beat us Jayden." Saber grinned. "You couldn't last time what makes you think you could this time?"
"Who said we were trying to beat you?" Star chuckled.
"You're saying you weren't?" Seth asked.
"Nope." Batgirl grinned.
"Then what were you doing?" Johnson asked.
"Keeping you distracted long enough so you wouldn't sense Raven's magic charging up." Surge said playfully.
Each and every one of their smug faces turned grim as they suddenly felt a strong surge of dark energy around them. Before they could do anything it was too late. Their shadows all formed into a dark raven and engulfed them in darkness. They all screamed in fear as the raven soon turned into a dark energy sphere trapping them all inside.
At the last moment the sphere turned into a raven once again before disintegrating into nothing, spewing the soul eaters onto the ground. Seth Gallagher stood to his feet and started chuckling madly.
"Nice try Jayden, but it looks like your last plan failed." He giggled madly, twirling his sickle around.
Jayden said nothing but drew his magnum and aimed it at Cyrus's wrist and fired. The bullet whipped past his the back of his hand holding the sickle and on instinct dropped it. He smiled a smug grin at Jayden who did the same but he suddenly felt his hand shake. His eyes widened when he felt the warm blood drip from his dried veins.
"She can't take away your powers, but suppressing your immortality. That is something she can do." Jayden chuckled.
"Surrender now." Raven warned. "Or you will be killed."
"We'd rather die again than be slaves to you!" Seth shouted.
Reaper made the first move and attacked Phantom. He transformed into his transparent ghost form and dodged the blade and flew through Reaper. When he changed back he swiped his knife down Reaper's back, earning a shout from his former companion. Reaper fell to his knees and cringed in pain while blood poured from his wound.
"I told you Flynn, you're slow." Phantom chuckled. He twirled his knife upside down and raised it above his head ready to strike. Reaper tried to look back, but he ended up falling to the ground hearing the sound of electricity and Phantom's high pitched screams.
After the cackling ended Phantom had fallen next to Reaper twitching with smoke rising from his body. Reaper groaned in pain when he felt two strong hands grip him under his arms and hoisted him over a shoulder.
"Thanks Surge." Reaper grunted.
"No problem Reaper." Surge chuckled.
(!)
Whisper dashed towards the demonic Double J and swiped her knife across her bony leg. She let out a loud shriek before swiping her claws at the young girl. Whisper dodged the attack but not quick enough as the tip of J's nail scratched her cheek.
Whisper leaped back and held her knife at the ready while Double J looked at her claw. Her fangs showed in her sadistic grin as her long snake like tongue licked the blood clean.
"You do taste sweet, just like your mother." Her voice hissed. Whisper glared at the demon before her and gripped her knife tight.
"You are such a coward you would rather sell your soul and be Trigon's bitch than stick to your own principals. You don't even compare to the woman my mother was. Or the woman Ally is."
"Aw, you love Ally." J snickered. "Is she your new mommy?"
Whisper let out a heavy sigh and focused on her target. Question always told her to save personal thoughts for dinner, when you're on the job focus on the task at hand. Whisper stared down at her opponent and pointed her knife at her.
"Yes."
Whisper dashed towards Double J again only this time she pulled out her desert eagle. She fired a few rounds grazing J's shoulder and leg. She let out another screech and was disoriented long enough for Whisper to land a finishing blow. That was until J swung her claw around and smacked her across the room and into a nearby wall.
Whisper felt something snap in her leg and screamed in pain clutching her ankle. She came close to passing out but a strong grip around her neck caused her eyes to snap open. She felt her body lift up into the air and was now face to face with the demonic face of Double J.
"I've waited ten years for this!" Double J sneered.
Whisper panicked for a moment when the color of blue and black caught her eye. She grinned smugly before looking into Double J's red eyes. Knife still in hand.
"Keep waiting."
Whisper quickly stabbed the blade into Double J's bony hand causing the monster to let go of her. Whisper fell but was caught by Breeze and carried away covering Ronin's attack. He drop kicked her stomach, knocking the wind out of her and swung his scalers across her wrist chopping her hands off. Roninn then landed on his feet before swiping his blades up cutting in deep in her chest and chin. Blood poured from her body as she fell to the ground unconscious, her body slowly turning back to normal. Meanwhile Breeze tended to her wounded child.
"Don't worry honey I've got you." Breeze whimpered. Tears rolled down her cheeks and the sight just made Whisper chuckle.
"Thanks…mom."
Johnson and Javier were both glowing like brimstone as they engaged Dusk and Zoom. Dusk charged at Johnson and smacked his tonfa down on his head while Zoom ran around Javier superfast landing multiple punches on his body. The two former merc shrugged them off and fired off a wave of fire.
Dusk had his arms burned as Zoom fell next to him with both of his legs scorched. The two looked up at their assailants who both had sadistic grins spread across their faces.
"Not a good day to be a bad guy huh kids." Johnson chuckled.
"The only bad guys I see are the sadistic bastards who treat people like pawns." Dusk growled. Javier merely chuckled.
"We are all pawns ese," Javier chuckled. "We just don't know it yet but if we accept it we will be greatly rewarded!" He shouted, his face glowing orange like brimstone.
"You weren't rewarded you sold your soul for power. The only weak fools here are you two cowards!" Zoom shouted.
"Ashes to ashes kiddo." Johnson chuckled.
"And dust to dust." Javier finished.
They both conjured fire to their hands and aimed it at the two warriors. Zoom and Dusk grabbed each other's hands and prepared for the worst to happen. The two soul eaters rained fire down on them, but they were intercepted Mystico who protected the boys with a barrier that turned the fire into bubbles.
"You!" Javier shouted. "No me jodas!"
"Pudrente en el infierno." Mystico chuckled.
She then turned the barrier into two bulls and charged them at Johnson and Javier tackling them both down. The magic bulls then blew up into sparkle and rained down on the two gently lulling them unconscious. Mystico looked down at her friends and smiled.
"Gracias." They thanked.
"De nada." She said.
(!)
Lotus and Blackbeard fought against Hitgirl and Star who were still struggling against their demonic states. Spikes ripped through the palms of her hand and she threw them at Star who swiped them away with her whip.
Star then summersaulted towards the former assassin and swiped her boot across her face. Lotus let out a snarl and whipped out another spike and swung it down across Star's face. The young girl fell back holding her wounded face.
"You little worm." Lotus grunted. "You all make me sick to my stomach!"
"I'm pretty sure that's the devil syphoning your soul." Star joked.
"Cute, I will enjoy carving that smile off your stupid little face!"
Meanwhile, Hitgirl was once again dueling Blackbeard who was still in his skeleton form. Hitgirl brought her duel blades down hard on Blackbeard's cutlass. Blackbeard pushed her back and started swiping his blade across her face. Hitgirl dodged his attacks, but he did manage to land a few scratches on her cheek and forehead.
"What's wrong kiddo, lose your nerve?" Blackbeard teased. "Then again it wouldn't be as bad as when you were little and ran away while I screwed your bitch mom!"
Blackbeard brought his sword down as Hitgirl raised her blades in an x formation and blocked his attack. She kicked him back, but every time she touched him she felt the dark magic surrounding him tearing away at her energy.
Star was kicked to the ground again by Lotus and saw Hitgirl's flesh turning pale. Blackbeard kicked her down on to the ground where the two made eye contact. They knew they lost their immortality but their powers and abilities were still lethal.
Star grabbed her whip and Hitgirl gripped her handguns. They both nodded and quickly attacked their opposite opponents. Star snapped her whip at Blackbeard and Hitgirl aimed her guns at Lotus.
Star managed to wrap her whip around B.B's spinal cord through his exposed torso and ripped it apart. Hitgirl unloaded every bullet she had into Lotus striking every one of her limbs. Both monsters fell to the ground in a pile of bones and a bloody carcass.
Star helped Hitgirl up and leaned her against the wall.
"Great team work kiddo." Hitgirl chuckled.
"Thanks, I learned from the best." She smiled at her friend.
(!)
Thanatos's fight against the new and improved Bruticus was more troublesome than the last time. Thanatos brought his blade down on his enchanted armor only for it to shatter upon impact. Bruticus remained silent as always and aimed his palm at Thanatos and fired hells flames at him. Theodosia quickly stepped between them and used her super breath to blow the flames back.
She then flew towards him with her fist held out and slammed into his chest. Bruticus fell back on the ground while the girl slammed her fist down on his armored skull. Bruticus smacked her away with his massive hand and stood to his feet.
Thanatos activated his pod missiles and plasma guns and fired upon Bruticus while Theodosia fired her heat vision at him. Starfire then joined the fight and blasted star bolts at him followed by Arsenal who fired his arm cannon. They eventually started to run out of energy and ammo and ceased fire. When the smoke cleared Bruticus was lying in a crater groaning in pain.
(!)
Artemis and Batgirl were fighting against Damian Cole in his splicer form. Artemis fired an arrow into his eye blinding him while Batgirl threw a batarang at his arm. Cole let out a feral roar and slithered over to Batgirl and swiped his claw at her head. She ducked and tore her cape on his black claw.
Artemis aimed an explosive arrow at his hand and fired it hitting his palm. The arrow exploded literally disarming him. He let out another roar but was quickly struck down by Batgirl's boot to his head.
"I've had enough of this let's go get Adrian!" Batgirl shouted.
"Yeah, it's time to end this." Artemis grunted.
(!)
Gauntlet and Seth fought against one another his sickles coming down on his gauntlets sparks flying. Seth's shadow flew around Gauntlet and attacked him, but the demigod blasted him with a beam of fire and destroyed him, but he was quickly jumped and pinned down by Seth.
"Now you're screwed kiddo!" Seth grunted as his eyes glowed dark. "When you look into my eyes your little head will tear itself apart in fear!"
Sam looked into his eye s and started to feel his mind sink into another world. He started feeling cold and afraid as he suddenly relived every painful event in his life. His parents kicking him out on the streets when he was a boy, his friends and family being slaughtered like animals back in those sewers, losing his team the night he stole the gauntlets. He felt his heart on the verge of stopping.
His world went black before a small light shined through the darkness. When he came too Seth was on the floor smoldering while Sam hovered above him a blaze in fire.
"Thanks Vulcan, I think we can safely assume he tried to do to us what Megan did to us back home." Sam chuckled.
"I know, this time I was prepared." Vulcan said in Sam's subconscious. "And you're welcome Sam."
(!)
Phoenix's battle with his clone brother Frost was more complex than the rest.
"Frost, please I know you're in there!" Phoenix shouted while fending off the ice spikes. The demon form of Frost couldn't understand what he was saying and snarled at Phoenix. He aimed his icy claw at him again and swiped it at his head.
Phoenix ducked and formed a fiery claw on his hand and struck Frost across his chest. Frost shrieked in pain and was tackled to the ground by Phoenix.
"I know you were used by Damian to kill us and now by Trigon." Phoenix struggled while emitting heat off his body and onto Frost's. "But it's over we can move on. We can have a life and start a family and you and I can be brothers not enemies. Please listen to me Frost!"
Frost let out a snort and punched Phoenix off of him. Phoenix rolled on the ground not wanting to get up if it means hurting Frost anymore. Stomaching his pride he stood up and readied his powers but was surprised when he saw a glowing light pouring out of the demons chest.
Steam was pouring from the demonic Frost's chest and he was screeching in pain from the light. Phoenix quickly ran up to Frost and threw his hands into his chest. He felt a warm presence course through his veins when he felt someone grab his hands.
With all his strength he pulled as hard as he could and fell back on to the ground. He was dazed for a moment before looking down and sees his clone brother lying on him unconscious, the red S on his head fading away like dust in the wind. He was finally free of any ones control, allowed to finally be his own person.
(!)
Jayden and Red Saber were slashing at each other with their swords like vicious gladiators hungry for blood. Sparks flew with each strike as their blades collided with one another. Saber using his super reflexes flashed out of the way of one of Jayden's attacks and popped up behind him swinging his blades up in an x formation. Blood spilled from Jayden's back and the warrior snarled like a savage wolf and swung his blade across Saber's face in a fit of rage.
Saber stumbled back gripping his bleeding face while Jayden fell to his knees. Jayden focused his powers on his wounds and felt them seal up. He staggered to his feet and regained his fighting stance as did Saber whose face also healed.
"We'll be at this all day." Saber chuckled.
"I don't have all day. In fact I think I am out of time!" Jayden shouted.
He quickly dashed towards Saber and brought his blade down towards him. Saber raised his duel swords up and blocked his attack. He held Jayden back with his left blade and swung across his stomach with his right. Jayden grunted in pain and pushed him back swinging his sword at Saber.
The assassin blocked and dodged his attacks with superior reflexes and speed. When Jayden let missed him, Saber managed to gash his leg and stab Jayden through his arm. Jayden felt the nerves in his arms fail him and lost the grip in his sword.
Saber grinned at his weakened state and kicked Jayden's blade away from him. Adding insult to injury Saber started twirling his blades around in a unique fashion before raising them above his head. Jayden quickly rolled out of the way before Saber could strike and pulled a batarang from his belt. He threw it across the room and struck Saber in the corner of her left eye and fell back screaming in pain.
Jayden saw that he had dropped his sword and quickly ran over and grabbed it with his good hand. He swung the blade down at his opponent, but Saber wasn't done yet. Like Jayden and his arm, Saber still had another eye and he could still see Jayden coming if not as good as before.
The two parried again, ignoring the pain the coursed through their bodies. Jayden brought his blade down hard and Saber started to stagger from his strength. His hands were trembling from the vibrations Jayden delivered with each strike before falling back on the ground.
Jayden brought his blade down one last time and watched as Saber's hand flew off and blood poured everywhere.
"Ahhh!" Saber screamed clenching his wrist trying to stop the bleeding. "Dammit, damn you!"
"It's over!" Jayden shouted. "You're over!"
"Don't think so!" Saber snarled.
Jayden let out a cry and brought the blade down with every intention of finishing off Saber. Unfortunately for him Saber didn't know when to quit. In a last ditch effort he pulled out Jayden's blade out from under him blocked his death blow.
The two struggled against one another wielding the others weapon ready for the kill. Saber's eyes glowed red and his fangs grew long but before Jayden could react Saber had brought his mouth up to his neck and sunk his fangs in his jugular.
Jayden screamed in pain as he felt his blood pour out from his neck and into Saber's mouth. He slowly felt his eyes grow heavy and his world going black and soon fell to his knees. He couldn't raise his blade or fight back but there was only one last thing he could do. In an instant he felt his eyes glowing bright and started giving off electricity.
Saber started twitching and jolting at the unexpected attack. He tried to let go, but the electricity had made him immobile. Jayden's power soon faded and with the last of his strength he managed to pry Saber's fangs out of his neck and pushed him down on the ground.
"Jayden!" He heard Ally cry.
His love quickly rushed over to him as did the rest of his team, who had been treated by Apollo, and stood at his side. Ally had quickly reached into his belt and pulled out a syringe filled with Adonis serum.
Ally had stuck it in his neck and pumped it into his body. She quickly pulled the needle out and watched his veins glow green. Everyone then jumped when Jayden let out a gasp and watched as his cuts and bites slowly healed.
"Oh crap, that was not fun." Jayden grunted. Everyone started laughing and helped their leader to his feet.
"You okay brother?" Gauntlet chuckled.
"Yeah, ugh you guys look like hell." Jayden grunted.
"We looked a hell of a lot worse before Apollo healed us." Reaper snickered.
"Yeah, Hood will watch over the soul eaters." Gauntlet said. "We should take down Adrian."
"Alright, lets-"
Before Jayden could say anything orange portals started to rip open around the soul eaters. They were slowly pulled through and Jayden knew what was happening.
"Adrian, he is summoning Trigon!"
Everyone quickly bolted into the main chamber through the giant doors. Jayden recognized this chamber from the day he was shot and taken to the prison planet. He along with the rest of his team, were staring at the ceremony that took place in the chamber.
Ten soul orbs stood in a circle with a red S glyph in the center along with the rest of the soul eaters who were floating in the air with an orange beam surging from their chest.
"Dammit Adrian this isn't part of the deal!" Seth shouted.
"Actually, Mr. Gallagher it was." Adrian chuckled as he stood before the circle.
"Baron!" Jayden shouted.
He and his team quickly charged at the sorcerer, weapons and powers at the ready. Before they could strike, an amulet glowed orange around his neck. Adrian aimed his hands at the team and fired a beam of energy at them paralyzing them in place.
"Good you are all here." Adrian chuckled. "Just in time the eclipse has just moved in place."
"Dammit you fool!" Gauntlet shouted. "You aren't doing anyone any favors. The only person you are helping is Trigon!"
"No, I am doing what needs to be done!" Adrian shouted. "This world is dying and is filled with so many rotten souls. No matter how hard you and the Justice League fight you will never save the world."
"You're summoning a god of death to wipe us all out. You can't control him!" Whisper shouted. "Don't you see it, he's manipulating you!"
"No, I am in charge he is the weapon. Just like you and Shadow Man and everyone else!" Adrian countered. "This is for the best. This world needs to be purged and I will be the one to send them all to hell and I will lead a new world into a brighter and peaceful future!"
"You can't Trigon won't let you!" Mystico shouted. "That amulet you are wearing means you're a sacrifice!"
Adrian's superior grin vanished and was replaced with a terrified scowl.
"W-What do you mean?" Adrian whispered.
"That amulet grants you the power of Trigon, but it means you are willing to be his sacrifice yourself to open the portal. Don't you see? The orbs were said to unlock his shackles and the soul eaters are a fraction of Trigon's power destined to return once they are no longer needed, but neither one states that they open to Trigon's prison."
"I'm afraid the girl is right my dear friend."
Adrian looked behind him to see the holographic form of the Shadow Man standing behind him.
"You see I can't have you burning down the world, there is no benefit for me if I am dead. So I needed a plan to ensure that you would fail in your goal to awaken Trigon. I swapped that book of yours with Ravens making no mention of the amulet and made you believe that you would succeed. Now, the rest is up to the Shadow Warriors."
"No wait I studied Raven's book, it never mentioned the amulet to be sacrificial token!" Adrian grunted.
"No in Raven's book it is described to be a conduit to Trigon's power." He chuckled. "Those monks really should have used the words sacrificial. It probably would have saved your life. In Trigon's book it is implied that it is the key to his prison and once you wear it there is no backing out."
"No, wait what do you have to gain from this?"
"Let's just say I have a portal to open myself. Only mine isn't as brainless as yours. World's smartest man, you were so absorbed in your goal and the power that you never considered that I would best you." Shadow Man sighed. "But what to expect, you are still a boy I have had years to understand power and I know how to not let it corrupt me. Well, it's been interesting, but I do believe that you are needed. Goodbye, Light."
Shadow Man disappeared and Adrian started to glow orange. He was then suspended into the air screaming. The orbs and soul eaters emitted orange beams into Adrian's body causing him to glow brighter. He screamed Jayden's name before the eclipse fired a beam into the center of the chamber.
Adrian, the soul eaters and soul collectors all disappeared into the portal freeing the warriors from their hold. Everyone was afraid at what had just happened and waited for the end. After a minute nothing had changed.
"I don't understand, what is supposed to happen?" Reaper asked.
"You have to follow the soul collectors into the portal and destroy them." Raven said as Damian helped her into the room. "Mystico, take this." Raven placed her hand on Mystico's head and transferred her power to her. "You will know when to use it. Now go!"
Everyone gathered around the tear in the floor and stared down into the darkness. Every one of them didn't want to go in but they knew they had to. Jayden looked at his team and they all looked back and nodded. He trusted every last one of them to help them to do their part as they trusted him.
"Alright guys, it's time to end this." Jayden said.
Taking in once last breath they all jumped down into the darkness below.