Chapter 74: An End…For Now
Authors Note: Well boys and girls this is the last battle of this story. The battle against Trigon to prevent his coming to Earth. I really want to thank everyone for their characters their reviews and their ideas.
Daniel Wilks: Gauntlet and Kris (Artemis) and Leonae.
JediMasterChris1: Reaper and Hitgirl along with Blackbeard and Phantom
AgedZen0-1: Ronin and Lotus
DigitalEmperor001: Phoenix, Frost and Damian Cole.
The Illusive Mann: Red Crosshairs and Red Saber
Spartan S-999: Thanatos and Apollo along with Bruticus
Dragonslayer223: Whisper and Zoom and Double J
StoneCold22: Mystico and Javier
Leo303: Surge and Johnson
Tonycakes: Sarina(Batgirl)
I think that's everyone, also thank you to my reviewers ChainGangsoldier45 for always reading and reviewing since my Arkham stories, MEleeSmasher, Ace of Spies and Exile037 and a big thank you to Light Seeker 001 for all of your brilliant ideas that helped kept this story progressing. Thank you everyone who reviewed and favorite my story and I hope to see you in the sequel. Thank you all. Here's hoping the Shadow Warriors take DC one day, if I become the writer I hope to be.
Let's get this chapter going.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Justice League.
When the warriors made it through the rift they found themselves in some sort of inner world. It was nothing, no land or sea sky and stars just an empty void of nothingness. Each warrior felt a cold chill run through their very souls and felt their limbs tense making it hard for them to move.
"God I really don't want to be here." Batgirl grunted.
"You think we do?" Hitgirl scoffed. "I'm a former black ops assassin and my only use is my guns and here I am about to take on Satan."
"Least you have your boyfriend." Batgirl chuckled sarcastically.
"That reminds me, where the hell is everyone else?" Whisper grunted.
"Jason and the outlaws along with Damian are looking after the league and Raven." Dusk stated. "They were still exhausted from their imprisonment and are in no condition to fight." Theodosia chuckled bitterly at that.
"Great, like we're any better. I can barely stand." She complained.
It was true. They had fought none stop since the prison world and from that point the fights have only gotten harder. Everyone felt like they would fall from the slightest push, but they still kept pressing on. They knew that they were the only ones who could stop Trigon.
"Guys hang in there." Jayden reassured. "We just need to destroy the soul orb and hit him with Mystico's spell. Then it will be over."
"Yeah, forgive me if I don't feel as optimistic as you Jayden." Phoenix snorted. "Seriously I don't think we're getting out of this alive."
"Hey, if it cost us our lives, then so be it." Mystico snapped. "We cannot let Trigon escape his prison. If he does then that's it for Earth."
"Vulcan and a lot of his friends sacrificed their lives to just hold Trigon back." Gauntlet warned. "Half of us aren't Meta, how could we hope to take him down. Dammit we didn't think this through!"
"Calm down." Breeze reassured. She placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled when she felt him relax. "We can do this. It is what we were meant for."
"Pfft, what we were meant for." Ronin scoffed. "You seem to have a selective memory. Adrian said it himself that he was the whole reason for our gathering. Our team was only formed because he wanted us to help him gather dark souls."
"Yes, but I doubt getting screwed over by the Shadow Man was on that list." Thanatos stated. "And it wasn't Trigon or Adrian that brought us together."
"Yeah, it was Jayden." Phoenix said. "He found us when we were lost and out for blood. Now we're more focused and in control of our power. Trigon and Adrian had nothing to do with our team."
"Or brought our families together." Surge said.
"And saved our homes." Mystico muttered.
"Hey, you guys could have done that on your own." Jayden reassured, he didn't like it when he was put on the spot like this. "I just lent a hand."
"Don't belittle yourself. You've been a friend and brother to us all." Theodosia said.
"Yeah man we still got a lot to look forward to when this is all over." Gauntlet reassured.
"Like your wedding." Star teased.
"And your baby." Hitgirl chipped in.
"Ugh, guys…" Jayden grunted, hoping no one would see his blush.
The girls started giggling while the boys were chuckling at Jayden's expense. Their merriment was soon cut short when a phantom flew out of nowhere and scared every one of the warriors. Jayden quickly returned to the task at hand and focused on Trigon.
"You know for a hundred foot demon god he sure is hard to find!" Gauntlet snapped.
"I know right I was expecting him to be towering over us. Yet he isn't anywhere to be found." Surge snapped.
"Guys, we are getting close." Mystico warned. "I can feel his dark presence. It is almost unbearable."
"I feel it too, so does Vulcan." Gauntlet said in a shaky voice.
"So you've come at last."
Everyone froze feeling his voice slither through their ears. They tried to move but a dark pressure was keeping them frozen in place. The soul orbs circled around them before flying out in a distance. They looked like stars in the distance as they continuously started circling around and round. They ascended from the ground as a large dark figure towered over them. The orbs hovered above the beings head before expanding out around him. Two thorn antlers ripped through his head and four red eyes shined through the darkness.
"Trigon." They all whispered.
They heard his snickering echo around them as he towered over them. His arms, legs and neck and chest were all shackled by large chains and iron bands giving off a light yellow glow. Both Mystico and Gauntlet felt magic flowing off of them and knew that they were keeping Trigon's power at bay. Even so, he was still giving off a terrible and frightening presence.
"Well, we're here." Batgirl stated. "What now?"
"We destroy the soul orbs and hit him with everything we have." Jayden informed, his eyes glowing amber readying his powers.
"You really think your mere powers and abilities are enough to stop me?!" Trigon shouted. "I am the conqueror of worlds the fires of hell surround me. I am a god!"
"No offense but I heard this speech before and it didn't end well for Darkseid." Reaper snickered.
"We don't care who you are we won't let you destroy our home!" Phoenix shouted as his arms lit up in flames.
"We aren't going to let you take away what we hold dear." Surge grunted. "I already had that happen to me once and it won't happen again."
"You can surrender now or get your sorry ass handed to you!" Hitgirl shouted.
"You pitiful mortals, do you really think that this will be the end of me?" Trigon laughed. "There will always be someone to resurrect me. It's happened before and it will happen again."
"And there will always be someone to stop you from winning." Gauntlet said. "It happened before and it will happen again."
"Vulcan, how long has it been since we've last met?"
"Long enough." Gauntlet muttered. "He says putting you back in the ground is his only means of living."
"Enough, we have to destroy the soul collectors now!" Jayden stated running towards the soul orbs and Trigon. Mystico felt a strong amount of dark energy build up in each of the soul orbs. Her eyes widened in horror when she realized what was about to happen.
"Jayden, STOP!" She screamed. It was too late.
The soul collectors fired off black bolts of dark energy and struck Jayden in the chest and all around his body. He screamed to the top of his lungs while being levitated in the air. Everyone quickly rushed towards him but he managed to turn his head and stare at them. His eyes glowed red with Trigon's power.
"Get. Away!" Jayden swiped his arms back sending off a wave of dark energy. Everyone flew back and was paralyzed to the ground. They watched in horror as Jayden was floating in midair screaming.
"You pitiful mortal!" Trigon shouted. "I gave you a chance to submit and you spit in my face! You miserable pest you need someone like me to rule you, you fools think you can stop what can't be beaten and you doomed yourselves for self-annihilation. I am here to spare you of a slow and painful downfall and if you won't listen then maybe you will listen to your leader!"
In a flash Jayden had disappeared and the spell keeping the warriors down had been lifted. Everyone stared in horror when they saw their leader's new form. Jayden stood eight feet tall with a black muscular body. His belt was replaced by a silver band with a red gem in the middle and attached to his back were a pair of large bat wings. His head had also changed into a demon form with glowing red eyes and two horns sticking out of his head.
Everyone was petrified by their leader's sudden appearance but they still managed to get on their feet. Trigon looked down at them and gave them a bitter look. Confused as to why they were not backing down.
"You would go up against your own leader?" Trigon asked.
"We're Shadow Warriors." Reaper stated while pulling his scythe up. "When we have a job to do we get it done no matter the cost."
"Even if one of us is taken hostage we press on and see that the mission is complete." Phoenix growled.
"And we never let someone as evil as you use us as a shield or sword for your benefit." Thanatos said.
"All you've done is ensured your demise by fueling our fire. We'll free Jayden and kill you." Breeze said in a low voice.
"Hmp, so be it." Trigon warned. "So be it. Warrior, kill them."
The demonic Jayden growled in response and drew his sword witch was now a long black blade with a red streak running along the back and hand guard. The blade itself was serrated along the blade and sharp at the tip.
In a flash he appeared next to Mystico and brought his sword down on her. She panicked and brought up a barrier, but was knocked back by the impact. He raised his blade again, but Reaper leaped in and swiped his scythe across his chest. A long gash spread across his chest, Reaper was stunned at what he had just done but he panicked when the wound started to close up. Jayden merely shrugged the wound off as it had never happened and back handed Reaper across the field.
Jayden was suddenly struck in the back by an explosive impact and rapidly turned to see Hitgirl with a small one-shot grenade launcher. She loaded another grenade in the barrel and fired it at Jayden hitting him in the chest. The impact knocked him back but the fire brushed off of him.
She holstered her grenade launcher and ran towards Jayden. He raised his sword and brought it down on her. Being faster than her brutish leader she fell to her knees and slid between his legs, pulling her short swords out and slicing the back of his ankles.
Jayden howled in pain before Thanatos flew towards him and tackled him to the ground. He sent his fist metal fist into his leaders face multiple times but Jayden still managed to knock the mech off of him. Theodoisa blew her super breath on him and froze him in place allowing Thanatos , Phoenix and Surge to blast with everything they had.
"Did we get him?" Surge asked.
"Don't count on it!" Gauntlet shouted as he ran towards the smoke.
Jayden raised his sword over his head and swiped it down firing off a fiery crescent blade. Gauntlet quickly blocked the energy with his gauntlets and fired himself up and attacked Jayden head on. He landed a heavy punch to Jayden's face burning it in the process and then again in the stomach. He went to strike again but Jayden caught his fist with his claw and started to squeeze his fist hard.
Gauntlet felt the bones in his fist beginning to crack while trying to break free. Before his hand could shatter Artemis leaped into the air as did Batgirl and they both fired a batarang and an arrow at him. The batarang had frozen his head cutting off his air before the arrow struck his chest and knocked him back freeing their friend.
"Are you okay?" Artemis asked.
"Yeah." Gauntlet grunted clenching his sore hand. "Thanks."
"Geez, Jayden isn't going down is he?" Batgirl asked as she watched him knocked Dusk back and swing Star around by her whip. Whisper charged at him firing her desert eagle at him only for the bullets to bounce off.
Jayden threw Star into Whisper while Ronin leaped in and threw a few stun disks at him. The spark cackled and stung Jayden's skin but he treated them as an itch as he scratched his arm.
Reaper and Ronin quickly dashed towards him and swiped their blades across his body. Jayden grunted in pain and swiped his sword down on them but Reaper blocked with his scythe. Reaper struggled to his knees and fell overpowered by his boss's dark magic. He then started to panic when Jayden's blade started slicing through the shaft.
"Dammit, Jayden I know you're in there!" He shouted at the beast. "I know you can beat this. Nothing can take you down this easily."
Reaper saw a flicker in his eyes something that showed that Jayden was still alive inside. It quickly faded when Zoom whipped past Jayden and pulled Reaper out of the way while Theodosia tackled Jayden to the ground. Phoenix charged up his power and formed a fiery phoenix over his head and aimed it at Jayden.
Phoenix let out a roar and sent the wave of fire down on Jayden. The fire engulfed him and scorched his skin leaving him stunned for a moment before Surge zapped him with his electricity and Gauntlet blasted him with his own fire. Thanatos unloaded his missiles and plasma bolts while Mystico unleashed her magic.
When they had all finished their attack Jayden had been taken down. Everyone but Breeze had been smiling and slowly approached their fallen leader. All the while Sam had been scolded by Vulcan.
"Dammit Sam!" Vulcan shouted in his subconscious. "We've been wasting our time. Trigon has already absorbed twenty-five percent of the dark energy!"
"I know, but as long as Jayden stands between us and Trigon we can't get near him." Sam grunted. "And since you and I know Jayden as well as we do you know it will take all of us to take him down."
"Jayden is down now." Ronin stated. Mystico you should move fast if you want to-Ally what are you doing?"
Everyone was startled to see Breeze running straight towards Jayden who had slowly gotten to his feet. A bright light had cracked through his chest which glowed brighter and brighter as Breeze came closer and closer. Breeze leaped into the air and into the crack in Jayden's chest disappearing inside of him. His eyes glowed dim before flickering out and falling to his knees, turning to stone.
(Ten minutes earlier.)
Jayden was running through the darkness of his mind. He couldn't see where he was going or even what he was stepping on. To say he was scared was an understatement. He was horrified to be in this dark void. He didn't want to but he urged himself to look up to see a simple door standing before him. He couldn't stop himself in time and ended up crashing through it and stumbled onto a living room floor.
He ran his hands over the carpet and felt a familiar feeling from it. He looked up and realized that he was in his old apartment from when he was a kid. With his other parents.
He looked up to see his father Leonard Warney walking past him. Jayden remembered he used to wear a dark blue business suit always dark blue and a maroon tie. He smiled at the memory and felt two tears stream down his cheeks when he saw his father kissing his mother Sarah.
Jayden remembered how beautiful she was before the cancer claimed her life. Her chestnut brown hair her lightly tanned skin and blue eyes. Jayden melted at the sight of her and remembered when he used to be happy.
"Mom." He said crawling over to her. She didn't even bat an eye in his direction. "Mom!"
She still ignored him as if he wasn't even there. Starting to feel more afraid he grabbed her hands and started shaking her.
"Mom, please it's me look at me!" Jayden screamed. She didn't even budge. "Mom!"
"I know you can beat this! Nothing can take you down this easily!"
Jayden's eyes widened when he recognized that voice.
"Flynn?"
Just then the floor beneath him shattered like glass and sent him falling into a dark chamber. When he hit the floor four pedestals arose from the ground each looking like it was meant to hold a unique item.
"What is this place?"
"Your ticket home." A voice said. Jayden jumped and gripped his sword.
"Who are you?" Jayden shouted.
"The question isn't who am I it's who are you so, who are you?" The voice asked.
"Jayden."
"Oh, I thought it was Shadow?" The voice asked.
"I'm that too."
"But 'who' are you?" The voice insisted.
Jayden looked down the chamber and saw a mirror with his reflection. When he was face to face with it he jumped back when his reflection reached out and grabbed him.
"I am Shadow, but you are Jayden!" He grunted.
"No, you're that monster from outside!" Jayden grunted. "Created by Trigon!"
"I was created by Trigon but I come from you." He said as he released Jayden. "This is the end of the line. You see Trigon wants to prove that you can't live without me. That you couldn't give me up at the drop of the hat. If you do however, then you are free to leave."
"And if I don't?" Jayden asked.
"Then you doom us all into damnation." Shadow shrugged. "No pressure right?"
"And what makes you think I won't just give your ass up right now?" Jayden snapped. Shadow merely chuckled and held a finger.
"You don't get it, if you give me up you are giving up everything that makes you Shadow." He snickered. "If you go out there after giving me up you can do nothing to aid your friends. Not now not ever. Your powers, your abilities hell you won't even be able to throw a steady punch after I'm done with you."
Jayden was stunned. If he left now he would be a civilian in the field. He could do nothing to aid his team. But if he stayed here then he would only endanger his team and stall them from stopping Trigon. But deep down the only thing he cared about was going home to Ally.
He knew that losing Shadow would hurt, but losing Ally would kill him. He swallowed his pride and walked over to one of the pedestals. He drew his sword and stabbed it into the small stand and felt his energy surge out of his body. When his sword was stuck in the ground he could feel his experience disappear with it. Then the next one he placed his gun down and felt his experience with guns and explosives abandon him as well. The next one was a glass orb. He placed both hands on it and felt his Adonis disappearing from his body. He stared into the amber colors swirling in the orb as he finally made it to the last pedestal. This one was a statue of a man with its hand sticking out. Jayden realized that once he touched that hand he would have officially given up everything that made him Shadow.
He felt something familiar calling out to him as he looked up at the mirror. His face broke out in a small smile when he saw Ally standing there in a light blue spring dress. He wanted her in his arms again, but he couldn't do it from here.
Swallowing his pride he clasped his hand around the stones hand and watched as his coat, his armor and his abilities left his body. Shadow was officially gone and Jayden was all that was left.
Shaking off the anxiety he slowly walked over to the window his breathing getting quicker and quicker and his legs were gelatin barely holding him together. He slowly reached his hand towards the mirror as did Ally and slowly leaned towards the mirror.
"No!"
He was then pulled back by the statue that wore his clothes and thrown back across the chamber. He quickly got to his feet but quickly fell back down when he realized his high tolerance of pain was longer with him. He looked up and saw Shadow or the embodiment of Shadow standing before him and he was pissed.
"Jayden, you cannot exist without me!" Shadow shouted.
Jayden tried to get up but he just didn't have the strength anymore. He didn't need it though since Shadow raised his hand and levitated him off of the ground.
"This isn't just about you Jayden, without me you are nothing!" Shadow shouted and slammed Jayden against the wall. "You are pathetic for lying to me who are you without me!"
"Playboy billionaire Jayden Wayne!" Jayden shouted sarcastically.
Shadow threw Jayden down again only this time he sent a few volts of electricity through his body. Jayden was paralyzed to the ground while Shadow stood above him. He raised his blade to Jayden's chin.
"You cannot leave." Shadow grunted. "You cannot live without me!"
"Really or maybe it's you who can't live without me!" Jayden snapped. Shadow grunted when he realized he had a point. "Or maybe it's not just one living without the other maybe this is about someone else."
They both looked up and saw Ally watching them both with a concerned look in her eyes. Jayden saw Shadow's shoulders slump down when he looked at her.
"Breeze." He whispered.
"We cannot live without her, but if one of us goes she will never truly accept us." Jayden pleaded. "We aren't just Jayden and Shadow, we're both. One goes…"
"So does the other." Shadow whispered. "She loves that gentle soul you are beneath that playboy persona."
"And she loves the dark warrior of peace you are. Trigon thinks we're all weak but he will always be alone. He will never have love or family like you or me."
"Or Reaper and Hitgirl, Sam and Kris, Thanatos, Apollo and the rest of our family." Shadow finished.
"So, let's show Trigon just how weak we truly are." Jayden grinned holding his hand out towards Shadow. His counterpart looked down at him and hesitated for a moment but eventually grabbed his hand and helped him up.
"I really hate you." Shadow chuckled.
"No you don't."
The two turned to the mirror and ran towards it with the light shining bright.
(!)
Everyone fell silent after Ally jumped in after Jayden. No one knew what to do before the demonic body of Jayden started cracking. In an instant the body exploded and everyone shielded themselves from the debris. When they looked at the sight before them they were all smiling to see Breeze and Jayden holding each other for dear life.
The reunion was cut short when everyone felt a powerful wave of energy overpower them. Everyone screamed in horror when Trigon's fire engulfed the two lovers. However, Trigon's attack backfired and struck him in his massive chest and knocked him back.
Trigon looked down and growled when he saw a familiar gold ring around Breeze's ring finger.
"The Ring of Azar." Trigon mused. "Clever, but no matter I am almost at full power. My shackles are almost broken and this world will belong to me!"
The Shadow Warriors regrouped and readied themselves for one last stand.
"You're forgetting something asshole, we're still here." Shadow grinned.
"Any ideas boss?" Phoenix asked.
"Hit this bastard with everything we got!" Shadow shouted. "Then when he is down, Mystico you finish him off with Raven's magic."
"It's too late." Everyone looked over at Gauntlet who had a blank expression on his face. "We waited too long, the soul collectors have already broken the shackles there is nothing more we can do." Everyone started to panic until Mystico had an idea.
"No, the shackles are still in place, and while the orbs are being depleted of their dark energy we can funnel in our own good energy and reseal Trigon again!" Mystico cheered.
Everyone started to lighten up and went along with this new idea.
"This has got to be the dumbest and most psychotic plan we have ever done…and I am glad to be a part of it!" Gauntlet shouted.
"What the hell we're here might as well give it a try." Phoenix said.
"Time to do what we were born to do." Said Ronin.
"See you guys on the other side." Jayden grinned.
"And if we do go on the other side can we all agree to wait for one another before passing on." Whisper said. "I spent a lot of time trying to find a home and you guys are the best I have come across in a long time."
Everyone smiled and agreed to it.
"We'll go in together and cause hell like we always do." Surge grinned.
"And I couldn't be happier." Thanatos said.
"Alright guys, one last push…ATTACK!" Shadow screamed.
The Shadow Warriors charged towards Trigon and flew up in the air hitting him with everything they had.
Reaper and Hitgirl ran up both of his long arms and sunk their blades into his skin. They dragged their blades across his flesh leaving a long gash behind. Trigon swung his arms around knocking them both in the air allowing them both to be face to face with the god. Hitgirl pulled out her grenade launcher and Reaper pulled out a few grenades and struck Trigon's face. They hit his eyes bad enough to blind him allowing Theodosia to fly towards his face and slam his fist into his face.
Trigon fell back but not before firing a blast of dark energy at the three. Theodosia grabbed Hitgirl and Reaper and flew away but were almost vaporized if Mystico hadn't put a barrier between them and Trigon's attack.
Trigon let out an angry roar and raised his foot to crush Mystico, but Thanatos flew under his foot and used all his strength to hold him back. When Mystico got to a safe distance Surge flew in on his disk and zapped his foot with a massive amount of electricity. Trigon jumped back and Thanatos flew up and fired all his pod missiles. Trigon captured the two with his magic and froze them in place.
He then raised both hands and ready to crush them both until he heard a screeching noise echo around him. He turned around but not quick enough as Phoenix's fiery bird form struck him from behind. Trigon yelled to the top of his lungs as he fell to his knees. His vision was blurry from the pain as he looked up to see Gauntlet standing below him.
"So it looks like us pitiful mortals can get you on your knees after all huh." Gauntlet grinned.
Trigon let out another roar almost shattering the young boy's eardrums. Gauntlet took this opportunity to charge up a fire beam and shoot it straight into his mouth. Trigon wrapped his giant hands around his mouth feeling the familiar burn of Vulcan's fury.
Gauntlet flew into the air and fired at Trigon again but his attack was blocked by Trigon's metal wrist band. The demon grinned before swatting Gauntlet away like a fly. Before he struck the ground Surge caught him in mid-air and carried him to safety.
Jayden, Breeze, Artemis, Batgirl, Dusk, Ronin, Whisper, Star and Zoom quickly made after the soul orbs while the rest of the team kept Trigon busy. Star quickly ran over to one of the soul orbs and grabbed it.
"I got it!" She shouted.
"Wait Star let it go!" Zoom shouted.
It was too late Trigon had fell her tampering with it and directed his energy towards her. His eyes glowed red and shot out another energy beam. Star panicked and cringed in fear but not before Breeze leaped in front of her and protected her with the ring's magic.
"Star," Breeze grunted while holding Trigon back. "He's getting stronger and I can't hold out for much longer. You have to transfer your energy into the orb!"
"How?" Star panicked.
"Think positive!" Whisper grunted.
Jayden quickly charged up his powers and blasted an amber beam of energy into Trigon's own. The two fought for control while Star tried to get the orb to work. She tried doing what Whisper said and thought positive.
She thought about how she felt when Ally rescued her from her tank when her father cloned her. Or when she was saved by Ally again and had Theodosia as a new sister. Then there was that day Jayden offered her a position in the Shadow Warriors. Then Dusk, no Jason the day she met her boyfriend.
That last one did the trick as she felt her energy surge into the orb and started glowing black to pink. The beam struck Trigon and he let out another painful scream. It was working but Trigon wasn't going down.
"Guys quick grab the rest of them. We'll hold them off!" Shadow shouted.
Ronin and Whisper leaped off of one another and grabbed two more orbs. Whisper's glowed blue while Ronin's glowed green. Trigon swung his fist down on them, but Thanatos flew in with his sword like an angry hornet and stabbed it into Trigon's hand.
Thanatos managed to draw his fist back but unable to avoid Trigon's magic. Trigon blasted a barrier sending Thanatos back. Before he could attack again Surge was unloading all of his electricity into Trigon stunning him briefly. Trigon made an attempt to stop him when Theodosia hit him with her heat vision. Phoenix and Gauntlet blasted him with everything they had as did Thanatos who had recovered in midair.
The rest of the remaining warriors gathered the soul collectors while Jayden protected Mystico who was readying her spell. Apollo and Breeze grabbed the last remaining Soul Collectors and channeled their energy into Trigon.
"Noo!" He shouted as he fell to his knees.
In a last ditched effort he blasted all his remaining energy at Mystico but was once again countered by Jayden's Adonis power. The two struggled for control while Mystico prepared for her attack.
"Dammit Maria hurry!" Jayden shouted, his powers were starting to take its toll on him. Maria's body started to glow in a black hue as her eyes glowed white.
"Azarath…Mentrion…Zinthos!" She screamed as loud as the giant black raven that appeared behind her. They both let out loud shrieks and wails as the raven flew through Trigon's chest. It's tail tied around his waist and its wings draped around his body before sinking its beak into his shoulder. "Dammit, stop fighting and just…DIE!"
The soul collectors shattered into glass and the spell along with everything else just disappeared. Everyone panicked thinking that they were too late and failed their objective.
Trigon turned to stone and in a matter of seconds he turned to ashes. In the center of his designating chest a small white light appeared and flashed like a camera. In an instant the warriors were transported back to Adrian's room.
The warriors were collapsed on the ground exhausted from their battle and hesitated to look up and see that they were still alive and everything was still okay. They were all stunned to see the outlaws along with Raven and Robin all beaten and unconscious.
"Congrats you actually did it." A Sauvé voice said. Jayden rolled around on the ground in pain and to his surprise he saw the last person he would want to encounter right now.
"Shadow man…" Jayden grunted barley above a whisper.
The man himself looked like an older version of Marcas as he stood straight wearing a black business suit.
"Yes it is me and I must say you have done me a great service." He said looking down at the ground. Jayden was shocked to see Adrian, Saber and Phantom still in physical form when he last saw them turn to ash.
"Oh don't worry this one is dead." Shadow Man said kicking Adrian's corpse. He kneeled down and pulled off the amulet that still glowed with Trigon's magic. "This is a simple exchange between me and someone of great importance. Adrian has done well in the past but now I can gladly say our partnership is over."
"This one you can have." He grunted as he kicked Phantom over to him. "He was still alive when he was transformed into a soul eater. His powers are gone, but for this one will need a lesson to remember his place." He picked up Red Saber with his left hand and slowly walked towards the boom tube.
"I should kill you now but I am feeling generous since you took down Trigon for me. I also should thank you for this." He held up the black amulet with the red 'S'. "I have no use for it but I am exchanging it for something more…beneficial to my cause. Farewell, and I'll tell Marcas you said hi."
With that the Justice League kicked down the main door right after Shadow Man had disappeared with Adrian and Saber through the boom tube.
"Dammit, we're too late!" Black Canary shouted.
"Another time, for now let's tend to the wounded." Superman reassured as he flew over to Theodosia.
Everyone else tended to the warriors while Batman tended to his Jayden. He kneeled down next to his son who gave him a disgruntled look.
"What the hell took you so long?" He grunted. Jayden was still in exhausted but he could have sworn he saw Batman smile.
"Sorry, Talia dealt with Adrian's cronies while we fought off Trigon's demons." He explained while tending to Jayden's wounds. "During the fight they just disappeared, after screaming as if they were in pain."
"Yeah, we did it." Jayden grunted skeptically. "Nearly killed us, but we managed. No thanks to you."
"Yes, the Shadow Warriors were very affective." Batman chuckled. "But we could have handled it better probably."
"Oh yeah sure, you have more metas on your side you wimp." Jayden boasted. "My team lacks all your stupid powers and we managed to kick Trigon's red ass back to hell."
"I'm pretty sure we have an equal amount of humans and metas on our side Jayden." Batman stated.
"Whatever." Jayden sighed. After a few moments of silent Jayden felt himself starting to doze off. Before his eyes closed he heard something that he has always wanted to hear.
"I'm proud of you Jayden."
A small smile formed on Jayden's face before passing out. Batman carried him over to the balcony window and placed him in the center of his team who were all unconscious.
"They have been fighting nonstop since the prison planet." Wonder Woman giggled.
"Let them rest." Superman said. "They have all earned it. They saved us all."
"I wouldn't go that far." Arsenal said since he received a less beating than Red Hood. "After Trigon was summoned Cyrus had just evacuated on a small jet. Damian tried to follow its coordinates but Shadow Man interfered before he could." This gave the League something to think about.
"Not only that," Raven grunted as she staggered towards them. "That amulet does symbol a sacrificial pendent for my father's tribute, but it also acts as a key and a weapon for whoever can wield it."
"And Shadow Man didn't seem interested in it in the slightest." Arsenal stated.
This really made the League uncomfortable. The fight was won but the battle was far from over.
(!)
Shadow Man walked into an elegant dining room table along with another man in his later years eating a steak dinner. They greeted each other like two good friends who haven't met in a long time before sitting down for dinner. The man had white long hair and a beard which hid his sadistic grin. After dinner the two sat in an office in front of a fire drinking whiskey and smoking cigars.
"I trust you have my item for me." The man asked.
"I could ask you the same." Shadow Man retorted.
The man snapped his finger as a butler held a small silver box in both of his hands. He kneeled down and opened it presenting a small four inch bar that looked torn at the end. Shadow Man took it out of the box as the butler bowed and left. He examined it closely and smiled when he noticed the familiar kryptonian 'S' on the end.
"This will allow you to free Zod from his entrapment." The man stated before holding out his hand. Shadow Man nodded and pulled the amulet from his pocket. The man smiled widely at the small token and held it in the palm of his hands.
"This will allow you the power of Trigon now that he is no more." Shadow Man chuckled taking another drag from his cigar.
"Thank you Martin." The man thanked.
"And thank you…Cornelius Baron."
(A/N: Whew long one I just didn't know when to stop. Okay for visuals on Jayden's form go to Dark Knight Returns Part 1 and Youtube Batman Vs Twoface and his sword the deadra blade from skyrim because it's awesome. And that think at the end you should all know it's that key from the Man of Steel movie. Okay I'm gonna go pass out now. I hope you all enjoyed and will stick around for the epilogue and the sequel. 'faints.')