Chapter 22: Nanda Parbat
More chapters on my (P)atreon at Saintbarbido.
Check out my NEW BOOK: Champion: Shazam in The M.C.U
::-::
(General P.O.V)
It was a quaint little flower shop, filled with colorful blossoms, delicate petals, and the fragrant aroma of nature.
A small bell chimed as the door swung open, and Cheshire, with a confident gait stepped inside. Her eyes sweeping around in appreciation.
This was one of her favorite spots in Hong Kong. She always made sure to pass through whenever she had a mission in Asia.
Behind the counter stood an elderly Chinese couple.
'The Lee's. Always a delight.' she thought, not with sarcasm but a genuine burst of happiness.
Despite the fact that the flower shop was just a front for one of the best information brokers on the planet, the Lee's did their best to look after it.
They greeted her with warm smiles. The couples' eyes holding a glimmer of hidden knowledge.
They were two of the only few people who knew her true identity.
Cheshire didn't feel the need to hide from them. The couple had been assassins in the past, they could tell what she was from a mile away.
And so the little game begins.
Cheshire walked to the counter and leaned on it with a smile.
"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Lee. Lovely flowers you have here."
Mr. Lee nodded, bowing his head a little.
"Thank you, young lady. They bring joy and meaning to our lives. What can we do for you today?"
Cheshire brightened.
"I'm looking for something unique. Something that stands out."
The wife smiled knowingly.
"Ah, something unique, you say? Then perhaps you can answer a question for us. What flower represents secrecy and intrigue?"
The older woman asked.
Cheshire locked eyes. Really? that was an easy one.
"A rose. A black rose, to be precise. It symbolizes mystery and hidden intentions."
She answered, thinking of how it reminded her of...well, her.
Mr. Lee nodded approvingly.
"Correct, my dear. You understand the language of flowers. Follow us, and we shall lead you deeper."
The couple turned and begun walking deeper inside the flower shop.
Cheshire threw a brief glance outside and managed to see Davian's brooding form trying and failing to blend in with the masses.
She chuckled evilly. Serves him right for acting as if he didn't care she existed. Still, she was close to cracking his cold exterior.
When she did, she'd have an extremely powerful and not bad looking at all bad ass to keep her alive.
At least just until she figured out a plan to deal with the Shadows.
Cheshire followed them as they navigated through a hallway towards a concealed door, hidden among the flower arrangements.
Soon enough the assassin was being ushered into a dimly lit room, one that was adorned with ancient artifacts and espionage paraphernalia.
A pair of ornate looking Sais that just simply called out to her were framed on the wall.
The room exuded an air of secrecy and importance. Seated behind a wooden desk was who she had come to see.
ZHANG, an informant known as the Cryptic in some circles.
"Cheshire, always lovely to see you! welcome welcome."
He greeted her with a wide smile, exposing crooked teeth that gave him a funny looking appearance.
He looked like a rat.
Cheshire smiled in return but inside she was sneering.
Zhang's only saving graze was that he was a professional. He wouldn't take a counter deal or try to screw you over if the pay was good.
No, the problem really lay with the way his eyes lecherously ran over her form. Ugh, a meeting with him always left her feeling like taking 10 showers in a row right after.
"Zhang, you have what I need?"
She merely asked, not taking the seat. Not keen on staying too long than she had to.
Zhang leaned back on his chair, folding his hands across his small pot belly.
"Now now miss Cheshire, it's only polite as a guest to..."
"Zhang. I don't have time for this."
Cheshire cut in sharply.
"Do you have what we agreed upon?"
She was done. While the Lee's were a delight, the same couldn't be said about Zhang.
He simply wasn't worth it. He was one of the best but she would rather deal with another informant than him.
Zhang's smile became strained. He reached into a drawer and pulled out a file.
"About that... there's been a change in plans."
He told her, throwing the file across the table.
Something fell out. A picture.
Cheshire cursed when she saw Davian on it. With narrowed eyes she turned towards Zhang.
"Please tell me this is not what I think it is."
She said, a warning tone in her voice as she placed her hands on the table and leaned forward.
Zhang gulped, trying to hide his fear with a smile.
"Sorry, they have something on me. You know I try to not screw over my clients. Unfortunately, they know you are here in Hong Kong...and they're coming for you."
Zhang explained.
Cheshire cursed once again, pulling out her phone to call Davian.
Before she could, screaming men with axes burst into the room. She spun, landing a kick on Zhang's face before leaping off her left leg and planting the sole of her right foot on the first of the goon's chest.
Zhang howled from the floor, scrambling to get away with a bleeding mouth. Some of his teeth had been broken.
Cheshire grabbed the file on the table and left through the door, only hesitating a moment before she stole the Sai's framed on the wall.
Thus begun the battle.
For a few seconds, everything was a blur of kicks, fists and stabbings as she fought her way through the dimly lit hallway.
Cheshire gritted her teeth upon seeing the state of the flower shop.
It was filled with more of the Axe-gang members who had knocked over some flower arrangements in a bid to get to her.
"You bastards will pay for this, dearly."
She promised, settling into a stance.
"Get her!"
The maniacs screamed while running towards her
A shot rang out, a few of the Axe wielding maniacs fell to the ground, holes across their bodies.
Everyone turned to the counter where the white haired was holding onto a shotgun.
"Imbeciles! This is not a bar! How dare you bring your chaos to a neutral ground?!"
yelled.
He shared a look with Cheshire and nodded.
Good to see she still had people she could count on.
(Davian's P.O.V)
"I truly apologize, great one. But I cannot tell you that."
The Jade Master bowed his head at me.
"All I can say is that you and your companion are in a lot of danger and should leave Hong Kong immediately."
He looked up and added,
"They're coming for you."
"Well, that isn't ominous at all."
Chase laughed with levity.
"Who's coming?"
I asked the martial arts expert.
"Everyone. There is a 10 million dollar on your head."
He replied.
I narrowed my eyes. 10 million dollars was a lot.
That meant every able bodied Merc and bounty hunter would be after me.
No rest for the wicked huh?
Still, word got out pretty quickly about our whereabouts. I just didn't think my pursuers would mobilize so fast.
I could stay and fight but I would rather deal with the whole Rama Kushna thing first. Which meant...
"I can't believe I'm saying this Chase, but we need to get out of here. And because I don't want to be caught off guard by another attack, could you leave some of your essence in this guy in case he follows us?"
I asked my Zanpakuto, turning towards the flower shop.
"What are you planning?"
My Zanpakuto asked.
"He will be my early warning system. I have a hunch he won't give up trying to capture me."
I responded, causing Chase to chuckle.
"Now you're learning."
I turned back to the Jade Master.
"Leave. Your skills have earned you my mercy today. Next time...you won't be so Lucky."
I told him coldly.
His tense shoulders relaxed as he got up and bowed.
"Thank you. I won't forget this kindness for when we next meet."
He promised, turning around and leaving.
I can't believe I just let an enemy walk away. Ugh, not being impulsive sucks.
Now then...I turned to the Flower shop.
"What the fuck was that?"
I growled out once we were back at the Golden Winged Dragon.
Dealing with the Axe gang was a matter of releasing my Reiatsu and knocking out the axe swinging maniacs.
In response, Cheshire threw the file she had on the table. Dozens of pictures spilled out. Pictures of me and her, taken without my knowledge.
"There's a bounty on our heads. 5 million for me. And 10 for you. Clearly, our arrival didn't go unnoticed."
Cheshire Commented.
Understatement.
"Was it the League of Shadows?"
I questioned while perusing the file.
There was a mention of some of my abilities, our last whereabouts, and any other miscellaneous information like the fact I seemed to enjoy a Latte regularly.
Can't really see how that mattered.
"It does. An assassin could use that to spike your drink."
Chase offered some insight, making me sigh.
"Can't see anyone else going to the trouble of outsourcing the contract to the Axe gang of all people. They are ruthless, relentless and unreliable. And they're just one of the many who will come after us."
Cheshire informed me.
"Mmh." I hummed, throwing the file back onto the table.
"We should discuss our terms. You promised me that you would find Bronze Tiger. So far...this has been a waste of my time."
I told her mercilessly.
Cheshire bristled, her hands tightening on the frame of the seat.
"I was working on it. It's not my fault we were discovered so early."
She bit out bitterly.
I swallowed my frustrations. We'd already come this far already. I didn't trust Cheshire but like it or not, she was still my best lead on finding a teacher.
Silence reigned as both of us sank into our thoughts.
"Now what?"
Chase questioned after a while, pulling me out of my ruminating.
Deadman had also joined us.
"Okay here's the plan."
I leaned forward.
"Cheshire, you will stay back and keep looking for info on Tiger's whereabouts."
She didn't refuse.
My eyes found Deadman.
"Brand and I on the other hand will take a little trip up the Hindu Kush mountain. It's high time I talked with a god."
As far as it went, a simple plan.
(General P.O.V)
In a well furnished room, a meeting was taking place.
The entire left wall was covered by a large computer screen that had different terminals showing faceless silhouettes.
"We have his location."
A voice came from one of the terminals.
"Good. This time, make sure they don't fail. We have invested a lot into this. The O.M.A.C project, Ivo's designs and paying for the services of our...other friend. This should go off without a hitch."
A different voice, this one deeper, added.
"I shall not fail you."
Lady Shiva bowed behind Ra's Al Ghul.
"See that you don't."
Ra's told her.
Without another word, the dangerous woman turned on her heel and left.
She had prey to hunt. And this time...this time she was prepared.
(Davian's P.O.V)
With a plan, Deadman And I wasted no time at all and left for Nanda Parbat.
The shrine of the goddess of Karma and the scales of balance, Rama Kushna.
Scoff. Hard scoff.
Barragan had claimed to be a god. He'd still died by my hands.
The only reason I was even remotely interested in talking to Rama Kushna was to learn more about those after me.
She had alluded to something of that nature, back when we'd met on the jet plane before it went down.
My senses were individually strong enough to know someone or a few someones were always watching.
The only problem being I didn't know why they were.
Rama Kushna could shed light on that and help me know my enemies.
On other matters, the group was splitting up. Albeit temporary.
Cheshire was a big girl. She could protect herself, so I wasn't really worried about leaving her behind.
She could handle anything short of a possessed Superman. I usually caught myself rubbing my chin in memory of the hardest punch I'd ever received.
The world was lucky the Man of Steel stood on the side of justice.
Back to my point, we would only be gone for two days at most.
I didn't want to waste too much time on this. I was already far behind on the schedule I had made for myself.
Finding Bronze Tiger was not supposed to have taken this long. I couldn't help but feel as if the world was conspiring against me.
Hindu Kush was a series of mountain ranges that occupied an area of 800 kilometers or close to 500 miles.
The mountain range stretched across Central Asia. Dipping from western and central Afghanistan to Pakistan and Tajikistan.
Normally it would require going around or using a chopper to get to where we needed to go.
Nanda Parbat was deep in the mountains, hidden from normal access through the goddess Rama Kushna's power.
The means to get there wasn't the problem. With my Fullbring shielding me, I could just fly there.
Deadman was a spirit, he was untethered to the physical world and unhindered by the challenging prospect of climbing a mountain to look for a mythical city.
"How do we get there?"
I asked Deadman after we left Hong Kong, moving towards Afghanistan while high up in the clouds.
It had been a few hours since then. I was seated cross legged inside the Fullbring shield, deep in meditation while using my Reikaku to steer the bubble shield around me.
I had spent those few hours training with Chase in my inner world. Well, not exactly training but trying to understand the core of Barragan's time erosion abilities.
I might have absorbed his Ressureccion but actually using it needed me to achieve control.
So far, I was confident I could tap into his abilities. The only thing remaining was testing it's effects.
When the training started yielding less results, I decided to take a short break. Besides, all that was left was testing it's practical applications.
Deadman had blinked in surprise at my out of the blue question.
I couldn't really blame him. Upon departure, I had sank into my inner world and ignored everything.
Only occasionally did I stretch my Reikaku range as much as I could to scan for danger.
"Well?"
I prompted.
"Oh, uh...the goddess leads me. I can feel something pulling me towards a certain direction."
He answered.
"Mmh."
I hummed, removing Chesha Neko and beginning to clean it. Remember kids, take care of your tools and they'll seldom fail you.
That had been the case with Mystic. Mystic was my personal handgun. Papa Fred had gotten it for me for my birthday. About the only nice thing the fucker had ever done.
And it still managed to be negative.
Giving a 14 year old kid, a Wonder Mine semi automatic pistol? And the award for best adopted father goes to...
Ironic that I had used the same weapon to kill them all.
Chase had chuckled morbidly.
But that's besides the point. I let my mind wonder while falling into a trance as I wiped clean Chesha Neko's blade.
My earlier question seemed to have opened up Deadman to the possibility of a conversation. I didn't mind. It was a good way to pass the time.
"Normally you would need an invisible map to get there. At least according to Constantine."
I perked up a little at that. This was the first time he'd mentioned Constantine. I knew the exorcist was no longer in hell, so that was interesting.
Deadman continued. He hadn't seen my reaction.
"Get this, the supposedly 'invisible map' consists of seven separate pieces. I only know 4. A tattoo, a birthmark, a piece of special parchment and a poem."
He scoffed.
"A poem?"
I asked in curiosity. Man, magic was weird.
"I know right? A poem. The rest could at least be considered occult materials. But a poem?"
He shook his head, chuckling in mirth.
Occult.
That word grabbed my attention but I had no idea why.
"Maybe because it keeps on being mentioned in many of Raven's magical books?"
Chase pointed out.
Mmh. Could be why but...
That thought was cut off as a massive blizzard appeared out of nowhere, blasting against my bubble shield.
Deadman stopped, as the snow passed through him, along with the wind roaring loudly.
"I...ah... can't feel her directing me anymore. I think the snowstorm is messing with the connection."
"Did you feel it?"
Chase asked, alluding to something strange. A brief sensation that had appeared in my Reikaku range.
It was gone before I could even know what it was. Clearly this snowstorm was not normal.
"Yeah. I felt it."
I frowned, turning to Deadman.
"We should go down and wait it out. I need to take a leak anyway."
The disembodied spirit made no objection. Without him leading us, we would probably find ourselves way off course.
Besides, I needed to investigate what this was before we moved forward and found ourselves in more trouble than we could handle.
No more impulsive actions for me. Barragan had shown me I wasn't all powerful (yet).
So I directed the bubble shield towards the slopes of the range.
Visibility was an issue but I managed to land in a cave along the range by using Reikaku to scan the terrain.
The howling wind buffeted the rocky outcrop, sending a wave of cold air into the cave that even I could feel despite my reinforcements.
The cave wasn't big, only going a few dozen meters inside. There were signs of a camp fire in the middle, which meant we hadn't been the first ones there.
As if to reinforce that statement, trails and paths up the mountain were inscribed onto the walls of the cave.
"Interesting."
I spent a few minutes looking at them while Deadman was meditating to try and reconnect with Rama Kushna.
It was almost half a hour later, when he released a long sigh of frustration.
"I don't get it...it's not supposed to be like this. Why is she silent when we're so close to the Shrine?"
"Davian...it's coming this way."
Chase informed me.
The storm wasn't natural. That much we had established. Whatever had caused it wanted us trapped and confused.
Which in essence we were. But I wasn't confused, I knew exactly what to do.
I turned towards Deadman.
"You stare here, keep trying to reconnect or whatever, I'm going out."
I informed him, removing my boots. My trench coat and shirt were next to go.
"What...what are you doing?"
Deadman looked at me weirdly as I undressed, finally standing in the middle of the cave in only my pants and Chesha Neko's scabbard.
I tied my hair back as it had started to get long enough to become a nuisance. Only then did I answer him.
"I'm going out to train for a few hours. Don't wait up."
I told him, passing by his confused form and leaving the entrance of the cave.
Fortunately Deadman didn't follow me.
What I had told him was half true. The harsh winds hitting my skin made it much harder to pull on my Reiryoku.
My skin shivered, muscles tensed as my blood tried to fight off the cold.
I trudged in the snow, careful where I stepped so as to not go tumbling down the mountain.
Of course that wouldn't even be close enough to harming me, but it would be embarrassing.
I kept Reikaku up, stretched to it's limit as I walked.
And a few minutes away from the cave, I stopped.
The other reason I'd come out of the cave was to meet out guest. Or rather, the fucker responsible for trapping us in this hellish cold landscape.
"I know you're there."
I yelled out into the snowy range.
"You're not as good at hiding as you might think."
The wind howled.
No answer.
Chesha Neko left it's sheath with a slow ring.
"I won't say it again...show yourself now or I promise to make your death terrible when I do get around to killing you."
The wind kept on howling.
Something entered my ears. Laughter. Booming peals of laughter.
"Hahahaha! Kill me?! I knew you were arrogant but this...this bravado is something else."
I smirked.
"I only care about Facts. Fact no. 1, it's not bravado, it's confidence. Fact no.2, the bravado worked. It got you to show yourself, didn't it?"
The voice was silent.
Then the wind stopped howling.
I blinked and found myself in an inferno. Scarlet flames surrounded me on all sides.
My body got numb, almost seizing up due to the instant change in temperature. The looming mountains above me disappeared and I found myself in a hellish landscape.
One where ash drifted in the air and the ground was blackened with soot.
The sky was a glaring red. And everything else was on fire. I gripped Chesha Neko tightly.
"Chase, where the fuck are we?!"
I asked my Zanpakuto spirit.
"Mmmh give me a minute."
He answered and I felt his consciousness retract as he did something.
Before me the flames parted, revealing a hulking figure advancing my way. It had green skin, red eyes and in its hands, carried two huge axes.
I had to crane my neck to stare at it. God and I thought I was tall. This fucker was 8 feet tall.
"I heard a song of sorrow. A song of torment. A song that came from an unique soul. One with the potential to become the strongest of mages but can never surrender to magic. Such is your symphony. I heard you and have arrived with a bargain. I can give you that which you most seek."
It's voice was oily and almost pleasant.
"It's a lesser demon. This entire space is an illusion."
Chase came back. His voice was tinged with annoyance.
Annoyance that I shared.
"Seriously?"
I asked the demon with a glare.
"Yes. I am known as Shantoz. You lost a lov..."
Chesha Neko Swung out. The pressure blast produced pushed everything away. The fire disappeared and the terrain changed back to the same snowy landscape.
All I could think of was...why was he so weak? I felt no danger from him. Even Condiment King, a minor Batman villain could probably handle this guy.
"What...How?! What are you?!"
Shantoz yelled in fear, backing away as he looked around in terror.
"Bored."
I answered Shantoz, lifting up my Zanpakuto and releasing it.
Shantoz eyes widened at the pure blast of Reiryoku I exuded.
Then the sword unravelled into millions of strings that swam through the air, combining and weaving together to form...
Shantoz breath hitched. He dropped his axes and sank to his knees as Chase in his Giant Cat form loomed over him.
"You wasted my time and a favor someone who owed me. All because I thought you were a genuine threat, little demon. This...is personal."
Chase stalked forward with a terrifying snarl on his face, exposing rows and rows of sharp teeth.
"Mer...mercy..."
A demon asking for mercy huh, now I've seen it all.
Loud screams of pain filled the Hindu Kush ranges.
A few minutes later, I was back in the cave and Deadman was there to meet me with some good news.
He could feel his goddess' pull once again. We set off on our journey and this time, nothing weird or strange happened.
On the next day, we arrived in Nanda Parbat without issues.
(Davian's P.O.V)
The higher we went up the mountain, the more visibility became an issue. Until it wasn't.
One second, my Fullbring bubble is a glowing green in a void of white, due to the heavy snowfall, then the next, I feel my body pass through a veil of sorts.
The sensation felt like cold water being poured down on me.
I came out on the other side and the whole environment had changed.
The falling snow disappeared. The wind stopped howling and the frigid air turned warm.
It was instantaneous. And oh so pretty.
"Wow. I've never really been here before but wow."
Deadman said in awe.
A gleaming fortress covered with snow stood on the peak of the mountain, surrounded on all sides by sheer faced cliffs.
The sun's rays perfectly highlighted the spires jutting out of the towers attached to the main complex.
The Fortress itself looked like a cross between a castle and a pagoda, with a high wall surrounding it.
Infront of the entrance into Nanda Parbat, a huge female statue carved from a gleaming silver rock stood tall.
The statue lay in the middle of the small courtyard, in-between the veil of energy acting as a boundary and the Fortress' wall.
Right off the bat, I could feel something from the Statue. A sort of presence that permeated the air around.
A lone monk meditated below the steps of the statue.
"Alright, let's get this over with."
I said, dismissing the bubble shield and walking towards the entrance.
The monk looked up as we arrived, giving me a chance to study him.
"Wait, you?"
I asked, looking at the Jade Master.
He got to his feet and did a full bow.
"Great spirit-san, Champion-san, I apologize for my earlier deception. I wanted to make sure you would not seek to harm my home by testing your personality."
He apologized.
"I knew there was something off about him."
Chase pointed out.
"He was too...normal to be normal. A normal person would never be able to face you directly."
"To atone for my deception, the elders punished me to wait for you on the entrance to Nanda Parbat."
He straightened to his full height.
"I've been waiting for the last 16 hours."
He delivered calmly, but also phrased the statement like a query. A query as to why we had taken so long.
"There was a storm. We had to seek shelter so as to not veer off course."
I told him, passing him by and heading towards the gate.
The Jade Master jogged to walk beside me in silence.
"Champion-san." Deadman muttered thoughtfully. Then he smiled
"I like the sound of that."
Then he turned to me,
"Hey, so this is the guy who tried to attack you in the alley?"
"Yup."
I replied.
The Jade Master looked at me in question.
"I assume you're talking to Champion-san?"
I stopped.
"This is gonna get annoying fast. I don't have time to be a mediator. Chase, anything you can do about that?"
"You can use Chesha Neko to construct a physical vessel for Deadman to inh..."
He started but I cut him off.
"No. Anything else besides that."
His next words made my back stiffen before I turned to Deadman with an unimpressed glare.
"Someone's been holding out on me. You can materialize in the physical world now, can't you?"
The Jade Master followed my gaze and obviously saw nothing.
On the other hand, Deadman's face blanched as he raised his hands and backed away.
"I...it was only recent that I discovered I could do it."
I raised a hand to stop him before he started droning on.
"Stop. Don't explain. Just do it."
Deadman gave a nod. Then his spirit energy started brimming within his soul. With a flash of blue, he appeared in the physical world.
Real.
Tangible.
Ignoring the Jade Master's enthusiastic exchange with the Champion of his Patron Goddess, I proceeded towards the entrance without waiting for them.
Something seemed to be pulling me towards the city.
(General P.O.V)
(Gotham City)
"Run simulation."
Batman, clad in his iconic black suit, stood in a secluded corner of the Batcave, his face a mask of determination and resolve.
In his hand, he held the mighty power ring of the Green Lantern Corps, a symbol of immense cosmic power.
The emerald light emitted from the ring bathed the cave in an ethereal glow, casting long shadows on the walls.
(Simulation #89 running.)
The ring answered.
The walls of the Batcave seemed to ripple before they disappeared from all around him.
The space before him widened and then lengthened.
Power surged through his veins, merging his formidable willpower with the green color of the spectrum.
In an instant, the air around him seemed to crackle with temporal energy, reality warping and distorting in response to his command.
The very fabric of time seemed to bend to his indomitable will.
From the depths of the Batcave, colossal gears and cogs materialized, suspended in the air as if defying gravity.
Each gear represented a moment in time, their intricate mechanisms intertwining flawlessly.
The past,
The present,
The future.
Batman manipulated the green light, weaving it through the gears, forging an unbreakable bond between them.
As the luminous energy enveloped the metallic structure, it hummed with newfound power.
The static- a combination of all three to form a stagnant region in space and time that never moved forward or backward.
With each twist and turn, Batman could feel his construct taking shape, solidifying its existence.
He etched his own will into the creation of the fourth gear. The foundation of the Static.
The temporal architecture grew stronger, the walls of the cave pulsating with a green luminescence, a testament to the immense power of the green lantern.
Suddenly, the gears began to rotate, albeit imperceptibly slow, as if time itself had conspired to respect the construct's design.
It mattered little that he was dealing with forces unknown to man.
Using the ring's scanning abilities, Batman had downloaded all knowledge on quantum physics, mathematical and scientific subjects on time, speed and velocity and anything related to space time continuum.
All into his head.
Batman's mind, sharp as ever, had devised a plan to use this knowledge and create a prison unlike any other—one that would harness the enigmatic principles of time itself.
A prison that would incarcerate the League's most dangerous foes in a cell of stagnation.
A cell that would halt all time within it...forever.
'He' (Scarlet Devil) had forced his hand. Brought to light things that Batman had never really tried to fix partly in fear of making things worse, and partly because of inability.
Batman was well aware that the current legal measures put in place were ineffective.
Villains escaped mere months or even weeks after being brought in.
Not to mention with the Scarlet Devil showing no qualms to take lives, something needed to be done.
Not Killing of course. But a way to ensure Supervillains didn't break out of jail and cause havoc.
And now with the power of the green lantern, he was close to making it work. Close to creating a time prison.
One that was inescapable. In some ways it was worse than Killing.
What one couldn't deny was that...it would be effective.
Once he managed to get it to work.
"Temporal energies in flux. Construct destabilizing. Simulation #89...failed."
Batman's jaw clenched as the simulation around him broke down. The gears disappeared and he was back in the Batcave.
"Did you get that?"
He asked Robin who had been monitoring things from the Batcomputer.
The young sidekick shook his head ruefully.
"Even with the new specs in the computer, the ring's capabilities are too advanced for the it to scan."
Batman looked at the ring on his finger and frowned.
"We're going again. Run simulation."
(Simulation #90 running.)
(Elsewhere)
The first indication that something was wrong, was the entire hotel being rocked with a massive explosion.
A room on the left side of the building went up in flames. And along with it, claimed the lives of half a dozen intruders.
Cheshire grinned from the roof of a building 3 blocks away.
This probably meant she would be banner from the Golden Winged Dragon and it's branches for breaking it's one rule.
The bomb had gone off beautifully. She dropped the detonator and tapped the side of her mask, enhancing her vision.
Black smoke drifted up from the building and into the clear sky.
Sirens could already be heard and people were being ushered out of the hotel in a hurry.
She wasn't dumb. She knew they would come for her and had prepared.
"Nicely done. You haven't forgotten your training."
Cheshire stiffened as a voice said from behind her.
Him?
Crusher?
What was he doing here?
She forced her body into a relaxed state, grabbing a handful of Shuriken before whirling around and...
A couple of darts landed on her body before she could even turn.
Cheshire felt her limbs go numb. Then her body seized up as the tranquilizer worked fast. She fell and...
Darkness.
"But you were always slow to react when an attack came at you from behind."
SportsMaster said, lowering his hand.
He stepped closer to Cheshire's passed out form.
"That's why you should always duck first little girl. You don't try to see how fast you are compared to the other guy. This is not a western standoff. You're an Assassin."
He belated slightly, before turning to the other person on the rooftop.
Lady Shiva, flanked with half a dozen figures wearing dark cloaks that covered their forms, turned to leave through the boom tube.
"Bring her. She'll be useful in getting his attention. This time, he won't escape."
The deadly woman ordered.
(Davian's P.O.V)
My focus was completely on the pull I was feeling.
I ignored everything else. Including what was happening around me.
No one stopped me as I entered through the large gateway. Once inside Nanda Parbat, I could feel every eye on me as I moved through the cobble-stone layered streets.
The unique blend of architecture registered briefly on my peripheral.
The buildings were a blend of the same silver rock as the statue outside. They also stood tall with multiple storeys.
Everything seemed to have been carved from the mountain side.
Male and Female monastics would stop on the way and bow to me without fail.
It was weird to see how reverent they were towards me, a total stranger.
"I'm not surprised. Much like the Jade Master, the people here are strange. They feel normal yet are not. Their sense of the supernatural is strong."
Chase like usual added his commentary.
I simply grunted absentmindedly at him. My focus firmly placed in what lay ahead.
A long and wide path towards the center of Nanda Parbat.
Finally, my feet deposited me on the bottom of a long stairway. One that seemed to lead to a pavilion that stood taller than any other building in the city.
Two guards stood, blocking the way by crossing their staffs together.
Unlike the middle aged monks I had seen around, these two seemed young. They also wore gray uniforms as opposed to the yellow and orange that seemed popular with the rest.
"Halt. Who seeks to enter the Shrine of Our Goddess?"
One of them asked, narrowing her eyes.
She had long black hair that fell to the small of her back while the other guard, a boy had his own cut short.
That being the other prominent difference between them and the monks. They had hair.
I stuck my hands inside my pocket, irritated but very careful not to lose my temper with the two of them just because they were annoying.
"Move."
I ground out.
They shared a look.
"None may enter without..."
"Move."
I repeated, this time letting my Reiatsu leak. Their eyes widened comically.
"Let him through. Elder Mao can attest to his identity. He...is the Great Spirit."
A voice said from behind me.
"Jade Master!"
Both guards called out, uncrossing the staffs and bowing sheepishly.
"We apologize great one. Please..."
They had begun to say but I was already up the steps, fighting the urge to use Shunpo to clear the distance.
This pull was getting irritating.
I was no one's plaything. Just because Rama Kushna wanted to see me urgently didn't mean I would hurry towards her like an eager dog.
"Chase, how do you kill a god?"
I questioned my Zanpakuto.
Was it weird that my first thought these days was violence first and foremost?
Not really. This world was a death trap. This could very well turn into a fight, so I had to be ready for anything.
Rama Kushna could have lured me here in false pretense so as to end my existence.
The incident with Barragan had shown me gods were not infallible. They had vices. They could deceive and they could lie. (Though Barragan could only very loosely be considered a god. Something told me he was still weak in comparison to the real deal)
"How do you kill a god?" Chase repeated the question. Then he gave a reply.
"Easy. You become one yourself."
Good answer.
Finally I reached the top of the stairs and entered through the arched way into the pavilion.
I breathed in, feeling my body pass through another veil. The sensation of cold water washing down my body this time was stronger.
The first thing I heard was the gentle sound of a brook. The first thing I saw was a beautiful garden with a bamboo pond that flowed gently throughout it.
The bamboo forming the Shishi-Odashi struck the stone bedrock as it poured water into a series of japanese styled fountains.
The fountains surrounded a central building in the middle of the garden.
All in all it was tranquil. I breathed in and the overpowering scent of nature and the pure energy around the garden suffused my being.
My soul felt at peace.
I breathed out and settled into a lotus position, immediately falling into meditation.
It was impromptu, it was unplanned. But somehow, the frustration of climbing all those stairs, of journeying this far, of getting annoyed by a weak demon...all of it washed away.
All that was left behind was the feeling that this was right. That I was exactly where I needed to be.
I reflected upon a lot. My unscripted meditation forcing me to look back at everything that had happened and think on it.
What could I have done better? Or not better but different?
Why was my hate directed towards Batman? Could it be as direct as I initially thought it was?
I remember promising myself a simple life upon getting a second chance.
Was I destined to forever fight?
Did I ever really deal with Raven's death? Or was I simply ignoring the pain and loss because I needed to show myself I was strong.
Star Wars was a franchise Nick and I had grown up watching. It was one of the only fandoms that we both shared a love for.
One of the things that made us argue however was how the Jedi went about processing their emotions.
I naturally saw how they cast their negative emotions into the force to achieve inner peace as a very important practice.
It kept them free of distractions. Free of falling prey to the Dark Side.
Nick on the other hand saw it as running away from dealing with their fears and worries.
He argued that they were supposed to acknowledge those fears and dark desires, understand them fully and then and only then, could they cast them out into the force.
"I've been running away."
I muttered to myself.
I hadn't let myself really deal with all the bad things that had happened to me. I hadn't properly sent off Nick or Raven. I hadn't let them go.
A conversation I had had with Chase a few days ago came to mind.
He had said,
"You rarely smile anymore, my Wielder."
At that time I had scoffed his worries aside and told him I was fine.
In that pavilion, the walls surrounding my soul came down and I was forced to face myself.
And I found myself lacking. Pushing everything down and whatever I couldn't, discarding it to the side.
(I wonder, was my Reiryoku always this dark purple bordering on black...?)
I breathed out.
(No...no it wasn't)
And opened my eyes.
A blue skinned woman sat cross legged on a tatami mat infront of me. A cup of tea held in both her hands as she watched me with black pupiless eyes.
Calling her beautiful would have done her a disservice. She was beyond the concept of beauty.
A small smile graced her lips.
"My, such a brazen man, calling an old hag like me beautiful."
Her voice was like the gentle crooning of a mother, watching over her newly born child, love in her eyes and lips.
The smile turned from cheeky to gentle.
"Your true self is sweet."
Rama Kushna said, taking a sip of tea before placing it down with a sad sigh.
"Unfortunately you never let anyone see it. Not even your companion."
She added.
I blinked.
Could she sense Chase? That was...a first. No one had ever sensed Chase before. That in and of itself roused me from whatever state I'd been in, making me wary.
Chesha Neko found itself out of it's sheath. I placed the weapon beside me, ready to use it if necessary.
The woman followed it with her eyes. They lacked fear, only containing curiosity and a little sadness that made me sick to my stomach. I hated the feeling.
"Don't."
She said sternly.
"Don't push the shame and guilt away. You gave up a gun and picked up a sword. That was your choice Davian. You chose to come back to this life."
"For the first time in a long time, embrace it. Embrace it for the alternative is living a lie that will eventually consume you."
Despite the cutting words, they lacked no accusation.
"I..."
The hand around Chesha Neko's grip loosened.
"After prison, I begun saving up...for a restaurant."
The words left my lips before I could stop myself.
And from there, the dam broke. I told her my story. Everything except the reincarnation. Even in my muddled state, I knew that was something I would have to keep to myself.
Besides that, I told her everything. Most of which I suspected she already knew.
And at the end of it all, I felt strong but gentle arms around me, her head on the crane of my neck.
It was...warm.
"You pitiful child. You have endured so much. Yet will have to endure even more."
She said sorrowfully.
I felt like laughing.
"No rest for the wicked, eh Chase?"
I called out to my Zanpakuto, needing his presence to shoulder most of what I was feeling.
"I wouldn't have it any other way Davian. You are the Spirit King. Charged with a responsibility only you can handle."
He replied softly.
"Right. I am Death. There's no going back anymore. I've come too far to leave this path."
My hands came up around Rama Kushna, the Goddess had shown me my truest self without even meaning to.
The goddess who was nothing like I'd initially imagined.
I gripped her shoulders gently and pushed her away.
She tightened her hold on me. Just briefly. Then moved away with a sad look in her eyes.
"I was going to offer you sanctuary. A way out. A path to peace and understanding but I see now that I was foolish."
I shook my head.
"No, you're not foolish."
I looked at the gentle pond and the water flowing through the garden.
It was peaceful. Raven would have loved it here.
"I hope that one day..."
The statement that had left my mouth went unfinished.
She smiled.
"You're always welcome here."
I chuckled.
"Am I that easy to read or can you look into my mind?"
She raised a hand and placed it above my heart. Above my Saketsu.
"Not your mind, your soul. Your beautifully ugly soul. One containing a void of nothingness and an existence greater than anything."
She shook her head.
"A cosmos collapsed onto itself. You are a child of enigma, Davian Mabuz. Greater than a god but lesser than a human. For you are a bridge. A servant with a sacred duty. Much like my own. More important than my own."
She said with unfiltered awe.
My lips parted in shock.
Rama Kushna saw the question on my face and retracted her hand, her expression changing from the awe to one of deep thinking.
"Tea?"
She asked, but proceeded to pour it before I could give an answer.
"The Moon Flower fish exudes a refreshing and gentle ki. Ki that is absorbed by the emerald mountain tea plant. Mixed with white pine and sweetened by sweetgrass and sage, it nurtures the soul, opens up it's nodes...builds fortitude and brings tranquility and clear thinking."
She offered the cup to me and I received it with a nod of gratitude.
Even without a deep understanding of culture, I knew it was rude to drink first.
So I waited until she brought her cup to her face and breathed in the scent.
I imitated her and the tranquility from earlier hit me ten-fold.
"This is... really good."
I complimented her after only the first sip. My body felt relaxed. In sync with my soul.
"Mmmh. It is. Especially when discussing matters of grave importance."
Rama Kushna replied.
"Tell me Davian, What do you know of the Graveyard of Gods?"
She enquired.
I raked my brain but came up short.
"Nothing."
She nodded at my response.
"Understandable. The graveyard of gods is the final resting place of all forgotten and dead deities."
She explained.
"Think of it as an afterlife to the old gods. The ones left behind by humanity. The ones who lost their will to continue, growing weaker in the presence of children who no longer needed guidance."
Her voice was sad.
"Pan, the god of the wild...Harpocrates, the god of silence, Helios the original Sun God... Oceanus, the Titan God of the sea. Prithvi...my dear sister, the goddess of Earth and Fertility...all gone."
She sighed heavily.
"All unneeded and unwanted by the modern world. Their fates, destined to live out an existence of madness until they finally pass onto oblivion, joining the primordial entropy."
She went silent for a few seconds before speaking once more.
"That, is the Graveyard of Gods."
(Info dump)
(General P.O.V)
"You sure about this boss?"
Johnny asked, drumming the side of his pants as they watched the abandoned oil export warehouse.
The warehouse was on 5th street, right at the edge of Crime Alley. Danny's men were all behind him, armed with Zip ties, bats and knucks.
There had been some contention on carrying guns but Danny had strictly forbidden it.
Getting caught with a gun at this particular moment, with the heat in Gotham was a bad idea.
They would be facing 10 to 20 years on intent to do harm.
Maybe even distribution when taking into account what some of his people used. Mostly Marijuana, nothing too hard.
The gun subject wasn't the reason for Johnny's question. Johnny was more concerned with their newest recruit.
One they had come across as he attacked members of the Odessa Mob seeking to move into Park Row.
A young boy with powers. Bat powers.
Danny could feel the rest of his men watch him, waiting for his answer.
"The kid is powerful. But also reckless. Better he be with us than alone. We can watch his back."
He replied, hoping they would drop the subject.
Just then gunshots rang out from inside the warehouse. A few seconds later, something sped out through the rafters, breaking glass.
The figure turned out to be a young boy with black hair, big black wings and clawed hands.
Danny tensed watching as the boy flew off now that his part was done. Good. He could listen to orders.
Danny rolled his neck, throwing away the butt of his cigarette.
"Okay boys, time to show these riddler goons why trying to move into our territory is a bad idea."
There was a loud explosion from the warehouse' huge double doors, providing a way in.
"The kid did his part. Let's go."
Danny added, lowering his red Oni mask.
Instantly, a surge of power went through his body. He stepped off the edge of the roof they were on and started running down the wall.
Half a dozen men followed him down.
(Davian's P.O.V)
"That place sounds like a nightmare."
Chase commented.
"Oh it is...great sword San."
I wasn't the one who answered...
Rama Kushna did. She smiled at me knowingly. Almost daring me to ask the question I wanted.
"You...you can hear him?"
I forced myself to be calm. I had always tried to hide Chase' existence away from prying eyes.
"Yes. I can."
The goddess answered, taking another sip of her tea.
I frowned.
"Ah...I see."
That wasn't good, exactly. But if there was anyone I would rather know about Chase, it was her. (Not like I had a choice really)
"Does that bother you Great Sword San? That I know of your well concealed presence? Keep in mind, as the god of Fate, no strings of destiny are hidden from my gaze."
Rama Kushna explained, her eyes firmly locked onto mine but seeing past them.
Past me. Her gaze playful.
"It does."
Chase bluntly replied.
Rama Kushna giggled. She had a good laugh. One that sounded girlish instead of what I was expecting.
"That said, I would be grateful if you could tell us what any of this has to do with Davian. Humans die, mystical beasts die and gods die, what of it?"
Chase stole the question from my lips.
It was the same thing I'd been wondering as well. What did the Graveyard of Gods have to do with me?
"Mmh..."
Rama Kushna hummed, reaching out her hand into seemingly nothing. Only for a small blue portal to open before her palm. Her hand slipped in and pulled out a jar of honey.
"I find that a dash of honey goes well with the tea."
She explained, scooping some with a spoon before adding it to her cup.
She offered but I refused curtly, a little impatient to hear her answer. What was she hiding?
"It concerns you because of this."
She pointed at the small portal she had just created, it's edges rippling.
"Magic is...neutral. inert. Shapeable but immutable. The only rules it has are...surrender to it. Adapt to it."
She waved a hand and a yellow mist poured forth from her palm. Then the mist changed form into a crystalline flower, gleaming beautifully.
The flower broke down and formed into a small marble made up of flame.
"Mmmh...they are the exact same size."
Chase commented.
"Exactly. I reiterate. The magic inside this construct, while shapeable is immutable. It adheres to rules of equivalent exchange. It only took what was needed to create what I wanted."
The marble ball split into two smaller spheres. The second marble changed into a crystal flower similar to her first construct, only smaller, half it's size infact.
The two constructs rotated around each other, drawing closer. When they touched, there was a burst of energy and yellow mist was produced that quickly dispersed into the air.
"Neutral. Opposing forces do not combine. At least not perfectly. Not unless you're willing to give up a big part of yourself to bind them together."
"Magic is not a short cut, it's a mystical force capable of producing miracles by expending the life force within a being."
She concluded.
Her other hand came up.
"Spirit energy on the hand, is personal. It's reactive. It's not like magic. Infact, it wouldn't be wrong to call it, it's anti-thesis."
This time there was a rainbow colored miasma swirling above her palm. Tendrils of spirit energy danced around her fingers.
"It's oriented. Mutable in the sense that it can be dark at its core or light. It can be green or blue. Not both but either."
"It can do things magic can't...it doesn't require you to surrender to it. Infact, it's the opposite. It surrenders to the invocation of it's wielder."
I stretched out my palm.
A slow breath left my lips.
Push...
Pull...
I called onto my Reiryoku and watched as purple wisps of energy extended out from my fingers, licking the air.
"I think I understand what you're getting at. The only question I have. You said Rei...spirit energy was personal. What does that mean?"
She smiled, staring at my Reiryoku with interest.
"Exactly that. When you use a spell you can not regain the life force expended."
"Spirit Energy is different. With enough skill, you can call it back. It's your energy. The by product of your soul. It doesn't want to be anywhere else."
She explained.
And a part of me knew she was right. I had felt it before. The feeling that I could absorb the remnants of Reiryoku left behind after a Kido spell.
"That said, one should always be careful with this particular quirk of Spirit Energy. You risk absorbing the natural energy in the air every time you take it in."
I closed my palm.
"And natural energy is bad...why?"
"Imagine having the natural energy in Gotham coursing through your soul."
Chase pointed out.
I immediately shivered.
"I see."
"Very perceptive of you Great Sword San."
Rama Kushna complimented my Zanpakuto.
I think she was enjoying teasing him.
Chase snorted but I could tell he was a little happy with the praise. That's a first...
"Ok, correct me if I'm wrong then. From what I can gather, anyone can learn to use magic. It's highly versatile but adheres to certain universal laws."
I stopped to gauge her expression.
"Spirit Energy on the other hand can only be accessed by a select few. It's not as versatile but is highly specialized according to the wielder's preferences."
I continued.
"Not always but you're not wrong so far."
She cut in.
"Right. The only thing I don't see is the connection you're trying to make with the portal you created."
I motioned at the small rift in space.
"So how about we cut the bullshit and you give me a straight answer."
I told her, my impatience leaking through.
"But I already did."
Rama Kushna protested cheekily.
"What..?"
"Think about it. Both of you. I started off by explaining what the Graveyard of the gods is, then we discussed the difference between magic and spirit energy. The latter being highly specialized and capable of feats magic cannot..."
"You're just saying the same thing!"
I slammed the cup down.
A brief silence reigned between us. The goddess tilted her head, black eyes twinkling with humor.
"I'm not here to hold your hand, Great Spirit san."
She said curtly.
Chase hummed in thought.
"I think I get it now. Davian, you hold control over death. To some extent. Barragan's presence and what Deadman said about a group of Supervillains using your energy to create monster and hollow hybrids...it's easy to make the connection."
He paused.
"You. Before any of them, you were the only thing capable of producing Reiryoku in this world."
My mind went blank.
"No, you can't mean what I think..."
"You are responsible for all of it. Our enemies, the ones hiding in the darkness, somehow managed to gather your power and use it for their own nefarious ends."
My eyes fell onto the portal next to the goddess.
Everything clicked.
"They can use my energy to pierce the boundaries between the physical world and the afterlife. In this case...the divine spirit within Barragan had been Oceanus. Who, according to you had been imprisoned in the Graveyard...of the gods."
I looked up at Rama Kushna.
"You said I was the bridge. How literal did you mean by that?"
I questioned, reeling from the revelation.
She smiled.
"Very."
I pressed my palms into my face.
"That's why you wanted to see me. No, that's why you gave the mission to deal with Barragan in the first place."
It made so much sense.
"I was cleaning up my own mess. They can create rifts into the Graveyard using my Reiryoku. Then pull out whatever god they want out into the real world."
"Exactly."
She poured more tea on my cup.
"And there's more to come. Oceanus was just the first. Whoever is behind this has a particularly unhealthy interest with the Graveyard of the Gods. More... incursions will happen."
Her tone turned gloomy.
"Elder gods, slaughter gods, gods that humanity needed before Prometheus gave them fire. Gods humanity cannot survive even knowing of their existence. Evil gods..."
I brought the cup to my lips.
The tea was tasteless on my tongue. All these revelations...
Only one question remained.
"Who's the one responsible?"
For the first time since the conversation begun, Rana Kushna frowned.
"I don't know, they are hidden from my gaze. Which should be impossible barring a few..."
She shook her head.
"What that means is less than assuring. The next incursion should happen a few months from now."
"How do you know that but don't know the identity of the one behind all of it?"
I enquired.
"As the goddess of fate, I can see events that naturally disrupt the flow of time. It is my job to set the scales right. I am am overseer of destiny, just as you're the overseer of death."
She answered.
"Is there a way to stop this... incursion from happening? And why would this... mysterious enemy wait months to send another god out into the world...why not now? Why wait that long?"
Chase asked.
"You would have to journey into the Graveyard yourselves to prevent anyone from coming out, but I wouldn't recommend that course of action. Which take us to your second question. They would have to wait that long because of Tigris."
"Tigris?"
"Fuck."
Chase and I spoke at the same time.
I had never had him curse before. Even Rama Kushna looked surprised.
"I take it you know who he is?"
The goddess prompted.
Chase sighed.
"Tigris...just as Hell has Cerberus to guard it's gates..."
"Tigris guards the Graveyard of the gods. Fully capable of destroying any god with ease...none can escape him while inside. He has full authority and can NEVER be defeated."
Rama Kushna explained.
'Well. Fuck.'
And that's not to mention, the Supervillains that had been trying to use Reiryoku to create monster-hollow hybrids.
The only good thing was that now I knew what my enemy was planning.
"I need to get stronger."
I steepled my hands together.
"Much much stronger."