I own nothing,
So this last part was supposed to be one long chapter but it was like 38 pages in a Word doc so I split it up into two separate chapters...yeah I got to learn to cull my content more. Anyaway the second part will be up in the next 24hrs.
As always please review.
Wonder Woman soared over the rolling landscapes of Kazina, her destination clear in her mind. After learning of Audrey's immediate coronation and sudden wedding, Diana wasted no time departing from France. The revelation had been unexpected, and though the distance was considerable, she pushed herself to the limit. The wind roared in her ears as she streaked through the sky, her golden armor gleaming in the moonlight. She clenched her fists, determination etched across her face.
Not far behind her, the Batwing carved through the night sky. As the royal palace finally came into view on the horizon, Diana felt a flicker of relief. But it was short-lived. Three jets emerged from the clouds ahead, their sleek forms illuminated by their running lights. Without warning, they opened fire, streams of tracer rounds lighting up the sky.
Diana barrel-rolled to the left, the bullets whizzing past her. The jets roared past her position and banked sharply, already lining up for another attack. Batman's voice came through her earpiece, his tone urgent.
"Three hostiles. They're targeting you,"
"I noticed," Diana replied tersely, raising her bracelets and deflecting a hail of bullets. The ricocheting rounds glinted like fireflies against the night sky. With a burst of speed, she surged toward the nearest jet, tearing its tail off and sending it crashing to the landscape below. She saw the pilot eject from the cockpit but didn't pursue him. Instead, she uncoiled her lasso, turning her attention to the next closest plane.
The pilot barely had time to react as Diana lashed out with her lasso, snagging the wing of the aircraft. Using her immense strength, she swung it in a large circle until the wing came clean off. Another plane down and another pilot ejected.
Wonder Woman turned to the last jet and flew straight toward it. She landed on its nose and punched through the canopy. The pilot was ripped out of his seat and tossed from the plane. Once he was gone, Wonder Woman punched through the controls and pushed off the jet as it too fell to the ground below.
"Diana, behind you!" Batman's voice came through her comm. She turned just in time to see a dozen more planes heading her way.
Half of the planes opened fire on her, and once more the Amazon princess used her bracelets to defend herself. Unfortunately, the others launched missiles, and the explosions knocked her off balance. The Batwing swooped in from above, unleashing a pair of missiles. The explosions lit up the night as two of the jets disintegrated into fireballs.
Diana twisted mid-air, regaining her flight as she circled back toward the fight. Propelling herself forward, she landed on the nose of another jet. The pilot panicked, attempting to shake her off with violent maneuvers, but Diana held firm. She once again broke through the canopy and wrenched the controls, steering the jet toward the palace grounds. At the last moment, she leaped off, letting the aircraft crash into an empty courtyard below.
As she descended, the Batwing passed overhead, firing at a squadron of transport helicopters approaching the palace. Diana landed amidst the wreckage of the jet. She watched as the remaining planes pursued the Batwing. Suddenly, she was shot at. Turning around, she saw soldiers heading her way on the ground.
She charged at them, knowing they would be easier to deal with than the fighter jets. While Wonder Woman was preoccupied with the ground forces, Batman continued engaging the remaining fighters in the air.
With Batman at the controls, the Batwing arched into a sharp ascent. As it climbed higher, the pursuing jets opened fire, their guns roaring. The Batwing's countermeasures automatically deployed, chaff and flares exploding in the air and diverting the streams of bullets. Batman rolled hard to the right, avoiding a missile that streaked past him, detonating harmlessly in the distance.
He banked sharply, bringing the Batwing into a tight loop that allowed him to line up behind one of the jets. With the crosshairs on his HUD locking onto the target, Batman fired a short burst from the Batwing's rotary cannons. The rounds tore into the jet's tail, sending it spiralling out of control. The pilot ejected just as the aircraft erupted into a ball of flames.
Two jets stayed on his tail, working in tandem, each trying to outflank him. Batman's eyes flicked across the displays, calculating their approach patterns. With a flick of a switch, he armed the Batwing's air-to-air missiles and throttled down, allowing the two jets to close in. Just as they thought they had him pinned, he released two missiles in quick succession, the projectiles curving in a deadly arc toward the targets.
One jet exploded instantly, the fireball lighting up the night sky. The second pilot managed to evade the missile by diving sharply, but Batman was already prepared. He dove after the jet, his fingers dancing across the controls as the Batwing's cannons roared to life. The rounds struck true, ripping through the jet's fuselage and forcing the pilot to eject.
Before he could catch his breath, the radar blared a new warning. Batman's sharp eyes glanced at the display—three more planes were fast approaching from the west. They opened fire on the Batwing, and Batman dove, maneuvering the plane close to the palace in hopes they wouldn't risk firing on the royal family's home. However, bullets continued to spray, shattering windows and pelting the hall. At the last second, Batman pulled up, the Batwing barely skimming past the wall by inches before climbing higher. The planes followed him.
As he ascended once more, Batman armed the Batwing's EMP cannon. It wasn't a weapon he used lightly—it had limited range and required precision timing to disable multiple targets. Performing a loop, Batman flew directly toward the oncoming group of fighter jets, weaving between bursts of machine-gun fire. His focus sharpened, his breathing steady.
"Closer… closer…" he murmured, waiting for the perfect moment.
At the last possible second, he fired the EMP cannon. A blinding wave of blue energy pulsed outward, enveloping the other planes. Their engines sputtered and died, the lights on their consoles flickering out. One by one, they dropped from the sky, with their pilots ejecting just in time. The disabled planes crashed harmlessly into the forest surrounding the palace.
All but one plane was taken down. It was still in his trajectory, so Batman fired a missile, striking the plane's wing and sending it spiraling downward. It crashed into the palace, the wreckage sticking out of the wall as flames began to spread. Batman hoped no one was on the upper floors—given that Audrey was likely at her coronation and wedding, the area should have been empty.
Batman pulled up sharply, his hands steady on the controls as he brought the Batwing back into position, scanning the skies for any remaining threats. The night was eerily silent, save for the distant rumble of ground fire from below.
"Diana," he said, his tone neutral but resolute, "the airspace is clear—AGHHHH!"
"BATMAN!" Wonder Woman called through the comms in fear.
Something hit the back of the Batwing, blowing its tail clean off. The Batwing spiraled out of control as it plummeted toward the ground. Batman scanned the controls, but it was clear his plane was lost. Without hesitation, he ejected, deploying his cape to glide to safety. As he descended, he spotted the source of the attack: a massive tank, its smoking cannon aimed skyward.
On the ground,
Wonder Woman watched in horror as the Batwing plummeted from the sky and crashed into a fiery explosion. Fear clutched at her heart, but before she could search for Batman, the rumble of something massive drew her attention. She turned to see a colossal brown tank approaching, its bulk crushing everything in its path. The airspace, which had been declared clear, was now filled with enemy planes once again.
Anger surged through her veins as she lunged at the tank, bending its cannon like it was made of tin. With a powerful motion, she ripped the hatch open and tossed it aside. Reaching into the belly of the beast, she yanked out the gunners and drivers, hurling them into the trees like ragdolls. Once the tank was empty, she gripped it by the barrel, hoisting it effortlessly into the air.
Using the tank as both a weapon and a shield, Wonder Woman smashed the oncoming planes out of the sky, one after another. The enemies' bullets ricocheted harmlessly off the tank's armored hull as she cleared the airspace once again. When the last plane fell, she heaved the tank high above her head and flew toward the palace.
As she neared the palace, she hurled the tank with all her might. It slammed into the base of the wall, shattering stone and steel as it breached the fortress. Wonder Woman dove in through the opening, landing at the base of the altar where Audrey and Vandal Savage stood, dressed in their wedding attire. Their faces were frozen in shock and horror, and the dignitaries in attendance scattered, ducking behind pews. Some trembled in fear, while others screamed in terror.
"Audrey, I won't let you marry this man," Wonder Woman declared harshly, her voice echoing through the chamber.
"Diana… what the… where did…" Audrey stammered, still trying to comprehend how a tank had ended up embedded in her palace wall.
"Listen to me. Savage is—AGGGGHHHHHH!" Diana's words were cut off by a bloodcurdling scream as a powerful electric shock coursed through her body.
Audrey spun around to see Vandal Savage holding a small handheld pistol. He released the trigger, a smirk tugging at his lips. Wonder Woman collapsed to her knees, her body trembling from the shock. She was down, but not out.
"Does anyone else have any objections?" Savage asked coldly, his voice laced with menace.
"I… won't let this marriage happen," Diana said, her voice full of determination as she forced herself to her feet. She took a shaky step forward, but a piercing, brain-splitting noise assaulted her ears. She clutched her head, screaming in agony, as Commander Vox stepped forward. Waves of weaponized sound emanated from his voice box, keeping the Amazon warrior at bay.
When Vox got close enough, he grabbed Diana by the hair and slammed her into the wall with brutal force. Her body went limp, and she crumpled to the ground.
This time, she didn't get back up.
"My apologies, Princess. Lord Savage," Commander Vox said, his voice devoid of emotion. "I will have my men take her into custody. Please, continue with your happy day," He gestured for his soldiers, who moved in to drag the fallen Amazon away.
Audrey's heart wavered as she watched them haul her friend out of the chamber. "Wait," she called out. The men stopped, turning back to her. "Please make sure she is treated well," she said softly, her voice trembling.
"Of course, Your Highness. I will see to it personally," Commander Vox assured her with a slight bow before following his men out. The heavy doors closed behind them, sealing the room in silence.
"Princess... our vows," Savage said, his voice urging Audrey to return her attention to him.
Audrey tore her gaze from the doors where Wonder Woman had been taken. Her heart hammered in her chest, and her mind raced with conflicting emotions. For a moment, she considered calling for Diana to be brought back, but Vandal Savage's calm yet commanding voice snapped her focus back to the present.
"Audrey," Savage said softly, his hand reaching out to hers. His dark eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "The ceremony must proceed. The people are waiting. Our kingdom cannot afford hesitation in a time of such uncertainty,"
Audrey hesitated, her eyes darting around the room. The dignitaries who had come to witness the marriage still cowered behind the pews, their faces pale and fearful. Smoke and dust from the destroyed wall swirled in the air, and the faint echoes of battle could still be heard in the distance. It felt wrong—everything about this moment felt wrong—but she couldn't afford to falter.
Slowly, Audrey took his hand, forcing her expression to remain calm, regal. She straightened her posture and nodded. "You're right. We… we should proceed,"
The priest, who had been trembling near the altar, cautiously stepped forward, his robes disheveled and his voice shaking. "A-as we were, Your Majesties," He cleared his throat and began reciting the vows once more.
Audrey tuned him out, her mind racing over everything that had just happened. She couldn't understand what was going on. She thought she and Diana were friends. For Diana to act this way—attacking the ceremony, throwing a tank through the chapel wall—was deeply concerning. Audrey's thoughts were scattered, and she couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal. When the priest reached the "I dos," she hesitated for a brief moment before agreeing.
"Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," the priest said.
Savage leaned in for a kiss. This wasn't the first time he'd kissed her, and she allowed it. The dignitaries cheered and clapped at the union of the new royal couple. Once the ceremony was complete, everyone moved to the ballroom. Servants brought out trays of champagne and drinks for the guests, but there was no food. It was, after all, the night of the engagement party and quite early in the morning. Audrey had ordered the wedding dinner to be a wedding breakfast brunch instead. Due to the late hour and the moved-up ceremony, she and her husband would have their traditional first dance, a celebratory drink, and then retire for the actual feast the next morning. It was a good compromise, and Audrey's only regret was that her father couldn't be there to witness it.
When they entered the ballroom, one of the servants announced their arrival. "Presenting for the first time, Queen Audrey the First and her husband, and royal consort, Vandal Savage, Prince Consort of Kazina. They will now have their first dance as husband and wife,"
The guests cheered as the music started to play. They began slowly, with Savage leading and Audrey following. However, she was distracted and didn't seem to be enjoying herself at all.
"Is everything alright, my darling?" Savage asked. "You seem distant,"
"It's just… everything has happened so fast," Audrey replied. "My father falling ill, now I'm queen, and we're married less than 24 hours after our engagement party,"
"I know it's a trying time, but you don't need to worry. I am here for you," Savage promised.
"Thank you, but I still can't believe what Diana did. I mean, throwing a tank through the chapel wall?" Audrey exclaimed.
"Well, it's one way to crash a party," Savage joked.
"Regardless, I thought she was my friend. Her behaviour is inexcusable," Audrey claimed. "And she insulted you so many times,"
"Audrey, if there's one thing I've learned in this life, it's that we cannot choose who our parents are. I cannot change what my grandfather did, nor can I let it hold me back. If I held onto the past, I wouldn't have met you," Savage said.
"You're so sweet, Vandal," Audrey blushed. "And you always know just the right thing to say,"
"Thank you, darling. And don't think any more on Diana. It's your wedding day. Enjoy it," Savage encouraged.
"I'll try," Audrey agreed as the music came to an end, and they stopped. "Thank you for listening to my worries,"
"Any time," Savage replied. "You know, it's funny. When I look into your eyes, I want to give you the entire world,"
"With the way you talk, sometimes I actually believe you can," Audrey responded, giving her husband another kiss.
"We'll see," Savage responded cryptically.
The royal couple stayed in the ballroom for the next hour before retiring, they spoke to their guests to thank them for getting up and attending their wedding after the late-night reception party and once drinks were had they retired to their royal chambers that had been pre-set up the day before.
Outside the palace
Alucard and Elara were making their way through the forest. After the plane had nearly crashed into them, Alucard had raced to a nearby window and leapt out of it. Elara had been in his arms and too stunned to realize what was happening until it was too late. She grabbed hold of him tightly as they plummeted toward the ground, but Alucard slowed their descent, and they landed safely. He put her down before rushing to the hole and peeking in just in time to hear the "I dos" and see Audrey and Savage kiss, making their union now official and legally binding.
Alucard cursed and rushed back to Elara in a red blur. He made sure she was alright before heading off toward the forest. Elara tried to stop him, reminding Alucard that he was still her prisoner, but Alucard reasoned that there might be people who needed medical attention or had gotten badly hurt in the fight above the palace. He reasoned that they were the closest and could offer immediate aid. Elara once again couldn't argue his points without undermining her own duties, so she agreed.
Alucard was looking for Batman. He'd seen the Batwing go down, and he knew the Dark Knight would make his way to the palace. He hoped to meet up with him before he reached it. The problem was, with the crash and the smell of jet fuel smoke, as well as the passing infantry men who had been beaten down by an Amazon in a hurry, it was hard for Alucard to hear or catch wind of Batman's scent.
Even though the two weren't on talking terms anymore, he hoped Batman would still come to him for at least some information. Elara started becoming suspicious of Alucard when he flat-out ignored the people he claimed to want to help, walking past many bodies of the Kazinan defense force.
"Um… shouldn't we be stopping?" she asked.
"Why?" Alucard asked.
"You said you wanted to offer medical assistance, but you've done nothing but walk past everyone so far," Elara pointed out.
"They are fine. They are in no danger, and most wounds are superficial. Heavy bruising at worst," Alucard claimed.
Elara ran in front of him and pointed her gun at his head. Alucard stopped.
"How the hell can you know that?" she demanded.
"Superman has X-ray vision. J'onn has Martian vision that lets them see through solid matter," Alucard explained.
"Are you saying you have x-ray vision too?"
"No, but I do have something similar that allows me to determine the health of humans simply by being near them," Alucard claimed. It wasn't technically a lie. Being a half-vampire allowed him to determine a human's health simply by listening to their heartbeat and blood flow, as well as the scent of their blood. "None of these soldiers are in life-threatening condition or injured to warrant immediate medical aid… which is quite surprising, given who just plowed through them and is still out here,"
"Wonder Woman… didn't hurt them?" Elara asked in surprise.
"Not as much as she could have…they are lucky she was in a hurry," Alucard assured.
Elara glanced down at a nearby soldier, her stomach twisting as she imagined what condition they might have been in if Wonder Woman hadn't been in a hurry. She was about to voice her thoughts when a faint rustle in the trees above caught her attention. Both Elara and Alucard snapped their gazes upward just in time to see a shadow leap from the canopy.
In the span of a heartbeat, a dark figure descended silently, landing behind her with precision. Before Elara could react, she felt her wrist twist sharply, her gun slipping from her grip. The next moment, she was flipped onto the ground, her arm pinned painfully behind her back. A weight pressed down on her as the figure crouched over her, using his body to immobilize her entirely.
"Ah, Batman, there you are," Alucard said calmly, as though they were old acquaintances meeting under casual circumstances.
"Where's Diana?" Batman demanded, his tone sharp and angry as his glare locked onto Alucard.
"I am unsure," Alucard replied, unfazed by the hostility. "The last I saw of her, she threw a tank into the side of the royal palace and went inside,"
Batman's glare hardened, but Alucard's tone remained steady as he gestured slightly toward the ground. "Now, would you mind getting off Elara?"
Batman's narrowed eyes flickered down to the woman beneath him. "Who is she?" he asked brusquely.
"A member of the royal guard," Alucard answered smoothly. "And my escort,"
"Escort?" Batman echoed, his suspicion clear.
"Of course. I am her prisoner, after all,"
Batman raised a skeptical eyebrow, his expression incredulous. "You're her prisoner?" he repeated, his tone practically dripping with disbelief. "You?"
"Oh, yes," Alucard said with no small amount of amusement. "We've had a wonderful time together, and she's treated me surprisingly well. Now, would you mind getting off her?"
Batman hesitated, his sharp eyes scrutinizing Alucard for any sign of deceit. Finally, he stepped back, releasing Elara from his hold but keeping his posture guarded. Elara immediately got up and backed away from him, giving Batman a glare of her own. Her body was tense, and her eyes flickered to her weapon on the ground.
"Leave it. Batman gets testy around guns," Alucard warned.
"So that's the real Batman?" Elara asked.
"It is,"
"What's he doing in Kazina?" she asked.
"A good question," Alucard agreed. "Why are you here?"
"Wonder Woman contacted me. She believes Vandal Savage is going to hurt princess Audery and has some other motive for marrying her,"
Alucard filled Batman in, explaining how he confirmed the king's illness was, in fact, poison and how the king might not be receiving the care needed to survive. He detailed how the royal guards had claimed they found evidence in his and Wonder Woman's guest rooms that implicated one of them in poisoning the king. Alucard also explained how Vandal Savage had issued an execution order for him despite holding no such authority, and how the captain of the royal guard had referred to Savage as the true King of Kazina. He also pointed out how Elara had been the only one to call the captain out on the fact that the order was illegal.
Alucard went on to share his thoughts on the matter, mentioning what Queen Audery had told him about King Gustave's plans to retire and pass the throne to his daughter in a few years. He theorized that Savage either wanted the throne immediately or someone else was behind the plot. However, Alucard admitted that he now believed Savage was orchestrating everything.
Batman listened carefully, piecing the information together. He already knew about Wonder Woman's deep suspicions of Vandal Savage and agreed that the timing of the king's sudden stroke was suspicious. After hearing Alucard's side of events and what he had uncovered, Batman concluded that Savage was likely the mastermind behind everything. He wanted the throne and was using Queen Audery to achieve it. However, Savage's ultimate goal remained unclear. One thing Batman and Alucard both agreed on was that Queen Audery was in grave danger now that she and Savage were legally married.
During the entire conversation, Elara wondered if the two heroes even remembered she was there. Her mind raced. Lord Savage conspiring a coup? Poisoning the king? She had never believed it had been Alucard, but hearing everything confirmed her suspicions about the execution order. It had been illegal when issued, but now that Lord Savage was married… didn't that mean she had to carry it out?
"Are you sure that both Audery and Savage are married?" Batman asked.
"I saw them seal their vows with a kiss. We are running out of time," Alucard said gravely.
"I assume you have a plan," Batman said.
"I had hoped to get Queen Audery's permission to move King Gustave. She is only able to assume the throne because of his condition. If he recovers…"
"Then authority automatically defaults back to him," Batman finished. He had to admit it was a clever idea since it might force Savage to reveal his true intentions. "That might have worked, but I doubt it will now. Savage holds royal authority, after all. What's his current condition?"
"King Gustave will not live through the night," Alucard said grimly.
Elara's eyes widened. This wasn't what she had heard at all… the king—his condition was that bad? Did the queen know?
"Can you save him?" Batman asked.
"No. But I believe the Watchtower medical tubes can," Alucard replied. "I can take him there, but…"
"But without permission, you really will be committing a crime," Batman concluded.
Alucard nodded. Batman sighed and looked at Elara. Batman knew what Alucard needed from him, and the idea wasn't a bad one, especially if they couldn't stop Savage. He walked up to Alucard and reached into his utility belt. Elara couldn't see what he pulled out, as it was held tightly in his fist. He placed something in Alucard's hand, and the half-vampire looked at him with grateful eyes.
"Go," Batman ordered.
Alucard nodded. His body glowed red, and in a blur, he was gone, racing back toward the palace. Elara was left behind, standing in stunned silence with the Dark Knight, confusion etched on her face.
"Where's he going? What did you give him?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
"It's better you don't know," Batman replied curtly. "It gives you plausible deniability. You should stay out here. If anyone asks, I got the drop on you, disarmed you, which gave Alucard the chance to escape, and I followed him,"
Elara frowned. That was… technically what had happened, but she hadn't reported to anyone that Alucard had surrendered to her.
"You're going after Lord Savage, aren't you?" she asked, her tone sharper now.
"Not yet," Batman said. "I'm going to investigate Wonder Woman and Alucard's claims first. If Savage is behind all this, then I will take him down," he promised.
Elara glanced back toward the castle. She was supposed to be a member of the royal guard, sworn to protect the king and the royal family. But if what the two heroes said was true, she—and the rest of the guard—had failed in their duties. Failed to protect the king. Failed to protect Queen Audery.
"Alucard… he was never my prisoner, was he?" she asked quietly.
"No, he wasn't," Batman confirmed without hesitation.
"I figured," Elara said with an exhausted sigh. She walked over, picked up her rifle, and slung it over her shoulder. Batman watched her carefully, his sharp gaze noting her every move.
"All right. Let's go," she declared suddenly and began walking back toward the castle. Batman raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her determination. After a few steps, she stopped and turned back to him, hands on her hips. "Well, are you coming, or do I have to do all the hard work?"
Batman narrowed his eyes. "You do realise I'll be working to undermine and take down Vandal Savage, who is now Prince Consort of Kazina?"
"Yep," she replied without hesitation.
"And you're sure about this? If you come, you'll be committing treason," he warned her gravely.
"No," Elara said firmly. "I'll be bringing a traitor to justice and exposing a threat to the rightful rulers of Kazina,"
"If we fail, you could be executed," Batman pressed.
"Like I told Alucard, I'm a royal guard. My duty is to protect the royal family, and I'll carry it out no matter who stands in my way," Elara reaffirmed, her voice unwavering. "Besides, I know the palace. You'll need me to lead you through it without being seen,"
Batman allowed himself a small, approving smirk. "I can see why he picked you,"
Without another word, he turned and began walking toward the palace. "Let's go. We have no time to waste,"
"Shouldn't we wait for Alucard to get back?" Elara asked, falling into step beside him.
"He'll catch up," Batman promised.
They made their way back toward the castle, Batman sticking to the shadows while Elara passed by the scattered soldiers. Most of them were recovered enough to stand, though their movements were slow and cautious. It seemed Alucard had been right about there being no major injuries. A few soldiers approached Elara for orders, and she quickly instructed them to set up a temporary camp and shelter among the trees until reinforcements could arrive. She hoped she'd be able to send help soon, but for now, they would have to rely on their survival training to get through the night.
When they reached the edge of the forest, Batman climbed up to a high branch and retrieved a pair of binoculars. Scanning the castle's perimeter, he spotted a gaping hole in the wall where the tank had crashed through earlier. The tank itself was still lodged in the rubble, and the area was now heavily guarded. Shifting his gaze upward, Batman examined the higher levels of the castle, where the royal jet remained parked. He noted guards patrolling the interior of those levels as well, their presence making it a less-than-ideal entry point.
"There are guards patrolling the perimeter," Batman said, his voice low but firm as he glanced down at Elara. "If we're seen, they'll raise the alarm,"
Elara nodded, her sharp eyes scanning the area before speaking. "There's a hidden passage that leads to the cellars, just a little north of here,"
"Lead the way," Batman instructed, dropping silently from the tree and landing beside her.
Elara moved ahead, guiding him through the forest with practiced ease until they reached what appeared to be an old storm drain hidden amidst overgrown foliage. The gate covering it was heavily rusted, and a thick padlock held it shut.
"This is it," Elara said, stepping aside.
Batman pulled out a set of lockpicks, his movements deft and efficient as he began to work on the corroded lock. Minutes passed in silence, the only sounds being the faint clicks of the tools and the distant rustling of leaves in the wind. Finally, with a quiet click, the lock came loose, and Batman swung the gate open.
They entered the hidden passage, Batman taking care to ensure the gate was locked securely behind them. The air inside was thick with dampness, the scent of mildew clinging stubbornly to the ancient stone walls. The narrow corridor stretched endlessly into darkness, broken only by the faint scurrying of unseen vermin.
Batman switched on his flashlight, the beam cutting through the oppressive blackness and illuminating their path. Elara walked ahead with her weapon at the ready, her eyes scanning for any potential danger.
"How far does this lead?" Batman's voice was calm and measured, yet it barely rose above a whisper.
"Just under a mile," Elara replied. "It'll bring us to the cellars beneath the castle,"
"Does anyone else know about this passage?" Batman inquired.
"A few people—only the royal family and some members of the royal guard," Elara explained. "It's meant for emergencies, but most guards and staff wouldn't even think to search for it,"
"Should we be expecting company?" Batman asked, his tone steady and unreadable.
"Elucard took out most of the royal guard when they tried to execute him," Elara claimed.
Batman gave no visible reaction to her words. He was already aware of what Alucard—and, by extension, every member of the Justice League—was capable of. He had contingency plans for all of them, after all. The knowledge that Alucard had incapacitated the guards wasn't surprising—it was simply a variable he had already accounted for.
They rounded a corner, and without warning, a towering pillar of black flames erupted before them. Elara immediately raised her rifle, aiming at the fire in alarm. Before she could act, Batman calmly placed a hand on the barrel of her weapon and pushed it downward. She looked at him, confused, but the flames dissipated, revealing Alucard standing unharmed in their place.
"What… but… how… you… huh?" Elara sputtered, completely baffled.
Alucard ignored her flustered state and walked toward Batman, dropping a small silver charm into his hand. Batman accepted it silently, slipping it back into his utility belt without a word before brushing past the vampire. Alucard fell in step behind him, leaving Elara to collect herself and follow at the rear.
The trio continued through the tunnel for another fifteen minutes, their footsteps echoing faintly in the confined space. Eventually, they came to what seemed to be a dead end. Elara stepped forward, feeling along the rough stone wall until she located a hidden mechanism. Pressing a particular brick, she triggered the hidden door, which opened to reveal the interior of a massive, hollow wine barrel.
Alucard ducked forward, pressing his ear against the other end of the barrel. He stood motionless, listening intently for any sign of movement on the other side. After a moment, he stepped back and looked at the others.
"I don't hear anything," he said quietly.
Elara took his place and carefully opened the concealed exit. The three of them climbed out into the wine cellar, the air noticeably cooler and filled with the faint scent of aged wood and fermenting grapes. The room was dimly lit and empty, rows of towering barrels lining the walls in silent vigil.
"Alright, we're inside," Elara said, her voice a bit steadier now. "Are we still going to the Queen?"
"No," Batman replied firmly. "We need to find Wonder Woman first," He turned to face Elara. "Where would your military detain prisoners?"
"The castle dungeons," Elara answered. "It's not too far from here, but…"
"But what?" Batman pressed.
"I don't have access," she admitted. "Only lieutenants and above have clearance for the dungeons. I wouldn't know where the keys are,"
Batman's expression remained impassive. "That won't be a problem," he assured her. "Lead the way,"
Elara led the group carefully through the castle, her nerves steeling with every step. They moved like shadows, peeking around corners and slipping quietly past doors in their effort to remain unseen. Twice, they came across patrols, and each time, Elara played her part convincingly, pretending to be a guard on duty while Batman and Alucard melted into the shadows, vanishing as if they were never there. It was almost unnerving how easily they disappeared; more than once, when Elara glanced over her shoulder, she found no trace of her two companions, only to have them reappear moments later without a sound.
When they finally reached the heavy door leading to the dungeons, Elara stopped and gestured to it. "I don't have access to this," she admitted in a hushed tone.
Batman was already prepared for this. He pulled out a remote-controlled Batarang equipped with a miniature camera. Guiding it expertly, he sent it through the small barred opening in the door. The device maneuvered gracefully, flying down a curved staircase and latching onto the ceiling, its camera now providing a full view of the dungeon.
Batman switched his controls to display the footage on a small screen. The dungeon was dimly lit, but the camera revealed every detail. Wonder Woman was in a cell, restrained by glowing energy cuffs that pinned her to the wall. Guards were stationed both inside and outside her cell, their advanced armor gleaming faintly under the dull light. Each carried weaponry far beyond what any standard royal guard would possess.
"There are a lot of them," Batman stated grimly. "Too many to get her out quietly,"
Elara squinted at the screen and frowned. "That's not standard-issue weaponry for the royal guard," she said, her voice laced with suspicion. "And their uniforms aren't regulation either. I don't even recognise any of them,"
"Savage must have brought them in," Batman deduced.
"On his wedding night?" Elara asked skeptically. "When would he even have time to do that?"
"They were probably already here," Alucard reasoned, his tone calm but focused. He leaned closer to the screen and pointed to one of the guards. "There. I recognize him. He was at the engagement party, tending the bar,"
Batman nodded, with understanding. "Makes sense. A catering company would be ideal for sneaking in personnel. No one would question new faces if they're assumed to be staff. They'd move freely, virtually undetected,"
He turned his gaze to Alucard "Call the Watchtower," he ordered. "We're going to need help for this one,"
Alucard gave a curt nod, pressing two fingers against the communicator in his ear.
"Alucard to Watchtower," he said.
Up in the Watchtower,
Flash was on monitor duty, though it hardly looked like it. A deck of cards was spread out before him on the console as he played a half-hearted game of solitaire to pass the time. Earth had been remarkably quiet in the past couple of days—apart from the gala attack two nights ago. There had been a fire in Star City earlier, but local emergency services had it under control, with Green Arrow reported on the scene assisting with evacuations. The Justice League had been on standby, but their intervention wasn't needed.
So, naturally, when Alucard's comm line suddenly lit up, Flash's boredom turned to delight. He grinned, leaning forward to answer the call. He'd read all the reports—and, more importantly, the rumors—and was eager to hear some juicy details.
"Hey, Al! So, how's it going?" Flash responded in his usual lighthearted tone. "I heard you and Wonder Woman had a fun time in Paris. Care to share how that happened?"
"Not now, Flash," Alucard's voice cut through, sharp and urgent. "Wonder Woman has been taken prisoner by Kazina. She's being held under heavy guard. I'm currently number one on their most wanted list, with orders to execute me on sight,"
"Wait, seriously?" Flash perked up, his playful demeanor vanishing. "How did that happen? What did you do?"
"Nothing," Alucard replied flatly, before adding with a begrudging tone, "At first. I'm here with Batman and—"
"Hang on, what do you mean 'at first?'" Flash interrupted. "What are you even doing in Kazina, anyway?"
Before Alucard could respond, J'onn's voice suddenly filled Flash's mind, calm but tinged with urgency. "Flash, Green Lantern, I need you at the research terminal. Now. It's an emergency,"
Flash frowned, his focus split between J'onn's request and Alucard's call. "Hang on, Al. J'onn's calling and it sounds serious," he said quickly. "I'll transfer you to my comm line so you can hear,"
He pressed a few buttons and disappeared from the monitor room in the blink of an eye, reappearing next to J'onn at the research terminal in less than a second. Green Lantern flew in moments later, landing lightly beside them.
"J'onn, this better be important. I've got Al and Bats on the line," Flash said.
"Look at this," J'onn said grimly, pointing at the screen in front of them.
Flash and Green Lantern's eyes widened in shock as the image on the monitor displayed none other than Vandal Savage, seated on the Kazinan throne and gripping the royal sceptre.
"That can't be…" Flash gasped, his voice barely audible.
"Well, well, well. Look who's back from the dead," Green Lantern muttered, his tone heavy with tension as memories of their last encounter with the tyrant surfaced.
"But it can't be him," Flash argued. "He died. We all saw his plane get shot down in 1944,"
The image on the screen flickered, and Savage's deep, commanding voice rang out, silencing their doubts. "Greetings, leaders of the world. My name is King Vandal Savage the First, rightful ruler of Kazina—and the world,"
Savage's words sent a chill through the room. Flash leaned closer to the monitor, his mouth dry. "Okay… scratch that. It's him,"
Savage continued, his tone cold and authoritative. "I have hijacked all airwaves to make an important announcement. Today, the world changes, and Kazina is at the forefront of that change,"
The image shifted to display a massive space station in orbit—Platform One. Savage's voice narrated over the footage, "This is Kazina's space station, Platform One. Its publicly stated purpose is to study and mine harmless asteroids. But the truth is far more significant. Platform One is a mass driver,"
The footage zoomed in, showing a series of long, ring-like structures. Green Lantern's eyes widened in horror. "No… he wouldn't…"
"Mass driver," Savage clarified coldly, "or, as it's more commonly known—a rail gun. Its function is simple: magnetic accelerators launch asteroids at supersonic speeds. Until they pass through the final ring, they travel at their natural velocity. But once they exit…"
The screen displayed a demonstration: an asteroid was drawn into the rings, accelerating with terrifying speed until it was hurled out, hurtling toward Earth. The next image showed a U.S. Navy carrier group in the middle of the ocean. A fiery streak appeared in the sky, followed by a massive explosion that obliterated the calm waters. The resulting tidal wave tore the ships apart like toys, the devastation absolute.
Flash stared, frozen in horror. "That… that can't be real," he muttered. "That was thousands of people…"
Savage's image returned to the screen. "With my rail gun in orbit, Kazina now holds the ultimate high ground. I am now the dominant military power on Earth. Make no mistake there will be changes. And if the leaders of the world refuse to accept these changes, they will not have a country to lead,"
J'onn broke the tense silence, his voice urgent. "Watchtower to Atlantis. This is an emergency. A U.S. carrier group has been struck by an asteroid. Massive tidal waves are expected to spread for miles. Sending coordinates now,"
"Aquaman here. Don't worry, J'onn. We're already en route. ETA six minutes" came Aquamans reply.
"Thank you," J'onn said before switching channels. "Superman, Hawkgirl, do you read?"
"We read you, J'onn, I saw the whole thing on TV," Superman's voice came through. "Hawkgirl and I are on our way. We'll meet up with Aquaman and get those people to safety,"
Flash, still reeling from what he'd seen, tried to process it all tapped his com unit. "Al, be real with me. Are Nazi Vampires a thing?"
"Are you speaking of Vandal Savage?" Alucard's voice came through the comm line.
"Yeah…"
"He is not a vampire,"
"You sure?"
"Positive,"
"Well, then. We've got a really big problem," Flash said.
"Indeed," J'onn interjected. "That weapon must be destroyed. Its destructive power is unimaginable,"
"We don't need to imagine it. We just saw it," Flash argued.
"That was nothing," Green Lantern said darkly. "I've seen this tactic used before. The Ungar of Alpha Centauri used a rail gun to blow an inhabited moon out of orbit, sending its fragments raining down on a planet below. Billions died,"
The look of absolute horror on J'onn and Flash's faces was freighting. The thought of so many lives lost in an instant and that power was now in the hands of a Warlord.
"Al, did you catch all that?" Flash asked, his voice tight.
"Yes," Alucard replied, his tone grim.
Green Lantern activated his com and joined the conversation, "Alucard, its' Green Lantern. We can't help you at the moment. You and Batman need to focus on Savage, see if you can shut down that rail gun on your end. But be careful Svage is dangerous. Very dangerous,"
Back in Kazina,
Alucard listened to Green Lantern's warning and nodded. "Understood," he confirmed and closed the com line. He then looked at Batman and Elara with a grave expression.
"We are on our own," he confirmed.