236 Deus X Machina

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(Aden's P.O.V)

"Stop squirming goddamit."

I warned the vermin held in my palm. In response to my words, the rat bit my finger. Hard.

Then it promptly squeaked when it's teeth shattered against the hard skin of my godly index finger. Everything about me was godly so...I got no idea where I was going with that thought. To be honest there was a deep anger inside me that had been mounting since I first rescued the Justice League.

And that anger was mostly directed at a few of their members. No matter how I thought of myself as above their petty bullshit, I was still getting tired of the constant disrespect and pushback from Green Arrow and the blatant distrust and suspicion Batman treated me with. If there was anything that would break these negotiations or whatever, then it was safe to say that these individuals would be the one to spark that particular flame.

But I was a god now, Adenal, Adera, Adan, Aden Mother fuckin Strong. There had to be a limit to their bullshit. Lord have mercy if I reached mine before Green Arrow's.

Yaotl's claws were out, all he needed was the order from me and a blood birth would commence. The only thing that stopped me was that these were Kori's friends. And also the fact that for all my resolve to do whatever it took to actually save the world, I would never do go after the good guys without a good reason. And "Green Arrow was being petty" was not a good reason. Just an excuse to destroy the league and take over.

Fact is, I didn't want to conquer or rule anything and THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEVER UNDERSTOOD IN THE FIRST PLACE! Calm breath, don't lose the smile on your face. If there was anything I had learned from diving through Luthor's mind, it was that emotions were like cards...you keep them hidden up until you're ready. Up until you are sure you will win the hand.

"Everybody, say hi to Hundun, a malevolent human turned dark spirit,defeated by a powerful force for good and crossed over to this world from the Spirit Realm."

"I feel like that's the extremely short version."

Kid Flash stated after a second of them processing my statement.

"It is. The long version doesn't matter that much to us. It's not where the story begins. No."

I lowered my hand and turned the rat towards me, forcing it to stare into my eyes. I created a telepathic link with everyone in the room.

"See, the story begins with a half empty glass of spiritual energy, if energy could be looked at as a liquid. This energy contained the last traces of Hundun's will after a particularly tough battle with the Avatar of that time. I am an Avatar in case you didn't figure that out, Batman has it in his report, I'm sure."

I begun distributing the images to their psyche. The illusion of a purple swirling dust cloud that could fit in the palm of a child's hand drifted aimlessly in a world of rainbow. Wondrous creatures from dreams walked, flew and swam in the air. The Spirit World. The illusions they were seeing were so detailed, they felt like they were there. All of this was done through reading Hundun's memories.

"Hundun was on the cusp of true death. With time, that spiritual energy would join with the rest of the Aether or get devoured by other spirits, ceasing to exist. But...somehow, after a friend of mine crossed over to this side, the last vestiges of Hundun's spiritual energy piggybacked along the connection, ending up in my realm."

The purple dust cloud followed a thread of whit, protected from the blacker than black darkness of the void.

"At that time, I was unaware of the invasion. You can't look for an enemy you don't know exists. Hundun tried many times to take over any of my creations but failed. He wisely stayed as far way from me and mine however. He had decided to bide his time and wait for the perfect opportunity to regain everything he had lost. A blight in my perfect world."

Next an image of high peaks, misty mountains, beautiful beaches, endless oceans and green vegetation appeared. I heard a few gasps at just how beautiful my realm was. In a deep cavern filled with darkness where monstrous snake hybrids native to some of the islands near the Sconiad tower, a dark purple limbless blob stuck to the wet cave walls, feeding on the glowing mold.

"And then The Light had engineered a distraction to ensure Superman's battle against Lobo was not interrupted. Superman was hurt badly. He was... dying. Despite our differences, I understood that I couldn't let the symbol of Hope and the American way perish. So I took him to my realm to heal him when the sun failed owing to the Kryptonian he'd been hit with."

"That's where things had gone wrong. During the healing, Hundun had seen the perfect opportunity to not only leave my dimension where he was in constant threat of being found out, but to also begin anew in a strong body."

Hundun had seeped through the ground while I had been distracted by Sai's sudden weakness. All these months later and I now understood why he had reacted that way. He was sensing the evil chi burrowing through Superman's spirit and unfortunately he couldn't understand what evil spiritual energy was, having never sensed it before.

"Superman fought him for control over his body, hence entering into a coma as he refused to give it up willingly...but then Hundun had used a dirty trick. By poisoning Clark's mind with the images and illusions of his loved ones dying over and over again, with Clark powerless to stop it...he managed to lock away Superman's mind under a prison of guilt, despair and fear."

I stopped and turned towards the kneeling Superman. His eyes were downcast. He reeked of a man who had lost everything. His mind was still under lock. I could break past all the locks with my power, but this needed a more deft hand.

I was about to ask either of the Martians to do it before I stopped. Why was I avoiding personally touching his mind? I was more than powerful enough and skilled enough to do it. Here goes nothing.

I knelt before him, feeling a presence leave their seat and float to hover above me with glowing blue eyes. Connor. Yaotl was a up on his feet, crossing his huge hands on his chest.

"If I was going to hurt him, I wouldn't be planning on healing him now would I?"

I looked back and saw the clone descend.

"I know." Connor nodded.

"I just think having a friendly face when he wakes up will be good for him."

He answered politely, throwing me off a little. So Connor could now be reasonable huh? Maybe all hope is not lost.

"Fair enough."

I waved Yaotl off. Connor walked over and knelt next to me.

"Thank you."

He stated, too low for anyone else but me to hear.

"You're not a bad person Aden. You saved my family...you saved everyone. I owe you."

A small smile graced his face as he looked at me from the corner of his eyes.

"Huh."

For truly the first time, I was tongue-tied. So I settled for a simple nod.

"Let's...wake him up shall we?"

He hummed in Confirmation. My thumb was placed on his forehead.

Then something that would dictate practically how this entire meeting would go happened. It was unprecedented and showed me I needed to find a place to practice and acclimate all the new abilities I now had access to.

A deep instinct buried deep inside my powers took over. I couldn't tell you what roused it up. All I know is that my spirit, much stronger than before made the right call. The pressure that spread out was so overwhelming, reality changed as a result. Space folded and time begun acting weird. I felt the League spring up from their seats, ready to defend themselves incase this was an attack.

The room disappeared as everyone was pulled in to a realm of light. Light that spread outwards to encompass their full existence. Everything was pulled into the light indiscriminately, the room, then the beach, the continent and the animals. I forcefully halted the process. Anymore and I would have over the trillions of life in my realm inside the domain personification of my soul. I felt each of the League like tiny pinpricks of fire dancing in a blaze of white. My spiritual domain.

One by one they each lost strength, falling into the light, getting submerged by my soul, melding with my core.

"Ade...n."

Wonder Woman's hand reached out towards me in desperation but my will was now completely focused on one thing, cleansing Superman's soul of the evil chi roiling inside him. Their plight seemed... inconsequential.

The influence from Hundun had turned the Man of Steel into a thrall and the process of how he'd managed to so thoroughly change one's soul intrigued me.

"Stop!!"

Batman yelled, his black and grey suit getting tarnished by the limbs of white energy grabbing onto him and the Leaguers, pulling him inside the depths. Dr.Fate created a shield housing those closest to him. Zatara begun chanting while The Flash accessed his speed to try and outrun my realm. Nothing worked. The Martian's phasing failed. Flight became an issue as the attractive force from my soul became too strong. One by one they were each pulled to the ground.

"Connor!"

Miss Martian called out but Connor refused to look away from the glowing blue figure with his fingers on his Father's head. Or rather he didn't hear. Him, Yaotl, Vaatu and Michael who all stood behind the god of the Elemental Dimension were not harassed by the soul's devouring effects. Why would they? They had accepted Aden. He was their master, their benovelent god.

Why would they be hurt by anything belonging to him?

In comparison, the Justice League and the Team had continuously challenged his authority, his power. They had treated him with disrespect. And now that they were under his mercy...they would know who they were dealing with.

I felt all of it. All of their thoughts, their fear, their despair...I felt all of it as one by one, each of them was swallowed by me. Into my huge incomprehensible soul. The Justice League were no more. They were now a part of me. Batman's extensive knowledge on basically everything, Wonder Woman's divinity, Green Arrow's ability with a cross bow, the nth metal properties contained in the weapons of the hawkpeople couple... everything that had ever been theirs was now mine.

A huge part of me wanted to stay like that. That unification of souls. It demanded that this was the way it should have been. The Avatar had authority over balance right? Why then should I steal this beautiful gift I had offered them? The gift to be a part of something that transcended mere godhood...

I laughed at that part of me, seeing the very very very small thread of Fate that had come with assimilating the League try to latch on to me and lead me towards a path of self destruction.

If this was Fate's way of trying to make me break bad...these bitches had another thing coming.

"I had allowed you to live, to reflect upon your past transgressions and come to me, grovelling for forgiveness. The only reason, I let you live Lachesis, Atropos and Clotho was my fear at what would happen to humanity without you. Without Fate...but now I understand, you are leaches preying on a pale reflection of what my brother is. You are so insignificant that Destiny never bothered himself with you."

"And now your luck has run out."

I merely willed and Michael had his foot on the middle of three incredibly old women. pulling them from the Sphere of the gods had been as simple as tugging on a rope held on the other side by a child.

Their hair was white and was falling off, exposing patches of rotten skin. My soul merely burned their putridity out of existence.

"Please my Lord..."

"Forgive us insignificant ants..."

"Mercy! mercy! mercy your sovereignty..."

"Michael..."

Their begging went silent as I concentrated on finishing the task at hand. The infection Hundun had left behind in Clark's body was finally cleansed and the man of steel's eyes threatened to open. I sent him back to sleep. His soul needed the rest. Connor was there to hold his body before he could fall.

"Thank you."

He said without looking up. Tears of red were falling from his eyes. This was his soul's pain and joy manifested. In here, nothing could be hidden. No falsehood could survive.

I turned to the Fates, their lips had been fused together, leaving behind unblemished if leathery skin.

Michael, Vaatu and Yaotl made way for me as I floated through. My gaze fell on each of the Fates. Their eyes were full of fear, resignation and despair.

"I, Duality of the Endless, Spirit King, Lord of Chaos and Order, Crown over True Balance, pass this decree. No longer shall any iteration of the Fates exist in this universe. Mankind and every sapient creature in existence are free to choose whatever path they want."

I felt something significant leave me. A sort of high level energy, incomprehensible to even my strongest creations. Only Michael frowned a little, as if he had sensed something shift.

At my feet, Lachesis the alloter, Clotho the spinner and Atropos the inflexible burned with the silver flames of the god of flames. A flame that not only burned their souls but even the idea of the fates.

Every iteration of the fates in other pantheons died to silver flames as well. I could feel it. And through that I could also tell that I had made more enemies. In the upcoming universal convention to discuss my actions, I would be surprised if someone was on my side. I blame my war divinity.

"Master," Yaotl broke me out of my thoughts by kneeling and placing his weapon next to his feet. His head was lowered as he faced me. He was nervous, just like Vaatu was.

"I know what troubles you Yaotl. The both of you," I gestured to him and Vaatu.

"Have formed bonds with the heroes and now you want to request for their freedom."

"I apologize for my impudence master."

Yaotl responded.

I breathed in.

"Anything to add?"

I asked Vaatu who shrugged and looked away.

"She makes a good sparring partner."

I laughed, knowing he was talking about Wonder Woman.

"That she does. I remember one training exercise the team and I went up against her. She kicked our asses."

"What! You master Aden? But you're...you are so powerful my Lord."

"Jeez, get off the ground, Yaotl. You're making all of us uncomfortable."

I told my extremely loyal god of War.

"He's not wrong."

Michael added.

"Your wish is my command Master Aden."

Yaotl sprang up to his feet.

"Yeah that's the thing, it doesn't have to be. Master doesn't like it when we're so formal with each other. We are a family, remember?"

Vaatu told him in exasperation.

"You're both right and wrong. Sometimes formality is needed..."

Michael joined in.

I chuckled to myself as they continued arguing among themselves in good nature. Sometimes I forgot that despite how mature and level headed the three of them were, they were still chronologically young.

I muted them out, considering my next move. The Fates might have tried this last ditch effort to make me an irredeemable monster but their words had a point.

The League had not once or twice tried to undermine my actions, control me and almost label me as a villain. Was it justified? If it was up to their ideals then yeah. Green Arrow and Jordan would no doubt love to see me imprisoned under layers of security in Belle Reeve.

So the question is, do I let them go?

The answer came to me a split second later. Yeah. If I chose not to, a) Starfire would kill me, b) the choice wouldn't really feel like mine due to the Fates intervening and c) the league was more useful to me alive.

Now, where the fuck did I put those soul contracts...