45 Is, and Isn't #45

To make matters worse, the chaotic jumble of roots took on the form of a woman. Under normal circumstances, it might have been an enchanting sight, but with those bulging light green veins pulsating along the roots and those eyes glowing an ominous red, it screamed sinister instead. 

 "So... Apokoliptan tech, huh? Can it really pull off this creepy forest puppet show?" I scratched my head, glancing between the arboreal menace and Ted. He shot me a blank look. 

 "Now's not the time for a stand-up routine," he retorted, glaring at me just as the creature solidified and lunged at us. 

"Just stating the weirdness," I quipped, deftly dodging a thorny vine aimed at my head. "By the way, any chance your fancy belt comes with a flamethrower attachment?" I asked, directing shadows to fend off the vines and roots while attempting to strike back at the puppeteer creature. 

 Ted rolled his eyes. "Seriously? A flamethrower request? No, but I've got something else." He produced a compact device from his utility belt and threw it at the creature. Upon impact, it produced a wave of flame that flickered out of existence almost a moment later. 

 Surprisingly, it made the creature recoil, giving us a momentary advantage. "Huh, not bad. Let's keep it up, and maybe we'll turn this forest fiend into a veggie platter," I quipped, launching another wave of shadowy tendrils at the roots. "Eat your greens, literally," I remarked, orchestrating my shadowy tendrils to start chopping the leafy monster's body. 

The shadowy tendrils sliced through the creature like a veggie ninja on a salad rampage, unveiling the creature's insides which were a mix of twisting vines and leaves. Keen on wrapping up this leafy escapade, I shifted all my tendrils into attack mode, opting to dodge rather than rely on them to block and parry. 

 However, things didn't go as planned as one of my tendrils soon met resistance within the creature's innards, producing a metallic clang that threw me off my rhythm. 

 With a furrowed brow, I prepared to give that mystery obstacle a second helping of shadowy justice, but our leafy foe had other plans, leaping back with an enraged howl as if I'd just touched its no-no square. 

 As if things weren't nutty enough, the ground beneath us decided to throw a tantrum. A horde of ants emerged, so numerous they covered the ground like an insect flash mob headed straight for us. 

With a sigh that screamed, "Must I do this?" I dipped into my shadow storage and pulled out the infamous rubber chicken, courtesy of Trickster's bizarre stash. 

 Squeezing its beak, I barely resisted the urge to facepalm at the absurd honk it belted out. Holding the rubber chicken like a flame-throwing maestro, I unleashed a blaze that turned the ant party into a crispy critter barbecue. Bon appétit, little pests! Ted's witty retort hung in the air as he skillfully danced around the vines. "Why ask for a flamethrower when you already had one?" he teased, effortlessly combining evasion with banter. A true master of multitasking. 

 "It's a friggin' rubber chicken. I wouldn't use it unless I have to!" I shot back, shoving the rubber chicken back into my shadow storage. 

"More importantly, that Apokoliptan Tech theory of yours might not be complete hogwash, after all... I just hit something distinctly metallic within that thing's body," I gestured toward the creature.

 Ted responded with a smug expression that conveyed a silent "I told you so," wisely opting to keep his victory lap unspoken. Meanwhile, the ground rumbled beneath us, and an army of agitated forest critters closed in, likely answering the creature's call. 

 "Right then... I'll make an opening for you," Ted declared, revealing a futuristic pistol with an oversized barrel. "Show me where to strike..." He aimed his weapon, poised for action. 

Not one to waste precious seconds, I promptly directed a shadow tendril to pinpoint the metallic anomaly within the creature. With the target locked, Ted pulled the trigger, unleashing a transparent, spherical projectile that hit the creature with precision, creating a basketball-sized hole. Inside, an alien-looking device was laid bare. 

 'So the infamous Blue Beetle BB Gun finally makes an appearance...' I mused with an internal chuckle. Amusement aside, I sprang into action, activating my Storm Walker shoes for a much-needed speed boost as I lunged at the creature. 

 Amidst the chaos of thrashing roots and alien gadgets, my Guardian Veil barrier was doing its best impression of a superhero's indestructible shield. 

 Vines swung at me like an overzealous dance partner, only to be met with my Guardian Veil's resolute rejection. It was almost comical, watching nature trying to tango with shadows. Undeterred by the arboreal onslaught, I focused on a different kind of extraction operation – prying a mysterious metallic doohickey from the creature's insides. 

Picture me as the hero on a less glamorous episode of "Alien Gadget Hunters." The creature wasn't thrilled about my invasive procedures, and its frustration grew with every unsuccessful swipe. 

Just as the final tug-of-war moment arrived, I successfully liberated the alien tech. Cue the dramatic jump back and superhero landing – because why not? Meanwhile, our once-menacing forest friend crumbled like a villain defeated by its own overcomplicated scheme. Note to self: always check for metallic mischief inside malevolent foliage. 

Ted strolled over, eyeing the extraterrestrial gadget like a kid sizing up a new toy. "Looks like Apokoliptan tech. Did they leave a gift shop or something?" he quipped, the gleam of curiosity dancing in his eyes. 

 The grand finale of the forest's chaotic ballet with alien gadgets had barely concluded when reality decided to take an unexpected nosedive. Right as I was gearing up for a witty retort to share with Ted, a sudden intrusion hijacked my senses. 

[The Mental Warding Talisman has been destroyed] 

 The notification unfurled across my vision, and before I could react, a dissonant chorus crashed into my mind like an unwelcome party crasher. 

 "Darkseid is. You are naught. Serve Darkseid. Offer your soul." 

The relentless chant looped, each repetition burrowing deeper into my consciousness. Abruptly, my reality splintered into an uncharted abyss. There, I stood, a mere speck, beneath the gaze of a colossal figure with eyes that blazed like embers. Its ashen visage, eternally etched in a ferocious scowl, loomed over me. 

"Serve Darkseid," it commanded, and an innate compulsion forced me to my knees. Utterly powerless in the presence of this cosmic force, I could only watch as the figure's fist closed around me, plunging me into an impenetrable darkness. 

The familiar world I knew dissolved into oblivion. 

 ... 

 In the midst of the aftermath, Blue Beetle sensed an eerie silence settling around Micah. Concern etched across his face, Blue Beetle approached the young man. "Are you alright? Hey, Micah!" he called out, placing a reassuring hand on Micah's shoulder. 

In a swift and unexpected response, Micah's head lifted, revealing eyes aglow with an ominous red hue. Without a moment's notice, Micah's fist collided with Blue Beetle's abdomen, propelling him through the air. 

The impact left Blue Beetle reeling, vulnerable to the unfolding events. 

"You are naught. Darkseid is..." Micah's voice trailed off, ominous words lingering in the air. His outstretched hand summoned shadowy tendrils that writhed menacingly, ready to ensnare Blue Beetle in their inky grasp. 

Blue Beetle struggled to rise from the ground, his mind racing to comprehend the sudden shift in Micah's demeanor. The once-allied duo now stood on opposing sides of an invisible divide. 

As Micah advanced, the shadows danced menacingly around him, weaving an intricate tapestry of darkness. Blue Beetle attempted to activate his armor's defensive mechanisms, but the unexpected assault left him disoriented, the controls slipping through his fingers like elusive phantoms. 

"Serve Darkseid," Micah intoned again, his voice a haunting echo in the dimly lit space. The cryptic words reverberated in Blue Beetle's mind, creating a disconcerting symphony of fear. 

 Struggling to resist the encroaching shadows, Blue Beetle attempted to reason with his erstwhile ally. "Micah, snap out of it! The alien tech is messing with your mind!" he pleaded, desperation tinging his words. 

However, Micah remained undeterred, each step forward reinforcing the chasm that had suddenly emerged between them. The shadows converged, forming an oppressive cocoon around Blue Beetle, leaving him with little room to maneuver. 

"Offer your soul. Offer your allegiance!" Micah continued like a broken recorder, his tone chilling. The once-united team now faced an insidious adversary from within, and the ominous presence of Darkseid cast a long shadow over their adventure.

...

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