Chapter 185 : Shazam!
DCEU Universe!
Bruce had returned to the Batcave with Constantine, but it wasn't the one at Wayne Manor anymore. That one had been compromised, so now this served as his backup base in Gotham.
There wasn't much chaos there, surprisingly, and the government hadn't reached out to him yet. Still, it wasn't entirely safe, especially with the unpredictable actions of that mad clown looming over them. So, caution was paramount.
Superman had left the Batcave at this point, leaving the Flash still withdrawn in a corner, wordless and lost in his own world. Bruce couldn't help but feel exasperated. Did he have to play babysitter to everyone? It seemed ludicrous.
Yet amidst the chaos, one silver lining emerged: Constantine, a magical ally, had stepped up to assist him, bringing a sense of relief to Bruce's burdened mind.
However, that relief was short-lived as Constantine turned to him with a grave expression.
"Bruce, I have something to tell you," he said solemnly.
"Not only is Darkseid keeping an eye on Earth, but there's also a far more sinister threat poised to invade our world."
Bruce nearly cursed aloud. Was the universe conspiring against him?
Constantine paid no heed to Bruce's incredulous expression and continued, undeterred.
"This threat is known as the First Fallen. He was once God's favored creation, but he rebelled and was cast into hell. In Earth's mythology, he's akin to Satan, and now he reigns over hell."
Bruce's eyes widened at the revelation, but he quickly found a flaw in the narrative.
"But we just encountered Satan, didn't we? He didn't seem intent on world domination."
Constantine sighed, a hint of amusement in his expression.
"That was Satan from another universe. He's the son of God, an angel of righteousness. He's merely managing hell under God's orders. Who knows, he might ascend to Heaven one day."
The weight of this newfound knowledge bore down on Bruce, leaving him exhausted and overwhelmed. The resurgence of such a formidable enemy was a heavy burden to bear.
Constantine chuckled softly at Bruce's reaction before his expression shifted back to one of concern, though underneath, his heart brimmed with hope.
He dared to lie to Batman!
Though Lucifer remains Satan in this universe's hell, he hasn't taken full control of it yet!
And what's crucial!
While the Fallen Ones indeed harbor ambitions to conquer the world, the presence of Etrigan and Lucifer makes it nearly impossible!
But meddling with it now, that might not be the case!
Once Superman, Batman, and others are on Earth, chaos will ensue with Etrigan and other major demons!
He could seize an opportunity to extricate himself from this vortex entirely!
As for why he hasn't fled to other universes directly, it's because his soul has bound contracts with several powerful demons. Even if he dies elsewhere, his soul will be claimed, leaving him in misery!
Of course, there's another path he could take: heaven!
Sadly, he's not the kind who can indulge in vices like smoking, drinking, or drugs and still make it to heaven!
As long as God isn't oblivious, heaven's gates won't open for him in this lifetime!
Hence, he needs some reliable comrades to fend off the impending threat!
Before long, Constantine concocted a lie about departing.
Yet, his true plan was to visit Prison at least once!
After all, if he'd promised Gabriel to go undercover, he had to make good on it!
Of course, the main motive was to ensnare this bunch of people in his schemes!
As they bid farewell to one another, Bruce commenced utilizing the supercomputer to scour for any traces of Billy Batson!
Fortunately, it's not as common a name as John, Emily, or Jack from Bad Street. He only encountered thousands of matches!
The next phase entails meticulous analysis; there are no shortcuts!
At this juncture, a figure slowly flew into the Batcave, as observed on the surveillance screens of Wayne Manor!
It was a youth clad in red tights, a white cloak, and a yellow lightning bolt emblazoned on his chest!
Physically robust, he nonetheless wore a foolish expression!
Inside the Batcave, Billy surveyed his surroundings with keen curiosity!
Upon glimpsing the advanced tech and colossal computer screens, he couldn't help but feel envious!
He crouched down, reaching out to touch the keyboard and the massive server. The allure was almost irresistible!
Bringing it home to indulge in gaming would be an absolute delight, no doubt about it!
Especially with that enormous screen, envisioning himself in the midst of a battlefield, landing headshots with precision—pure exhilaration!
When his gaze fell upon the bat armor, his excitement soared even higher. His eyes sparkled with anticipation!
Just as he couldn't resist reaching out to touch it, a sudden voice echoed from the speakers.
"Stranger, please cease your actions!"
Startled, he straightened up, clasping his hands behind his back like a scolded child. Panic flickered in his eyes.
"Apologies, I was merely looking. You see, I haven't taken anything—I'm no thief!"
"I only touched the table to check for dust—damn! I didn't intend to take anything, honestly!"
"By the way, your voice carries such gravitas!"
"Hey, you're Batman!"
"Ah, I'm a huge fan of yours. Any chance we could snap a photo together? An autograph would be the cherry on top!"
"And don't worry, I won't be digging your grave anytime soon!"
Meanwhile, in another corner of the Batcave, Barry, aka The Flash, twisted in discomfort, finding the child's behavior rather impertinent.
Bruce, on the other hand, felt a throbbing headache coming on, veins pulsating on his forehead.
Where on Earth did this kid come from?
He'd utter a sentence, and the boy would rattle off six in response!
"By the way, are you still recruiting for your Justice League? I'm here to sign up!"
"See, I'm strong! Look at these muscles!"
Onscreen, Billy flexed his biceps, batting his eyelashes eagerly.
Bruce couldn't help but question the sanity of it all.
Aren't these supposed to be superpowers?
Each one seems to have either a heart or brain malfunction!
Nevertheless, he did require individuals to assemble a team, so he gritted his teeth through the ringing in his ears and asked,
"What's your name? I'll need your details and background for review before considering your application."
With enthusiasm, Billy nodded, promptly replying,
"I'm Billy Batson! Twelve years old, and still in middle school!"
Bruce stared at the imposing figure on the screen, larger than Superman, with a perplexed expression etched across his face.
"A middle schooler? Twelve years old?!"
"You're an alien too?!"
But in the next moment, he was struck by sudden realization.
"Billy Batson? This is the person I've been searching for! I didn't expect him to turn up on his own!"
"What abilities do you possess?" Bruce inquired cautiously.
Thinking it was an interview, Billy eagerly responded, "I can fly!"
Bruce's lips twitched slightly. He was now convinced that the other party was indeed only twelve years old; it was evident from his childlike response.
After a brief pause, Bruce adjusted his approach, "I meant, what is the source of your power?"
Without hesitation, Billy confidently declared, "It stems from the six gods: Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury!"
Bruce let out a sigh of relief, realizing he had found his target so effortlessly.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the Batcave, drawing Bruce's attention. He turned to see Superman returning, holding the Joker in his grasp.
Observing Bruce's puzzled expression, Clark offered an explanation, "I came across him while leaving. After spending some time with him, I discovered he was attempting a prison break and apprehended him."
With a loud thud, Superman flung the Joker to the ground, but the villain remained unfazed.
Grinning at Superman, he remarked, "As expected of the paparazzi, you're quite the tracker!"
Turning his attention to Bruce with a look of surprise, he continued, "Well, well, if it isn't the infamous playboy, Bruce Wayne! Batman, or should I say Bunny? Your knack for popping up everywhere is quite impressive!"
Before the Joker could continue his taunts, a more sinister laughter resonated from the shadows, and the screen flickered to life once more!
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